Gao Fei fiddled with the thermal optic for a short while before switching it off. The device used an odd, proprietary battery that had to be detached and charged with a dedicated charger. However, there was a USB port on the housing, meaning it could probably be powered by a power bank.
The optic was almost certainly civilian-grade; military thermal optics typically ran on standard batteries, such as 18650 or 17500 cells.
On the Ukrainian battlefield these days, repurposing commercial gear for combat had become widespread. Both sides made heavy use of civilian products, and as for their quality, it was a mixed bag, to put it mildly.
Still, having something was definitely better than having nothing.
Over the next stretch of time, they familiarized themselves with the scavenged gear and distributed it among their team.
Looking through the night-vision device made Gao Fei dizzy, so he put it aside for the moment. He also decided against swapping out his helmet; he felt that keeping him alive had made it his lucky charm, so there was no need to replace it, and he couldn't bring himself to part with it anyway.
They switched out all their walkie-talkies. Although the newly acquired models were all Motorolas—raising concerns about potential backdoors or wiretapping—the radios Sokholov and the others had been using possessed no encryption whatsoever in the first place. Every transmission had always been vulnerable to interception. Switching made zero difference in operational security, but the upgrade in anti-jamming performance was substantial, making the change an easy decision.
While it wasn't an astronomical upgrade, it was undeniably a step up.
Roughly an hour after the clash on Gao Fei's section wound down, at around one in the morning, fighting erupted along the Ukrainian positions as well.
The firefight grew quite fierce.
Once the shooting started, Gao Fei couldn't resist powering on the thermal optic to watch for a bit. The distance was too great; through the lens, he could only make out tiny red silhouettes scurrying back and forth, making accurate shooting impossible.
The thermal device had an effective range of no more than four hundred meters, and practically speaking, it was best kept to two or three hundred meters. In the dark of night, however, that was more than enough.
Judging by how the clash shifted along the line, Gao Fei could tell that the penal battalion had punched through the front line the Ukrainians had taken earlier that day.
Yet the assault began abruptly and ended just as swiftly. The engagement lasted a mere half-hour on a modest scale, evidently consisting of strikes against a few strongpoints before pulling back.
Then Sokholov's walkie-talkie crackled with static again. This time, Gao Fei also had a radio clipped to his gear, and his newly captured unit came through crisp and clear.
He could hear the voice on the other end distinctly, though he couldn't understand the words. Gao Fei did, however, catch a phrase he had learned just that day: fall back.
The transmission ended shortly after. Sokholov let out a breath. Knowing Gao Fei couldn't understand, he volunteered, "Alright, tonight's fighting is done."
"We're clear, then?"
"Yeah, we're clear."
Sokholov considered for a moment, then added, "We earned merits tonight. Once dawn breaks tomorrow, people will come to retrieve the bodies, log our claims, and calculate our bounties. For this fight, Rex, you get three. Samir, you get three as well. Glaski and I will take one each."
What did he mean by three and one? Gao Fei thought about it for a second. Sokholov was evidently dividing the bounty by kill count, awarding him and Samir three shares each.
Gao Fei felt inclined to decline the extra shares. Since they had agreed to split everything equally, they ought to keep it equal. Besides, none of them could have survived tonight without the others; there was no reason for some to take more while others took less.
Then Gao Fei realized that Samir was also slated to receive three shares. If he tried to be humble, it would put Samir in an awkward position, leaving Gao Fei unsure of how to speak up.
This time, however, Samir took the initiative to object. "No, no, sir. It should be split equally."
Sokholov shook his head, and Glaski chimed in from the side, "If it weren't for you tonight, we'd all be dead, so you get top credit. And if it weren't for Rex, we'd still be dead—spotting the enemy wouldn't have helped if no one shot them. That's why he gets just as much as you."
Sokholov said in a low, firm voice, "Yes, our loot and bounties should normally be split evenly. But under circumstances like tonight, an extra share has to go to the two of you. That's our rule. Say no more; that's how we'll divide it tomorrow."
Samir and Gao Fei exchanged a look, and both nodded in agreement.
Sokholov and Glaski glanced at each other as well, before Sokholov said, "What happened tonight has never occurred before. I mean, no position has ever had the enemy crawl right under their noses without casualties. In fact, whenever the enemy gets that close and drops into the trench, everyone gets wiped out."
Glaski added heavily, "Yeah. That was my first time getting hit by a night raid."
Gao Fei asked in mild surprise, "You've never faced a night raid before?"
"Never one that close. Anyone who lets the enemy get that close ends up dead. You either spot them from a distance and call down artillery to beat them back, or they finish you off."
After finishing his thought, Sokholov added bitterly, "Those bastards next door let them slip right through without spotting a damn thing. They have night-vision devices, and we're only fifty meters away from them. It definitely wasn't an issue with equipment performance."
Glaski snarled, "They fell asleep, guaranteed. The sentry had to have fallen asleep."
The neighboring trench had dropped the ball, but what could they do about it?
Before Gao Fei could say a word, Sokholov abruptly declared, "The platoon leader didn't give an explanation. No, I'm asking him again."
With that, Sokholov seized his walkie-talkie and barked into it without hesitation, "Squad leader, why didn't Team 1 spot the enemy approaching? Why didn't the drones spot them either? You still haven't given me an explanation."
After a brief pause, a weary voice replied over the radio, "There's no explanation to give. How are you holding up? Any casualties?"
"What do you mean 'no explanation'? Did Team 1 get wiped out?"
"Sokholov, shut your filthy mouth!"
A different voice cut in over the channel—not the squad leader from before, but likely someone from Team 1 next door.
"Suka blyat, just you wait."
