Rover Strike: Russian Matrix

By Gerhard Naudé

Alexander Illanov, Matrix, Mark Norwood © Gerhard Naudé
Vicki Maddog © Robert Baer Jr.

Any question, comments, complaints, feedback or suggestions can be 
sent to gnaude_@hotmail.com.

Office
Nuclear Transport Operations (NTO)
Moscow
Union Of Soviet Socialists Republics
2 April 1988
4:03 PM:

This is an ordinary office with a single window looking out over the
NTO Compound and the city of Moscow. There is a single desk, several
plain chairs and some file cabinets. A man dressed in a Soviet officer
uniform is seated behind the desk working on some papers. There is a
knock at the door and the man answers without looking up.

Man:"Come in."

The door opens and a familiar face walks into the room: it is Alexander
Illanov, who is a young human male in his early twenties and wearing a
Soviet sergeant's uniform. He has his cap under his arm. The man looks
up and nods at Illanov as he closes the door.

Man:"Comrade Illanov."

Illanov:"Comrade Yenko."

Yenko:"Please have a seat."

Illanov walks to a chair and sits down, making himself comfortable. 
Yenko puts the papers one side on the desk as he folds his arms.

Yenko:"And how did our little business transaction go?"

Illanov:"Our Afghan customers were a bit suspicious, but once I showed
         them the RPG launchers, they were quite the willing buyers."

Yenko smiles and leans back in his own chair.

Yenko:"You see, Alex? There is always a good market for weaponry, in
       particular hardware coming from Mother Russia."

Illanov:"Maybe, but I'm still not certain about this. If the KGB found
         out about this, we will be sent to Siberia."

Yenko:"The KGB! Bah! They got far too much on their plate right now,
       what with Premier Gorbachov's perestroika scheme and how the
       old hardliners in the Politburo are having nightmares about it.
       I tell you now, comrade, in a few years time there won't BE a
       KGB... and a very open market for our business."

Illanov:"Are you sure about what is going on?"

Yenko:"Dah. The others are yet to realize it, but Gorbachov is a
       democrat, not a communist. He knows that Russia is in trouble,
       just like many of my comrades in the military. In fact, I won't
       be surprised if he called for free elections for the first
       Russian president."

Illanov whistles.

Illanov:"The Politburo won't appreciate that. They would no sooner
         launch a coup de tat if that happens."

Yenko:"Dah, and Gorbachov is pulling them closer to the point of no
       return. If he goes under, so does the Party and the Soviet
       Union. I promise you, Alex, in a few years time there will be
       no USSR. Instead it will be Russia and dozens of breakaway
       republics, all under a democratic government."

Yenko then winks at Illanov.

Yenko:"And with a democratic government comes a free and open market.
       And with that comes little or no restrictions on how we do
       our business."

Illanov:"You mean we will become smugglers? No longer defenders of
         Mother Russia against America?"

Yenko:"I told you before: forget about the Americans. They will only
       sit back and watch the USSR disintegrate. They won't waste
       their money invading a failed superpower. So all we will have
       to worry about is getting the best customers with the best
       money to buy our hardware."

Illanov:"I still feel uneasy about this, Yenko."

Yenko:"Then look at it this way: would you, a young and talented man,
       find yourself in those long breadlines along with other former
       soldiers and people with no work? Or would you rather want to
       earn large amounts of money to help with your hunt of whoever
       killed your father?"

Illanov's eyes become as hard as steel.

Illanov:"You are right, comrade. That is more important than defending
         this rusting nation."

Yenko:"Right you are. Now, although we might be starting a bit too
       early in this business, we will be able to have a secure foothold
       once everything goes to s***. You and are going to be as rich as
       those old fools in the Politburo. No, richer. As such, I got 
       another job for you. Listen well."

Illanov nods, then Yenko continues.

Yenko:"I have a contact at a missile base near Vladivostok who can help
       us expand our source of suppliers. I want you to deliver some
       papers explaining our business, as well as a suitcase with money 
       to buy his support. I have arranged that you go along with a train
       transporting nuclear warheads to this base. Just show your ID tag
       to the guard at the station office and he will let you on the
       train. The train leaves tomorrow night, so you should have some
       time to pack. Tomorrow evening you can come pick up the papers
       and suitcase and go to the station before the train the leaves
       at 8:00 pm. You understand?"

Illanov:"Dah, comrade."

Yenko:"Excellent. Now, go home and get ready. Come back tomorrow and
       you will soon be off for Vladivostok."

Illanov stands up and so does Yenko. They both shake hands before
Illanov turns for the door. He opens it and walks out, looking back
at Yenko.

Illanov:"Tomorrow, comrade."

Yenko:"Tomorrow, comrade. Have a good night."

Illanov closes the door behind him. Yenko sits down in his chair, picks
up the paper he was reading and resumes examining it.

Military Train Station
Industrial Zone
Outskirts Of Moscow
3 April
7:40 PM:

This is an industrial/military station fenced off from the rest of the
industrial areas. Soviet soldiers walk about with AK-74s while workmen
finish working on the train itself. The train are two diesel engines,
one passenger carriage, four cargo carriages, another passenger carriage
and a caboose. At the only gate are several more armed guards. They
watch as a black government car stops at the gate. Illanov, carrying a
luggage bag and a suitcase, climbs out and closes the door. The car drives 
off as he walks to the gate. One of the guards stop him.

Guard:"Name, comrade?"

Illanov:"Sergeant Alexander Illanov. I am a liaison sent by Officer
         Yenko."

The guard looks at his ID tag attached to Illanov's chest, then nods at
the other guards.

Guard:"Clear. You may proceed, comrade. They are expecting you at the
       station office."

Illanov:"Thank you."

One of the guards steps aside to let Illanov walk through the gap into
the station. He walks towards the station office, which is located in a
building by the platform, saluting higher ranking officers as he goes.

Station Office
7:44 PM:

This is a small office with a metal table and chairs and file cabinets.
It is rather unkempt. At the table is another Soviet officer. He looks
up as Illanov comes into the office.

Officer:"And you are?"

Illanov(showing his ID Tag):"I am Sergeant Illanov, comrade."

The officer looks at the tag for a few moments, then nods.

Officer:"Ah. So you're Yenko's liaison. Did you bring what I need?"

Illanov digs around in his pocket and takes out a money pack. He hands 
it to the officer.

Illanov:"2000 American dollars. Twenties and used."

The officer runs his finger over the note pack, then tucks it into his
uniform.

Officer:"It's settled then, comrade. I have arranged that you ride in
         the caboose. The other soldiers will be in the passenger
         carriages separate from you, since Yenko has told me he'd like
         to keep the rank-and-file away from you and avoid any awkward
         questions. You will have fine accommodations, good rations and
         well kept Vodka to make your journey a good one. Once you get
         in Vladivostok, talk to my comrade at the station office there.
         He and I know each other well... and we both are getting good
         wages from Yenko."

Illanov:"It seems that every second officer is being paid by Yenko."

The officer laughs.

Officer:"I don't mind, comrade. He pays much better than the military
         and he gives hints on how not to spend so that you get the
         attention of the KGB. Anyway, you should get onboard now.
         The train is leaving in 10 to 15 minutes."

Illanov:"Dah, comrade. Thanks."

Officer:"Have a good trip."

Illanov nods as he walks out of the office and closes the door. The
officer resumes his work.

Train Station
7:59 PM:

All of the workmen are gone and soldiers are standing guard on the
platform. There is a whistle from the front engine as it begins to
move. Slowly it picks up speed and soon it pulls out of the station
as it heads on its way for Vladivostok.

Caboose
Military Train 
En Route To Vladivostok
Somewhere in Central Russia
5 April
10:02 PM:

It is the dead of night. The train continues on its winding duel-track
through a dense forest. The only lights are from the engine's front
light and a light coming from the caboose in the rear. Inside the
caboose is a small living quarters with a fair-sized bed, a table,
gas lamp and a small fridge. Two doors lead out on either side of
the caboose. Illanov is standing by the one door, looking out the
window into the darkness.

Illanov:"Mother Russia. Oh how the fools in the Kremlin have ruined
         you. Yenko is right. The Soviet Union is a failure, a loser
         in the Cold War against the United States."

He sighs.

Illanov:"Yet another tragedy. I have had too many in my life."

As he keeps brooding, in the distance behind the train a red light
appears and begins to come closer. After a few moments Illanov turns
to look out the back and spots the light. He immediately becomes alert.

Illanov:"Another train? On this track? And with a red light?"

He watches the red light, seeing it coming closer. He quickly turns to
the gas lamp and turns it off. The caboose interior is veiled in dark-
ness. Illanov turns back to the red light, which had come close enough
to show what it really is: two slits that look ominously like two evil
eyes on the front of a train engine.

Illanov:"Bolshoi! What kind of train is this?"

He opens the rear caboose door and goes outside. He watches as the
train begins to come closer, moving on the track next to the military 
train. Illanov watches as the train speeds past and begins to pull
alongside his train. The strange train has an enclosed engine and two
carraiges.

Illanov:"No markings... what is this? Some plot?"

He then hears several metal thumps. He quickly looks up and sees
several figures jump from the carriages onto the military train. Illanov
swores.

Illanov:"A raid!"

He quickly runs back into the caboose.

Troop Carriage:

This looks similar to an ordinary low-class passenger carriage. Soviet
conscripts are in the seats. All are sleeping and some are snoring, 
their bodies swaying a bit from the train's movements. Illanov appears
on the other side of the one door leading to the caboose. Before he
can open it, he sees the other door open and he quickly ducks down. He
then slowly lifts his head to look through the door window into the
carraige. What he sees makes his eyes widen.

Illanov:"Oh my..."

Walking into the carriage from the open door are 3 robots. Their bodies
are humanoid, but their mechanical construction is a more Victorian-era
conglomerate of hydraulics, gears, joints and bolts. Their heads are
simple tubes with two red eyes on either side of it. The metal they are
built out of is a rusty yellow color. On their arms are what appear to 
be gun barrels with laser sights.

Illanov:"Holy Mother Russia! What are those things?"

