Max Glebow
Brigadier General. Foothold For A Loner
Prologue
Report to my office. Major Webers voice resounded in the radio communicator of Lieutenant Alexey Egoroff, who was training with his group at the firing range simulator. The new missile system, Storm-M, had just been deployed, but they were still trying to master these new weapons during the downtime between military operations, and so they continued to go on missions with the usual guns.
Yes, Sir, in five minutes. Im at the shooting range, replied Alexey, breaking off the training exercise with regret. Continue without me. Ivan, youre in charge. Practice shooting at lightly armored targets a few more times. When I return well continue training how to fight in settled areas.
Yes, well do that, Commander, answered Ivan without any additional questions.
Major Webers headquarters was located about 100 meters from the bunker dug into the earth. While Alexey was on his way he had enough time to decide that it was necessary to remind the Major that his group was no longer complete. Sergeant Trenton had been wounded during a previous operation; hence, their team had lost one of its most skilled universal commandos. That was common.
As a rule, casualty rates were highest among these top paratroopers because they often had to cover their groups retreat in extreme situations. It was truly a miracle that Trenton, even though wounded, had managed to lead the adversary on a wild goose chase. More than that, he outran his pursuers and reached the meeting point. Usually, tricks like that didnt work, but still, it was clear that he wouldnt soon return to the game.
The Majors office door was open.
Permission to enter, Major? asked Alexey while appearing in the doorway.
Come in and close the door. New orders just came through. Sit down. The Major touched his finger to the screen of his tablet and over the table appeared a holographic map of some semi-desert region with sandy hills, rather shallow ravines and couple of small and partly ruined buildings.
This is the western edge of the New Wasteland. No Mans Land: 350 kilometers from the area under our control. Our recon fly-car was shot down there. It was carrying our guys on their way back from a successful raid. Presumably, it was a quarg interceptor that shot down the fly-car. We can only presume this since theres been practically no communication. A part of the group managed to survive, however. At least, we got their signal. Theyre somewhere here now, said the Major, highlighting in red the region of forthcoming searches on the map.
We got to retrieve our recon men. They found something very important there. Since this isnt a standard rescue operation two interceptors will accompany you. You start in 20 minutes. Is the mission clear?
Yes, Major, Sir! But Id like to remind you that Im undermanned and of our two highly skilled universal commandos we currently only have one. Trenton was wounded; hes in the hospital and it looks like for a long time.
I remember, but its not that easy to find a qualified professional in this neck of the woods. However, Ive got a man for this mission, but I dont know if youll be happy. His fly-car arrives in several minutes.
But, Major, Sir, how can I take a totally unknown fighting man on a mission? Without a sense of unit cohesion, and without getting him acquainted with the details hell be a burden even if well-trained. And that remains to be seen.
You don't think I know that? But the colonel wouldnt listen. He just made a reference to orders from the top and said to follow it. This means youll have to sort things out. Flying time is about 40 minutes, enough to get a closer look at the cadet and clarify his combat role. Ill transfer his file to your tablet.
A cadet? Is this a joke, Major, Sir?
Not at all, Lieutenant, its an order. Do I have to put it in writing? The cadet is seconded to your group for one mission. Probably for two or three, depending on the results. Thats all. Carry out the order, Lieutenant!
Yes, Major, Sir!
Alexey left the headquarters confused and shocked. One can expect some pretty appalling things from the top brass, but this time A cadet! Had it ever happened before: a cadet in a special forces team sent on a mission to No Mans Land? Do they want him to be killed? And the entire group as well?
Despite these grim thoughts, Alexey followed the standard mission preparation plan: let the guys know the time and place for the group gathering, as well as the requirements for gear and equipment. Next, he was going to get his own equipment, but then someone called out.
Lieutenant, Sir, may I address you?
Alexey turned around. He was approached by a tall and very young guy in a cadets uniform on whose sleeve was only one single bar, to Alexeys dismay. The cadet! Nevertheless, he stopped and turned to face the man approaching him.
Go ahead.
Lieutenant, Sir. Cadet Igor Lavroff reporting as ordered.
