Dingley spoke into the microphone. “Tom, the Russians have pretty much closed the Ukrainians down in the southeast and it is as good as game over down there. However, we’ve had reports that they’ve called another of their snap exercises, but this time they’re concentrating on the Western Military District and the Baltic Fleet. It also looks like the Northern Fleet, based in Severomorsk, just north of Murmansk and with access to the Barents Sea, has been ordered to sea with a carrier battle group, together with a number of strategic nuclear submarines.”

He paused to allow Morland to note the key points.

“On land, 6th Army, headquartered in St. Petersburg, has deployed all its formations out of barracks into concentration areas on the Estonian and Latvian borders, while we’re seeing indications that 1st Guards Tank Army from Moscow Military District is deploying by rail and road to reinforce 6th Army. That’s important, because it gives 6th Army the ability to sustain combat operations for some time. Most worrying is the move of 2nd and 16th Spetsnaz Brigades to Pskov, base of 76th Guards Assault Landing Division. They’re in the middle of a deployment exercise at the moment. Oh, and you’ll be well aware that Pskov is only fifty minutes’ flying time to Riga.”

Morland was only too aware of the fact. His Latvian Special Forces friends had told him that the Russians could land an airborne brigade in Riga in less than four hours. And what, they had asked Tom, could NATO do about that? He had had no answer. Certainly not one they would want to hear.

“What about air?” Morland questioned, pushing aside thoughts about how vulnerable they all now were in the face of such a massive Russian force build-up.

“I was coming to that, Tom. Their 16th Air Army is in easy flying distance of the Baltic states and appears to be at, or near, full combat readiness. It’s just been reinforced with two regiments of the advanced Su-34 Fullback fighter-bombers on top of the MiG-29SMT Fulcrum fighters, the newer variant which replaced the standard MiG-29s. They also have modernized Su-25 Frogfoot close-support fighter-bombers. It’s an old aircraft, but it’s had a good record in a number of recent Russian operations, particularly Chechnya and Georgia.”

“Thanks, Jerry. I’ve got that,” said Morland.

The Baltics team leader cut in. “Tom, I want you to be aware of the strategic picture because you’ve got a new job. So, here’s my direction. Your team task is finished. You’re now our PJHQ liaison officer to Latvia. Your team stays with you, but apart from them, you’re on your own. As you know, our dedicated military attaché was removed in the last round of defense cuts. It’s now down to you to be our ears and eyes.”