Sokholov pocketed the walkie-talkie and barked, "Let's go!"
Glaski set down his machine gun, scooped up his rifle, and strode over aggressively.
Gao Fei looked on in bewilderment. "What are you doing?"
"The squad leader won't give an explanation, and the platoon leader and company commander aren't saying a damn word. Fine, then we go demand an explanation from Team 1 ourselves. Fuck."
They were going to fight?
Yes, they were literally marching over for a brawl.
Abandoning their trench in the dead of night to hike over to the neighboring position to demand an explanation—which was just an excuse for a fistfight?
Are you kidding me? Isn't this insane?
Questions flared wildly through Gao Fei's mind, but he didn't utter a sound. He simply slung the thermal-equipped rifle over his shoulder, turned on his heel, and fell in behind Sokholov.
Right now, even if Sokholov said they were marching off to tear a hole in the sky, Gao Fei would follow him.
Samir stepped aside to let the furious Sokholov and Glaski pass, then fell into line ahead of Gao Fei.
The illumination flares had burned out by now, but Sokholov flicked on a flashlight.
Risking their lives just to blow off steam—Gao Fei never expected Sokholov, a veteran who had survived countless battles, to possess such an explosive temper.
Sokholov picked up the walkie-talkie once more and broadcast openly, "Listen up, everyone. I'm heading to Team 1's position. I want an explanation. Nevin, take a potshot in the dark if you've got the balls."
He gave fair warning beforehand; otherwise, if Team 1 opened fire with a burst, it wouldn't be a fistfight—it would turn into a bloodbath.
Gao Fei didn't draw his weapon, but Samir spoke up in a voice loud enough for Sokholov and Glaski to hear, "Rex, don't throw any punches when we get there. Just stand by with your rifle and keep watch. If they dare draw a gun, shoot immediately. If they don't draw weapons, just watch us fight."
"Huh? I don't get to fight? No way."
Gao Fei tried to object, but Sokholov also muttered in a low voice, "He's right. Keep watch with your rifle. Don't aim it right away when we arrive, but you have to keep them from pulling guns."
"Fine..."
How could anyone pass up a brawl? Yet knowing he truly bore the critical duty of armed deterrence, Gao Fei had no choice but to suppress his eagerness to jump into the fray.
Frantic calls crackled over the radio in rapid succession, followed by shouting and reprimands.
Sokholov paid them no mind, and fifty meters passed in no time.
Gao Fei could already see someone—a middle-aged soldier dressed in the same gear as them, pointing at Sokholov and shouting, "What the hell do you want!"
Sokholov trained the blinding beam of his flashlight right into the soldier's face, roaring, "What do I want? You sons of bitches *beep*, I'll *beep* your *beep beep beep*..."
A torrent of obscenities erupted from his mouth, too filthy to bear.
While Sokholov pinned the shouting sentry in the flashlight's glare, Glaski suddenly lunged forward from behind him, squeezing past Sokholov's side.
"I'll *beep beep beep beep beep beep*..."
Pushing past, Glaski threw a direct punch aimed straight at the man's chin. The soldier jerked his head aside to dodge and landed a counterpunch square on Glaski's cheek.
At that moment, Sokholov closed the gap and swung his heavy flashlight. With a solid crack, the sentry was knocked sideways against the dirt wall.
Glaski capitalized immediately, raining down two heavy blows right onto the man's nose.
It was hardly honorable, but that was how brawls went.
"Fuck!"
"Suka blyat!"
Another soldier delivered a flying kick that slammed into Sokholov, knocking him backward.
The trench was too narrow to dodge; all they could do was trade blows in close quarters.
Samir reached out and shoved Sokholov to keep him from falling flat, then charged forward and kicked the soldier just as he landed on one foot, sending the man sprawling onto the ground.
With a wild shout, Samir straddled the man's chest and began pounding his face. Although pinned, his opponent hadn't given up, flailing wildly and throwing erratic punches right back into Samir's face.
Sokholov regained his balance, squeezed past the two wrestling figures, flicked his flashlight with his left hand, and drove a vicious right hook into a third man's jaw. At the same time, a fist landed hard against his own face.
No technique, only fury; no discipline, just raw brawling.
When it came to chaotic brawling, Gao Fei was actually in his element.
He had never studied martial arts or combat sports, but he had been in street fights and knew how to throw down, and that was plenty.
"*Beep beep beep beep!*"
Screaming classic Chinese curses, Gao Fei charged forward. As he rushed past Samir, he reared back and delivered a vicious kick to the opponent Samir was pinning.
Technically they were comrades in the same squad, but Sokholov was throwing hands and Glaski was swinging with murderous intent—why should Gao Fei hold back?
Not kicking the man in the head or throat was already Gao Fei showing restraint.
Sokholov was locked in a grapple with his opponent, looking like he was barely holding his ground. Gao Fei was about to take on an opponent of his own when, through the swinging, flickering beam of the flashlight, he saw the man raise an entrenching shovel.
Talk about fighting dirty! Alarmed, Gao Fei snatched the slung rifle, swung it around, and caught the flat of the entrenching shovel just as it came down.
"Fuck your mother!"
Gao Fei threw a kick, but a strike landed on his supporting leg at the same instant. A jolt of heavy force swept his feet out from under him, sending him tumbling backward.
Seeing red, Gao Fei scrambled furiously to his feet to jump back in, only to hear someone bellowing nearby: "Stop! I'm the platoon leader! I command you to stop!"
After shouting twice and seeing no sign of anyone backing off, the man fired his weapon—crack, crack! Two gunshots rang out, followed by the platoon leader's furious roar: "Everyone, stand down!"
Chapter 20