The words had barely left his mouth when artillery shells screamed overhead and slammed into the Asphalt Plant, instantly turning the eastern sector into a sea of fire.
The massive detonations of the heavy-caliber shells sent distinct tremors rolling through the ground even 3.5 kilometers away, accompanied by a deafening roar.
Explosion was an art, caliber was truth, and the spectacle of a saturation bombardment was truly magnificent.
After watching for a moment, Chen Ge heard the dense roar of approaching engines and led Big Bear and the other three outside.
A convoy rolled down the cratered asphalt road. At the head were four T-72B3 tanks, four BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles, and two BTR-80 armored personnel carriers, followed by fifteen Ural-4320 trucks. Every single vehicle was caked in mud, so filthy that their original paint was completely obscured.
Once the convoy halted, 320 mercenaries swiftly dismounted to unload the ammunition, after which the trucks turned around and drove off.
Over the past few days, Hailstone had taken the veteran fighters around the various detachments in Bakhmut to handpick elite combat veterans for the Falcon Special Assault Battalion. In just a few days, their strength had expanded to 320 men, and their weaponry had received a massive upgrade—they even had tanks assigned to them now.
Their individual weapons had also undergone a complete overhaul, all upgraded to the Russian military's top-tier active-service gear.
Every man carried an AK-12 rifle with an underslung GP-30 grenade launcher, its Picatinny rail fitted with a holographic sight paired with a magnifier.
The squad machine guns were primarily PKMs, while elite fireteams were equipped with PKPs. For suppressive fire, they had AGS-30 automatic grenade launchers. For rocket launchers, they had the all-purpose RPG-7 for urban warfare, RShG-2s and Bumblebee-M thermobarics for clearing fortifications, RPG-29s and RPG-30s for breaching defenses and hunting tanks, along with disposable single-use rocket tubes like the RPG-26 and RPG-27 to bolster squad firepower.
The battalion was structured into five companies. Company One consisted of 17 veterans and 34 new recruits, split into two assault teams, a fire support team, a machine gun team, and a reconnaissance team.
Assault Team One was still led by Rock, Team Two by Hacksaw, the machine gun team by Volcano, and the reconnaissance team by Night Hawk.
Dressed in the cold-weather padded uniform Chen Ge had given him and with an AK-12 slung across his chest, Trench nodded at Chen Ge, waved, and called out, "Company commanders and team leaders, gather up for a briefing!"
A group clustered inside a corrugated sheet-metal shed that had not yet completely collapsed. Squatting in a circle, they watched as Trench began laying out their mission.
A map of the industrial plant was spread open on the ground. The Main Mixing Tower on the east side of the Asphalt Plant had been circled heavily in red, surrounded by markings indicating silos, hoppers, and the entrances to underground utility trenches.
The men stared at the map with grim faces and taut nerves.
Pressing his finger against the red circle, Trench said in a deep voice, "The objective is the Main Mixing Tower on the east side of the Asphalt Plant. The entire high ground in this area is anchored to that structure. The Ukrainian military has established multi-tiered fire points utilizing the floors, external platforms, and surrounding workshops. Below, a network of utility trenches connects to the rest of the complex, making it extremely easy for them to conceal troops and shift reinforcements along our flanks.
"Our Falcon Battalion will spearhead the assault from the eastern front. Taking the mixing tower is the equivalent of severing the core defense of the entire eastern suburban industrial zone."
After this brief overview, he began assigning operational sectors to each company.
"Company Two takes the point. The moment the artillery barrage shifts forward, push in immediately to clear the defensive fire positions around the mixing tower's outer workshops and cold aggregate bins. Seal off every entrance and exit on the ground floor to prevent the enemy from retreating into the underground utility trenches. Remember: do not charge blindly into the tunnels. Secure the ground positions first.
"Company Three will split into two prongs. One element will advance through the ruins on the left flank to seize the mineral powder silos beside the mixing tower, suppressing enemy firing positions on the upper floors. The other element will hold the corridor on the right side of the building, severing the defenders inside from any link-up forces coming from the Champagne Winery to the south. If you run into a counterattack, dig in behind whatever walls remain and call in fire support from the armored company.
"Company Four will serve as our primary breaching force, advancing directly behind Company Two. Once the perimeter is cleared, split into squads to clear the mixing tower floor by floor. The structure has intersecting multi-level platforms; blind corners and machine gaps are everywhere, making them prime ambush points. Once a floor is taken, immediately leave men behind to set up a defense to stop the enemy from looping back up the stairwells in a counterattack.
