LITMIR.BIZ

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jor Weber’s 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. I’m at the shooting range,” replied Alexey, breaking off the training exercise with regret. “Continue without me. Ivan, you’re in charge. Practice shooting at lightly armored targets a few more times. When I return we’ll continue training how to fight in settled areas.”

      “Yes, we’ll do that, Commander,” answered Ivan without any additional questions.

      Major Weber’s 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 group’s 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 didn’t work, but still, it was clear that he wouldn’t soon return to the game.

      The Major’s 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 Man’s 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 there’s been practically no communication. A part of the group managed to survive, however. At least, we got their signal. They’re 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 isn’t a standard rescue operation two interceptors will accompany you. You start in 20 minutes. Is the mission clear?”

      “Yes, Major, Sir! But I’d like to remind you that I’m undermanned and of our two highly skilled universal commandos we currently only have one. Trenton was wounded; he’s in the hospital and it looks like for a long time.”

      “I remember, but it’s not that easy to find a qualified professional in this neck of the woods. However, I’ve got a man for this mission, but I don’t know if you’ll 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 he’ll be a burden even if well-trained. And that remains to be seen.”

      “You don't think I know that? But the colonel wouldn’t listen. He just made a reference to orders from the top and said to follow it. This means you’ll 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. I’ll transfer his file to your tablet.

      “A cadet? Is this a joke, Major, Sir?”

      “Not at all, Lieutenant, it’s 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. That’s 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 Man’s 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 cadet’s uniform on whose sleeve was only one single bar, to Alexey’s 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 cadet’s military decorations. Beside the emblem of the Planetary Commando Academy there were Expert and Unique Specialist badges. That didn’t 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 division’s victory depended upon a cadet’s fighting ability?

      Alexey looked to the left side of the cadet’s jacket which had a qualification tab. The stripe designating the cadet’s 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 didn’t surprise Alexey at all. That meant this guy hadn’t served in the army before entering the Academy, and as a rule freshmen are not sent into battle. But this freshman appeared to have officer’s 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 that’s 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. Don’t get into the landing ship. Wait for me. I’ll introduce you to the group. While on board we’ll 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 doesn’t 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. That’s nonsense! One can’t do that – even a very, very

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