The robots form a neat line next to each other, then raise their arms.
The laser sights are pointed at the heads of the sleeping conscripts.
Illanov quickly ducks back down as the guns fire silenced shots. His
face becomes deathly pale as the shots ring out the fate of the
conscripts. After a few moments, he looks back inside. Several of
the conscripts are slumped on their seats, while the rest are pretty
much in the position they were sleeping in. The three robots are
still here as well, smoke coming from their gun barrels. One of them
turns to one of the others.

Robot 1:"Search the caboose for any possible remnants."

Robot 2:"Confirmed."

Illanov gasps and quickly crawls back to the caboose as the second
robot walks down the carriage to the door.

Caboose:

Everything is still dark, except for the red lights of the searching
robot. It walks out the back door and looks around.

Robot 2:"Negative readings. No hostile organic life forms."

The robot turns and walks back up forwards in the train. Suddenly a
hand appears from under the caboose and grabs a railing. Illanov
then appears and begins to pull himself up back onto the floor. He
looks for the robot, but sees nothing.

Illanov:"What did I get myself into?"

He walks to the other side and looks around towards the front. He
sees a crane from the second train moving large crates from the
military train. Illanov counts the carriages until he reaches the
one the crane is working on.

Illanov:"The warheads! They are stealing it."

He thinks for a moment.

Illanov:"Smuggler or not. I am still a defender of the Soviet Union.
         I must find out where they are taking the warheads... and
         what these things are."

He takes a deep breath, then heads into the caboose.

Military Train
10:12 PM:

The train is still moving forward with the intruder train next to it.
The crane is gone, however, and several figures jump from the military
train back onto theirs. After a few minutes, the intruder train goes
onto another track and disappears into the forest. The military train
keeps going. In the driver's compartment, the engine is still running,
the bodies of the driver and two technicians are lying on the floor.
Lying next to the open coal chute is a small black device with a red
light that goes on and off with a beep.

Bridge
10:14 PM:

This is a steel-girder bridge over a deep gorge. The steel beams become
illuminated as the military train comes closer to the bridge. Just as
the engine goes onto the bridge, it explodes. The explosion blows apart
the engine and also blows the coal carriage off the tracks. It pulls
the carriages after, derailing them one-by-one until the caboose is the
last to plunge into the gorge. There is a loud crash as the derailed
train smashes into the gorge floor and pile into a heap of wreckage.
The engine, now at a complete halt, continuous to burn on the bridge 
above.

Intruder Train
Several Kilometers Away
At That Moment:

The intruder train is moving on its tracks through the forest towards
its mysterious destination. Clinging to the rear carriage connector on
the last carriage of the train is Illanov.

Bedroom
Yenko Residence
Suburbs
Moscow
5:34 AM:

This is a typical bedroom with a queen-sized bed, two bedside tables (both 
with lamps and one with a telephone), a dresser and closets. The curtains 
are drawn and it is still dark outside. There is already activity in the
bedroom. Yenko and his wife, Sasha, are busy with intimate matters. There
is heavy breathing and soft laughter.

Sasha:"Oh, Yenko..."

Yenko:"Ah... guess I should buy you jewelry more often."

Sasha giggles.

Sasha:"You do know how to make a girl... oh... feel special."

Yenko:"I'm... dah... glad you feel that way..."

The two of them can be heard kissing. Suddenly the phone begins to
ring. Yenko groans loudly. He begins to reach for the phone, but
his wife grabs his hand.

Sasha:"Leave it alone. It will soon stop..."

She pulls him closer, but the phone keeps ringing. After a minute,
Yenko groans again and grabs the earpiece and answers.

Yenko(into phone):"Dah?"

Voice(over phone):"Yenko! Glad I found you."

Yenko(into phone):"Andropov. Unless this is an emergency involving
     the KGB, I'm hanging up."

Andropov(over phone):Er... then you better not hang up, because the
        KGB officials are here on site with me."

Yenko immediately gets up and turns on the light. He quickly adjusts
his eyes to the sudden harsh lights.

Yenko(into phone):"What? What is going on?"

Andropov(over phone):"They want to talk to you, comrade."

Yenko(into phone):"About what? The train?"

Andropov(over phone):"Dah."

Yenko becomes very worried and he holds the phone tighter.

Yenko(into phone):"Is it about comrade Illanov and the papers?"

Andropov(over phone):"In a way, but not the one you would even dream
        of or expect."

Yenko breathes a sigh of relief.

Yenko(into phone):"Then what do they want?"

There is a moment of silence.

Andropov(over phone):"Comrade, the nuclear transport train has been
        destroyed and the warheads stolen."

Yenko's face instantly turns chalk white at the news.

Yenko(into phone):"What?! What happened??"

Andropov(over phone):"The staff at station 43 were alerted when the train
        did not arrive on schedule at the checkpoint. They sent out a
        helicopter to look for the train. They found the wreckages at a
        gorge bridge 70 kilometers from the checkpoint. The train was blown 
        apart but still on the tracks. All the other wagons had plunged into 
        the gorge, however. They looked for bodies and found that all had 
        been shot in the head before the train had been destroyed."

Yenko(into phone):"And Alex?"

Andropov(over phone):"No sign of him. He might have been killed and thrown
        off earlier. We have helicopters looking for him, but at this point
        he is marked as missing."

Yenko(into phone):"The documents?"

Andropov(over phone):"Don't worry about that, comrade. There was a fire in
        the wreckage of the caboose which destroyed the documents. I made
        sure of it."

Yenko breathes a small sigh of relief, but he still is very pale.

Yenko(into phone):"How bad is the situation there?"

Andropov(over phone):"Very bad, comrade. The KGB is breathing down my neck
        and this incident has gotten through right to the Politburo and
        Gorbachov himself. And it gets worse: we have been getting uncon-
        firmed reports of more such thefts/attacks at remote nuclear
        depots and bases. As I said these need to be confirmed, but it 
        has sent up the national security alert to the second highest 
        level. I think you had better get back to your office, comrade. 
        The KGB will be all over us like lice."

Yenko(into phone):"Dah, I will. Be sure let Illanov contact me if you 
     find him alive."

Andropov(over phone):"Dah, comrade."

Yenko quickly puts the phone down, gets up and begins to grab his clothing.
Sasha sits up and looks at him.

Sasha:"Is something wrong?"

Yenko:"Dah. I have to get back to the office. You get the children to 
       school while I try and deal with this."

Sasha:"Dah, I will. Is it serious?"

Yenko:"I cannot discuss it right now. Maybe later."

He goes over to her, gives her a quick kiss, then leaves the room in a 
hurry.

Intruder Train
Garastan Mining Region
Somewhere In The Ural Mountains
6 April 
7:01 AM:

The train is moving through a mountainous region towards an abandoned
mining camp.  At the rear of the train, Illanov has gotten himself
comfortable and was waiting as the train moved through the region.
He looks around.

Illanov:"I wonder where we are going? I must find a phone and contact
         Yenko."

He feels the train beginning to slow down. He gets up and carefully
moves to the edge of the carriage. He peers around the corner. He
sees the train is approaching the abandoned mining camp. The camp
has several storage warehouses, tool sheds, ore smelters, loading
bays and bunkhouses. Most of the buildings have fallen into disuse
and grass is growing amongst the tracks. Several entrances to
mining shafts go into the mountains surrounding the camp. One of
them has a new structure: a metal tower with a gun emplacement
on it. Also around the entrance and near the tracks are more of
the same types of robots. Illanov spots them.

Illanov:"Bolshoi! More of them! I had better hide!"

He quickly ducks back behind the carriage. The train keeps going
slower as it approaches the mine entrance. The train soon stops
just before the entrance. Appearing from the metal tower is another
robot, but this one is different from the others. It looks more
sleeker and more high-tech, with a shiny red metal. It has a
flat, round head with two camera lenses for eyes and a mouthpiece.
On the chest plating is the code INU-04. It approaches the train 
as one of the yellow robots climb off. The two of them meet and 
begin to talk.

INU-04:"Status report."

Robot:"Objectives completed. The warheads have been successfully
       transferred with no incident. All potential organic wit-
       nesses have been eliminated and their train destroyed."

INU-04:"Status is positive. Proceed into the mine and have the
        shipments transferred to track seven from which you will
        continue the transportation of other shipments from grid
        A4-57."

Robot:"Comfirmed."

The robot turns and climbs back onto the train, followed by INU-04.
The train begins to move forward again, slowly going into the
darkness of the mine. As the carriages pass, the robots on guard
scan them. As the last carriage passes, they fail to spot Illanov,
who is hanging on the underside of the carriage.

Intruder Train
The Mines
7:09 AM:

The train is moving on the mining tracks through the tunnels made
by years of mining. The only source of light is the one on the
front of the engine. The light shows the track the train is, as well
as old mining carts, support pillars and miner's gear left behind
on the sides of the track. The train continues deeper into the
mines.

Train Depot
Somewhere Beneath The Ural Mountains
7:23 AM:

This is a large hollow cavern deep inside the mountains. Large spot
lights hang from the ceiling. On the cavern floor is the train depot.
Dozens of train tracks coming from different tunnels lead to a 
station, train sheds and several turntables. Several different tracks
lead from the station back into the mountains. Cranes are busy loading
and unloading from the various trains, which all look like the
intruder train. Water towers and signals line the tracks, while guard
towers stand tall above the station. Several large power transformers
give off sparks as they generate electricity while power lines cris-
cross between the various structures. Robots are practically everywhere
in the area, keeping guard or doing patrols. Robotic forklifts and
cranes move the cargo crates of the incoming trains to the trains
of the other tracks. The intruder train comes in and is lead along to
the station via various light signals. Once it reaches the platform,
it stops. Underneath the train, Illanov lets go of the underside of
the carriage. He carefully takes a peek around the area from where
he is hiding.

Illanov:"This cannot be an American operation. Not even they would be
         capable of something such as this."

He looks around more, spotting the cranes moving crates from the train
to another train on the other side of the platform. He notices that
the crates are those containing the nuclear warheads.

Illanov:"More crates. Where do those other trains take them?"

He then hears something ducks back under cover. On the platform, INU-04
is walking towards a square structure with various antennas and
dishes on the roof. Illanov appears from cover and watches the robot
walking towards the structure.

Illanov:"That must be a communications shed. Maybe I can contact Yenko
         from there."

