The Perfected Astronauts
by How far will a country or an alliance go to protect its citizens? How far should it go? How much can it ask of those who will bear the burden? This novel will be published by chapter. Links to the first, next and previous chapters are provided at the end of each chapter. Also links to other novels are at the end of this chapter.
Introduction: In spite of diplomatic efforts during the last sixty years we have seen frightening proliferation of nuclear weapons. Up till the last two decades they were held by countries with leaders who did not want to ever use them. But in recent years Sadaam’s Iraq, Iran, North Korea and some others sought to acquire nuclear weapons. Some of them will soon be nuclear capable if they are not as you read this. Some have or will soon have ballistic and cruise missile delivery systems. Several of these nations have governments that believe in the apocalypse and at least a couple believe they are to bring it to pass. Where in the past nuclear weapons were controlled by frightened men who could unleash them in error, some potential holders are just plain hate filled nut cases who could easily do it just to fulfill their self perceived destiny.
The major super powers certainly are aware of this threat and the leaders have to be chewing their nails. One of these nut cases may only unleash a few weapons but there is fear among nations that a major power that has just suffered such an attack might unleash a major retaliatory strike on the attacking nation and its friends. It could become World War I al la nuclear.
What happens if one of these is perceived as likely to take out a couple cities as a demonstration of their capability? I believe there would be a crash program to contain the threat. But is it possible to prevent?
It is into this environment I launch you with this story.
The Perfect Astronauts
THE RUSSIAN EMBASSY – LONDON
Igor Ruskov sat quietly in the car as he rode to the airport. His wife sat next to him with her hands folded on her lap and her head down. The normally outgoing couple acted strangely quiet. Everyone knew the ambassador was being recalled. His demeanor was enough to tell everyone in the embassy he had done something terribly wrong. Some years ago he would be going home to prison, or worse. Under the present kinder regime he would just be retired. He would have a modest but comfortable home far from Moscow, far from any place of influence. Although it would not be house arrest it would be exile. The chauffeur looked sadly in the mirror at the man he had come to respect. How could this be? This was a good man. A man who loved his country, cared for it and the welfare of the people in the embassy. Unlike most others at the embassy he had never seen this man take anything that did not belong to him. How could he have done anything so wrong? Surely someone had made a terrible mistake.
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