"Company One will act as the mobile reserve, ready to reinforce any sector as needed!"
Having distributed the tasks, Trench swept his gaze across the assembled leaders and added key instructions.
"Once the general artillery saturation ends, our Pions will carry out two targeted barrages against the upper levels and the roof platform. Wait until that barrage concludes before launching the assault. Do not rush ahead of schedule. All units must maintain constant radio communication. Report any heavy fire or concentrated counterattacks immediately.
"Watch your footing in the mud. Keep a sharp eye on the utility trench entrances; the enemy is very likely to crawl out from underground to ambush us. Everyone put on your tactical goggles—there's going to be heavy dust and flying shrapnel everywhere. We have only one objective: gain complete control of the Main Mixing Tower and hold the high ground to the death."
After a few final reminders, Trench rolled up the map and checked his watch.
It was 1:25 p.m.
"All companies, fall in. The barrage starts at 1:40 p.m. Move out on time."
Without a word, the men stood up and left to muster their mercenaries, brief them on the mission details, and conduct their pre-battle mobilization.
In the Falcon Special Assault Battalion, company commanders were not called company commanders—they were called captains. Trench had been promoted, and everyone now addressed him as Commander, or simply by his callsign.
The commander of Company Two was Ice Man; Company Three was led by Drill Bit; Company Four was headed by Yuri, a retired GRU lieutenant; and the armored company was led by Gear, a retired captain from the Russian 1st Guards Tank Army. The Falcon Battalion was not yet at full strength. Once fully organized, the armored company would field twelve tanks and fourteen armored combat vehicles.
Everything depended on how the Falcon Special Assault Battalion performed here. If they acquitted themselves well, they might even expand into a full detachment—a reinforced brigade-sized special assault force.
Beside the ammunition piles, dozens of men from Company One methodically checked their weapons and gear, stuffing extra rounds into their backpacks and tactical vests.
Hailstone scooped up three RGD grenades from a crate, tucked them into the utility pouch of his tactical vest, and turned to Rock. "Rock, you take charge of Company One. Your primary task is supporting Ice Man."
"Understood!"
Hailstone then looked over at Chen Ge, who was engrossed in adjusting a custom telescoping grapple hook attached to an M224A1 60mm mortar tube.
"Sledgehammer, need me to assign a few extra men to carry rounds for you?"
Chen Ge looked up and gave the one-meter-long, 6.5-kilogram tube a couple of swings like a staff.
The WA126 60mm mortar tube that had accompanied him for over eight months had been buried inside the Khrushchyovka on the Klishchiivka Heights. He had asked Hailstone to scavenge this short, lightweight replacement tube for him instead.
"No need. The ammo Big Bear and the guys are hauling is plenty."
Hailstone nodded, giving him an earnest warning. "Fire three rounds from one spot at most, then relocate immediately. Attacking this industrial zone isn't like a night raid on the Klishchiivka Heights. Even though our artillery knocked out their heavy battery positions, if you stand out too much and catch the Ukrainian military's attention, they'll chase you with drones and mortars until you're blown to bits. Got it?"
Chen Ge pulled a straight face and replied solemnly, "Loud and clear. If I don't have to shoot, I won't. I'll just hide behind the boys and slack off in the confusion."
Hailstone rolled his eyes and swung a boot at him, but Chen Ge deftly dodged it.
Grabbing a cardboard ammo box, Hailstone flung it at Chen Ge and scolded with a laugh, "You bastard, did I say that's what I meant? If you dare slack off, I'll dock your pay and your bonus!"
Hailstone knew Chen Ge inside out; that threat hit right at his weak spot.
Every veteran in the Falcon Hunting Team knew that Chen Ge was an unrepentant money-grubber who cared only about making cash. Back in Syria, to earn a larger bounty, he had dared to shoulder a mortar tube solo and creep right up to an IS stronghold to blast the terrorist vehicles.
Because vehicle kills paid the best bonuses!
Hearing that his money was on the line, Chen Ge flared up instantly, roaring with fierce bravado, "Charge! I'm going to charge full throttle!
"Nobody try to stop me! Today I'm taking the fight straight to the Ukrainians! Ura!"
Chapter 41