Dot. Dot. Dash.

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<div class="crawl"> <span id="crawl-text"></span> <<timed 0.5s>> <<append "#crawl-text">>November 1963.<br><br><</append>> <</timed>> <<timed 2.5s>> <<append "#crawl-text">>287 kilometers above the Caspian Sea.<br><br><</append>> <</timed>> <<timed 5s>> <<append "#crawl-text">>The Space Race has consumed two superpowers.<br><br><</append>> <</timed>> <<timed 7s>> <<append "#crawl-text">>Records are set and broken in months.<br><br><</append>> <</timed>> <<timed 9s>> <<append "#crawl-text">>Some are announced.<br><br><</append>> <</timed>> <<timed 11.5s>> <<append "#crawl-text">>Some are not.<br><br><</append>> <</timed>> <<timed 13.5s>> <<append "#crawl-text">>[[Continue->Cockpit]]<</append>> <</timed>> </div>

<<set $konstantin_suspicion to 0>> <<set $thomas_disclosure to 0>> <<set $volha_commitment to 0>> <<set $knows_program_closing to false>> <<set $thomas_said_brest to false>> <<set $real_name_spoken to false>> <<set $orbit_count to 14>> <<set $log_altered to false>> <<set $responded_to_thomas to false>>

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Slowly, the instruments come into view. Analog gauges. Toggle switches in rows. A small porthole seeing out into space with a glowing earth at the edge of its frame, too close to fully see. The capsule makes its sounds. A panel clicking behind her left shoulder. The vibration through the seat she knows like a second heartbeat. She has been up here for fifteen hours and three minutes. [[Continue->Celebration]]

The radio crackles. ''KONSTANTIN:'' "Cosmonaut Olga. We have confirmation from Yevpatoriya. Eleven orbits completed. Do you copy?" ''OLGA:'' "I copy." ''KONSTANTIN:'' "The Americans only reached three. You have almost tripled it and you still have fuel remaining." A beat. ''KONSTANTIN:'' "On behalf of the Soviet space program, I am proud to confirm your achievement. Eleven orbits. No human being has done this. History will record this day." The radio stays open. She can hear the texture of voices overlapping, a room briefly loud on her behalf with what can only be applause. ''KONSTANTIN:'' "All the way home, Ptitsa (bird)." Then the signal degrades. Static. Then nothing. [[Continue->Silence]]

She waits. Tries the comms again. Nothing. Tries once more with the same flick as a light switch --- knowing, but needing to be sure. Eleven orbits. The thought hasn't developed anywhere yet. It's still just a number, waiting to become something she can feel. The porthole fills briefly with sun, the capsule rotating through its axis. She looks out the window for a long moment. Just that. A small smile. The first one in fifteen hours just for her. She is 287 kilometers above everything she has ever known. The silence is not frightening. [[Continue->Static]]

A static builds slowly and shifts. Something in the frequency that doesn't belong to the capsule's normal inventory of sounds. She checks the panel. Nothing flagged. Textured, directional, coming from the comms system. Just three words before the static takes it back: ''VOICE:'' "...can you hear..." Silence. She doesn't move. The static returns. This time the voice is closer. ''VOICE:'' "Hello. I--- yes. Okay." A pause where she can hear him deciding something. ''VOICE:'' "I know this is unexpected." [[Continue->Closer]]

The line stays open. She can hear him on the other end of it. ''VOICE:'' "I'm not. This isn't a threat. I want to be clear about that first." A pause. ''VOICE:'' "I have information about your program. About what comes after this mission." The capsule turns slowly through its axis. The porthole fills with sun, then darkens. ''VOICE:'' "I think you already know some of it." [[Continue->KonstantinOne]]

Before she can respond the radio cuts back in. ''KONSTANTIN:'' "Cosmonaut Olga. Proverka svyazi. (Communication check.) Transmission was interrupted. Please confirm operational status." Konstantin. Loud and anchored. She has heard it a hundred times in a hundred drills. Each one demanding utmost attention. On the other frequency, Thomas is completely still. She stares at the panel. Weighing a choice. [[> "Operational. All systems nominal."->KonstantinOneA]] [[> Say nothing yet.->KonstantinOneSilence]]

