Alternate History World War III: 1988, aka "The War of '88"

Tiamat

I've seen the future...
A few more thoughts on the F-18L and F-18A purchases and three countries: Australia, New Zealand, and France.

France is still stewing after the mess with the Chernobyl Incident in 1986 and the Soviet's initial denial of it (I highly recommend the HBO miniseries Chernobyl if you haven't seen it). The coup has them spooked all to hell, reminding them once again who do they fear more on their border, German troops or Soviet troops? And the final insult is the revelation of Biopreparat...

At the UN Security Council after US Secretary of State George Schultz outlines what they've learned about the Biopreparat program from defectors and intel, and the Soviets retort it's all propaganda, the first to stand up is none other than the French
Ministre de l’Europe et des Affaires étrangères , or Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic, Jean-Bernard Raimond, who demands the Soviets open their sites immediately to UN weapons inspectors if indeed the allegations are false. Raimond, who had previously also been an ambassador to Poland as well as the USSR, also demands to know what is happening in Poland and the current whereabouts of Lech Walesa. The Soviet diplomat, a careerist appointed by Gromyko, retorts and proceeds to question France's "supposed independence from Anglo-American imperialist actions" and further questions France's own credibility after "their failures in Southeast Asia against the heroic proletariat of Vietnam, and their continuation of following the Americans in another failure like Beirut, Lebanon, like the four-legged lackeys they are." And the Council breaks down into sheer pandemonium and shouts and insults.

Needless to say, this does not go well with the French. While the Parisians proceed to demonstrate outside the Soviet embassy and chuck eggs and tomatoes at it, Mitterand hosts a press conference where he announces that the French military will be reintegrating into the NATO command structure. The French nuclear arsenal, however, will remain solely answerable to the Republic (and yes, that will be important later). The French military increase focus on modernization, and one aspect is the French Navy, who become impatient with Dassault's wrangling with the Rafale fighter. After some inquiries, the Reagan Administration handles a deal between the French defense ministry, the French Navy and US Navy, and McDonell Douglas to purchase F-18/A's for their carriers. Both Mitterand and Reagan announce the deal as the first symbolic step in "a new joint focus on shared mutual defense between the French Republic and the United States of America."

Australia is also noticing how bad the geopolitical situation is starting to get, and so does New Zealand. The two get their heads together and officially reactivate the ANZACs (Australia and New Zealand Army Corps) that has hasn't been around since WW2. This happens in March of 1987 shortly after George Schultz's presentation at the UN. While the command is established, there's still details to be worked out on what and who gets assigned to the ANZACs. However that quickly becomes a bit more serious when Indonesia has a coup...and turns full-blown Communist. This occurs around May of 1987, and yes, KGB involvement is heavily suspected. Not only that, not long after the Indonesian Revolutionary People's Council is in full control, several Soviet-flagged freighter laden from bow to stern with military hardware arrives in port in Jakarta, escorted by several cruisers and destroyers of the Pacific Fleet. And not just the Soviet surface fleet....two Akula-class submarines and a Soviet Typhoon-class boomer also surface and appear in port "for a show of solidarity with our revolutionary comrades". And that hardware on the freighter ships? It's not just small arms, it's a plethora of Soviet armor and vehicles along with several MI-24 Hind attack helos. And to round it out a dozen or more MIG-29 fighter aircraft. And yes, wouldn't you know, the Indonesians are already making a lot of noise about Papau New Guinea again. And not just noise, now they're getting the hardware to theoretically settle the argument.

So not only is Australia and New Zealand reactivating the ANZACs, which would be no small deal, they're also increasing purchases of weapon upgrades including F-18L's. The Australians and New Zealanders are few in number compared to some other countries though, so their budget allows only so much, hence likely more focus on increased modernization and lethality rather than numbers, though there will certainly be a recruiting drive to fill out the ranks of the ANZACs. Of course, we haven't touched on Korea, or Vietnam, but that will be later. What? You thought the Pacific was going to sit this war out?? :devilish: :LOL:


So, thoughts???

EDIT: Changed the time of the Indonesian coup to May 1987.

ANOTHER EDIT: Had a herp derp moment, changed the potential flashpoint to Papau New Guinea as East Timor was under Indonesian occupation around this time.
 
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LordSunhawk

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Very likely Vietnam will stay out of things completely, because the treaties that would have bound them to the Soviets had expired by 86 and they were just coming off of a war with the PRC. So you'd likely see them waving their hands dramatically and staying the hell out of things. They'd likely try to play off both sides just to be left alone.

Do remember, Reagan was involved in the rapprochement with Vietnam prior to the point of divergence. So at worst they'd play neutral, at best from the western point of view they'd lean against the Soviets (after all, Gromyko was rather friendly to the PRC who I reiterate just finished a war with Vietnam).
 

Tiamat

I've seen the future...
Very likely Vietnam will stay out of things completely, because the treaties that would have bound them to the Soviets had expired by 86 and they were just coming off of a war with the PRC. So you'd likely see them waving their hands dramatically and staying the hell out of things. They'd likely try to play off both sides just to be left alone.

Do remember, Reagan was involved in the rapprochement with Vietnam prior to the point of divergence. So at worst they'd play neutral, at best from the western point of view they'd lean against the Soviets (after all, Gromyko was rather friendly to the PRC who I reiterate just finished a war with Vietnam).

Possibly, but even if Vietnam decides to play the neutral card, there's still the matter of Cam Ranh Bay. It's a significant Soviet naval port facility in Vietnam and one of their most important bases for the Pacific Fleet, one for which they signed a 25-year contract with Vietnam in '79. The USN and RAN will need to suppress and/or neutralize Cam Ranh Bay to effectively take steps to securing the Pacific when hostilities break out. Now, I can see Vietnam telling it's military to stay on the sidelines and let the big boys fight this out, so neutrality would make sense. Leaning against the Soviets when Ivan has got bigger guns and Vietnam is exhausted after it's war with the PRC? That may not be as doable.
 

CarlManvers2019

Writers Blocked Douchebag
@Tiamat
Any chance that the Communists will run out of food and go “Give aid, show solidarity like when we fought the NAZI’s together” and maybe followed up with accusations of Nazism


Got the idea from this fic, the Soviet Union’s leader asked for aid twice during their conflict and after he killed the previous one for being a traitor for doing negotiations to bring about peace
 

Kujo

For the FEDCOM! For the Archon-Prince!
Reagan being a free-market Capitalist and having endured world war II, along with the 'tiny' budgets' of smaller allies why doesn't he suggest a lend-lease program, have all those old tanks, aircraft and ships that can be rapidly refitted or at least made serviceable 'lease-able' to the lesser or smaller allies for something like 10% of the output of the mines in Australia (along with US investment that would allow them to be expanded and made more effective much more rapidly). Allowing them to 'bulk out' with 2nd and 3rd tier equipment while allowing US Reserve and National Guard formations to get lower end 1st tier into their TO&Es and providing the smaller allies the 'funds' (from not having to 'buy' the basics even at a 'discount') to get more and better of 'export' models.

