Air war in Europe, Story of Major Nikolai Shoigu Options

[3rdShockArmy]

This is the first time I write fan-fiction, so feel free to rip it to pieces. How else I'm gonna know if I'm a complete noob, or not?

This is the story about the Russian pilot, Major Nikolai Shoigu.

2045
Descending from a family well-known in Russia, Nikolai was a grandson of former Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. Ever since the deposition of the former government, it was hard for the young man to fit in to this new Russia. Often seen as an offspring of the old KGB elites, he had to double his efforts to prove himself just to get the same treatment as other cadets of the prestigious Moscow Military Academy. Unfortunately this didn't change, not even when the Russo-European War started. Just a mere month after the graduation, they were all sent to VVS bases across Western Russia and given orders of a full-blown invasion of Europe. Nikolai still couldn't understand what was going on, until someone told him about what happened in Kaliningrad. He had his doubts, especially about how fast the response of the military was. Even after years of diplomatic strains with the ECA, it would take months of preparations for the quantity of aircraft and missiles he was seeing now. But, if he was to ever win the trust of his colleges and senior officers, asking too many questions was not a very good start. So, he decided not to. He wasn't just another rookie. Being suspicious for his background made him a not very much liked rookie. After a few short flights in a Berkut, he was given orders to escort two Backfires with the rest of the squadron. The mission was a go.

''Comrade Colonel, targets are in range.'',the voice of Backfire pilot confirmed.
''You are authorized to fire, Major!'', Colonel replied.
Soon after, four cruise missiles rained down on the Polish military airbase near Cracow. Despite the range of the missiles, Nikolai could still see the destruction from afar. The mission was a success. After they returned to their base in Brest-Litovsk, everyone were thrilled about the news of great victories in the initial phase of the war. Comrades in the Russian Army were storming the whole Eastern Europe. VVS support was of great importance, the moral was high.
Months passed. At fist he was sent to do some of the most dangerous missions. Some of them included facing ECA fighters that managed to escape the destruction of most of European air assets on the ground. Russians didn't want anyone to comprise their undisputed airdominance. Nikolai was well know by now. His seniors were satisfied. They didn't started to like him any more than any other pilot, but at least he wasn't looked upon with distrust and sometimes even with disgust. His colleges started to respect him . Many of them had flown together in the last few months. Having shot down dozens of Tigers and few Harriers in such a short time meant a lot to his reputation.

2048
Three years have passed. Major Nikolai Shoigu is one of the best pilots in VVS.
In three years he has piloted Berkuts, now-retired Frogfoots, new Sokols, Backfires and even a Blackjack. He was awarded four times, including a medal for managing to escape unharmed, after being shot down by a Wotan over Netherlands, while still under control of the ECA forces, something that was considered impossible, due to the number of hidden bulldog turrets and other types of defenses used by the dug-in Dutch General van der Meer.

It was a regular day in the base, when someone turned on Channel One.
''US President William Bradford was authorized by the Congress to use military
force against the Russian Federation, citing America's geo-political responsibilities
and Russian warcrimes as his justification to support the ECA. The United States of America declares war on Russia. War is officially declared World War III.''
Initial silence soon gave way to loud shock. Some were afraid what might follow, since both countries still had thousands of ICBMs, some were confused and shocked, especially after years of US isolation, and some were even happy and eager to settle old scores with their long-time rival.
Nikolai, on the other hand, knew that itwould be a real mess. The skys will be filled with Rapors and Stealth Bombers, and the land will be swarmed by thousands of drones, which won't be easy targets for Russian aviation, due to their size and stealth capabilities. Will the Military be able to counter this new threat, he was to find out very soon.

It is my third, unplanned, night shift, because I'm doing a favor to a college, so forgive me if there's too much typos. :-)

This post has been edited by 3rdShockArmy: 3 May 2015, 10:14

[3rdShockArmy]

