Twilight War Germany

[RN7]

1200 Hours US Fourth Army Headquarters, Luitpoldkaserne, Munich Germany

oeGood afternoon Gentlemen, I am sure most of you are acquainted with each other. For those of you who are not I will introduce Lieutenant-Colonel Gallagher of the US Air Force and Director Freeman of the Defense Intellegence Agency. As I am sure you have all heard by now we have received a coded radio transmission from the Director of the Central Intellegence Agency in the Balkans this morning reporting some trouble in Romania. The exact nature of this trouble is unknown but the brief message reported a major Pact incursion into Romania, and if the CIA is worried enough to have contacted us then whatever is going on must be of some interest to us. Director Freeman what intelligence do we have about the situation in Romania

oeGeneral Fischer our information about Romania is very patchy. The Romanian threw their hat in with Civgov in 1999 and we have had few agents on the ground in the Balkans since. The Romanians split from the Warsaw Pact shortly after German Reunification, and the Soviets along with the Bulgarians and the Hungarians invaded to bring them back into the fold. As far as we know an ongoing civil war has been fought ever since between pro-communist and nationalist elements of the Romanian military. The Soviets occupy Bucharest and some other major towns including Ploesti, while the Romanians are also fighting a vicious war over disputed territory with the Hungarians in the north. If the CIA has directly contacted us after all this time they must be very concerned about whats happening in Romania.

oeSo you believe the CIA are genuinely spooked, do you think we should contact them

oeI think we should General, if they are worried enough to contact us then it is also highly possible that whatever they are worried about will affect us as well. We also have no intelligence sources of our own to draw upon although we havent contacted the Germans or the British yet.

oeDo you think we should contact our NATO allies Director

oeNot at the moment General, I think we should make contact with the CIA as soon as possible and also explore other intelligence options.

oeLieutenant-Colonel Gallagher what reconnaissance assets does the USAF currently have available

oeSir at present we have two Phantoms equipped for recon missions, but they at Jever Air Base in Northern Germany. There are further assets in England but as ever aviation fuel shortages is a major issue for us. To be blunt we have some avgas but not enough to justify a low priority recon mission over a yet undetermined target in Romania. For such a mission it might be more economical to involve the Luftwaffe or the Royal Air Force.

oeThank you for your opinions Gentlemen. I think contacting the CIA has to be our first priority to determine what the hell is going on. Ill conclude this meeting on the basis of that. Lieutenant Riley could you stay and prepare a coded message for transmission to our CIA cousins in the Balkans.

[RN7]

1230 Hours First Southwestern Front Headquarters, Hofburg Palace, Vienna Austria

General Baranov commander of the First Southwestern Front stood up at the end of Colonel Erdman's presentation.

"Thank you Comrade Colonel that was a very informative lecture about the situation in Central Europe. I had heard that the Americans had withdrawn from Europe, but I didn't know events in Poland were so bad".

"They are General. Most of the US Army left Europe last November but some American forces remain in Poland and southern Germany. The Germans have pushed our forces out of Germany and most of the western half of Poland is under NATO occupation or is controlled by rebellious Polish forces. Although we still have over 20 divisions in Poland the morale of most of our units has seriously deteriorated and has collapsed in many units. Few divisional commanders are willing to comply with orders from our Central Command unless KGB Border Guard units are present. Although a few Polish units are still loyal to us, most of the Polish military can't be trusted or is hostile to us. The Czechs are in far better condition but they are more concerned with defending their own territory at the moment and loyal East German forces are too small to be of any real significance to us. Basically outside of defensive action we can't go on the offensive in Poland unless we transfer divisions from the Soviet Union".

"Surely the Germans have been as badly affected by the war as us, and do the French not still occupy many parts of West Germany"

"The French still occupy German territory west of the Rhine River and Germany has been devastated by our nuclear weapons. But they have made gains in pacifying many parts of their country, and the Americans also left many tanks and heavy weapons with them when they departed. Our intelligence sources in Germany estimates that the German Army can now field over 30 divisions and most of them are better equipped than our own forces".

"What of the other NATO forces in Germany Colonel, and what is there fuel situation"

"General some American are still in Germany. Perhaps as many as six divisions as well as some other brigades and regiments, although some of these units are known to be dispersed or out of contact with their command structure. We are not sure how much of their air force remains in Europe, but we estimate a minimum of a half dozen squadrons in Germany and England. There is also pro-Civilian Government American forces in Serbia estimated to be one western corps in size. We are not sure what the British are up to. Some of their army was observed leaving for England a few months ago from the port of Bremerhaven, but our agents have also reported large British forces remaining in Northern Germany with some of their air force. The Dutch and Danes have withdrawn to their own territory although a Canadian unit is still fighting with the Americans in Northern Poland. As far as we know oil is as in short supply to them as it is to us and we destroyed their refineries. Their using alcohol based fuels to power their vehicles and have only limited reserves of refined petroleum, diesel oil and aviation fuel. But they are still getting some oil from somewhere. We think the British or Norwegians might have reactivated some offshore oil platforms in the North Sea but we are not aware of any functional oil refinery in NATO territory in Western Europe".

