Chapter 3: Under Attack

October 25

A unit of armored vehicles was hidden in the forest. Tanks and other vehicles were irregularly parked among the trees. They were all covered with white camouflage nets.

Vasiliy Kovalyov was staring intently at the map on the tablet placed on the frontal armor of his tank. After a while, he angrily turned off the tablet.

"Damn it! All days we either just stood or wandered with tanks through the woods! With no progress!"

Gunner Burda just sat quietly on the turret of the tank and watched the first rays of the sun over the snowy landscape. Snow and a dark yellow sunrise create an atmosphere like from an old painting. He enjoyed canned food and thought about everything that made sense to him – war, family, the future, yesterday's fight...

Burda tried to encourage Vasiliy.

"Don't worry. The war only started a few days ago. You will have your chances."

Vasiliy just smiled. He knew that Burda was right, but he still had a desire to avenge the death of his comrades and show that it was possible to overcome the weapons of Academy City. In a moment, a tanker from another platoon came running with the information that the unit commander was calling a meeting. While some of the other tank commanders wore disgusted expressions, Vasiliy was full of enthusiasm. Finally something! However, his disappointment was even greater.

The unit received an order from the commander of their regiment to go to one of the nearby villages. There were problems with privateers who took people's fuel and food. A couple of citizens sought out the regular units of the Russian army to ask for help.

"Really great! Instead of Academy City, we must deal with those idiots."

Vasiliy muttered.

After the meeting, Vasiliy returned and told the crew about their new mission. Ammunition and fuel were replenished, minor repairs completed. A unit of eight tanks, three BMPTs and six BMP-3s set off towards the village.

"This should be easier than our last fight, don't you think?" Burda asked his commander.

"Fight? Don't be a fool," answered Vasiliy, "we can't kill each other. But annoys me that those morons are deployed against the Elizalina Alliance. After all, it's Russian land, our people live there. We could handle it ourselves. No need for dubious structures, which only cause problems."

Burda just nodded in agreement and laughed. "True. It would be better if they parachuted over Academy City… and that would be a one-way flight."

"Don't even mention it. Just hypothetically, if any foreign military units got there, how would they fare? There live people capable of fighting entire armies."

"Come on, Vasiliy, aren't you exaggerating those claims a little?"

"I wouldn't say. I've read more detailed intelligence documents about that city. Did you not?"

"Kind of... let's say. In the briefing classes, I was somehow more interested in their military technology than some students with abilities. I mean, their means of war are our problem. Esper or not, a bullet fired from hundreds of meters or kilometers will kill them just the same like every person."

"It doesn't always have to be like that. Not much is known, it's not a state within a state. More like another world in our world. But there is, for example, a girl capable of controlling electricity and lightning. She could destroy our entire power plants or bases. They have telepaths capable of controlling people. There is talk of a boy on whom no weapon attacks work."

"Like he's invulnerable? Aren't these just exaggerated tales?"

"If you want to risk it, then you can also pretend that they are characters from fairy tales... But in the real world. We already underestimated Academy City in the beginning. Let's not make the same mistake again."

"Huh, are you afraid they'll use them against us? Like telepaths who will force us to kill each other?"

"I have no idea. So far there are no reports of their appearance in the combat zone. They are still only students after all. But on the other hand, some people with abilities are said to have appeared in Avignon. At least according to some witness statements. But it is not confirmed. And no, I'm not afraid."

Driver Burda was silent for a while. All that could be heard was the noise of the engine penetrating the fighting space of their tank. Then he put aserious question to Vasiliy through the intercom.

"If we met an esper on battlefield, would you shoot him, even if it was a student, someone only in their teenage years? Maybe that boy or girl will be only in my daughter's age?"

Vasiliy just looked at his sight monitor and said with a serious expression, "Of course."

He then opened the hatch of his tank.

"Okay, that's enough. This is no time for philosophizing."

Immediately after that he got into a position with his head above the level of turret roof for a better view.