Story of Major Nikolai Shoigu
PART XVI

Nikolai and Stechin were waiting in front of Alexeiev's office. The enraged Alexeiev was trying to file a report for the Head of the Hanover Command GRU Department, which he referred to only as "Volk" ("Wolf" in English).
Alexeiev's frenzy was occasionally interrupted only by the sound of braking and him running amok. Even his favourite cup fell to his rage.
Precisely this situation was something both Nikolai and Stechin were hoping to avoid. Still, the rules were to followed.
Stechin knocked the office-turned-warzone door reluctantly.
"Whaaat!?", Alexeiev blistered on the other side.
Stechin's mimics pointed out it was Nikolai's turn.
"Um, Sir, Major Shoigu and Major Stechin reporting.", Nikolai tried to act as if nothing happened.
Alexeiev immediately realized Nikolai's intention, which only enraged him even more, although anything else would have derailed him in that particular moment, nonetheless.
"Don't try to play it dumb on me! Get the fuck in!", GRU Colonel responded angrily.
"Close the damn door!", he continued when Stechin walked in right after Nikolai.
Paranoid Alexeiev walking aimlessly reminded them of days in Dortmund, when the then Colonel was always furious, making both of them feel like they were always doing something wrong. And just when they thought all that was behind them, it was there, again.
"I had it! Right there, in my hands! And I let it slip! We all let it slip!", Alexeiev went completely berserk now, throwing anything he'd lay his hands on.
Stechin knew it was his turn again: "Calm down, Colonel. What's the point of all this now?"
"Don't tell me to fucking calm down! Tomorrow is the deadline for the final report of our investigation! Ah, shit! Ok, tell me what did you find out.", Alexeiev was still raging, but soon started putting himself together.
Nikolai: "We searched the area the best we could. It's a warzone out there, Alexeiev. It isn't easy to have a forensic investigation in the middle of a frontline. We scanned the sight for days. We had an inquiry with hundreds of our guys. Even Colonel Pogosyan was interviewed. And all that, while trying to maintain the secrecy of the entire "Anvil" operation. We are not 100 % sure, but we think it was either one of the Felins who took the shot, or someone else, possibly a lone sniper from a far safe position. Anyway, it wasn't anyone on our side."
Alexeiev: "I know that, but those fuckin' pencil pushers from Hanover Department will demand much more than what we think. Ah, crap! What's done is done. The deadline is tomorrow. Give me the documentation. I'll file the report and try to make it look as good as possible."
Stechin: "Here you go, Sir. It's all there. Nikolai took the liberty of listing all the names in alphabetical order, so you wouldn't need to do it."
Alexeiev : "Ok. Good. That would be all."
Nikolai and Stechin stood up, saluted and were about to leave when Alexeiev stopped them: "Wait! Look, guys, we all had our share of this bullshit and I just want you to know I appreciate your efforts. It wasn't easy to handle it all."
Nikolai: "Thank you, Alexeiev."
Stechin nodded.
"Alright, don't get all sentimental on me, now! Get out of my sight.", Alexeiev smiled mildly to show he wasn't serious about that last line.
Both Majors felt relief. They expected it to be far worse, but it turned out better than they anticipated.
They soon got back to their regular duties.
During lunchtime, everyone saw the reports of various Russian news agencies about the "cowardly act of Europeans , when they fired on a squad of Conscripts, after announcing their surrender and than set off an anti-tank mine, which resulted in even more deaths of our comrades".


Captain Pedro Gutierrez was checking his Harriers' cockpit, while listening to the news cast: "... while trying to brake through the encirclement, our brave soldiers were slaughtered by the barbarous Russian killers, contrary to all the laws and civilized traditions of warfare established more than a century ago in Geneva. According to our trusted sources, the remaining Felins were summarily executed, despite some of them surrendering to the enemy. If there is any consolation in it, we would like to note that one of our brave men managed to set off an explosive device and kill an entire squad of Russians, thus bravely giving his life for our noble cause. In other news..."
"I can't listen to this propaganda bullshit!", Captain Gutierrez promptly switched the channel.
"Since when do you hate our own 'propaganda', Gutierrez?", Captain Johan Schmitt asked cynicaly, but also curiously at the same time.
"Ah, Schmitt. I figured you'd say something along those lines. Anyway, what can I do for you?", Pedro responded
Schmitt: "You haven't answered my question, Gutierrez."
Pedro: "Ok. Do you seriously believe anything fabricated by war propaganda? I'm pretty sure the Russians have their own 'heroic' version of recent events."
Schmitt: "I see. Is there a reason for us to doubt your resolve? Do you still believe in our cause?"
Pedro: "For 'us'? Since when do you refer to yourself as 'us'? Do not ever try to question my resolve again, Johan! Have I made myself clear!?"
"We have a briefing in 5. See to it that you be there. And this time, don't be late!", Schmitt answered while still smiling cynicaly.
Gutierrez ignored the last line.
Schmitt soon left.
The Spanish pilot, who had the reputation of questioning everything, had a profound rivalry with the by-the-book German pilot. Schmitt was an experienced pilot who was one of the few left from the old Luftwaffe. Having lost many of his friends and fellow pilots, the once unusually joyful German became grumpy and bitter, with a particulary cynical life perspective.