Basically you clear out all the old, marginal stuff (at least for the US) and provide it for 'bases' and 'resources' to allies that the equipment would be useful to (and get rid of your maintenance headaches and the D.C. National Guard still having that M46 Patton that they just can't get rid of) boost production of what you already are producing and get the reserve formations trained on a single standard armed force, knock off the rust of the logistics and transportation network while getting the construction and maintenance folks up to speed by refit kits and 'replacing' mothball items (that would be barely serviceable) with new (even if they are stripped down versions of current state of the art equipment.

You simplify maintenance and production, you clear out your depots of equipment that is barely usable (for the US) and get the logistics and transportation networks up to speed and start supplying them with the additional equipment they need as you see the bottlenecks and issues that arise, you basically keep the industrial base at 'peace' but move it a couple of step closer to total mobilization just by providing nations like New Zealand the equipment and parts needed for their bulking out.

Great Update Thank You!
 

Trace Coburn

BattleTech Starfighter Analyst
More Skyhawks for the RNZAF? Yes, please!

EDIT: much as the F-18L would be a more capable aircraft, it comes back down to budgets, logistics, and commonality: our existing training and support systems were all oriented towards the Scooter (first purchased 1969), and IOTL the Project Kahu upgrade process was underway in 1986, so forking out for an entirely new aircraft — even as ‘Lend-Lease’ — would probably be a stretch. I can see Kahu getting tweaked a little, like using the APG-65 radar from the Hornet instead of the F-16’s APG-66, and perhaps including Sparrow and Harpoon capability to go with the Sidewinders and Mavericks. I could well see another squadron or so of A-4s being taken out of AMARC, upgraded, and shipped to us in Kahu configuration under Lend-Lease.
(And possibly a few Kahu-style birds being retained for USMC squadrons that decided the Harrier wasn’t going to make the grade after all, which it only barely did IOTL.)

Assuming, of course, that the Beehive doesn’t use the worsening situation in Europe as an excuse to double-down on the ‘nuclear-free New Zealand’ BS and split off from ANZUS in the hope of not being included in Soviet targeteering plots, like they did in ’87 IOTL. 🤬
 
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Tiamat

I've seen the future...
More Skyhawks for the RNZAF? Yes, please!

EDIT: much as the F-18L would be a more capable aircraft, it comes back down to budgets, logistics, and commonality: our existing training and support systems were all oriented towards the Scooter (first purchased 1969), and IOTL the Project Kahu upgrade process was underway in 1986, so forking out for an entirely new aircraft — even as ‘Lend-Lease’ — would probably be a stretch. I can see Kahu getting tweaked a little, like using the APG-65 radar from the Hornet instead of the F-16’s APG-66, and perhaps including Sparrow and Harpoon capability to go with the Sidewinders and Mavericks. I could well see another squadron or so of A-4s being taken out of AMARC, upgraded, and shipped to us in Kahu configuration under Lend-Lease.
(And possibly a few Kahu-style birds being retained for USMC squadrons that decided the Harrier wasn’t going to make the grade after all, which it only barely did IOTL.)

Assuming, of course, that the Beehive doesn’t use the worsening situation in Europe as an excuse to double-down on the ‘nuclear-free New Zealand’ BS and split off from ANZUS in the hope of not being included in Soviet targeteering plots, like they did in ’87 IOTL. 🤬

That makes sense and I like the idea about the Skyhawks Kahu upgrade. I think it would be doable with some added input from McDonnell Douglas who would be interested in possibly selling an upgrade package for the Skyhawk to other foreign customers like say, the Israelis? As for reconditioned and upgraded Skyhawks for the USMC, that depends on how the Harrier acquisition and upgrade goes with AV-8B Plus which was developed IRL in June 1987. The US Marines, Spanish and Italians were each customers.

As for what the debate in the Beehive in NZ might be like? I assume it would be emotional and intense. But I can see the Australians bluntly telling them, especially after Indonesia goes red and the Soviets make an appearance in Jakarta, “now is the time to steel ourselves and stand together like we did in the last war. Divided, we all fall.” And the US Navy does several exercises with the Australians and New Zealanders that year, putting their new hardware through its paces and reassuring them of the US-Australia-New Zealand defense partnership.

And I did mention Korea. Well, Kim Il-Sung and his family of loons are well in charge of the DPRK, and Kim is increasingly aging, sickly and paranoid like the old men in the Soviet Politburo. He wants to settle the issue with the ROK and is putting out feelers to the Soviets after the coup. DPRKs traditional “ally”, the Chinese...well, Deng Xioping is in charge who’s been overseeing increased trade with the West and is a bit more of a ruthless pragmatist. He doesn’t mind keeping the DPRK as a useful proxy to keep the Americans away from the Yalu river, but the Kims constant antics are starting to test his patience. A border incident between the DPRK and Chinese border troops occurs in mid-‘87 (yes, 1987 is a shitty year) where overenthusiastic DPRK troops chase some defectors into Chinese territory and there’s an exchange of gunfire.

Unfortunately...one of the Chinese border troops gets killed and it turns out to be the son of a Chinese general whos now pissed royal. Relations between the Chinese and DPRK chill, and the Soviets seize an opportunity. They offer increased military assistance to the DPRK in the form of additional hardware to upgrade their aging arsenal along with additional fuel, in exchange for willing to do some certain favors if war breaks out with the West? You can guess where this is leading...

Unfortunately for America and the West, it’s not just Europe, or The Korean Peninsula, or North Africa and the Mediterranean, or even Indonesia and East Timor that becomes potential flashpoints that finally get set ablaze when the war begins in 1988....there’s also one other place that finally ignites, again. Someplace hot and sandy, hint hint...

EDIT: And when I say Kim Il-Sung was sickly, well...here's proof, in the form of a golf ball sized tumor he had growing on the back of his head. It's why all propaganda pictures and portraits of him only show him from his left side. Try not to barf. 🤮

kim_il_sung_tumor_1980s.jpg
 
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Have not seen any notes on Navy and Amphibs/MEU's in the story. 86-88 was a tormulate time for the Navy. Decisions were made to Decommission the Skipjack class, several submarines in need of repair were decommissioned instead, (Tullibee), and plans were going forward for decommissioning the Permit class soon after the Skipjacks's were gone.
 

Tiamat

I've seen the future...
Have not seen any notes on Navy and Amphibs/MEU's in the story. 86-88 was a tormulate time for the Navy. Decisions were made to Decommission the Skipjack class, several submarines in need of repair were decommissioned instead, (Tullibee), and plans were going forward for decommissioning the Permit class soon after the Skipjacks's were gone.

That's another piece I'll be writing up later. For the USN, the Reagan administration is pushing the "600 ship Navy" idea, probably harder now with everything going on. Most likely several more of the Los Angeles "688I" class are getting built or accelerating completion, though the Seawolf class probably won't reach commission status in time for the war, ditto for the Arleigh Burke class destroyer which would leave the Spruance class as the primary destroyer, although likely more of those will be getting Tomahawk-launch capability. The Skipjack class submarines would probably get retired regardless due to age, but the Permit class will probably get extended for at least a few more years until enough Los Angeles class subs are built.

