Chapter 1: Wounded Bear
Paktia Province, near the Pakistan – Afghanistan border
January 6, 1988
The wind rustled calmly through the blanched desert hills, as dry plants and sand responded in a melodious dance with the air. The rugged terrain stretched on for miles, with almost no end in sight. Amidst this undisturbed ecosystem, a roaring noise began to grow in the eastern sky, a regulated sound like multiple birds all flapping their wings rapidly at once.
The noise grew ever louder by the second, until the fearsome silhouette of a Mil Mi-24 'Hind' gunship rose above the hill. Just behind it, was another Mi-24 and an Mi-8T 'Hip' attack/transport helicopter. Each of the Mi-24's was armed to the teeth with a 23mm GSh-23L gatling gun mounted in a chin turret, four 32-count 57mm rocket launching pods, 9K114 'Shturm' anti-tank missiles in two sets of four mounted on underwing pylons, and enough seats for eight soldiers onboard. The Mi-8 was more of a transport, having 24 seats onboard, but carried six of the 32-count 57mm rocket launchers, and two 23mm GSh-23L gunpods fixed under the wings.
Along with the 40 paratroopers and their choppers were four Bomber Witches from the 22nd Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Division operating out of Engels AFB in Saratov, Russia. Flanking the three-helicopter formation from the right was a young blonde girl with chocolate brown eyes wearing a fluffy white ushanka fur hat and a Soviet airman's coat, but she was flying alongside her comrades utilizing a Tu-95 'Bear' heavy bomber unit. Her name was Rozalina Melkin, a Soviet Bomber Witch – and one of the last propeller driven bomber witches – entrusted with escorting the 345th Independent Guards Airborne Regiment to the Paktia Province. She was armed with a 23mm AM-23 autocannon and 15,000kg of bomb capacity which included Kh-22 'Kitchen' standoff cruise missiles with 1000kg RDX filled conventional warheads, and KAB-500KR guided 500kg bombs. Her unit was very unusual, not only because it was the last propeller driven heavy bomber unit left in active service, but because it used NK-12 engines connected to contra-rotating propellers which were so loud a submarine crew could hear the noise even at 500m water depth. While not as fast as other jet powered bombers, she had the range advantage over her counterparts. Her callsign was 'Kuznetsova.'
To the left of the formation was Natalya's sister, Valentina Melkin, who flew the jet-powered Tupolev Tu-160 'Blackjack' strategic bomber. A response to the American B-1 Lancer project, the Tu-160 incorporated the same variable geometry wings that could swing back for supersonic flight, rotary launchers for free-fall bombs, guided bombs or cruise missiles allowing her to carry up to 45,000kg of ordnance, and an AM-23 autocannon like Rozalina's. She wore a grey airman's helmet with an oxygen mask, and a dark grey flight suit with the squadron insignia on it. Her silvery blonde hair was neatly tucked under the helmet in beautiful French braids, with one bright red streak going through her hair, and her periwinkle eyes sparkled in the bright desert. Her callsign was 'Oktyabrskaya Revolutsiya,' a historical reference to the 1917 October Revolution in Petrograd.
In the trail position was Ludmila Mikhailovich, a pilot originally from the Soviet Baltic Fleet who flew the Tu-22M 'Backfire' maritime strike bomber. The unit's weapons included a 23mm GSh-23 autocannon, and a rotary launcher with 24,000kg bomb load capacity including conventional Kh-22 cruise missiles, guided bombs, free-fall bombs, and naval mines. Her outfit was very different, being a bright orange flight suit with a built-in life vest, and a white helmet with sun visor over her mustard yellow eyes and brown hair with dirty blonde highlights. Her callsign was 'Bogatyr,' the word for a knight in the East Slavic legends.
Several thousand kilometers above was their AWACS, Tatyana Nikolayevna, a witch who flew the Beriev A-50 AWACS unit under the callsign 'Krasnaya Luna' ('Red Moon'). Her unit was based on the Ilyushin IL-76 transport aircraft and she was equipped with an experimental electromagnetic rifle modeled off the CheyTac anti-material rifle. Her curly raven black locks were interrupted only by her dark purple bangs, and she wore a modified helmet with a full HUD projected across the inside of her visor, an oxygen compressor, and a grey-white flight suit that blended in with the horizon. A pair of lilac purple eyes anxiously scanned the information flowing through her HUD, while keeping a close watch on the radar scanner.