He looks around, then creeps out of cover and walks ducked-down against
the side of the platform towards the structure. Once he gets close
enough as he can, he peeks at the structure for a while. After a few
short minutes, INU-04 appears and begins to walk towards the other
trains being loaded. Illanov looks around, then ducks as a patrol of
four yellow robots walk on the platform past where he is hiding. He
looks around again, then takes a deep breath. He climbs onto the
platform and dashes as quietly as he can across the platform into
the structure. None of the robots notice him.

Communications Shed
7:29 AM:

This is a small square room with a single door leading out. The rest of
the walls are covered with electronic equipment and communications gear.
Another robot is working at the one of the systems. It looks like the
yellow robots, only its metal is a dirty blue. Illanov comes into the
shed, then stops as he spots the robot. The robot, however, doesn't
notice him and keeps working. Illanov looks around. He spots a radio
nearby. He looks at it eagerly, then at the robot. He bites his lower
lip, then goes to the radio. He carefully actives it and picks up the
microphone, all the while keeping his eyes on the robot. He squats down
under the table with the microphone, then begins to send his call.

Office
Nuclear Transport Operations (NTO)
Moscow
At that moment:

Yenko, Andropov and three KGB officers are in the office right now. They
are in a meeting. Yenko is talking to the higher ranking officer, with
the name SOLOVIEV on his uniform pocket.

Soloviev:"As I understand it, comrade, this Alexander Illanov was on
          the train for a meeting with the missile base commander at
          Vladivostok. Dah?"

Yenko(nodding):"Dah, comrade."

Soloviev:"And what was this meeting about?"

Yenko:"I told your people before, that Illanov was going to meet with
       the commander on how future transportation of nuclear weapons
       will be done with the added security risks we are experiencing."

Soloviev:"Really, comrade? And since when has there been a security
          risk to our trains?"

Andropov:"Since yesterday." 

Soloviev glares at Andropov, who immediately shuts up. Soloviev looks
back at Yenko.

Soloviev:"At any rate, we have nuclear warheads missing with your
          Alexander Illanov. And that is raising plenty of suspicion."

Yenko:"Comrade, I can assure that Illanov is completely innocent. It 
       might be that he was kidnapped by those who stole the warheads."

Soloviev:"Or it might be he helped them."

Yenko:"That is absurd! I have known Illanov for many years. He would
       not simply go and steal nuclear warheads like this."

The phone rings on the desk. Andropov is the first to answer it, but
Soloviev points at him.

Soloviev:"Make sure we can all hear that call, comrade."

Andropov sighs and pushes a button that allows all to hear who is on
the line.

Andropov:"Dah, this is Andropov."

Illanov(over phone, whispering):"Comrade, where is Yenko?"

Yenko's and Andropov's eyes immediately widen. Yenko quickly turns to
the phone.

Yenko:"Alex! Good to hear you! What is going on?"

There is a suddenly a very loud shush from the phone.

Illanov(over phone, whispering):"Comrades! Be quiet! The enemy is just
       a few feet away from me."

The two Russians immediately quiet down. Soloviev and his officers watch
with suspicion.

Soloviev:"What is..."

Yenko interrupts him by holding his finger to his lips indicating silence.
Soloviev stops, but keeps looking suspicious. Yenko turns back to the
phone.

Yenko(whispering):"Comrade? You there?"

There is a short moment of silence before Illanov speaks.

Illanov(over phone, whispering):"Dah, still here, comrade."

Yenko(whispering):"What is going on? Where are you? And who is this
     enemy?"

Illanov(over phone, whispering):"I am somewhere beneath the Urals with
       those responsible for the attack on our train. But I cannot
       truthfully say who or what this enemy is."

Yenko(whispering):"You must tell everything, comrade. The KGB is here
     in my office listening to our conversation."

Illanov can be heard swearing softly. Soloviev steps up and begins to
whisper in a commanding tone.

Soloviev(whispering):"This is captain Mikhail Soloviev of the KGB. Is
        this Alexander Illanov?"

There is another pause.

Illanov(whispering):"Dah."

Soloviev(whispering):"Right. Firstly, what is this enemy you are talking 
        about? Those who attacked the train?"

Illanov(over phone, whispering):"Dah. They attacked our train and have
       taken the warheads on their trains to this underground station
       somewhere beneath the Urals. They are moving the warheads to
       other trains here."

Soloviev(whispering):"Who are they? The Americans?"

There is a moment of pause.

Illanov(over phone, whispering):"I cannot tell you."

Soloviev(whispering):"What do you mean 'can't'? I order you to answer
        the question!"

Illanov(over phone, whispering):"Neyt, comrade. I cannot tell because
       if I do, you might think I am mad or even think I am part of
       this theft of the warheads."

Soloviev(over phone, whispering):"I am already doubting your loyalties
        to Russia, comrade. Now, tell me or consider yourself an enemy
        of the Soviet Union!"

A sigh comes from the other side before Illanov responds.

Illanov(over phone, whispering):"They... are..."

Suddenly Illanov can be heard screaming, followed by the sounds of a
struggle and finally a loud thump. The Russian officers look at each
other, then back at the phone.

Soloviev:"Illanov! What was that noise?"

There is no answer.

Yenko:"Comrade? You all right?"

There is a reply, but it is now a metallic voice on the other end.

Voice(over phone):"Identify yourselves and your location, organics."

Soloviev:"This is Captain Soloviev of the KGB, Moscow. Where is
          Illanov?"

The line suddenly goes dead. Yenko and Andropov look at each other
pale-faced. Soloviev stands up straight and turns to his officers.

Soloviev:"To the ministry! See if that line was traced!"

The officers salute, then follow Soloviev as he leaves the office in a
hurry. As the door closes behind them, Yenko sighs.

Yenko:"Mother Russia. What has Illanov gotten himself into?"

Andropov:"What have WE gotten ourselves into? We must put this whole
          business to an end."

Yenko:"And leave Alex at the mercy of whoever was at the end of the
       line? We don't even know who these bastards are!"

Andropov:"But the KGB is all over this operation!"

Yenko:"Precisely! They are looking for those who stole the warheads,
       not for us. We just lie low and let things calm down, then we
       resume operations. And hope Alex gets out of this alive."

Andropov shakes his head.

Andropov:"Neyt. You might be staying in the business, but I'd rather
          not face a firing squad."

He walks for the door. Yenko looks up at him in surprise.

Yenko:"And where are you going?"

Andropov stops by the door and turns to look at Yenko.

Andropov:"I'm going to pull myself out of the army and flee to my asylum
          in Cuba. I will not let myself get caught." 

Yenko is shocked.

Yenko:"Comrade! This is madness! You'll never make it!"

Andropov:"Not as mad as staying in the middle of this mess. You and
          Illanov, if he is still on your side, are on your own!"

Andropov opens the door, walks out and closes the door loudly. Yenko
sighs and slumps down into his chair, his face in his hands.

Platform
Train Depot
Somewhere Under The Ural Mountains
7:32 AM:

The work of loading and unloading continuous around the platform. Near
one the trains two yellow robot guards are holding an unconscious
Illanov by the arms. INU-04 comes walking down the platform towards
the two robots. When it comes to them, they stand at attention. INU-04
looks at Illanov, then at the two robot guards.

INU-04:"Where did you locate this organic?"

Robot Guard:"He was captured inside the communications array station in
             the process of sending a signal to his superiors. He was
             contacting the KGB in Moscow."

INU-04:"A KGB operative. High threat level. Have him taken onto train
        1570 for transportation to the Totallator. The command protocol
        will require him for interrogation."

Robot Guard:"Function commencing."

INU-04 walks back up the platform while the two robot guard turn around
and drag Illanov down the platform to one of the trains being loaded.

Container Train
Train Depot
7:40 AM:

This is another train similar to the one used in the attack. However, it
is much longer, having several additional cargo carriages attached to it.
On a signal from one of the signal boxes, the engine gathers steam and
begins to move. It slowly picks up speeds, then goes onto the special
tracks that run from the depot. It travels into another tunnel and goes
into the darkness. Behind it, another container train takes its place
at the platform.

Bridge
Underground Cavern
Somewhere Beneath Uzbekistan Region
6:22 PM:

This is a steel girder bridge over a deep ravine somewhere underground.
Four railway tracks run on the bridge directly out of tunnels in the
rocky face of the one side of the ravine. The other side, however, is
a giant metal hull, with dozens of lights coming from various windows
and open spaces in it. The tracks go right into the hull. The container
train with Illanov onboard comes out the rocky side onto the bridge.
It goes over the ravine and heads right into the other steel side. As
it goes into the entrance, another train on a different comes out and
goes into the opposite direction of the container train.

Politburo Meeting Room
The Kremlin
Moscow
7:03 PM:

This is a stately room with wooden walls and two arched windows looking
out over Red Square. On the walls are pictures of Soviet leaders like
Lenin and Stalin. The red curtains are currently draped closed as the
members of the Soviet government sit around a long wooden table. At the
head of the table is the leader of the Soviet Union: Mikhail Gorbachov.
Among the members is the head of the KGB, the Defense Minister, the
Foreign Minister and the Interior Minister. Among the papers and glasses
of vodka on the table is an audiotape player. Everyone is listening to
the recording of the conversation that had taken place inside Yenko's
office. Once the tape comes to an end, everyone looks up at Gorbachov.
Gorbachov looks at the Defense Minister.

Gorbachov:"What did your forces find at the mines?"

Defense:"I'm afraid our enemies managed to vacate the area before we
         arrived there, comrade Premier. The mining towns were empty 
         and the mining shafts collapsed."

Gorbachov:"Were there any clues as to the nature of our opponent?"

The Defense Minister hesitates.

Defense:"We did find footprints, but... they were not made by any
         human foot or boot or shoe."

There is a murmur amongst those around the table. Gorbachov looks at
the Defense Minister, then at the head of the KGB.

Gorbachov:"What about that voice on the tape?"

KGB:"We went through our databanks of known enemies, comrade Premier,
     but we found no matches. Indeed, whoever was on the line spoke as
     if he had a radio speaker for a mouth."

The murmuring is now louder as well. Gorbachov turns to the Foreign
Minister.

Gorbachov:"What about the Americans?"

Foreign:"Our embassy in Washington says that they are denying any kind
         of operation of this kind taking place inside our borders."

