Chapter 7

The sound of propellers slicing through the air came from the sky.

With this sound, two massive helicopters flew over at an altitude of 800 meters, maintaining a distance of 1,000 meters between them.

Above them, the large five-blade rotors stirred the air, creating a loud noise. The two bubble cockpits were arranged one above the other at the front, and behind them was a wide cabin, resembling a pregnant doe, which is why this type of helicopter was nicknamed the "Hind" by NATO.

However, if one were to view this helicopter as a gentle doe, they would be gravely mistaken. Not only was the machine gun under the nose capable of reaping lives at any moment, but the rocket pods mounted on the short wings on either side were also extremely intimidating. Those large-caliber rockets could rain down at any time, turning everything on the ground to ashes.

The Mi-24 helicopter performed very actively in the Afghan battlefield. Although many were lost in the early stages due to mechanical failures, the Mil Design Bureau later improved the Mi-24, increasing the engine power and enhancing stability during rough handling by pilots. As the pilots became more familiar with the war, their skills in handling the Hind continued to improve.

"Attention, we are approaching the designated airspace. Lower the altitude and look for our tanks," said Colonel Ivanov, the pilot in the lead helicopter.

His words were also relayed to the wingman and the passengers in the rear.

Upon hearing his words, the two infantry squads inside the Hind's large belly also directed their gazes downward.

After more than two years of fighting, almost every battalion of the Soviet forces stationed in Afghanistan had established a reconnaissance company composed of the most outstanding soldiers, who were tasked with the most challenging missions.

This time was no different. These two reconnaissance squads were going to rescue a tank company that had been attacked. They were very confident that once they arrived, the Afghan guerrillas might have already fled.

Even so, they still kept their eyes on both sides as they entered the mountains. The altitude of the helicopters decreased, and they could encounter various emergencies at any moment.

Ahead was the valley mentioned in the intelligence report.

As the helicopter flew over, Ivanov could see from a distance that two tanks had been hit on one side of the valley.

"Target spotted, 500 meters ahead. 02, be on guard," Ivanov shouted over the radio.

The two helicopters provided mutual cover during operations. Now that they had found their own tanks, Ivanov's helicopter needed to land on an open area to drop off the reconnaissance squad. This was the most dangerous part of the operation, as takeoff and landing were the most vulnerable moments.

Therefore, the other helicopter had to gain some altitude to provide cover around.

Flying low, they approached a large open area ahead.

No Afghan guerrillas had been spotted yet.

Ivanov gently lowered the collective pitch with his left hand and held the control stick with his right. The Hind, like a gentle deer, slowly descended, and the rotors blew the surrounding sand and soil in all directions.

The landing gear extended slowly, and then the tires touched the ground. The hydraulic shock absorbers retracted, and the entire aircraft jolted, finally coming to a stop.

The cabin door opened, and the squad leader of the first reconnaissance squad, Cherov, jumped out first.

Following him, another person jumped out, and the two formed a fan-shaped defense. The other soldiers also followed.

After dropping off the reconnaissance squad, the helicopter took off again. Now it was the turn of the other helicopter to land and drop off the soldiers, while Ivanov's helicopter provided cover.

Cherov, seeing that all the soldiers had disembarked, immediately waved his hand, signaling them to spread out and slowly approach the two disabled tanks.

Rushing in all at once would be the most foolish move. If there were any fearless Afghans inside the tanks, a burst of gunfire could take them down in an instant.

As they slowly approached, they knew that the helicopters above could provide immediate support if anyone attacked them. So, although they were cautious, they didn't need to worry too much.

"Class leader, there are two people sitting together ahead, very close to the tanks," said a reconnaissance soldier at the front, who had a clear view.

"Are they Afghans?" Cherov asked.

"No, they are our men," the soldier replied.

Sitting together and still alive? Cherov took out his binoculars; the sunlight had been too glaring to see clearly before.

Bringing the binoculars to his eyes, he could see very clearly. They were two tank crew members, but their condition was unknown. There were also two dead bodies a bit further away.

This was likely a tank crew.

"Be careful, watch out for landmines underfoot," Cherov said.

If these two were unharmed, it was very likely a trap. The closer they got, the more cautious Cherov became.