''OLGA:'' "Operational. All systems nominal." ''KONSTANTIN:'' "Confirmed. Stay safe up there, Ptitsa." The channel closes. Clean. Automatic. The answer the program put in her mouth years ago. Thomas waits. <<set $konstantin_suspicion += 0>> [[Continue->Thomas]]

One second. Three. Five. ''KONSTANTIN:'' "Cosmonaut Olga. Please confirm." ''OLGA:'' "Operational." ''KONSTANTIN:'' "Good. Are you well up there?" ''OLGA:'' "Yes." ''KONSTANTIN:'' "Good. Stand by. We're updating your coordinates and reentry timing. Shouldn't be long." The channel closes. Coordinates and reentry timing. <<set $konstantin_suspicion += 2>> [[Continue->Thomas]]

''VOICE:'' "My name is Thomas. I'm calling from a base in Turkey. And no, I'm not Turkish." She says nothing. ''THOMAS:'' "I, we, have followed your program with great interest. And you, as well." She looks at the panel. ''THOMAS:'' "Eleven orbits. I want you to know that's not lost on us." She lets that sit. <<if $asked_american and $asked_want>> [[Continue->ProgramReveal]] <<else>> <<if not $asked_american>>[[> "Are you American?"->ThomasAmerican]]<<endif>> <<if not $asked_want>>[[> "What do you want."->ThomasWant]]<<endif>> [[> Say nothing. Wait.->ThomasSilence]] <</if>>

''OLGA:'' "Are you American?" The static fills the gap. ''THOMAS:'' "Thomas isn't a common name in northern Turkey." She says nothing. But she doesn't reach for the panel either. <<set $asked_american to true>> <<set $thomas_disclosure += 1>> <<if not $asked_want>>[[> "What do you want."->ThomasWant]]<<endif>> [[> Say nothing. Wait.->ThomasSilence]]

''OLGA:'' "What do you want. Why are you on this channel." No question mark. She already knows there's an answer. ''THOMAS:'' "Just a conversation. Maybe it takes us somewhere new." She lets that sit. <<set $asked_want to true>> <<set $thomas_disclosure += 1>> <<if not $asked_american>>[[> "Are you American?"->ThomasAmerican]]<<endif>> [[> Say nothing. Wait.->ThomasSilence]]

She says nothing. He doesn't fill the silence immediately. He lets it run longer than most people would. ''THOMAS:'' "Okay. I'll keep going then." She says nothing still. <<set $thomas_disclosure += 0>> [[Continue->ProgramReveal]]

The capsule hums. ''THOMAS:'' "I want to ask you something first." She waits. ''THOMAS:'' "The women you trained with. Before your first mission. How many flew before you." ''OLGA:'' "You tell me." Silence. ''THOMAS:'' "Two. One was reassigned after her mission. The other one didn't make it back. Faulty wire insulation. That's what they said." She is very still. ''THOMAS:'' "I know about her." He doesn't say more than that. Not yet. Something shifts in her. Small. She doesn't let it show. She stares directly at the radio. <<set $thomas_disclosure += 2>> [[Continue->ProgramReveal2]]

She stares at the radio. She has been trained for this. Not this specifically. But the shape of it. Someone offering something. Someone knowing things they shouldn't. Someone being warm and careful and saying exactly the right things. The KGB are very good at exactly the right things. A hell of a time for a test. Or maybe just the right time. ''OLGA:'' "Why are you telling me this?" ''THOMAS:'' "Because I think you already know most of it. And I think you deserve to hear it from someone who isn't managing you." She doesn't respond right away. If this is a test she just failed it by staying on the frequency this long. If it isn't she can't afford to act like it is. [[Continue->LoyaltyTest]]

The capsule turns slowly through its axis. ''OLGA:'' "Is this a loyalty test. I wouldn't put it past Konstantin to arrange this right now." Silence. ''THOMAS:'' "I can't prove it isn't." She says nothing. He says nothing. The static fills the gap between them. [[Continue->Irina]]

''THOMAS:'' "Irina is alive." Olga is frozen. ''THOMAS:'' "She's been on our side for seven months. Different name. Different city. And if you'd like to know, she seems very happy." ''OLGA:'' "Why are you telling me this now?" ''THOMAS:'' "Because you asked a question and that's the only answer I have that means anything." She looks at her hands in their gloves. Seven months. Her hand moves to the panel. Not toward anything specific. Just moves. ''OLGA:'' "Lozh. (Liar.)" She pulls it back. The capsule hums. She composes herself. Then the radio cuts in. <<set $thomas_disclosure += 3>> [[Continue->KonstantinTwo]]