As for MEU Amphibious ships, I'll have to do a bit more research on those but I would also expect increased focus especially after the landing at Veracuz by II MEU during the Mexico invasion.
 

CarlManvers2019

Writers Blocked Douchebag
@Tiamat
How are third world countries or non Western countries that the USA supported or had a hand in with atm?

The Philippines up to this day has communist rebels for one
 

CurtisLemay

Wargamer, Amateur Historian, Writer
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Technical
Woops. Brain fart there on the F18L and the French carriers. F-18A gets adopted by the French for their carriers, though again the USN has first priority. But to smooth relations with the French the U.S. ensures the F-18A's get delivered.

The Austrians buy the F-18L as they really need a decent fighter with capable radar and missiles and BVR capability, badly. The Soviets howl in protest. The Austrians diplomatically tell them to get bent and suck it while they're at it.

As for F-16A/B Block 15 upgrade...iffy. If they can push it hard enough they might begin implementing that in '88? But I would say that only begins a few months before the war starts.

In one of those "does it really say that" moments in history...Austria has some quixotic arms limitations imposed by the victorious Allied powers that prevent it from having any form of "guided missiles". Yes, I am serious. This only changed in 1993, when in RL, the Yugoslav AF violated Austrian airspace with impunity.

How does this affect the F-18 buy? Simple, the Austrians, being practical, and realizing their neutrality won't be worth a plug nickel if war comes...do what they did in 1993 a few years early.
 

Tiamat

I've seen the future...
Technical


In one of those "does it really say that" moments in history...Austria has some quixotic arms limitations imposed by the victorious Allied powers that prevent it from having any form of "guided missiles". Yes, I am serious. This only changed in 1993, when in RL, the Yugoslav AF violated Austrian airspace with impunity.

How does this affect the F-18 buy? Simple, the Austrians, being practical, and realizing their neutrality won't be worth a plug nickel if war comes...do what they did in 1993 a few years early.

As far as those soon-to-be ex-arms limitations are concerned for the Austrians, I suppose the excuse was “it seemed like a good idea at the time...” 😂
 

CurtisLemay

Wargamer, Amateur Historian, Writer
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Second
More Skyhawks for the RNZAF? Yes, please!

EDIT: much as the F-18L would be a more capable aircraft, it comes back down to budgets, logistics, and commonality: our existing training and support systems were all oriented towards the Scooter (first purchased 1969), and IOTL the Project Kahu upgrade process was underway in 1986, so forking out for an entirely new aircraft — even as ‘Lend-Lease’ — would probably be a stretch. I can see Kahu getting tweaked a little, like using the APG-65 radar from the Hornet instead of the F-16’s APG-66, and perhaps including Sparrow and Harpoon capability to go with the Sidewinders and Mavericks. I could well see another squadron or so of A-4s being taken out of AMARC, upgraded, and shipped to us in Kahu configuration under Lend-Lease.
(And possibly a few Kahu-style birds being retained for USMC squadrons that decided the Harrier wasn’t going to make the grade after all, which it only barely did IOTL.)

Assuming, of course, that the Beehive doesn’t use the worsening situation in Europe as an excuse to double-down on the ‘nuclear-free New Zealand’ BS and split off from ANZUS in the hope of not being included in Soviet targeteering plots, like they did in ’87 IOTL. 🤬

Second Trace's comments here. The then PM of NZ in 1987 was the same guy who split off NZ from the ANZUS treaty. Worse, its only two years removed from the Rainbow Warrior incident.

So, how does one resolve this?

The Governor-General pays a visit to the PM late on night in oh, say, September 1987. Things are bad and getting worse worldwide, and the PM has made a speech that basically said NZ would become strictly neutral in case of war. It's a betrayal of her wartime allies, full stop. But the British assure Australia and the US: "We got this."

The Governor-General says to the PM that her Majesty is damned displeased. Very displeased, so displeased she has instructed the Governor-General to withdraw HM support for the current government.

Furthermore, she has asked Whitehall to look into the PMs background, especially his time in 1961 with a law firm that had, among its many clients, the New Zealand Communist Party. While this fact was known, new information had come to light suggesting the PM had had contacts with elements of the Soviet Foreign Ministry, and possibly the KGB.

It would be such a shame if such information got into the hands of the Aukland press, no?
 

Tiamat

I've seen the future...
@Tiamat
How are third world countries or non Western countries that the USA supported or had a hand in with atm?

The Philippines up to this day has communist rebels for one

That’s a pretty expansive topic. Let’s just say the KGB, Stasi, Cubans etc are busy arming all sorts of communist guerillas and terrorist groups (your terrorists are our freedom fighters, Yanquis!) across the globe, and the western counter-intel groups are putting in some long hours arming groups of their own. Only difference? In the field of covert operations, a lot of gloves are now getting thrown off.

The Philippines IMO would be panicking after seeing the coup in Indonesia and might be wondering if they’re next, so I could see an increase in military aid and cooperation. Aquino is currently in charge in ‘87 and the US has a presence there particularly in Subic Bay.

Suffice to say Soldier of Fortune magazine can barely keep up with all the news going on in every part of the world and sees one of their biggest subscription increases in well, forever.
😂

EDIT: I have a Soviet POV story interlude coming up where I hope to show there are some misgivings within the USSR about the current course they’re on, especially some within the Red Army. Unfortunately, the Politburo and the KGB hierarchy feel otherwise, and their defense minister is acting a bit like Wilhelm Keitel...
 
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Tiamat

I've seen the future...
Second


Second Trace's comments here. The then PM of NZ in 1987 was the same guy who split off NZ from the ANZUS treaty. Worse, its only two years removed from the Rainbow Warrior incident.

So, how does one resolve this?

The Governor-General pays a visit to the PM late on night in oh, say, September 1987. Things are bad and getting worse worldwide, and the PM has made a speech that basically said NZ would become strictly neutral in case of war. It's a betrayal of her wartime allies, full stop. But the British assure Australia and the US: "We got this."

The Governor-General says to the PM that her Majesty is damned displeased. Very displeased, so displeased she has instructed the Governor-General to withdraw HM support for the current government.

Furthermore, she has asked Whitehall to look into the PMs background, especially his time in 1961 with a law firm that had, among its many clients, the New Zealand Communist Party. While this fact was known, new information had come to light suggesting the PM had had contacts with elements of the Soviet Foreign Ministry, and possibly the KGB.

It would be such a shame if such information got into the hands of the Aukland press, no?


