Read Opening Moves (The Red Gambit Series) Online
Authors: Colin Gee
Opening Moves (The Red Gambit Series) (74 page)
A nation which makes the final sacrifice for life and freedom does not get beaten.
Kemal Ataturk
Eisenhower was slightly buoyed by the first piece of news. At last, some organisation was coming on line for his air assets, or more accurately, what was left of them.
Some aircraft on their way home had been turned around but his air force was still a fraction of what it had been prior to the attack.
None the less, it was a start.
The move to the new headquarters would be implemented in the late evening this very day, before the situation on the ground around Frankfurt became too difficult.
While he and his staff were on the move, Bradley would be in sole command from his army headquarters. That the new headquarters was in the Trianon Palace Hotel, Versailles, worried him a little, as it was the same place he had controlled the final defeat of Germany from in 44-45 and the Russians might come visiting if they understood that. However, its advantages were familiarity, facilities, and proven working layout so Ike went with it.
The loss of the Royal Navy battleship Queen Elizabeth, mined in the waters off Gibraltar, was unfortunate but, actually, not of immediate concern to the man trying to pull the proverbial coals out of the European fire.
Slipping the fifth cigarette of the day between his lips he watched the bustle as the briefing officers prepared themselves and then grimaced, as he looked at the situation map behind them, current as of 0530 according to the markings.
Not so good he thought.
“I need more men.”
Not realising he had spoken his thoughts aloud, he was surprised to receive an answer to his statement.
“And you shall have them Sir.”
Ike turned around to find an RN officer stood at attention and in the act of throwing up an impeccable salute.
Responding in kind or at least the best he could do holding coffee in one hand and a cigarette in the other, he let the man continue.
“Rear-Admiral Roger Dalziel Sir, just flew in from Cherbourg.”
Eisenhower took in the man’s steady gaze.
“Good flight Admiral?”
“Exciting I admit. Prefer the water to the air for my jollies Sir.”
Dalziel left out the fact that his DC 3 aircraft was laying smashed and probably still burning on the Frankfurt runway where it had pancaked after barely escaping pursuing Soviet warplanes, the passenger next to him badly wounded by bullets. His mission was too important to be delayed on such matters.
Eisenhower unburdened himself of his mug and butt.
Fishing in his brief case, which Eisenhower noted was extremely tatty, another sign of extreme Englishness,
’and that looks like blood?
’, Dalziel produced a sheaf of papers bound with neat ribbon hinges.
“The C-in-C suggested that you would want to see these straight away, hence the trip by aircraft.”
Eisenhower could not help himself but stretch out a finger and sample the stain, examining the residue.
“Not mine Sir, one of yours I am sorry to say but he should pull through.”
Eisenhower nodded and produced a handkerchief to clean up with.
“So what is so important that you risk yourself to fly here and share this report with me Commander?”
“The report outlines the resources you can expect to receive which fall under our remit, either by way of army assets at sea or in port, or those that require our transporting to Europe from varying destinations such as Stateside Sir.”
“Ok, that would have been just fine by secure courier. I ask again Admiral, what gives?”
The naval officer looked around to see who might be listening and, easing his collar, he took the plunge.
“I am from Naval Intelligence and we have discovered security issues within the facility at Station X and possibly Bletchley as a whole.”
This Admiral had obviously taken a course in how to immediately get a superiors attention.
“Hence the need to relay matters personally.”
The ramifications of a communications issue involving Bletchley Park were huge.
“What’s compromised Dalziel?”
“To be frank Sir, we are unsure but we appear to have at least two personnel who have prima facie impeccable credentials but now appear to exercise poor judgement in the friends they keep, one of whom seems to have an awful lot of cash to spend.”
“Stroke of luck really, one of our chaps was on holiday in High Wycombe and happened to see one of the blighters having a confidential with a Soviet attaché from their Embassy, who just happens to be the official NKVD Rezident.”
He cleared his throat before continuing.
“We need to wring the offender but first we simply have to know who else bats for the same side, if any. Our advice at this time is to keep high-level radio communications to an absolute minimum and use couriers where possible.”
Eisenhower had a face like thunder.
“This will cripple my ability to react to events and control my forces. How long for?”
“Again I am unsure, but I suspect no more than a week Sir.”
Even those deep in thought on the far side of the room heard Eisenhower’s reaction.
“A goddamned week!”
Controlling himself again and gesturing to his watching staff to get on with their own responsibilities, he took the Admiral by the shoulder and steered him to a nearby recess.
