Episode 74. Approaching Putingrad
Context
- Coordinated Universal Time
- Thursday, August 8, 2024 - 17:01
- Location
-
- Earth
- Russia
- Rostov-on-Don
- Underground Rail Network
- Convoy
- Timeline
- Schak'Irra Timeline
- Previously
-
After landing on Red Square in Moscow, Agnes and Gomard's team explored the vast underground network beneath the Kremlin, discovered a mass grave, and survived a devastating Tholian attack. Delta and Foxtrot Units were decimated, forcing Alpha Unit to retreat through a vertical shaft before infiltrating the command room, where Tarsi cracked the Russian systems. The archives confirm the direct involvement of the Minister of Defense and senior officials in the July 15 nuclear attack. They also reveal that aliens captured in 1954 are still being held by the Russians. Militia leader Yevgeny Prigozhin claims that these mutants are exploited by the Grand Tsar Putin, who has taken refuge in his fortress of Putingrad, on the Black Sea. Despite her mistrust, Agnes forms a precarious alliance with him to reach the city and confront the Russian leader. In one final act of bravery, Prigozhin sacrifices himself to block the Tholians, giving the team a clear route to Putingrad aboard an antique locomotive.
Characters
| Name | Affiliation / Branch | Title / Rank | Species | Original Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agnes V. Rodriguez | NATO / Special Fleet | Captain | Human | Schak'Irra Timeline |
| Tarsi | Starfleet / Temporal Division | Commander | Andorian | Prime Timeline |
| Robert Gomard | NATO / Army | Colonel | Human | Schak'Irra Timeline |
| Eros Vitos | NATO / Special Fleet | Ensign | Human | Schak'Irra Timeline |
Manifest
| USS Enterprise | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | NATO |
| Location | Earth Orbit |
| Captain | Agnes V. Rodriguez |
| First Officer | Angie Chen |
| Pilot | Eric Corda |
| Communications | Emilie Flores |
| Operations | Charlene Savea |
| Tactical | Eric Corda Charlene Savea |
| Science | Manu |
| Advanced Weapons | Eros Vitos |
| Sickbay | Victor S. Calpel |
| Counselor/Consultant | Manu |
| Custodian | Manu |
| Passengers | Tarsi (Confidential) Robert Gomard and his squad |
| Ground Teams |
Alpha Unit: Robert Gomard, Agnes V. Rodriguez, Eros Vitos, Tarsi, Lebeau, Charlie Unit: 9 soldiers |
TL;DR
Fifteen hours of rails later, the old locomotive speeds through underground Russia. After a morning stop to refill the water tank, the convoy approaches Rostov-on-Don, where the team plans a broader resupply. To pass unnoticed, Agnes and the others disguise themselves as infantry and play Russian soldiers, while Gomard goes out on patrol, gathering information from soldiers. Eros handles the boiler resupply as if it were his calling, Tarsi slips into the T-34, and the minutes pass between tension and fatigue. The journey resumes, the rations seem inedible, sleep plays hard to get, then the convoy's slowing finally announces the approach to Putingrad.
Story
We have been riding aboard this train across Russia for nearly fifteen hours.
Early in the morning, we made our first stop in Voronezh.
We did not meet a living soul there, which allowed us to refill the locomotive's water tank without trouble.
Now we are approaching Rostov-on-Don.
We are planning another resupply stop there.
The area is known to be a stronghold, and we expect to run into heavily armed Russian garrisons.
The plan is simple.
We help ourselves in plain sight, as if we were part of the regular army.
In one of the cars, we finish our preparations.
Cmdr. Tarsi
All good, Agnes.
I just analyzed the atmosphere with the tricorder.
No radioactive particles detected.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
So we can take off our environmental suits without risk?
Cmdr. Tarsi
Yes.
But as a precaution, after the Rostov stop, we should put them back on.
Between here and Putingrad, we may pass through less isolated areas... potentially contaminated ones.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Robert, where did you put the uniforms we recovered?
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
They're here.
All that's left is to put them on.
Here's yours.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Uh...
What is this?
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
Your uniform.
Basic infantryman.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Are you kidding me?!
Why do you have a brigadier general's uniform?!
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
Don't take it the wrong way, Agnes.
But a woman with rank draws attention immediately in the Russian army.
Putting you at the bottom of the ladder will expose us to less risk.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Fine...
I'll play along.
But don't imagine for one second that I'm going to lick your boots.
What ranks do the others have?
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
Eros will be a sergeant.
Lebeau stays a corporal.
Cmdr. Tarsi
And me?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
You hide in the T-34.
You stay ready in case the plan goes sideways.
As we approach Rostov-on-Don, Eros slows the locomotive.
Tarsi hides inside the T-34 so as not to draw the attention of the Russian units patrolling the platforms.
The entire station looks like a gigantic weapons warehouse.
Missiles, ammunition crates, armored vehicles... as far as the eye can see.
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
With what they have in stock here, they have enough to start a fourth... and even a fifth world war.
Look at the size of those missiles, Agnes.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
What I mostly see is that we'll need to avoid any exchange of fire.
They're completely insane to store that kind of hardware in such a confined space.
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
Time to go help Eros resupply the locomotive.
At the front of the convoy, Eros is already at work.
He busies himself around the tank, visibly unconcerned by the Russian soldiers watching him from a distance.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Ah... Eros.
I see you're settling into your new role.
One could almost take you for a real Russian railwayman.
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
It's not complicated, Captain.
You just have to look miserable.
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
What can we do to speed up the resupply?
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
Nothing for now.
The tank is filling by itself.
Another ten minutes, and we'll be able to leave.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Act natural.
A patrol is approaching...
But... but...
Robert, where are you going?!
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
Uh, Captain...
Looks like he's going to talk to them.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
That's exactly the kind of improvised initiative I hate.
He would be better off staying invisible instead of putting us in danger.
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
Here he comes again.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
What the hell were you doing buddying up with that patrol?
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
Relax, Agnes.
We're infiltrating... so I infiltrate.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Did you at least learn anything?
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
Oh yes.
They have no command.
They're blindly obeying the last orders they received, the ones from the July 15 attack.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
What orders?
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
Hold position... and await instructions.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
They didn't tell you anything about Putin?
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
No.
They don't even seem aware that power has fallen at the Kremlin.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
They may as well stay in the dark.
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
We're good.
The tank is full.
You can return to the cars.
I'm restarting the machine.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Well done, Eros.
We can finally leave this place.
After about fifteen minutes, the convoy sets off again, leaving the Rostov-on-Don underground station behind us.
For the first time in a long while, we have a little breathing room ahead of us.
We feed ourselves with Russian military rations found in the cars.
At the first bite, one thing becomes obvious: Russians must not laugh much on a daily basis.
It is simply vile.
The rest of the journey passes without incident.
For nearly ten hours, we go into rest mode, lulled by the steady hammering of the locomotive through the tunnels.
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
Agnes...
Wake up.
We're slowing down.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Hmm... huh...
What?!
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
We're approaching Putingrad.
We need to get ready.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Hmm... misery...
Let me sleep five more minutes, please...
Hmm...