Two months earlier, the Soviet 40th Army had undertaken Operation Magistral to reopen the road between the cities of Gardez and Khost near the Pakistani border. The latter of these was home to a 2.7km runway and the main helicopter base for Soviet operations in the area but had been disrupted by a local revolution. To make matters worse, a Teki meteor had landed in the region earlier in the month, establishing a new Nest that the army had failed to disrupt. Supply convoys passing through the mountain roads came under intense fire from Teki large caliber energy cannons codenamed 'Jupiter,' and for this reason Chairman Gorbachev had called on the airborne regiment to attack and capture the Satukandav Pass – a key section of the winding supply road.
There was one major flaw – nobody knew exactly where the Teki forces were hiding, and so Col General Boris Gromov called for an airdrop of dummy paratroops in the mountain pass, intending for the Teki to open fire and reveal their positions for the artillery observers.
The helicopter force touched down on Hill 3234 overlooking the Satukandav Pass and stirred up the ancient sand as the troopers dismounted. They began to unload several 12.7mm DShK heavy machine guns, a KPV 14.5mm machine gun, sandbag fortifications, ammo boxes, grenades, radios, a 2B9 'Vasilek' 82mm mortar launcher from the cargo sling and a couple of RPG-7 rocket launchers. Rozalina continued to orbit around the hill with Valentina and Ludmila, searching for any hostiles with enhanced optics while Ludmila kept on eye on the radar.
"There's nobody here. …what are we doing here again?" Rozalina asked commander Sergey Tkachyov, who was on the ground supervising the supply offloading.
"Why are you here?" He echoed angrily. "You're here to protect us from attacks and perform bombing runs if need be. What, did you think the choppers were going to stay here and risk getting damaged? You're here to minimize losses, even if that means being the bait."
Rozalina's heart sunk. It had been 35 years since Joseph Stalin passed away, and currently in his place was Chairman Mikhail Gorbachev who did not see a consistent need for Bomber Witches. His restructuring of Soviet military strategies meant that the days of the bomber as a symbol of Soviet airpower were essentially over, and with the US' induction of the helicopter as a major combat element in Vietnam, Gorbachev would not be outdone and prioritized a helicopter force for the USSR. This made choppers much more important to the military than some anachronic heavy bombers.
After acknowledging her defeatist silence, Tkachyov pulled out his radio again. "That's what I thought. Now you'd better get your head right, because once the choppers leave, you're our only air support. Remember what's at stake here – if the Teki manage to destroy our convoy, the remaining units in Khost will starve to death or run out of bullets, whichever comes first. If that happens, we won't be able to hold this area efficiently.
"Understood, sir." Rozalina sighed. She continued to survey the desert with her binoculars, orbiting Hill 3234 in the process. The IL-76 transport planes came into view on the radar, roaring by as they dropped hundreds of dummy paratroopers out the loading ramp. As parachutes were deployed by the fake army, a storm of laser bullets came rushing up to meet them, singing the plastic and wood decoys.
"There's more than I imagined, but it's a good thing the dummies took the blow for us." Tkachyov grumbled. "Ivan, send the data to Tatyana so she can redistribute it."
"Yes sir," Lt. Ivan Pavlovich answered, "My team is sending the data now."
"…Data received. It's fairly spotty, but the enemy has heavy caliber anti-air guns set to the north of us, as well as multiple shots fired from small arms caliber." Tatyana explained.
"We need to be prepared, they could rush us at any moment." Tkachyov pondered. He then ordered his men to start digging defensive lines and building extra fortifications using loose rocks from the hilltop.
Rozalina watched as the young paratroopers stripped the upper halves of their clothes off, writhing in the sweltering heat as they dug up any large rocks they could use. The protective walls were soon built, and the KPV heavy machine gun was installed on top of a turret base to be used for anti-aircraft defense. A small command center was also built of rocks, housing the radio antenna and the commander's personal quarters.