"Colonel Erdman if NATO forces are strengthening in Germany, how will we be able to advance against them in our current situation. Although we still have some ammunition and supplies our fuel reserves are very low and will be rapidly exhausted in any major future offensive. We also have no functional airpower as there is no stocks of aviation fuel in this theatre to support air operations".

"General in February out Army engineers reactivated one of the Ploesti oil refineries in Romania. It's only running on 5 percent capacity, but we have been refining stocks of petroleum and aviation fuel from the active oil wells in Ploesti for the past few months. Central Command sent an entire Army from the Ukraine into Romania to secure these stocks and the refinery two weeks ago. We expect to be able to mobilise our army for the first time in years and have fuel for air operations. Outside of the staff of the Strategic Central Command in Ryazan and our commanders in Romania you are the first to know about it. Over the next two weeks we will be reactivating air bases in eastern Austria and Hungary for offensive operations against NATO".

[RN7]

1500 Hours CIA Balkan Station, US IV Corps Headquarters, Uzice Serbia

"Captain King the Lieutenant tells me you have a radio transmission from the Military Government forces. What are its contents"

"Director the DIA has agreed to meet with us and have asked for a rendezvous in three days in Austria. The message states 0800 hours at the railway station in a place called Arnoldstein".

"I'll need a map to look that one up Captain. Could you go back to the radio and send this message I have prepared for the Military Government. I also have another message for you to send to the commander of the 76th Infantry Division in Titograd. I need them to prepare to evacuate from Montenegro and get ready to move the division to Uzice as soon as possible".

"Lieutenant can you find Arnoldstein on the maps"

"It's on the border with Italy and Slovenia Director, about 8 miles southwest of Villach. It's a small enough place and we don't know if it's still inhabited but according to intelligence we have on Austria Villach is still under the control of the Soviet 41st Army. The Italians are out of the war as far as we know and the Slovenians are anti-Soviet, but it could be a bit hairy if we encounter any patrols in the area."

[Webstral]

Excellent work, my friend!

[RN7]

1820 Hours Brumoski Air Base Austria

One of the guards manning the guard hut ran into the mess building to inform Captain Gavrilov that a vehicle was approaching the base. Gavrilov slammed his meal down on the dining table and rushed out the door with his jacket and cap in hand. The guards at the gates loaded their weapons as well as brushing themselves down as they weren't sure who was approaching. Gavrilov grabbed his field glasses and examined the vehicle approaching along the tree lined road in the failing light of the sky as dusk was approaching. "Stand at ease men it's one of ours, I think it's one of the utility vehicle that left for Vienna this morning".

Gavrilov and the guards stood to attention and saluted the officers who stepped out of the UAZ-469 at the gate to the base.

"Good evening Captain Gavrilov please stand at ease. I hope that the General flew off on time this morning, do you have anything left to eat for the Colonel and myself"

At the officers table Colonel Erdman and Major Kurakin relaxed and took out a couple of bottles of vodka from their bag. "Please give a few glasses to your men Captain and then join us for dinner".

"You know Captain this is not my first time at this air base, I was here in 1997 when we took it from the Austrians. I was a Captain then like yourself and a member of the VDB. We were sent in from Hungary by helicopter and told that Brumoski was only lightly defended by reserve troops and that we could capture it in 15 minutes. They shot down two of our helicopters and killed 34 of my unit. I got a bullet in the shoulder and some shrapnel in my leg from a grenade. I spent a month in hospital after we took the base, tough sons of bitches those Austrians. I can tell by your accent that you're a Balt, so are the Major and myself".

"Yes Colonel I grew up in Vilnius in Lithuania and my family is a mixture of Lithuanian and Russian. Where do you and the Major come from Sir"

"Were both from Latvia Captain, but the Major is a Russian and I'm German".

Gavrilov looked at Erdman carefully before replying. The Colonel was well over six feet tall and a lean 250 pounds, and Gavrilov could see by the old scars on his face and flattened knuckles on his large hands that he had probably physically demonstrated to quite a few men the error of taking exception to his German ancestry in the past. "We are a mixed lot Colonel, there were people who claimed all sorts of ancestry in my town when I was growing up"

Erdman smiled "That's a very diplomatic answer Gavrilov but relax I'm not going to kill you. I'm a Soviet like yourself. My great-grandfather came to Latvia from Germany in the late 19th Century and bought a large farm and a few hundred hectares of land. His first farmhouse was burned down by the German Army during the First World War, and then the land was seized by the Bolsheviks in 1919 and then by the Poles in 1920. By the time he and my grandfather got the farm back on its feet he died and the Nazis invaded and burned it down again. My family doesn't care to much for the Germans".

"Captain Gavrilov the Colonel and I will be staying at the base for a few days. We are expecting a detachment of engineers to arrive soon and upgrade the base facilities and resurface the runway. Over the next few weeks your base along with a few others in Austria will be quite a busy place".

