“What are they looking for? Chemical, tactical nuclear or a full-blown nuclear exchange?” Harriet Willis responded sharply.
“They have had a considerable number of civilians maimed and killed, Prime Minister.”
“As we have lost many of our brave soldiers, Lawrence. This is not the time to lose our heads.”
“How have the Americans responded?” Jeremy Chapman, the Home Secretary, asked.
“They are also mad as hell,” answered Holmes. “They are asking for an agreement that we at least respond in kind.”
“General Fletcher, do we have those particular munitions available and close to the assets that will use them?”
“Yes, Prime Minister. We can have our artillery units so armed within four hours.”
“A conference call is being convened with all NATO leaders within the hour. I’d like you to attend that with me.”
“Yes, Prime Minister.”
“And the front, General?”
“It is not going well, I’m afraid. We are about to lose the line we had along the River Leine. The size of the Soviet forces up against us is vast. They have already pushed an Operational Manoeuvre Group across the river, so we are having to adjust our lines accordingly.”
“Retreat, you mean.”
“We are just moving into a better position where we can keep our line together until we are able to counter-attack.”
“Counter-attack?”
“Yes, Prime Minister. NORTHAG has a reserve American Division that will be with us in less than two days. Using that division, elements of our own 4th Armoured Division, and a Panzer battalion from the Germans, we hope to hit them back hard.”
“Hope, General?”
“The Soviets have to be where we want them. Our troops have to be where we need them. Then we can strike.”
“I see. And the bigger picture?”
The General frowned, knowing he had more bad news for his Prime Minister. “The Soviets have surrounded Hamburg and are pushing towards Bremen in the west. The lead division is Polish. In the north, they are already at Nord-Ostee-Kanal, threatening Denmark. A DDR army and a Soviet army will push for Denmark any day now.”
“Any good news, General?” asked the Home Secretary.
“The ACE mobile force has been released. By placing them into Denmark or Husum, they could set up a defence line for when the Schleswig Holstein forces have to withdraw.”
“Wouldn’t it be best to bolster up the forces already there?” asked the Defence Secretary.
“No, sir. They wouldn’t be able to hold them. We need time to prepare and for the Danish troops to sort themselves out, because they will need to fight as well if they are to protect their own country.”
“The Danes happy for ACE mobile forces to pass through their country?”
“More than happy, Prime Minister,” answered Holmes.
“As for the rest of NORTHAG, the Dutch, Germans and Belgians are slowly withdrawing.”
“The Americans in the south?”
“They were holding well, Prime Minister, but the chemical attack has thrown them into disarray. They too are having to pull back.”
There was silence in the room. “Do you have any better news for me, Jeremy?”
“I’m afraid not, Prime Minister. We’ve had some major disturbances in London, Bradford, Manchester and Birmingham. They are demanding a ceasefire and that we negotiate with the Russians for a peaceful settlement.”
“Do they not appreciate that the Soviet army has just killed thousands of German civilians with their chemical strikes?” The question was rhetorical; just Harriet Willis releasing some of her frustration. “We’re fighting a war that we did not start; our soldiers are being killed by the hundreds; our very existence is being threatened by a monster-led regime. Have the newspapers been reminded of the D-Notices? We don’t want word of these riots being plastered all over the news, encouraging more to break out.”
“Yes, Prime Minister, they have. The announcement later today will only make matters worse, I fear. We have to introduce major rationing. The Soviet submarines are sinking too many of our merchant ships, and food supplies are running low.”
“What action have you taken?”
“Police officers are already working shifts of twelve on and twelve off, seven days a week. I have asked General Hamilton to provide some troops to provide additional support.”
“And has that been offered, General Hamilton?”
“Yes, Prime Minister. Four battalions that were due to go to Germany have been held back to give that support to the police.”
“Has the call-up process started, Jeremy?”
“Yes, Prime Minister. That will provide us with more resources, but ideally they should be shipped to the Continent to reinforce our troops over there.”
“Are our key points protected?”
“Yes, Prime Minister. Power plants, bridges, communications buildings have all been assigned either police or reserve forces to guard them.”
“How many attacks so far?”
“The current count is twenty-four,” answered the Home Secretary. “We know that at least eleven were the work of Spetsnaz units. We’ve also had attacks on RAF bases and airfields in general. Again Spetsnaz.”
“We believe that some of the special forces’ units have been dropped off on our coast by submarines,” added the Defence Secretary.
“What about the wider picture, Lawrence?”
“Well, in Spain and Turkey, it is stalemate. The Soviets aren’t making any moves at this time, but we daren’t move any of our allies forces to help out further north; otherwise that might just provoke them to attack. We have enough on our plate as it is. The French have finally come off the fence, and some of their divisions are being sent towards Austria. The Soviets are across the Danube and making progress. I’ve also had reports that there are at least twenty-one Soviet warships in the Norwegian Sea. Danish air reconnaissance shows there to be two Krivak-class guided missile frigates and a Kashin-class destroyer. More importantly, there is a Kynda-class cruiser which we believe to be armed with nuclear missiles. No doubt there will be Whiskey-class and Foxtrot-class submarines in support. Also, supply ships and amphibious landing ships. We have a task force on the way now to intercept.”
“Our nuclear option?”
“All available Resolution-class submarines are on the high seas.”
“And that is how many?”
“Three, Prime Minister: Resolution, Renown and Revenge. Repulse is undergoing a major refit and couldn’t be made ready for at least one month.”
“Is three enough?”
“More than enough. Each has sixteen Polaris missiles.”
“And our tactical nuclear option, General Fletcher?”
“Our missile regiment has been deployed. We have four batteries, each with three missile launchers. Those batteries have been dispersed across 1 BR Corps’ area of operation.”
“Well, let’s hope we never have to use them. Who knows what will transpire once those are launched.”
“We’ve already had grumblings from the Germans in regard to the Americans’ use of MADMs,” the Defence Secretary informed her.
“MADM?”
“It’s a Medium Atomic Demolition Munition, hence the acronym. An eighty-kilogram charge.”
“Ah yes, of course. They use them to destroy particularly large bridges and block narrow passes.”
“Yes, Prime Minister. The German Chancellor is concerned that the use of these weapons could escalate to the use of tactical nuclear weapons by the Soviets.”
“Likely?”
“I doubt it. But, if necessary, the Soviets could use it as an excuse to launch a pre-emptive strike. Tactical, yes, but it would have devastating consequences.”
“Right, right. I will raise it with the NATO council. How is Berlin coping?”