"Only the dead have seen the end of war..." -Plato; Ch. 2

On February 8th, Wednesday, 2012, there was a light snow gradually covering all of Kiev in a white blanket. Students woke up, cleaned off their parents cars, and rode to school. It was like any other day for Aleksi. The morning began with his mom yelling at him to wake up and his yelling at him to go clean off the car. He walked down his apartment with his heavy clothing to stay warm. Then using his sleeve, as he always did, brushed a foot of snow, fresh from the night, off the car. His dad came down and they got in the car. The ride was also not different from any other before. His dad gave him the usual lecture, "Aleksi, stay out of trouble! And stay away from the girls, they are nothing but trouble anyway! Don't screw up or you know what will happen!" The truth was he really didn't know the consequence, but he didn't want to figure out either. After what seemed an incredibly long ride he arrived at school and got out of the car.

"I hate the cold...", he muttered to himself as his breath condensed, "if I could have a girlfriend then the cold wouldn't be so bad, but no. The girls are will ruin me, or well my dad will." There were the usual armed guards at the front entrance of the school. With terrorism rampant in Europe they wanted to make sure it didn't spread to Ukraine. Aleksi began walking up the stairs. As he was slowly making his way up the stairs he heard the deep grumble of a diesel engine. Just as he turned around he saw that the deep grumble was a BMP-3, though he didn't know what country it belonged to, so he kept walking. Then he heard more engines and people yelling in Russian. They created a blockade on the street. Then one launched a high explosive rocket at the school entrance. The rocket zipped by Aleksi knocking him down. It continued on its path smacking hard into the entrance, killing the two armed guards and at least twenty kids. Aleksi stayed down as the other armed guards took up positions and fired on the BMP's, but with little effect. The Russian gunners mowed down everything that they could see as one charged at the entrance. The Russian soldiers jumped out yelling and throwing tear gas. They were trying to tell the kids that they only wanted to liberate them from their 'fascist government'. Most of them didn't even know what 'fascist' meant. The kids were screaming and running out of he building. The Russian soldiers made their way to the administration office. They got to a reinforced door that held the principle. They got up to it put a charge on the door that explodes when the doors opens. The soldier then tapped on the door and yelled for help in Ukrainian. The sergeant then ran own the hallway. In the room one of the armed guards went to open the door. Just as he turned the handle the door blew off and the explosion sent him flying into the wall on the other side of the room. Six spetsnaz troops rushed into the smoke filled room and nabbed the principle and handed him a letter from their commander.

This building is now property of the Russian Federation and headquarters to the Russian European Theater Command. You are to not resist and hand over all locks and communications over to the man the delivers this notice.
Colonel General Buikov, Russian European Theater Commander

Fire fights erupted all over Kiev. The entire city, and nation, was caught by surprise as the Russian armor rolled through the streets to Independence Square. The Ukrainian president was alarmed when the thunderous sound of a fighter flew over the capital building. When that happened he looked out the window and saw that Russian helicopters already had patrols set up. He looked below him and saw a man with a high rank get out of a truck surrounded by Black Eagle tanks. He then looked the other direction where Russian infantry were tearing down the flag and replacing it with a Russian flag that had the Ukrainian coat of arms in the center. For a defending nation nothing was worse than seeing its symbol be ruthlessly torn down in the most important city of the nation. The Ukrainian leader, President Mirov, ordered the surrender of Ukraine to the Russian Federation.

Similar events occurred all over the Baltic States, Finland, Belarus, and even Poland. With the Bloc nations secured Russia built forward outposts in L'vov, Ukraine, and Minsk, Belarus.The 9th Battalion was placed in L'vov along with family and friends. The invasion of NATO was to begin very soon...

Young Wilson interrupted, "What does this have to do with my parents?!"

"...you'll see. Be patient..."

White Flags Bow to the War Machine; Ch. 3

NATO German Outpost:

"Sir, we're receiving calls from every nation between us and the Russian Federation saying that they've thrown in the towel..."

"Well that's just great isn't it?...Most of our resources are stuck fighting a large terror cell in Switzerland and Italy...what do we have?"

"Well we have farmer's some reserve units and a squadron near Frankfurt...we have everything everywhere, but here."

"We could surrender like the other nations..."

"No sir! Maybe if we use guerrilla tactics we could at least hold them off...maybe."

"Well get yourself a rifle, because our comrades will ring the door bell shortly..."

Just then a private opened the door.

"Sir! Good news the soviets...I mean the Russians have stop their advance at our border!"

"Really? Why?"

"We don't know, but hey that's not a bad thing!"

About fifty miles away enlisted personnel of the Russian Rocket Artillery Division were unloading special ordnance from supply trucks. They carefully unloaded each twenty foot long rocket into their launchers, the BM-30 "Smerch". The Smerch is a large wheeled vehicle with twelve long tubes that contain and launch deadly payloads. The rockets can contain anything from atomic to chemical weapons. Today the rockets had bio-hazard signs on them. The men wore heavy chemical suits that would have worn them out if it were not winter. One by one they loaded each rocket with care into the tubes. When all the rockets were loaded the crews quickly left the area of the launchers. As soon as every one was in place the fire control operators input the coordinates and the racks lifted. The crews waited to the sound of hydraulics humming. Then the sound stopped signaling that all the launchers were ready. On the order of each fire control officer the area thundered with the rocket launches. One by one from each truck they lifted into the sky leaving a thick trail of spent rocket fuel. Each truck finished firing its salvo of twelve in thirty seconds. After the violent moment of the launch all was quite as the smoke cleared and the next salvo was loaded. The first rockets were reaching their targets, bases in Germany, soon after the next salvo was loaded. The process, that would saturate German bases in deadly chemicals, continued until the supply of chemical rockets at the battery ran out. Unfortunately for the Germans there was an abundant supply for each truck.