[RN7]

0730 Hours Arnoldstein Austria, 11 April 2001

Six men trudge through the waterlogged fields and woodlands a few kilometers south of the village of Arnoldstein in the emerging light of the dawn. The Slovenian guide had brought them across the border in the early hours of the morning after a stopover in the village of Kranjska Gora near the Austrian border the night before. The Slovenian Army had provided an experienced guide and some provisions to take them into Austria near were the border meets with Italy. Agent Sanchez, Sergeant Jones and three other armed soldiers had made their way up from Uzice in Serbia a few days before. Sanchez had highly sensitive documents in a water tight bag given to him by Director Martelli, with instructions to not allow it to fall into enemy hands at all costs.

Looking around the fields and outlines of farm houses silhouetted in the distance Sanchez thought to himself that the war seemed to have bi-passed this part of Austria. Taking in the morning air he could hear farm animals stirring in the distance, and the fences around fields and even the road signs on the few back roads they had traveled over were still intact. Relaxed but also a bit tense with excitement that they were finally reaching their destination, Sanchez ordered his men to check and load their weapons and be aware as he knew that a large Soviet Army garrison was located in the city of Villach less than ten miles away. Stopping at the first building they reached at the southern edge of Arnoldstein, Sergeant Jones pulled out a detailed map of southern Austria and checked were exactly they were and were the railway station was. Pointing to the street ahead of him the Sergeant spoke to the group. "The station is around the corner about 500 feet down the next street on the left. There should be two large buildings in front of it".

As the group started to walk down the first street they are startled by a loud voice screaming at them in German. As they stop and look around and draw their weapons, they are surrounded by a force of about twenty men aiming automatic rifles at them from multiple levels of buildings on both sides of the street. Panicked and knowing that they are outgunned and surrounded another voice shouts out at them in American English. "Relax guys were NATO. Please lower your weapons and I'll come out and meet you ".

From one of the buildings on the right at the end of the street a tall man emerges from the doorway dressed in civilian outdoor clothing flanked by two other men in US Army fatigues. " Good morning and welcome to Austria Gentlemen. I'm agent O'Neill of the Defence Intelligence Agency and we have been watching you approach Arnoldstein for the past 30 minutes. My two colleagues are Colonel Parker and Captain Washington from the US Fourth Army headquarters in Munich. The men pointing guns at you are Mountain troopers of the 310th Austrian Gebirgsjager Division".

"You really got us cold O'Neill we thought you were the Russians. I'm agent Sanchez from the Central Intelligence Agency and my men are from the US IV Corps. Director Martelli sends his regards but he regrets that he could not make the trip as travel is not as easy as it used to be".

"Don't worry about the Russians in these parts Sanchez; they don't come west of Villach unless they're in tanks. The Germans make a point of placing Austrian troops close to the frontline with the Soviets all the way up to the border with Czechoslovakia. The Austrians love to bushwhack or snipe at any Russian patrol which tries moving west. It's become like a sport to the Austrians now and the Russians know they are out in the country waiting for them. Please come on into the building and we'll discuss things over some hot coffee".

Sanchez and Sergeant Jones followed O'Neill and Colonel Parker into the main door of the building at the end of the street, while the others in the party are offered a flask of coffee and cigarettes outside from Captain Washington and a large shaven headed Austrian NCO. O'Neill sat at the table in the main downstairs room of the building and offers Sanchez and Jones a cup of freshly brewed coffee. "Well Agent Sanchez what is so important that you have come all the way from Serbia to meet with us"

"Agent O'Neill we have had reports from our operatives on the ground in Romania about increased Soviet military activity. Columns of armor were observed moving across the border from the Ukraine more than two weeks ago, and as of two days ago they are reportedly still moving into Romania from the Ukraine and Moldavia. They are reportedly heading towards Ploesti and to the northwest of the country near Hungary. The Russians have sealed off Ploesti so we don't know what's going on there, but newly deployed helicopters have been seen in Romania and aircraft have been heard overflying Romanian airspace at night. We think they're getting ready for something big, either a move against you through Austria or Czechoslovakia or against us through Romania and Serbia. Whatever they are up to Ploesti holds the key to it".

"That's fairly alarming news Agent Sanchez. The Fourth Army and our NATO allies will want to know about this. What does the Civilian Government and the US IV Corps propose to do about it"

"Director Martelli has given me sealed documents in this bag for you to give to Director Freeman. Off the record if the Soviets are heading for us then we are not going to be able to do that much about it other than moving out of Serbia and fighting a rear guard action. Director Martelli wants to put aside our differences with the Military Government in the wider interest of the American's still in Europe, and with the agreement of the commanders of our divisions he wants us to rejoin the rest of the US Forces in Europe. But we also have a problem with the Serbs who will turn on us if we show signs of suddenly withdrawing from their civil war with the Croats and the other powers in Yugoslavia".

"Thank you for your candidness Agent Sanchez and I will have this bag in Munich before the end of the day. I expect the Military Government will make contact with your Director as soon as possible. In the mean time you are welcome to travel back to Salzburg with us this morning, or the Austrians can escort you back to Slovenia".

