Page 43 of Tom Clancy Line of Sight
Brkic nodded, satisfied. “So everything is ready?”
“Not yet. The next thing I’m doing is taking the extra precaution to confirm that the laser wavelength on the Skylark’slaser designator is synched with the laser-guidance computer onboard each of the Starfire missiles.”
“Excellent. Leave nothing to chance. What else is there?”
“Once the missiles are programmed and synched to the portable fire-control computer, we should move the launcher to the location we talked about, much closer to the target. The shorter the range, the better.
“Once the launcher is fixed in place, I will need to make fine gun-laying adjustments to the launcher by hand, using the Grad’s mechanical traverse wheels on the stabilized platform for azimuth and elevation in milliradians. It won’t be necessary to be more precise than that; the laser and GLONASS guidance will more than make up for any mechanical error.”
“It will be a Day of Judgment. A glorious victory for the Dar al-Salam,” Dzhabrailov said.
“That is not for us to decide,” Brkic cautioned. “All we can do is work, and pray.” He turned to Walib, and pounded his narrow shoulder. “But thanks to you, the work will be easier, and the prayers lighter.”
“There is a reason why God brought the two of you together,” Dzhabrailov said. “Your vision, Commander, and your expertise, Captain. How can we fail?”
“Inshallah,”Emir said.
“As soon as we have all of the missiles, I can finish the other work.”
Brkic frowned. “What work is that?”
Walib pointed to the open Pelican case on the floor. It contained the portable fire-control computer he’d also stolen from the Russian armory.
“With that unit, I can preprogram the exact coordinates and elevation of the target on each missile, which is critical. In mystudies at the Russian artillery academy, they taught us that back in 1999, during the Yugoslav wars, the American GPS-guided JDAM bombs slammed into the Chinese embassy in Belgrade because the wrong targeting coordinates had been inputted.”
Brkic grinned. “So, the Americans make mistakes?”
Walib shrugged. “At least, that was the Americans’ official explanation. Of course, other sources indicate it was intentional, because they believed the Serb White Tigers were being directed out of that building.”
“Fortunately for us, our target is permanently fixed, and its exact geo-coordinates are widely available on the Internet. No accidents are possible as far as the GLONASS targeting system is concerned, let alone the laser.”
“Excellent.”
“The computerized fire-control system also allows me to perform hardware and software checks before launch. So far, everything I’ve tested has been in perfect working condition, so I anticipate no problems with the other units when they arrive.”
“If you need anything, come to me directly,” Brkic told the Syrian. “You are the top priority. Everything we have is yours.”
“What I need most is time,” Walib said. “And the rest of those missiles.”
“Of course.” Brkic turned to Emir. “Walk with me.”
—
Brkic and Emir exited the warehouse and headed for the trees for privacy. When they were out of earshot, the Chechen asked, “When do you expect the next shipment to arrive?”
The small Bosniak shook his head. “Tomorrow night.”
“And the rest?”
“The day after, or perhaps two.”
“I don’t like these delays,” Brkic said.
“It can’t be helped. The rumors of Russians in country aren’t just rumors.”
“SVR?” Brkic asked, incredulous. The Russian version of the CIA.
“Perhaps. Perhaps not. I myself spoke with a driver who was stopped only last night.”