While the German personnel were still trying to figure out why the Russian advance stopped five chemical rockets struck the base. Within fifteen minutes all personnel were dead or choking. An other thirty minutes later Russian tanks rolled through the base and infantry hopped out of their trucks in chemical suits.

"Looks like our comrades with the rocket artillery forces did well..."

"Yeah not a bit of resistance."

"It should be like that all along the lines...Germany will be an easy conquest!"

In the northern part of Germany another Russian division prepared for an assault on a base near Berlin.

"Sir multiple rockets inbound!"

The general got on the loud speaker, "every get ready to fight and get your chem gear on!"

The rockets hit hard, just as they did at the headquarters, but this time the Germans were ready.

"Hold this base until your death!"

They could hear tanks rolling towards the base and helicopters in the distance.

"Mark, I'm scared how about you?"

"We have our chemical suits and surprise everything will be ok...shh here they come."

A large Black Eagle tank crept by Mark and Dieter. Its tracks moved with a deafening high pitch squeal. The ground cracked and popped under its weight, and it seemed to roar with its diesel engine. Next came a group of infantry in chemical suits and armed with AK-47's. After the infantry came four BMP-3's loaded with more troops. Dieter's breathing quickened. He pulled back the receiver and with his finger shaking squeezed the trigger. The bullets hit nothing but caused a stir. Mark wasn't impressed with Dieter one bit.

"You idiot! Well here we go! Get up here and finish what you started!"

"...but it was an accident..."

"Great cover me I'm going out to through a grenade in the hatch of that tank!"

"I..I...I'm scared!"

Marked rushed out with a grenade. He got to the tank just when the gunner looked his way. Dieter looked up, bullets were zipping pass and ricocheting everywhere around him. He saw Marks body get ripped to shreds and fall lifeless. Just then he heard the call.

"FALL BACK!!!"

Dieter got up, but felt something sting his leg and he couldn't run. Dieter's first instinct was to scream, but just as he did a rocket from a BMP hit the spot where he lay. The other German troops were running into the forest for their last stand. Suddenly the Russians stopped firing. They could hear the Russians screaming something then the roar of an Su-25. The ground attack fighter came in flying at barely 100 feet above the ground. It lined up with the German formation then dropped its payload. The instant the bombs hit, the forest became an inescapable inferno.The German infantry tried to run, but with no luck as more fighters came by to pester them. The Russians sat and watched. German soldiers screamed some in pain, some for their families, and some for God. Even the Russian division commander could not watch too long before calling off the rest of the fighters. Not a single German survived. Only seven Russians lost their lives, but the rest were scarred with a horrific memory of burning and screaming men as the snow melted and the forest, now black, wilted.

Southern Germany:


"Sir, the countries of Belarus, Poland, the Baltic States, and Ukraine just surrendered."
"Figured, Russia's too powerful...where are they now since they want to clear up terrorism so much they should be here!"
"Well sir, they should be in the area. Shouldn't we be worried that they would want to take Germany?"
"Nonsense! They know we're doing our job with terrorism, in fact they're going to help us!"
"I guess, but I don't trust them..."
"It wouldn't matter anyway wouldn't be able to fight1 So, how are the operations?"
"...they're good we're mowing down their infantry with apc's. We've only lost one to a mine."
"Sehr gut...now go go get a drink and stop worrying, you've got 5-day leave."
"Viel Dank!"

The Germans apc's were having a routine fight with terrorists. Since there weren't any serious wars imminent in Europe they didn't have tanks or any anti-tank weapons armed with their active forces. They simply drove around with guns sufficient to rip up pockets of resistance. A two columns of ten apc's were making their way to a field through the forest. Suddenly a rocket came out of the bushes and bullets were flying all around. the apc's stopped hard and the German infantry jumped out. Another rocket came from a different direction and slammed into an apc taking four men with it. They were blindly shooting into the bushes. The German infantry were losing men left and right. All of sudden to their relief a Russian Ka-50 made a pass. The terrorists were ripped to shreds. The apc's loaded the wounded and headed out into the field, escorted by the Russian helicopter. As soon as the column exited the forest the helicopter flew in front of them, stopped, turned around, and hovered, blocking their path. The Ka-50 opened its rocket pods and stayed there. The infantry looked behind them then at the helicopter in confusion. Then, the Ka-50 closed pods and took off in the opposite direction and disappeared. The apc's sat there for a while waiting for their reinforcements. Explosions erupted from where there reinforcements were. They called on the radio, but there was nothing. A few minutes later a flock of birds flew up all at once from that direction and there were the sounds of a dead animal. The sound grew louder and louder, then stopped. After what seemed a long pause it started again but louder and sounding even worse. Suddenly, hundreds of Russian black eagles were plowing through the field at the apc's. The first row of tanks fired a salvo. The apc's jumped ten feet and flipped through the air. The infantry scurried to get away. The tanks closed in running over some and laying out the rest with 12.7mm guns. The southern prong of attack into Germany was a sweeping success.

With Northern Germany gassed, small Russian forces cleaned up pockets of resistance. While in Southern Germany the main force pushed through making its way to Frankfurt with hundreds of tanks and helicopters. To reduce the fighting in Frankfurt a major bombing campaign took place.

The Barrel; Ch. 4

"Heinrich, was hast du?"
"Nichts, nichts, nichts!"
"Was?! Gibt mir das!"
"Ok, aber horst du das?"

Suddenly the small German radar outpost near Frankfurt was completely leveled and became a pile of carbon, concrete, and metal. It was the first stage of the bombing that was soon to hit Frankfurt, the industrial center of Germany.

"Nice hit comrade!"
"I know I'm just that good!"
"You two get off your high horse, that hit was good thanks to our comrades in research and development, all you had to do was push a button."
"Thank you comrade Dmitri downer...jerk."

