Greetings

[Porpoise]

13

Around lunchtime Holst gathered us to put together some courses of action, some broad military plans.
"We need to take the offensive," Holst said, "start hitting back against the Pact invasion." We were not helped by the reticence of the Norwegian government, which still refused to engage in offensive action on the land, content to dig in and wait the Soviets out.
"What are our options?", Holst asked our little group. We stood in front of a large map of Scandinavia pasted onto one wall, stretching from the northern tip of Norway to Kiel in the south.
"We could counter-attack in the North, swing around north of Finland and drive for Murmansk...", I offered.
"No, no good," he replied.
"Why not?"
"The Norwegian government refuses to release any Norwegian troops for duty outside Norway. The defense of Norway is their highest priority at the moment."
"But if we threaten the naval base at Murmansk, the Soviets will be forced to react and draw forces away from their invasion of Finland."
"I just told you, Andrews, they won't budge." Holst's eyebrows looked like furry caterpillars which danced on his forehead when he was annoyed. I saw them dance often enough to know that about him.
"Something else, then," offered Olsen. The man was a very dedicated officer, a hard worker and an organisational genius, but I doubt he had an creative idea in his life.
"Stockholm," said Vos, twirling a pointer between her slim fingers.
"Wait," I said, "you want to invade Sweden?"
"Yes, a mobile force will driving east along this road from Oslo to Stockholm. Most Swedish forces are either in the far north guarding against a invasion through Finland, or down in the south facing Denmark. We split them in the middle and take Stockholm."
"What about their cavalry regiment, here, at Karlsborg," I indicated Karlsborg fortress with my hand, roughly halfway between Oslo and Stockholm.
"Oh," she said lightly, "I happen to know they are understrength. We could soften them up with a few bombing raids, or maybe a chemical strike."
It's a strange situation to work in a military environment with a beautiful woman. It was tempting to look at Vos's angelic face and ignore the heart of a bloodthirsty psychopath beating away behind those magnificent breasts. I have to admit, it turned me on. If she had suggested nuking Moscow I would have enthusiastically agreed. It is strange what a man will agree to if a beautiful woman suggests it, and I was about to say what a great I idea I thought it was before Holst quickly put a stop to it.
"We've nothing to gain by invading Sweden, and even if we did we have no ground forces to accomplish it", Holst said
"We could aid the Finns and we have the UK Mobile Force arriving soon to do it," I said. After a moments reflection I did not think invading Sweden was such a brilliant idea but my relationship with the boss had deteriorated to the point that if he had suggested the sun would rise the next day I would have argued with him.
"We're reinforcing Denmark. It's the only logical step. The British Mobile Force should arrive there tomorrow evening. A few days after that the 9th Division should begin arriving from the United States. They will halt the Soviet advance at the Kiel Canal and then we can start pushing them back."
"I think that would be a mistake," I said. The room fell awkwardly silent and I noticed my staff's eyes were downcast. They knew Holst better than I did and I had clearly said the wrong thing by disagreeing.
"The British are arriving in Denmark tomorrow and that is all there is to it. Begin preparing plans for a counter offensive in Jutland." Holst pushed himself off the planning desk and turned to leave.
"If we do that, the only plans worth preparing are how we are going to surrender."
Holst stopped but wouldn't look me in the eye when he spoke.
"It was not a request. Those are your orders. That is all." Holst left without looking at any of us. After a moment there was an audible exhalation from the staff, who looked to me for what to do next.
"Well, Olsen?" I said. I think he suddenly realised it all fell to him now.
"Major Andrews", Olsen said, "begin preparing plans for reinforcing Denmark."
Nodding, I returned to my desk and started work. Vos sidled up to me a moment later.
"It was a mistake to disagree with the General", said Vos quietly.
"I disagree, but maybe that's a mistake, too."
I busied myself preparing some quick and dirty plans that looked good but would never be used. Within a couple of hours I was done and passed to Olsen for approval. He was so busy with his new job he did not have time to check them but simply signed off and sent them on up to Holst. Maybe there is a dangerous self destructive streak in me because in the plans I included a route march for the 'Michael M. Ouse' brigade.