A few more weeks passed since the "Anvil" operation. The prospects of Russia retaining the region were increasingly grim. And it didn't went unnoticed by Suvorov2 personnel. The air was heavy. An unusual discomfort was felt in every corner of the airbase.
Nikolai and Stechin were heading to Alexeiev's office.
"Come in.", Alexeiev responded after he heard the knocking.
"Sit down.", he said and than continued: "So, we have no time to waste. I have some news. Whether they're good or bad, that's entirely your perspective."
"You're getting a promotion?", Stechin tried to be sarcastic.
Alexeiev: "Yeah, very funny. Now listen carefully. This is serious."
"Ok, ok. Sorry. Carry on.", Stechin tried to look interested.
Alexeiev: "Suvorov2 is closing down. The Command made a decision. An all-out strategic retreat. We can't hold so much territory with the current forces."
Nikolai: "Damn, I expected it to happen sooner or later, but just not that soon."
Alexeiev: "We'll have one more mission before the retreat. There's a Deployment Zone established a few klicks southwest of Luxembourg. We need to take it out. Otherwise, they'll jeopardize our retreat. We need to do this right. When all this shit reaches Berlin, we'll need everything and everyone we can get. Also, the damn Euros and Yanks should know we're not running away. They should realize we'll come back sooner or later."
Stechin: "When do we leave?"
Alexeiev: "Tomorrow. We'll have a briefing tonight. Be here in 7 pm. That would be all."


"Captain Gutierrez! You're late! Again.", Schmitt reprimanded Pedro in front of others.
"I don't see the Colonel. It seems you came too early, Schmitt.", Pedro responded, which caused laughter and giggling among others.
Schmitt tried to argue, when a tall, red-haired man in his forties entered the briefing room. Colonel Patrick O'Brian was the commanding officer of the newly established "William the Conqueror" Airbase/Deployment Zone. It was one of the first continental airbases established after the war started. After the Russians evacuated from France and parts of western Germany, the ECA High Command felt secure enough to allow the establishment of new airbases outside of safe areas in Iberian Peninsula and British Isles.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen! As you all know, we have implications that the Russians are starting a big defensive operation, which leads us to only one conclusion. They're retreating.", Colonel O'Brian started the briefing, but was soon interrupted by the hot-headed war-hawks.
"We should smash them! We should wait no longer! It's now or never! God knows when we'll get an opportunity like this!", one of them shouted.
"With all due respect to my older and more experienced colleagues, do I have to remind you of your rank? So, please keep your voice down. Thank you.", the Irish Colonel was determined.
The Colonel than proceeded with the briefing: "As I said, the Russians are not running away like rabbits, although we would all like to see it happen. This is a major and well-organized operation and we should not take it lightly. When they get to Berlin, most of Germany will be liberated, but Berlin will be so fortified, that we'll need months, maybe even more to brake through, and that's without counting any new weapons and supplies they'll get from Russia. We will definitely try to take advantage of this retreat and hit them where it hurts the most, but don't expect miracles to happen anytime soon. I've uploaded the data. It will be available as soon as this briefing is over. That would be all, gentlemen. You will be duly noted when the next meeting will take place."
Colonel O'Brian left the office, while the remaining officers started a heated debate over what would be a better decision.


It was almost 7 pm. Nikolai and Stechin headed for Alexeievs' office. After getting in, Alexeiev offered them tea.
He than got straight to the point: "This operation will be very dangerous. In fact, we wouldn't be doing this, if we didn't have an asset in this new Euro airbase."
Nikolai: "Are you serious? An asset? Can we trust him? How could you possibly know he won't betray us?"
"Don't worry. He's reliable enough.", Alexeiev reassured them.
"What do you mean by that!? 'Reliable enough' will get us killed. We need to be 100 % sure!", Stechin was also astonished.
"But we are. I assure you. We got it covered.", Alexeiev insisted and than continued: "Now let me finish. He will disable any stealth-detectors in the area, we get in, bomb the shit out of them and go back. Then, we all go to Berlin. Everyone live happily ever after. Except for the Euros, of course. Simple as that."
The Majors didn't feel any better. Alexeiev made it all look like if it was a walk in the park, but both Nikolai and Stechin knew the reality was way different.


NOTE: I'm proud to announce that I've got an editor for the story. The member z741 has generously offered his help in making the story better. Starting with this part, proper credits will be given for his contribution.

This post has been edited by 3rdShockArmy: 30 May 2016, 15:42