The T-50 PAKFA was now the backbone of Russian air supremacy. It was the best of Mikoyan and Sukhoi. A flight of T-50's rejoined with the bomber formation. The formation consisted of hundreds of Tu-95's and about 30 Tu-160's loaded with four of the new FOAB fuel-air bombs otherwise known as "the Father Of All Bombs". They also flew with a few old Su-24's fitted with heavy jamming equipment. The large formation approached Frankfurt with anxiety of whether or not the first stage was successful.

Meanwhile in Frankfurt.

"Shit! Sound the alarm!...Why didn't the Germans get this?"
"We lost our radar you cocky Brit!"
"Whatever we need to mobilize, NOW!"
"What's coming?"
"Don't know, but there's a huge ass radar blip!"

With the warning finally out every German Typhoon launched itself into the air not knowing what to target first. The typhoon radar was designed to lock on to multiple targets, but this was ridiculous! All of the sudden their radars lit up behind them, it was a flight of T-50's and they had just switched on their active homing AA missiles. The typhoons tried to turn hard and around the back of the PAKFA's. The T-50's countered by hitting the afterburner, allowing the typhoons to get behind. Then they executed a perfect 180* Kulbit maneuver and launched their new generation missiles. The Typhoons dropped out of the sky like flies.

Just then Hanz was awoken from his sleep.
"Was ist los?!"
"agh...stupid kids and their fireworks...hey you need to shut the hell...what the...?"
When Hanz slammed the door open the air raid sirens began their wining and he looked into the night sky with shear aw. There were hundreds of large aircraft and every minute one would try to evade a large light and then burst into flames. Just when he was trying to understand what was happening an anti-aircraft tank along with half the houses on his street exploded and his ears began to ring. His first thought was to get his family and his shotgun. When he turned around, however, his wife's body lay motionless on the crisp ground that was once his home. He didn't no what to do except hate everything and everyone. In his tattered mental state he loaded the shotgun, bit the muzzle, and pulled the trigger. Just as he performed this act a Tu-95 bomber was shot down and crashed right on that spot assuring that there were no survivors of Hanz's family.

By now the formation was over the city and releasing their payloads. The people ran around the streets frantically trying to find cover in the confusion as air raid sirens blared, bombs made buildings crumble into heaps of pebbles, and thunderous anti-aircraft weapons shot aimlessly into the night sky. The loudness of the Tu-95's turbo-props only made it more hectic. Also, the Tu-160's dropped their fuel-air bombs and kicked their afterburners and dove toward the streets. The fuel-air bombs targeted large populated areas, killing thousands. By this time every gun in the city was being fired upward. Even civilians with shotguns were trying knock the large Russian birds out of the sky.

It was no longer dark by the time the formation exited the airspace. The city was ingulfed in flames. Tracers still lit up the sky in case there might still be something up there and occassionaly a Surface-to-Air-Missile would light up the sky only to not home in on anything...it was a sad site of mass destruction that made the WWII bombings look like an accidental firecracker show.

Tears and Victory; Ch. 5

Alexander was admiring a photo of his girlfriend that he just recently recieved in the mail while sitting on the turret of his Black Eagle tank at sunset. He missed her deep blue eyes with that hint of green that somehow made them more mysterious, one of the features he most loved in his girl. Then there was her light brown hair that wasn't too long or too short but perfect with a little pony tail that she sometimes let trail in her path of beauty and energetic mysteriousness that he loved so much. He could be in Lvov with his Tanya at the forward outpost, where he had to leave her, but after the leveling of Frankfurt his battalion was to support the spearhead as it steamrolled Germany. He thought it was pointless seeing as the entire German army ran off to France or turned themselves in. knowing there was no resistance they used the highways to maximize fuel effiency and direction finding.

The 9th Battalion, as they were known, had their tanks refueling in Cologne and were to move out that night into what remained of Frankfurt. Resistance was down to maybe a local with a shotgun who just got picked off by snipers who needed "target practice". Surface-to-air-systems weren't set up; there was nothing to attack them. The Luftwaffe was destroyed, France was trying to get its defenses together, as was Britian, and the US was actually proud that Russia was spreading capitalism to these socialist like nations that made up the European Union. Also, the US and Russia were crushing terror elements in the Middle East which was very important to the US. They didn't know the true intentions of the Russians as the armies drew closer and closer everyday as they slammed Iran.

"Comrades! Prepare your tanks for the assault!", the Battalion commader directed.

"...yeah the 'assault'...whatever, comrade captain shall we proceed?"

"Yes comrade Alexander, and remember we are going to Frankfurt not Lvov!", Alexander and his captain laughed and climbed into the Black Eagle tank. With the shot of a flare they switched on their night vision and began their drive to Frankfurt.

Alexander wasn't the best, or the worst, tank driver in the battalion. He was a simple Russian who grew up in Voronezh. He met Tanya in Moscow when he graduated from the basic driving course for the army. She was just watching the parade and somehow their eyes met. When the ceremony was over everyone went to go talk to Gen Kalasnikov, a great Russian tank commander, he rushed over to her. At first they just looked at one another for what seemed an eternity, but they broke out of it long enough to introduce one another. They then walked hand in hand around Red Square the Kremlin until sun down. At sunset while under St. Basil's Cathedral, which was glowing a dark orange, they told eachother how suddenly they came to love one another. Though neither of them new if it would work out they had a weird feeling that it would and kissed under the dark orange cathedral as the sun fell below the horizon just as they fell in love.

Alexander had all these memories to keep him happy yet longing as he starred into the different shades of green that somehow made the night visible and stayed in his lane on the German highway. All he had to do was get this war machine into Frankfurt and maybe he could see Tanya and tell her how much he....

The tanks all came to a screaching halt and popped their smoke to make themselves less visible.

"Comrades! We have a...."