To build on this, here's another thought:

REFORGER (Return of Forces to Germany) in September 1987 kicks off like it does. It's one of the biggest REFORGER exercises in recent memory. The list of participating units IRL in REFORGER '87 includes:

(Germany based units) USAREUR (U.S. Army Europe): 2nd Armored Division (Forward): Garlstedt.
(U.S.-based units): III Corps HQ: Ft. Hood; III Corps Artillery HQ and 212th Field Artillery Brigade HQ: Ft. Sill; 1st Cavalry Division: Ft. Hood; 4th Infantry Division (Mech): Ft. Carson; 6th Cavalry Brigade (Air Combat): Ft. Hood; 45th Infantry Brigade (Sep): 1-279th Infantry (OK-ARNG, Oklahoma Army National Guard); 13th Support Command/Sustainment Command: Ft. Hood; 504th Military Intelligence/Battlefield Surveillance Brigade: Ft. Hood; 3rd Signal Brigade, Ft. Hood; 89th Military Police Brigade: Ft. Hood; 139th Public Affairs Detachment (PAD), 233rd Military Police Company: (33rd MP Battalion, IL-ARNG, Illinois Army National Guard); 420th Engineer Brigade (USAR, U.S. Army Reserve). 723rd Military Police Company: (165th MP Battalion, PA-ARNG, Pennsylvania Army National Guard)

To add to this there's another few units added to this exercise drawn from the US Army and NG brigades. But what's significant is three things:
A: The mood is more tense and serious with the developments that have occurred prior this year's scheduled exercise. "This may not be just an exercise in the near future, boys and girls."
B: It's not just US Forces in Germany performing an exercise this month. British, West German, Canadian and yes, even the French(!) are doing exercises with the Americans in Germany this year as they want to ensure better interoperability between the various NATO forces, especially France which is in the process of reintegrating it's military command into NATO's.
C: American and NATO forces are bringing online some of the new armaments like as mentioned in Addendum C. Not quite in significant numbers yet, but they want to put this new equipment through it's paces and see what bugs might be encountered, and how they might operate alongside other weapon systems.

None of this goes unnoticed by the Soviets and their loyal allies within the WARPA, especially East Germany who are less then enthusiastic about recent developments and worried about some of the new weapon systems the Americans and their allies are getting. Units near the IGB (Inner German Border) are placed on alert status with orders to closely observe the NATO units whenever possible and well...there are a few incidents.

One incident occurs where a tank platoon from the 11th ACR "Blackhorse" which is trying out some of the new vehicles including two M1A1E "Echo" tanks, an M-252 and an M-131, on maneuvers near the IGB, get a surprise visit from two Kamov KA-50 helicopter gunships that pop up from a nearby forest glen. The KA-50's snuck across the border apparently to take a peak at the new hardware and also say "dobraye ootro" to the Americans. The KA-50, unlike the MI-24 Hind, can hover for extended periods at low levels (the Hind can only hover for limited periods due to the stress of the downward rotorwash on the airframe, especially the wings). The M-252 and M-131 in near unison slew their turrets toward the KA-50's and paint them with their IR designators. Also within a minute two AH-64 Apaches attached to US Army III Corps also move in, these with a field upgrade that allowed them to mount Stinger missiles on their stub wingtips. Both Apaches also paint the KA-50's with their IR lasers, basically telling them "Try it, motherfuckers...." After a tense standoff for a few minutes, the KA-50's gradually bank away and fly back across the border. Unfortunately, it was all caught on camera by an NBC news crew who was part of the press pool invited to observe this year's exercise by the Pentagon.

This spooks the hell out of the NZ Prime Minister David Lange, who feels more compelled to enact on his promise of "nuclear free NZ" especially after the Rainbow Warrior incident. Of course after he makes a closed-chamber speech claiming NZ will be neutral in the event of any war, this pisses off the Australians and the US especially after the ANZACs reformation was just announced earlier that year. The ANZACs will be crucial in the Pacific in the event of war (and trust me, it will be) with Indonesia, North Korea, the USSR and god knows who else. Of course, as CurtisLemay notes, the UK steps in and quietly "resolves" the situation. So much so, in fact a USN CAG group, we'll say Kitty Hawk pays a visit to Auckland that same year, as part of exercises between the USN and RAN and NZ navies to much fanfare. Sure, the anti-nuclear "greens" howl in protest, but it's a done deal.

I'm thinking the makeup of the ANZACs would be pretty similar to what it was in WW2, albeit with modern doctrine and equipment. As for the equipment, that would be interesting, I suspect a lot of what was currently in use with the Australians and New Zealanders would be in use, but again, perhaps some additional equipment from the US and UK. Thoughts??
 
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World War III: 1988 Addendum D: "Women in the U.S./NATO/Western Military and Soviet Union/WARPA Military prior to WWIII"

Tiamat

I've seen the future...
I borrowed this idea from CurtisLemay's "Night Witches" story, it was too good to pass up, so I incorporated it into this alternate timeline as well...

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World War III: 1988
Addendum D: "Women in the U.S./NATO/Western Military and Soviet/WARPA Military prior to WWIII"



In 1981, when Ronald Reagan was elected, he vowed to revitalize and modernize the United States military to use it as a deterrent against what he saw as the growing hegemony of the Soviet Union and it's allies upon the free world. The various branches of the military during the Reagan administration saw a dramatic modernization and overhaul of it's capabilities, from expanded nuclear deterrent, to the Strategic Defense Initiative program, a focus on a "600 ship navy", and a more robust Army and Air force.

However, the branches of the military found they were short of qualified personnel in some key areas that were deemed critical. The U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy under a new plan sought to expand it's number of aircraft squadrons. The aircraft was available, the issue was a shortage of qualified pilots. Several ideas were floated, including an "adjustment", I.E. lowering the standards, but these were all rebuffed. Finally, one solution was agreed upon: Open the pilot slots for females in combat aircraft. Neither Ronald Reagan nor Secretary of Defense Casper Weinberger were happy with the arrangement, but they were convinced after, as one unnamed White House aide put it, "We get this on the floor, and we'll get the support of not just the Democrats but even the feminists like NOW."

The move was controversial to say the least. While many democrats led by Speaker of the House Tip O'Neil hailed the decision by the White House to draft a bill, dubbed the "Oveta Culp Hobby Authorization Act" named after the first female director of the U.S. Women's Air Corps during WW2, there was a very vocal and emotional objection from some conservatives led by North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms, who was known to sometimes have a rivalry with Ronald Reagan. As both politics and war make for strange bedfellows, the conservative faction led by Jesse Helms were joined in their opposition by several leftist antiwar groups who opposed the idea of drawing women into "the imperalist machinations of the U.S. industrial-defense-complex war machine". However, the objections were overruled, and thus on March 10, 1981, the "Oveta Culp Hobby Authorization Act" was passed with bipartisan support, with Oveta Hobby herself and several former WACs veterans in attendance when President Reagan signed the bill. The majority of Title 10 restrictions forbidding women in combat roles were lifted, women were now allowed to fly combat roles in aircraft and helicopters, and serve in combat positions aboard both USN and US Coast Guard naval vessels. Women were still barred from most direct frontline combat roles in the US Army and Marine Corps, notably both light and mechanized infantry and the armored battalions, but other roles such as Military Police, Intelligence, Attack Helicopters, and various logistical and combat support roles were further opened to females.

The ripple effects were profound. Within a few years similar moves were undertaken in the militaries of several nations including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK/Commonwealth, and later to an extent Belgium, France, Italy and the Netherlands. One notable effect however, was a change to the Selective Service System, where it would be deemed that now both young men and women were to register with the program.

