Chapters (25)
- Cover
- About the Author
- Also Available by Chris Ryan
- Title page
- Dedication
- Acknowledgements
- Glossary
- Russian Expressions
- Chapter One
- Chapter Two
- Chapter Three
- Chapter Four
- Chapter Five
- Chapter Six
- Chapter Seven
- Chapter Eight
- Chapter Nine
- Chapter Ten
- Chapter Eleven
- Chapter Twelve
- Chapter Thirteen
- Chapter Fourteen
- Chapter Fifteen
- Chapter Sixteen
- Chapter Seventeen
| ATO | Ammunition technical officer |
| Bergen | Rucksack |
| BG | Bodyguard (noun or verb) |
| Blue-on-blue | Accidental strike on own forces |
| Casevac | Casualty evacuation |
| CND | Compact nuclear device |
| COBR | Cabinet Office Briefing Room |
| Comms | Communications |
| CQB | Close-quarter battle |
| CTR | Close target reconnaissance |
| DF | Direction finding |
| Dicker | Lookout |
| Director | Officer commanding special forces, generally a brigadier |
| DOP | Drop-off point |
| DPMs | Disruptive pattern material, camouflage garments |
| DZ | Drop zone |
| EMOE | Explosive method of entry |
| ERV | Emergency rendezvous |
| Exfil | Exfiltrate |
| FMB | Forward mounting base |
| FOB | Forward operating base |
| FSB | Federal Security Bureau, part of former KGB |
| GPS | Global positioning system, navigation aid |
| HALO | High altitude, low opening |
| Head-shed | Headquarters |
| Incoming | Incoming fire |
| Int | Intelligence |
| IO | Intelligence officer |
| Kremlin, The | SAS headquarters |
| LO | Liaison officer |
| LUP | Lying-up point |
| LZ | Landing zone |
| MAC | Military Air Command |
| Magellan | Brand-name of GPS |
| Omon | Special forces, Russian Ministry of the Interior |
| OP | Observation point |
| PJI | Parachute jump instructor |
| PNGs | Passive night goggles |
| PUP | Pick-up point |
| QRF | Quick-reaction force |
| Rat | Radio alarm trigger |
| RTU | Return to unit |
| Rupert | Officer |
| SAM | Surface-to-air-missile |
| Satcom | Satellite telephone system |
| SAW | Subversive Action Wing |
| Scalie | Signaller |
| SCR | Satellite Communications Responder |
| SEAL | Sea, Air and Land American special forces unit |
| SOCO | Scene-of-crimes officer |
| SP | Special projects |
| Spetznaz | Russian special forces |
| SSM | Squadron sergeant major |
| US | Unserviceable |
| VCP | Vehicle control point |
Russian Expressions
RUSSIAN EXPRESSIONS
| Babushka | Granny, little old woman |
| Chush! | Rubbish! |
| Chyort! | Damn! (literally ‘devil’) |
| Davai | Carry on |
| Dosvidanya | Goodbye |
| Huinja! | Bollocks! |
| Idyom | Let’s go |
| Isvinite | Sorry, excuse me |
| Kak dela? | How goes it? |
| Kakovo khuya sidite? | Why the fucking hell don’t you shift your arse? |
| Khorosho | Good |
| Khuyevo dyelo! | Shit! |
| Konechno | Of course |
| Kontraktnik | Professional soldier |
| Mne zhalko | I’m sorry |
| Nichevo | Not to worry |
| Orushiye k boyu | Stand by |
| Otlichno! | Great! |
| Pojaluista | Pleasse |
| Polkovnik | Colonel |
| Poshli! | Go! |
| Poyekhali | Bottoms up |
| Prinyato | Roger, got it |
| Spasibo | Thank you |
| Starik | Old man, veteran |
| Starshina | Warrant officer |
| Tochno | Precisely |
| Uchodite | Get lost |
| Volite otsyuda | Piss off |
| Vas ponyal | Roger, understood |
| Vot beda | Pity |
| Vpered! | Go! |
| Vstali i poshli! | Shift your ass! |
| Vzdrognem | Cheers |
| Ya ne znayu | I don’t know |
| Yefreitor | Corporal |
| Yestj | OK |
| Zdorovo | Brilliant |
| Zdravstvuite | Hello |
Chapter One
ONE
With the tailgate open, the cabin depressurised and five minutes to run, we’d all gone on to individual oxygen. That knackered voice communication: for one thing, we had masks over our mouths, and for another the Here’s four turbo-props were deafening. We were wearing covert radios, with throat mikes on our necks and earpieces under our helmets, but we couldn’t use them until we were in the final stages of our descent, because of the risk that they’d foul up the pilots’ comms.