After a few hours of travel, they were in sight of a village occupied by privateers. The sun was already high in the sky. The convoy stopped. Privateers' equipment was near houses and groups of men with weapons wandering in the village. Their only vehicles were short-range anti-aircraft systems and a few Kamaz 6x6 trucks.

The unit commander decided to use intimidation. He had five tanks and two BMPT Terminator form a circle around the village. Three BMP-3s were in cover. Three tanks, along with his tank in the lead, one BMPT, plus another three BMP-3s carrying infantry entered the village directly. However, several persons got out of the BMP-3 earlier – they were snipers, who took suitable positions. Russian armored forces were moving in a column, without hostile intentions. As the Russian troops approached, the privateers took notice. Vasiliy and Burda watched everything through the sights. Their tank was third in line. Privateers' vehicles were in the sights and a coaxial machine guns on all Russian vehicles was ready to fire.

"If they try to do anything stupid, open fire immediately." It sounded on the radios from the commander of the unit.

Vasiliy and his crew just continued to watch the surroundings nervously. The tension was great, as if freezing already icy air.

Three BMP-3s stopped a short distance before the village and a infantry got out of it. Then BMP-3s moved again. They followed the tanks that were already entering the village. Russian soldiers were slowly approaching in the cover of BMP-3s. Three T-90A stopped in the village and the commander of unit got out of the first tank. The commander of privateers approached the Russian commander. Vasiliy watched the conversation. His tank had closed hatches. He couldn't hear what they were talking about, besides, they were about fifteen meters away. The conversation, according to the gestures and reactions of both commanders, slowly began to escalate. They suddenly pointed their guns at the Russian officer. He stopped gesticulating now, but the BMP-3s and one BMPT in village aimed their machine guns and cannons to the sides where the enemies were standing. The tanks had already selected their targets when entering the city, so they did not have to rotate the turrets. If they opened fire, the privates' infantry would be destroyed in seconds. There are several soldiers with RPG-30s in the windows of the buildings. But Russian snipers hiding far from village were supposed to take care of those.

But the Russian commander started to point towards the Russian tanks and BMPT, which formed a circle around the village. He may have mentioned snipers as well, but that could only be guessed at. The commander of the privateers lost his arrogant expression. His men laid down their weapons. Another three BMP-3s slowly entered the city, from which the infantry ran out and began to secure the area. The privates were forced to get into their vehicles and leave the village

"Bastards." Vasiliy grumbled. "And with these we have to fight side by side?"

Civilians slowly started coming out of their homes, gratefully offering their soldiers food, alcohol and hugs of joy.

Vasiliy was happy, he had not such a sincere smile on his face for a long time. But there was no time for joy. He remembered his goal – to defeat the armored units of Academy City.

October 26

The armored unit spent the rest of October 25 in the village. After dark, the commander decided to contact command and ask for fuel and the necessary equipment. But he still could not get compensation for the lost tanks, which were destroyed after the attack on the Academy City base under construction. The convoy left the village in the middle of the night. Their goal was to move to the agreed supply point.

The convoy moved through the night. In a few hours it will not be dawn. It was cloudy, neither the stars nor the moon could be seen. The lights of the vehicles were turned off, the driver moved only with the help of infrared vision. Now they were moving along a path leading past a sparse coniferous forest.

"Hey Vasiliy." The driver Taras Baksikov spoke on the radio.

"I'm listening."

"Have you thought about how long this war might last?"

"Yes, just like each of us. Constantly. But I have no idea, mate. I have no ide–"

Suddenly an explosion lit up the night. The heat wave could be felt tens of meters away. One BMPT exploded. All the vehicles immediately started zigzagging in panic. Questions, confusion, orders and curses could be heard shouting over the radios.

Someone began to scream in radio.

"It was a rocket! A rocket, I saw its tail! It flew in from the right!"

Vasiliy acted in advance.

"Smoke grenades, now! Taras, turn left!"