The radio cuts through. ''KONSTANTIN:'' "Cosmonaut Olga. We are showing irregular power voltage on your main panel. Please run a diagnostic to ensure all systems are operating within standard parameters." A specific check-in. A specific answer expected. Someone told him what to ask. Her hand is already moving toward the panel. [[> "Confirmed. I've been running manual checks on the guidance system. May have caused the reading. Correcting now."->KonstantinTwoA]] [[> "Running diagnostics. Standby."->KonstantinTwoB]]

''OLGA:'' "Confirmed. I've been running manual checks on the guidance system. May have caused the reading. Correcting now." ''KONSTANTIN:'' "Understood. Carry on." The channel closes. Clean. Specific. Believable. <<set $konstantin_suspicion += 1>> [[Continue->MomentOfPause]]

''OLGA:'' "Running diagnostics. Standby." ''KONSTANTIN:'' "Confirmed. We will be monitoring. Please report findings." The channel stays open. He's waiting. Olga runs the diagnostic. Thirty seconds pass. ''OLGA:'' "Diagnostic complete. Minor irregularity in the guidance calibration. Corrected. All systems nominal." ''KONSTANTIN:'' "Confirmed. Good work. Continue standing by." The channel closes. Thirty seconds she didn't have. <<set $konstantin_suspicion += 2>> [[Continue->MomentOfPause]]

Thomas is quiet for a moment. When he speaks again something in his register has shifted. Less careful. More direct. ''THOMAS:'' "I can offer you the same thing we gave to Irina." ''THOMAS:'' "Something new. Different name, different city. Your choice where. We'd need some time with you first. Questions about your program, the missions. Questions that would need honest answers. But after that you'd be left alone to live your life." ''THOMAS:'' "I know your real name isn't Olga." Silence. ''THOMAS:'' "Your name is Volha. You're from Brest. The Soviets gave you a Russian name because Volha is unfamiliar to their ears. Being from Belarus meant you were useful to them. But you were never at the center of their empire." Someone looked carefully enough to find all of that. Wrote it down. Kept it. She doesn't know what to do with that. <<set $thomas_disclosure += 3>> <<set $real_name_spoken to true>> [[Continue->VolhaResponse]]

Anyone can call her Olga. He called her Volha. Her hand finds the folded paper in the document pocket on her left thigh. One word on the outside in a language the program never spoke. She doesn't open it. Just holds it. ''OLGA:'' "What happened to the ones who said no?" Thomas says nothing. The long gentle static fills the gap. Then the radio cuts in. <<set $thomas_disclosure += 1>> <<set $real_name_spoken to true>> [[Continue->KonstantinThree]]

Static. Then Konstantin. ''KONSTANTIN:'' "Cosmonaut." Just that. ''KONSTANTIN:'' "We are showing significant battery drain on your communications array." <<if $konstantin_suspicion gte 4>> The room behind him feels different. It has for some time. <<else>> The room behind him feels different. <</if>> ''KONSTANTIN:'' "Have you been experiencing any... unexpected interference on your communications array during this orbit." She looks at the folded paper in her hand. She knows this question. The shape of it. [[> "Negative. All frequencies have been clear."->KonstantinThreeA]] [[> Silence.->KonstantinThreeSilence]]

''OLGA:'' "Negative. All frequencies have been clear." ''KONSTANTIN:'' "Confirmed. Stand by for reentry coordinates." The channel stays open. She has one more window. [[Continue->FinalThomas]]

She says nothing. ''KONSTANTIN:'' "Cosmonaut. Please transmit verification. Code Vosem." A verification code. Standard protocol for compromised missions. Two sequences. One confirms all clear. One does not. The channel stays open. Waiting. Then Thomas. Quietly. Just one word. ''THOMAS:'' "Don't." She looks at the panel. Both of them are waiting now. [[> Transmit all clear.->KonstantinThreeSilenceA]] [[> Transmit duress.->KonstantinThreeSilenceB]] <<set $konstantin_suspicion += 3>>

