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Aleksandrov remembered a Roman adventure into Germany； a soldier named Quintilius Varus； manding three legions； who'd ignored his flanks； and lost his army in the process to a German named Armenius。 Might the Chinese make a similar mistake？ No； everyone knew of the Teutonenberg Forest disaster。 It was a textbook lesson in every military academy in the known world。 Quintilius Varus had been a political mander； given that mand because he'd been beloved of his emperor； Caesar Augustus； obviously not because of his operational skill。 It was a lesson probably better remembered by soldiers than by politicians。 And the Chinese army was manded by soldiers； wasn't it？
〃That's the fox；〃 Buikov said。 This was the other officer in the Chinese unit； probably the subordinate of the gardener。 Similar in size； but he had less interest in plants than he had in darting about。 As they watched； he disappeared into the tree line to the east； and if he went by the form card； he'd be invisible for five to eight minutes。
〃I could use a smoke；〃 Sergeant Buikov observed。
〃That will have to wait； Sergeant。〃
〃Yes； rade Captain。 May I have a sip of water； then？〃 he asked petulantly。 It wasn't water he wanted； of course。
〃Yes； I'd like a shot of vodka； too； but I neglected to bring any with me； as； I am sure； you did as well。〃
〃Regrettably； yes； rade Captain。 A good slug of vodka helps keep the chill away in these damp woods。〃
〃And it also dulls the senses； and we need our senses； Boris Yevgeniyevich； unless you enjoy eating rice。 Assuming the Chinks take prisoners； which I rather doubt。 They do not like us； Sergeant； and they are not a civilized people。 Remember that。〃
So； they don't go to the ballet。 Neither do I； Sergeant Buikov didn't say aloud。 His captain was a Muscovite； and spoke often of cultural matters。 But like his captain； Buikov had no love for the Chinese； and even less now that he was looking at Chinese soldiers on the soil of his country。 He only regretted not killing some； but killing was not his job。 His job was watching them piss on his country； which somehow only made him angrier。
〃Captain； will we ever get to shoot them？〃 the sergeant asked。
〃In due course； yes； it will be our job to eliminate their reconnaissance elements； and yes； Boris； I look forward to that as well。〃 And； yes； I could use a smoke as well。 And I'd love a glass of vodka right now。 But he'd settle for some black bread and butter； which he did have in his track； three hundred meters to the north。
Six and a half minutes this time。 The fox had at least looked into the woods to the east； probably listened for the sound of diesel engines； but heard nothing but the chirping of birds。 Still； this Chink lieutenant was the more conscientious of the two； in Buikov's opinion。 They should kill him first； when the time came； the sergeant thought。 Aleksandrov tapped the sergeant on the shoulder。 〃Our turn to leapfrog； Boris Yevgeniyevich。〃
〃By your mand； rade Captain。〃 And both men moved out； crouching for the first hundred meters； and taking care not to make too much noise； until they heard the Chinese tracks start their engines。 In five more minutes； they were back in their BRM and heading north； slowly picking their way through the trees； Aleksandrov buttered some bread and ate it； sipping water as he did so。 When they'd traveled a thousand meters； their vehicle stopped； and the captain got on his big radio。
〃Who is Ingrid？〃 Tolkunov asked。 〃Ingrid Bergman；〃 Major Tucker replied。 〃Actress； goodlookin' babe in her day。 All the Dark Stars are named for movie stars； Colonel。 The troops did it。〃 There was a plastic strip on the monitor top to show which Dark Star was up and transmitting。 Marilyn Monroe was back at Zhigansk for service； and Grace Kelly was the next one up； scheduled to go in fifteen hours。 〃Anyway〃…he flipped a switch and then played a little with his mouse control…〃there's the Chinese lead elements。〃
〃Son of a bitch；〃 Tolkunov said； demonstrating his knowledge of American slang。
Tucker grinned。 〃Pretty good； ain't it？ Once I sent one over a nudist colony in California…that's like a private park where people walk around naked all the time。 You can tell the difference between the flat…chested ones and the ones with nice tits。 Tell the natural blondes from the peroxide ones； too。 Anyway； you use this mouse to control the camera…well； somebody else is doing it now up at Zhigansk。 Anything in particular that you're interested in？〃
〃The bridges on the Amur；〃 Tolkunov said at once。 Tucker picked up a radio microphone。
〃This is Major Tucker。 We have a tasking request。 Slew Camera Three onto the big crossing point。〃
〃Roger；〃 the speaker next to the monitor said。
The picture changed immediately； seeming to race across the screen like a ribbon from ten o'clock down to four o'clock。 Then it stabilized。 The field of view must have been four kilometers across。 It showed a total of what appeared to be eight bridges； each of them approached by what looked like a parade of insects。
〃Give me control of Camera Three；〃 Tucker said next。
〃You got it； sir；〃 the speaker acknowledged。
〃Okay。〃 Tucker played with the mouse more than the keyboard； and the picture zoomed in…〃isolated〃…on the third bridge from the west。 There were three tanks on it at once； moving at about ten kilometers per hour south to north。 The display showed a pass rose in case you got disoriented； and it was even in color。 Tolkunov asked why。
〃No more expensive than black…and…white cameras； and we put it on the system because it sometimes shows you things you don't get from gray。 First time for overheads； even the satellites don't do color yet；〃 Tucker explained。 Then he frowned。 〃The angle's wrong； can't get the divisional markings on the tanks without moving the platform。 Wait。〃 He picked up the microphone again。 〃Sergeant； who's crossing the bridges now？〃
〃Appears to be their Three…Oh…Second armored division； sir； part of the Twenty…Ninth Group…A Army。 The Thirty…Fourth Army is fully across now。 We estimate one full regiment of the Three…Oh…Second is across and moving north at this time；〃 the intel weenie reported； as though relating the baseball scores from yesterday。
〃Thanks； Sarge。〃
〃Roger that； Maj。〃
〃And they can't see this drone？〃 Tolkunov asked。
〃Well； on radar it's pretty stealthy； and there's another little trick we have on it。 Goes back to World War II； called Project Yehudi back then； you put lights on the thing。〃
〃What？〃 Tolkunov asked。
〃Yeah； you spot airplanes because they're darker'n the sky； but if you put lightbulbs on 'em； they turn invisible。 So； there are lights on the air…frame； and a photo sensor dials the brightness automatically。 They're damned near impossible to spot…they cruise at sixty thousand feet； way the hell above contrail level； and they got no infrared signature at all； hardly…even if you know where to look； and they tell me you can't hardly make an air…to…air missile lock onto one。 Pretty cool toy； eh？〃
〃How long have you had this？〃
〃I've been working on it； oh； about four years now。〃
〃I've heard of Dark Star； but this capability is amazing。〃
Tucker nodded。 〃Yeah； it's pretty sli