Commander Sergey squatted down for a smoke break and beckoned for Lt. Ivan to join him.
"Surely they would've attacked us by now." Sergey wondered, sighing and blowing a large cloud of smoke.
"Perhaps they don't know we're here." Ivan smiled.
Sergey chuckled a little. "Don't be so naïve. This isn't some random battle, it's a test of endurance."
"Why not just bomb their positions?" Ivan ventured.
"There you go again." Sergey snapped. "If our witches were to go and bomb them, we might never discover their base of operations."
"Ah, an interesting proposition to be sure. But, if the 40th Army couldn't defeat their nest, what chance have we?" Ivan sighed.
"Pavlovich – no… Ivan." Sergey stood up slowly. "Our brothers are dying in Khost, and we cannot allow that to continue. We fight for the common man, no? Giving our lives to protect our brothers and the motherland is the highest honor we could hope to achieve."
"Understood, sir." Ivan answered, stomping out his cigarette in the sand.
Night fell, and while most of the soldiers had retired to their sleeping bags, a skeleton crew was placed on watch duty at the machine gun posts. The witches continued to loiter around the hill, growing weary from the extent of the mission.
"I'm so sleepy…" Ludmila yawned.
"Don't do that, yawning is contagious." Valentina snapped.
"Be vigilant, girls." Rozalina ordered. "We have to keep this place safe."
"Listen up, mission update from command." Tatyana spoke up. "The supply column will near the Satunkadav pass by daybreak tomorrow. All we have to do is make sure it gets through safely."
"But I'm tired!" Ludmila whined. "I won't be able to stay in the air like this…!"
"Settle down, you might just get some excitement after all – I've got movement on infrared." Valentina interrupted.
"How many?" Rozalina asked.
"Uhm… at least six units, no, seven. Probably scouts for a larger force." Valentina replied.
"Shit." Rozalina muttered, switching channel to the ground forces HQ. "Commander Tkachyov, enemy scouts have mobilized at the base of the hill. Requesting permission to counter attack."
A moment passed, then a very groggy voice answered the radio. "Oy, is 3 in the morning. I'll wake Viktor and Ivan, you stay in orbit for now." Tkachyov grumbled.
"Sir-" Rozalina began.
"Did I stutter?! Follow your orders, cyka!" Tkachyov yelled, setting the receiver down harshly.
"Debil…" Rozalina said, switching channels.
"Roza, our guys have started moving, but the enemy is sending infantry with light armor support up the back road as well." Valentina reported.
Rozalina scratched her head rapidly in frustration. "We can't hold this area without ground support, even if the commander is a debil… Try to contact the primary defense unit and tell them to lay low for close air support."
"Roger." Valentina acknowledged.
"Ludmila, with me. Valentina, standby with missiles if you see any heavier units. Tatyana, can you mark the targets?" Rozalina asked.
"Of course, displaying hostile units on your HUD, don't hit any allies. Cleared to engage." Tatyana said, sending the data.
Rozalina and Ludmila banked out of their orbit, heading for Hill 3234. A large group of Teki ground troops was advancing up the hill behind the scouts, appearing as little white spots on the infrared camera. As the bomber witches closed the distance, a flurry of laser bullets came up to greet them.
"Shields!" Rozalina shouted, as they both engaged their magic energy shields.
Ludmila had her gun at the ready and began strafing the ground troops as Rozalina opened her bomb bay doors and exposed the high capacity rotary launchers. A stream of welded 100kg bombs rained out of her bomber unit, blanketing the hill with shrapnel and explosives.
Tkachyov had gone back to bed, but when the bombs hit he scrambled to his feet and grabbed his Kalashnikov, running outside to see the fire erupting behind his command post. He held his arms up to shield his face from the intense heat and watched Rozalina roar by with Ludmila launching another strafing round. The bright tracers lit up the night sky, as a buzzing noise echoed through the hills.
"Ivan! Viktor! Where are you?!" Sergey yelled amidst the explosions and gunfire.