''THOMAS:'' "Whatever you decide. I want you to know I meant all of it." ''OLGA:'' "What's next." ''THOMAS:'' "Adjusted coordinates. Reentry angle. Everything you need." ''THOMAS:'' "One word and I send everything." She looks at the folded paper in her pocket. The earth turns. [[> "Send it." [Follow Thomas's coordinates]->Coordinates]] [[> "I can't." [Follow Konstantin's coordinates]->ICant]]

<<addclass "body" "cockpit-red">> The coordinates come through on her display. Different numbers than Konstantin's. She looks at them for a moment. Then she inputs them. One by one. Deliberate. The reentry angle follows. She inputs that too. The panel accepts everything without complaint. Then the cockpit changes. Red. Not an alarm. Not a sound. Just the light shifting — every instrument, every gauge, every surface bleeding into a color that means one thing. They know. ''KONSTANTIN:'' "Cosmonaut. We are showing unauthorized trajectory input. Please confirm coordinates immediately." His voice is different now. Whatever was left of Konstantin is gone. Thomas speaks over him. ''THOMAS:'' "There's one more thing. We don't have much time." <<set $konstantin_suspicion += 5>> [[Continue->HerVoice]]

She puts the folded paper back in her pocket. Thomas says nothing. He heard it in the silence before she spoke. ''OLGA:'' "I... can't." ''THOMAS:'' "Volha." The frequency hums. ''THOMAS:'' "I hope it goes the way they told you it will." The frequency fades into clean silence. Just her now. The capsule. The coordinates Konstantin gave her. She runs the standard reentry checks. One by one. Everything as it should be. She looks out the porthole one last time. The earth turns. She opens Konstantin's frequency. ''OLGA:'' "Confirmed. Preparing for reentry sequencing." ''KONSTANTIN:'' "Reentry sequence is locked. Your telemetry will be cut upon descent." ''KONSTANTIN:'' "There will be no further communication after this transmission. Do you understand." ''OLGA:'' "Acknowledged." ''KONSTANTIN:'' "Good. The program thanks you for your service." A pause. ''KONSTANTIN:'' "Ptitsa." The channel closes. She puts her hand on the folded paper. [[Continue->HerVoice]]

<div class="crawl"> <span id="end-text"></span> <<timed 1s>> <<append "#end-text">>The following transmission was intercepted in November 1963 by Achille and Giovanni Judica-Cordiglia, two Italian amateur radio operators working from a converted bunker outside Turin.<br><br><</append>> <</timed>> <<timed 5s>> <<append "#end-text">>Its authenticity has never been confirmed.<br><br><</append>> <</timed>> <<timed 8s>> <<append "#end-text">>The Soviet space program denied all knowledge of the recording.<br><br><</append>> <</timed>> <<timed 11s>> <<append "#end-text">>The woman's identity was never established.<br><br><</append>> <</timed>> <<timed 14s>> <<append "#end-text">><iframe src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ar5YME_HBVqqY1Q1SPY7MWwT1t_u7MAc/preview" width="400" height="200" allow="autoplay"></iframe><br><br><</append>> <</timed>> <<timed 15s>> <<append "#end-text">><a href="javascript:void(0)" onclick="Engine.play('Credits')">Credits</a><</append>> <</timed>> </div>

She turns off her headset for a moment. She looks out the porthole. From here, the earth doesn't care about any of it. It just turns. She thinks about the mission. The accomplishment. About Irina, somewhere on the other side. Different name, different city. Happy. She turns the headset back on. [[Continue->TheOffer]]

She types the code into the panel. A sequence familiar to morse code. The panel clicks beneath her fingers. Dot. Dot. Dash. All clear. ''KONSTANTIN:'' "Confirmed. Stand by for reentry coordinates." The channel closes. She opens Thomas's frequency. [[Continue->FinalThomas]]

She types the code into the panel. A sequence familiar to morse code. The panel clicks beneath her fingers. Dot. Dot. Dash. Not all clear. ''KONSTANTIN:'' "Confirmed. We are initiating protocols from our side." The frequency shifts. Thomas is gone. She looks out the porthole one last time. The earth turns. She puts the folded paper back in her pocket. [[Continue->ICant]]

Written by Philip Giancola <a href="https://www.philipgiancola.com/" target="_blank">philipgiancola.com</a>