The Genie and the Engineer 3: Ravages of War

by Glenn Michaels

  “Sir, some of our teams are already in several capital cities,” Daneel 2 pointed out. “If those armies of Normals begin hostilities inside the city limits, a lot of innocent people could get killed.”

  Paul nodded in understanding. “Has Sonny 69 entered Moscow yet?”

  “He reports no, that they are only in the suburbs.”

  Paul nodded. “Please transmit a general message. If threatened, all Scottie forces should withdraw from their assigned capital cities rather than allow any civilians to be killed. Tell them they should withdraw to any open rural areas nearby. Also, I would like to have a general meeting with all Corps and Division commanders, here, in one half hour. Notify Daneel 1 that his presence is requested as well.” Paul sighed. “We should make sure everyone is on the same page before we proceed.”

  Ω

  Both of the Scottie Corps Commanders and the four division commanders met with Paul in the Mount Logan Situation Room.

  “It’s confirmed,” Daneel 2 announced. “Mobilization orders have been issued in Russia, Poland, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Argentina, Venezuela, Cuba, Myanmar, and Angola.”

  “So far,” Harlie 37 commented.

  “The list will probably grow longer in the next couple of days,” predicted Daneel 1.

  Paul stared at the mid-air display of the world map. “So far the troops are mobilizing only to protect the capital cities.”

  “Protecting the wizards’ control of the governments involved, obviously,” Daneel 1 concluded.

  “How do we approach this, Dad?” Daneel 2 asked, curious.

  Paul thought for a moment. There were several options available. “For right now, I should think our units in those countries that are mobilizing should withdraw from the capital cities. The Scotties can continue to harass the governments involved but don’t endanger the civilian populations.”

  With a flick of one finger, Paul zoomed the map in on Russia.

  “I believe we can start our counter operation with Russia,” he said. “If we can successfully deal with that army then the lesson will not be lost on all the other countries. If Russia’s army cannot stand against us, then no other army can either.”

  “Dad, most of the Russian brigades are not yet in defensive positions,” Harlie 37 pointed out. “If we could scramble their communications, we could confuse them, slow them down somewhat.”

  “They likely already have the most important part of their orders,” Daneel 2 argued. “I doubt we would slow down the Russians all that much. However, that tactic might work elsewhere, in countries where the mobilization is only getting started.”

  Paul turned to Irona 222 (from the cartoon Richie Rich) assigned as the commander of 2nd Division, II Corps. “Irona 222, tactical report on the Russian mobilization, please,” he requested.

  She floated closer to the display. “The Kremlin Guard mobilized in record time. They are here, here and here,” she said, as small blinking red lights appeared on the map. “They have full control of all sectors of central Moscow, including the Kremlin, Red Square, and Manege Square. The 5th Guard Motor Rifle Brigade in Kalininets is in transit and is here,” she reported, highlighting another spot on the map near the southwestern corner of the huge capital city, on the M1 highway. “The 4th Guards Tank Brigade in Naro-Fominsk is moving a little slower, no doubt due to all the tanks involved. They are here,” a red light began blinking southwest of Moscow, on the M3 highway. “The 27th Guards Motor Rifle Brigade is in Vidnoye. Their advance companies are already controlling the M2 and M4 highways into Moscow on the south side of the city, as well as the Kashira and Lyublinskaya highways. By this time tomorrow, they will have that part of the city completely sealed off.”

  Paul nodded. “Please continue.”

  “The 6th Guards Tank Brigade in Mulino and the 9th Guards Motor Rifle Brigades in Nizhny Novgorod are mobilizing 400 miles east of Moscow on the M7 highway. It will take them two, maybe three days to reach eastern Moscow. The 16th Spetsnaz Brigade in Tambov is moving as well, up the M6 highway, 450 miles away. They should arrive in Moscow the day after tomorrow.”

  Paul studied the map for a few moments. “What about the Missile and Artillery Brigades?”

  Irona 222 again created flashing red lights on the display. “The 79th Guards MLRS Missile Brigade in Tver, the 45th Heavy Artillery Brigade in Tambov, the 288th Artillery Brigade in Mulino, the 112th Guards Missile Brigade in Shuya and the 448th Missile Brigade in Kursk, have received no orders to move. And that makes sense, in a way. They really aren’t equipped to wage war against our kind of threat.”