Defense:"Of course they deny. It is standard policy: everyone, including
         us, deny any involvement in any kind of secret operation."

KGB:"Begging your pardon, comrade Premier, but I do not think that even
     the Americans would be capable of an operation of this scale and
     magnitude so deep inside the USSR."

Gorbachov turns to the KGB Head, as do everyone else around the table.

Gorbachov:"And who do you think is responsible for this?"

KGB:"At first we thought it might be a smuggling ring. Disloyal officers
     who are stealing hardware from our bases to sell on the black
     market. In fact, this Alexander Illanov was suspected of being
     one of the smaller smugglers."

The Interior Minister goes pale.

Interior:"Smugglers? In the army? That is outrageous!"

KGB:"Dah, comrade. But as we dug further into this matter, we have begun
     to see that this kind of operation would be prohibitly expensive,
     even for the Americans, let alone some small time smugglers. We
     have begun to suspect that we might be dealing here with a com-
     pletely different foe."

Everyone around the table stares at the head of the KGB.

Gorbachov:"And who do you think is this... different foe, comrade?"

The KGB Head hesitates, then takes a deep breath and speaks.

KGB:"I suspect, comrades... that this foe... is not human."

The room erupts into a flurry of babbling voices. Words like
"outrageous" are mentioned a lot. When everyone calms down, Gorbachov
looks at his ministers.

Gorbachov:"Comrades, I suggest you all better find out who is REALLY
           for these thefts and stop daydreaming about things that
           came from bad American movies."

He stands up and gathers his things.

Gorbachov:"We will reconvene this meeting this time next week. By then
           I want concrete evidence. I bid you all good night."

He turns and walks to the door. He walks out and closes the door with a
loud bang. Everyone else around the table just sigh and look at each
other.

KGB:"It is nights like this I wish the Americans WERE responsible."

Defense:"Dah, comrade. Dah..."

The government members all stand up and begin to quietly file out of the
room.

Holding Cell
Detention Block
Location Unknown
Somewhere Beneath Uzbekistan Region
12 April
6:00 AM:

This is a small square, white-tiled room with only a single light in 
the ceiling illuminating it. A single steel door is the only entrance
into the room. Lying on a medical examination table is Illanov. He is
currently unconscious. Monitoring him is another robot like the yellow
robots, only its metal is white and has medical utilities instead of
weapons. The door swings open and in walks three robots. Two of them
are soldier robots, the third one looks like INU-04. However, it has
the code INU-01 on it. It looks at Illanov, then at the medical robot.

INU-01:"Status."

Medical:"The subject is fully sedated and has not made any attempt to
         escape. Health readings are stable and normal."

INU-01:"The command protocol seeks him in audience. Awaken him, but
        keep sedation levels low to reduce his strength to minimal."

Medical:"Confirmed."

The medical robot sticks a needle into Illanov's neck and injects a
serum into him. After a few moments, he begins to moan and stir. The
two soldier robots walk up on either side of the table and grab his
arms. As he drowsily becomes more and more conscious, the soldier
robots drag him up. INU-01 leads the two robots out the door as they
drag Illanov out the door.

Central Command
Unknown Location
6:10 AM:

This is a room located inside an upside down dome underneath some kind
of massive structure. The dome walls are all windows looking out at
the bottom of a lake or ocean. A single tube leads from the ceiling
down to the floor at the edge of the room. In the centre there is a
raised platform, surrounded by chairs. On top of the platform is a
larger chair. Above it in the roof is a massive electronic computer.
Hanging from it above each chair is a belt with electrical wires
from them to the computer. Seated in the smaller chairs are more robots
that looking like INU-04 and INU-01. INU-04 is there, along with four
other robots: INU-02, INU-03, INU-05 and INU-06. One chair is empty.
The five robots have the belts on, with the wires connected into ports
on their heads and bodies. Seated in the large chair is Matrix. His
body looks much like the one he would use years later, only the design
is more in the industrial style of the other robots. The door of the
tube opens and in walks INU-01 and the two soldier robots dragging
Illanov. Illanov is fully conscious, but his muscles are still weak.
The robots stop near the platform.

INU-01:"We have brought the organic."

In the computer above, a lens moves into position and turns on. A
holograhic image of Matrix's skull appears in front of the group.
Illanov's eyes widen in shock. Matrix looks at INU-01.

Matrix:"Excellent. Interface with the mainframe, INU-01, and prepare
        for departure."

INU-01:"Executing."

As INU-01 walks over and sits down in his chair, Matrix looks at the
paralyzed Illanov.

Matrix:"Alexander Illanov. Sergeant. Soviet Military. Nuclear Division.
        20 years of age."

Illanov:"Bolshoi! What are you? And where am I?"

Matrix:"I am Matrix, Illanov. I am the command protocol and controlling
        artificial intelligence of this force you have seen. I must 
        admit that your intrusion had succeed well beyond the odds I
        had calculated. Not bad overall, for an organic."

The two robots drag Illanov to the edge of dome. They face him towards
the window. Matrix floats next to him.

Matrix:"I will now answer your second question."

Illanov:"Mother Russia..."

Suddenly the sounds of massive engines being activates can be heard
throughout the structure. In the ocean fish and other sea creatures
scurry away from the structure. In the computer above dozens of lights
flicker on and off as the computer goes to work. Matrix turns to the
robots seated around his body.

Matrix:"Status report."

INU-06:"Reactor level at optimum. Cooling rods in place. All power
        relays and substations report full operational status."

INU-05:"Hull integrity is highly stable. All systems report no
        compromises in plating."

INU-04:"All defensive weaponry systems are online and are deployed
        for use."

INU-03:"All six propulsion propellers are at full charge. Systems
        are reporting optimum levels."

INU-02:"Thrust engines and control systems are prepared to activate
        once surfacing is complete."

INU-01:"All systems are ready and in operation. Nuclear warheads are
        secure and in place for immediate launch. Totallator ready for
        departure."

Illanov looks around in consternation.

Matrix:"All systems are 100%. Depart."

INU Robots:"Departing."

The entire structure suddenly begins to shake violently. Through the
window can see the lake or ocean bottom beginning to go lower beneath
the structure. He is at a loss for words.

Soviet Boomer
On Patrol In Caspian Sea
Near Uzbekistan Coast
At That Moment:

This is a Soviet Boomer submarine that has surfaced and is holding
position some distance from the USSR coast. On the decks the captain
and his crew are enjoying some relaxation. The captain is busy playing
golf while other crewmembers talk, gamble or just have a good time.
As the captain hits another golf ball out some distance towards the
coast, another crewmember climbs out and down from the conning tower.
He looks like the radio operator. He runs up to the captain, holding
a paper. The captain doesn't look at him.

Captain:"This better be good, comrade."

Operator:"Comrade captain. Shore transmissions reports a massive tremor
          along the Caspian coast."

The captain quickly turns to the operator, who holds out the paper. The
captain takes the paper and reads it.

Captain:"Earthquake? Out here? What is going on?"

Suddenly some of the crewmember begin to shout and point towards the
waters north of them. The captain and the rest of his crew look out over
the waters. There is a large amount of foam appearing over a wide area
of the lake.

Captain:"Bolshoi. What is happening out there?"

The foamy waters become more and more violent. Suddenly the waters start
to rise in the middle of the maelstrom. After a few seconds, a giant 
metal tower comes out of the water. The crew watch in astonishment as
more of the tower comes out of the water. After a few seconds, a much
larger shape rises up out of the foam. It is a huge round disc of metal
that appears out of the waters. The crew is stunned for a few seconds at
the sight. The captain then turns to them.

Captain:"Below decks! Report to battle stations!"

The crewmembers snap out of their daze and they rush for the conning 
tower. They climb up, and then down into the sub through the hatch.

Warroom
NORAD Command Centre
State of Colorado
United States Of America
10:23 PM:

This is a very large room with many computer consoles and six large 
screens on the wall the desks are facing. They show the world in 
several sections. The countries of the US and Russia are outlined in 
blue and red respectively. On a wall is a DEFCON indicator which is 
currently at five. Technicians and officers are working on the desks. 
On one of the main screens is an electronic view of the southern 
Caspian sea. There are dozens of red markers indicating Soviet forces. 
At the main command terminal is the commanding officer, General 
Calloway, and another officer with a British military uniform, General 
Stanford. Both of their aides are standing nearby. Calloway is looking 
at the screens.

Calloway:"Okay, what do we have here?"

Stanford:"According to your lads, there is a lot of radio chatter other
          there. First it was civilian chatter because of some earth-
          quake. Now it is becoming more and more military."

Calloway:"Well now. Let's have a closer look. Perhaps we might catch
          sight of something."

Standford:"I agree. This will be a good opportunity for us British to
           learn how you Americans work here at NORAD."

Calloway:"Watch and learn, then."

Calloway looks to one of the sub-commanders.

Calloway:"What do our satellite boys say? Got any birds there?"

The commander turns to the generals.

Commander:"We will have live satellite images in a minute or so."

Calloway:"Good. Put it on the main screen when we get it."

Commander:"Yes, General."

As the one commander turns back to his console, an officer comes
up to the Generals.

Officer:"Sirs. Radar says they are picking up a large signature over
         the Caspian Sea, but they cannot get a good identification.
         They suspect it might be a flight of a new top secret Soviet
         bombers."

Calloway:"Now that is interesting. They must be using the quake as
          an opportunity to move their new toys."

Stanford:"Rather a big coincidence... unless the Russians caused the
          earthquake themselves. Perhaps through nuclear detonation
          somewhere underground."

Calloway:"Now that should score us some diplomatic points when we
          confront Gorbachov with this dirt."

An announcer's voice comes over the main speakers.

Announcer:"Satellite feed in five seconds."

Calloway looks at Stanford.

Calloway:"Let's see what the Russkies have to hide."

Grinning, both the generals turn to look at the screens. The main
screens goes from the electronic map to a live satellite image of a 
part of the Caspian sea. What appears makes the generals loose their
grins and has them and all the staff in NORAD stare at the screen.
In the centre of the screen is a massive metal disc flying over the
sea. It has six large holes around the center in a circle. Inside
each one is a massive spinning fan. In the centre of the disc is a
tower-like structure, while massive metal plates along the sides of
it. There are various other components on the disc too small to make
out. As they watch, massive metal domes close over the spinning fan
holes.

