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er you that it doesn't。 We know …we think…that the Germans aren't this crazy； but the only evidence there is points to them。 Tell the Admiral something bad is happening。〃
Toland did precisely that； only to have his head nearly taken off by a senior man who wanted and needed hard information。
KIEV； THE UKRAINE
〃rades； we will mence offensive operations against the NATO land forces in two weeks；〃 Alekseyev began。 He explained the reasons for this。 The assembled corps and division manders accepted the information impassively。 〃The danger to the State is as great as anything we've had to face in over forty years。 We have used the past four months to whip our Army into shape。 You and your subordinates have responded well to our demands； and I can only say that I am proud to have served with you。
〃I will leave the usual Party harangue to your group political officers。〃 Alekseyev ventured a single smile in his delivery。 〃We are the professional officers of the Soviet Army。 We know what our task is。 We know why we have it。 The life of the Rodina depends on our ability to carry out our mission。 Nothing else matters；〃 he concluded。 The hell it doesn't 。 。 。
11 … Order of Battle
SHPOLA； THE UKRAINE
〃You may proceed； rade Colonel；〃 Alekseyev said over his radio circuit。 He didn't say； Make a fool of me now and you will be counting trees！ The General stood on a hill five hundred meters west of the regimental mand post。 With him was his aide； and Politburo member Mikhail Sergetov。 As if I need that distraction； the General thought bleakly。
First the guns。 They saw the flashes long before they heard the rolling thunder of the reports。 Fired from behind another hill three kilometers away； the shells arced through the sky to their left； cutting through the air with a sound like the ripping of linen。 The Party man cringed at the noise； Alekseyev noted； another soft civilian
〃I never did like that sound；〃 Sergetov said shortly。
〃Heard it before； rade Minister？〃 the General asked solicitously。
〃I served my four years in a motor…rifle regiment；〃 he replied。 〃And I never learned to trust my rades at the artillery plotting tables。 Foolish； I know。 Excuse me； General。〃
Next came the tank guns。 They watched through binoculars as the big main battle tanks emerged from the woods like something from a nightmare； their long cannon belching flame as they glided across the rolling ground of the exercise area。 Interspersed with the tanks were the infantry fighting vehicles。 Then came the armed helicopters； swooping at the objective from left and right； firing their guided missiles at the mockups of bunkers and armored vehicles。
By this time the hilltop objective was nearly hidden by explosions and flying dirt as the artillery fire marched back and forth across it。 Alekseyev's trained eye evaluated the exercise closely。 Anyone on that hilltop would be having a very hard time。 Even in a small； deep； protective hole； even in a defiladed tank； that artillery fire would be terrifying； enough to distract the guided…weapons crews； enough to rattle munications men； perhaps enough to impede the officers there。 Perhaps。 But what of return fire from enemy artillery？ What of antitank helicopters and aircraft that could sweep over the advancing tank battalions？ So many unknowns in battle。 So many imponderables。 So many reasons to gamble； and so many reasons not to。 What if there were Germans on that hill？ Did the Germans get rattled…even in 1945 at the gates of Berlin； had Germans ever been rattled？
It took twelve minutes before the tanks and infantry carriers were atop the hill。 The exercise was over。
〃Nicely done； rade General。〃 Sergetov removed his ear protectors。 It was good； to be away from Moscow； he thought； even for a few hours。 Why； he wondered； did he feel more at home here than in his chosen place？ Was it this man？ 〃As I recall； the standard for this particular drill is fourteen minutes。 The tanks and infantry vehicles cooperated well。 I've never seen the use of armed helicopters； but that too was impressive。〃
〃The greatest improvement was the coordination of artillery fire and infantry in the final assault phase。 Before； they failed miserably。 This time it was done properly…a tricky procedure。〃
〃Well I know it。〃 Sergetov laughed。 〃My pany never took casualties from this； but two of my friends did； fortunately none of them fatal。〃
〃Excuse my saying so； rade Minister； but it is good to see that our Politburo members have also served the State in a uniformed capacity。 It makes munication easier for us poor soldiers。〃 Alekseyev knew that it never hurt to have a friend at court； and Sergetov seemed a decent chap。
