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ns on and off for more than two decades。 In the face of a Russian winter； they remembered the oppressive heat of Saigon with something akin to nostalgia。
〃It's bloody fair；〃 Calloway said wonderingly； his breath giving ghostly substance to his words。 〃They propose a builddown with elimination of many existing weapons； allowing both sides to replace obsolete launchers； both sides to reach a total of five thousand deliverable warheads； that number to remain stable for five years after the three…year reduction period。 There is a separate proposal to negotiate plete removal of 'heavy' missiles； replacing them with mobile missiles； but to limit missile flight tests to a fixed number per year…〃 He flipped that page and rapidly scanned the remainder。 〃Nothing in the draft treaty about your Star Wars research 。 。 。 ？ Didn't he mention that in his statement？ Patrick； old son； this is； as you say； dynamite。 This could as easily have been written in Washington。 It will take months to work out all the technical points； but this is a bloody serious； and bloody generous； proposal。〃
〃Nothing about Star Wars？〃 Flynn frowned briefly as he turned right。 Did that mean that the Russians had made a breakthrough of their own？ Have to query Washington about that 。 。 。 〃We got us a story here； Willie。 What's your lead？ How's 'Peace' grab you？〃 Calloway just laughed at that。
FORT MEADE； MARYLAND
American intelligence agencies； like their counterparts throughout the world； monitor all news wire services。 Toland was examining the AP and Reuters reports before most news bureau chiefs； and paring them with the version transmitted over Soviet microwave circuits for publication in the regional editions of Pravda and Isvestia。 The way items of hard news were reported in the Soviet Union was intended to show Party members how their leaders felt。
〃We've been down this road before；〃 his section chief said。 〃The last time； things broke down on this issue of mobile missiles。 Both sides want them； but both sides are afraid of the other side having them。〃
〃But the tone of the report…〃
〃They're always euphoric about their arms…control proposals； damn it！ Hell； Bob； you know that。〃
〃True； sir； but it's the first time that I know of that the Russians have unilaterally removed a weapons platform from service。〃
〃The 'Yankees' are obsolete。〃
〃So what？ They never throw anything away； obsolete or not。 They still have World War II artillery pieces sitting in warehouses in case they need them again。 This is different； and the political ramifications…〃
〃We're not talking politics； we're talking nuclear strategy；〃 the section chief growled back。
As if there were a difference； Toland said to himself。
KIEV； THE UKRAINE
〃Well； Pasha？〃
〃rade General； we truly have a man's work before us；〃 Alekseyev answered； standing at attention in the Kiev headquarters of the Southwest Theater。
〃Our troops need extensive unit training。 Over the weekend I read through more than eighty regimental readiness reports from our tank and motor…rifle divisions。〃 Alekseyev paused before going on。 Tactical training and readiness was the bane of the Soviet military。 Their troops were almost entirely conscripts； in and out in two years； half of whose uniformed service was occupied just in acquiring basic military skills。 Even the nons； the backbone of every army since the Roman legions； were conscripts selected for special training academies； then lost as soon as their enlistment periods ended。 For that reason； the Soviet military leaned heavily on its officers； who often performed what in the West was sergeants' work。 The professional officer corps of the Soviet Army was its only permanent； only dependable feature。 In theory。 〃The truth of the matter is that we don't know our readiness posture at the moment。 Our colonels all use the same language in their reports； without the slightest deviation。 Everyone reports meeting norms； with the same amount of training hours； the same amount of political indoctrination； the same number of practice shots fired…that is； a deviation of under three percent…and the requisite number of field exercises run； all of course of the proper type。〃
〃As prescribed in our training manuals；〃 the Colonel General noted。
〃Naturally。 Exactly…too damned exactly！ No deviation for adverse weather。 No deviation for late fuel deliveries。 No deviation for anything at all。 For example； the 703rd Motor…Rifle Regiment spent all of last October on harvesting duty south of Kharkov…yet somehow they met their monthly norms for unit training at the same time。 Lies are bad enough； but these are stupid lies！〃
〃It cannot be as bad as you fear； Pavel Leonidovich。〃
〃Do we dare to assume otherwise； rade？〃
The General stared down at his desk。 〃No。 Very well； Pasha。 You've formulated your plan。 Let me hear it。〃
〃For the moment； you will be outlining the plan for our attack into the Muslim lands。 I must get into the field to whip our field manders into shape。 If we wish to acplish our goals in time for the attack west； we must make an example of the worst offenders。 I have four manders in mind。 Their conduct has been grossly and undeniably criminal。 Here are the names and charges。〃 He handed over a single sheet of paper。
〃There are two good men here； Pasha；〃 the General objected。
〃They are guardians of the State。 They enjoy positions of the greatest trust。 They have betrayed that trust by lying； and in doing so； they have endangered the State；〃 Alekseyev said； wondering how many men in his country could have that said of them。 He dismissed the thought。 There were problems enough right here。
〃You understand the consequences of the charges you bring？〃
〃Of course。 The penalty for treason is death。 Did I ever falsify a readiness report？ Did you？〃 Alekseyev looked away briefly。 〃It is a hard thing； and I take no pleasure in it…but unless we snap our units into shape； how many young boys will die for their officers' failings？ We need bat readiness more than we need four liars。 If there is a gentler way to achieve this； I don't know what that might be。 An army without discipline is a worthless mob。 We have the directive from STAVKA to make examples of unruly privates and restore the authority of our NCOs。 It is fitting that if privates must suffer for their failings； then their Colonels must suffer too。 Theirs is the greater responsibility。 Theirs is the greater reward。 A few examples here will go a long way to restoring our army。〃
〃The inspectorate？〃
〃The best choice；〃 Alekseyev agreed。 That way blame would not necessarily be traced back to the senior manders themselves。 〃I can send teams from the Inspector General's service out to these regiments day after tomorrow。 Our training memoranda arrived in all divisional and regimental headquarters this morning。 The news of these four traitors will encourage our unit manders to implement them with vigor。 Even then； it will be two weeks before we have a clear picture of what we need to focus on； but once we can identify the areas that need buttressing； we should have ample time to acplish what we need to acplish。〃
〃What will CINC…West be doing〃〃
〃The same； one hopes。〃 Alekseyev shook his head。 〃Has he asked for any of our units yet？〃
〃No； bu