In the East, the reaction from the Soviets and it's WARPA allies were one of derision, as the Soviets accused the Americans of "needlessly endangering the lives of women who march demanding disarmament and peace by sucking them into the West's imperialistic colonialist ambitions." However, there was cause for concern within the Soviet Air Force and STAVKA, as analysis of the West's capabilities indicated a growing deficiency between the American and Soviet Air Forces, with a need for more interceptor squadrons as well as attack and strike aircraft to support the Soviet and WARPA land forces in the case of hostilities. STAVKA made a proposal that pilot slots in the Soviet Air Force be opened to female, freeing up male recruits for roles in the Soviet ground forces. The proposal was met with skepticism in the Politburo at first, but afterwards was reluctantly approved. In 1983 as the Cold War reached a fevered pitch, the Politburo announced that it was "time for the mothers and daughters of the Motherland to step up once again to defend the Union against all forms of potential Western aggression, such as what happened once before during the Great Patriotic War" and announced a program to open branches of the Soviet military cadet and officer schools to females, and train them for roles as attack, bomber and interceptor pilots within the Soviet Air Force. A well-publicized push was then made with the first class of female Soviet pilots graduating from the Gagarin Air Force Academy later next year. Similar moves were taken, albeit at a much slower pace, in the air forces of Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Romania.

By 1988, it was estimated that in the American aviation forces of the USAF, USMC and USN alone almost a third of the pilot roles were occupied by females. In the Soviet Union, it was estimated a roughly similar percentage of pilots in both the Soviet VVS and PVO branches were also female.

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CarlManvers2019

Writers Blocked Douchebag
The move was controversial to say the least. While many democrats led by Speaker of the House Tip O'Neil hailed the decision by the White House to draft a bill, dubbed the "Oveta Culp Hobby Authorization Act" named after the first female director of the U.S. Women's Air Corps during WW2, there was a very vocal and emotional objection from some conservatives led by North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms, who was known to sometimes have a rivalry with Ronald Reagan. As both politics and war make for strange bedfellows, the conservative faction led by Jesse Helms were joined in their opposition by several leftist antiwar groups who opposed the idea of drawing women into "the imperalist machinations of the U.S. industrial-defense-complex war machine".

How are these guys still sorta against the USA during a war where the people they are/were paranoid against are finally going fucking crazy?
 

Tiamat

I've seen the future...
Well, do remember that it's 1981 when the bill is enacted, so it's a different bit of politics around this time. The conservative movement in the U.S. is resurgent under Reagan, Carter is out, and the feminist movement's biggest representation is NOW, the National Organization of Women. As for the Soviet Union? Leonid Brezhnev was running the show, though not for long. The U.S. is barely starting to come off it's hangover from the Vietnam War, the disco era is over and the British new wave pop is coming on the scene. So, it's a time of a lot of transitions. Now, flash forward to 1986 to 1988. By this time, a surprising number of women are now in the US and various Western militaries. There's still no women in frontline combat units on the ground, officially, at least not yet, though there are some quiet "experiments" being conducted. To say nothing of more unconventional-warfare type units like the U.S. Army's Special Forces Operational Detachment Delta, "Delta Force" which is already rumored to be using a number of women in specialized roles ala the "funny platoon".

An amusing bit? Remember the Cuban commander's "mistress" who flew off with SFOD-D when they raided that Cuban prison to free the Mexican army dissident officers during GREEN FOX? She was a member of SFOD-D's "funny platoon". She got the Cuban commander drunk on some "spiked" tequila, took his pistol, shot and stabbed a few guards, disabled the alarms and essentially opened the front gate to let the D-Boys to roll right in guns blazing....all while still wearing a rather flattering red sequined evening dress.
 
World War III: 1988, Chapter 4: "The Hawk and the Sparrow"

Tiamat

I've seen the future...
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World War III: 1988
Chapter 4: “The Hawk and the Sparrow”



The Kremlin Senate
Grounds of the Kremlin Palace, Moscow, U.S.S.R.
March 5, 1987



To the tall, sharp-nosed man who observed the grand columned building before him in the tiled courtyard, the Kremlin Senate would have been a welcome sight to the often prevalent socialist-realism architecture typically seen in Moscow that followed “function over form”. And yet today…he felt an odd chill emanating from the massive yellow-painted edifice looming before him…and it was not because of the lingering Russian winter.

“Moscow is rather cold this time of year, is it not, Comrade Petrovkin,” a woman’s voice almost sang softly off to the man’s right. Colonel Leonid Petrovkin, one of the youngest Colonels in the Committee for State Security, or KGB as it was typically known, made a slight turn of his head to regard the tall, stunning female companion to his side, Major Irina Ilyasov.

“It goes without saying, Irina,” Leonid replied casually. Leonid Petrovkin was a tall, athletic fellow, with piercing blue eyes that contrasted his dark hair rather handsomely. When he was in uniform however, much like the winter version he wore now under his woolen overcoat, he always carefully exuded an air of professionalism befitting a Soviet officer. He had grown up along the north shore of the Black Sea coast, raised by his father, a fisherman who of all things had ironically become a T-34 tank commander when the Nazis invaded during the Great Patriotic War. He had attended the University of Leningrad in the hope of becoming a tank officer like his father…only to be “selected” after a review of his aptitude, grades and the fact he had learned to speak several languages rather fluently, to become a member of the KGB. And thus, now after 20 years of service, Leonid had become one of the youngest officers to be promoted to Colonel in the KGB. But it was not because he was a careerist; Leonid considered himself a professional first and foremost and despised careerists, as much as he despised some of the near-psychopathic brutes employed by other countries such as the East Germans and the Cubans. He always carefully observed everything around him, and missed almost nothing. He assumed that was why many in both the East and the West had come to nickname him “the Hawk”. He had chuckled at the name as he found it amusing, but considered it an honor regardless. To him, psychological warfare was an art form, and he considered breaking people with words, rather than fists, the mark of a true artist and professional.

Leonid’s companion, Major Irina Ilyasov, was an unusually tall woman, almost Leonid’s height. With enthralling blue-green eyes and honey-blonde hair, and a stunning figure, Irina walked with an uncanny grace that would have easily placed her on a modelling catwalk in Paris or London if she wished to assume the role. Irina however scoffed at such Western vanity, as her grace and athleticism came from her years studying to be a ballerina in Volgograd. Her mother had been one of the famed “Night Witch” aviators of the Great Patriotic War, and when she had been recruited by the KGB into their ranks, she had done so enthusiastically out of a sense of patriotism. She had been a graduate of a program within the KGB known only as the “Red Room”, but she spoke little about it. Irina, much like Leonid, was highly observant, skilled, graceful, and also a deadly fighter. Though Leonid was no stranger to violence and knew how to exercise it as a weapon when needed, Irina exercised the application of violence as an art form. She could break any human being twice her size in over a dozen different ways physically, but thankfully for Leonid, she usually followed his direction and avoided unnecessary violence if possible. She considered breaking people mentally the greatest feat of a professional, and had an almost uncanny gift for reading people when observing them. She had become known in both the East and West by the moniker “the Sparrow”, but she preferred a different term. As she remarked to Leonid after the completion of one mission, “You are the artist, and I am the scalpel.”