  Paul knew what the Scottie was saying. The Scotties were not infantry. They spent too much time in the air and their outer plates, made of graphene, were much tougher than human flesh. Therefore, anti-personnel weapons would be…somewhat less than effective against them. By the same token, the Scotties were not aircraft. They spent too much time only five or six feet off the ground and they were far more agile than any fighter jet. And much faster than any helicopter. In addition, the Scotties possessed a very low radar cross section and emitted less heat than a human body. Therefore, anti-aircraft weaponry wouldn’t be very effective either. Indeed, the types of weapons the Russians might try to use against the Scotties were limited. Heavy artillery and large missile batteries would be no more effective than bows and arrows for this type of conflict.

  Irona 222 seemed to be reading Paul’s thoughts. “Infrared and radar-guided Surface to Air Missiles (SAMs) such as the SA-17 Grizzly or the SA-19 Grison would be ineffective against us. Even the man-portable SA-18 Grouse and SA-24 Grinch could not be successful employed against a Scottie. About the only type of SAMs that might be of use against us are optically-guided or laser-guided man-portable SAMS such as the British Javelin or Sweden’s RBS-70. However, the Russians don’t have a comparable weapon in their inventory. The next most useful type of weapon they could use would be anti-tank missiles such as the AT-13 Saxhorn, the AT-14 Spriggan, the AT-6 Spiral, and the AT-16 Scallion. The Scallion is particularly dangerous, being air-launched by Su-25 ground attack jets and the newest attack helicopters, the Ka-50 Black Shark, and the Ka-52 Alligator. However, perhaps our biggest worry will be the rocket propelled grenade launchers, such as their latest RPG-32 Hashim.”

  “I think we should use tactics that minimize the possibilities of a shooting war,” Paul mused, studying the map closely, deep in thought. “What about the air units?”

  “It’s a lot less clear,” Irona 222 replied. “They are pulling in Mil-24PN, Ka-50, and Ka-52 attack helicopters from air units scattered all over western Russia. They are doing the same thing with the Su-25SM Frogfoot close air-support attack jets and the newest Su-34 Fullback fighter bombers. The helicopters are moving into positions where they can escort the 4th and 6th Guards Tank Brigades and the 5th and 9th Guards Motor Rifle Brigades on their way to Moscow.”

  “We should hit the Russians before they are fully in position,” Paul recommended. “A Corps should be sufficient. At the moment, the closest Russian units are south, southwest, and west of the city. Nothing yet on the east or north sides. I think we can take advantage of that.”

  “And the Kremlin Guard?” Dorian 223 (from the TV series Almost Human) asked.

  “I don’t want to attack them yet, not in downtown Moscow,” Paul admitted. “Too great a chance of those Russian soldiers killing innocent people. No point in needlessly provoking them into doing something stupid. I want to put off that attack until later. In the meantime, let’s talk about a battle plan. I think we should pull the II Corps, 2nd Division under Irona 222 back to this undeveloped area here, southeast of Kubinka. Then we can pull the II Corps, 1st Division out of the Middle and Far East. In the morning, we can split the II Corps, 2nd Division here, and send the 1st Brigade just west of the M3 highway…”

  Ω

  A gentle mist hung in the moist warm air, the birds singing their customary early morning selection of tunes, while to the east the sun began yet another day, its r
ays of light only just piercing the very top reaches of the tree branches. Among the birches, poplars, larch, and spruce, squirrels were stirring, beginning their daily hunt for food while below, on the ground, a lone wolf was on the prowl through the undergrowth, attempting to find himself a satisfying meal before bedding down for a morning nap. Other native wildlife stirred in the forest southwest of Russia’s capital and largest city, in preparation for a seemingly ordinary summer morning.

  To the west, only a mile from this particular section of forest, there lay a cleared section of pasture over a mile long and half a mile wide, just east of the rural community of Zverevo.

  Without warning, a number of large portals snapped into existence above the tall brown undulating grass, disgorging streams of Scotties into the air. Quickly and seemingly without effort, the cubes floated above the pasture, gathering together in groups along the eastern edge of the field.

