“I suggest I go to Wavell now in the KA-40,” said Fedorov. “I can speak Russian with him, and prepare him for what he will find when he arrives here. Perhaps a note or some communication as to the urgency of our meeting, from you General O’Connor, would be useful as well.”
“Certainly,” said O’Connor, tapping his riding crop. He was beginning to feel right at home here, his eyes still transfixed whenever a Challenger II was near. The thought he had such a force within his grasp now was rousing, after scraping along with Mark VI machinegun tankettes and old cruiser tanks that could barely get fifty miles before they broke down. He had seen the brigade in action, and was awesomely impressed. The power they represented was fearsome, even though he understood it was limited now, as Kinlan had clearly explained. His mind looked ahead to what would follow this victory, and the immediate moves the British might now undertake.
“The problem now is occupying all the Ground Rommel has decided to give us back,” said O’Connor. “We did it once, but it took us a good long month. I was able to clear the Jebel country with the 6th Australian Division, while I took everything else across the base of the peninsula to Agedabia and Beda Fomm. We’ll likely do that again, but that report of Italian troops massing on Benghazi is bad news. If they decide to hold out there it would require us to invest the place, and we just haven’t enough infantry yet to do that, and also hold a front facing the Germans at Mersa Brega.”
“I think General Wavell will be recalling the 4th Indian Division from the East African campaign,” said Fedorov. “You’ll have the 2nd New Zealand Division too.”
“Even with those troops our prospects for any further offensive will be slim. They will barely be enough to hold a line along the coast near Mersa Brega, which is where I believe Rommel is heading. Your Brigade can be the tip of the spear, General Kinlan, but as you’ve explained, you only have so much ammunition in train, and you’ll need to be supplied just like any other unit in this environment. My instincts tell me to dash off in hot pursuit here, but that’s just what got Rommel into the stew he’s eating now. No. I think it best we arrange these logistics before contemplating any major move west. I’m sure this is what Wavell will advise. Our men just made the long slog from Agheila to Tobruk, Bardia and beyond. They’ll need rest and refitting before we can ask them to turn around and move west again. Given your situation, I think we’d be much better off planning the next offensive carefully, so we can get the most from your force while it remains viable.”
There it was again, thought Fedorov-the 7th Brigade represented power that was absolute, but finite. He knew full well how Kinlan must feel now. He would have to get back to Alexandria to brief Wavell, and then his own ship would be needing him soon. He felt reluctant to leave, wanting to help guide and advise Kinlan at this most critical initial phase of his experience here. At the same time, he harbored a lingering feeling of guilt for being the man who had let the bear out of his cave here. He knew the knowledge of Kinlan’s presence was very dangerous, and wanted to watch over things and prevent further contamination. On one level, he knew he was being foolish. Events had now been set in motion that would gather their own momentum, for good or for ill. At least I’ve manage to move things in the right direction, he thought. We’ve stopped Rommel’s advance, and saved Egypt for the moment. That was no small feat.
Beyond all this he still had the Germans to worry about, and yes, what they needed now was good intelligence. He needed to get up and find out what was going on, but he had limited fuel. He would have enough to get to Alexandria, brief Wavell, and then he would need to return to Kirov to refuel and huddle with Admiral Volsky again.
For now, he thought, it will be a long slow advance for the British as they try to re-occupy Cyrenaica, just as O’Connor said. I’ll have to have faith in him, and in Kinlan. There is nothing else to do. I certainly won’t be the man running operations here, so it’s time I returned to the ship.
It was then that a runner came in with more news off the radio, and it was most welcome.
“There’s been a battle at sea,” he said. “Apparently the Royal Navy has given the Italians quite a beating.”
“Good show,” said O’Connor. “They’ll be happy to know we’ve done the same to Jerry here, thanks to you fellows showing up in the nick of time. Well then, I think we all will have our hands full in the next few days and weeks. Let’s get on with it.”
Fedorov turned and shook hands with both men, wishing them well. He told them that he would report soon on his meeting with Wavell and relate the General’s intentions.
“Now,” he said himself in English. “I have ten hungry Marines to feed, and a ship to look after. Good luck to you both!”