Stanford:"What the bloody h*** is that?"

Calloway:"That ain't no Soviet bomber. It doesn't even look Soviet or
          even human!"

He reaches a phone, picks it up and dials a number. After a few
seconds, there is an answer.

Calloway(into phone):"Get me the President, Pronto!"

Central Command
The Totallator
6:23 PM:

Illanov, in a state of shock, is still being held captive by the two
robots, with the skull of Matrix next to them. Through the windows one
can see the massive underside of the Totallator and the waters of the
sea below.

INU-03:"Lifting propellers fully operational."

INU-02:"Engaging engines."

The Totallator shudders as the massive engines activate. Below one can
see the giant ship beginning to move.

Matrix:"Status on nearby organic activity."

INU-04:"Large number of civilian and military transmissions being sent.
        69% of transmission relate to the Totallator. Military forces
        still on standby. No significant threat from those forces."

Matrix looks at Illanov, who is turned to face it.

Matrix:"As you can, Illanov, the Totallator is more than adequate enough
        to combat any opposition on our way towards the city of Moscow."

Illanov:"W... what are you planning to do?"

Matrix:"The Totallator will be positioned near Moscow to allow hacking 
        of main military systems. We shall take control of the remaining 
        nuclear arsenal of the Soviet Union and launch them in unison 
        with the nuclear missiles on the Totallator. The target is the 
        United States of America, as well several principal European 
        cities."

Illanov is now in total shock.

Illanov:"Bolshoi! But that will start a nuclear war!"

Matrix:"Correct. The nuclear exchanges will result in massive radio-
        active fallout that should cover the entire surface of Earth, 
        killing all significant organic life that survives the initial
        detonations within a year of launch. We shall then begin the
        systematic destruction of remaining organic life forms."

Illanov is stunned beyond any ability to speak. Matrix looks at the
other robots.

Matrix:"Dispose of this organic post haste."

Robots:"Commands received."

The camera projecting the image of Matrix deactivates and the skull
dissappears. As this happens, the two robots drag Illanov towards the
tube.

Politburo Emergency Council Room
The Kremlin
Moscow
At That Moment:

This is an enclosed room with no windows somewhere within the Kremlin.
The walls are made of wood and soundproofed, as is the ceiling and
floor. A wooden table with chairs stands in the middle of the room.
There are dozens of maps and video screens against the walls, most
notably a large screen in the wall at the one end of the table. Soviet
banners and photos of past leaders hang on the walls along with various
clocks showing the time at specific cities all around the world. Right
now the room is occupied with all of the ministers who were at the
meeting a week ago, minus Gorbachov. One of the doors is opened and
Gorbachov is lead in. The ministers all stand up, then sit down on a
gesture of the Premier. Once everyone is seated, Gorbachov speaks.

Gorbachov:"Right, what is going on? The United States president called
           me asking what is going on over the Caspian, and now this
           meeting."

Defense:"Comrade Premier is aware that there was a tremor is that
         region, dah?"

Gorbachov:"Dah. I take it is more than that?"

The Defense Minister nods and picks up a remote controls. He points it
at the large screen and pushes a button. A satellite image of the
southern Caspian Sea appears, with the Totallator right in the middle
of the screen. Gorbachov is taken aback.

Gorbachov:"Mother Russia! What is that?"

Defense:"That, comrade Premier, is what caused the tremor."

Gorbachov:"But... what is it?"

KGB:"We don't know. One of our submarines in the region saw it rise up
     from beneath the waters a short time ago."

Foreign:"And the Americans have called us asking if this some kind of
         new scheme we are up to."

Gorbachov:"Scheme? Us? Bolshoi, I don't even know WHAT that... thing
           is or to whom it belongs to."

Defense:"There is something more to it that makes it even more worrying
         about who controls it."

The Defense Minister pushes the button on the remote control. The image
changes of a close-up of one of the smaller components on the Totallator.
Lying on a missile ramp is a custom-built ICBM with a nuclear warhead
clearly of Russian design. Gorbachov's mouth hangs open.

KGB:"Dah, comrade Premier. Those are our stolen nuclear warheads on those 
     missiles."

Gorbachov:"Mother Russia... umm.... is that Alexander Illanov onboard?"

KGB:"That we cannot deny or confirm, comrade Premier."

Gorbachov keeps staring at the image, while his ministers watch him 
waiting for a response.

Defense:"What are your orders, comrade Premier?"

Gorbachov regains his senses, then quickly thinks before he starts
giving out orders.

Gorbachov:"Alert all fighter planes in the region as well as our
           missile forces and prepare for a possible attack. Have
           our surveillance aircraft and satellites monitor this
           thing constantly."

Defense:"Dah, comrade Premier."

As the Defense Minister picks up a phone near his seat, Gorbachov turns
to the Propaganda Minister.

Gorbachov:"I want a total media blackout in that region where that thing
           is. Absolutely no one must have a camera anywhere near it!"

Propaganda:"Dah, comrade Premier."

The Propaganda Minister reaches for his phone. Gorbachov looks at the
Foreign Minister.

Gorbachov:"Tell the Americans and any other government who can see this
           that this is a Soviet security matter and that they must not
           interfere."

Foreign:"Dah, comrade Premier."

The Foreign Minister picks up his phone. As the three ministers make
their call, Gorbachov looks back at the image of the Totallator, which
is now zoomed out again.

Surveillance Flight A
En Route to Totallator
Over Caspian Sea
6:43 AM:

This is a flight of 3 MIG Fulcrums and 1 Backfire Plane. The flight
are approaching the Totallator, which is still slowly making its
way over the Caspian Sea. In the cockpit of the leading MIG, one
can hear the radio chatter on the flight leader's radio.

Voice(over radio):"This is Spotter 1. Target in sight. Beginning
     fly pass. Over."

Flight Leader(into radio):"Copy that, comrade. Beginning fly pass.
             Watch for hostile fire."

Voice(over radio):"Confirmed, comrade. Over."

The flight flies closer to the Totallator. Soon they come up to
it and begin to fly along the side of it. The instant they do that,
flak explodes all around them while tracers of AAA cannons fire
along with missiles.

Flight Leader(into radio):"Spotter flight! Evasive action now!"

The flight begins evasive action and tries to get away. However, the
massive amount of firepower coming for them takes its toll: all but
the leading MIG are brought down or exploded into dozens of flaming
pieces. The leading MIG after burns out of range, firing flares and
chaff and using ECMs to avoid the missiles. Once he is out of range,
he quickly radios in.

Flight Leader(into radio):"Command, this is Spotter Flight Leader!
             The flying craft is hostile! I repeat: the flying craft
             is an enemy!"

He flies back to his airfield. Behind him the Totallator remains on
its slow flight course.

Soviet Scud Base
Ukraine Region
6:58 AM:

This is a large base located next a road in a forested area. The base
has the usual fences, guard towers, barracks and command posts. Also
here are bomb-proof concrete shelters. The base is on the alert as
Scud launchers are being taken out of their shelters onto the launch
pad nearby. The Scuds are positioned on the launch pads and the Scud
missiles are raised up into firing position. The Scud commander walks
to each Scud, where the technicians stood by the external firing
panels. He gives a different each time to each of the Scud launcher's
technicians. Once all the codes have been entered, the commanders
shout one final word. The technicians push one button on each control
panel and run away to the launch bunkers as the Scud missiles’ engines
start to come alive. A few moments later, the Scuds' rockets roar to
life as each Scud takes off in a cloud of smoke into the sky, flying
towards the Totallator.

Waste Disposal
Totallator
7:03 AM:

The waste disposal area of the Totallator is nothing more than a group
of platforms jutting out from the hull under one of the giant propel-
lers. A powerful draft blows downward from the propeller above. The
two robots drag Illanov onto one of the platforms. He looks in horror
at the sight of the massive drop to the sea far below. One of the
robots then takes out two metal clamps from a box next to the doorway.

Robot 1:"This should guarantee that, should you survive the fall, you
         will not be able to swim, organic. Prepare yourself for
         disposal."

Illanov gulps and sweats in fear as the robots bring him to the edge of
the platform. Nearby, a blue robot appears on one of the platforms and
tosses over a drum of waste. The draft blows the drum at high speeds 
down towards the Caspian Sea.

Surface Decks
The Totallator
7:04 AM:

This the top-most part of the ship besides the tower in the centre.
Dozens of AAA guns and SAM launchers appear from hidden panels
amongst the machinery and begin to fire into one direction. Their
target: the cloud of Scud missiles heading towards the Totallator. The
firepower of the guns and launchers succeed in destroying many of
the Scuds, exploding them into clouds of shrapnel. The shrapnel,
however flies into all directions and smashes or explodes into the
decks, causing considerable but insignificant damage. One Scud's 
engines are hit by a massive and plummets directly towards one of 
the domes covering the propellers.

Waste Disposal
At That Moment:

Illanov immediately looks up as he stands at the edge of the platform
with the two robots preparing to push him over. He gasps as he spots
the falling Scud through the spinning blades of the propeller. He
quickly turns and jumps towards the doorway as the two robots try to
grab him. At that moment, the Scud crashes into the dome. The impact 
of the Scud upon the dome causes both the warhead and rocket
fuel to explode. The explosion blows apart the dome and sends massive
pieces of metal tumbling into the propeller blades. One large piece
gets caught in the propeller and tears apart one of the blades. 
Shrapnel and spinning metal flies through the air, smashing into the
hull and tearing out huge chunks of it. One spinning piece of metal 
flies to the platform where Illanov is and slices it in half. The 
robots and Illanov, who are on the half jutting out of the hull, 
make a jump for the half still attached to the hull. Illanov lands 
with barely half his body on the platform. One of the robots gets hit 
by a chunk of hull plating and smashed down onto the other half of 
the platform, sparks coming from its damaged hulk. The other robot 
slips on the falling half and tumbles down with it and the other 
debris down to the sea. Illanov grunts and groans as he pulls himself 
up the best he can. Once he is up, he gasps for air. Once he has 
recovered a little, he gets up and looks around. There are not soldier 
robots, but the blue worker robots are already doing repairs and 
putting out fires. Above one can see that the propeller had lost one 
of its blades, as well as the gaping hole in the dome above it. 
Illanov looks over at the damaged robot, then goes to it. He searches 
it.

