It wasn't just the Chechen campaign this time—just over a month later, it would be September 11, 2001. The world-shocking 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States—Mavi didn't know if they would still happen.
But if they did, the global counterterrorism landscape would be shaken instantly! At that time, his mercenary group would likely receive numerous counterterrorism contracts and requests. After all, Blackwater Security had rapidly grown thanks to the aftermath of 9/11…
After ending his call with the Alpha Special Forces officer, two weeks passed quickly.
During this time, Mavi had been closely monitoring the latest developments in the Chechen guerrilla war. Compared to the large-scale battles of the previous four months, the guerrilla warfare in Chechnya was proving to be brutal. The daily casualty reports were enough to make anyone uneasy.
This was largely due to the initial victory, which had led to an overly optimistic view of the ongoing battle, resulting in significant complacency within the military.
As for the Alpha Special Forces participating in the operation, they seemed to struggle against the Chechen militants' guerrilla tactics. After all, their counterterrorism training was designed for peacetime scenarios, not for an environment where they were surrounded by enemies on all sides. (Even the well-equipped U.S. military has struggled against guerrilla warfare.)
The only silver lining was that Mavi's elite mercenary group of 625 soldiers had not yet been deployed to the front lines. They were still in the rear, on standby, familiarizing themselves with the terrain and battle conditions. As a result, they had suffered almost no losses.
The heaviest casualties were among the Russian Army soldiers and some lower-ranking members of the Alpha Special Forces.
"Ivan, get me in touch with Defense Minister General Grilov immediately. I need to discuss something with him!"
Blindly waiting was never Mavi's style. Judging by the casualty rate, it wouldn't be long before his 625-man mercenary group got caught up in the carnage.
This group was made up of the best of the best—highly valuable and crucial to him! Each soldier had required a significant investment of time, effort, and money (at least $250,000 per person). He couldn't allow incompetent commanders to throw their lives away on the battlefield. That would be an unforgivable loss!
"Young Master, the call is connected. Minister Grilov is on the line," Ivan, his butler, said while covering the receiver.
Mavi immediately took the phone and addressed the Russian Defense Minister. "Minister Grilov, this is Mavi. I've reviewed the casualty numbers from this week's Chechen guerrilla battles and noticed…"
On the other end of the line, Defense Minister General Grilov was equally troubled by the situation. The number of casualties in just one week was comparable to three weeks of conventional warfare!
The real issue was that the Chechen guerrilla war wouldn't be resolved in just four months. Based on the resistance of the insurgents, small-scale battles were expected to continue for at least three to five more years. The psychological toll on the soldiers was nothing short of nightmarish…
"Mr. Mavi, do you have any effective countermeasures against the guerrilla tactics used by the Chechen insurgents?" General Grilov asked directly. He hoped Mavi could once again provide a highly effective tactical solution, just as he had done four months ago.
They needed to prevent the weekly casualty reports from looking too grim—especially since many people were closely watching, including the highest authority in Russia, President PuXX.
"I do have a strategy, but Minister Grilov, I'll need your help arranging for my deployment to Chechnya," Mavi stated bluntly over the phone. He required official authorization to head to the Chechen command center and oversee operations personally.
After all, he had 625 elite soldiers stationed there. He couldn't just send them into the fight and ignore their fate—that would be heartless. If he handled things that way, no one would be willing to fight for him in the future, and his mercenary group would never grow.
"Understood, Mr. Mavi. If you can improve the situation, everything else can be arranged!" General Grilov assured him.
Three days later, Mavi received official approval from the Ministry of Defense, granting him the authority to oversee and advise operations. The hope was that he could help reduce the heavy losses suffered by Russian troops in Chechnya.
Once he received the official confirmation, Mavi immediately organized his forces and headed to the rear command center near the front lines. Given his current status, the security precautions for his journey were extensive. A convoy of armored vehicles, along with his mercenary troops and Russian military escorts, ensured a safe passage. The absence of any threats along the way brought a collective sigh of relief.
Unlike his subordinates, who were tense, Mavi found the situation tolerable. After all, when the war had first broken out, President PuXX had personally visited the front lines to inspect the battle. His bravery had greatly boosted the morale of Russian troops.
Now, Mavi was doing something similar—traveling directly to the battlefield to use his experience to turn the tide of war. This would solidify the loyalty of the 1,500 mercenaries under his command.
Reflecting on his recent schedule, Mavi realized how hectic it had been. First, he took a private jet to a Russian border city. From there, he boarded a military helicopter to the Chechen border. Finally, he transferred to an awaiting convoy of armored vehicles, enduring a bumpy ride to the heavily fortified special operations command center.
Gazing out the window, Mavi observed the solemn expressions of the soldiers and listened to the occasional sounds of gunfire and explosions in the distance. At that moment, he truly grasped the reality of war—it was no longer a distant event but something happening right in front of him.
"Mr. Mavi, thank you for making the long journey to the battlefield on such short notice! The current situation for the Russian forces is dire. Please, come inside—we can discuss everything as we walk."
Army General Beville, along with Alpha Special Forces Commander Nikoyevich, personally welcomed Mavi upon his arrival.
Compared to the generals and officers he had met in Moscow, these men had a different air about them. Mavi wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but there was an unmistakable aura of grim determination in their demeanor.
"General Beville, Commander Nikoyevich—it's a pleasure to meet you," Mavi said, shaking their hands briefly before following them into the command center.
The special operations command center in wartime was far more chaotic than in peacetime. Documents were piled everywhere, intelligence officers worked frantically, and the large electronic screens displayed red markers indicating active combat zones.
Once again, Mavi felt the intense urgency and pressure that war brought.
(End of Chapter)