The lead tank burst into flames and the turret flew up 20 feet. All Alexander could hear was the sound of helicopter blades spinning and all the 12.7 mm machine guns firing into the sky. Then he heard the turbines taking in lead and sounding like a dying animal as the helicopter slammed into the concrete. Just then out of the corner of his eye he saw four men with shoulder fire anti-tank missiles, but he couldn't move with all the tanks in front him. When he heard the deep swoosh sound of one of the rockets heading for his tank he only had time to think of his Tanya and barely time to pray, even though he was not devotely religious.

Four large explosions rocked the column and the men who fired the rockets were mowed down by machine gun fire. This was the last fight the Germans put up. When the helicopter didn't return to its tempory outpost in France the German government surrendered all territory to Russia.

Alexander's death wasn't even counted at the high levels. As far as the generals were concerned everything was perfect and why spoil the celebration with going to some random comrade's funeral?

Tanya was at the market trying to figure out what was what; it was all in Ukrainian. When Lieutenant Ivan, Alexander's best friend who was in the Air Force, walked up to her in full dress uniform she was not expecting the dreadful words that he had.

"Privyet Ivan!...you know a little Ukrainian...are these peaches or apricots?"

"Uh...well...those are apricots, but I..."

"Oh! Thank you Ivan! Did you hear the 9th Battalion rolled into Frankfurt today?! Now I can see Alexander again! Do you know how he is doing? Probably lonely without me just as I have been without him."

"That is why I'm here to see you...he..well..he.."

"Oh no...are you telling me they won't move the family and friends outpost forward?!"

"Uh...well...his column was ambushed and his tank was hit...I'm sorry, but he was a good soldier, friend, and I'm sure he loved you as much as you love him..."

She fell to her knees, "Pochyemu?! pochyemu?! pochyemu?!", she cried all week while everyone else cheered at the fall of Germany.

Although Germany fell quickly it was expected that, since NATO was cornered, the fighting would get tougher.

Quality Vs. Quantity; Ch. 6

"Burn, gook scum, burn!"

Two jets thundered overhead saturating the jungle with napalm. The two jets made their pass, hit the afterburner into sky, and were out of sight. Captain Kesha and now Lieutenant Ivan were assigned to the 51st Air Support Squadron in China. After his completion of flight training shortly after the fall of Frankfurt he was stationed in China to fly close air support missions for the invasion. The fighting shifted to China while NATO and the Russian forces in Europe built up a stalemate on the French-German border.

"Shit! They're coming through flames!...there's only ten of us and the tanks haven't arrived yet!"

"Pasha! Call up the air support we need every chemical and anti-tank weapon dropped on that field!"

"...but sir?...are chemical weapons legal?"

"You heard about how they used them in Europe and Geneva is gone...now shut up call the strike and get your chem gear on!"

"Yes sir...KILO-INDIA we are TANGO-UNIFORM request chemical and anti-tank assistance!"

"...Roger, dropping...hang on to your skirts girls!"

"You heard our comrade in the sky! Get your chem gear and hold tight!"

The Su-37's again kicked their afterburners and began a 15,000 ft dive from 20,000 ft.

"Lao!"

"What?!"

He could barely hear him through the earthquake of artillery.

"Do hear that?!"

"Hear wha...."

Kesha hit 5,000 and released four chemical munitions. He was followed closely by Ivan who had the Chinese armor locked and fired four missiles. They pulled out of the dive skimming the ground with their guns blazing hoping to hit something. Eight large explosions rocked the Chinese ranks. A heavy mist formed around the helpless infantry and the tanks never knew what hit them.

"Thank you comrades I will make sure you get a medal for this!"

"No problem! Glad to be of service comrade!"

The two aircraft began their approch back to the airfield and were ready to call it a night. They got up to 20,000 ft and switched the autopilot in their aircraft.

"So, Ivan tell me, do you have a girl back home?"

"No, never really had much luck with girls. My friend Alexander always got that luck, but then he died on the highway on the way to Frankfurt. I guess you can only win one of the wars...the real war or love...I think I'll stay alive. You have a girl Kesha?"

"That's where you're theory is wrong. I'm married got two kids and I've been fighting just as hard in this war and I'm doing great."

"Yeah I guess you're right, or you're just lucky!"

"Hey there's the base! Want to do a fly-by to piss off the commander?"

"Yeah sure...whoa check your 4 o'clock!"

"Oh shit isn't that one of our missile sites?!"

"Who cares evade!"

That day the anti-air batteries were having a problem with the friend or foe system and fired on Captain Kesha. Kesha saw the flash, but was preparing to land and couldn't fully maneuver. The flash lit the base and smacked into the Su-37 and turned it into a fiery ball of aluminum and heat. Kesha had no time to eject all he could do was try to steer away from the base so that the plane wouldn't crash into any base structures. The system was shut down, but too late for Kesha.

When Ivan landed he was mad at the air defense officers and immediately punched one of them . Then Tanya heard what happened and came over too him.

"Ivan stop! Alexander wouldn't do that!"

"I don't care, that man had a future!"

"...and Alexander didn't?!"

"Alexander died because he was fighting someone that wanted to kill him! Kesha died coming home and was shot down due to complete foolishness!"

Ivan debriefed and went to the barracks to sleep and try to cool down. Tanya on the other hand went to the welcoming ceremony for the American military observers. The United States was welcome in the Chinese war, but not in Europe due to the deep distrust Russia still had with the US. The observers were General William, Lt Col Daniel, and Sargent Paul.

"This is awesome sir!"

"Oh that's right Daniel I almost forgot how obsessed with Russia you are!"

"Hey colonel! Are you even Russian?!"

"No Paul...I'm Scottish, French, and German..."

"I'm not even going to ask why you like Russia so much..."

"Good it would be too long of an explanation."

"You two shut up and I might let you mingle with the ladies!"

"I got a girlfriend, but I'm sure 'comrade' Daniel here would love to be able to flirt around with a real Russian girl!"

"Oh shut it! We're here for professional business anyway!"

