“I low-key want to thrift it this year.”

“Thrift what?”

“I am not sure yet, just to save some money, we are running out of the budget.”

“I agree, the situation isn’t good for us.”

Ting—

“A telegram arrived, let me check it.”

“We just lost another two IL-76s in Africa.”

“Another two??!! When?”

“They crashed around 40 minutes ago, the ‘department’ informed us that one got shot down by portable air defense shortly after take off, the other didn’t even manage to take off. The situation is getting worse.”

“What about the other plane that we sent to Africa for that special mission?”

“It got out, the last one to leave that airport successfully.”

“The only comforting news. These three planes went to two different airports, right?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“And they were all assigned to departure at the end of the queue?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Sounds weird, is that just a coincidence?”

“It could be. Usually, the military planes leave at last. I know one of the three planes departed from Moscow late due to traffic control, and arrived in Africa later than expected; that is the one that successfully fled. I am not sure about the other two, I was only informed that they took off from Moscow on time, it is that ‘department’ fully taking control of them after that.”

“Traffic control? That’s weird, the three major airports in Moscow were not showing any signs of bad weather yesterday. Do you have any ideas about what they are carrying in those planes?”

“Nope, they decided to keep them confidential. I don’t even know where the last plane is heading, probably a random air force base in Siberia. But they have guaranteed that they will return the plane to Moscow.”

“Well, clearly, they can’t return the other two. Such a shame that those planes crashed. It’s supposed to be a contract that could benefit us to get rid of this financial mire.”

Several hours later, the last IL-76 landed at the airport covered by mist. Once taxied to the apron, parking brakes turned on, the ground crews quickly surrounded the jet, putting the chocks on the wheels of the aircraft skillfully. The rear cargo door gradually released, then fully opened, the soldiers wearing protection suits in yellow quickly entered, then the medics from the military hospital. Bodies and cargo unloading from the plane simultaneously, everything pointing toward that failed experiment in that military base. The site was engulfed in silence, barely hearing people saying something. Not long after that, a cargo train carrying necessary equipment will enter the coniferous forest, and everything may restart again.