"Thanks for the offer Agent O'Neill but I think we need to get back to Serbia as soon as possible. But I think my men could do with a hot meal before we travel if that's on offer as well"

[RN7]

1000 Hours CIA Balkan Station, US IV Corps Headquarters, Uzice Serbia, 12 April 2001

Captain King walked into the staff offices and asked the Lieutenant on duty to allow him to speak with the General. oeGeneral Collins is in an important meeting with Director Martelli and some of the staff.

oeIts important Lieutenant we have word from the Military Government and the Serbs are at the gates causing trouble.

oeCome in Captain King the Lieutenant tells me you have some important news for us.

oeGeneral the Military Government has sent a transmission provisionally agreeing to Director Martellis requests. They are awaiting a reply to confirm this and what steps the Civilian Government intends to take next. The Serbs are also raising hell outside the compound. A contingent of Serb officers has pulled up at the gates demanding that we send the 76th Division back to Titograd.

oeI thought they would be up here soon enough. Captain could you tell the Serbian officers that the 76th Division is being moved as part of a redeployment of our forces, and Ill have the Lieutenant prepare a transmission for the Military Government after our meeting is over. Those Serbs are driving me mad; you know they have been playing us for years. The Russians are in Belgrade and Sarajevo and the Serbs claim that they have been fighting them, but our agents have seen Serbian troops in Belgrade and right across Bosnia. They know weve been cut off from the Civilian Government and other US forces since 99, and there using us to keep the Croats and Albanians busy while they carve up the remains of Yugoslavia for themselves. If the Russians head towards Serbia they will quickly turn against us.

oeGeneral if we try and extradite ourselves from Yugoslavia the Serbs will also turn on us.

oeI know Director if we pull our 7,000 troops out of Yugoslavia were going to need either a very good diversion or something to intimidate the Serbs with. We also need to contact Colonel Turner with the 80th Division in Split to quickly mobilize them for a move out of Croatia.

[RN7]

1600 Hours US Fourth Army Headquarters, Luitpoldkaserne, Munich Germany

O'Neill stepped out of the olive colored Mercedes G-Wagon in the forecourt of Luitpoldkaserne. He was feeling tired after the three hour flight from Salzburg in the DIA helicopter, and the drive from Erding Air Base had taken another hour. A heavily built Sergeant greeted him and escorted him to the Fourth Army offices were Lieutenant Riley walked with him towards the Generals office. "General Fischer agent O'Neill has returned from Austria".

"Thank you Lieutenant. Please come in Agent O'Neill, I'm sure you know Director Freeman. We received the bag that you sent up from Austria last night and have contacted the Civilian Government forces in Serbia earlier today and have requested further instructions from them. Do you have any further information to add from your meeting with the CIA agents"

"General I met with a CIA agent named Sanchez yesterday morning who seemed genuinely alarmed at the situation developing in Romania. Their agents on the ground in Romania have reported heavy Soviet military activity as well as the movement of military aircraft, and they think that they are preparing for an offensive through Austria against us or against their own forces in Yugoslavia. We haven't noticed any buildup of Soviet forces along the front in central Austria, and our agents in Vienna haven't reported anything out of the ordinary. However the CIA seems to think that whatever the Soviets are up to we will find the answer in Ploesti, while Sanchez also expressed some concern about the high probability of the Serbs attacking them if they suddenly withdraw from Yugoslavia."

"Our own analysts also believe that whatever is going on in Ploesti could provide an answer to what the Soviets are up to, and the fact that aircraft movements have been reported in Romania makes finding that out an even higher priority to us. Other than increasing the alertness of our eyes on the ground in Austria we can't really do much until we find out what's going on there. But I will have to contact the Germans now to let them know that we have some concerns about a Soviet buildup in the east so as to warn their forces in Austria. Director Martelli do you have any proposals about how we can help the Civilian Government with their predicament with the Serbs"

"General other than sending a large military force into Yugoslavia which we can't do our best course of action might be to create the illusion that we are going to this. The Serbs know that the Civilian Government forces are on their own in Yugoslavia, but if they suddenly find out that this is no longer the case they may back off. However we could only do this if we know for sure that the IV Corps is planning to leave Yugoslavia and we would have to do it during a coordinated withdrawal in cooperation with our own forces, because if the Russians find out what the Civilian Government is up to they would cause them a lot of problems".

"Director I'll leave it up to you to organize a suitable schedule for the withdrawal of the IV Corps from Yugoslavia, and I expect you to keep me updated about it and about how you intend to organise a ruse to handle the Serbs. Agent O'Neill I need you return to Salzburg tomorrow and have your assets in Austria keep a close eye on what the Russians are up to in Austria. Lieutenant Riley I need you to contact Lieutenant-Colonel Gallagher in Neuburg to have the Air Force prepare an aircraft for a reconnaissance flight over Romania, the Director has made a list of sites we need to focus on".

[RN7]

0700 Hours DIA Station, Neuburg Air Base, Germany, 13 April 2001

Lieutenant Daley walked out of the signals room and headed towards the flight control room looking for Major Grant; the Air Force liaison with the DIA. "Major Sir Jever Air Base has just been on to us. Their first RF-4C Phantom is grounded due to engine problems, while the HIAC-1 LOROP optical unit in the second Phantom is not working. They can fit the LOROP system from the first Phantom to the second Phantom but it hasn't been used in over a year and they still have to test it to see if it's working. They can still send the second Phantom out with other types of low or high altitude cameras but it will take some time to fit them for whatever configuration we want.