"Hey, shorties, are you still alive?" someone shouted from a distance.

Although modern tanks were much more spacious than those from World War II, the interior was still cramped. Therefore, one of the key requirements for being a tank crew member was to be short.

Markov knew that the person shouting had no ill intentions, but he wasn't in the mood for jokes in this situation.

"We're still alive, but we won't last much longer. The Afghan guerrillas left about an hour ago. You came too quickly," Markov said, his voice dry, each word feeling like a torture.

Hearing this, Cherov boldly approached. "Shorties, are you the only two here? What about the others?"

"We lost two tanks, and four safely retreated. One was hit by an RPG, and the crew didn't come out. Our tank had a mechanical failure and flipped over. We managed to get out, but the commander and gunner were killed by the guerrillas," Markov said, his throat very dry, each word feeling like a torment.

"Why weren't you two killed by the guerrillas?" Cherov asked. "Those Afghan guerrillas often skin their prisoners alive."

There were many stories about the guerrillas. For Soviet soldiers, the guerrillas were like demons. If captured, a quick death was considered a stroke of luck.

So, seeing these two right next to the tanks, they must have encountered the guerrillas. Now that they were still intact, Cherov was quite curious.

"Our butts could explode at any moment. For over an hour, we didn't dare move. Fortunately, you finally came," Markov said, licking his dry, cracked lips.

Used as booby traps? Hearing this, Cherov became cautious.

On the battlefield, any mistake could lead to death. Everyone was mentally prepared for this. However, in many cases, it was the Soviets who set booby traps, such as in abandoned vehicles or discarded weapons. If the Afghan guerrillas saw them, they would certainly try to pick them up, and as soon as they touched them, they would explode.

Now, these two tank crew members were used as booby traps, a first. Moreover, they knew that any movement would cause an explosion, another first.

It seems the Afghan guerrillas are quite stupid. Cherov asked, "What's under your butts?"

If it were a pressure-activated mine, it would be very troublesome. Once pressed, it would explode as soon as the pressure was released. If that were the case, there would be nothing they could do.

However, he hadn't heard of the Afghan guerrillas having mines. They were lucky to have AKMs.

"When the guerrillas left, they said we were sitting on a pressure-activated mine, but I think it's the handle of a grenade," Ilyich said.

Sitting on a grenade? Cherov nonchalantly took out a box of Pamir cigarettes from his pocket.

He lit one, took a puff, and then placed it in Markov's mouth.

Markov looked at Cherov gratefully, took two deep puffs, and then held it with his hand.

Cherov lit another one and offered it to Ilyich.

Ilyich shook his head. "I don't smoke."

Smoking was strictly prohibited on the battlefield as it could reveal one's position and cause accidental fires. However, in real combat, smoking was a way for soldiers to relieve stress.

Now, Cherov was doing the same, trying to calm these two unfortunate tank crew members.

"Your company commander just abandoned you without coming to your rescue?" Cherov asked.

The battle report they received indicated a large number of Afghan guerrillas, putting their tank unit in danger. That's why they were dispatched urgently. Upon arrival, they found that the tank unit had already retreated, leaving these two soldiers to be toyed with by the guerrillas.

The company commander would likely face disciplinary action.

Thinking of the company commander, these two didn't know what to say. In the situation at the time, the commander seemed to have done nothing wrong. However, now, considering the situation, it seemed that among the dozens of guerrillas, only two were carrying rocket launchers.

"Never mind, this is a matter for Jalalabad. I'll first remove the thing under your butts," Cherov said.

"Class leader, let me do it," a soldier from the back said. Removing a booby trap was a dangerous task, and he was volunteering because the class leader had saved his life before.

"Miro, stand back. That's an order," Cherov ignored Miro and looked around. "Everyone, hide behind that big rock. No peeking."

Although Cherov was very confident, removing a booby trap was still very dangerous. To prevent any mishaps, he needed to ensure that others were in a safe place.

Cherov didn't know that the place he sent the others to was the most dangerous. He wasn't facing the native Afghan guerrillas but a highly trained special forces unit from another world, with extensive combat experience. Muhamed's booby trap was far more sophisticated than just using a grenade as a pressure-activated mine.