Moon Hoax

35 GOODBYE FRIEND

Peter’s heart started beating fast as he nervously took the cyanide capsule out from its case, wondering if he would actually take it. Mesmerized, he stared at the poison between his fingers. The tiny vial symbolized death. He had been trained how to use cyanide during his years with the CIA, and had even been dispensed some on several missions in case he was ever captured. Each time he brushed off the possibility of ever taking it, knowing his ability and skill would always pull him through. As he carefully rolled the capsule between his fingers, he wondered if his confidence was arrogance, or a denial of having to face death. He turned and looked out his window; there was no denying what was ahead of him now. He was going to die. The question was, how? Would it be with this capsule, or would he choose to suffocate? It was an answer he didn’t know, and wouldn’t until the time came.

Viktor tapped his shoulder. “Make sure you tape poison correct in helmet. Once on spacewalk I had dried beef in helmet for snack. When hungry I pull tape with teeth but not get beef in time. That damn beef circle face all spacewalk. It tease me. I try stick tongue out to get, but no luck. I sure look stupid. So make sure you get—if it free, you out of luck.” Viktor smiled.

Peter appreciated Viktor’s humor, and started taping the cyanide capsule inside his helmet in a location where he could reach it. Because of Viktor’s story, he wrapped the tape completely around the capsule so it couldn’t escape if he pulled the tape with his teeth. He would just bite through the tape to break the capsule in his mouth.

Peter was dressed in his EMU suit thanks to his partner’s help, minus his helmet and gloves. He floated awkwardly in the spacecraft, unable to sit in his seat because of the rigid suit. Putting it on in the tight quarters was one of the most difficult challenges he ever encountered. He had to contort his body in painful positions, some he didn’t even know he could do, but with no other option, he endured the pain.

Viktor was also suited up, but in his flight suit. Though the pressure suit wouldn’t protect him from the harsh conditions of space when the hatch opened, Peter sensed the cosmonaut probably felt more dignified dying in it. Once Viktor’s helmet was on he would also be able to talk to Peter until his last breath. Viktor planned on having his cyanide capsule in his mouth when the hatch was opened. He told Peter once his body started to feel the effects of the deadly outside conditions, he would immediately bite down, killing himself instantly.

The UN session was scheduled to start in a little over two hours. Their time was coming to an end. Peter would open the hatch on the back side in thirty-five minutes. This would give him enough time to get out of the hatch and be prepared to take pictures when Maria 1 flew over his dad’s site. He would download the high resolution pictures on the next turn around the back side and transmit them to Earth when he came back around. He figured the UN session would be well underway by that point, and after sending the pictures he would set up the live video feed.

Maria 1 was now just five minutes away from going around the moon and out of communication with Mission Control. “I call in again,” said Viktor.

Peter understood why the father wanted to say goodbye one last time to his children. He was still amazed how calm Viktor seemed, knowing he had a little over thirty minutes to live.

“Mission Control, Maria 1 here, over,” said Viktor.

“Maria 1, this is Mission Control, over,” answered Dmitri.

From that point on, Viktor spoke to both Dmitri and Anya in Russian and talked all the way until the transmission was lost. Though Peter did not understand much that was said, the emotions in their voices moved him greatly. It made him think of those important in his life, his mom, Anya and his unborn child. He stayed quiet as they spoke, not wanting to interrupt Viktor’s last moments with his children. He was going to have his opportunity to say his goodbyes later. He closed his eyes, wondering if he was doing the right thing.

“I’M AFRAID IT’S TIME,” said Peter sadly. They were approaching the time he would have to open the hatch, killing Viktor. Though he was eager to accomplish the tasks he was sent to do, he knew when he floated out he was not coming back. It was an odd moment for Peter as they faced death.

Before putting on their gloves and helmets, Viktor extended his hand. “Thank you again to take me on adventure. Don’t worry for me, I happy.”

Not surprised Viktor was trying to put him at ease even though he was about to die, Peter grabbed his partner’s hand and sternly shook it as he steadied himself with his other hand. “Viktor, it was a pleasure flying with you. There is no way I could have ever completed this mission without you. I was honored to fly with such a distinguished and experienced cosmonaut who now will always have the distinction of being the first Russian ever to orbit the moon. You will be remembered alongside some of the great cosmonauts. Thank you.”

