USSR Hoax

29 QUESTIONED

Tom was embarrassed by all the looks of admiration he was getting as he walked through the Administration Building on his way to Dick’s office. This was his first time back in the building since returning from the moon, and everyone he passed took the time to say something positive. Tom felt he should be thanking them. After almost dying on the moon, he had a newfound perspective on life. Though only he and Dusty knew how bad their situation had really been, anyone associated with NASA, no matter what their role, had a hand in the two making it back home safely. He did his best to acknowledge each person as they called out to him.

Tom reached Dick’s door and took a moment to clear his mind of all the accolades. Dick wouldn’t be awed by a moonwalker in his office. Even though Tom successfully passed over the lunar material to his boss on the recovery ship, Tom fully anticipated being drilled on the details regarding Dusty’s backpack.

After analyzing the mission data, a few flight controllers had suggested that the failure probably had happened sooner than Tom and Dusty were claiming. In an effort to take the heat off Tom for not leaving Dusty, both astronauts stated the unit broke down while walking back to the Lunar Module. Since the PLSS backpacks were left on the moon, there was no way of proving the story wrong. Without hard evidence, it came down to their word versus any superficial findings. Though Dick had been backing their story, he obviously wanted to know the truth.

After a quick knock, Tom gradually opened the door, peeking in. “Hey, boss.”

Looking up with a surprised expression, Dick peered down at his watch. “Wow, it’s 10 a.m. already?” He closed up the file on his desk. “Come on in.”

Tom took the initiative of locking the door and sat down.

Dick leaned back in his chair. “So, Commander, that was one hell of a mission.”

“That it was. Sorry we didn’t achieve all our objectives. I feel for those science guys whose experiments we didn’t get to.”

“Don’t sweat it. No matter what we do up there, I doubt that community is ever satisfied.” Dick lowered his voice. “So how the hell did you snag that sample without Dusty seeing you?”

Since it happened when his partner was moving the rover, Tom felt it best to stay away from specifics. “Let’s just say I found the right opportunity.”

Dick studied Tom for a moment. “Okay, we’ll leave it at that.” His boss clasped his hands together over his stomach. “Well I’m glad you were able to get it, and more importantly, that the two of you made it safely back to the LM.” The room quieted for a second as Dick calmly pulled out his chair and walked around to the front of his desk. He leaned back before crossing his arms. “So I have a question I want answered.”

Tom straightened in his chair. Uh-oh, here it comes. I hope I don’t have to lie.

“When did Dusty’s backpack fail?”

Wow, he’s getting right to it. Tom stared into Dick’s eyes. “Boss, as we explained in our debriefing, it happened about a quarter of a mile from Explorer. So with the emergency O₂ between us, Dusty had plenty of air to make it back.”

“I know what you two said on record. This is off the record. This is just between you and me. I think things occurred differently. I suspect the backpack failed earlier, probably on that crater rim when Dusty fell.” Dick bent over to get closer. “Did it?”

Tom began to squirm, trying to determine the right words without actually lying.

Placing a hand on Tom’s shoulder, the director broke the awkward moment, saying more softly, “I’ll tell you a secret. I was involved in some of the early meetings to decide how far we should allow astronauts to venture out with the rover. After shrinking the distance down to account for a single failure, many wanted to cut that distance again by half to account for the possibility of a double failure. Since the odds were extremely slim of that happening, the argument was that if the distance was cut that short, what was the purpose of even having the rover?” Dick took his hand off Tom, leaning back against his desk. He put his hands in his pockets. “Finally, the decision seemed to depend on me. I was asked directly if a double failure happened, would our astronauts accept the order to leave their partner to save themselves. Even though I knew it wasn’t true, I answered absolutely. I wanted our team to have the opportunity of using the rover.” Dick looked Tom straight in his eyes. “But I’ll tell you this. If I was put in that situation, there is no way I would ever leave my partner to die.”

Relaxing, Tom winked with a sly grin.

Understanding, Dick smiled. “I thought so. Listen, you’re a hero in my book and I’ll back your story. You did the right thing, regardless of when the failure happened. If there was a dead astronaut on the moon, this whole program would shut down. Apollo 17 would never happen.”

The stress flew right out of Tom as he practically melted into his chair from relief as Dick went back to his seat.

“Because of your heroics, I guess you won’t have your new title for long.”

Tom tilted his head. “What title is that?”

Dick grinned. “Last man on the moon.”

Letting out a hearty chuckle, Tom hadn’t even thought about the label. “No matter who has that designation, it won’t last long.” Tom thought back to Dusty’s comments about what Dick said and the possible bet. “Dusty mentioned you said it could be forty years before we get back to the moon after Apollo 17.”

“Yup, I said something like that. In fact, it might even be longer.”

“No way. That’s crazy. I’ll take that bet and even give you odds.”

Dick smiled. “Tom, I don’t want to take your money. Besides, I’m not sure I’ll still be around in forty years to collect.”

“I plan on being here.”