"Welcome American comrades!"

"The head commander and the US General exchanged salutes.

"Glad to be here! Any events tonight?!"

"Yes actually we are having a welcoming banquet and here is a bottle Russia's finest vodka!"

"Thank you! I don't drink...Paul, Daniel, how's you alcohol tolerance?"

"Well I take a sip and I pass out, but I'm sure Daniel and his need to be Russian can kill the bottle!"

"Shut up! Can we share with them sir?"

"General Pyotr do mind sharing the bottle with us...we're American and we can't kill the bottle without dying..."

Pyotr turned to his aide and muttered something and they both laughed.

"...are you sure you want to do that?"

"Well of course..."

"Alright, but you may want to get ready, here are he keys to your quarters, so you can change into your civilian clothing...I wish you luck..."

Pyotr walked off laughing hard and none of the Americans could figure out why.

Daniel heard singing and glass break just outside his quarters. He slammed the door open only to see that the whole base was drunk.

"Oh my god! It's college all over again!"

"Hey! Tovarish! Do you know the...the...oh the berry song?!"

"Uh...no?"

"Comrades gather!"

He and the rest took a sip of vodka and began dancing and then came the worse yet most exciting part.

"Come come! Sing with us!"

"Kalinka kalinka kalinka moya!"

"Wow this is crazy! Kalinka kalinka kalinka moya...and I can't remember the rest!"

He managed to get away for a minute and walked over to the barracks, but he had forgotten his Russian with the excitement and accidently walked right past the sign that said, "this is the female barracks, all males stay out or you will be arrested!". He heard a loud scream.

"Kak tebya zovut?!"

"Say what?...What are you doing in the male barracks?...You're beautiful, but that's beside the point!"

"Oh you are American?...This is the female barracks!"

He looked at a sign the read just what she ha said. He was extremely embarrassed and tried to apologize.

"I'm very sorry, I'm Lt Col Daniel Wilson. Who are you?"

"I am Tanya..."

"What's your rank?"

"I have no rank...I'm here with my...my..."

She began to cry and Daniel had no idea what he did.

"Uh, like I said I'm very sorry, you're very beautiful, and I'm very much dead if I don't get the heck out of here!...See you around base I guess."

Even with tears on her face she smiled at him making a fool of himself at the shock of seeing her...

Everyone had somehow heard about Daniel's accidental encounter with Tanya and was giving him a hard time. Ivan did care for him one bit however. He thought this guy needed to stay, because Tanya shouldn't get over Alexander this quickly. He was also a little jealous.

"So Daniel...you gonna hook up with that Russian chic?"

"Paul, shut up...it was an accident...and besides I live in the US and she lives in Russia..."

"So what go for it man you need some love in your life! Who knows maybe it was meant to be that you get with a Russian chic!"

"You know I don't believe that crap..."

"Whatever man...I mean what's the worse that could happen?"

"Break her heart...put me in a depression when we separate...stupid stuff..."

"Ok, do what you want, but I think you're making a mistake..."

"Yeah yeah I'm going to go watch Chinese get napalmed to clear my mind."

Daniel tied his boots put his hat on and got in a chopper that was meant for the front. The whole ride all he could think of was, not whether or not he loved Tanya, but whether it was possible.

The Mi-8 landed Daniel and a few troops at a forward observing post. Daniel watched the Russian tactic that consisted of blowing everything up, then walking in and killing what's left. He wondered why Geneva had said nothing of course there was that terrorist attack there. He shrugged it off and watched the columns of flames engulf the jungle and the Russian tanks rush into them. It was now evident why the Russian advance had almost not resistance; there was nothing to resist with! He wondered about the tactics, but he wondered most about Tanya...

The Waiting Game; Ch. 7

The war was at a stand still while the Russians planned the invasion of France.They began moving crude large artillery to both the Chinese and French fronts and sophisticated technologies to rear positions. The siege of Beijing and Hong Kong were great example of how Russia was scaling down to build up. The calm before the storm...

The Chinese began to fortify Beijing and there were so many of them. Between the large concrete buildings and the billions of people all issued weapons the Russians knew it was going to become a long battle of attrition.

"We....assistance....again....assistance!"
There was too much radio interference to understand what Dmitri was trying to say, but it was accepted that he wasn't doing well.
"Dmitri can you hear me?!"
"Ro...er...ye.....ir"
"I'll take that as a yes! Dmitri if you can hear me then fall back the bombers will be here in twenty minutes!"
"twe...ty?...nee.....now!"
"Ah whatever I can't hear him! Fix bayonets!"
"Want me to go with you?"
"Of course! We will see how well the US has trained you Colonel Daniel!"
"Alright here goes nothin'!"
"Comrades! For the glory of Russia! Forward!"
All at once they yelled.
"Slava Rossiya!!!"

The entire division ran over the hill and dashed for Dmitri's column amidst the heavy Chinese machine gun fire and rocket propelled grenades. They could see Dmitri's tanks, only two were left out of ten, but fighting ferociously.

"WE NEED ARTILLERY ON THAT POSITION, NOW!!!!"
"Roger, artillery in bound, get ready it's the big stuff!"
Thunder erupted everywhere around the Chinese positions and turned a bunker to dust. The division ran into the hole in the Chinese lines. The combat then was too close and they had to use their bayonets.

"AAAHHH!!! DIE!!!"
Daniel jammed his 1o in. blade into the gut of a Chinese soldier. It was the first time he had ever killed someone especially in such a cruel manner. He had developed an absolute hate for Asians and didn't even look at them as humans. This was triggered by his instinct that if the Chinese won they would surely take the base and have their way with, who he hoped would be his, Tanya.
"AAAHHH! I'll stab every last one of ya!!!"
"Our American comrade you have proven yourself now calm down! Listen..."