"What's so special about that LOROP camera then Lieutenant Daley"

"Sir the LOROP camera has a 66 inch focal mount that can take high-resolution images of objects up to 100 miles out. As the Phantoms are unarmed and the mission is over hostile territory the commander of the 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing has stressed his preference for a long ranged optical unit to be fitted in case the Phantom air crew encounters any bogies."

"How long before they can test LOROP or fit the other cameras on the Phantom"

"About 12 hours at the earliest Major. However Jever said they also have a Marine Corps F-18D Hornet fitted with an ATARS reconnaissance system. The Hornet was deployed on one of the Navy's carriers but landed in Germany during one of the naval battles in the Norwegian Sea a few years ago. ATARS has low and medium range optical cameras and an infra-red sensor suite. It doesn't have the range of LOROD but its highly capable and the Hornet is armed. The Marines said that their ready to go whenever we want then to".

[RN7]

1000 Hours Western Romania

Major Bauer remarked to his navigator Captain Harrison that their flight from Jever had been very smooth so far. Thinking back to the briefing the Air Force had given them at the air base two hours ago, Bauer thought that everything was going to schedule. The Air Force believed that the Warsaw Pact air defence network was as degraded as our own, therefore there would be little or no operational radars, surface-to-air missiles or fighter aircraft. They were given a flight plan to fly east into Hungary and then southeast into Romanian territory, then to head north and then west back into Hungary before returning to Germany. Their flight path would take them over a number of targets of interest to the Fourth Army commanders in Munich; Cluj, Oradea, Ploesti, Suceava, Satu Mare, Timosoara and some adjacent air bases. Also stretches of highways, a few border crossings with the Ukraine, and the Hungarian border city of Debrecen and a stretch of the E71 highway which connected with Budapest.

The Air Force had also instructed the Hornet to remain at an altitude of between 5,000 and 10,000 feet over targets to allow the ATARS medium altitude optical unit to scan at its optimum range and avoid unwanted attention. However over Ploesti and stretches of the highways they were to drop to an altitude of 1,000 feet to allow the low altitude optical unit and infrared scan to work best. Although the ATARS was fitted in the Hornets nose were the 20mm cannon is usually mounted, they were still armed with four AIM-9 Sidewinders and two AIM-120 ASRAAM air-to-air missiles, chaff pods and infrared decoys in case they were intercepted. The Air Force has stressed to Bauer and Harrison the importance of their mission and to avoid combat at all costs. If their mission was compromised by flying at lower altitudes or enemy fighter activity they were either to remain at higher altitudes or return to Germany.

So far they had successfully completed reconnaissance of the selected targets in Hungary and western Romania, and were rapidly heading past Timosoara in a southeasterly direction towards Ploesti. Bauer hadn't noticed anything out of the ordinary even when they were at low altitude but he was confident that the ATARS would pick up anything on the ground. Captain Harrison cleared the area ahead for radar signatures and advised Bauer to begin to drop altitude for the low altitude camera and infrared scan as they would be approaching Ploesti in less than five minutes. "Dropping altitude to 2,000 feet for approach Captain, speed now 400 knots".

"Major there should be a river coming into view in a few moments which flows in a southerly direction a few miles to the west of Ploesti. We should follow the path of the river and then bank northeast and prepare to pass over the city".

"Captain the river is coming into view, lowering altitude to 1,000 feet and speed to 300 knots".

"ATARS scan is now active Major. Prepare to bank northeasterly and follow the path of DN1A highway straight in front of us which heads directly into the city. Primary target is an oil refinery lying due north in our flight path on the northern outskirts of the city. The low altitude optical has a field view of 138 degrees, and the infrared has a wide mode of 140 degrees and a narrow mode of 70 degrees. We should get a really good scan of everything in Ploesti at present altitude".

As the Hornet passed over Ploesti Major Bauer could see a fair bit of activity on the street and roads of the city, with many vehicles neatly parked up or moving around. "Major we have a missile lock, ground based surface-to-air missile heading towards us. Counter measures activated, keep on present course and altitude until we clear primary target".

[RN7]

1030 Hours CIA Balkan Station, US IV Corps Headquarters, Uzice Serbia

A sharp whistling noise broke the stillness of the morning over the small city of Uzice, as the sound of two loud explosions in the American barracks shuddered through the city. For a few moments there was no sound as smoke billowed out of the heavily guarded American compound. Then the sound of a claxon vibrated across the city as disoriented soldiers and civilians scampered about in a state of confusion. A team of fire fighters and medics hurried across the courtyard towards a burning building which served as a mess hall and recreation area for the troops in the base.

General Collins ran outside the staff offices asking what had happened to some of the panicking soldiers who were assisting the fire fighters. The General followed the soldiers running towards the mess hall as a medic appeared at the door of the building and stopped at the Generals request. "Sir the building was hit by some artillery. Nobody was killed but four of our catering staff is injured. We were lucky it wasn't during our meal times or it would have been carnage in there".

Twenty minutes later back in the staff offices Captain King asks to speak with the General. "Come in Captain do you have information about who or what attacked us".

