Seawolf End Game Read Online Free Page B

weeks.”
    “And the rest of their carriers?” the President asked, understanding that it was America’s fleet of nuclear aircraft carriers that allowed them to project military power. Neutralizing their carrier force was absolutely essential to success.
    “They maintain five of their carriers on each coast,” the Defense Minister explained. “Normally one from each are forward deployed. The others are involved in either maintenance or training for the next deployment, so the fact they have surged three carriers to Japanese waters to face the crisis on the Korean Peninsula is a significant effort on their part. Two of these carriers are from their Pacific Fleet, leaving three still in port on their west coast. It is believed none of these could be ready for sea in less than three months.”
    “And their carriers on the east coast?” The Foreign Minister inquired cautiously.
    “The Roosevelt’s battle group is a potential threat to the operation, but if the Iranians move quickly, by the time the Americans arrive, it will be too late,” the Defense Minister assured her.
    “And their amphibious groups?” The President inquired, knowing the Americans had a significant force of amphibious assault ships that could deploy—besides land forces—significant air assets to include strike aircraft and helicopters.
    Once more, the Defense Minister answered confidently, “As with their strike carriers, the Americans have been forced to scrap their usual patrol pattern to respond to the Korean threat. The two amphibious ready groups they normally have at sea are now both in Japanese waters.”
    The President lit a fresh cigarette, knowing he needed to quit. He’d been able to back off the vodka in recent years on advice from his doctor, but he hadn’t been able to go without the nicotine yet. The plan was working. There’d been some problems getting equipment moved. The Iranians were slower than expected, but they also had more time than the North Koreans. On the other hand, the North Koreans had almost played their part too well. War still appeared imminent on the Peninsula. The Americans were still building up their combat power in and around the Sea of Japan, and all indications were that the Western powers still believed war was looming on the Korean Peninsula.
    As he took another drag on his cigarette, he looked down the table to the youngest member of his inner circle. A rising star in the government, his name was Vitaliy Shuvalov. Of all his advisors, the President kept the closest eye on this young man in particular. He ran the SVR, the Foreign Intelligence Service, which was quite a feat considering he was only forty-three. “Director Shuvalov, what can you tell us about their submarine deployments?”
    The young man didn’t drink or smoke. As far as the President knew, he was faithful to his wife—who he’d married for political reasons. They had two children. He carried no personal debt. His education was exceptional, and he’d gotten a post graduate degree in England. The young man was ambitious, ruthlessly so, and his ruthlessness was one of the things that endeared him to the President. He could count on his Intelligence Director to act without compunction to protect the current regime.
    The sharp eyes settled on the President as he formulated his answer. “As expected, the Americans detected our submarine deployment and have responded with a similar surge focused on finding and shadowing our ballistic missile submarines. As with their carriers, this unexpected deployment to match our surge of activity, has strained their ability to project power. The result is their forces are spread very thin along their normal patrol areas. Most of their Los Angeles and Virginia class submarines are under the polar icecap shadowing our Typhoons or searching for them.”
    “And their ballistic missile boats?” the President inquired.
    “We have detected no change in their normal patrol pattern,” the youth