A flight of Tu-95's was making their approach and the division could hear the deep humming of their turboprops.
"We need to get out of here before they flatten everything!"
The division began to run towards their original hill and Dmitri's tanks began to drive up the hill. The Chinese didn't know what to, so they stopped firing and began to relax and not waste ammo.

"Why do you think they ran?"
"The might of China is too great for them!"
"Haha, yeah....run Russian devils!"
Right when the Chinese defense commander lit his cigarette the Tu-95's dropped their munitions on the defensive position.
"Drop 'em all! Kill 'em all!"
"Dropping!"
"All dry comrade!"
"Alright, Ivan we're good you can support our comrades on the ground now."
"See you tomorrow then!"
"Right see you tomorrow!"

"Ivan to ground forces..."
"This is Lt Col Daniel go ahead..."
"Oh great...the American buffoon..."
"What's your deal?...anyway we need you to drop napalm ever half hour to keep them back while we build up our lines..."
"Wilco...Ivan out"

Ivan made a pass on the mix of iron, flesh, and concrete. The napalm's effect was only that of 'beating a dead horse'. With the positions so close Daniel and the division could feel the heat of the firestorm and the shock wave of the fighter breaking the sound barrier as it zipped by.
"Careful with that ammo! If it blows, twenty of us will not be able to tell about it!...So, colonel Daniel, do you know why Ivan dislikes you?"
"Not a clue, I don't even know him!"
"He is the friend of Tanya's boyfriend who died in the ambush on the Frankfurt highway ambush..."
"So...why would he hate me?"
"He doesn't think Tanya should move on this early."
"What are you talking about?...What could I possibly have to do with that?...She couldn't possibly love me...and after all we technically live across an entire ocean from each other!"
"You have much to learn...there are many paths to every goal...if love is the goal here it may be a long difficult path but the goal will be achieved..."
"Yeah yeah quit the philosophical crap!...When is the next assault?!"
"Not so fast! You are going back to base so you don't die out here...I suggest you consider what I said!"
"Yeah whatever...and if you're wrong?!"
"Then request to come back out hear and shoot me...I'm sure all will go well!"
"I still think it's all bullshit but whatever....I'll be asleep in my breaking and please no more vodka parties!"
"Yeah sure! See you back at base!"

He got back to base and immediately headed for his quarters. When he got to his bed he sat and thought about Tanya and if it was possible. However, he should have been sleeping or writing his intelligence report. He didn't know when to tell her or even whether he should tell her.

The Russian Generals all shared the same thought about the war as Lt Col Daniel about Tanya. None could figure out when or if they should attack the cities and countries that they had put under siege. Then there was the US. They knew they wanted to conquer the US, but was it possible? They had plans set and back-ups, but they didn't know what the true outcome would be...

Decisions; Ch. 8

"Comrade, I hate to bring down morale, but this sucks!"
"You're telling me?!"
"Well yeah we just wait for them to rush us and mow them down...why not attack them?"
"It's called attrition. We're taking out their men so that when we go in there is no one to oppose us...it's long, boring, and it sucks!"
"Well...I got a letter from Katusha today!"
"You didn't open it did you?!"
It was considered bad luck to open a letter, especially from a loved one...they all heard what happened to Alexander that day he got in his tank and headed for Frankfurt.
"Uh yes...actually I did...why?"
"You fool!"

Just then a sharp whizzing sound filled the air followed by hundreds of similar sounds. The Chinese were using what was left of their artillery to flatten the Russian position, but it had no effect. Then the Chinese horde, expecting to find no resistance, charged the Russian position.
"For China!"
The Russian guns began firing and the machine guns, like lawn mowers, landscaped the mob.

"You idiot see what your letter has brought?!"
"Whatever let's just fight!"

All along the trench all the division commander could hear was the continuous chatter of the machine guns and the occasional burst of of about 10 Ak-47's at a time. He managed to block out the screaming coming from the direction of the Chinese. The artillery threw dirt around everywhere and accuracy became impossible.
"Comrades, switch to full auto!...and start lobbing grenades, their attack is heavier today!"
The Chinese, although massacred, were still coming and getting close.
"Comrades! Fix bayonets!"
He started wondering why they weren't trained in close combat enough. He pulled out his pistol for the close combat. He immediately emptied his clip killing five and yet they still came. He threw his empty pistol at the next unlucky soldier and quickly picked up his gun and managed to impale the next man over the trench. Without reinforcements the Chinese attack was eventually fended off, but not without losses.

"I told him that letter was his ruin..."
He gave his fallen comrade the letter and closed his limp hand around it. He knew he would have to write to his comrade's Katusha, but he didn't know what to write.
"I suppose he was brave...close combat isn't easy..."

"Good afternoon comrades...you fought well today and there's going to be another bombing tonight which will give us a break, so drink your vodka, write to your girls, or sleep...we will need it...if you need anything, I will be sipping some vodka, writing to my girl, and sleeping the rest of the night..."

Meanwhile back at the base Lt Col Daniel was walking around observing ground aircraft operations. Of course he came upon Ivan's Su-37.
"Hey Lieutenant Ivan!"
He jumped up and saluted to be proper.
"Colonel Wilson how may I help you!"
Daniel returned the salute.
"Enough bull crap, we need to talk!"
"Yes comrade, we do."
"You seem to have a disliking for me...can you explain why?"
"Uh...well...sir...uh...comrade...uh you see...I...well I have a question for you my American friend. Do you love that girl Tanya?"
"You have no idea how difficult yet easy a question that is..."
"What do you mean?"
"Straight up, the answer is, yeah I do for some unexplainable reason I do love that girl. With thought, the answer is, is it possible? Could she love me? Could our relationship survive?"
"She is not for you!"
"Wait what?"
"She is Alexander's!"
"Who the hell is Alexander?!"
"...He died near Frankfurt..."
"Oh...him...I guess I will stand away from her, but that won't change the whole love factor you know that right?"
"I don't care I just think it is too soon for her...what is that sound?!"

