452: Chapter Four Hundred and Forty-Nine: Wow, A Hero!
452: Chapter Four Hundred and Forty-Nine: Wow, A Hero!
Thanks to his experience in Africa, Gao Yang was as familiar with using a bow and arrow as one could get.
However, the bows and arrows he had used were all small, with limited power and accuracy.
His method involved ambushing or quietly approaching his prey before shooting at close range.
Thus, Gao Yang had no problem with archery, but he couldn’t guarantee his accuracy over long distances.
For reconnaissance, a long shooting range wasn’t necessary.
Quietly closing in was the key, so Gao Yang had Ivan buy him a recreational recurve bow, along with several dozen target arrows.
Generally speaking, recurve bows are more accurate than compound bows.
In modern archery competitions, recurve bows are predominantly used.
Since it would be used at close range, Gao Yang wanted an entry-level precision recurve bow with only thirty pounds of draw weight.
He opted out of any accessories, keeping just the bare bow.
Lucica could use a blowgun for recon, but in Bogota, it was harder to buy a blowgun than a recurve bow.
It was not easy to find a ready-made blowgun, and only when dusk was approaching did Ivan manage to buy a wooden blowgun and a dozen darts from an indigenous local.
The hotel where Gao Yang and his team were staying was in the bustling center of Bogota, which meant they definitely couldn’t start their mission in broad daylight, directly from the hotel.
As the sky started to dim, the car fleet arranged by Ivan picked them up from the hotel and took them to a manor in the suburbs.
In one of the rooms, there were four fully armed individuals.
Two of them were bodyguards who had been following Ivan, whom Gao Yang had seen several times already, although Ivan had never introduced them to Gao Yang.
However, the other two were strangers to Gao Yang.
All four of Ivan’s men wore black combat suits, each carrying an AK74.
Their helmets were equipped with large night-vision goggles, distinctively featuring two independent lenses.
Besides being all armed with AK74s, they each had an additional gun fitted with a silencer.
Not knowing each other well was fine for usual interactions, but it was a different story when they were about to fight side by side.
Not being able to call each other by name was unacceptable.
Ivan pointed to a bodyguard who was always at his side and said, “Ram, let me introduce you.
Antonov, from the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ special forces.
You can call him Shield.”
“Sergei, you can call him Barrel.
He is from the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ special forces, just like Antonov, though they are from different units.”
“Samuel, you can call him Hammer.
He comes from the Alpha Forces.
You’re probably familiar with that unit.”
“Brejinsky, you can call him Bear.
He’s from the GRU Troops of the General Staff’s Main Intelligence Directorate, airborne soldiers.”
Ivan introduced his four subordinates one by one, and each of them indeed had an extraordinary background, all coming from special forces units.
The composition of Russian special forces units is quite complex, essentially belonging to three categories.
The first is the FSB Special Forces, which were originally part of the KGB special forces and include famous units like Alpha, Signal Flag, Barrier, and Beta, among others.
Alpha mainly operates within Russia, and Samuel used to be a member of Alpha.
The second is the GRU Special Forces, which consist of special operations brigades from the army and navy.
Additionally, there are the special forces brigades from the independent airborne troops, which fall under this category.
These forces conduct operations similar to the special forces brigades of Huaxia’s military regions, or the United States’ Green Berets.
The GRU Special Forces carry an aura of mystery, even more so than Alpha and Signal Flag, due to their rare public appearances, and Brejinsky was from such a unit.
The third is the MVD Special Forces, which resemble the armed police special forces in Huaxia.
Their tasks are quite diverse, and a critical one is taking charge of the security for high-ranking officials.
The personal bodyguards for high officials are also selected from these units.
Both Antonov and Sergei hail from this kind of force.
Antonov wasn’t very tall, around 1.8 meters or so, but he was robust.
At about forty years old, when standing beside Ivan, he just looked like an ordinary middle-aged man – neither formidable nor conspicuous, easily blending into a crowd.
Sergei was similarly nondescript, albeit slightly taller than Antonov.
It became clear to Gao Yang why Ivan always had Antonov and Sergei by his side; they certainly used to take on important security roles.
The personal capabilities of a bodyguard must be exceptional, but what’s more crucial is that they are prepared to step in front of their protectee and take a bullet when danger arises.
Therefore, Ivan’s appointment of Antonov and Sergei as bodyguards was also quite fitting to their expertise.
As for the likes of Samuel, who hailed from the Alpha Forces, and Brejinsky, who came from the GRU Special Forces, they definitely wouldn’t have any problems conducting offensive operations.
However, when it came to personal bodyguard duties, that was a different story.