Illanov:"Come on! Please have a radio."

He comes across what appears to him as the radio component. He pulls
out the speaker and microphone out of the robot, then begins to work
on the radio part.

Warroom
NORAD Command Centre
United States Of America
11:10 PM:

Everyone is rushing around and monitoring the events over the
Caspian Sea. Every screen is dominated by the Totallator and maps
of the surrounding area. On the main screen the Totallator is
still moving above the Caspian Sea. Explosions can be seen near it
as the giant ship attacks and destroys incoming Scud missiles and
other projectiles. Generals Calloway and Stanford are busy reading
the report papers they are getting.

Calloway:"C****. Looks at this. The Russians are going nuts over this
          oversized Frisbee."

Stanford:"They're launching their Scuds and missiles at that thing and
          they only get a few scratches on it. Nothing serious."

Calloway:"And how long before they pull out the big stuff? And if they
          do, are we looking here at a possible MAD between the Soviets
          and that ship?"

Stanford:"Mutually Assured Destruction? Bloody h***, we got here a
          possible nuclear conflict and we can't do a thing about it
          without pulling ourselves into this mess."

Calloway sighs and tosses the papers onto their table.

Calloway:"And who's side is that ship? For all we know, its nukes are
          aimed as much at us as they are at the Russians."

Suddenly an officer comes running up to the generals.

Officer:"Sirs."

The generals look at the officer.

Calloway:"What is it?"

Officer:"We're intercepting a transmission between Moscow and someone
         on the ship."

The generals look at each other, then back at the officer.

Calloway:"Put on the overhead."

Officer:"Yes, sir."

The officer runs over to his terminal, sits down and pushes a button.
A second later two voices begin to speak over the loudspeakers. Every-
one who is able to understand Russian stops what he/she is doing as 
they listening to the two voices on the speakers: Illanov and Gorbachov.

Gorbachov:"Comrade, this is Premier Gorbachov. Who is this?"

Illanov:"Comrade Premier, this is Sergeant Alexander Illanov."

Gorbachov:"Illanov. Weren't you the one who was on that train whose
           warheads were stolen?"

Illanov:"Dah. And I've discovered those who are responsible and what
         their plans."

Gorbachov:"Who? Americans?"

Illanov:"Neyt, they are machines. Robots. No nationality. They are
         lead by a computer called Matrix."

Gorbachov:"Robots? Comrade, I find that dubious."

Illanov:"Comrade Premier, you can see their ship. Do you think that
         is dubious?"

There is a short moment of silence.

Gorbachov:"Keep speaking, comrade. What are their, or its, plans?"

Illanov:"Matrix is bringing this ship, the Totallator, towards Moscow
         so that he can access our nuclear arsenal and launch them
         along with his own at the Americans and their European allies
         so that he can start a nuclear war that will kill all life
         on this world."

There are shocked gasps on the speakers and in the warroom itself. The
two generals look at each other in shock.

Gorbachov:"That's madness! This Matrix is insane!"

Illanov:"I thought so too, but he is intent on doing this."

Gorbachov:"Do you know how to stop him?"

Illanov:"On my own, neyt, but this ship is held up by those massive
         turbines. If they can be destroyed, the ship will fall."

Gorbachov:"That ship's firepower is destroying anything we are firing
           at it, comrade. Could you perhaps try and shut it down for
           us?"

Illanov:"I could try, Comrade Premier, but I cannot guarantee that I
         will succeed."

Gorbachov:"What if you do not succeed?"

There is a short pause.

Illanov:"If the Totallator gets too close to Moscow, use nuclear weapons
         to stop it if need be. Do not worry about me, Comrade Premier.
         Protect Mother Russia! Protect humankind! Pro... Bolshoi! I
         must go!"

Gorbachov:"Comrade, wait!"

There is no reply other than static. The static then dies, indicating
that the line had been cut off. Everyone in the warroom who had listened
to the conversation begins to tell the other non-Russian speakers. The
two generals are in shock as they stare at the Totallator on the screen.

Calloway:"Holy horses***. This is a nightmare come true."

Stanford:"We must inform our governments!"

The two generals quickly reach for their phones and get on the line.

Stanford(into phone):"Put me through to the Prime Minister."

Calloway(into phone):"Get me the President."

The warroom erupts into a flurry of frantic activity. On the screen
the Totallator is slowly keeping on its course for Moscow.

Politburo Emergency Council Room
The Kremlin
Moscow
At That Moment:

Everyone in the room is listening to the now-dead voice phone in the
centre of the table for Illanov, but nothing could be heard further.
Gorbachov looks at his ministers.

Gorbachov:"Alert our forces and tell them to target that ship's
           propellers as soon as the defenses are down!"

Defense:"Dah, Comrade Premier!"

Gorbachov:"Also alert all our nuclear forces: they are NOT to obey ANY
           orders coming from Moscow or surrounding areas until 24
           hours have been passed."

Foreign:"But what if the Americans attack?"

Gorbachov:"Right now I am more worried about that ship than any attack
           by the Americans. If the Americans get too curious, tell
           them that this is an internal Soviet matter and will be
           treated as such."

Foreign:"I am not sure they will believe it, Comrade Premier."

Gorbachov:"It is a good enough excuse. Besides, the Americans are
           probably spying on this entire affair with their satellites,
           so they know what is really going on. Just keep them out of
           it."

Foreign:"Dah, Comrade Premier!"

Gorbachov:"Lastly, have one of the local ICBM silos near the Caspian
           Sea ready their missiles to destroy that ship, if it comes
           to that."

Defense:"Dah, Comrade Premier!"

The two ministers immediately begin making the needed calls. Gorbachov
and the others turn to stare back at the screen of the Totallator.

Central Command
The Totallator
7:18 AM:

Matrix and the INU robots are still in their seats, controlling and
monitoring the ship. Through the windows one can see the Caspian Sea
far below. The defense guns can be seen firing at missiles fired from
submarines under the sea surface. None of the missiles are able to
get close enough.

Matrix:"Status report."

INU-06:"All power systems operational. No damage."

INU-05:"Slight damage to hull. No serious damage. Repairs underway."

INU-04:"All defensive weaponry systems are fully operational. No
        losses."

INU-03:"Propulsion propellers 1-5 are at full charge. Propulsion
        propeller 6 suffered damage and running at 65% capacity.
        Repairs underway."

INU-02:"Thrust engines and control systems fully operational. No
        damage."

INU-01:"All systems operational and functional. Ship proceeding
        steady and successfully repelling attacks. Soviet forces
        remaining distance outside perimeter of Totallator."

Matrix:"Confirmed. Status report complete."

The robots resume their work for a few minutes before Matrix speaks
again.

Matrix:"Has the organic Illanov been disposed?"

There is slight pause as the INU robots check the status on Illanov's
execution. Moments later INU-01 reports.

INU-01:"Negative. Scanners detect that Illanov has escaped from custody
        and is located in area C56, sector 4."

Matrix:"Alert all forces in that sector and maintain current course."

Suddenly Matrix's body begins to detach from the wires and stands up.
Matrix climbs down and walks over to the lift.

Main Lift Tube
The Totallator
At That Moment:

This is a circular room with a large, tube-like structure in the middle.
There are doors in the structure, each leading to a lift. The floor
itself is actually girders that cover the pipes and wires that run from
and to the lift tube and other places. Illanov comes running in and
looks at the lifts.

Illanov:"Dah, this is where they took me."

Suddenly he hears the sounds of footsteps coming from the robots looking
for him. He is very worried.

Illanov:"Bolshoi! I have to go down the lift!"

He turns to the lift which leads down to the control centre. As he tries
to figure out how to open the doors, he notices the sound of the lift
coming up to him.

Illanov:"Uh oh. Something is coming up!"

He looks around for a way out. After a few moments a squad of five robots
come running in as the lift door opens and Matrix steps out.

Matrix:"Status report."

Robot Leader:"I have tracked the carbon unit to this section. We lost
              visual, but tracking systems report that he is still here."

Matrix:"Search all elevator shafts."

Robots:"Confirmed."

Each of the robots go to a lift door, as does Matrix. As the robots
open the doors and look inside, Illanov quietly appears from beneath
the floor. He puts the grider section to one side and climbs out
of the maintenance tunnel. He then quickly goes for the open lift
that Matrix came in. One of the robots, however, hears his footsteps
and spots him.

Robot:"Target acquired!"

Matrix and the other robots quickly turn their attention to Illanov.
Illanov gets inside the lift and quickly pushed the button. As the
doors close, the robots rush to the lift. Just before the lift doors
close, Matrix sticks his one claw between them. Illanov quickly kicks 
the claw out and the doors close. As lift begins to descend, Matrix
begins to smash the doors, causing dents in them. Illanov can only
watch in fear as Matrix tries to smash the door open, but soon the
lift lowers away from where it was. Illanov breathes a sigh of relief.
Meanwhile, above him Matrix forces the door open and looks down the
lift shaft.

Matrix:"The organic will not terminate my operations this early."

Matrix jumps into the shaft, then straightened its body. It feet and
claws pushes against the shaft walls. Sparks fly as Matrix slides down
the shaft via his claws and feet after the lift.

Central Command
The Totallator
7:24 AM:

The lift doors open and Illanov stumbles out of it just as Matrix
smashed down through into the lift. The INU robots pay no attention
to the scene, continuing their assigned work. Illanov steps backwards
as Matrix forces its way out of the lift and into the command room.
Illanov watches fearfully as Matrix steps up to full height and
stares at the Russian.

Matrix:"You are an elusive example of your kind, organic."

Illanov:"S-stop this, comrade! Do you realize what you will unleash
         if you start this war? You could easily be destroyed as well!"

Matrix:"Highly improbable, but the destruction of all organics takes
        primary priority, and my existence is secondary."

Illanov looks around frantically for a solution. He notices the INU
robots and goes and stands in front of one of them. He then turns to
Matrix and begins to taunt him.

Illanov:"Go ahead! Shoot me! You do want to shoot me!"

Matrix:"A pathetic attempt to force me to damage the systems. I will
        use more direct methods."

