Veracity of Failure: The Race to Mars by Craig Martelle & Scott Sakatch

Author:Craig Martelle & Scott Sakatch [Martelle, Craig & Sakatch, Scott]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Craig Martelle, Inc
Published: 2023-11-20T16:00:00+00:00

“Roscosmos is fully prepared to fulfill your needs,” said Yelena Krutov. “As you Americans say, we are locked and loaded.”

They were alone in an executive lounge that had all the charm of a vasectomy clinic waiting room. Outside the door, Peroni could hear the bustle of staff going about their work. It was almost unnerving to be in such a bureaucratic environment. If he didn’t know the Russian space agency’s remarkable history, he would scarcely believe he was in its nerve center. Then again, most of Moscow had turned out to be both more and less than he’d expected when he arrived. It was somehow similar to much of Europe and yet utterly alien at the same time.

“I’m sure you are,” he said evenly. “Especially since you’ve been looking for something to do after your president pulled out of the International Space Station. And the money doesn’t hurt either, does it?”

Krutov’s expression showed no reaction to the slights against her motherland or its leader. It could be that she was used to such talk from outsiders, particularly Americans, in the wake of Russia’s departure from the world of civility. Their leader seemed determined to cut off his nose to spite his face, but if that had any effect on Krutov, she didn’t let it show.

That was a good sign. It was easier to do business with people like that.

“Money is secondary to us here at Roscosmos,” she said with no hint of sarcasm. “We do what we do to benefit mankind. I’m sure the same can be said of your people at One World.”

Except for whoever installed that goddamned external port, Peroni thought darkly. Sofia Russo’s contractors from Rome were able to kill the rootkit and destroy the port in a few days—to the tune of more than a million dollars in fees—but there were no leads on who planted it. Security had been beefed up around the physical system itself, and now Peroni had to consider how One World was going to track down the culprit without alienating its entire workforce.

“I appreciate that,” he said. “I also appreciate how quickly you were able to draw up your proposal. As you know, my people have given it the thumbs-up, pending Mr. Wright’s review of the Baikonur Cosmodrome.”

Ennis was far from enthusiastic about his trip to the launch facility in the middle of the desert steppe of southern Kazakhstan, but he knew he and other One World staff needed to get used to it. The orbital crew, at least, were excited to head to Star City, just north of Moscow, for their flight training with experienced cosmonauts.

“I am sure he will find it meets your needs,” said Krutov. “Our Soyuz fleet is at your disposal as soon as you are ready.”

“Good. Time is of the essence.”

She leaned back and gave him an appraising look. “If I may be so bold, your invitation came as a surprise to us. We were under the impression that you would exhaust the resources in America before reaching out to Roscosmos.

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