"I have heard your name more than once when I was still in the embassy, seems like you have opened your glorious way for your future. Is it true about the rumours that Comrade Andropov decided to let you get a higher rank?"
"Kind of true, Comrade Andropov decided to set up a new department under the KGB to manage some magic-related things, and I was the head of it. How about you? So what have you done in the past two years in Karak?" In the car, Chernov asks Akhromeyev.
"To be honest it is boring, most of the time are just observing Karak's army military exercise, it is not a question that they are fragile in front of our army, at least in the field. In the urban, I worry it might give us heavy casualties." Akhromeyev said in worry.
"How would you say that?"
"I believe you had known that there is some tier in their wizard and magician. For most of the soldiers, they are just tier 2. The Karak army tactics are changing quite rapidly, they are no longer using the old tactics as you saw two years ago, since the Plainspire has fallen, they are trying to adjust their tactics that would be able to counter our mechanized wave."
"From the latest military exercise I have observed, they came out of the 5 soldiers with an officer in a group to counter one vehicle, which I will say is kind of effective. Any of the soldiers or the officers can easily destroy one. Of course, I can't tell you how deep they can penetrate, but would be enough for our tank side armour."
With such quick changes in tactics, Chernov thinks. Ever since tanks debuted in World War I, armies struggled to develop effective anti-tank tactics, until the Panzerfaust finally gave infantry a portable, potent weapon against armour. While in this world, even a normal soldier could destroy a tank with their magic. It is not a surprise that they can come out with such tactics.
"They also came out with some ways to shoot down low-altitude air targets, but I doubt whether it works. Nevertheless, it is not important, I met many of their generals, and I can tell you that most of them have already shown some submission to us. They know about our power. I believe the KGB did a great job as well, most of their soldiers do not even have the morale to fight against us."
Chernov nodded his head, but still, worry came into his heart. If they were to wait a few more years to let them adapt to the Red Army's tactics, he felt that these opponents would become extremely powerful. Enemies are also learning from them.
However, victory or defeat in war does not depend on whether the enemy's personnel can penetrate tanks or not, it is a combination of a series of war machines, and it is still far for them to learn all of it.
"Yet, another thing I learn from there, is that magic is a duel-edged sword, it can cut the enemy, and also your own throat. The more advanced magic comes together with higher risk. It is more than once I have heard that those Tier 5 and above magician kill themselves when they are trying to improve their magic. Some people even become crazy after trying to play with this mind-related magic. I believe KGB had also recorded it."
"So we need your experience. In the face of "chaos", the Red Army and my committee need to work closely together. Steel and will need to be tempered by magic." Chernov reply.
"Huh, at least the thinking is better than those bureaucrats who can only chant scriptures. I heard from some of the Karak Generals that the dwarf craftsmen are good, and their rune forging can strengthen armour. The prophecy of the elves... For reference only, they speak like riddles. Don't rely on it too much. They have some other magic that might be useful, maybe you will know more in the future."
By this time, the car also reaches the general staff headquarters.
"Here is it, someone is still waiting for my report. Good luck to you playing with all this magic stuff."
Akhromeyev leaves the car, leaving Chernov to think about the conversation.
---
Two days later, Chernov stepped down from the helicopters with Serina in Plainspire. This is the third year that the USSR has taken Plainspire, and many things have changed.
Now, the USSR has transformed and built this medieval city into not only a fortress but also a research centre, industrial centre and logistics centre. The original city wall has been reinforced with steel and concrete. The most advanced and powerful weapon that has been developed was installed on it, including those automated weapons.
The train that carries minerals that are mined from the Land of Plain enters from different directions, then workers embark it and send it to either a research centre or factory. Many of the minerals in this land, that are touched with magic, just make them become new substances for scientists to discover.
Many of the houses that are made of wood and grass are now replaced by concrete apartments, called Brezhnevka. An apartment that was aimed to fit more people into it. Nevertheless, despite this type of apartment having problems such as poor sound insulation and small bathrooms, it is still much better than those wooden houses.
Chernov sees one general and one old man with glasses waiting for him. He walks forward and shakes hands with them.
"Greetings Comrade General, I am Semyon Mikhaylovich, the head of the original magic research department, now the director of the 2nd arcane directorate. I have been waiting for you for some time, I got many things to show." The old man speaks first.
"I am Vladimir Govorov, Commander-in-Chief of the land of Plain, in charge of all the Red Army operations and defence here."