Irina shivered as she made a slight adjustment to the ushanka fur cap that was part of her KGB officer’s winter uniform, the woolen greatcoat displaying her badge and rank for all to see. Her blue-green eyes scanned the dreary gray overcast that hung over the city that day, which was perhaps fitting, considering all that had occurred as of late. While there were some of the usual military aides and apparatchiks coming and going about their business in the courtyard, the most prominent display was of two manned BTR-80 armored personnel carriers parked in a corner in the southern edge of the expanse, alongside a number of the Kremlin Guards watching everyone coming and going from the Senate. Each of them were outfitted in full battle dress uniforms with AK-74 rifles slung across their chests at the ready. It was yet another reminder of the recent change of leadership, again, in the Kremlin.

“A shame, Leonid, it seems we missed our chance several months ago to listen to some lovely Tchaikovsky,” Irina noted wryly, referring to the Soviet radio station’s habit of playing classical music whenever there was an "internal emergency" in the motherland.

“Perhaps, but Mexico was far sunnier, was it not?”

Irina grimaced. Mexico had been, for all intents and purposes, a complete and utter disaster. They had barely exfiltrated from the country as the Americans had rolled in. To say nothing of course for the debacle concerning the KGB’s Vympel unit and the capture of one of their own agents. It had taken a rather visible prisoner swap concerning a rather simple American shoe salesmen who had been foolish enough to attempt a sale in Poland to get the operative back, who no doubt had either been reassigned to Afghanistan, or was equally likely working in a camp in Siberia. “Mexico should have never happened, Leonid! A parade of fucking imbeciles…the Libyans, the Cubans, they’re worse than the Germans! A pity they were more interested in my tits than actual intelligence.”

Leonid barely suppressed a chuckle, and the urge to say something debauched. “They do have their uses, however. If it ever comes to war, we can simply give them all bayonets, point them toward the West, and shout ‘charge’. Speaking of which….” He trailed off, grimacing visibly. There was a reason they had both been summoned to the Kremlin Senate that day: To give their input, or so it was assumed, on the KGB’s operational plan DARK MIRROR.

“Leonid…what are you going to tell them?” The worry on Irina’s porcelain face was clearly evident.

“Simple Irina…I will tell them that BLUE FUNNEL would be a far more preferable option.” Or rather, it is a far saner option, all things considered, Leonid thought. We have crossed swords with the Americans since the Great Patriotic War, that is true, but it was always in the shadows. The game always had certain rules, and we both followed them to an extent. But this?! No…surely the Kremlin is not so convinced or desperate to resort to this insanity. These matters had occurred before, 1962 being a prime example, and as heated as they were, they eventually dissipated. But what was outlined in DARK MIRROR? It was all madness…

Irina casually glanced to her left and right, as Leonid glanced beyond her to where some of the Kremlin Guards were quietly observing them in the distance. They were few pedestrians in the courtyard, thankfully. When discussing such matters, discretion was an absolute necessity. “And do you think they’ll listen to you? I have spoken with, and observed some of my associates…there are concerns within some inner circles of the Army about decisions that have been made in the Kremlin as of late.”

“Irina…be very careful what you hear, and especially say in that matter,” Leonid spoke softly, but grimly.

The blonde locked her eyes with her superior. “You and I both serve the Soviet Union, Comrade Colonel. We are both patriots…and professionals. I only tell you what I am hearing, and you know it as well.”

Leonid sighed as he adjusted his grip on the black briefcase in his left hand. It felt a bit heavier today, for some reason, and this time he had chosen not to pack his Skorpion machine pistol in it for this official visit. He was almost beginning to miss the games he’d usually play with the CIA, MI6 and other intelligence agencies. He spared a glance at the massive, brooding 16th century Tsar Cannon off in the distance, wondering how many other “changes of leadership” the bronze-cast behemoth had witnessed in silence. All things considered, the ancient cannon looked and felt appropriate as it stood silent watch over the square. “Come Irina…let’s get this over with.”

They approached the entrance to the massive building, flanked by two more Kremlin Guards who were dressed in immaculate winter parade dress with buttons polished to a sheen, AK-74 rifles with gleaming bayonets attached at the ready. “Needless to say, do exercise caution, Comrade Colonel…there are a few here who would love to cut our throats,” Irina whispered.

“We serve the Soviet Union…and the KGB, Comrade Major. Is there any place they don’t wish to cut our throats?” Leonid whispered back dryly, as the Doric and Ionic order-style columns of the building loomed over them. Once inside they found themselves in a grand hallway flanked by more columns, stucco white ceilings and gleaming floors that echoed their footsteps. It was also much warmer. They were immediately greeted by a severe-looking Guard with a close-cut mop of blonde hair with the rank of Captain, flanked by several more of his fellows again with rifles at the ready. The Captain saluted both of the newcomers, who saluted back. “Papers, please,” he spoke blandly.

At least there are a few things that don’t change, Leonid thought as he and Irina both produced their documents and handed them to the Captain for inspection. “What is the purpose of your visit?” The Captain inquired as he studied the papers.

“We are summoned by Director Chebrikov to discuss classified information,” Leonid replied curtly.

The Captain returned the documents to the two newcomers. “Wait here,” he directed before going over to a red rotary phone on a nearby desk and dialing a number. After a minute or so of muffled conversation, the Captain hung up and returned to them. “Please step over here and remove your caps, your coats, your gloves, your weapons, and open your cases for inspection please,” he said, pointing to a corner where several uniformed and armed men and women waited, two of them with metal-detection device wands in hand. These men and women wore uniforms denoting them as members of the Ninth Chief Directorate, the KGB’s elite bodyguards and security force.

Leonid placed his black briefcase on a nearby desk and snapped it open for inspection, while Irina placed her leather mapcase next to it and unbuckled the clasp. Next, they removed their caps, coats and gloves, then Leonid carefully unholstered his prized sidearm, a CZ-82 pistol that he personally found superior to the Makarov, and carefully placed that on the desk as well, while Irina did likewise with her Tula PSM pistol. Finally, both were professionally searched and frisked and checked over with metal detectors.

“You may retrieve your caps, gloves, coats and weapons when you leave the building. Follow me please,” the Captain noted as the briefcase and map case were returned to Leonid and Irina after a thorough inspection. The two then followed him down a long hallway flanked with marble busts of various past personas of the Soviet Union, each seeming to stare down coldly at the trio as they walked past. Several aides could be seen quietly going about their errands with the occasional uniformed sentry guarding a closed door. Finally they reached their destination, a set of imposing heavy polished wooden doors flanked by several more guards who checked their papers and searched them again. After they were satisfied, the doors were opened and they were ushered into an oak-paneled chamber where a middle-aged female secretary who looked like she had been at her job perhaps longer than she’d care to admit sat at her desk, while a row of leather chairs were lined up against one wall, several of them occupied by various folk, some of them in uniform. The Captain gestured to them to sit while he went to confer with the secretary. Another man, lean with thinning hair who wore the rank and uniform of a Colonel in the Soviet Red Army turned from a quiet conversation he was having with another man, a Captain in Army uniform and smiled at the two newcomers. “Leonid! What trouble are you stirring up this time?”