  The command section of II Corps, 2nd Division led by Irona 222, had arrived and was even now moving into position.

  Paul watched their movements via a microportal.

  “Sir,” Daneel 1 said. “Irona 222 reports that they are in position. 1st Brigade of the 2nd Division under Viral 243 will take the east side of the M3 highway. 2nd Brigade of the 2nd Division under Caliban 260,” (from a trilogy by Roger MacBride Allen) “will take the west side. 3rd Brigade under Andrea 270,” (Star Trek episode “What Are Little Girls Made Of?”) “and 4th Brigade under Lenore 280,” (Firefly) “will portal to Vnukovo International Airport and then head up the M3 highway to Moscow’s outer highway loop, the MKAD, clearing any Russian Army units they find as they go.”

  Paul nodded, pleased that everything seemed to be going according to plan. “Please ask Irona 222 to proceed.”

  In the image display that Paul was watching, the Scotties dispersed into the tree line, heading for the section of the M3 highway in front of the leading column of tanks and vehicles of the Russian 4th Guard Tank Regiment. The plan was to stage an ambush of the Russians tanks east of the forest. With luck, the Russians would never know what hit them.

  With a wave of his hand, Paul’s micro observational portal instantly snapped to an overhead view of the M3 highway. There he saw the modern four lane road, which, at the moment was only lightly populated with traffic. Paul knew that later in the day, more vehicles would show up, but for now, the highway was barely being used.

  The Scotties of 2nd Division, II Corps would have to pass through more than a mile of dense forest to reach the M3 highway. Even for Scotties, this would take a little time. Meanwhile, the leading elements of the Russian 4th Guard Tank Regiment were enroute from their overnight bivouac further south. Their helicopter escorts of Mi-24PN gunships were already in the air from their one night stop at the Yermolino airfield near Balabanovo, 45 miles further south along the M3 highway. Soon those aircraft would be overhead as they began their escort duties of the T-80U and T-90A Russian tanks on their way to Moscow.

  The forest here was ideal to keep the Scotties out of sight from the helicopters. Oh, sure, the Scotties could have used magic to make themselves invisible but this was so much sneakier. Also, this section of isolated highway was well away from any populated areas. Not only would the Scotties not be accidently seen by a civilian, but no civilian would be in harm’s way if warfare did break out in this area. And the operation would be kept low-key. There would be no plasma bolts, and more important, no induced thermo-nuclear explosions of any size.

  But there would be lots of magic used here today.

  Paul created a tall frosty glass of lemonade to sip on while he tried to wait as patiently as he could.

  A half hour later, two nasty looking, heavily armed Mi-24PN helicopters roared by overhead, following the highway. They disappeared to the north for several minutes, then returned, heading south. Apparently, they were conducting a fast sweep of the highway, and equally as obvious, they had found nothing of interest. Paul felt certain that they would be back again.

  Another anxious half hour went by. Then, in the distance, the drone of helicopters could be heard for a third time but now, approaching far more slowly.

  Paul spun his microportal to face south, elevating it to 100 feet off the road grade. Magnifying the image, he saw the first Russian military vehicle in convoy, a GAZ 2975 Tiger, rolling slowly up the highway at what he estimated to be a mere 35 miles/hr. Behind it, in the haze, he could see a double line of T-90 tanks.

  He grinned. Excellent. By this time, Irona 222 and her Scotties would be deployed. Viral 243 and his brigade would have dived into the ground under the highway to pop up in the forest on the east side while Caliban 260 would have remained on the west side. Both brigades would be lined up along the highway, strung out for three miles. They would wait until the lead tanks reached the northern end of the Scottie lines.

  Slowly, the tanks moved forward in formation, the noise level increasing dramatically as they approached. With a spell, Paul lowered the volume on his end of the portal.

  The Tiger moved past the position of the microportal. Paul chuckled at the idea of the traffic jam that was probably growing behind the tanks, maybe ten miles or more to the south. Many of those civilian Russian motorists would be upset at the delay but then that was the nature of convoys, was it not?

  Daneel 1 and Paul waited. It would only take six minutes before the lead tank traveled three miles further up the road.

