CHAPTER 8
Farkhor Airbase, Tajikistan
July 4th, 2018
The time had just turned 16:00, the large storm had passed, now only spitting rain. Two turboprop engines produced a loud whirring sound from outside the hangar, it was the Il-112VS outside, awaiting the team. The Il-112VS was a prototype stealth variant of the Il-112V, made specifically for the use on the Termitnik restoration mission. Its fuselage was painted in a radar-resistant dark-grey paint, with its smooth edges slightly sharpened to deflect radar waves, in a similar fashion to the American F-117 Nighthawk.
"Let's go, let's go!" Shouted Valko as the large hangar door slid open. The men and women formed two single-file lines and rushed into the plane, sitting themselves inside, fastening their seatbelt straps and preparing for takeoff. The pilots reached the runway before pausing, awaiting permission for take off by the air traffic control tower.
"Air traffic control to Chernikov One, you are clear for take-off." They confirmed. The turboprop engines roared as the pilots pushed to full throttle, picking up speed as it rolled down the runway. It left the ground and met with the two Ilyushin Il-76 cargo planes in the air. They flew in a circuit around the base, awaiting their fighter jet escorts. There were no windows on the Il-112VS, only on the side door of the fuselage, where Valko stood, looking down on the airbase below. He watched as three Mikoyan MiG-35 fighter jets engaged their afterburners on the runway, accelerating forward at a rapid rate before pulling up facing vertically into the sky. They reached the three cargo planes swiftly, taking a V formation before the small fleet turned to face West, heading for Afghanistan.
"Avrora Sixteen, how's it looking out there?" The pilot of the Il-112VS, Chernikov 1 asked,
"The storm is passing to the South, towards Afghanistan. It'll provide us with radar cover as we enter behind enemy lines." The lead MiG-35 pilot, Avrora 16 spoke in a smooth tone over the radio.
"By the time we reach Afghanistan, it should only be clouds, so there'll be no need for your umbrella." He remarked jokingly,
"A little rain never hurt nobody..." said the pilot of the second MiG, Avrora 23.
"Ever flown a covert mission before?" Avrora 16 asked to Avrora 23,
"Nope, first time." He answered.
"Same here. What kind of plane is that?" Avrora 16 stated, asking Chernikov 1,
"This is the Il-112VS. A prototype of the Il-112V, only one of its kind." He explained,
"Interesting... it looks fucking ugly." Avrora 16 laughed,
"Easy for you to say, you're in a MiG." Chuckled Chernikov 1.
"You reckon the radar-absorbant coating will be enough?" Asked the pilot of the third MiG, Avrora 12,
"It'll suffice. If by some small chance we do get intercepted, then we'll just make the excuse that we got lost in the storm." Informed Avrora 16.
The Jawand district was two hours away from Farkhor airbase, the fleet had to divert through Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan to avoid any unnecessary enemy radar detection if they had travelled directly through Afghanistan. It was roughly an hour or so's flight, meaning they would reach Termitnik-1 right before dusk.
"Russian soldiers deployed covertly behind enemy lines... what could go wrong?" Grigoriy spoke out in disdain.
"It is imperative this mission is a success." Valeria answered,
"Why? So Putin can save his own ass?" Scolded Grigoriy,
"The US military companies make their money off of manufacturing weapons and other armaments..."
YOU ARE READING
War Spirit - Lead Leopard
ActionMeet Rok Jekai, a combat engineer serving in the Australian Defence Force. Stationed at combat outpost Romeo in Korengal Valley of Afghanistan, disaster strikes when a massive Taliban force swiftly overruns the base, leaving destruction in its wake...