“We team. A good team,” said Viktor smiling. Still holding his hand he continued, “You now my son, since father of my grandchild. I proud you my son. You be hero to America. I sure you question if you do right thing. But you save America. What you go do be in history books that your child read. You should be proud.” With that, Viktor pulled Peter to him and they hugged. As they separated, Viktor said, “Now let’s get your gloves on.”

Peter extended one hand while he continued to hold himself steady with the other. While slipping the glove on and locking it in place, Viktor said, “You lucky you see your dad’s site up close. I sure he look down on you, pleased.”

Peter smiled as he moved his fingers making sure the glove fit right before bringing the other hand around. While Viktor put on the second one Peter said, “I hope the pictures pick up his footprints. It will be amazing to see those footprints just as he left them forty years ago, almost like going back in time.” Peter thought of that for a moment, wondering what his dad would have thought if he knew his son would fly over where he stepped forty years later, solely to prove it actually happened, and his son would die doing it. Peter just shook his head.

Once the gloves were on, Viktor grabbed Peter’s helmet. Before placing it over his head he looked Peter directly into his eyes. “I confident you do everything perfect. Go make us proud.”

Peter just smiled as Viktor placed the helmet in position, securely locking it in place, cutting off all the outside sounds. The cosmonaut patted the helmet before giving a thumbs-up sign.

Peter helped Viktor put on his flight suit gloves and helmet. Once both astronauts were dressed, Peter did a radio check. All was good. Time to begin depressurizing the spacecraft so the hatch could be opened. “Tell Maria hi,” said Peter over the radio.

Viktor smiled. “I do, and you tell Anya and Dmitri I love them and I die happy.”

“Roger.”

Peter attached the tether line that would keep him connected to the spacecraft. Viktor moved the camera and lens over to one side seat before floating over to the other trying to give Peter as much room as he could before buckling up and starting the depressurizing of the cabin. Neither said a word. Once Peter knew the pressure was getting close to where he could open the hatch, he leaned over to his partner and put out his balled fist. Viktor instantly knew what to do as he tapped the top of his fist and they did their Galileo fist bump, perfectly. Peter smiled as Viktor gave him an encouraging wink before saying over the radio, “Pressure at .2 bar. You are go for opening hatch. Good luck, son.”

“Thanks, Viktor,” said Peter as he worked himself slowly around in the tight quarters so he was turned toward the hatch, his back to Viktor. Peter initiated the venting valves in the hatch to depressurize the remaining .2 bars. Once the inside pressure was equalized with the outside he initiated the sequence of opening the hatch. He took a deep breath before turning the final handle that would free the small door. He was going to say a final goodbye before pulling the door open. But something within stopped him and instead he said it to himself. Goodbye, Viktor. He pulled with all his might, overcoming the small remaining pressure gradient, and opened the hatch.

Peter suddenly heard a loud grunt over his radio and assumed Viktor had bitten down on the cyanide capsule. Sadness swept over him. He put his head down, thinking of his partner dying. He elected not to turn around and watch. Instead with his head down he took a deep breath. You were a good man, Viktor. Thank you for everything.

Once the hatch was completely open he found maneuvering around it difficult. With the hatch in his way he couldn’t move to locate the camera so he blindly reached behind him, feeling for it. He shuddered when he accidentally bumped into Viktor’s floating arm, which was completely limp. Peter felt a sinking sensation in the pit of his stomach as he gently pushed the arm down and continued feeling around for the camera, finally locating the long lens already connected to the camera. He grabbed it and pulled it behind him as he maneuvered to the entrance. He awkwardly tried to pry himself out of the small hatch, feeling like a cork coming out of a bottle. Once he had the backpack portion of his suit outside the opening, he was free to push off with his hands.

As he drifted out he got a clear view of the magnificent moon below him, but he couldn’t enjoy the sight as his thoughts were with Viktor. Once he was completely out he pulled on his tether line, swinging his body around so he was aimed back toward the entrance. He tugged on the line and floated back to obtain the camera floating inside the Soyuz by the entrance. As he popped his head back in, he saw his partner’s lifeless body strapped in his seat, both arms floating out in front of him. It was a sad and eerie sight.

Viktor’s sun visor was still open, allowing Peter to clearly see his now bloated face. Viktor’s features were slightly distorted due to the swelling caused by the vacuum of space. It was heartbreaking seeing his friend’s joyful character washed from his face. Peter squeezed his body partly back in so he could reach Viktor’s visor. Closing it, he put his head down and said a quick prayer. He looked back at his partner’s reflective visor. “Viktor, I’m sure you’re in a better place.”