1st Platoon commander Viktor Gagarin ran up to the command post, ducking his head to avoid laser bullets and took cover in a ditch as Sergey cautiously peeked around the command center.
"Commander! More enemy troops are approaching! We need to call for reinforcements!" Viktor yelled.
"There are no reinforce-" Sergey began.
Just then, a volley of high caliber energy rounds hit the command center, destroying the radio antenna and knocking Sergey on his face.
"Ay blyaaaa…!" Sergey exclaimed, as the antenna toppled over. He tried to brush the abrasive sand off his face. "There… there are no reinforcements. That was the plan all along."
Viktor stared blankly in disbelief, until another large caliber shell went right past his position. "Oy pizdec…!" He muttered in realization.
On the hilltop across from them, a mobile gun system carrying the lethal 'Jupiter' cannons was peeking over the rocks, aiming the gun barrel right at the 345th.
"There! Enemy Jupiter cannon spotted!" Viktor pointed.
"How observant! And how are we going to tell the witches without a radio?!" Sergey raged, coughing in the dust cloud and pointing to the destroyed antenna.
Viktor searched his utility belts and produced a red smoke grenade, laughing triumphantly. "Commander, we can use smoke to mark their position for the witches!"
"…just how would we get a smoke grenade up there? I don't suppose you can throw that far!" Sergey chuckled nervously.
"No, but Kalashnikov can." Viktor smirked, jamming the grenade into his under barrel grenade launcher and aiming the grenade sight. The desert sand blew across his face, making him flinch a little as particles brushed his eyelashes. There was a distinct 'pop' sound, as the grenade was ejected and flew through the air.
"Tatyana, can you try to raise commander Tkachyov one more time? We have heavy armor incoming to the hill." Valentina urged.
"I can't get through to him, they must've hit the radio station." Tatyana replied.
"Well that's fantastic! Someone needs to tell them to get down so we can protect them!" Valentina seethed.
"Maybe you can yell at them." Tatyana smirked. "…oh, what's this? Red smoke rising from ground forces 3 o'clock on the neighboring hill."
"What is it?" Rozalina asked.
"It's… a Jupiter cannon!" Tatyana realized. "I don't know who fired that, but that's impressive. Marking the target on your HUD."
The Jupiter mobile gun system appeared as a green box on Valentina's heads up display, as she opened her bomb bay doors and revealed the huge rotary launchers inside. She selected a Kh-22 'Kitchen' missile as the rack rotated accordingly for deployment. Valentina neared maximum lockon range, as her targeting reticle slowly locked on to the cannon and turned red with a steady beeping tone.
"Locked on. Fox 3." Valentina announced, as the weighty missile dropped from her bomb bay and extended its stabilizers before igniting the rocket motor. At speeds approaching Mach 4, the Jupiter gun didn't even have time to react as the 6,000-kilogram projectile slammed into the center of mass and exploded.
Sergey and Viktor shielded their faces from the intense heat as the fireball illuminated everything on the hill. For just a moment, they could clearly see the infantry and heavy armor approaching the hilltop. It was now almost 430 hours, and the sun would be coming up any moment along with the convoy. The Teki knew this and charged the front line with all their might.
"Hold your ground! No surrender, shoot to kill!" Tkachyov yelled, as Viktor jumped on the KPV gun mount and opened fire at the incoming wave of troops. Sergey and Ivan joined him with their AK-47's, along with the other riflemen using RPK light machine guns, AK-47's, AK-74's, and the DhSK heavy machine guns.
The witches could see the erupting firefight as the mountain was illuminated with bullets, just as another smoke grenade blossomed on the hillside and marked the heavier armored units.
"Tatyana! Mark all targets around the red smoke!" Rozalina requested.
"Roger, appearing on your HUD now. Take caution, they're getting too close to our frontline for you to use unguided munitions." Tatyana warned.
"Understood." Rozalina responded, selecting the KAB-500KR guided 500kg bomb. The bomb rotated through her weapons racks, as Rozalina closed distance and dropped the guided munition. The fin stabilized bomb whistled through the arid desert, as it slammed into the lead enemy tank which erupted in flames. Rozalina launched four more guided bombs, followed by a strafing run from Ludmila, decimating the remaining armored units.
