Andrei spent his first full day of work studying a thick stack of blueprints. These mechanical drawings showed the manner in which the teleportation device had been designed and constructed. Though the theory appeared sound, he questioned the adequacy of the power source, and with Admiral Valerian close at his side, he was given authority to enter the ship’s reactor compartment.
A small, water-cooled nuclear reactor had been placed in an auxiliary compartment beside the moon pool It was of similar design to the reactors used in space, and much to his surprise, he found it producing sufficient power to run the series of submerged, electromagnetic generators that lined the trench below.
Satisfied that this wasn’t the cause of the malfunction, he returned to the control room, to begin an intensive check of the operational system’s software. This was a time-consuming process, and Andrei often worked late into the night, with a computer keyboard and monitor screen his only companions.
He had just completed an exhausting twelve-hour long analysis of the device’s magnetic flux. Satisfied by what he uncovered, Andrei refilled his thermos with cold water, and walked out onto the boat’s fantail in an effort to clear his mind and get some fresh air.
It was well after midnight, and the temperature was still in the mid-eighties. A dank, humid wind blew in from the east, and Andrei stretched his sore back and peered up into the star-filled heavens. It was while tracing Orion’s belt that he heard a deep, resonant voice break from the shadows.
“For someone who has grown up knowing the fresh, cool pine-scented breezes of the taiga, this place is a godforsaken hellhole,” bitterly reflected Admiral Igor Valerian.
A hand broke from the nearby darkness where these words originated, holding a liter bottle filled with a clear, white liquid.
“Here, try some of this,” Valerian added.
“It’s guaranteed to quench a dry throat and fill your heart with fond pictures of the motherland.”
Andrei took the bottle, and sniffed its contents. The familiar scent of clove-flavored vodka filled his nostrils.
Well aware that this was his Anna’s favorite drink, he put the bottle to his lips and swallowed a healthy mouthful. The spicy liquor coursed down his throat and filled his belly with a fiery warmth that momentarily calmed his queasiness.
“This nectar is our only contact with the rodina,” said Valerian as he stepped from the shadows and took the bottle from Andrei.
“It proves that the gulf that separates us is not so great after all.”
Valerian’s breath was heavy with alcohol, yet he displayed none of the outward signs of drunkenness as he walked over to Andrei’s side and took a swig from the bottle. The physicist waved off his offer for another drink, prompting an emotional outburst on the part of Valerian.
“What’s the matter, Doctor? When a fellow countryman offers you his bottle, he’s sharing his life’s blood!”
“I appreciate the offer,” replied Andrei a bit sheepishly.
“But I’m really not feeling all that good.”
“Then vodka is just what the doctor ordered,” returned the veteran, who softened his tone upon sensing the seriousness of his guest’s physical discomfort.
“I understand from our medical officer that you’re having trouble sleeping and are experiencing a serious loss of appetite,” added Valerian with an almost brotherly concern.
“You must get your rest. Comrade, and feed yourself to keep up your strength.”
“I never was much of an eater,” replied Andrei as he turned his gaze back to the sparkling heavens.
“And as for sleep, an hour or two is all I really need to keep going.”
“Your work habits are most impressive, Doctor. So tell me, how did today’s analysis go?”
Andrei hesitated a moment before responding.
“As far as I can tell, the software program appears to have been installed properly. That means the problem has to lie with the generators themselves.”
“I feared that would be the case,” returned Valerian.
“Can they be repaired without conveying the equipment back to the surface?”
“That depends on the location of the fault. The only way to find out for certain is for me to go down there and personally inspect the equipment.”
“Then let’s get on with it. Doctor. I can have our diving saucers ready to descend within the hour. Have you ever travelled into the depths on a mini sub Comrade?”
Andrei shook his head that he hadn’t, and Valerian continued.
“Well then, you’re in for a great adventure.
As a scientist, I’m sure you’ll find the experience most enlightening. It’s just too bad that because of security concerns, we can’t allow you to drop in and visit your daughter.”
The mere mention of Ivana caused Andrei’s spirits to lighten.
“You know, sometimes I almost forget that she’s only sixty feet away from me. Though for that matter, she might as well be on the moon.”
“All of us are proud of her achievements. Doctor.
She is a shining example to the world of the type of brilliant scientist the rodina is capable of producing.
Without her presence down below, this entire mission wouldn’t be possible.”
There was a bitterness in Andrei’s tone as he responded to this comment.
“If only Ivana knew that you were using the Mir habitat program as a cover for a military operation. Knowledge of such a thing would sicken her.”
“Can you be so sure. Doctor?” retorted Valerian.
“After all, she is a loyal citizen of the rodina. As such, she’s most aware that it was because of military might that our country has been free from the sword of the invader for the past five decades. One has only to look at history to know that this hasn’t always been the case. Thus for her own children to grow up in peace and prosperity, this mission is an absolute necessity.”
“I just pray that something doesn’t go wrong, and that the Americans do not learn of our duplicity,” said Andrei.
“Such a discovery would most likely lead to the very war that you’re so worried about getting involved in.”
“And that’s why we decided to call you in. Doctor, so that such a horrible thing won’t happen. So let’s get moving. Time is of the essence, and there is yet much work to be completed if our efforts are to be successful.”
With heavy step, Andrei returned to his stateroom to prepare for his underwater excursion. He took a cool shower, then changed into some dry clothing. On the way to the moon pool he stopped in the galley for a sandwich and some tea. Anxious now to solve the problem that he had been called halfway around the world to attend to, he continued aft, to the rectangular pool of water lying within the ship’s inner hull. Igor Valerian waited for him here, along with a young, blond-haired naval officer, wearing the blue-and-white striped tunic of the spetsnaz.
“Dr. Petrov,” greeted Valerian.
“I’d like you to meet your driver. Lieutenant Yuri Antonov.”
Andrei accepted the commando’s firm handshake and looked down at the pair of diving saucers floating beside the catwalk. The vessels were painted bright yellow, and were outfitted with an articulated manipulator arm and a dual set of bow-mounted mercury-vapor spotlights.
“I understand that this will be your first trip in a submersible,” said Antonov to his passenger.
“Have no fear. Comrade. Though a bit cramped for space, our saucers are perfectly safe and in tip-top operational order.”
“That’s certainly reassuring to hear,” replied Andrei, who was beginning to have second thoughts about this entire excursion.
Quick to sense the physicist’s misgivings. Valerian stepped to the moon pool edge and pointed towards the lead saucer’s open hatch.
“Shall we get on with it, Comrades?”