He worked his way back out of the cabin and grabbed the camera. It was time to get down to business and make sure his friend’s death wasn’t a waste.

STEVE RUSSELL STRODE TO THE U.S. designated seating area in the UN General Assembly hall with his assistant, carrying a mound of paperwork. He was chosen as the main speaker by President Edwards for this session requested by the United States. Plopping the paperwork down on the desk next to the U.S. delegate, Steve started to pull out a chair when Jose Fernandez, the Uruguay delegate at the adjoining desk, leaned over.

“Looks like you start some fireworks today, yes?”

Steve, preoccupied, briefly turned to Jose, extending his hand. “You don’t want to miss this one.” After shaking Jose’s hand, Steve shook Andy Lansford’s hand before taking his seat.

Without saying a word, he looked back at China’s seating area to see if they were present. He was disappointed to see no one there. Hoping maybe they were blocked from his view he moved his head slightly, but unfortunately his adjustment didn’t help. Their absence pissed him off.

As he looked around the hall, he was surprised how packed it already was. Steve was sure the Chinese would make an appearance, even if they knew the session was to address their lies. The Assembly would take their absence as an admission of guilt and China definitely didn’t want to give any impression they did an injustice to America. He was sure they would show up.

As Steve swiveled back around, Andy asked him, “So are you ready?”

Starting to shuffle through his papers, Steve answered, “I better be. My team and I were up all night trying to put this thing together. Fortunately we got in some good early pictures of some landing sites, which should shock the Chinese. I just hope they show up. I want to embarrass the crap out of them like they did us.”

PETER FLOATED NEXT TO MARIA 1 on the back side of the moon as he began to pass into the sunlight, too busy to notice the spectacular view lighting up below him. He was working with the camera, trying to figure out how he could maneuver with it. At the speed he was traveling, he calculated he would have around thirty seconds to take close up pictures of his dad’s landing site before he would be out of range. During this fly-by he would have to track perfectly—gradually moving the camera to stay locked on and focused. Since this might be his only shot at getting the high resolution pictures, he decided to practice aiming the camera at selected spots on the moon while he was on the back side. He tried a couple times and found at the speed and altitude he was flying, staying on target was difficult. He was getting frustrated and decided to give his eye a rest.

When he looked up from the eyepiece the most stunning sight was developing in front of him. Slowly coming around the moon was his home, Mother Earth, its tip slowly starting to peek out. He couldn’t believe how vibrant and bright the colors were over the dull gray moon. This was his first opportunity to witness the phenomenon of an earthrise, and he was in awe. Though he had seen famous earthrise pictures before, none could come close to the actual experience. As he floated, mesmerized, it suddenly hit him that he was the first human ever to view an earthrise during a spacewalk. Instead of having to look out of a small spacecraft window like all the astronauts before him, he had the freedom of moving around and this amazing 180 degree view, giving him goose bumps.

Everything he had ever known was on that small beautiful planet.

As he traveled and the earth rose, he saw less than half of it was lit, as if the bottom portion was cut off.

Peter’s helmet radio suddenly came alive. “Maria 1, this is Mission Control, do you read me?” said Dmitri.

Peter shook his head, focusing back on the mission, and instinctually looked back at the lighted portion of Earth when answering. “This is Maria 1, over.”

Dmitri, his voice sad, asked, “Are you outside of Maria 1, over?”

Peter solemnly answered, “Roger.”

“So Dad is dead?”

Peter decided to be straight forward with his friend. “He passed away peacefully. His last words were how much he loved you and Anya.” Peter allowed a long silence before he continued. “I’m sure he is sitting with your mom right now, over.”

After a few seconds, Dmitri answered quietly, “Roger.”

Peter decided not to say anything and allow Dmitri some time to reflect on his father. Peter went back to working with the camera and practiced shooting more pictures, improving each time.

After a few minutes, Dmitri came back over his radio with a determined voice. “Peter, you will be coming over your dad’s site in nineteen minutes, over.”

“Roger,” said Peter.

“China was still thirty minutes behind when we lost radar signal. They have made no effort to catch you, over.”

“Roger.” What was China up to?

Dmitri went on to give Peter the coordinates along with specific landmarks to look for. Feeling comfortable with the information given, Peter continued practicing as he kept an eye out on where he was, hoping he would be ready. He couldn’t blow this opportunity.

Before Peter knew it Dmitri said, “Peter you’re just two minutes out from the target, over.”