"General it was a mortar attack, they fired three rounds at us. Two hit the mess hall and one was a dud which landed behind one of the outer buildings. It was fired from a 120mm mortar, probably a UB M-52 which is a copy of the Soviet 2B mortar and has a maximum range of over 5,000 meters".

"Most of the 42nd Division is camped out on the plains to the west facing Croatia or guarding the five roads out of the city. They must have sneaked in through the mountains to the east during the night. I suppose there no way of telling if it was the Serbs or someone else Captain".

"No sir the UB M-52 was standard issue to the Yugoslavian Army before the war, anyone in the country could now be using one. Also General I have to report an urgent message from our scout teams in the north who have reported two large Serbian forces heading in our direction. One is in Valjevo about 30 miles due north of us, and the other force has moved down from Belgrade and is currently near Casak to the west. The commander of the 76th Division has also sent a transmission to us. They have reached Priboj about 25 miles southwest of Uzice, but they have been shadowed by elements of the Serbian 1st Provisional Mountain Brigade since they left Titograd".

"Captain will you find Director Martelli and give him this information. It's time the Military Government directly intervened to help our situation".

[RN7]

1030 Hours Central Romania

Major Bauer thinking back over the past 25 minutes commented to Captain Harrison that it had been the scariest moment he had faced in an aircraft since his units duel with Soviet fighters over Norway in 1998. The chaff dispenser had dealt with the ground based surface-to-air missile that had been launched at the Hornet over Ploesti. But the Soviets had also opened up on them with a lot of flak which they were lucky to escape considering their low altitude and flight speed over the city. Harrison had also detected a second ground based missile launched at them as they cleared their primary target in Ploesti, but it must have been a personal short ranged missile as it didn't trouble them once they increased their altitude and flight speed as they exited Ploesti. Harrison had suggested that they alter their flight plan by veering west into central Romania as there was a lower probability of being detected by Soviet forces. Although they had surprised the Soviets, they were now aware of their presence over Romania and any active air defence would now be looking for them.

The change in their mission flight plan had also added on extra time. They still needed to get a good look at the city of Suceava in the north east near the Ukraine and some of the border crossings. Harrison had suggested they bank to the east to prepare for a fly-over of Suceava. About 20 miles south of Suceava they needed to bring the Hornet up to the northwest, and then approach at an altitude of 8-10,000 feet to let the ATARS get a good scan and optimize their approach over the border crossings before returning home. "Major Bauer can you reduce our flight speed and lower our altitude to 10,000 feet. We need to bank due northeast in five seconds. F**K we have a radar lock on us, abort my last instruction and bank the Hornet south and increase our speed and altitude".

"What is it Captain"

"The ALR-67 receiver has detected a radar lock on us. It must be a long ranged radar as were over 25 miles from Suceava and were not near any known military bases. If it is it means long ranged missiles and fighters. Get us as far south as quickly as you can and then bank to the west, we'll try and double back on our previous course through central Romania and get home. We will have to abort the rest of the mission. Damn we have a missile lock-on. MAWS receiver is detecting two incoming bogies closing fast. Major get us out of here as fast as you can, counter measures and jammers are now active."

"Altitude now 20,000 feet and speed at 900 knots, where are the bogies Captain"

"First missile is closing fast. Jammers are having no affect, launching chaff".

"I'll release the drop tank Captain it will give us extra speed".

"Chaff failed to defeat incoming missile, launching infrared decoys"

"Decoy has successfully deflected missile, but we have no more left and the second bogie is five miles out and approaching fast".

"We still have time to take evasive action. Banking Hornet to the west and dropping our altitude. Sidewinders now armed and launching".

"The Bogie has evaded the first Sidewinder but the second missile has impacted with incoming target. Congratulations Major now get us the hell out of here. Our current direction is due northwest, we should get home on present fuel levels provided we don't encounter anything else on the way".

"Captain do you have any idea what that was

"No Major but it was a long ranged missile that's for sure and it was a smart one. I thought we were going down for a few moments".

Bauer lowered their flight speed and altitude to 10,000 feet to save some fuel and allow the ATARS to pick up anything of interest that they might flyover. Flying due northwest into Hungarian airspace Bauer thought to himself that their mission had still been a success. They had completed 80% of their mission parameters, including a low level reconnaissance of Ploesti which was their primary target. Bauer knew that they now hadn't enough fuel to reach Jever, but they should easily be able to make one of the air bases in southern Germany.

"Major were 50 miles away from the Austrian border but the radar warning receiver is tracking three airborne targets to the north. Soviets are in the air looking for us".

"Damn I thought we were home and dry. I hope their only Migs. Even a Fulcrum is short ranged, but were going to be in big trouble if their Flankers. They built that beast to take out an F-15 and it has the speed and range to catch us".

"Major their now heading towards us and closing fast, I have a missile lock-on ".

"Arming missiles now Captain. Launching both of the AIM-120's, that should keep them occupied for a few moments. Afterburners on, were getting out of here as fast as possible.

"We won't make Germany Major, but we should have enough juice to reach one of our air bases in western Austria".

"Switch IFF on and break radio silence. Hopefully the Soviets will pick up an increase in NATO radio traffic and one of our air defence battery will switch on their radar and scare the Soviets from following us".

