All three are (or were) soldiers belonging to the Russian Aerospace Forces. They belonged to the same unit and crewed the Mi-24P-2M "Hind-E" combat helicopter. Usually, Dmitry served as the pilot, Alexei as the gunner, and Isaac as the flight engineer (as well as handling maintenance and odd jobs).
Dmitry and Alexei's father was once a pilot in the Soviet and Russian Air Forces, and the two dreamed of becoming pilots like their father from a young age. One day, when they were in middle school, their father took them to an air show where the Mi-24—the aircraft they would later fly—caught their eye. The moment they saw it, their eyes widened. Dmitry, who had previously hated studying, goofed off, and had behavioral issues, suddenly began to focus on his academics, eventually improving enough to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Alexei.
Afterward, the two entered the military academy together at a young age, graduated with extremely outstanding grades, and subsequently achieved the rank of Captain in their early 20s. This was an exceptionally rapid promotion speed, sparking rumors that their high-ranking father might have been involved. In any case, they had achieved their long-held dream.
Now, as for Isaac, he was an extremely ordinary Russian. Having lost his parents in an accident immediately after birth, he was placed in his maternal grandmother's home along with his older brother and raised with plenty of love. However, the family was poor, and when his brother contracted a serious illness, the situation worsened. Needing money by any means necessary, he rushed to the recruitment center the moment he saw a poster calling for military enlistment. After enlisting, he somehow endured military life, became a mechanic, and then a flight engineer, reaching a point where he was just a little short of becoming a pilot and supporting his family.
He naturally knew of the Surkov brothers, who belonged to the same base. They were young ace pilots who had achieved numerous combat successes, celebrities known to everyone in the military. Though he had rarely spoken to them directly, he had heard their names repeatedly in training materials and base rumors, holding a vague, almost admiring sentiment that "they must be incredible people living in a completely different world than me."
...However, one day, Dmitry and Alexei got into trouble with a superior officer and ended up killing him.
They immediately kidnapped the nearby flight engineer, Isaac, as a hostage, boarded their aircraft, and attempted to flee the country—with no specific destination in mind. At that moment, the heroic image Isaac held of them shattered with a resounding crash.
Naturally, the Russian military couldn't just let them go, and pursuit by fighter jets began. The details of what happened next are unknown. Internal military records state "the escaping aircraft was shot down," but no wreckage was discovered. Meanwhile, there is unconfirmed information that the pursuing aircraft was shot down near the border.
In any case, only one thing is certain. Several months later, a trio calling themselves "Surkov Transport" appeared with an unidentified Mi-24P-2M, carrying out the transport of goods and personnel, smuggling of illegal items, assassinations, and more.
Remarks: The Surkov brothers are famous ace pilots even within the military, and their battle results are often accompanied by exaggeration and rumors. They themselves claim they shot down the pursuing fighters and escaped, but no one exists who can verify the truth of this.