After Ivan introduced everyone else, Gao Yang also had to introduce all the members of the Satan Mercenary Corps.
When it was Glolov’s turn, Glolov nodded toward Brejinsky and said, “You’re an Airborne Soldier, and your original unit was under the GRU, right?
Did you come from the 45th Independent Guards Airborne Brigade?”
Brejinsky’s eyes lit up as he replied, “Yes, exactly, I’m from the 45th Brigade.
Although when I served, the unit designation was the Independent 45th Reconnaissance Brigade.
In the year I retired, its number was changed back to the 45th Independent Guards Airborne Brigade.
So, you’re from the 45th Brigade too?”
Glolov smiled and said, “Correct, I’m from the Independent Airborne 218th Special Combat Battalion.
Ever since it was merged with the 901st Battalion to form the 45th Brigade, I’ve been a man of the 45th Brigade.”
Brejinsky’s respect was apparent; with a look of utter disbelief, he exclaimed, “You’re from the old 218th Battalion?
Then you must have participated in the Chechen War!
What was your rank?”
Meeting a comrade from the same unit put Glolov in a good mood.
He nodded with a smile and said, “That’s right, I took part.
I arrived in Chechnya on December 2nd, ’94, and returned to Moscow in ’95.
Then, right after that, I joined a mixed squadron and went back to Chechnya.
I spent some time in Grozny, then during the second Chechen War, I was back in Grozny in December ’99.
After Grozny was recaptured in February 2000, I quickly left the military.
Hmm, I retired with the rank of Warrant Officer in charge of a platoon.”
Brejinsky immediately stood to attention and saluted, then, looking up, said, “Sir, Sergeant Brejinsky from the second assault company of the Independent 45th Reconnaissance Brigade salutes you!”
Glolov returned Brejinsky’s salute with due solemnity, and then chuckled, “I’ve been out for many years now, and this is the first time I’ve met someone from the old brigade.
It’s really nice.”
Glolov was pleased, while Brejinsky’s face was filled with both unease and anticipation.
After Glolov finished speaking, Brejinsky cautiously inquired, “Sir, within the 45th Brigade, I believe there were only seven people who participated in the Chechen Wars twice as soldiers or junior officers.
Only one among them retired with the rank of platoon leader, and his name was Yuri Grolevsky Ivanov.
May I know if you are that person?”
After a moment of silence, Glolov finally nodded and said, “Yes, that person is me.
Um, how do you know about me?”
Brejinsky’s breathing quickened, and with adoring eyes, he said in awe, “My God, I’ve met a living legend.
Why do I know about you?
Because your photo and name are displayed on the 45th Brigade’s Wall of Honor.
For the sake of avenging the fallen comrades of the first Chechen War, you insisted on serving until the end of the second Chechen War before agreeing to retire.
You, being alive, received the title of Hero of the Russian Federation, were awarded the Order ‘For Merit to the Fatherland’ 1st class, and earned the Medal of Valor.
A legend like you, I could hardly not know you.
Sir, as a junior comrade, I hold utmost respect for your deeds.
However, I don’t understand why you did not advance to a senior officer rank, why were you so adamant about retiring?”
Listening to Brejinsky reel off the titles, Gao Yang and the others, who claimed to know Glolov very well, were astounded.
After Brejinsky posed his final question, they were more eager than Brejinsky to find out why.
If Glolov had risen to a senior officer, that would have been tens of thousands of times better than being a mercenary.
And even if he had retired, with those accolades alone, he should have been able to live off his achievements for a lifetime.
After another moment of silence, Glolov shook his head with a wry smile and said, “I really didn’t know I made it onto the 45th Brigade’s Wall of Honor.
As for why I insisted on retiring, it’s complicated.
If not for wanting to avenge my fallen brothers, I would have retired after the first Chechen War.
But having avenged them in the second war, I retired immediately.”
Gao couldn’t help interjecting, “F**k, you told us some big shot gave you a medal, and then you retired.
But you never said you were a Russian Hero.”
The contrast was stark between Glolov’s history and the honors he’d received and the first impression Gao had when he met Glolov – a free mercenary, one who would go into battle for just five hundred US dollars, the lowest level of cannon fodder mercenary.
Even though he had his friends’ reasons at the time, the contrast was simply too great.
Glolov just shrugged his shoulders and said, “This hero title isn’t something I’m proud of.
No, our assault team lost so many, everyone’s merit, yet in the end, I was the one who received the medals.
What’s there to be proud of?”
After speaking indifferently, Glolov waved his hand with a smile, “Alright, let’s not talk about the past anymore, we still have a job to do.
Let’s not waste time and get down to business.”
(The end of this excerpt.
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