[RN7]

1500 Hours US Fourth Army Headquarters, Luitpoldkaserne, Munich Germany

Lieutenant Riley walked towards the staff office with a printed radio transmissions for the General.

"Lieutenant come in, what have you got for me this afternoon".

"General Fischer I have two urgent messages for you. The first message is from Agent O'Neill in Austria. The Marine reconnaissance aircraft we sent into Romania this morning has landed safely in Salzburg Airport. It encountered some trouble over Romania and was even pursued by Soviet fighters into Austria, but it has completed its mission and the pilots and the tapes are on their way up to Neuburg for debriefing and evaluation. The second message is from the Civilian Government commander of the IV Corps in Serbia. They are now asking for our direct help with a situation that is rapidly developing with the Serbian army".

"Lieutenant could you contact Director Freeman who left for Neuburg yesterday and have him contact me as soon as possible. I need him to keep me informed of what intelligence we got from that recon flight and we need to put into action that plan I discussed with him to help the Civilian Government forces in Serbia."

[RN7]

1100 Hours CIA Balkan Station, US IV Corps Headquarters, Uzice Serbia, 15 April 2001

General Collins sat in his chair at the head of the conference table discussing events of the past few days with Director Martelli and Colonel Martinez; the senior surviving commander of the 42nd Infantry Division.

"Director we have to meet with that vulture Petrovic in a few minutes. His convoy was spotted approaching Uzice 15 minutes ago by one of our patrols on the eastern road and we expect him to pull into the compound at any moment. Are you certain the Military Government were made aware of our situation and are going to help us".

"General we received a transmission from Neuburg last night acknowledging our request. It was sent directly from Director Freeman himself and has been approved by the commanding General of the US Fourth Army in Munich. They are sending a surprise package for Petrovic as requested. I knew Freeman at Langley before the war, I can assure you he is an honourable man".

"Colonel Martinez what's the situation with the other divisions and with our situation outside of town"

"General the 76th Division is still at Priboj. A force of unknown partisans is blocking the road to Uzice and their still being shadowed by Serbian regulars in the hills. Colonel Turner with the 80th Division in Croatia has reported no trouble since they evacuated Split. Croatian forces have shadowed them but are not obstructed them and they are reporting making good progress towards Slovenia. My own patrols have reported two Serbian forces of brigade strength approaching Uzice about ten miles away. One force is coming from the north with an estimated strength of about 600 troops including some cavalry, while Petrovic's outfit to the east has well over a thousand troops. They have no armor but they have plenty of light vehicles of the "technical" type and a fair number of towed artillery and mortar pieces. I've redeployed the 42nd Division to the northern and eastern approaches to defend the city should the Serbs attack us, but we are running short on heavy ordinance of all types".

"I've met Petrovic on a few occasions before, he is as slippery as an eel and one of the most brutal commanders in the Balkans. His troops have been up to all sorts of racketeering and vices since the war started, the Serbian command knew what they were doing sending him down here to intimidate us".

Captain King appeared at the staff office door interrupting the discussion. "Sir the Serbian contingent had arrived in the compound. Lieutenant General Petrovic is at the entrance to the staff office and is demanding to speak with you".

"Thank you Captain King, please let the Lieutenant General in. Now Gentleman when Petrovic comes in don't say anything to him no matter what he says and let me do the talking".

At Captain King's request the three burly Military Policemen guarding the front door allowed Petrovic to enter the staff offices. He stormed straight pass King and walked straight into the conference room ignoring the staff in the reception room. Petrovic was a large man in his late 40's and wore Yugoslav Army camouflage field dress with a Serbian flag on his arm and the distinctive Serbian Sajkaca field cap with a rank insignia badge. His attire and demeanor had an air of menace around him as his piercing light blue eyes peered at the General and the others in the room. "General Collins why have you pulled your forces out of Montenegro"

"Good morning Lieutenant General Petrovic, we haven't pulled any of our forces out of Montenegro".

"General the commander of our first 1st Provisional Mountain Brigade has reported directly to me that your 76th Infantry Division has withdrawn from Titograd, leaving our forces in Montenegro exposed to Montenegrin and Albanian criminals and bandits. I see that your barracks has also suffered from attack recently. This is what our forces in Montenegro, Bosnia and Croatia have to put up with on a daily basis".

"Lieutenant General the 76th Division is being redeployed. We don't know the identity of those who attacked us, although from what our patrols tell us the only military forces in this area are Serbian".

"What are you implying General. The Serbian Army is an ally of the United States Civilian Government, we are not terrorists. You know the Russian commander in Belgrade and his KGB spies has approached our General Stankovic proposing a military alliance, and they have offered us weapons and fuel supplies in our war against the Croats and other separatists. The General has so far refused to deal with them as he values our alliance with the United States, but if you push our generosity we will be forces to form an alliance with them in the interests of our national security".

"Lieutenant General the United States also values its alliance with the Republic of Yugoslavia and the Serbian Provisional Army, but our division is being redeployed under orders from our higher command".

"Please General don't take me for a fool. Where are your forces being redeployed to and where is your higher command We know you are on your own in Yugoslavia and are now cut off from the rest of your government who has no military forces outside of America. Do you know that even your rival Military Government pulled its army out of Europe six months ago There are no more American forces left in Europe and you have no higher command and are completely on your own. If you are now planning to withdraw from our civil war then we will consider you an enemy".

