Hell Bent For Leather D+24 (2 August, 1987) 1605-1620

Aboard Nightwatch

1600 Zulu (1205 Local)

Debate over the surgical First Strike option presented by General Vuono continued on and  Reagan’s advisers were divided over the prospect.

Those in favor believed time was running critically short. Romanov was a loose cannon suffering from sleep deprivation, stress and did not appear to have full control of his mental faculties. This man was now in control of the Strategic Rocket Forces and had already demonstrated zero reluctance to employ the nuclear weapons at his disposal in order to attain his goals. If he was not removed from the equation quickly, the war was destined to shift into a final nuclear phase.

The doves did not see the situation from this perspective. They pointed out correctly that most Soviet conventional forces were either surrendering or in total disarray at this point. Commanders were not obeying orders issued by the general secretary. STAVKA and most of the KGB was no longer under Romanov’s command essentially. These men, led by Secretary Schultz urged Reagan to wait Romanov out. His time was limited. Despite the heavy threats, either the faction or one of his own people would remove him eventually. This was preferable to smoking him out and sending half of Moscow up in nuclear flames. Despite the Pentagon’s assurances on how accurate their missiles were, something could always go wrong. If the target was missed, thousands of innocent Russians would pay the price with their lives. The US would be seen as the terrorists of the planet, provided Romanov didn’t manage to order a massive nuclear attack on Europe and North America before meeting his fate.

“It is simply too risky, Mr.President,” Schultz concluded, speaking for those officials favoring a less aggressive course of action. “There is no margin for error. If something goes wrong, no matter how minor, the end result could be the destruction of the planet.”

Then there was the matter of the opposition faction in Moscow. Supporting a bloc being led in-part by the KGB Chairman was distasteful to some members of Reagan’s inner circle. Irresponsible at best, recklessly dangerous at worst. But most of them acknowledged that current circumstances dictated the unorthodox yet vital relationship and pushed the matter aside.

The discussion in the conference room on Nightwatch transformed into a debate that occasionally bloomed into a heated argument. President Reagan watched it all fold out silently. It was important for him to allow his people the opportunity to formulate their thoughts and verbalize opinions coherently in the face of friction. He needed their advice now more than at any other point in his presidency. The fortieth President of the United States was gravely aware that in the coming minutes he would be making the most critical decision in American history. The input of his advisers and cabinet members was essential.

As the discussion continued on, the white phone on the conference table chirped. Reagan pressed the speaker button. “Yes?”

“Mr. President,” the voice on the other end answered immediately. “This is Colonel Dwyer in the NMCC. Sir, a hotline message is arriving at this time.”

Lenin Hills, Moscow, USSR

1610 Zulu (2010 Local)

Immediately following transmission of the hotline message, Romanov made contact with Vladimir Dolgikh and Viktor Chebrikov at the former’s Lenin Hills dacha. The conversation was short and almost entirely one-sided. The general secretary demanded the surrender of the two and Marshal Akhromeyev, as well as the other Politburo members and military commanders who had sided with them. Romanov demanded their surrender within the hour. Failure to do this, he informed them, would force the general secretary to order a massive nuclear attack against the United States as punishment for instigating the coup in Moscow and attempting to overthrow the Soviet government.

Author’s Note: D+24 draws to a close on Saturday.