Test Firing the Ikol

[Krasniy Yastreb]

The gunboats had been out in the Elwynn Delta since the morning, enforcing an exclusion zone around the Novaya Sorensk SDI facility located on the island at Lower Lunaris' southernmost point. The launch pad was clear of personnel. Krasniy Yastreb sat in the control bunker, his mind trying not to dwell on the cut corners in the metallurgy lab, or the stench of alcohol he'd noticed pervading the chief guidance technician's office.

"T minus one minute. Telemetry good. Fuelling complete".

Ever since he'd been summoned to the Ministry Of Military Affairs in Shirekeep, then inexplicably redirected to that small apartment in Ardashirshahr, he'd had a sense of floating on the waves at the mercy of some divine court jester in the sky. The jester was in reality, of course, the very worldy form of one formidable Minister, known, feared and named simply by most as "The Khan". And Krasniy quaked a little, knowing when the time came (and it was always 'when', never 'if') the offer he couldn't refuse would, like a bar tab, be brought out of the drawer with the obligation to 'settle up'. But for now, Krasniy was playing along.

Sirens sounded across the launch complex.

"T minus five seconds. Main engine start"

A dull rumble drowned out the sirens. The control bunker, filled with technicians, was pin-drop silent.

"Five, four, three, two, one....... liftoff"

The live feed coming through about twelve screens momentarily flickered with static as the shock of the rocket's throttle flew around the complex. After what seemed an interminable wait, the static cleared to reveal the image of the rocket slowly climbing clear of its launch gantry upon a column of flame. A subdued cheer came from the technicians, who then quickly reverted to watching the telemetry displays. Krasniy remained transfixed by the live feed, following the accelerating rocket as it broke the sound barrier and flickered under the compression wave.

"Just get rid of the booster", he thought, "then you're home free".

"Condition R", crackled the loudspeaker. The booster broke free of the Ikol missile which accelerated on ramjet power on a perfect course over the Central Sea.

"Gensym station report"

"Gensym here, visual obtained"

The live feed switched to a new, closer view of the missile as it soared over Straylight.

"Level 750. Condition S"

A streak of flame erupted from the missile as it switched to solid rockets and raced toward the stars. Krasniy turned to the control crew.

"Course good?"

"Yes sir"

"Telemetry?"

"Unbroken"

"Then I think it's time to wrap it up. Move aside please"

Krasniy nudged the guidance monitor out of his seat and took his place, dialing numbers into a hitherto unused keypad on the panel in front of him. He hit a key marked 'Enter' and the control room lit up as the live feed screens showed the missile exploding in a ball of flame and debris. A few of the more religious technicians bowed in prayer at this most impressive display of B0O0O/\/\.

The spiritual silence was broken by the bursting into the bunker of on old man, eyes full of rage, pursued by two armed guards. His bearded form sprawled over one of the telemetry panels before the guards caught up and wrestled him to the ground. Krasniy watched as he was placed in handcuffs and he looked at a guard.

"Who by the Gods is this intruder? And how did he get this far into the complex?"

"I think it's a local peasant, sir. They're allowed to cultivate certain sections within the base perimeter"

The old man spoke up:
"It be my land I tell ye! My folks been farmin' it fer generations! Not even the death o' the Eternal Transmogrific forced my family outta this place! I ain't gonna be kicked off by yer fancy rocket men!"

"Can't you accept the generous settlement offered you?" said Krasniy.

"Can I shat!", barked the old man. "I be wholly committed to opposin' yer stupid rocket base lock stock ahn barrel!"

"Close, but no cigar", grinned Krasniy. "You're committed FOR opposing my rocket base. To the Smotretka Lunatic Asylum. Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Take him away, guards".

The old man exploded into a torrent of profane screams as the guards carried him out of the door. When the racket subsided Krasniy turned to the shocked technicians:

"Welcome to Lunaris".

[hypatias mom]

Yes, where you are all Lunatics. Congratulations on a very successful trial..