The unit commander himself immediately ordered the dispersion of the entire colony and hid in the forest on the left side. All vehicles turned left, straight into the forest. They immediately released a smoke screen, some from grenade launchers, some from the exhausts of their tanks.

Commander of one tank started to get upset.

"Why are you releasing that smoke from the exhausts?! They will see us through the thermal cameras anyway! Use only smoke grenade launchers!"

Commander of one BMPT started talking into the radio. "They must have been privateers! They came to take revenge on us!"

However, Vasiliy also also began to speak.

"The rocket flew at an oblique angle. It was apparently launched from a helicopter. They do have Mi-35s, but I don't see them anywhere on the camera. And with them, they cannot attack from great distance, as with the Ka-52 or Mi-28. In my opinion, it–"

Before he could finish, another explosion rang out. This time was destroyed one of their tanks. The explosion tore apart the hull, threw the turret into the air and scattered debris in all directions. This one was also hit by a missile.

"Damn it! Go to hell! GO TO HEEEELL!" Vasiliy shouted at unknown enemy.

Vehicles entered the forest in the last seconds.

Then in radio was heard a voice full of enthusiasm. One of tanks noticed the attacker.

"I CAN SEE THEM! I CAN SEE THEM! About 6 kilometers from us, northeast, about half a kilometer high!"

Most of the vehicles were hidden in the forest, except for about three tanks. All eyes of gunners and commanders of Russian vehicles focused on sights and directed them to the described area. And indeed. A small helicopter. And not one, but two HsAFH-11s, nicknamed Six Wings.

"Damn it, I wish they were privateers! I think they are helicopters from..."

"...from Academy City, of course Vasiliy. And we don't have air support. They didn't even assign us even one damn Pantsir!" The commander of the entire unit replied.

"Why not?" Someone asked on the radio.

"Becasue all of them in our sector are protecting bases and larger units!"

"I think they are Six Wings," Burda said.

"How do you know the exact type from such distance?" asked surprised Vasiliy.

"Why? Because I studied those documents in detail."

Someone's voice was heard again on the radio.

"We should call the air forces!"

Vasiliy immediately retorted, "We'll be dead by the time they gets here. It's up to us!"

All tanks were ordered to prepare 3OF26 EDKV explosive shells with a time fuze. A mid-air explosion near helicopters should destroy them. The helicopters were heading straight for the forest, so the distance gradually decreased. Now they were only about 5 kilometers and less.

The tanks opened fire, but none of the shells exploded close enough to damage the helicopters. Moreover, they began to maneuver, the moment of surprise was gone.

Vasiliy registered on his monitor a small dot flying towards one of the helicopters. It got closer and closer to it until finally... an explosion. The helicopter began to smoke and fall, until finally it fell somewhere in the forest in the distance. This "catch" was the responsibility of one of the BMPT Terminator vehicles using a 9M220O missile with the ability to destroy slow and low-flying targets.

But Vasiliy saw another dot, this time coming from the opposite direction. Namely, in meantime, the second helicopter launched another rocket.

"Another one is flying, everyone retreat into the forest! NOW!"

The tank crews came to their senses and started backing up, trying to use trees as cover.

Vasiliy watched the missile on monitor of his sight. Then suddenly the missile hit target to the left of Vasiliy's tank with a loud whooshing sound. The deadly rocket pierced a tree, but because of that it was deflected and exploded a few meters away from one of tanks. It caused several side-skirts to tear off, but the tank survived unscathed. Only a few seconds passed between the first sighting of the rocket and its impact.

"Burda, it's up to you!" Vasiliy shouted to his gunner.

"I KNOW! I KNOW, FOR GOD'S SAKE!" He was on the edge of his nerves. He saw more than one shell explode in the distance, but the helicopter was still flying.

