Mark Spaid - Falcon Down

“Good, let’s make sure we’re ready.” Andrei was sitting and cleaning his favorite hand gun, a nine-millimeter Beretta. He had a hunting rifle and a 12-gauge shotgun at his disposal as well. His crew carried machine guns along with their own Berettas. These men were armed to the teeth and they knew how to use them and weren’t afraid to do so. Nearly all of them had killed before and frequently members of their own group. Kulagin, not unlike Stalin himself, was paranoid about someone plotting to bump him off and take over and on occasion he’d have two or three shot just to send a message to the rest. He had a total of thirty men, his best ones, on duty today. This was his moment in history and he had the best to help him achieve his goal. In his mind he was destined to greatness, a common characteristic of megalomaniacs. Who decided that he, Andrei Kulagin, was to shine in history’s spotlight today? Why Andrei did, of course… another characteristic of megalomaniacs.

“What’s this tour thing?” Belinda asked Justin as they all sat together in the hotel dining room for breakfast.

“The two presidents and their people along with the ten of us are going on a trip over the Crimean Bridge into Russia and see the sights,” Justin said.

“What sights?” Dave asked.

“Dave is right, there’s not much to see in rural Russia especially out here. The port at Kavkaz, maybe, if you like ships,” Tatiana said and there were chuckles.

“I think it’s more of a PR thing for the bridge and to show off that we are near Russia and not the U.S.,” Jozette suggested.

“You’re probably right, Jo,” Dave said.

“Where do we go?” Ariel asked.

“A van will take us to the bus at the meeting site,” Justin said.

“What time?” Warren asked.

“We leave here at one,” Justin replied.

“Are you nervous?” Tatiana asked.

“No, are you?” Justin asked.

“Yes, I am,” Tatiana answered.

“Why?” Jozette asked.

“We’ll be going into Russia and it’s always good to be nervous in Russia.” They all looked at Tatiana but no one said anything.

“Sir, it’s time for the test,” Lieutenant Radinsky said standing in front of Colonel Azarov.”

“Very well, clear the room everyone, Captain Retzlarian will stay with you.”

“But, sir, protocol states that I should do the test alone.”

“I know but I want another person in here in case something goes wrong.”

“Yes, sir.” Radinsky was nervous. Any plan begins to unravel when unexpected changes occur but he could handle it. Colonel Azarov and the rest of the staff of sixteen people, left for the officers’ lounge area.

“What’s first, Radinsky?” Captain Retzlarian asked. The details in an installation like Kapustin Yar or any missile launch site even those in the U.S. military are best left to the junior officers and non-coms. Lieutenants, sergeants and corporals handled the testing then reported to their superiors who passed the results along to the top.

“Lock the room to level one.”

“Level one?”

“Yes, it must be free from any outside breach in case some time we have to do it for real.”

“Makes sense I guess but it’s kind of scary.”

“Scary or not we must do it” Radinsky sat at the control console where he usually was. If missiles were to be launched for real sometime in the future, either he or Retzlarian would push the button.

“Outer doors locked.”

“Ventilation systems closed.”

“Yes, all closed.”

“All communication closed off to the outside.”

“Yes, we are incommunicado.”

“Good,” Igor said.

“Checking circuits,” Svetlov said as he flipped switches and checked dials for electrical readings.

“Phase one,” Igor said as he punched in a code to the computer. A screen overhead lit up and showed all thirty-eight missiles at Kapustin Yar. There were more missiles at the site but only thirty-eight were up for this test. Each one carried a hydrogen warhead so, yes Radinsky had unspeakable power at his disposal when he needed it. “Missile location check.”

“All missiles identified.”

“Missile fuel check.”

“All missiles fully fueled.”

“Missile destination check.”

“All missile targets identified and locked in.”

“Phase two.”

“Initiating phase two

“Missile circuitry check.”

“All circuits working and ready for firing,” Svetlov answered. The words gave him the creeps and he cringed at the thought.

“Lock out entries.”

“Entries locked out.”

“Initiate phase three,” Igor said

“Phase three started.”

“We are in stage four of defensive readiness,” Igor said and a green light went on over the console.

“I hope it always stays there,” Svetlov said.

“Not very realistic.”

“Perhaps not but I have family and I’d like them to see the world for a time… maybe a hundred years or so… at least.”

“Good luck with that. The Americans are building missile defense systems, the Chinese are adding to their arsenal and several fringe countries have nuclear weapons or they’ll have them soon. The likelihood of the world avoiding a nuclear exchange in the next ten years is remote.”

“Sadly, I think you’re probably right.”

“Let’s finish the protocol.” They went through over fifty steps slowly. Igor was stalling until he got a call from Kulagin

“Madam President, I trust you’re being treated well,” President Deniken said as they sat down and began the obligatory small talk.

“Mr. President, it’s like a luxury resort where all my cares are being swept away.” Cameras were taking pictures as flashes blinded everyone. Sergei leaned over and whispered.

“What a crap fest, to steal an American phrase.”

“I’ve had worse.”

“How’s that possible,” Sergei said and they laughed but no one in the room knew why.

“Shall we get down to business?” Ellen suggested.

“I’d be glad to,” Madam President,” Sergei said through his interpreter.

“The Crimea must be free of Russian influence and dominance.”

“Madam President, Russia would be agreeable to eliminating our dominance as you call it but we still must have influence.”

“Agreed but administrative authority must be returned to The Ukraine.”

“If I were to agree to that, then The Ukraine must withdraw any membership of any kind in NATO.”

“Yes, of course, but the United States would not tolerate any military excursions into The Crimea or The Ukraine.”

“Of course, for as you know, Russia has never had any imperialist designs on any other country.” Ellen gave a brief eye roll, knowing that Sergei was spewing the usual falderal of innocence that all countries did.

“Your history in Eastern Europe after World War II might suggest otherwise but I’m willing to take you at your word.”

“I’m glad you accept my word as true… it is a great comfort that two leaders can display the trust that is necessary to move forward in a complex and dangerous world.” Ellen smiled her biggest smile for the cameras and at the BS Sergei was disseminating. He knew it was BS too but it was part of any diplomatic exchange. Each leader’s job is to press the talking points of their respective nations.

“I think we have an agreement,” Ellen said.

“Madam President if I may,” Sergei said as he raised his hand and gave a hold on a minute expression.

“Yes, Mr. President,” Ellen said as she knew what was coming.

“My country needs to know it has security and to such an end the need for strategic naval bases is paramount.”