Steve slowly rolled down the window of the car and handed out a document to prove his identity while talking to the other person in the local language.

A Georgian soldier slowly walked to the door of the car, took the ID card handed to him by Steve after looking at the situation in the car, looked at it, turned back and shouted a few words to the others, only to see the Georgians who had been vigilant relax and slowly surrounded them. Steve said to Eric: "They say it's the Russians around here, the exchange of fire is going on, the Russians want to get out of here, they... ”

Eric waved his hand before Steve could finish, "It doesn't matter what the Russians here are going to do, tell him I'm going to see their commander and ask if he can take us there." ”

Steve immediately turned around and said a few words to the other party, only to see the other person nodding and pointing to the back. Steve immediately said, "He said yes." But he didn't know if the chief wanted to. And if you want to see it, you have to get out of the car, and no cars are allowed to pass further. ”

"That's good." Eric said and looked at Donovan and said, "Wait for me here for a while."

Donovan immediately said, "We have to go with you, we're not here for a ride." ”

"Okay." Eric said impatiently and quickly got out of the car with his black bag.

Everyone followed the Georgian who had spoken to Steve out of the neighborhood and into a courtyard that was relatively intact compared to the rest of the city, where many Georgian soldiers stood, apparently used as a makeshift command post. After the Georgian soldier debriefed, Eric's request was fulfilled, and a man dressed no different from a normal soldier approached Eric.

Eric immediately shook hands with the man and introduced himself, and then said directly to Steve: "Ask him if the Russians started the battle here first, or if they attacked first." ”

The officer looked a little dissatisfied after listening to Steve's translation, perhaps thinking that Eric was a bit nosy, but he still talked to Steve. Just listen to Steve: "He said that if it was a shot, then it was a Russian." They had not been ordered to attack them, but the Russians had just arrived and had opened fire on them, and after the shooting, they tried to get out of the place, and there were people and Russians on the outside shortly after the exchange of fire began. But they were all repulsed. ”

Eric looked a little depressed when he heard this, and he turned to say, "Ask if he caused a lot of casualties?" Did the Russians suffer serious losses? ”

The officer nodded after listening to Steve's translator, and Steve immediately translated: "He said that they attacked the Russians with artillery, and they should have caused some casualties, but the specific number is not clear." ”

Eric was unhappy with the answer, "What do you mean by certain casualties?" After saying that, he waved his hand again and said, "Well, it doesn't matter. Since it has been fought like this, what else can be said? How long will it take him to wipe out this gang of Russians? Are you sure? ”

Hearing such a question, not only Pete and the others who were standing beside Eric looked surprised, but the officer in front of him didn't know how to answer for a while after hearing Steve's translation, this person looked at Eric with strange eyes, smiled a little disdainfully, and said a few words, and after saying these few words, he turned around and left.

Steve immediately said: "He said that this question cannot be answered, and that it is not up to them to destroy these Russians, and that artillery and more men must be mobilized." But now he says their goal is to take the government building in Tskhinvali. All he was ordered was to trap the Russians here and prevent them from messing up the whole operation. In the end he said let's get out of here as soon as possible, they still have a task. ”

Eric looked annoyed when he heard Steve's words, he walked briskly back to the minibus with a cold face, took out the satellite phone after getting into the car, and after a while, only to hear Eric say angrily: "Potter? I'm Eric. I'm in Tskhinvali now, right! Not far from me are the Russians. Listen to me first, the Georgians are busy besieging the Russians here. It's a waste of time! Either they don't touch them, or they destroy the Russians here or drive them out of here completely. But they chose the worst option. Yes, the commander here told me that now their mission is to take the government building in Tskhinvali. To the political significance of the special. Nothing will be meaningless when the Russians come. Listen to me Potter, you have to try to convince them that their opponents are not damned Ossetians, but Russians! If you can't take Tskhinvali as soon as possible, what will you rely on to deal with the Russians when they arrive? You'll have to help me convince them, and let them gather their troops, organize all those who can mobilize, and defend themselves in the northern part of Tskhinvali, on both sides of the mountainous heights. It would be nice to bring back the infantry brigade that was in Iraq. I'm not kidding, I'm telling the truth. More combat forces are needed here! Okay, I'll calm down, I'll wait for your news, that's all. ”

After ending the call, Eric walked back to the car door, looked in the direction where the gunshots were still being heard, and said, "Let's get out of here." Go to the next place. ”

Donovan heard him say this and immediately beckoned everyone to get on the bus, and the minibus quickly drove out of the area. In the car, Eric appeared restless, and before he had gone far, he picked up the satellite phone again and called.

"It's me, Eric. I wonder how the Russians are doing now. Yes, I'm talking about the 58th Army, of course. Eric waited as he looked out the window, his expression widening after a moment, "Are you sure?" Okay, I got it. ”

Donovan looked at Eric and said after his call, "Look like you're not doing well?" ”

Eric looked at Donovan and let out a long sigh, "Not very good." So far, the Georgians have gone very well, even more so than their president had anticipated. But that's not enough. As he spoke, he pointed out the window and said, "Tskhinvali is not only the center of the Ossetians, but more importantly, this place is not easy to defend. Only by taking the important towns here and around them as soon as possible can we have a good chance of resisting a possible attack by the Russians. But... Eric pouted, "But after entering Tskhinvali, progress slowed down a bit. It's not good. More important is the attitude of the Russians here, who both want to destroy but are not resolute. They are wasting precious time. And here there is stubborn resistance, apparently waiting for the Russians to act. The only good news is that the Russians haven't made a move yet, but I think they're ready, just waiting. ”

"May I ask, what would have happened if the Georgians had not waited to stop the Russians? I mean, quickly retreated. Will we really come to help them? Troops from the Middle East are here. Donovan asked.