Aleksei watched the man stride as if he owned the world. Americans. The fact he flies a plane slower than even The Rook, did not help his mood at all. While he felt that the Avenger cannon was nothing to laugh at, you do not fly in this area with slow aircraft. The American nodded nonchalantly, and sat down. To do that is asking to be shot down, perhaps he can rescue himself?
Major Grachev opened the slide show program, which displayed it in English. Thankfully Aleksei took English and got good grades! He switched to English.
“Tonight, there is a meeting with a high-level defense minister of the IRLF, and the Turkish Government. What they are to discuss, I do not presume to know, but our intent is to stop it from happening.”
He punched some buttons, and a bearded man, with no turban was on the screen. Perhaps taken at a party, the man smiled brightly, and the gesture was of happiness.
“This man, is Minister Abdul Sharrif. He is your target tonight.”
He stared at Aleksei for a second, then moved on.
“For the most part, he has been liaising with the Turkish Government, and sources indicate this meeting is to formally link their forces with the Turks in order to unify their position in the region. The Georgian government has asked us to stop that meeting. 
Plain and simple comrade Lietenant Aleksei Emenivich, you are to assassinate him with a 500 kilogram weapon.”
If there was one thing that Major Grachev was famous for, was getting to the point. And the fact he hated long briefings, that was for the big brass he felt.
“The route is in your aircraft, but a desk clerk made it. Use your judgment Emenivich. There is a Kub site at Sukhumi, so if you have to divert to Guadata, then be aware. Two Hawk sites are currently active, one in the East of the Cacauscus, and one located at Sukhumi. There has not been much SAM/AAA activity, yet, and we have identified a single ZSU-23-4 near the site, perhaps to ward off evil spirits I do not know, but you must destroy it of course. It is marked in your targeting computer. Use whatever you like, but the target must be taken out. Additionally, near the site are two warehouses of ammunition for what Intel.”
He rolled his eyes at that one, the 586th wasn’t really on the ball totally in this arena.
“Says that it is for a planned offensive. Sources indicate it may be true, so these 586th hoodlums may be right.”
The American chuckled, he did not see such rivalry amongst an attached unit. Only within the unit, but that was a different manner.
Alexsei nodded. “Why is Dimitri here.”
“In case you fail.” Major Grachev said simply. Need he say more?
“Da Comrade Major, I have no more questions.”
As if on cue, both he and Dimitri stood up and saluted, the Captain was off cue, but that was expected. The Captain managed a quick salute, and walked away.
“Comrade Major, why was this American with us?”
“Because Lietenant.” He let a long breath out. “He is CIA. A pilot yes, but it was confirmed ten minutes ago that he is a spy. The games do not cease even in the post-glasnost days nyet?” With that, he walked off back to the Ops room, not before handing a note, Aleksei wondering what it might say this time, as he opened it and read it:
“You have to liftoff after 2100 to ensure proper timing. Don’t be late.” said Major Grachev.
And that was another thing about the guy. Notes. Take them if you wish to stay in the Regiment. You do not get told when to fly, you will get a note. That is all you need to know.