Alexey looked his new subordinate over more attentively and understood that the surprises were just beginning today. The first thing that caught his eye was a holster with a Grot automatic handgun; that was quite a rare model and certainly not for cadets. Then he looked at the cadets military decorations. Beside the emblem of the Planetary Commando Academy there were Expert and Unique Specialist badges. That didnt at all fit into the usual pattern. These two badges were rarely awarded and Alexey had never even seen junior officers with them.
The Expert badge was, as a rule, awarded to a unit commander who had secured a victory against the worst possible odds in a major battle. What on earth could a cadet do to be awarded this that was clearly beyond all imagination. The Unique Specialist badge signified that the person possessed some very important and rare skill that allowed him to earn a victory for at least a regiment, or even for a division. Just what kind of battle was this so that the divisions victory depended upon a cadets fighting ability?
Alexey looked to the left side of the cadets jacket which had a qualification tab. The stripe designating the cadets theoretical background was gleaming green just a little more than one third of its length, which was only to be expected from a freshman. It should gleam in its entirety so the cadet could become an officer. The stripe designating combat experience as a soldier and/or sergeant was also necessary to become an officer; it was black, which didnt surprise Alexey at all. That meant this guy hadnt served in the army before entering the Academy, and as a rule freshmen are not sent into battle. But this freshman appeared to have officers combat experience in abundance.
His score was more than 16,000 while the usual one for a graduate was around 100. And that was five times as much as Alexey had himself. This could only raise questions. Besides, the cadet had battle experience in senior command positions that was absolutely unexplainable. So it seemed that the cadet had fought a lot and successfully, but all the time performing officers duties! It became clear thats how he managed to get this gun. With an Expert badge one had a right to choose his own weapons and equipment. Though, it was the same with the Unique Specialist badge. And that badge meant a lot of other nice perks as well. But going on a mission with a gun, even with one like this, was kind of
Cadet, is it all you have for a weapon? Alexey glanced at the holster.
No, Lieutenant, Sir. Most of my equipment is in my fly-car.
That was one more peculiarity. Cadets, even the best, are not supposed to have individual fly-cars. But this was insignificant when compared with the rest.
Well, Cadet, time marches onward. Take your things and go to the tarmac, third sector, in ten minutes. Dont get into the landing ship. Wait for me. Ill introduce you to the group. While on board well discuss everything in detail and check your gear. Welcome to my detachment.
Thank you, Lieutenant, Sir. May I have permission to go?
Yes, go.
The Cadet quickly left for the tarmac, and Alexey hurried to get ready. Now he had even more unanswered questions. Who the hell is this guy who doesnt have to abide by the usual introduction procedure of a novice to the team? Moreover, a cadet. And yet, he is very advanced judging by his military decorations and experience. Thats nonsense! One cant do that even a very, very tough cadet. Stop. Enough. Im gonna have to read his file. But when? Not now, thats for sure.
When Alexey reached the tarmacs third sector Lavroff was waiting for him. And he looked rather unusual. To begin with he had chosen a very exotic modification of the Storm complex to be his primary weapon. Normally, Storm was intended for heavy infantry. It was very heavy, and to use it effectively required an enhanced exoskeleton that was part of a heavy infantry rig and combined with strong armor. But this huge mass restricted mobility and shortened the combat time while using a standard battery. This is why Alexeys guys, for whom secrecy and mobility played a crucial role, had never even thought about using it.
The Cadet, however, clearly understood that so much mass will negatively effect his mobility, which is why all his exoskeletons armor plates with heavy infantry gear were replaced by light composite protection. This allowed to reduce the overall mass and dimensions to the extent that you could install a second battery pack and an additional box for ammo. That didnt seem to be superfluous because the Storm, which includes a 30 mm automatic gun, long-barreled sniper rifle and a rotary machine-gun, had a great appetite for ammo. At the same time, the exoskeletons lifting capacity was large enough to provide good mobility.
After carefully watching his teams new member for a while, Alexey said to the Cadet with a tint of doubt in his voice:
Well, move around a bit. Jump, show me a change of positions.
Yes, Sir, answered Lavroff, jumping up three meters almost instantly. Having hit the ground he rolled 20 meters to the left, and he was almost immediately under the technical service car, pointing the barrel of his automatic weapon toward an imagined enemy.
