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A LOMAC Mission Report: Red Lady Down
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Vasily
is thoughtful, and sure-handed. But the "Kub," our
word for "Cube," the code name for the feared 3M9M
system, is setting up even now, and the weather is turning
against us. I can see clouds sweeping in from the horizon
already. I hope for a quick plan, for we cannot allow the
IRLF to have such a potent weapon at its disposal.
The Commander
was in a staff meeting with the Americans. We convinced his
aide that our news could not wait; a strong IRLF with more
SAMs at its disposal is too terrible to consider. We had to
stomp it out, like the bug — and quickly! Breathlessly,
I told our Commander of the fight over Sukhumi, and of the
SAM battery's presence. It is protected by another of the
hated Shilka guns. The Commander stood at his large oaken
desk, and picked up his telephone, ordering the flight line
to prepare two MiG fighters, my 52 Yellow and Vasily's 54
Blue immediately. He nodded, sagely, then unrolled a tactical
map on the desk.
"The
Kub system takes some time, at least, to prepare. The Sheikh's
men will not expect our attack to come so soon. I agree, Sacha.
We must strike now, while they are still preparing. Vasily,
you are our ground-strike specialist. What are your thoughts?"
 "How
long to have a reconnaissance done, sir? Photos would be invaluable."
The Commander
smiled broadly.
"And
this is what I was discussing with our American friends when
you came bursting in, my little falcons. I know of the Kub
system, you see. The GRU has warned us that Muqtadeh is planning
something like this. Colonel Martin has arranged for the American
CIA to help us. A Predator flies over Sukhumi even now, and
we have real-time photos of Sukhumi base. But we must strike
now. We cannot wait."
He sat
and poured three tumblers of Vodka.
"Now,
Sacha, Vasily. This mission will be your most dangerous yet.
The MiG-29 9-12 has no jammers, no anti-radar missiles. But
if you fly low, you can fly under the Kub system's minimum
ceiling. One of you can act as a decoy, as the other goes
for the jugular. The attacking falcon, however, exposes himself
to the Shilka gun. You must decide who will take the risk."
"Can
the Su-25s help us in this, sir?" Vasily is
ever pragmatic. The Rook carries the Kh-25MP missile, which
can strike enemy radars from afar.
"No,
Vasily. We have not the time to prepare the Georgians for
this, and our own Su-25 section is not yet airworthy. And
the Americans have no antiradar missiles."
The Commander
lit a strong Turkish cigarette.
"And
the British Tornadoes patrol in the air today, Combat Air
Patrol over the Black Sea. They are the only ones that carry
the ALARM. It will take longer than we have to call them in
and prepare them and their crews for this mission. The planning
began, Sacha, while you and Captain Barker were returning
from Sukhumi. Our intelligence tells us that the IRLF has
no more aircraft for now, and we must not allow them to obtain
any under SAM cover."
Vasily
nodded. "Then we must depend on our superior agility.
Cluster weapons for the flight lead, and rockets for both
of us."
I considered. "I will go after the radar?"
"Da.
I will draw their fire, Sacha, and you bomb it well. Do this
in a single pass, if you can. If we must finish the site with
rockets we can, but it will open us to the Shilka that guards
the base."
I trust Vasily in this. It was already near time to fly.
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