The Defector by Chris Hadfield

Author:Chris Hadfield [HADFIELD, CHRIS]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Published: 2023-10-10T00:00:00+00:00

40

Base Headquarters, Area 51

“Gentlemen, if I could have your attention.”

Irv’s pilots and senior maintainers were gathered in the briefing room of the base headquarters building, next to the Groom Lake mess hall. On the front wall behind Irv were dusty green chalkboards, and through the long side windows the men could see the fire station and the original U-2 aircraft hangars, built nearly 20 years earlier. A large communal coffee urn burped quietly in the corner, and most of the men held a Styrofoam cup in their hand.

Their informal posture and easy confidence lent a ragtag uniformity to the group. They were wearing a mix of flight suit colors and coveralls, reflecting their various military and civilian backgrounds. Haircuts varied from tight brush cuts through to the ponytails and beards of the civilian maintainers and Lockheed contractors. Irv’s hair was thinning on top but flowed over the tops of his ears and into full black sideburns.

He pointed to Kaz and Sascha, sitting in the front row.

“You’ve no doubt heard the scuttlebutt that the Russian pilot of our newly acquired MiG-25 might be joining us here at the Ranch. I’m happy to report that those rumors were true, and he’s here with us today, and for the next few weeks.”

Over lunch, Irv had quizzed Sascha about his flying background, and now he beckoned the Soviet to come stand beside him while he summarized it for the group.

“He’s a combat veteran, a top test pilot holding several world records, and he did much of the developmental work on the Foxbat and other Soviet fighters.”

The room was quiet as each man closely inspected the Russian pilot facing them. Normally, any Soviet would be treated as a nonspecific but hated enemy. The crowd was reserving judgment.

Thompson had briefed Irv on the CIA’s ground rules, and he laid them out now for the team. “No need to get into the politics of why he’s with us, or what our spooks in Washington’s plans will be for him in the future. For now, we have daily access to the rare asset of a deeply experienced MiG flier. I want us to squeeze everything we can out of the opportunity, while at the same time welcoming a newcomer into our little flying club.”

Irv smiled. “Let me introduce Colonel Alexander Abramovich. Call sign, Grief.”

There was an uncomfortable tension when no one spoke in response to the introduction. Grief’s eyes flicked around the room, making contact.

Irv continued. “Alexander is still learning English, so the USAF has thoughtfully provided an interpreter.” He nodded towards Bill Thompson, who raised his hand and waved. No need to announce that he was CIA.

“We also have Navy Commander Kaz Zemeckis with us, acting as our MiG pilot’s liaison with Washington. Zemeckis is no slouch either, a Pax River test pilot, currently detailed to NASA.”

Kaz half turned in his chair and nodded at the group.

“My plan is to tap all of Abramovich’s expertise. He’ll be in one of the offices out at the Red Hat

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