He narrowed his eyes. He heard the automatic loading system load another explosive projectile. The helicopter flew longitudinally. It suddenly turned slightly and launched another missile. Burda ignored it and pulled the trigger. The gun fired, sliding back in an instant, the recoil shaking the entire tank. The shell flew with a large ballistic trajectory. Burda watched it as if he had placed all his hopes in it. Then there was an explosion in mid-air. The next thing that appeared was the burning Six-Wings, falling into the snowy fields.

Everyone was silent. After afew seconds, many words of praise gradually rang out from the radio. Vasiliy just smiled at him. No more words from him were needed. But as soon as he turned his head, his smile disappeared. He got out of the tank and looked around. He saw burning BMPT and T-90. The flames illuminating the night were reflected in his eyes. Even from a distance of tens of meters, he felt the heat of the fire on his face and heard the sound of huge flames through the noise of the engines.

"Taras, Burda, look at it. This is what they came here to do. Never forget that. "

They both opened their hatches and with frustrated expression they watched burning vehicles that belonged to their comrades. Someone voice in radio only said that the destroyed tank was from the third platoon.

"Third platoon is really unlucky, they have already lost second tank. Only one of them left." Taras said quietly.

"They must feel that they are next," said Burda.

October 27

On east of Russia was night of October 26 to 27. Four hundred kilometers north of Vladivostok, a pair of Su-57s flew in thick clouds as protection for an A-50 reconnaissance aircraft. The radar showed nothing for several hours. Until the moment when an object suddenly appeared just a few kilometers from the A-50. The speed of the unknown plane was enormous, at that moment it was flying at about 5000 kmph. The pair of Su-57 immediately headed towards detected enemy. As they neared their destination, one of the pilots looked to the left. He noticed a little below him, about two kilometers, that a huge, futuristic-looking plane was flying in the clouds at great speed.

"My God, what is that?!"

The Su-57 pilot said to himself and immediately described the situation over the radio.

A pair of Su-57s launched K-30 missiles, but to no avail. Russian pilots had no idea what had happened, but their missiles exploded mid-flight to the target. They were shot down by the laser defense of fighters from Academy City. Two Su-57s tried to chase the enemy, but in vain. Enemy from Academy City was too fast. Suddenly, the plane almost stopped mid-flight and turned vertically upwards, blue flames erupted from its jet engines and the enemy seemed to instantly accelerate towards the upper atmosphere. After about two kilometers of ascent, it turned and headed towards the Sea of Japan, from which the Russian air force withdrew precisely because of unknown aircraft, which even the world's most modern fighters could not cope with.

The Russian pilots did not know, but instinctively felt how close they were to the end of their flight and maybe even lifes. The enemy was the HsF-00, an 80 m long fighter plane that collects energy from the heat created by friction at high speed, which reached up to 7000 kmph. Despite its size, it can make sharper maneuvers than any other fighter aircraft in the world. But the most fascinating thing is that the pilot's body is frozen to withstand the severe G-force that would otherwise kill him. The aircraft was not detected by the A-50 or Su-57 radar until it approached within a few kilometers, so for such a large object it has excellent stealth properties.

For the Russian command, this situation was no longer a surprise. These aircraft were the reason why supremacy over the Sea of Japan was not gained. This could provide airspace far from Russia's borders to Japan. Until now, none of the pilots had seen them live. This was their closest encounter with this machine, which looks more like a spaceship from some sci-fi movie.

The planes then returned to base. The lights of the airport created an island of peace and safety in the middle of the night. Seeing with own eyes one of jets from the Academy City and survive... was an exhilarating and terrifying experience.

As soon as the pilots got out of their planes, they were in for a surprise. Not only the standard aircraft service vehicles that they were used to came to their planes. One military 4x4 armored vehicle literally rushed to them at high speed. It stopped abruptly and a Russian officer got out from it.

The Air Force High Command immediately requested them to report. They were the first to see the capabilities of HsF-00 with their own eyes. This made them an important source of information about the enemy. At the base, both pilots had to describe the entire flight, every detail was a source of endless questions, they had to draw the appearance of enemy planes. They were tired. Yes. But the excitement of what that time washed away the fatigue.