The base sirens sounded that a missile strike was fifteen minutes out.Everyone started scurrying around for their chem suits and heading for the bunkers. Ivan and the other pilots hurried to get into the air. Daniel found a bunker and saw a bunch of big green things running into, it was weird how a chem suit changed the appearance of someone. He got in the bunker and sat against the reinforced walls. Everyone was quiet and all that could be heard were the sirens. The Chinese chemical-tipped warhead hit the base and released its deadly payload. The personnel waited for about twenty minutes and cautiously exited the bunker. Once the all clear was given everyone removed their masks and there was Tanya right next to Daniel.

"Well it's nice to see that you're alive!"
"You are Colonel Daniel, yes?"
"Yeah we met in the...well we've met before..."
Suddenly there was a loud zip sound and a man fell to the ground. Two more fell until it was discovered that there was a sniper and everyone tried to find cover. Three more men went down before they found the sniper and had Ivan napalm his position. Everyone got up hoping that the worse was over for the day. It was apparent the Chinese were feeling the pain of attrition for they only had a very limited chemical weapons storage, they were getting desperate.

Europe was having more conventional problems. The flow of tanks against Russian positions was seemingly endless, but the divisions managed to hold. The decision was still being thought out at the top of when to attack. Now that trenches were dug it seemed it would be a while, if they decided to attack the US. Again they knew they wanted to, but timing and knowing the reaction was holding them back and they new China and France would soon get very desperate, perhaps even tempted to move their fingers over the nuclear launch buttons. The decision needed to be made and somehow it had to be in favor of attacking the US or their job would be in jeopardy....

Are We Forgotten?; Ch. 9

All truly was quiet on the western front. Unlike the Chinese front, NATO was building instead of desperately defending. It was so quiet the troops from the NATO and Russian trenches often met in the center and shared different specialties from their countries. The Germans brought some of the best dark beer, the French brought some of the finest wine, and the Russians brought the stiffest vodka. It basically turned into a large party that stretched for 200 miles. Their tanks collected dust and the artillery had to be moved every once in a while to ensure that it wouldn't get stuck if fighting ever did happen. The ones that operated the air defense radar got bored and watched movies on their radar displays. All in all it was very relaxed. Until March 12, the anniversary of the block nations joining NATO, which ironically thirteen years later they were under the rule of Russia once again.

"When does today's party start?"
"I don't know I still have a headache from last night..."
"Hey helicopters!"
"They ours?"
"Coming from the east...yeah they're ours...I wonder what they're doing..."
"Who knows...all I know is I'm tired and I'm going back to sleep..."
They could hear the low rumble of the mass of Ka-50 attack helicopters. Then there was an unexpected, but familiar high pitch sound that led to a thunderous crash over in the French trenches.

"Whoa! Not sleeping any more...Sasha, help me with my weapon...we shouldn't have drank so much!"
"I only had a sip, but wow is this a dream?!"
The Kamovs mad their pass and were coming around again to unleash their hale of rockets onto the French positions. By the second pass the French figured out what was happening and tried to fire at the agile bringers of death. The Russian infantry didn't know what to do until the French tried to run into the Russian trenches. They were looking for refuge, but the Russian orders were clear, exterminate all threats moving east. Unfortunately the French had to move east to get into the Russian trenches.

Sasha saw an explosion a little closer to his foxhole and then he saw a man fly 20 feet into the sky cursing in French. By this he knew the French were heading at the Russian positions. It clicked immediately in his mind to load his Kalashnikov model '47 and get ready to fight, or well slaughter these man that sought shelter from the lead rain.

Knowing a little German he tried to apologize to every NATO man that he killed. He pulled back the receiver and looked left and there was a NATO soldier in his sights. He let off a three round burst of 7.62x39.

"Es tut mir leid!"
He found another, this time the man was French, but all Sasha knew was his little bit of German. Again, he shot off three rounds, but they didn't bring the screaming man down instantly. He didn't know what to do. He didn't have time to think then a Kamov flew past and released it's hell. After the dust cleared he noticed that the man he had just shot was in his foxhole, but he wasn't all there.

"...es...tut mir...leid..."
He stared at the lifeless torso, or what was left of it anyway, while screams, explosions, dust, and automatic weapon fire filled the air around him.

"...God!...Have you forgotten this plot of land?!"
There were no Russian casualties in the skirmish. It was later found that the NATO soldiers didn't even have weapons when they charged the Russian positions. One Kamov did catch fire in its engine and went down in the "no man's land".

After the dust cleared all that remained was the broken Ka-50 in the middle of the field and the other nineteen flying away with their weapon stores empty. Sasha finally heard the low rumble of the Kamov rotors diminish to the east. He poked is head out and what he saw shocked him. What used to be a fun party spot, became a desolate wasteland in just under fifteen minutes.

"...Evgeniy?...why do we fight this war?!"
"...we were told to! We are soldiers of the Russian Federation..."
"...but why?"
"Some say it is to spread democracy and capitalism ans eliminate terrorism...Some say it is to increase prestige...Some say it is for resources...There are many reasons, but it's best not to think about that...We are soldiers we pick up our guns and shoot that is how our families are fed...Justification is best left to politicians!"
"Well, then, any vodka left?"
"...one sip and a piece of shrapnel left..."
"Oh whatever...give me the bottle..."