  “Irona 222 reports the lead tank is in sight at the head of the Scottie lines,” Daneel 1 announced a few minutes later. “She says she plans to wait until the sixth row of tanks, then launch the attack.”

  “That works for me,” Paul agreed anxiously.

  The seconds ticked by slowly.

  “Ten seconds, Dad. Five…four…three…two…one…now!”

  Through the portal, Paul watched uneasily as two long lines of Scotties swept out of the trees, one line on the east and the other on the west of the highway. They crossed over the tanks in seconds.

  The tanks ground slowly to a stop, a few of them slewing out of line, to the left or right before all forward motion ceased. A few tanks nudged each other before coming to a complete halt.

  The chatter of helicopter blades could be heard, growing louder by the second. One of the Mi-24PN helicopters appeared over the tree line, bracketed by three Scotties as it came to a standstill over the road and slowly lowered itself into the large grass-lined gully running on the east side of the highway. Inside the cockpit, Paul could see the pilot slumped over to one side, his controls maneuvering themselves as if by magic.

  Yep. They were too.

  The chopper landed, the roar of the two Izotov engines dying as the ignition switches were cut, the rotor blades already beginning to slow.

  The Scotties floated into a hover position above the tanks. Bodies of Russian soldiers began to float up through the open hatches into the air. One by one, they were slowly laid out on the ground, each and every Russian sound asleep. Within a few minutes, thousands of sleeping, snoring Russians carpeted the grassy slopes on both sides of the north bound lanes.

  With a vast sense of relief, Paul opened a portal and stepped through, emerging in front of a Russian T-80U tank, its gas-turbine GTD-1250 engine purring quietly at idle. Daneel 1 followed him through.

  Three Scotties approached Paul, the one in front, Irona 222, growing a right arm and saluting him.

  “Sir, the attack worked perfectly! Much better than our simulations predicted,” she reported. “They never got off a shot. No casualties on either side.”

  Paul winked at the Scottie, a huge grin on his face. “Well done, well done. Pass my thanks along to everyone.”

  “What do you want done with the tanks and Russian soldiers?” Daneel 1 asked.

  Paul glanced around at the idling vehicles and then at a nearby soldier, one of the loudest snorers he had ever heard, louder by far than the idling T-80U tank beside him.

  “Move the tanks off the highway, to the embankment and median
s and clear the highway for the civilian motorists. Then sabotage the fuel pumps of the tanks. It will take the Russian Army a while to replace all those pumps. They probably don’t have 900 of them in inventory. And take these Russians back to their barracks and let them sleep it off. Without their tanks and other vehicles, they are not much of a threat to us. Let them keep their rifles and any other portable weapons they are carrying too.”

  Irona 222 saluted again. “We’ll take care of it, Dad.”

  “One other thing, Commander,” Paul said. “When you are finished here, please move up the M3 highway and swing north. The southwestern sector of Moscow needs to be secured but please don’t engage the Kremlin regiments downtown. I want 3rd and 4th Brigades to swing down the M1 highway and deal with the Russian 5th Guard Motor Rifle Brigade. Recommend to them that they try and use this same tactic there, if they can find a nice forest-lined section of the highway like this one. Then I want 1st and 2nd brigades to proceed around the western side of Moscow, securing all entry into Moscow around to the M10 highway. Got it?”

  “Yes, sir!” she responded enthusiastically.

  Paul turned back to Daneel 1. “Is 1st Division ready to go yet?”

  “Yes,” the Scottie replied earnestly. “I heard from Roberta 300,” (made-for-TV-movie Not Quite Human II) “about an hour ago. They are in Butovskiy Lesopark, a forested section of real estate just south of the Moscow Beltway or MKAD, as they call it here. They are ready to move eastward, taking on what we believe to be the Russian’s 3rd Battalion, 81st Motor Rifle Regiment, 27th Guards Motor Rifle Brigade at the junction of the M2 and MKAD highways.”

  Paul flashed a smile at him. “Let’s go see!”

  Ω

  Their command post stood in a small clearing a few yards from a pond and perhaps fifty yards south of the MKAD. They could hear the roar of traffic speeding along the highway, the whine of semis as their tires rolled down the asphalt. The thick growth of trees and underbrush around them blocked any view of the roadway itself or of the vehicles.