Matrix holds his claws out at Illanov, reaching to grab Illanov. Illanov
panics and climbs up onto Matrix's seat. Matrix moves to the stairs
leading up to his seat and begins to climb up. Illanov panics again
and grabs hold of the wires. He begins to climb, but Matrix sees his
weight is too much for the wires. He tries to grab Illanov, but
Illanov swings away. In doing this, the wires he is holding on to is
unable to carry his weight. They pull loose from where they are connected
into the ceiling, sending sparks flying and Illanov falling to the
floor. Suddenly the Totallator lurches downward at a sharp angle. Illanov
and Matrix slip and slide downward. Matrix smashes through the window
just before Illanov. Illanov grabs hold of the edge of the window while
Matrix fires grapples that also grab hold of the edge.

Flight Group Gamma
Holding Perimeter Near Totallator
At That Moment:

This is a group of 5 MIG Fishbeds that are flying in formation not
far from the Totallator. As they fly, they see the Totallator suddenly
tilt at a sharp angle, but keeping its current altitude. The flight
leader radios his command.

Leader(into radio):"This is Gamma Leader. The target is lurching at
      a sharp angle now."

The flight's command radios back.

Command(over radio):"Confirmed, comrade. We see it too. Stand by for
       orders."

Leader(into radio):"Confirmed, command."

There is a few minutes of static. After that their command radios in
again.

Command(over radio):"Send one of your fighters close to the target.
       See if its defenses are down. If your fighter can fly close to
       it without being fired upon, radio in immediately."

Leader(into radio):"Confirmed, comrade."

The leader then radios one of the other fighters.

Leader(into radio):"Gamma 4, fly towards the target and see if its
      defenses is working."

Gamma 4(over radio):"Confirmed, comrade."

One of the MIGs breaks formation and flies towards the Totallator while
the others keep their current course.

Central Command
The Totallator
7:28 AM:

Illanov is climbing back into the command room while the ships begins to
straighten itself thanks to the INU robots.

INU-03:"Ship stabilizing at level planes. All propulsion systems fully
        operational."

INU-02:"Emergency thrusters at optimum operational level."

As Illanov climbs in, Matrix, who is still hoisting himself up, sends a
signal the robots. INU-04 and INU-01 receive the signal.

INU-01:"Instructions confirmed. Beginning removal of carbon unit."

The two robots detach themselves from the systems and proceed towards
Illanov, who is struggling to his feet. As they approach him, Illanov
sees them and quickly climbs up one of the INU robots still attached.

Gamma 4
Approaching Totallator
7:29 AM:

The MIG is flying directly towards the Totallator, closing the distance
rapidly.

Gamma 4(into radio):"This is Gamma 4. Making a pass over the target. No
       hostile fire yet."

The pilot throttles the engine and the MIG flies faster as it beings to
fly a few feet above the Totallator's upper superstructure. He nervous-
ly looks around for hostile fire. As he is halfway across, he makes
another radio report.

Gamma 4(into radio):"This is Gamma 4. I am halfway over the target. No
       hostile fire."

He keeps the plane on course. After a few moments his plane clears the
superstructure and the Caspian Sea is once again beneath him. He quickly
looks behind him, then breathes a sign of relief. He makes another radio
report.

Gamma 4(into radio):"This is Gamma 4. I have cleared the target. I have
       encountered any hostile fire. Repeat: the target has not retaliated
       at me."

His flight leader radios in moments later.

Leader(over radio):"Copy that, Gamma 4. Well done, comrade. Return to
      formation."

Gamma 4(into radio):"Copy that, Gamma 1. Returning to formation."

The pilot pulls on the flight stick and his MIG begins to turn towards
his flight group in the distance.

Central Command
The Totallator
7:32 AM:

Illanov is now pinned against the lift door by the two INU robots, who
hold him securely by the arms. Matrix climbs back into the cockpit
with its claws, then steps over to where Illanov is struggling to get
free.

Matrix:"You are much like my creator: naive to think that it is possible
        to challenge me."

Illanov stops and stares in fear at Matrix, who steps closer and holds
a claw up to Illanov's neck.

Matrix:"Time to dispose of you."

Illanov feels the cold clamp of the claw going around his neck. He is
now breathing and sweating heavily, the fear now plain in his eyes.
Just as Matrix is about to break his neck, one of the still-attached
INU robots makes a report.

INU-06:"Radar has detected a large number of scud missiles closing in
        on the Totallator. Impact imminent."

Matrix quickly looks at INU-06, sensing that he had a mistake.

The Totallator
7:34 AM:

The Totallator is still making its slow progress. Above it, multitudes
of Scud missiles come in from the clouds and are rapidly closing the
distance. Coming in towards it but keep their distance, are flights of
Soviet MIGs and helicopters. The Scuds come within firing range of the
ship's defenses, but no gun or missile site retaliates. With no hostile
fire to stop them, the Scuds plunge into the Totallator. Massive explo-
sions rock the Totallator, the blasts sending large chunks of the
superstructure flying through the air. The Totallator lurches violently
to one side again, this time at a much steeper angle. As explosions
shudder the ship and fires burn out of control everywhere, the aircraft
and helicopters begin to move in on the ship.

Central Command
The Totallator
7:35 AM:

The jolts of the explosions knocks Matrix, Illanov and the two INU
robots holding him to the floor. Then the Totallator lurches, causing
all four of them to slide downward. Illanov grabs hold of one of the
still-sitting INU-robots and Matrix digs into the floor plating with
his claws. INU-04 and INU-01, however, smash through the windows and
tumble down towards the ocean. The ship begins to shudder violently.

INU-06:"Reactor shell cracked. Coolant leak detected in outer defense
        perimeter.

INU-05:"Hull compromised. Critical damage to superstructure. All
        available repair units on full operational status."

INU-03:"Propulsion propellers 1 and 2 are at full charge. Propulsion
        propellor 3 and 6 destroyed. Control loss of propulsion propel-
        lor 5. Loosing altitude rapidly. Requesting immediate repairs."

INU-02:"Thrust engines operational. Control loss to thrusters B5 to
        L1. Requesting immediate repairs."

Outside, the Soviet aircraft, along with missiles fired from submarines,
begin to bombard and strafe the underside of the Totallator. Illanov
struggles to the window and begins to wave for them. Behind him, Matrix
begins to claw towards Illanov. Illanov's waving does not go unnoticed,
for a troop helicopter notices him and flies towards the control room.
It stops and turns to show the rear-ramp lowered and several KGB
commandoes standing there holding AK-47s. Illanov shouts at them.

Illanov:"Comrades! Over here!"

One of the commandoes sees Matrix crawling behind Illanov. He quickly
gets his AK-47's strap off around him and tosses it for Illanov.

Commando:"Comrade! Behind you!"

Illanov, realizing that Matrix is still with him, grabs the AK-47 and
spins around to fire. But his aim is too high and Matrix makes a grab
for his one foot. Illanov pulls his foot away and quickly climbs up
to the other side of the room. Matrix uses the sides of the windows
to climb up himself. Illanov secures himself by the lift tube, takes
aim at Matrix and opens fire. Outside, the commandoes in the helicopter
also fire on Matrix. But their shots do not work, for the armor plating
of Matrix's body construct is able to withstand the bullets' impact. 
He begins to climb up to where Illanov is. Illanov, seeing Matrix coming
up to him, keeps firing even though his shots do not work. After a few
seconds, his rifle runs out of ammo. He tries to fire, but all he gets
is the click sound of an empty magazine. He then throws the rifle at
Matrix, who just slaps it away and keeps crawling up to Illanov. Illanov
backs against the lift, looking for a way out. But Matrix has him
blocked up, with no way out without coming too close to him. As Matrix
stands up and prepares to attack Illanov, Illanov bites his lower lip.
Suddenly he yells out and throws himself at Matrix. This move takes
Matrix by surprise. Illanov's impact against Matrix causes him to loose
his grip and fall backwards. The two of them then tumble out the window
and down towards the Caspian Sea below.

Caspian Sea
7:40 AM:

The waters of the Caspian Sea are being disturbed by large chunks of
superstructure breaking away from the Totallator falling off. The
submarines on the surface begin to move away from under the Totallator
to escape the falling debris. Above in the sky, Matrix and Illanov are 
falling down towards the ocean below. Illanov is desperately trying
to kick himself away from Matrix while Matrix tries to get a firm grab
on Illanov. The struggle keeps on until Illanov pushes himself away,
only to have Matrix grab hold of his one foot. Just moments after this
happens, the two of them splash into the Caspian Sea. There is a
short moment before Illanov's head breaks the surface. He gasps for
air, then looks around, fearing to see Matrix appear. However, Matrix
was below him, sinking towards the bottom holding Illanov's one boot
in his claw. As he sinks, the transmitter on his head sends out one
final signal. Just as it does this, water seeps into Matrix's body
and causes an electrical short which shuts Matrix down. The now-dead
body of Matrix sinks deeper towards the ocean floor. Back at the
surface, the helicopter carrying the commandoes. Hovers over the
water by Illanov and a rope is lowered down. Illanov grabs hold and
the helicopter takes off, flying away from the dying Totallator with
Illanov being pulled to safety.

Warroom
NORAD Command Centre
United States Of America
11:46 PM:

Everyone is watching the screens, holding their breathes as they watch
the Totallator die. The ship is now seriously damaged, with smoke
billowing from fires burning everywhere. The ship then splashes into
the Caspian Sea and begins to sink. Halfway down, there is a massive
explosion that rips through the entire superstructure of the ship,
causing it to break in half. The two halves then sink beneath the
waves of the Caspian Sea, massive clouds of steam and smoke rising from
the spot. Everyone in the war room breaks in applause and cheers as
they receive the message that the Totallator has indeed been destroyed.
At the command terminal, Calloway and Stanford shake each other's
hands.

Stanford:"Bloody scary, that was."

Calloway:"No kidding. For once I'm actually glad the Soviets won a
          battle. I'd rather have them control the nukes than some
          kind of crazy computer."

Stanford:"Same here."

Calloway turns to one of the sub-commanders nearby.

Calloway:"Tommy, takes us down to DEFCON 5."

Commander:"Yes, sir."

As the DEFCON indicator, which was at two, goes back down to five, an
officer comes up to Calloway.

Officer:"Excuse me, General. The President is on the line."

Calloway:"Thank you."

Calloway picks up the phone and answers.