Similar attacks were made across the lines that day. Strangely, there were no advancements, just pure destruction.

~~~

"Wow...Sergeant Paul...did you read about that skirmish on the NATO defense line?!"

"No, what happened?...NATO win?"

"Win?...How about massacred!"

"Oh whoa!...So did Russia advance into France?"

"No they just blew the living shit out of them and they're still just sitting there...I wonder if they'll ever invade?"

"They want to, but they can't figure out how, when, or whether the US will except maybe...Sounds like you..."

"What do you mean by that?!"

"Huh? Oh, I think you need to stop reading the Russian propaganda paper and flirt it up with that Tanya chic!"

"Oh shut up! You have no idea!"

"Yeah just like the US has no idea why Russia isn't attacking France..."

Lt Col Daniel rolled up the paper and smacked Paul right in the face.

"Her boyfriend died less than a month ago!"

"Oh...your point?"

"Oh never mind I'm talking to the wrong man for this subject...Have a good experience out in the field?"

"I almost want to say I had fun...the Russian air support is exceptional!"

"Yeah and the French got a taste yesterday..."

"Oh did you hear we're leaving for the US in a week?"

"Really?...huh...I'm going to relax while I can then...before the end of the week they're going to take Beijing and Hong Kong!"

"Well you should work at getting that Russian chic's number!"

"Yeah whatever I'll be in my quarters reading Tom Clancy and listening to that one song...I'm in a Cold War mood, so I'll listen to the song 'So Cold'."

"Your music sucks!"

"Yeah, right, see ya tomorrow morning!"

"night, sir"

Daniel sat on his bunk listening to his music, reading his book, but most of all still wondering about Tanya...

Mistakes; Ch.10

"Damn it's hot here..."
"Don't worry it's only going to get hotter Joe. Were going into Tehran today."
"Don't the Russians have control of Tehran?"
"...Yeah, but I guess we're going in to root out remaining terrorist elements."
"Oh ok, but how do you think the Russians will like that?"
"They seem to be our ally so they'll probably help us out. We're dropping near their positions."
"huh...sounds easy I guess"
"Yeah I think it'll be just a walk in the park with an M-16"
"Ha yeah! So, let's get ready we move out in an hour!"
"hu'ah!"

Aleksiy got new orders that day to shoot down any American threats that entered their airspace, not to attack, but to ensure they didn't enter.
"Why can't we just attack?!"
"We just want them out of our skies while we build so they can't get a closer look...that's my guess."
"Alright, get our Shilkas set up in the city and I want SA-15's here constantly scanning the sky...and no sleeping!
"What if they send stealth fighters...the signature is very small...like a bird..."
"Then look for a bird on the radar going mach two!"
"Yes comrade Aleksiy!"

"You! Commander of our Spetsnaz forces! Did you find the last of the terrorist cells here?"
"Yes sir and the people are celebrating as though it is victory day!"
"Good job Moscow will certainly hear of your work!"
"And you? Comrade Captain, are your tanks ready for anything?"
"Yes comrade if the Americans attack we could push them all the way to Isreal and the Mediterranean!"
Good we may need to, Aleksiy thought to himself.

A young private ran up to Aleksiy without reporting or any formal greeting.
"Sir! The Americans are getting there helicopters and what looks like a few fighters ready!"
"...whoa what?! And where are they heading?!"
"We believe they are preparing to assault Tehran and tanks are seen to be moving toward the city!"
"Shit! Commanders go and tell your people...the worst has just begun..."
They replied all at once, "Da tovarish!". This was the moment that they and there fathers and grandfathers trained for, a war with the US.

~~~

"Everything ready?"

"Yes sir, we go now we'll be in Tehran in fifteen minutes."

"Good, are the fighters in the air?"

"Yes sir and the tanks are moving in."

"Alright you have my ok."

"Yes sir. Roll 'em out boys!"

The black hawks began spinning up their rotors and men loaded into them. The tanks loaded their main guns and the fighters, which were only old F-16's, got to their patrol points.

"Wow I hate the desert!"

"Yeah don't we all! Hey turn on some music!"

The song 'All Along the Watchtower' blasted from the helicopter's megaphone.

"Ah, there we go!"

"Hey Dave! You look scared!"

"No shit! This is my first time!"

"Ha, everyone's scared their first time, this is a piece of cake!"

"Yeah sure!"

The black hawks were about a mile out when hell broke loose. The F-16's felt the first of it.

"Oh shit! Viper one drop flares and brake left!"

"What? Oh shit!"

As they flew over the city every the city lit up with tracers. Out of the east missiles popped up to meet the fighters. Viper flight went down and the F-16's crashed into the mix of buildings as tracers shot at what was left of the fighters.

"You see that?!"

"Yeah, are the Russians firing at us?!"

Just then below them a rocket flew out of a building window and stopped an American tank right in its tracks. Confusion hit the ranks of the Americans just as the missiles had. The black hawk were now over the city.

"Shit shit shit!"

"Just jump it's more dangerous up here!"

Joe kicked Dave out of the way forcing him to get out. Jet as they jumped out a Shilka turned the street corner and peppered the helpless helicopter. Joe took Dave's anti-tank launcher and fired at the Shilka turning into twisted metal and flame.

"I thought you said this was a cake walk?!"

"It is! Only the cake is walking on us now! Shut up and find cover!"

All around the city they could hear helicopters going down in the streets.

There weren't any terrorists, just the Russians. Some tanks managed to enter the city to try to help and support the army ranger groups.

"Hey the helicopters are back maybe they'll get us out of here!"

"Shut up Dave those are Russian 'Hinds' and they'll rip us apart!"

The large gunships made their way over the city hunting for tanks and clearing the way for the Russian tanks. Never the less the American tanks tried to advance through the streets.

"Hey Joe! Need a tank!"

"Hell yeah! What about the 'Hinds'?!"

"What 'Hinds'?!"

"Whoa! Take cover!"

An Mi-24 flew over firing every rocket it had in its reserves. Joe looked back up after the giant left.

"Hey man you....alright?"

The tank that held four of their friends was now a tomb of cremation. And now the Russian tanks were making their way through the wrecks in the streets. They exited the city and were now chasing the Americans out of Tehran.

"Sir...you oughta see this report..."

"I know...load the transports we need to go home..."

"...yes sir..."

The US took a beating and brought everything back to the homeland in case Russia attacked the US...