Hmmm, thats enough. Alexeys voice sounded neutral, but any of his teams older members understood that the Lieutenant at least wasnt disappointed by what hed just seen. Well see how that's gonna look in real combat. Lets get on board.
When Alexey and his new subordinate ascended the dropships ramp into the drop bay, the rest of the team was already there. Having glanced at the novice, they turned their puzzled gazes to their commanding officer.
This is Cadet Igor Lavroff, who is replacing Trenton, Alexey calmly informed his soldiers, immediately spotting the bewilderment and confusion on their faces. Ivan, who was senior in rank only after Alexey, expressed what all of them felt:
A cadet? Did we hear that right, commander?
You heard it right.
But
We got an order and cant discuss it. Lavroff is going with us.
Yes, Lieutenant, Sir. Ivans answer sounded extremely formal, which made it perfectly clear that the members of the group still didnt understand how that could be possible. Let me ask a question, Sir.
No, Ivan. I see all your questions written on your face and I dont have any answers. We must take off. Ill introduce him once we get under way. Cadet, take your place opposite the sergeant, said Alexey, nodding towards Ivan.
Literally a minute later the ramp went up, and the turbines started buzzing. The dropship took off from the tarmac and set a course for the destination. The escorting interceptors caught up with the ship almost immediately.
So, Cadet, across from you is Sergeant Ivan Kelt. Deputy commander and pathfinder. To Ivans right is Private First Class John Zeit, sniper. Next, Private Anton Gnezdoff, a universal commando and your colleague. On my right is Private First Class Kay Shefferson, communications and equipment specialist. And, finally, Private First Class Ilia Kopytoff, physician. Now, about our mission. Theres already a map on your tablets with our destination indicated.
The border of the search area is marked red. A fly-car with our long-range recon patrol was shot down there. We have to find the survivors, provide necessary assistance and evacuate them. Just as usual, well disembark, comb the area thoroughly, find our guys, grab them and get out of there. The meeting point to board the dropship is on the opposite border of the search area. Any questions?
May I speak, Commander?
Im listening, Anton.
Who will be the hen to fuss over this chick of a cadet? With his crazy outfit and his cannons hell give us away and slow us down. Besides, he doesnt know our code signals and tactics. Wed have to give him a lot of extra voice commands, and you know how that goes with our communication systems.
Alexey looked at Lavroff, at how hed react. But the cadet sat perfectly still and waited for the Lieutenant to answer. He was clearly interested to hear the answer despite the sarcastic question. Alexey rubbed his chin and looked at Anton.
Ive already told Ivan that Ive got no answers to many questions. Well show our code signals to the cadet now, and as for the danger of giving us away well find that out only on site. I hope Lavroff wont need any special care.
Where did he get this equipment from? Who chose it for him? It doesnt fit in well with the bulk of our equipment, asked Shefferson.
Cadet, explain, said Alexey.
Yes, Lieutenant, Sir. I chose and prepared this equipment myself. Since I didnt have the chance to match it with the groups armaments I assumed it has to meet the basic task of a universal commando, namely to provide fire support for the group and, if necessary, provide cover for a withdrawal. Besides, I focused on the probability of acting alone, hence I maximized mobility, ammunition and power availability at the expense of protection.
You did it yourself? Who trusted you with this? What about camouflage? Youve got a huge barn with cannons. How are you going to move discreetly?
Unfortunately, camouflage only protects from visual detection. And so I had to give it up, as I did with my protection system. But my gear is well protected from electronic surveillance equipment: theres a special scattering layer on the armor and a built-in electronic warfare device with an additional noise and decoy generator that can be adjusted so it wont bother our guys.
Stop! Lieutenant raised his arm in order to prevent new questions. We dont have time. We must brief Lavroff on our groups tactics. Look here, cadet, and try to remember everything the first time I say it
* * *
Trouble started the moment they entered the No Mans Zone. The escorting interceptor that had flown ahead to do recon disappeared from the scanners. Generally, there was nothing unusual in that. The electronic warfare systems used by both sides in the conflict were much more advanced than the communication equipment, and so both faced awful communications. The interceptor, however, didnt return at the appointed time. Still, the group had its orders, and their ship continued towards the missing planes last known location.
And this is where the enemy hit them.