Quoted By:
"Have you attempted radio communication with the 216th Independent Battalion?"
It takes Hasanaliev a moment to realize, after your considerable period of quiet reflection, that the question is directed toward him.
"No sir. We were not even aware that there was an Army unit in the district until your arrival here, sir."
You knew the answer before asking. You move on from his response and continue your thought: "We should attempt establishing radio contact with the Battalion before moving out into the field. What radio and communications equipment do you have?"
Hasanaliev's gaze slips downward, it is clear he has news that - to his mind at least - you will not like hearing. "Not very much, sir. The Internal Ministry does not have the same signals corps as you would be used to in the Army. There is one radio for the unit, sir, a command radio. And the vehicles all have radios installed."
Hasanaliev was half right: right that you did not like what you've just heard, but wrong that you would be displeased with him. You are not a bully, Gennady Liptsov, just direct. It's what has gotten you through the ranks, kept you alive. You only berate someone when necessary, like with Uthman. That has very necessary, the shouting was necessary, Gennady, it is the core of discipline. Without all those scourings and beatings as a private, you would have been a different man; never would have developed a warrior's spirit. But you would never punish the bearer of bad news, for the truth is so often bad news.
The limited array of available transmitters does present a very real problem in establishing radio contact. You don't know about this command radio, but you know that the radios installed in BMP-1 vehicles start to lose transmissions when operating more than 15km distant. You could push for more than that, but at your own risk - and you never pushed for more, Gennady, you kept your boys close and brought them home, you have the shining metal to prove it. Knowing that the base is north of Vadim-Tepe puts it at least an hour away, likely more, and travelling at, what, maybe 100 km/h, means you were… well, it puts you far outside the transmission range of the vehicle-based equipment. Your numbers could be greatly off and you'd still be out of range by an incredible distance.
"I'd like to see the command radio. What range does it possess?"
Hasanaliev responds that he does not know, but that he will summon the technician responsible for the radio immediately. Alekseev goes scurrying off into the school. Not being the type of lounge in a field, you follow the private towards the location of this radio, leaving Matsukov, Hasanaliev, and Krasvyov to follow in your wake.