“So, because there is a commie spy in X, I lose full control of my communications for a week. Is that what you’re saying Sir Roger?”
The fact that Ike remembered his title was of no consolation to Dalziel, the man could not have been more uncomfortable.
“We simply must find out if she has accomplices Sir, in order to ensure communications are safe once we have taken her out of the system.”
Eisenhower nearly had a fit.
“You mean she’s still working there?”
“For now yes, but we have our best working this case and we hope to be able to give you back full radio communications sooner than a week.”
Ike inhaled and exhaled deeply, composing himself.
“I think you should try very hard to do just that Admiral. Europe depends upon it.”
Lighting a cigarette, his offer to Dalziel having been declined, Ike thought for a moment.
“OK, I will look at these figures on troops as soon as I can. Please will you go and find the Headquarters Communications Officer and brief him in on the problems and your suggested temporary resolutions.”
Dalziel saluted.
“Yes Sir.”
“Oh and Admiral, get me my radio back or we will be in deep trouble here.”
The Admiral nodded curtly and strode off and with Ike’s statement; a line was drawn under the matter just for the moment.
GRU Lieutenant Colonel Ahbramov walked slowly to the bench seat in the well-tended gardens of the Schloss Gundorf, although the aromatic early morning air was wasted on him, as he was nursing the mother of all hangovers.
He had finally bedded pretty Alexandra Greshkova, partially because he had promised his little ‘Anushka’ a move to an easier post and partially because good Asbach in large quantities loosened her resolve.
That brandy was now eating its way into his consciousness and bringing on the mother of all headaches, which in itself concerned Georgi because he never got hung-over. ‘
Maybe age is taking its toll?
’ The thought worried him.
A drag on his cigarette produced a wave of nausea and he vomited, the spasm producing almost unbearable pain in his head.
Again his vision misted and the headache surged, something he had been putting down to the pressure of work, whereas it was the pressure of blood from the Subarachnoid haemorrhage which was about to take his life.
Within a few seconds there was no way back and Ahbramov slumped on the bench, spending his last few minutes of life uncomprehending and alone.
The vacancy he left was too important to remain unfilled for long and before midday Pekunin promoted Tatiana Nazarbayeva because of her competence as well as his familiarity, creating the first female Colonel in Soviet Military Intelligence.
In the chess game of military intelligence, Nazarbayeva was a rising star indeed.
The briefing had been delayed by a false air-raid alarm but was now about to start. Looking at his watch Zhukov noted that the damn fool aviators had cost him twenty minutes. Damn them. To guard against the reoccurrence of such stupidity, a humourless staff major with a wide range of powers was already on the way to the fighter regiment, having received a very loose brief from his irate Marshall regarding the futures of the two pilots concerned. There would be no second chances. Although reassured that his anti-aircraft defences were alert, aerobatic displays by imbeciles were guaranteed to incur his wrath.
Malinin, conducting the briefing that morning, waited patiently. Zhukov settled in his chair.
“Proceed Comrade General.”
Malinin turned to address the huge map behind him, extended pointer in hand.
“Comrade Marshall, there has been fierce fighting throughout the night as our forces press forward.”
Engaging his commanders eyes, Malinin took advantage of their special relationship.
“Resistance has exceeded our expectations in a number of areas and our casualties have been higher than anticipated.”
Zhukov remained impassive.
“The good news is that their air forces have been heavily disrupted by Kurgan, and we have seen little organised operational direction from them, and what there has been has been limited and we have inflicted some severe losses on those that have tried. We are winning the Air War convincingly.”
It was a bold claim but the facts could not be denied. Few allied sorties made any impact and a number were intercepted and put to the sword.
“Our navy has lost a number of small vessels but has inflicted serious losses on the enemy, although it should be remembered that they have huge maritime resources to call upon. However, the Baltic is definitely closed and our navy has started to interdict the reinforcement line, sinking one large ship and causing huge loss of life amongst the soldiers on board.”
Malinin took a sip of his water to wet his throat.
“The naval war is not a war we can win but our Soviet Fleets are performing magnificently and causing huge problems that will assist us in our goals.”
The General picked up a document in order to quote precisely.
“Pekunin informs us that Tito is extremely offended that he was not informed about our plans and has stated to both the Comrade General Secretary and the Allied leaders that he is remaining neutral until both sides ‘come to their senses’, at which time he will mediate between us.”