Recognition

Who wouldn't want a sharpshooter at their side? For a squad leader, who could refuse having a sharpshooter under their command? When you possessed a real specialty, fitting into the group was just that simple. Sokholov made no effort to hide his warmth and favoritism, giving Gao Fei a sense of importance and satisfaction he had never felt before. Growing up, Gao Fei had never received treatment like this. He had never had the slightest connection to the word "genius." Yet now, Gao Fei realized he might truly be a natural with a rifle. Firing just two shots had made Sokholov admit he had misjudged him. That proved Gao Fei had pulled off something most veterans couldn't manage. If that wasn't talent, what was? Still, Gao Fei knew that even if he had talent, he wasn't a true sharpshooter yet. Raw gift was one thing; having talent only meant he had the potential to become a sharpshooter, not that he already was one. Sharpshooters were forged by burning through thousands of rounds, and Gao Fei still had plenty of practice ahead of him. So when he told Sokholov he didn't want to leave, he was speaking the honest truth. He didn't know what made a great commander, but Gao Fei felt Sokholov was a decent, honest man. Glaski, the machine gunner, didn't talk much, but he was a decent man as well. Then there was Samir. Up to this point, Samir had done everything a comrade could do—speaking up for him, helping him out of tight spots. Even though Gao Fei had never voiced much gratitude, he truly considered Samir a battle buddy. There were only four men at this position, and three of them were rare good sorts. Why would Gao Fei ever want to leave? If he officially registered his marksmanship as a specialty, he would likely be transferred elsewhere. Gao Fei would have to be an idiot to risk that just for an extra few hundred euros a month. So, after accepting the cigarette Sokholov offered without hesitation, Gao Fei let Sokholov light it for him with an equally clear conscience. Russian cigarettes tasted awful, and smoking two in a row stung his throat, but how could Gao Fei turn down recognition from a veteran and his squad leader? Conversations were so much easier over a smoke anyway. "Sir, how could you tell that drone in the sky was an artillery reconnaissance drone?" Gao Fei asked the question weighing on his mind. As a military enthusiast, it was something he couldn't simply overlook. Sokholov replied dismissively, "One look, and you just know." "How did you know? Why can you tell at a glance?" Sokholov was the classic type who knew the practical reality without knowing the underlying reason. Faced with Gao Fei's question, he began scratching his ears and cheek. "Why can I tell? Well... Glaski, how do you tell an artillery reconnaissance drone apart?" Sokholov promptly turned to his comrade for help. Glaski thought for a moment, then said, "Because in Ukraine's regular artillery units, reconnaissance drones are part of their operational system. They have a complete data-link network. Their artillery recon drones are fixed-wing models launched from catapult rails. Launching and recovering them is a massive hassle, and they look pretty obsolete now, but the data feeds straight into their computers to calculate impact points fast. So they won't replace those drones. When we see one of them, we know a bombardment is coming." Glaski hadn't answered directly, but Gao Fei understood. The Ukrainian artillery reconnaissance drones were relics of the previous era, but because they were integrated into the artillery fire-control system, they couldn't be swapped out—and wouldn't be. That made them easy to identify. Put into words, it sounded simple enough, but Sokholov's eye came from a veteran's hard-earned survival instincts. Gao Fei was his exact opposite: the textbook case of knowing the theory without the practical sense. Even if Gao Fei had watched that drone pass overhead, he never would have recognized it. "So that's how it works. You really are experienced, Sir." Gao Fei offered a sincere compliment, then, making sure everyone got their share, turned toward Glaski's position. "Glaski, you really know your stuff." Before calling Glaski by name, Gao Fei had hesitated briefly over how to address him. Calling him "brother" felt out of place, calling him "veteran" sounded awkward, and since Glaski wasn't his superior, "Sir" didn't fit either. In the end, just using his name was the best choice. Glaski took the compliment well. He let out a brief chuckle and said, "Learned it in the army." "Glaski went to university. He knows plenty. So, what unit did you serve in before?" Sokholov steered the topic right back to Gao Fei, asking a question Gao Fei couldn't easily answer. "I can only say army, infantry. Everything else is classified, Sir. Better not ask." Gao Fei could have invented a unit designation, but decided against it. Using secrecy as an excuse was the cleanest way to shut down Sokholov's curiosity. Sokholov looked a little disappointed, scratching his head. "Fair enough, I won't pry. You seem pretty unfamiliar with the AK-74, though. Curious about it too?" "Of course. I never used this rifle before, so naturally it feels strange and I'm curious. Sir, you've fired lots of different weapons, right? Could you tell me about the AK-74's quirks?" Gao Fei put on an attitude of humble eagerness, and Sokholov ate it right up—after all, he had truly served as a marksmanship instructor and a range safety officer in the past. "Haha, you definitely asked the right man! Back in the service, I was a shooting instructor. I've fired almost every light weapon in the world. Alright, let me tell you about the AK-74." Sokholov adopted the proud air of a mentor, declaring without hesitation, "The AK-74's biggest feature is its low recoil. Felt recoil is even lighter than an M4, and its accuracy in burst fire is much higher. But in our trenches, in places with this much dirt—especially when it rains—if your rear sight scrapes against mud, the notch gets packed solid. You won't be able to aim at all, and it's a nightmare to clean out. You have to watch out for that. Pay very close attention to it!" Details like that were things Gao Fei had never seen online; what Sokholov was sharing was real lifesaving knowledge. "I didn't know about that. I'll remember it and keep an eye out." Sokholov nodded with satisfaction and continued, "The muzzle devices across the entire AK family are loud as hell. If you shoot a 74 without hearing protection, you'll go deaf for a whole day. It's even worse if someone fires right next to you. So you'd better get some earplugs. If you don't have any, cramming toilet paper or whatever into your ears is better than nothing, just to save your hearing." Gao Fei marveled again. "That too? Good thing you told me. I need to find something to plug my ears." "I've got a pair of noise-canceling earplugs. I'll give them to you. Next is the fourth point: after firing corrosive ammo through an AK, you must clean it, or the internals will rust fast. Especially once it turns cold and condensation forms inside—it's completely normal for the bolt carrier to rust shut by the next morning. That can kill you." Gao Fei had never studied the AK-74 in detail because he'd never been particularly interested in it. In comparison, he knew much more about the AK-47, so every single tip Sokholov mentioned was completely new to him. "Any other pointers?" Sokholov said with immense satisfaction, "When maintaining your weapon in trenches or mud, never drop parts on the ground. Once a part or spring falls in the mud, it's brutal to wipe clean unless you've got a basin of clean water to wash it. So never let anything drop. And remember to keep the safety engaged. The AK-74's receiver isn't sealed well. If you leave the safety off and mud or water gets in, the trigger group really will freeze solid when the temperature drops. You don't have those problems in tropical climates, but here on the East European Plain, you have to watch out for them." Lesson learned. Gao Fei said earnestly, "Anything else?" "Nothing else in particular. Well, 5.45 doesn't pack enough punch against protected targets; it won't penetrate body armor. But that's not something caution can fix. If you see the enemy are all wearing armor plates, switch weapons. Can you handle a machine gun? I mean, do you know how to use a PKM?" "I know the theory, but I've never fired one." "Want me to grab it and let you try?" "Sure!" Sokholov was teaching with gusto, and Gao Fei readily agreed. But right then, Sokholov's walkie-talkie crackled with static. "Don't move!" Sokholov, who was just about to stand, froze. He barked in a rush, "Everyone stay in the dugouts! Don't move! Another bombardment! Fuck, does it never end today?!"