〃My older son just left military service last year。 My younger son will also serve the Red Army when he leaves the university。〃
It was not often that the General was so surprised。 Alekseyev lowered his binoculars to stare briefly at the Party man。
〃You need not say it； rade General。〃 Sergetov smiled。 〃I know that too few children of high Party officials do this。 I have spoken against it。 Those who would rule must first serve。 So I have some questions for you。〃
〃Follow me； rade Minister； we shall speak sitting down。〃 The two men walked back to Alekseyev's armored mand vehicle。 The General's aide dismissed the vehicle's crew and himself； leaving the two senior men alone inside the converted infantry carrier。 The General pulled a thermos of hot tea from a partment and poured two metal cups of the steaming liquid。
〃Your health； rade Minister。〃
〃And yours； rade General。〃 Sergetov sipped briefly； then set the cup down on the map table。 〃How ready are we for Red Storm？〃
〃The improvement since January is remarkable。 Our men are fit。 They have been drilling in their tasks continuously。 I would honestly prefer another two months； but； yes； I think we are ready。〃
〃Well said； Pavel Leonidovich。 Now shall we speak the truth？〃
The Politburo member said this with a smile； but Alekseyev was instantly on guard。 〃I am not a fool； rade Minister。 Lying to you would be madness。〃
〃In our country； truth is often greater madness。 Let us speak frankly。 I am a candidate member of the Politburo。 I have power； yes； but you and I both know what the limits of that power are。 Only candidate members are out with our forces now； and we are tasked with reporting back to the full members。 You might also draw some meaning from the fact that I am here with you； not in Germany。〃
That was not entirely true； Alekseyev noted。 This unit would entrain for Germany in three days； and that was why the Party man was here。
〃Are we truly ready； rade General？ Will we win？〃
〃If we have strategic surprise； and if the maskirovka succeeds； yes； I believe we should win；〃 Alekseyev said cautiously。
〃Not 'we will surely win'？〃
〃You have served in uniform； rade Minister。 On the field of battle there are no certainties。 The measure of an army is not known until it has been blooded。 Ours has not。 We have done everything we know how to do to make our Army ready…〃
〃You said you wished for two more months；〃 Sergetov noted。
〃A task like this is never truly finished。 There are always improvements that need to be made。 Only a month ago we initiated a program of replacing some senior officers at battalion and regimental level with younger； more vigorous subordinates。 It is working very well indeed； but a number of these young captains now in majors' jobs could do with some further seasoning。〃
〃So； you still have doubts？〃
〃There are always doubts； rade Minister。 Fighting a war is not an exercise in mathematics。 We deal with people； not numbers。 Numbers have their own special kind of perfection。 People remain people no matter what we try to do with them。〃
〃That is good； Pavel Leonidovich。 That is very good。 I have found an honest man。〃 Sergetov toasted the General with his tea。 〃I asked to e here。 A rade on the Politburo； Pyotr Bromkovskiy； told me of your father。〃
〃Uncle Petya？〃 Alekseyev nodded。 〃He was missar with my father's division on the drive to Vienna。 He often visited our home when I was young。 He is well？〃
〃No； he is old and sick。 He says that the attack on the West is madness。 The ramblings of an old man； perhaps； but his war record is distinguished； and because of that I want your evaluation of our chances。 I will not inform on you； General。 Too many people are fearful of telling us…we of the Politburo…the truth。 But this is a time for that truth。 I need your professional opinion。 If I can trust you to give it to me； you can trust me not to harm you for it。〃 The entreaty ended as a harsh mand。
Alekseyev looked his guest hard in the eyes。 The charm was gone now。 The blue was the color of ice。 There was danger here； danger even for a general officer； but what the man had said was true。
〃rade； we plan on a rapid campaign。 The projections are that we can reach the Rhein in two weeks。 Those are actually more conservative than our plans of only five years ago。 NATO has improved its readiness； particularly its antitank capabilities。 I would say three weeks is more realistic； depending on the degree of tactical surprise and the many imponderables present in war。〃
〃So the key is surprise？〃
〃The key is always surprise；〃 Alekseyev answered at once。 He quoted Soviet doctrine exactly。