"Lieutenant General we are well aware that American forces withdrew from Europe last November, as both the Civilian and Military factions of the United States has reconciled their differences and are now fighting under one command again. Some of our army was withdrawn to the United States at the end of last year but they left behind their vehicles and heavy equipment, and part of our army and air force has remained in Europe. We are now under the command of NATO and the US Fourth Army in Munich. They are the ones who have ordered the redeployment of our forces".

"YOU'RE PART OF NATO! Why we were not informed of this Where are your forces going to be deployed and is NATO going to help us

Lieutenant General some of our divisions are being redeployed to Austria to be outfitted with new equipment. Also since the Italians have withdrawn from the Warsaw Pact we can now send our naval forces into the Adriatic Sea without risk of attack. One of our helicopter carriers is preparing to land a contingent of Marines in Split to reinforce our troops in Croatia. NATO is also planning to send military forces to Serbia to aid you. A US Army aviation brigade and a German Army panzer division is preparing to move into Yugoslavia to help you liberate Belgrade from Soviet occupation, and a couple of German and Austrian mountain infantry brigades will also be sent to help you fight the Soviets in Bosnia".

"My God General you can't send German soldiers into our territory. My father fought with Tito's Partisans against the Germans during the last war. They are brutal and will side with the Croatian Chetniks against us. We have long memories in this part of the world; the Serbian Army will not allow it".

"Petrovic who exactly is now occupying your country The Germans are our NATO allies and also yours it now seems. I'm not sending anyone into Serbia but you wanted to know who we are taking orders from and where our troops are being sent. If you don't like it I will tell the German Army commanders when I meet with them later this week, but our forces are still going to Austria whether you like it or not".

"General Collins you know that Serbian forces are outside of Uzice and awaiting my orders We can also bring many more forces and tanks down here in a matter of days".

Before Petrovic could finish his sentence the thumping sound of an approaching helicopter pulsated through the city. Petrovic rushed to the office window and could see a small dark helicopter landing at the helipad in the barracks. Petrovic followed by General Collins, Colonel Martinez and Director Martelli walked out into the courtyard to get a better view of the landing helicopter. The Serbian soldiers in Petrovic's convoy dismounted from their vehicles and started to draw their arms. Colonel Martinez gestured to the two dozen troops of the 42nd Division and the Military Policemen in the barracks to surround them and aim their weapons at them and neutralize any potential threat.

The helicopter was a German Army Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm Bo 105 with a prominent black iron cross logo on its fuselage. It was a light observation and transport model with four seats. Three men dismounted from the helicopter; Agent O'Neill, an American officer in Marine Corps field dress and an efficient looking German Army officer wearing Flecktarn type camouflage fatigues and a distinct German officers peaked cap.

As Petrovic and the American officers acutely observed the three men walking towards them the sound of more helicopters could be heard approaching the city. These helicopters had a different sound to the small German one that had just landed. Looking up into the sky Petrovic could see two large black helicopters circling the outskirts of Uzice. One helicopter broke away from the other and flew over the barracks at slow speed about 30 feet above the American compound. Petrovic and everyone assembled in the courtyard could see that it was a US Army Apache gunship fully loaded with anti-tank missiles, rocket pods and a 30mm chain gun under its nose. Petrovic was left under no illusion about the firepower of the helicopters and what they were capable of doing to his forces.

"General Collins the Fourth Army sends its regards. I'm Agent O'Neill of the Defence Intelligence Agency, and this is Major Thompson of the Marine Corps and Oberst Schulz of the Bundeswehr".

"Welcome to Serbia Gentlemen. Lieutenant General Petrovic it would save me a lot of trouble if you could express your opinions of the German Army to the Oberst who has kindly travelled down from Germany to meet with us. I'm sure he would love to hear them and pass on your thoughts to our NATO commanders".

Petrovic looked at General Collins as if he was fit to kill. "General I need to report to my own commanders and I have get back to my men as soon as possible". Looking sternly at General Collins Petrovic's exclaimed" We will remember this day" before walking towards his convoy and ordering his men sharply to leave.

General Collins thought out loud as Petrovic walked towards his vehicle" I'll bet you will you horrible bastard". Director Martelli and the other officers smiled.

"Agent O'Neill you timed your arrival to perfection. Where did you get the helicopters from"

"General we took some of the Seventh Army when they evacuated last November. We have a few in storage along with some vehicles. The Slovenians have agreed to allow your forces to cross their territory into Austria. We agreed to give them a bit of military aid and the Germans have also agreed to base a small contingent of troops in their territory close to Serbia to deter any Serbian attack on them. We will send a helicopter down to pull your staff out when you want to leave, and the Germans will send down the odd flight or two over the next few weeks to give the impression that they are getting involved in their civil war. What did you tell Petrovic to piss him off"

"I told him the Marines are invading Croatia and half of the German Army will be marching on Belgrade. I think he believed it".

[Webstral]

Think seriously about turning this into a Twilight: 2000 novel. You could be the shot in the arm that the genre needs.