“Roger.” Figuring he would be in range in a minute and a half, he stopped practicing and got ready for the real thing. He held the camera to the side as he intently studied the terrain passing by below, taking notice of the key landmarks approaching. Though he was full of anticipation for seeing his dad’s site up close, he had a job to do and he couldn’t get too nostalgic. There would be time for that when he downloaded the pictures later. His main focus was taking as many accurate and close up pictures as possible.

“You’re coming up on Aggie Crater, over,” said Dmitri.

Peter was ahead of Dmitri, having already located the crater which was only a few miles from his dad’s site. Peter was very familiar with the crater, named by his father after his university, having seen pictures in his father’s office. “Roger.” He looked into the eyepiece and aimed the camera in the direction of the site hoping to locate the largest piece of equipment left behind, the LM Descent Stage.

He slowly panned the camera until he spotted a square object. He had to continuously move the camera so he stayed steady on the object as he zoomed in, and as the object came into focus he smiled, realizing it was the bottom stage of the LM. There you are, baby. Knowing he had less than thirty seconds, he started snapping away. He panned the camera around the LM, zooming in as tight as he could on items around the Lander. Things were happening so quickly he couldn’t focus on what he was looking at; all he knew was he was getting close up shots. He remembered Doug instructed him to take some wide angle shots as well showing the surrounding terrain, so critics could compare them to the original pictures taken during the moonwalks.

He tried to get a variety of shots, but before he knew it, he was out of range. It all happened so quickly. He took his eye off the view finder and looked in the direction of the site as he zoomed away. Dad, I hope I got some good shots for you.

Peter radioed in to Mission Control, “Pictures completed, over.”

“Roger, how did it go?” asked Dmitri.

“Good, I hope. It all happened pretty fast. I sure hope I put film in the camera,” joked Peter.

“Roger. Maybe you can stop off at the nearest store and process the film.”

“Roger, I’ll keep an eye out for one, over,” said Peter, happy to hear Dmitri joke.

Peter pulled on the tether line and started floating back to the spacecraft with the camera dangling on a strap by his side. He pushed the talk button, “Dmitri, I am going to download the pictures and see how I did.”

“Roger.”

When Peter reached the entrance he couldn’t help but look up at his partner. Deciding to treat his friend as if he was alive, Peter said, “I sure hope I didn’t screw this thing up, Viktor.” Peter reached in, grabbing the cord already attached to the computer, and connected the loose end to the camera floating next to him. Once connected, he leaned back in and pushed the few buttons that started downloading the pictures, with no problems from his EMU glove. He was impressed when he saw there were fifty-eight pictures to be transferred. While waiting he looked back up at his partner. “Viktor, everything happened so damn fast, but it looks like I got a good number of pictures. Let’s just hope I took the lens cap off.”

Peter got a prompt stating all the pictures were downloaded. As he paged through them he found some were out of focus or had no equipment in them, but others looked great. He stopped at one picture that had the bottom of the LM and smiled when he could clearly see a few experiments sitting next to the Lander that his dad and partner had set up. “Viktor, these are looking pretty damn good.”

Peter’s focus was broken by the squawk in his radio. “Peter, you are approaching LOS—how much oxygen do you have left?”

Knowing LOS was loss of signal, Peter looked down at his monitor. “A little over three hours before switching to SOP, over.” That gave him over three and half more hours total, enough to go around the moon almost two more times.

“Roger. Good luck downloading the pictures on the back side. I’ll make sure we are prepared to pass on your video feed when you come back around, over.”

“Roger, before starting the video feed I will send these pictures, over.”

“Roger. Talk to you then, over and out.”

Peter focused his eyes back on his computer screen. As he resumed clicking through the pictures he noticed some pictures were even close enough to pick up the footprints, which thrilled him. Suddenly he stopped at one picture that really excited him; could that be? He unstrapped the computer, hoping another angle would confirm what he suspected. As he rotated the computer, a big grin came across his face when his assumption was correct. There, in sharp relief, were his initials next to the American flag, drawn in the moon dust by his father forty years ago. Peter was happy his dad drew them big enough so he could clearly see them. He put his gloved finger to the screen, outlining each letter, remembering being an excited seven-year-old boy listening in awe as his dad proudly told him he put his initials on the moon, where they would stay forever. They’re still there, Dad! Peter looked at Viktor. “I’d like to see those damn Chinese try to explain how my initials got on the moon. Looks like we have some good evidence here, Viktor. We did good!”