War with Russia

The two F-16s were guided onto the pan by ground crew wearing US uniforms; a C-17 and two C-130 transport aircraft from 435th Contingency Response Group had flown to Lielvārde the day before, to prepare the way for them. His canopy opened, Bertinetti removed his oxygen mask, unstrapped himself and stepped out of the cockpit. Then he stretched, took off his helmet and sucked in a lungful of fresh air, before climbing down from the aircraft on the ladder put in place by the ground crew. They hooked the aircraft up to a tractor, which would pull it into a hardened shelter. In minutes, the maintenance crews would be all over it.

“Welcome to Lielvārde, Major! I am Colonel Teteris, the base commander.” As he stepped onto the rain-streaked pan, Bertinetti was greeted by a stocky Latvian officer, who was evidently waiting for him.

“It’s a pleasure to be here, Sir. Phil Bertinetti.” The dark-haired Coloradan first saluted smartly and then shook the proffered hand.

“Everything is ready for the arrival of the remaining F-16s. Your Contingency Response Group landed yesterday and has set up the necessary support. We Latvians will continue to secure the outer perimeter and provide other host-nation support, although we have had some difficulties, which I will brief you about shortly. Meanwhile, 435th CRG is now set up to provide airfield operations, command and control of air operating out of here, weather support, close protection and defense of your aircraft and personnel, maintenance and everything you need.”

“Sounds like them,” said Bertinetti. “They don’t waste any time getting things organized.” It was good to know that the well-oiled machine that was the US Air Force was in place. That would send an important message of reassurance to the Latvians, but after his experiences in Ukraine, he doubted it would deter the Russians, as many were hoping it might.

Teteris looked preoccupied. “Major, I have to tell you that things are very bad here. Latvia suffered a catastrophic cyber-attack two days ago. We have some communications, but much of our national infrastructure has been badly affected. We are doing all we can to fix things, but we can offer you only limited support.”

Shortly afterward, after a much-needed cup of strong, black coffee, Bertinetti had linked up with his kit—flown in by C-130 the day before—and found the room and bunk he’d been allocated in the transit accommodation. He and Teteris then met up with the CRG commander, discovered that the remaining four F-16s were expected that night, and talked through the way they were going to operate, while Mike Ryan, his wingman, checked reception arrangements for the remainder of the squadron.

Bertinetti was conscious that he was going to have to step carefully. Both Teteris and the CRG commander were colonels and he was a major. Although they were merely there to provide support for him and his men—the ones who would be doing the flying, the fighting and, quite possibly, the dying—he still had to follow their commands. He was going to have to find a way of telling them what needed to be done, even though he was their junior.

“Sir, I suggest we establish contact with the Latvian National Armed Forces Joint Headquarters. They probably need to know what we can bring to the party and I’m sure they’ll want to know when we reckon we can declare full operating capability.”

“Good idea, Phil,” replied the CRG Commander. “Why don’t you take a car and head into Riga? I want to stay here and make sure everything is set up for the incoming aircraft.”

“I’ll take you,” said Teteris. “They would very much like to see you at Joint HQ. I’ll get a message through to say you are coming. We’ve now got enough communications for that.”

Two hours later, with Bertinetti still in his aviator’s flying suit but, given that he was now in an operational theater, carrying his grab-bag and issue 9 millimeter Beretta pistol, the car entered the compound of the Joint HQ in Riga.

Teteris led him into the building and, much to Bertinetti’s surprise, immediately took him to the Chief of Defense’s office, where he was personally welcomed by Lieutenant General Raimonds Balderis, a measure of the importance the Latvians placed on the deployment of the American F-16s. Bertinetti briefed him on the ETA, the estimated time of arrival, of the remaining F-16s.

“That’s very good news, Major,” said Balderis. “Now you need to tie down the details of command and control and how you are going to operate alongside the NATO Baltic Air Police mission. It is not straightforward, as they are not operating from Latvia. Correct, Colonel Teteris?”

“Correct, Sir,” responded Teteris. “The mission is currently operating out of Siauliai Air Base in Lithuania. We need to talk to the Operations Center to work out the details.” He then turned to Bertinetti. “Come, I will take you.” They saluted and left Balderis’s office.