Tkachyov's riflemen continued shooting, knocking down the lightly armored infantry as fast as they appeared. The hillside had grown quiet, except for the bullets coming from the 345th, as they continued shooting the dead alien bodies.
"Ceasefire! Cease fire!" Tkachyov yelled. "CEASEFIRE DAMMIT!"
The gunfire came to a halt, as Sergey's eyes scanned the desolate scene and the burning tank hulls. The sun was just beginning to come up, its rays peeking over the desert horizon. Tkachyov looked at his watch.
"0500 hours… daybreak." He muttered, as the rumbling of a V-12 diesel engine approached. He spun around just in time to see a T-72A main battle tank rumbling through the Satunkandav Pass, followed by two BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles, BM-21 Grad and 2S3 Akatsiya artillery pieces, a ZSU-23-4 Shilka, and trucks filled to the brim with ammunition and supplies.
The commander's hatch of the lead T-72 opened, and a smug tanker stuck his closely shaven head out.
"Privyet! Serzhant Pavel Kutakhov at your service. 0500 hours, right on time give or take. We've got your back now, 345th." Pavel smiled.
"Fucking hell…" Sergey laughed. "You just missed the fight."
"Oh I disagree, this fight isn't over just yet. We still have to get the supplies to Khost." Pavel replied.
A few hours later…
As supplies were being unloaded and the sun began to rise, Tatyana noticed a dust storm beginning to form on the horizon.
"This is Krasnaya Luna to Commander Tkachyov, are you aware of the storm moving in on our position from the northeast?" Tatyana asked worriedly.
"…I am now." Tkachyov scowled. "If it isn't the Teki, it's weather… We could get to Khost if we leave now without any delays, but if we get caught in the open all is lost."
"With all due respect Commander, I don't think it's worth risking everything we've fought for like this." Tatyana urged.
"No, it isn't. But our brothers are dying in Khost, and we can't keep them waiting." Tkachyov scratched his chin pensively. "All right, the Bomber Witches will go ahead and scout for any Teki ground forces that might ambush us, and the artillery will stay here with the 345th while the tanks and trucks go ahead to Khost. Is that clear?"
Tatyana sighed loudly. "Yes, sir." She gritted her teeth.
As ordered, Pavel and his tanks moved out with the convoy towards Khost, driving down the winding mountain road and into the open desert. The sandstorm loomed on the horizon, with dark sands whirling about in hurricane-like winds making it impossible to see through. The convoy trundled through the desert, while the Bomber Witches desperately searched for any sign of enemy movement.
"This is horrible…" Ludmila yawned loudly. "Can't we get some rest, Roza?"
"Not just yet…" Rozalina replied weakly. "The nearest airfield happens to be Khost, so… you know what that means. We were never intended to return to Saratov."
"You're kidding." Valentina blinked slowly. "Fuck this, gimme something to kill or I'm going to fall asleep."
"Careful what you wish for, Val." Tatyana warned. "There are some ground contacts within the sandstorm. I can't get an accurate fix on them… the sand is disrupting my radar."
"So, I guess we have to go trolling at low altitude then… We can't let the convoy get hit." Rozalina stated.
"Pavel be advised," Tatyana contacted the convoy. "Enemy contacts detected in the sandstorm. We'll try to pick them off but keep your eyes up and scan on infrared for targets."
"Roger, Krasnaya Luna. Keep us safe from up there." Pavel pleaded.
A volley of laser pulse rounds came out of the sandstorm, heading in the general direction of the convoy and straddling them with impacts. Tatyana saw them on radar for only a moment after they had fired, before they disappeared into the storm again.
"Girls, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that when the Teki fire, we can track their IR heat signature and mark it on radar. The bad news is that once their gun barrels cool down after firing, the signal disappears along with their location." Tatyana advised.
"Well if we can get a general direction going, at least it's something." Rozalina noted the blips on her HUD.
Another volley of pulse fire punched out from the sandstorm, hitting a BMP-2 in the rear guard.
"Blyat! Dimitriy, report your situation. Oy, Dimitriy!" Pavel urged over the radio.
