The Last One Standing

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The Commander busied himself with papers for a moment, and behind me the door opened and the Commander's valet noiselessly entered, pouring large tumblers of hot, sweet tea before leaving as quietly as he came. The Commander unrolled the large map of Suhumi sector on his desk and drank deeply.

"Here, Sacha, is where I want you to go."

He pointed to the mountains south of Suhumi, and continued.

"The cursed IRLF is flying new aircraft into Suhumi base. They have obtained Mirage 2000-5 aircraft. I do not know how this was done. The GRU briefing indicates that the aircraft were purchased by an Arab nation through the Dassault concern, ostensibly for defense, then sent to Muqtadeh."

He pushed a series of photos across the table.

I sipped my tea and reflected on the photos. The Mirage 2000-5 is one of France's latest interceptors. It is the equal in almost every way of the American F-16 with which I am familiar, and that the Turkish air force flies so well. And they can carry MICA missiles which can in some conditions outperform our R-27 high-energy missiles as well. Even the superb RVV-AE is not totally superior.

The Commander broke into my reverie.

"We do not believe the mujahids are equipped with MICA, Sacha. But it is only a matter of time. At present, they fly from an advance base in northeastern Turkey, near the Georgian border. They have only two that we know of. They are heavily guarded on the ground, so they must be taken from the air."

His features hardened again.

"And so I have a mission to assign. The Rodina needs a rated sniper pilot for this, for it is most dangerous. I believe it may even be suicide. Are you prepared to give your life for the Rodina, Sacha? But of course you are."

His face twisted, and he lit another cigarette.

"I will follow your commands to the letter, sir."

"Good. Now, attend."

He placed his finger on the map.

"Here, at Gantiadi, hides a Buk surface-to-air missile system. It is most secret. Make note of its location on your knee-card."

As I did so, he continued.

"I have sent the squadron out, far over the Black Sea, as if we are searching in the wrong place. I remain here, on five-minute alert in my 88-Red. This leaves you."

"Me?"

"Da. You will select an air combat loadout, and proceed south to Suhumi. And wait there for as long as your fuel holds. The mujahids will come. You will flirt with them, Sacha. You will draw them in. They wish you dead, greatly. You personally, and especially. They have not forgotten your escape from their custody. And when they come, you will lure them over the Gantiadi SAM site, to their death."

"Sir, how do you know they will come?"

I was puzzled. How could he be so sure? My MiG 11-Red looks no different from the others, save those with the shark-mouth, like Vasily's jet.

"This is not your concern. Rest assured, they will be there. Plan your flight accordingly." He raised his glass. "Za Rodinu, Sacha."

I raised mine in return. "Da. Za Rodinu!"

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