Calloway:"Calloway... yes, mister President. The target is destroyed.
          You can break out the Champaign..."

Politburo Meeting Room
The Kremlin
Moscow
20 April
9:00 AM:

All the members of the Soviet government, with Gorbachov at the head of
the table, are quietly talking between each other. They are all impec-
cably dressed and well-groomed. Ceremonial soviet guards are standing
behind each of the members. Outside, a ceremonial band is playing the
anthem of the Soviet Union. The main doors open and another ceremonial
soldier walks in. He stands to attention.

Soldier:"Comrade Premier! Presenting Comrade Alexander Illanov!"

Gorbachov and the other members stand up, then look to the door as the
soldier steps aside. Illanov then comes walking in, wearing a clean,
brand-new Soviet uniform with polished medals. He holds his uniform
cap under one arm. He stops at the other end of the table and stands
to attention.

Gorbachov:"Welcome, comrade Illanov. We are pleased to finally meet you
           in person."

Illanov:"Comrade Premier, it is an honor."

Gorbachov looks around those at the table.

Gorbachov:"Comrades, today we are here to honor and reward a hero of
           the Soviet Union. He has exposed the plot of the computer
           Matrix to destroy our country and the whole world, and has
           defeated this evil using his wits and strength. That hero
           today is Comrade Alexander Illanov."

Gorbachov and the other Politburo applaud for Illanov. After a short
applause, they stop to let Gorbachov speak again.

Gorbachov:"For his great accomplishments, the people of the Soviet Union
           is forever grateful for his service to his country. And it is
           only this is only fitting that he should be rewarded for his
           bravery."

He looks directly at Illanov.

Gorbachov:"Of course, we would like to give you a public display of our
           appreciation, but given the nature of what has happened, this
           matter is deemed 'classified'."

Gorbachov chuckles, as does the Politburo members. Illanov just smiles
faintly. Gorbachov picks up two small cases on the table in front of
him and steps over to Illanov. Illanov turns to face Gorbachov, still
at full attention.

Gorbachov:"It is my pleasure to bestow comrade Illanov a special honor
           upon him."

He opens the one case after he puts the other on the table. He takes out
a large medal out. It is a golden heart, with the red star with the 
yellow hammer and sickle of the Soviet Union in the middle. It also has
a red ribbon.

Gorbachov:"Comrade Alexander Illanov. The Great Defender Of Mother
           Russia."

Gorbachov attaches the medal alongside those already on Illanov's uniform.
Once he is done, he salutes Illanov. Illanov salutes back, while the
other members stand up and applaud again. Once they stop and sit down
again, Gorbachov picks up the other case and looks back at Illanov.

Gorbachov:"But a simple medal and a title is not suffienct enough to
           show our gratitude. Thus, I will now bestow on you something
           more concrete."

He holds the case to Illanov and opens it. Inside are eight golden
Soviet stars inside.

Gorbachov:"Thus, I hereby promote you to General Alexander Illanov."

Gorbachov gives the case, plus the empty one, to Illanov. He takes
the two cases and salutes. Gorbachov salutes back, and one again the
Soviet Politburo stands up and applauds.

Meeting Room
Pentagon
Washington DC
United States of America
At That Moment:

This is a stately room somewhere inside the Pentagon. The walls are
fine marble and wood with the portraits of former US presidents. A
large mahogany table stands in the middle of the room with matching
chairs. At the table are members of the US Military (including General
Calloway), the Secretary of Defense (SOD) and not far from him, Mark 
Norwood in his EDF uniform. Everyone is looking at files on the table 
and photos of satellite images of the Totallator.

SOD:"So these images are all authenticated?"

Calloway:"Yes, sir. Everyone last bit. That thing, apparently called the
          Totallator, was as real as you and I, sir."

SOD:"Have any other images been leaked to the media?"

Calloway:"None, sir. We're keeping a huge, air-tight lid on this thing."

SOD:"Good. The Russians are doing the same. Even more so. They are just
     as worried about the panic that come of news that some crazed
     computer went and stole nukes and nearly triggered off World War
     III."

The SOD puts down the photos, then looks over at Norwood.

SOD:"Mister Norwood, how come is it that the EDF was unable to detect
     this 'Totallator', as well as this Matrix and his plans to wipe
     us all out?"

Norwood looks over at the SOD, waiting for a moment before speaking.

Norwood:"Mister Secretary, all our enemies thus far were all living,
         breathing creatures, both human and otherwise. Matrix was an
         Artificial Intelligence, so he was far more able to avoid
         our detecting until the last moment. Also, Matrix was created
         by a lone, insane scientist in an isolated part of Russia.
         There was no supervision of his work, not was there any alert
         of when Matrix killed his creator and escaped. As for the
         Totallator itself, it was built out of sight under the Caspian
         Sea and all access to the construction site were from isolated
         tunnel entrances all over the Soviet Union. As for the nuclear
         weapons, he had them all stolen just before the launch of
         the Totallator, giving us little time to properly investigate
         this matter, to discover what he was doing and how we were
         to stop him. It was not unlike the issue with Nuclear Storm,
         where nuclear weapons were stolen over a period of several
         years."

SOD:"Basically Matrix undermined the abilities of the EDF to counter
     his plans, right?"

Norwood:"Yes, Mister Secretary."

SOD:"You do realize this does not put the EDF in a good light."

Norwood:"I understand, sir, but please consider this: the Earth
         Defense Force is still struggling to rebuild itself after
         the KH Military attacked our headquarters and killed much of
         experienced staff 5 years ago. We have recovered our numbers,
         but we still lack experienced men. We are also still rebuilding
         our computer networks and systems, and we had lost much data
         in the attack. Our abilities today is still only half of what
         it was before the attack."

SOD:"I have read the report about that attack, and I understand your
     dilemma. So, answer me this honestly: if the EDF was not attacked
     back then, would it have been able to stop Matrix in time?"

Norwood is silent for a moment as all eyes on him, then he answers.

Norwood:"There would have been a chance he would still have gotten
         away from us, but the chances of us finding him and stopping
         him would also have been much greater as well."

There are nods and murmurs of agreement around the table. The SOD leans
back in his chair.

SOD:"Very well. You've convinced me, Norwood. I'll write the report on
     matter saying the EDF still suffered from the setbacks it got and
     that it lacked the abilities to stop a foe like this Matrix. All
     I need you to do in return to make sure this Totallator matter is
     kept top secret."

Norwood:"Yes, Mister Secretary, we will."

Dining Room
Yenko Residence
Moscow
10:43 AM:

This is a modest but tidy dining room. It has a large, fine dining
table with matching chairs. A simple chandelier hangs from the ceiling,
while some good curtains drapes the large window on the one side of
the room. The table is covered with a table cloth, and some fine hot
foods and good vodka is served on the table. Yenko, some friends and
their wifes are seated, talking to each other. As they do, Sasha comes
in escorting Illanov. As soon as the others see him, they smile, stand
up and applaud.

Yenko:"Here's to our local hero. Have a seat, Alex."

Illanov:"Thank you, Yenko."

Illanov takes a seat at the head of the table, while Sasha sits down
next to her husband. They then all lift their vodka glasses into the
air.

Yenko:"For our new GENERAL Illanov and to victory for Mother Russia!"

All:"To victory!"

They all clink their glasses, then take a sip of the vodka. Once they
put down the glasses, Sasha looks at them.

Sasha:"Eat up, ladies and gentlemen. The food is very good."

Everyone begins to eat. One of the other friends looks at Illanov.

Friend 1:"So how did it go at the ceremony?"

Illanov:"Oh, they promoted me and gave me this medal. Of course, they
         told me it is all top secret."

The friend laughs.

Friend 1:"As always. Did the Premier himself award it to you?"

Illanov:"In person. And he put it on himself."

Friend 2:"You are one lucky man, comrade. We've only managed to bride
          a little of the information of what had happened, but that
          was enough to tell us this was serious."

Illanov:"Very serious, comrade. Matrix would have turned this world
         into a nuclear waste."

Yenko:"Speaking of. We got some papers on that Matrix. Seems some crazy
       man in Siberia built him, then it went nuts on him for some
       reason. I can show it to you later. That, and other papers."

Illanov:"More smuggling, Yenko?"

Yenko nods and grins.

Yenko:"Dah, and especially now that you are this highly ranked. We can
       now get more and better weaponry and make large sums of money."

Illanov just sighs and shakes his head at Yenko, smiling a little.

Illanov:"You never change, much like the Politburo."

Everyone around the table laughs. As they resume eating and chatting,
Illanov notices something.

Illanov:"Where is Andropov?"

Yenko:"The coward fled the country the moment the KGB was on our backs
       about the train. He's probably relaxing on a beach somewhere,
       staring at skinny-dipping girls."

Illanov chuckles.

Illanov:"That's him. Oh well, I never did like him much."

Yenko:"Me neither. Say, how about you tell us the full story about
       what had happened between you and Matrix? We'll keep it secret
       among us."

Illanov:"Sure, comrades."

He begins to tell them the story of the battle between him and Matrix.

Illanov's and Vicki's Quarters
Road Rover Mission Control
New Mexico
United States Of America
Present Day:

This is the private quarters of Illanov and his wife Vicki. There is
a queen-size bed here, along with a dresser, desk, chairs, closets
and the personal effects from either of the couple. Illanov is standing
by his own closet, looking into a mirror built on the inside of the
closet door. He is wearing his uniform sans decorations and is well
kept for a formal occasion. He is staring down at the Great Defender
medal resting in his paw. He sighs.

Illanov:"So long ago. So much changed."

Just then Vicki comes walking out of the bathroom. She is wearing a
sparkling red dress and shoes and carrying a matching purse. She looks
over at Illanov.

Vicki:"Come on, Dear. We'll be late for our own little date."

Illanov looks up into the mirror, seeing Vicki's reflection in it. He
smiles a bit.

Illanov:"Sometimes for the better."

He puts the medal into its case in the closet, then closes the door. He
walks over to Vicki and presents his arm.

Illanov:"Shall we, Dear?"

Vicki giggles and takes his arm.

Vicki:"Let's, Dear."

The couple walk to the door. Illanov opens the door and Vicki goes out
first. Illanov then follows her out, turns off the light and closes the
door.


THE END