"This is Anton, Shilka anti-air unit. Dimitriy is gone… They hit one of his anti-tank missiles and blew the tank wide open." Anton replied shakily.
"Debils…" Pavel growled. "Henrik, are you still with us?"
"Yes, commander." Henrik responded from the other BMP-2 unit.
"Get on our outside edge and lay a smoke screen. I don't know if they can see through it, but it might buy us some time." Pavel ordered.
"Roger, commander." Henrik radioed. "Oy, you heard the man! Get the ESS running!"
The BMP-2 began injecting fuel directly into the exhaust as they drove alongside Pavel's T-72A, putting up a wall of white, chalky smoke that mixed with the dust from their tracks.
Meanwhile, Rozalina, Valentina, and Ludmila had finished equipping their goggles and oxygen masks to keep sand out of their faces and had flown into the sandstorm maintaining a low altitude just below the storm but only slightly above the terrain. The unforgiving winds tried to push them away, as the girls fought to stay aloft. Ludmila momentarily popped above the ceiling of the massive storm, catching a brief glimpse of the sun as she noticed tracers flying out towards the supply column.
"Got a heat signature, marking it on radar." Ludmila reported. "Straight ahead at heading 015 and moving fast."
"Roger, keep the bearing and tell me when to drop." Rozalina said, selecting unguided bombs in her rotary rack.
"Can't lock on in this weather…" Valentina noted. "What use are all these guided missiles if they get lost in some dust…"
"Focus, Val!" Rozalina warned, staring intently into the sandy wind.
"Another enemy salvo detected, position marked." Ludmila reported. "Roza, drop now!"
Rozalina dropped four FAB 1000kg welded munitions, banking hard to avoid the splash radius and shrapnel. She was rewarded with two more bright explosions on the ground, as Teki armored units were destroyed.
"Got 'em!" Rozalina cheered.
"Now you, Valentina." Ludmila encouraged. "Target to your 11 o'clock, heading 340." She noted, as another volley of fire exited the sandstorm.
"I'm on it." Valentina replied, readying unguided bombs.
Ludmila watched as the contact disappeared, then reappeared as it fired another bright volley of shells. "Now, Val! Hurry before they hit our guys!"
Valentina responded by dropping four more 1000kg bombs, whose explosions were followed by an extremely bright blue explosion. "Ay blyaaaaa…! Ammo detonation!" Valentina cried gleefully.
"Girls, that appears to be all of them, get out of there." Tatyana ordered.
The witches punched out of the sandstorm, taking off their masks promptly. Valentina's had a few holes in it from the bright explosion, which was enough to fill her goggles partially with sand.
"Pheh! Disgusting…" Valentina coughed, brushing sand off her face.
As they flew near the desert road, they were very disappointed to see the fruits of their labor. The supply trucks, along with Henrik's BMP-2 had been shelled into oblivion, unable to continue the journey. Pavel's T-72A had survived, though suffering several minor hits and one penetrating round that killed his gunner. Anton's ZSU-23-4 was the only one that hadn't suffered any notable damage.
"Cyka, blood everywhere…" Pavel groaned, looking pitifully at his worse for wear gunner next to him. "I know you did your best…" Pavel radioed, audibly upset. "But we can't carry all the supplies without the trucks. We'll try to make some sleds and hook them up with tow cables to the ZSU and my T-72, though I estimate we can only salvage half of the supply train at best."
The girls were heartbroken, realizing they had failed their mission.
"But… surely we can send the BM-21's and the Akatsiya to help transport the rest?" Rozalina said thoughtfully.
"The storm will cover the road in the next hour or two, all these supplies will be buried in the sand." Pavel shook his head. "We have to leave now… Anton, you heard me, right?"
"Yes sir… We'll grab what we can and run to Khost. Maybe we can buy the boys another day." Anton radioed.
"After all this, we failed…?" Valentina clenched her fists angrily.
"It is unfortunate, but we went up against an unexpected enemy whose details we were unaware of, and still managed to punch them. That should account for something." Rozalina said, trying to raise morale.