Leonid smiled in earnest at Alexei Baranov, an old friend of his from Leningrad University. “Alexei, you’re a welcome sight, I must admit,” he said as they clasped and shook hands. “I trust you remember Major Ilyasov…?”

“Ah…yes,” Alexei noted, turning slightly red and shifting uncomfortably, “And how are you, Major...?”

“Since our last cordial meeting, quiet well Colonel, thank you...though I remember you were a bit more playful with your words , and your hands, the last time we met,” the Major purred in a tone that was both slightly playful and dangerous at once. Alexei turned even redder at that as Leonid chuckled.

“I’m as surprised to see you here, Alexei, what brings you here?”

“I’ve been ‘promoted’, you might say,” Alexei noted dryly. “New assignment...I am now an aide to General Kamenev, 7th Guards Tank Army. I’m just here delivering a report.”

“Ah, well, congratulations then. And how is General Rykov? Still living up to his name of ‘General Vinegar’? Or has he finally chosen retirement?” General Rykov was a highly-decorated armor veteran of the battles of Kursk and Berlin, and was a talented officer and much respected by his men. He was also known to be a very direct man and could be quite caustic, hence the nickname…and in spite of it all, had been a friend to Leonid’s father.

“Aging, like all of us, but well I suppose. But I doubt you’ll have a chance to see him in Olomouc. He’s no longer commanding the 31st Tank Division. He’s been reassigned…to Vladivostok.”

Leonid raised his eyebrows at that. “Vladivostok?” Rykov is one of the Red Army’s most talented armor officers, the Kremlin is talking like war is just around the corner, and they reassign one of their best men to the rear?! Yes, I know his family once sided with the White movement during the Civil War, but this, now? “When did this happen?”

“Last week apparently. It seems the General’s habit of speaking rather bluntly gave the indication he was perhaps a bit stressed from work, and it was felt a new assignment guarding our eastern front would be more suitable for him,” Alexei spoke in a rather dry tone, indicating how much he believed that story. “The General had apparently raised some concerns in a speech he’d made to his comrades regarding Czechoslovakia in 1968…I imagine it is as cold out in Vladivostok right now, as it is here.” Before Leonid could ask any more questions, Alexei quickly mouthed the word “later” and shook Leonid’s hand again. “I apologize for making this so short, my friend, but duty to the Motherland always comes first. Come visit Magdeburg, if you’re ever back in the DDR,” he added, before offering a curt farewell to Major Ilyasov, and made his leave. Both the KGB Colonel and the Major shared a look that spoke many things, but said nothing.

“Colonel Petrovkin!” A KGB Guards Lieutenant of the Ninth Chief Directorate in full uniform, a holstered pistol displayed prominently on his belt, appeared from the entryway on the far side of the room to another chamber, gazing sharply at the KGB Colonel like a well-decorated, yet very well-honed knife. “You are awaited, sir.”

“Well, wish me luck,” Leonid noted dryly, as the KGB Colonel adjusted his tie slightly. “How do I look?”

“Like a proud Soviet officer,” Irina demurred.

“Ah yes…but even pigs look pretty after a good clean, no?” Leonid replied, which brought a smile and a chuckle to the Major's face. She went to sit demurely in a chair as Leonid was led by the Lieutenant into the other chamber, a similarly decorated room with old, fine wood paneling and white stucco roof with crystal chandeliers. A long rectangular table of dark wood, polished to such a high sheen it practically mirrored the stucco ceiling, occupied the center of the room while a great fireplace roared with a crackling fire along one wall. Tall windows decorated with old lace curtains were featured on the other end. At the table, were several older gentlemen, with one sitting at the end. Petrovkin recognized them immediately…and walked several steps briskly before coming to a halt parade-style, snapping to attention as the door was closed behind him.

“Colonel Leonid Petrovkin of the KGB First Chief Directorate reporting as ordered, Comrades.”

“Ah, Colonel Petrovkin, welcome,” General Secretary of the Communist Party Andrei Gromyko spoke, nodding to the Colonel. The Communist Party badge on the left lapel of his suit gleamed even in the fairly dim light. He sat at the head of the table, his greying dark hair matching his suit. Flanking him to his left was the KGB Director and Petrovkin’s overall superior, Viktor Chebrikov, his black-rimmed glasses hanging over his face almost like an obfuscating veil, nearly hiding his eyes. To Gromyko’s right sat the current Defense Minister, Dimitry Yazov. Yazov had gained a bit of a reputation as a careerist, and Petrovkin suspected that was why he had been elevated to his current position after his predecessor, Sergey Sokolov had announced his retirement immediately after the coup “for reasons of personal health”. The other aging gentlemen at the table were of various other ministerial positions in the “new” regime now governing the Union of Soviet Socialists Republics. There is some truth to that saying, the more things change, the more they stay the same, Leonid thought wryly to himself.

“Come forward, Colonel, at ease. At least you won’t need to shout when we ask you questions,” Andrei noted, earning a few chuckles from the men sitting at the table. As Leonid did just so, he was rather well aware of two other KGB Guards standing at attention, facing each other from opposite positions along the walls of the large conference room. Both were impeccably dressed much like the Guard standing behind him blocking the exit door, and each of them had their right hand resting on the leather holsters on their belts, each undoubtedly containing a Stechkin APS pistol or a similar weapon.

“Director Chebrikov has told us much about you, Colonel. One of the youngest to be promoted, yes?” Gromyko opined, receiving a nod from Chebrikov. “But only out of recognition of your immense contribution to the security of the Motherland. Twenty years of dedicated service…you are often regarded to as the ‘Hawk’, yes?”

“That is how both my fellow comrades and our enemies seem to refer to me as, Comrade Secretary.”

“And Major Irina Ilyasov, who is outside…she has quite an impressive record of her own, much like yours. The ‘Sparrow’, as many also refer to her as, correct?”

“Yes, Comrade Secretary. Major Ilyasov is one of the most professional, talented and dedicated women I have worked with in my twenty years with the KGB.”

Gromyko nodded. “Of course. You need not elaborate, Colonel. As previously stated, your actions speak for themselves. “The Hawk and the Sparrow…it is fitting I admit. A hawk that is a bird of prey, it sees and observes everything, while the sparrow is a lovely bird, a creature of beauty. Your exploits have caught our interest, Colonel.” Gromyko’s eyes narrowed slightly. “It is only a pity that your talents were not effectively used to correct the recent issue with Mexico.”

Leonid kept his face carefully neutral. “Yes…Mexico was a disaster, Comrade Secretary, and there is no excuse for how it panned out…”

At this Chebrikov waved his hand dismissively. “This is all past tense now, Colonel. Mexico was indeed a mess…and you were right, to an extent. It would have been better, at least in hindsight, to give your team the required explosives and given them the authorization to carry out the destruction of the arms warehouses at Veracruz themselves. A pity that the Vympel under Colonel Zima were not quite up to the task at hand.”

