RED METAL

RED METAL

Russia wants to take back what they feel belongs to them. Russian launched Operation Red Metal. Power if the name of the game and taking her proper place in the world the Russians will stop at nothing. The scene described as the forces are in place and then wanting to retain her power and control of a rare earth mine in Kenya, for which they need to destroy AFRICOM or the U.S. Africa Command stationed in Germany. At the same time this is happening a small group of Chinese communist special forces manage to assassinate a prominent leader of Taiwan in order to start a major war. Imagine taking down our western communication or satellites and taking out our GPS to make Europe blind to what they have planned. Christmas day, the Russian trains appearing to be civilian transport tp  deliver offensive forces into Europe unnoticed delivering troops and tanks. Attacking Kenya and Nato has not an inkling or detected the huge amount of military power increasing and they are totally blindsided. The Russians are smart and a specific Russian general claims and states when you read the scene that the United States cannot fight a real or conventional force anymore as it has been fighting in Afghanistan.

Enter a strong a major adversary, Lt. Col, Dan Connolly who we meet in the first scene and who will do his best to prove them wrong. Russia held the mines which produced material vital in order to own the world’s high sector. Losing it special forces commander Col. Yuir Borbikov, is relentless and will do everything in his power to take them back including implementing and creating Operation Red Metal which focuses on an attack to limit and take down AFICOM. At the same time, he plans to take the mines in Kenya, but he is blindsided by someone above him and forced to leave. Red Metal is approved by the president of Russian and hoping to blindside Nato who did not think that they would take them by surprise. The result are battles that are graphically and vividly depicted as the world finds itself in a bloodbath.

Connelly and his partner break rule, overextend themselves in order to find out what is really happening with the Russians and exactly what they have planned. But an interesting and colorful character is the spy Pascal who observes too many Russians handing around in one place and passes this information to his father Apollo to investigate what they are up to looking at different mining sites and seemingly having some type of plan in mind. Paulina is a strong character that just wants to prepare lattes and enjoy life. But she is part of the Polish militia and gets caught up in a war that she would rather forget. Joining the militia to save money but, finds herself in a war and will defend her homeland from the Russians. Things get out of control and the fight is brutal and she witnesses her best friend killed and winding up in the hospital, injured does not stop her from fighting.
The Russians appear to have the battles won when NATO and all communication goes dark, realizing it one country at a time and this was just the beginning as Griggs and Connolly have to race the clock, convince the powers that be that they have to address this because Russian has launched Red Metal to take back the Rare Earth Minerals in Africa at all cost to anyone but will they start a third world war in the process? What happens if they win? Col. Yuri Borbikov is the won that created Operation Red Metal and it amounts to an attack in Europe hoping to limit AFRICOM, the United States Africa Command in Germany and at the same time taking back the mines in Kenya but they need to choose the right time. With the Russian President on board, NATO turning a blind eye and not watching, the result sends shock waves across the world. Marine Lieutenant Colonel Dan Connolly, his partner Major Griggs play an important part in hopefully bringing the Russians down but he obstacles that they face might prevent that from happening.

The characters are many on all sides and the fighting is so graphically depicted you can feel the bullets and see them flying as well as hear the commands from all of those in charge. Mark Greaney and Hunter Ripley Rawlings use their expertise in each of their fields to create a novel that is so realistic you feel like you are experiencing the events along with the characters as it happens.

Throughout Europe, Poland, Germany, the United states, different landscapes, different terrains and each side hoping to win a war that Russia created and an operation that until it became known and the reasons behind it blindsided so many especially the Chinese who took the fall for the death of the president of Taiwan.

When the President of the United States asks the President of Taiwan to postpone his elections for one month, the exchange and discussion proves interesting and the reasons behind it you will have to learn for yourself as each side escalates its own battles, Poland lost many of their troops, the United States lost captains and commanders and more, the Russians are forging ahead hoping to regain what they wanted from the start and all sides have their weapons drawn but which side will be the victor in the end?

Paulina is injured and ready to go back into battle and then we learn more about General Sabaneyev and how he plans to take Poland to victory. The numerous ships, the attack on AFRICOM and EUCOM left many commands in shambles and most the remaining quick response forces were sent to clear out of Europe. The Russians hopes on a limited or nonexistent U.S. in Africa. As Connolly requests permission to join the fight explaining how he can help, and permission was granted.

Confrontations, battles lost, many who were killed, some would be sent home in caskets while others were seriously injured, and the result you wonder if anyone really wins. The colonel that started it all did not get the glory he felt he deserved, many American commanders and those in charge did not make it out, but Lieutenant Dan Connolly’s actions and bravery saved many lives but when you take part in what happens to the mines, hear the voices of the Russians and understand the end result you will learn just what was the final outcome of Operation Red Metal.

Pages 984-995 bring the end results of this battle into focus and the finally count will take a much longer time on all sides. Characters are that realistic, battles that were graphically depicted and the research and the experiences of Lt. Col.H. Ripley Rawlings IV. USMC comes through as well as the outstanding writing of author Mark Greaney.
Fran Lewis: Just reviews