"Hm? Incoming message from HQ." Tatyana interjected. "Pavel and Anton, the artillery on Hill 3234 will support you as you enter Khost, but once the men are relieved, we will send IL-76 transports to evacuate the base."
"I was hoping it wouldn't come to this…" Pavel sighed.
"The top brass bit off more than they could chew. You did what you could so don't beat yourself up." Tatyana snapped. "All witches, command had intended for us to rest and re-arm at Khost after it was captured… They did not account for us to return to Saratov given the expected duration of this mission. That said, we can technically still land at Khost, but we face the risk of hostiles in the vicinity." She paused. "Off the record, what would you choose to do?"
"Sleeping with my sidearm in hand beats falling asleep over the Caucasus…" Rozalina rubbed her sleepy eyes.
"Ditto." Valentina yawned.
"It's risky, but I'd rather have a chance at surviving rather than a sure death by exhaustion." Ludmila responded.
As Pavel and Anton entered the base, they saw the checkpoint at the entrance and approached. The guard leaned out of his station, as the T-72 drove up and stopped.
"Are you the guys?" The guard asked.
"Yes… what's left of us." Pavel answered.
The guard leaned further out his window and noticed the Shilka behind them, but no other vehicles, and the makeshift supply sleds attached to the tanks.
"Cyka blyat…" He shook his head.
"I know. We got ambushed by Teki in the dust storm. The Witches did their best, but… the supply trucks didn't make it." Pavel admitted. "Can you put the girls up here for the night? Transports are coming in the morning to evacuate all personnel."
"I can put them up here for the night…" The guard began. "But I hope for both our sakes we make it to morning. This whole city is full of enemies right now."
"I know…" Pavel scowled. "But we have to try."
As night fell, Pavel and Anton's crew settled down on the engine decks of their vehicles in sleeping bags, while the Witches were put up in the Officer's Club on sofa's. The dim lights on the base flickered as shelling could be heard in the distance, mixed in with small arms fire, whistling of mortar rounds and shouting. The girls tossed and turned – no matter how sleepy they were, it was difficult to ignore the cries of anguish as Soviet soldiers desperately tried to hold a barricade on the highway exit leading to the airfield. A pair of T-72 tanks sat defiantly behind concrete dividers to hide their vulnerable lower armor plates, while the soldiers took cover behind them with their AK-74M rifles and the 12.7mm NSVT machine guns on the T-72's roof. The girls couldn't help but feel guilty – lying in bed and unable to help their countrymen on the front line.
Eventually morning came, and with it the roar of IL-76's overhead as they descended into Khost. When the Witches awoke to grab their gear and fly back to Saratov, they saw Pavel and Anton's vehicles being loaded into one IL-76 while the rest of the soldiers were seated on the other transport. An air of dismay was all around Khost, and as the girls took off with the transports, they could see Teki armor closing in all around the base.
En route back to the Russian border, they were joined by more IL-76's taking off from forward bases in Afghanistan.
"What's going on here…?" Rozalina puzzled.
"The order came down from Gorbachev. We're leaving Afghanistan…" Tatyana admitted. "This isn't all of us, it's only the first wave of evacuation. What a mistake it was to start a war here…" She lowered her head.
"Too late for regrets." Ludmila snapped. "Though I'm just upset we didn't accomplish our mission."
"Any word on the 9th Company?" Valentine asked worriedly.
"The choppers came back to pick them up. Most of the heavy equipment had to be abandoned or destroyed since they couldn't airlift all of it out. Out of 39 paratroopers, 6 were killed and 28 wounded." Tatyana reported. "The Teki lost a lot more thanks to our air support, but… they'll recover that like its nothing."
"Damn. I can't believe we came this far and failed…" Rozalina cast an angry look behind her at the vast desert.
"We haven't failed yet – I doubt this is the last we'll see of them. Our time for revenge will come, Roza." Ludmila smirked.
Rozalina smiled back, as they flew back across the Russian border to Saratov with the flock of transports behind them.
As they flew off into the sunset, the Teki Nest began to grow as it absorbed abandoned military equipment, and began to move westward leaving a trail of destruction in it's path…