Dmitri snorted. “What, the whole mission?”
Peter’s voice became flat and emotionless as he said, “There will be no way of getting me back. It’s a suicide mission.”
Dmitri knew why, knowing the Soyuz didn’t have a booster available to get Peter out of lunar orbit. He frowned. “Peter this whole mission sounds pretty crazy. Why do you want to take a mission where you’ll die? There has to be other options available to NASA?”
“From this point on, NASA and the American government will not be affiliated with the operation. I’m on my own, working with just SpaceQuest. Only the CEO knows of my true mission.” Peter leaned over the desk, picking up his mom’s picture. Looking at it he said, “I am doing this for Dad. Unfortunately there are no other options and, believe me, I wish there were.” Peter set the picture back down.
Dmitri sighed. “How can I assist?”
“I’ll need your help after I hijack the escape pod,” said Peter. “Since FKA handles the pod, I need to make sure I will be supported when traveling to the moon.”
“That will be tricky. As you know, Russia’s leadership has been adamant on not getting involved in this China-U.S. showdown. So I’m not sure what I can do once you hijack the bird. Also if you are successful in hijacking it, your little adventure will become an international incident. You know the powers to be will insist you return to Earth by a free return trajectory and not go into lunar orbit.” Dmitri hesitated for a moment, apparently uncertain. “You do need to go into lunar orbit, right?”
“Yes. I need to take detailed pictures of China’s landing site on the back side of the moon and one or two of our landing sites. I’ll need support from your mission control for course corrections and final burn requirements to enter lunar orbit.”
“I cannot give you any guarantees, Peter, but I will do what I can to help. I would do this for your dad. I may have to burn some bridges to help you get into lunar orbit, but once you do, it will be obvious to all we have lost our ship.”
Dmitri looked at the wall of photographs before continuing. “What about the laser? We’re pretty sure that thing is on the back side.”
“We feel it is too. The plan is for me to disengage it when I first approach the back side. Hopefully freeing up lunar orbit for future Russian flights will vindicate you for helping me out.”
Shaking his head Dmitri said, “Peter, there is no way you can do this mission alone. How in the world are you going to be able to do both the LOI burn and reprogram that laser on your first pass on the back side?”
“I don’t want to risk another agent’s life and besides, I don’t believe another agent would offer much help.” A knock at the door interrupted the meeting. Peter yelled out, “Who is it?”
A muffled voice responded, “It Viktor.”
Dmitri looked at Peter, a gleam in his eye, and whispered, “That’s your man!”
Surprised Dmitri would even consider his dad, Peter gave him a quizzical look. He yelled toward the door, “Hello, Viktor, just a minute.” Looking back at Dmitri he whispered, “What are you saying?”
Dmitri whispered back, “Dad knows the Soyuz. He knows the Russian commander on the space station, who respects him. He hasn’t been happy since Mom has been gone and he has always dreamt of going to the moon. He’s your man. Besides, he would do anything for your dad.”
Thinking the idea sounded ridiculous, Peter whispered, “He’s seventy-five years old for Christ sake!”
“And in great shape,” said Dmitri sticking up for his dad. “He’s in better shape than that old congressman you sent up in the ’90s. And don’t discount my father’s drive to succeed. He may come across as a jokester, but when he takes on a task, there is no one better to have on your team. He will see you through.”
Another knock came at the door, and Viktor asked again in a muffled tone, “I look for Dmitri.”
Before answering his dad, Dmitri leaned closer to Peter. Waiting, he whispered, “Plus, having Dad as part of the mission improves your chances of me getting FKA to support you after the hijack.”
Peter shook his head and said in a hushed tone, “I think this is crazy, but let’s see what your dad says.”
Dmitri smiled, and then yelled out, “Yeah I’m here, Dad, just a second. I’ll let you in.” Dmitri got up and unlocked the door.
Dmitri opened the door and there stood Viktor, smiling. He was your typical-looking Soviet cosmonaut; he was short, standing five feet four, at best. He was a stocky man who still looked to be in good physical shape. Looking at his weathered face, Peter could tell Viktor’s many wrinkles were shaped from smiling and laughing, indicating he must have had a happy life. He was bald, which made his blue eyes stand out. He looked like an old man.
“Do I interrupt?” asked Viktor.
“No, Dad, come on in,” said Dmitri.
Viktor slowly walked in straight to the picture of him and Tom, both standing proudly in spacesuits with their arms around each other. He quietly read the note he wrote over thirty-five years ago. Still looking at the picture he said, “Peter, your father was good man. I owe your dad for his sacrifice. He never ask anything from me.”
Peter was surprised at how good Viktor’s English was. He remembered back as a kid when he couldn’t understand a word. Though Viktor still had an accent, Peter could more easily understand him. Peter answered, “My dad always considered you one of his best friends. He loved how you could make him laugh.”
“We had fun times,” said Viktor, smiling.
Dmitri motioned to the seat next to him. “Dad, come here and have a seat.” As Viktor turned and walked to the seat, Peter went to the door, closing and locking it before sitting back down at his father’s desk.
Viktor crinkled his brow. “All okay?”
Dmitri answered, “Everything’s fine, Dad.” Then with a slight smile he asked, “Dad, how would you like to go to the moon?”
Viktor leaned back in his seat as though reeling from a strong wind. “Son, I give my left nut to go to moon. You know that.”
Smiling, Peter asked, “Would you be willing to sacrifice more?”
Cracking a grin, Viktor answered, “What? I need give both nuts? Hell, I don’t use anyways. Sure, I’ll give both for moon.”
Peter and Dmitri both chuckled. Having someone along with a sense of humor would definitely help take some of the pressure off. He also knew Viktor was someone he could trust. Peter got serious and asked, “Would you be willing to give up your life?”
Viktor looked at Peter first, slightly tilting his head, then turned and looked at his son. “What the hell you two saying?”
Dmitri placed his hand on his dad’s arm in a consoling manner. “Dad, Peter is serious. He has been given a top secret mission to fly to the moon to prove China wrong. He just explained the operation to me. Right now he is planning on doing it alone, but after hearing the details, I feel it needs to be a two-man job. I think you would be the perfect person to help him succeed.”
Raising his arms, Viktor blurted out, “Wow, count me in!”
Peter smiled seeing Viktor so enthusiastic. When he first heard the offer of flying to the moon he was excited too before Gavin dropped the bomb it was a suicide mission. He wanted to wait a moment and let Viktor savor the thought of going to the moon and back. Silence fell. Dmitri looked at Peter, obviously reluctant to say the next part. Peter signaled with a nod he would and said, “There is one major problem with the mission.”
Having been part of the space race in the ’60s, Viktor had to know any mission to the moon would have its share of problems and obstacles. He was one of the few Soviet Cosmonauts who actually trained for such a mission. His dreams had been shattered when the Soviet Union stopped pursuing the moon. However, Viktor never stopped dreaming about going into deep space. “What problem?”