"Good, Sergeivich,'' replied Lubinin.' 'I will be out shortly.''
"Roger. I will check on the American." Yemitov toggled his joystick and the backpack thruster released its jet of compressed nitrogen gas, pushing him toward the Intrepid. What a magnificent spacecraft! thought Yemitov. It looked very much like the Soviet shuttie, except the Russian model did not have the big, reusable main engines on the tail — all of the Soviet shuttie's liftoff engines were on the Energia booster vehicle. The Russian orbiter only had small retro rockets on its tail section.
Lubinin and Yemitov had not been in the Soviet shuttle training program, but the cosmonaut figured their status would change if they could capture this American orbiter.
Yemitov slowed as he approached the windshield of the winged spacecraft. The cabin lights were on. He didn't quite know what to expect, and his curiosity heightened. What would the American be like? Then he spied the astronaut, sitting in the left seat.
The pilot inside the orbiter did not raise a hand in salutation. He only stared at the Russian with a pair of coal-black eyes that were recessed in a gaunt, almost cadaverous face. Yemitov started to wave, but didn't. This astronaut had killed two of his own crewmates, and the thought caused the Russian to shudder. Instead, the cosmonaut backed off and hovered directly above the S-band nose antenna.
"Intrepid, can you hear me?" asked Yemitov.
"I hear you fine," replied Iceberg brusquely. "What's the plan from here?"
This American did not care for small talk, Yemitov concluded, so the Russian quickly outlined how they would attach the Progress engine and execute retrofire. Upon completing his explanation, Yemitov asked, "Do you understand everything I have said, Intrepid?"
"Yes, I understand," came the curt reply. "Is everything ready at Baikonur?"
"Affirmative, Intrepid. Your reentry window will open in approximately nine hours."
"Okay. Let's get on with it. I'm tired of being marooned up here… Looks like your friend is coming out to join you."
Yemitov executed a pirouette and saw Lubinin exiting the Soyuz. Then he gazed back at Iceberg. "Very well, Intrepid, we will proceed to attach the collar and engine. Communicate with us if you must."
"Roger. Intrepid out."
Yemitov propelled himself back to the Soyuz and helped his comrade with the maneuvering component of his backpack. In Russian, Lubinin asked, "Did you speak with the American?"
"Da," replied Yemitov quietly.
"And?" prompted Lubinin.
Yemitov's delicate features looked at his friend through the visor. "I do not care for him," he said finally.
Lubinin's heavy eyes stared back and seemed to convey his understanding. "Come along. We must not waste time."
The two cosmonauts propelled themselves toward the cargo ship. In his wake, Lubinin pulled an auxiliary hand thruster and a webbed canvas tether line.
When they reached the cargo vessel, the cosmonauts found the launch shroud still hanging on at the base. A small nudge from Yemitov caused it to break completely free. Lubinin then pulled on a lever and the collar/engine was released from the engine, along with the small container that held the clamps.
Lubinin handed Yemitov the small auxiliary thruster — which was nothing more than an Aqua-lung-sized tank of compressed nitrogen gas with handgrips attached. He also gave Yemitov one end of the canvas strap and said, "Hold this." Then, with the other end in his hand, Lubinin circumnavigated the mating collar. Upon completing his circle, he took the other end back from Yemitov and threaded it through a buckle, pulling the canvas belt tight around the girth of the mating collar like a saddle cinch strap.
"You get the clamps. I will take care of this," ordered Lubinin. Yemitov retrieved the container, while his comrade attached the loose strap end to the auxiliary thruster and pulled taut the four meters of slack. "Here we go!" radioed Lubinin, and with that, he triggered the aux thruster, which yanked him and the mating collar toward the Intrepid.
The two cosmonauts were cautious as they moved toward the shuttle. This was no training exercise. It was the real thing, and they had to take each movement slowly and carefully, for a tiny mishap could scuttle the entire mission. As they closed on the orbiter, Lubinin deftly brought the aux thruster to the opposite side of the mating collar and started applying little braking squirts of gas to halt their advance. Finally, he brought the collar to a complete standstill just a few meters from the Intrepid's tail.
"Excellent work, Vasilivich," complimented Yemitov.
"Thank you, Sergeivich. Now, let us move this contraption into place — with caution, my friend.'' Lubinin removed the canvas strap, then moved to the rear of the collar with Yemitov. Each with one hand on his joystick and the other on the exit nozzle of the Progress engine, they gently guided the anterior male end of the mating collar into the center main engine nozzle of the orbiter. There was no sound as metal began scraping against metal, but the cosmonauts could feel the vibrations through their gloves. When the male end struck home, there was a slight whiplash that pushed the two Russians away. "It is in place!" exclaimed Yemitov.
"And it fits perfectly!" shouted Lubinin as he began circling the collar to make sure the lip of the anterior end rested flush against the flange of the shuttle's exit nozzle. It did. "Comrade Vostov did as he promised," observed Lubinin. "Now, let us get the clamps in place."
Chief of Staff Michael Dowd scratched his large bald head. "What the hell are they doing?"
The picture from the Spyglass observation aircraft was displayed on the center projection screen in SPADOC.
Sir Isaac absently rubbed the single star insignia on his epaulet. "Obviously they're attaching something to the tail of the Intrepid. What it is and why, I can't say."
Strand's gray eyes peered at the screen carefully. "It looks like some kind of engine… but that doesn't make sense. The shuttle has backup systems to ensure the OMS thrusters work."
"Well, whatever's happening," mused Whittenberg, "theyVe got to be close to bringing the Intrepid down. Sir Isaac, what's the status on the Kestrel?"
"The launch vehicle looks in good shape, sir," replied Sir Isaac, "and the weapons systems are getting their final tech out. We'll be ready for a rendezvous launch in about nine hours." The skinny brigadier pulled on his hawklike beak before saying, "It could be close."
"Yeah." The CinC was grim as he picked up his red phone to the White House.
Popov, General Secretary Vorontsky, and KGB Chairman Kostiashak leaned over Mission Commander Malyshev's shoulder to listen to the speaker box.
"We are back in the Soyuz," radioed Lubinin. "The mating collar is in place and it fits perfectly. The Chief Designer is to be commended."
Popov exhaled a sigh of relief.
"The spring clamps have also been installed, and the American pilot has been informed of the retrofire procedures. All is in readiness. We must only wait for the reentry window."
"Very well, Soyuz. Well done," replied Malyshev. "Keep in contact and try to rest. You have approximately seven hours until retrofire."
"Acknowledged, Flite Centre. Soyuz out."
The General Secretary was rested, refreshed, and ebullient as he thumped Popov on the back. "Well, Comrade, the American shuttie will soon be ours. We have done it."