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"Go ahead," Simmons encouraged him.

"If Russia fails to support China, the whole Communist world will fly apart. Yet if Russia is dragged into war on China's tail, they'll surely lose because we'll be on a war footing, and ready. In either case the men at the top in the Kremlin would surely be purged. They would die, personally. So Russia has to plan a war it can win. That means a one-day blitz. In one day they must create a hundred Pearl Harbors."

"They have to do a little more than that," said Major Price. "First they have to eliminate SAC. A hundred Pearl Harbors won't save Russia if SAC is still around."

Commander Batt leaned forward. "SAC and the Navy," he amended. "Of course, like the Air Force we're in a transition period. We're changing our weapons systems. For us, too, rockets are the ultimate answer. A screen of sea-to-air rockets to protect our carrier striking force. That's what we've got to have."

"Very well," said Simmons. "It's too late to get technical." One of his duties, as senior in the group, was to fend off the endless arguments between Navy and Air. "Let's assume that the Russians decided to launch their peace offensive at the January, fifty-five, meeting of the Presidium, but at the same time they began preparations for their alternative, war. At some time in the recent past they decided the peace offensive was faltering. I think operations were initiated as soon as this occurred, and I think these operations, preliminary or paramilitary operations, are now going on. What are they? How do they plan to strike? That's all we have to figure out." Simmons smiled, an admission that he recognized, as they all did, that their task was impossible. And the meeting was over.