You arrive in uniform at the assigned briefing room ten minutes early. Several pilots you don't recognize are already seated. One glances your way and apparently recognizes you.
"Major! It's a pleasure to meet you. Your bravery in the Bosnian conflict is well known. I am Major Zorinov, this is Captain Nevsky, and Captain Ligachev." You shake their hands and engage in small talk as more pilots drift in, until a Colonel enters. Everyone stands at attention.
"At ease. Please sit down. Good morning, I am Colonel Alexei Maraklov, and I welcome you to the new Multiple Role Forward Deployment Frontal Aviation Wing. I am the MRFDFA wing commander."
Your mouth drops along with every other pilot's in the room . You stare at a gold star on Maraklov's chest, signifying him as a Hero of the CIS. The legendary Maraklov, whose exploits included being shot down over Bosnia and then escaping in a stolen UN F-16 back to the CIS, now commanding this wing! If anyone had not been paying full attention before, they certainly paid attention now. Maraklov smiles warmly.
"Comrades, you are a part of history in the making! Our Wing's ultimate purpose is simple. To take the most effective and experienced pilots, and make them even more effective, in as many types of aircraft as possible. You are all here today, because I have chosen you. You are all highly trained, highly skilled, highly experienced. You are each proficient in more than one aircraft. We will make you proficient in even more." You look around, and everyone else has as broad a smile on their face as you do.
"Our participation in several regional conflicts in this decade has given us much experience in the importance of flexibility in Frontal Aviation. The rapidly changing needs and resources available in combat requires it. The MRFDFA wing is our answer. With our ability to fly and service virtually every type of aircraft made in the CIS, we will always be ready to use whatever is at hand... whether it be our old friend the MiG-21, or the highly sophisticated Su-33."
Maraklov pauses to look each pilot in the eye. "Comrades... you will all work hard in the following weeks. This morning, we will assign you to your first aircraft groups. I would hope you got some good rest last night, because the rest of your nights will be filled with flights and study for some time!" Several pilots groan out loud. Maraklov softly admonishes, "Remember your duties, comrades." Suddenly he shouts, "Prove to the Party that you are the best!"
A resounding thud fills the room as everyone stands to their feet. "YES, SIR!"
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DATE : April 9, 1997
LOCAL TIME : 2200
You rub your eyes as you turn another page in the MiG-27 technical manual. Your bunkmate, Zorinov, sighs as he flips through a poorly printed magazine featuring more pictures of flesh than text. The text and diagrams you are looking at become blurred, out of focus...
"ATTENTION IN THE BARRACKS!" You feel the bunk jolt as Zorinov bumps his head below you.
You leap down off your bunk, and you hear mumbled curses as Zorinov rubs his head and appears on the other side.
Maraklov steps in, his uniform impeccably creased even though he had been up since dawn. He picks up Zorinov's magazine with an amused look, and hands it to the aide at his side. "Comrade Major Zorinov won't have time to be reading that anymore. I would like the MiG-27 and MiG-29 groups to report to Hangar 2 in ten minutes, ready to deploy. That is all." You and Zorinov exchange curious glances, and both begin gathering your things.
Ten minutes later, you, Zorinov, a handful of other pilots and a team of aircraft technicians step aboard an Antonov-74 transport inside Hangar 2, each bringing a single bag. Maraklov is already aboard. Almost before the boarding hatch is closed the plane is rolling out of the hangar. As the Coaler hurls itself down the dark runway, you glance at Maraklov, who is directly across the aisle from you. He smiles mysteriously and settles into his seat for a nap.
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Captured Simferopol Airbase, Ukraine
DATE : April 10, 1997
LOCAL TIME : 0115
WEATHER : Clear
You climb out of the An-74 and find an airbase filled with noise and activity. Your heart leaps as you spot the silhouette of a MiG-27 in the darkness. A headlight briefly washes over the tail and you spot the Ukrainian insignia. Maraklov ushers everyone inside a building and into a briefing room.
"Welcome to Simferopol, comrades. As you know, tensions between the Ukraine and the rest of the CIS have been steadily increasing. The Ukraine refused to ratify the new CIS Constitution, and the Party decided to take action. Last night elite Russian Spetznaz commando forces took over the port of Sevastopol, and this airbase at Simferopol. The CIS means to show Ukraine that it will not tolerate any resistance. The Black Sea port of Sevastopol is strategically, politicaly, and economically important to the CIS, so seizing it serves many purposes. Russia has always had a large hold over the Crimean Peninsula, so the Ukrainians did not put up much of a fight here.
"The U.S. continues to poke its nose into our affairs, and has sided with the Ukrainians in condemning the move. The USS Eisenhower is conducting continual flight ops in the Black Sea on an increased alert status. This is where we come in. This airbase was captured intact and fully operational, with a full squadron of MiG-27s used for air patrol. We will put our newly gained assets to use in frequent patrols of the harbor and airbase. We want to let everyone know that we intend to keep this island. You will now be shown to the barracks, then I want everyone back in twenty minutes for the flight scheduling."
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YOUR MISSION
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Your radio call sign will be Firefly-7, your wingman is Firefly-8.
You'll be flying a routine night patrol, overflying the harbor area in Sevastopol. Military Intel has suggested that the Americans will attempt an attack on Russian warships in the harbor.
Objective: BARCAP - Protect the airbase and harbor from possible attack by the Americans.
Rules of Engagement: Any unidentified violators of CIS airspace may be engaged. If they do not change course with a positive missile lock-on, you may fire on them.
The MiG-27s you find at the captured Simferopol airbase were used primarily for air patrols, so the airbase is well stocked with AA-2s and AA-8s. Too bad they don't have any of the more advanced AA-11 Archers laying around.
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THREAT DATA
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GROUND THREATS : Eisenhower Carrier Group
AIR OPPOSITION : Possible strike aircraft, possible fighter escort
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C.I.S. Frontal Aviation Fighters
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Mission 2:
NIGHT PATROL
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
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You sit in the cockpit of the MiG-27 for a minute to replay the engagement in your head, as the engines wind down. With the help of the plane captain you climb out and head for your debriefing. Maraklov meets you afterwards. "Good job! That American attack force was stopped cold. That should make them think twice before trying anything funny again."
"Thank you, sir."
The colonel is silent for several minutes, and you are about to excuse yourself when he interrupts, "Comrade Major, you're qualified for the MiG-29, are you not?"
"Yes sir, I am."
"Then I want you to go with the MiG-29 group out to the captured base at Odesa." You blink in surprise. "Yes, the Spetznaz are taking it as we speak. No sense in taking half measures, eh? I want you to go because it looks like there will be more MiG-27s at Odesa. I brought the MiG-29 group in case the Ukrainians had MiG-29s deployed, but it doesn't look like they've got them here at the coastal bases. The MiG-29 group will have to wait for their planes to arrive from Moscow. In the meantime, why don't you train them in the MiG-27s? I will split up the MiG-27 group--you will take half to Odesa, and I will lead the other half here. You will report to me daily. Agreed?"
"Of course, Comrade Colonel."
"Good. You may select your team now, and the transport will leave in the morning. Get some rest, you've earned it."
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C.I.S. Frontal Aviation Fighters
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Mission 2:
NIGHT PATROL
MISSION FAILED
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This is not so good, comrade. The Americans are a dangerous enemy, but you and your wingman should have been able to stop the attack aircraft. Better luck next time.
The IR sensors on the missiles should be somewhat more effective at night, try for a good rear-aspect shot to maximize their chances of hitting.