“I hope you are, and I hope you’re right. Maybe you’ll even get an opportunity to fly back someday with your son.”

“I’d love to show Peter his initials on the moon.”

Dick sat back in his chair, a devious smirk on his face. “Speaking of your son, have you been able to get in some quality time with the family lately?”

Tom crossed his legs, wondering where his boss was going with the question. “Not with all the post-flight appearances. Why?”

“Well, how would you like to take the family on an all-expense paid vacation to Disneyland and meet Mickey Mouse?”

What family wouldn’t want a trip like that? Tom knew there was a catch. “What are you talking about?”

Bending down behind his desk, Dick quickly reappeared holding a stuffed Mickey Mouse doll. Dick had a big grin on his face as he plopped the plush toy on the desk. “Guess what’s inside this?”

Tom tilted his head slightly. “I have no idea. Probably stuffing?”

Dick angled his body over his desk and whispered, “The canister you brought back from the moon is inside here.”

“Really? Why?”

Dick wiggled his eyebrows. “Your son is going to pass this over to a Soviet boy. That’s how we’re going to pull off the transfer.”

Tom had assumed he was done with the covert operation. Now his son was going to be involved. “What in the world are you talking about?”

“I have officially assigned you as the backup commander for the U.S.-USSR mission. There’s a big public relations event next week at Disneyland to kick off the project and officially announce the crews. One of the cosmonauts will have his family with him. He has a little boy around the same age as Peter. The plan is for your son to pass this Mickey Mouse over to that boy. Pretty ingenious, huh?”

Tom would rather Peter not be involved in the transaction. “How about I just give it directly to the cosmonaut myself?”

“That might look suspicious. Sorry, the plan is for Peter to do it. It’s all set up. It will come across as a kind gesture by an innocent little boy passing over a welcome gift. I’m sure it won’t be any big deal.”

Tom remembered Viktor had a boy Peter’s age. “Do you know who the cosmonaut is?”

Searching on his desk, Dick found what he was looking for. He pulled out a file and opened it. He ran a finger slowly down a piece of paper inside. “Umm, Viktor Alexandrov, and his boy is… Dmitri.”

“That’s the same guy I passed the material to in Geneva.”

Dick looked up. “Oh, that’s right. Interesting.”

“Is he on the prime crew?”

“Yup, looks like it.”

Tom was happy to hear the cosmonaut was finally going to get a space mission. “Good to hear. All right, so how is this all going to take place?”

“There is no real plan. It’s up to you how you pull this off. You may want to wrap this up like a present. I also suggest you have Peter pass it over when the families are first introduced. You don’t want to carry this thing around Disneyland worrying about it the whole time.” Dick picked up the toy and placed it across from Tom. “I want you to take this now and store it at home. I’m positive you won’t have any problem getting it off the grounds. Of course, hide it in a safe place.”

Thinking of Dino, Tom smiled, knowing the mutt would probably tear the doll to shreds if he got the chance. “I’ll come up with a good spot.”

“Great. I’ll get you all the details and tickets sometime early next week.” Dick lifted his hands. “Hey, you and the family are going to have a great time.”

Reaching for the stuffed toy, Tom hoped there wouldn’t be any surprises. “You would think.”

THE COSMONAUT CONFERENCE room was silent when Viktor entered. The only person in the room was the KGB agent, and Viktor had a good idea why the man was there. Viktor had been recently informed of a PR event he was to attend for the joint mission with the Americans that was to take place at an amusement park in the United States. He was told that during the trip, he would be a part of another secret transfer of lunar material, and it was imperative he bring along his family. With Maria just over eight months pregnant, Viktor was worried about his wife flying overseas and asked if she could stay behind. Viktor assumed he was going to get an answer to this request.

“Have a seat.”

Viktor sat at the table directly across from the man.

The KGB agent got right to the point. “I have been instructed your family must go to America, including Maria. They are needed in the plot to receive the Apollo 16 soil sample.”

Viktor had been informed the lunar material would be in a stuffed toy that would be given to his son. “Sir, can’t I just take Dmitri, since he is the one getting the gift?”

The agent looked sternly at Viktor as he said, “No, Maria must go. Since Dmitri will be the only Soviet child on the trip, it would look odd if you took him without his mother. We want it to look like a family enjoying a vacation.”

“She will almost be nine months pregnant, possibly giving birth during the trip. Do we really want that to happen? Besides, it will be dangerous for her to travel.”

“I have confirmed there will be fully qualified doctors accompanying the Soviet delegation throughout the trip. They will be able to take care of any medical emergency.” The man stood, signaling that the meeting was over. “Either Maria goes, or we will find another cosmonaut to fill your slot.”

Viktor lowered his head, thinking furiously. Even though Maria had already agreed to go on the trip privately to him, he was still apprehensive. Hearing that doctors would be with them at all times did make him feel more comfortable. He lifted his head. “Okay, I will bring the family.”

“Good.” Without shaking hands, the man left.

Viktor stared across the empty room, hoping he had made the right call.