Leonid blinked. “I…appreciate your confidence in me in regards to the matter, Comrade Director.”

At this Chebrikov shrugged, his thick-rimmed glasses continuing to nearly obfuscate his eyes. “Colonel Zima is a professional, much like yourself, Colonel, but I sometimes wonder if his enthusiasm runs ahead of his brains…” He lightly tapped a pencil on the table for a moment, like a schoolteacher with a ruler about to use it as a whip on a misbehaving toddler. “That shall need to be looked at, but that is not why you are here, Colonel. The matter of Mexico is finished, we must look to the future, and prepare for what is to come. You have reviewed the outline of DARK MIRROR, have you not, Colonel?”

The Colonel nodded. “Yes, Comrade Director, and I wished to discuss…”

Chebrikov waved his hand dismissively again. “Good, begin the operational planning and logistics of DARK MIRROR…immediately.”

In spite of the warmth in the conference room, it began to feel as chilly to Petrovkin as it was outside. The Colonel paused a moment, as he carefully considered his words. “I was wondering, Comrades, if we might first analyze a different plan that has also been drafted? BLUE FUNNEL…”

The KGB Director shook his head assertively. “No Colonel, that will not be necessary. BLUE FUNNEL would take much more time…and time is against us all, we fear.” Heads nodded at the table, including Gromyko. At this, the Director continued. “It is unfortunate it has come to this, no? For since the end of the Great Patriotic War, the warmongering West has continued to bay and threaten us, spurred on by our greatest foe: The United States of America. A nation of young, reckless cowboys who understand nothing of history, but are peopled with capitalist gangsters who hurl vitriol while they stuff themselves fat with the wealth of the proletariat." Chebrikov pushed back his chair and stood up, the old chair legs squealing in protest against the floor. He turned and began to walk every so slowly toward Petrovkin. “But in the past, those cries and threats were but empty words, thrown out to conceal their own softness. But now…now with this cowboy Reagan and his lackey Thatcher, they seem to think nuclear missiles are six-shooters. They wage war with imperial ambition, and yet know nothing of true sacrifice, like what our own Motherland endured during the Great Patriotic War, when we pushed back the Nazi scourge. When we sacrificed a third of our own country, our own sons and daughters, to stem the Nazi tide. And how did the West thank us? By stabbing us in the back!” Heads nodded again, as the blazing fire in the hearth continued to crackle.

Chebrikov regarded the men at the table momentarily, before returning his gaze to the KGB Colonel. “And so now it has come to this. The Americans and their gangster allies are preparing to bring war to the Motherland. And thus, we have no other choice, Comrade Colonel. It is regrettable, but necessary. When the inevitable war comes, we must strike at their very heart, where they are the most vulnerable, and show them the true meaning of fear. They will learn they are not safe in their pristine palaces an ocean away. No, they will learn the same lessons we did when the Nazis invaded and burned our own Motherland. We shall bring the war to their very shores, using the peasants of the world that they trampled upon for so long." Chebrikov stopped within a few feet of the Colonel, his black rimmed glasses seemingly concealing his true self as he bore his own gaze into Petrovkin like a drill.

“And when we plunge the dagger into their very hearts, we must exercise that same resolution, that same determination…and that same ruthlessness that we once displayed to drive back the Nazi invaders, again. Just like what your father did as he commanded a tank in the drive to Berlin, or like Major Ilyasov’s mother, who dropped bombs on the Nazi’s heads from her biplane. We must be as hard as steel…and be as cold as ice.” He continued to scrutinize Leonid like a doctor about to dissect an insect.

“Have faith in our great socialist state, Comrade Petrovkin, and we shall be victorious, when the war comes. You do have faith, yes…?”

Leonid felt like he was a man standing at the edge of an abyss…and peering into it. He knew all it would take was one word or motion from anyone in that room including the Director, and any of the KGB Guards would shoot him where he stood…and by tomorrow it would be like he never existed. He remembered the most important advice he’d ever known in his life from his paternal grandfather: “If one must swim with sharks boy, do so wisely. Be courteous to everyone, observe everything, reveal nothing…and trust no one.”

The Colonel matched the Director’s gaze with his own. “In the twenty years I have served the Motherland, I have always had faith, Comrade Director…and still do.”

Chebrikov nodded, apparently satisfied, allowing a smile to touch his lips, but not his eyes, which remained obfuscated by his glasses. He turned and walked back to his seat. “Don’t worry Colonel…this operation will be vast and complex, even for you. Hence, you and the Major will only handle the logistics and organizational planning of this endeavor.” He relaxed his frame back into the old wooden chair and pulled himself up to the table again. “It’s overall planning and execution will be handled by a compatriot of ours…Colonel Morozov.”

Leonid’s eyes almost widened before he was able to steel himself. Morozov?! The man is an utter sociopath! The brutality of Afghanistan is one thing, but there are entire towns that no longer exist because of him! “Yes, Comrade Director…I understand.”

Chebrikov nodded to General Secretary Gromyko, who spared a glance to Defense Minister Dimitry Yazov, who had said nothing, but merely nodded when the General Secretary looked at him. What was it some of the Army officers called Yazov in private, Leonid thought to himself. Ah yes…the Nodding Ass.

“Thank you, Colonel Petrovkin…that will be all,” Gromyko intoned, dismissing him. Leonid snapped to attention and began walking out. As he neared the door, the General Secretary called out. “Oh, Colonel Petrovkin…? Do give Major Ilyasov our kindest regards.”

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Leonid wasn’t sure what to feel when he finally exited the conference room. What was that saying that was also popular in the West? Out of the frying pan, and into the fire? As Irina instantly rose to meet him, he narrowed his eyes and made a quick but subtle shake of his head. The blonde Russian said nothing as she followed her superior out of the atrium, rather quickly back to the entrance where they retrieved their caps, gloves, coats and firearms from the Kremlin Guards, and briskly walked out back into the cold, gray overcast day that hung over Moscow…and yet somehow it felt even chillier now. It conflicted with a strange sense of relief to finally be out of the massive Senate building.

Leonid finally stopped and turned to face the Major…the eyes betraying a hint of something she had not seen in a long time, not since an operation that had gone nearly to hell several years ago in Istanbul: Fear.

“It is decided, Major…operational planning and logistics for DARK MIRROR are to commence, immediately.” He spoke in a terse manner, as though he were reading someone’s last will and testament.

Irina’s jaw nearly dropped.

“Worry not though Major,” Leonid continued, sarcastically. “We will not be involved in the actual execution of this operation, when the time comes…that will be another fellow.”

“Who?” The Major demanded.

“Morozov.”

At the mention of that name, the blonde woman’s blue-green eyes widened incredulously…before they too betrayed a hint of fear as well.

Leonid sighed heavily, looking toward the courtyard of the Kremlin, the coming and going of government aides, the ever presence of the Kremlin Guards and their vehicles, and the dreary gray skyline. It felt so deceptively…ordinary. Yet it disguised a more unimaginable storm to come. Off in the distance, the Bell Tower of Ivan the Great began to ring solemnly.

“You are quite right, Irina…it is very cold in Moscow this time of year.”

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