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.