Opening Moves (The Red Gambit Series) Read Online Free Page A

crippled and their army lacks decent weaponry. They have only manpower and spirit as I see it. I do not think those will fix sufficient American forces in place.”
    Beria felt triumphant inside as he produced a proposal document from his deceptively capacious case.
    “This is a matter on which you have expressed reservation before Comrade, so I have looked into it and believe that this proposal might meet your concerns.”
    This file required time and another cigarette to examine properly, so Beria stealthily shifted back to the window in time to see the inspection parade dismiss. The wait was interminable.
    Something obviously jumped out of the page.
    “You wish to concede our claim on the Kurils permanently, Comrade?”
    “Not permanently, just for now Comrade General Secretary, purely as a sugar for the Japanese.”
    A dramatic frown and Stalin returned to reading further, frown deepening, mouth opening further as he progressed through Beria’s document.
    “We sign a peace treaty ending all territorial disputes? All disputes Lavrentiy?”
    “Yes Comrade General Secretary, in order to secure their compliance and support we must sweeten the pill. What we choose to do when Kingdom39 is complete is another matter.”
    Stalin stopped in his tracks, his mind obviously working hard, eyes fixed on Beria.
    Tension.
    Stalin’s face softened and the tension evaporated as quickly as it had arrived.
    “True, true”.
    Stalin lapsed into silence and consumed the rest of the document.
    “We simply do not have the capability for this grand design Comrade. It is an excellent proposal but surely it would make inroads into our stocks of all materials?”
    “I believe we can manage it Comrade, particularly as we have already decided to place many third and fourth stage assets in that region as part of the maskirova.” Beria thumbed through his copy quickly.
    “If you look at the suggestion laid out on page 17 and addendum F you will find an intriguing proposal.”
    “By moving the equipment detailed in addendum F, we can increase the firepower and ability of their forces without affecting our own, all without raising suspicion from our ‘allies’. Indeed, my office feels we will profit logistically by removing these assets from our own rosters.”
    Sitting back in his chair, pipe between his lips, the General Secretary said nothing. Beria waited.
    “You may present that,” returning the document still with his copy attached, “To the GKO today. We shall see what they think of it before I give it my support.”
    That was code for ‘ I am distancing myself from this at the moment but you stick your neck out and I will jump on the bandwagon and grab the reins if it proves successful. ’
    Not uncommon for the General Secretary.
    “Moving back to our alternatives, Comrade, I will reiterate.”
    Stalin held up his hand that stopped Beria dead in his tracks.
    “Before that Comrade, has there been re-assessment of the air and sea situation?”
    “No substantive change, except an increase in the number of jet fighter aircraft that are becoming available to them, so just the words of caution as always Comrade. Their Air forces are superior in every department and it is imperative that the specific paratrooper sub-operation Kurgan detailed in Kingdom39, addressing their threat, is fully supported, given all the assets needed, and prosecuted with the utmost vigour.”
    Beria paused as Stalin lit another cigarette.
    “Obviously, Kurgan will be very costly.”
    “Obviously. That was always the case Lavrentiy. Proceed.”
    “Naval power bears no comparison but this will not be a war of Navies. The Black Sea Fleet should ensure no incursions into our waters there because of the narrow Dardanelles approach. Politically we see no shift from Turkey to either side and we would expect their national waters to be honoured by the capitalists. We will, of course, be making our own overtures and issuing assurances to them.”
    Stalin