Nicron #123 11 апреля 2002

Самиздат     Самиздат

Samizdat - The story "Murder" - Maxim Timonin (Maksagor).

                       Murder


Maxim Timonin (Maksagor)



 <The story was written based on real events. Heroes of the 
story -  authentic. Characters' names changed. Apologize in 
advance  for any technical inaccuracies. I'm not an engineer!>


...


        On the black day on March 26 in the morning, we, the 
students of MSU, Several people gathered in front of TV at the 
apartment our familiar student from Japan, trained in our

University. We, the residents of the hostel, this item was
inaccessible, and so obviously not at this time. Fortunately 
for us Volume, namely the so-called this girl is truly golden

man, kindly agreed to my request to arrange her
House teleseans.


  - And what will happen in the morning? - With a distinctive 
and pleasing to the ears Japanese accent she asked. - The Mir 
station, say falls? Ah, yes! I heard something: they say there 
is a danger that it falls on a city due to old age and breakage 
... 


        I then hastened to refute her fears: I was always
and now especially irritated stupidity and tendencial media
especially foreign ones, about our station, and anything else
that came from Russia. Nothing could be easier to attract 
attention the public with cheap sensationalism about imaginary 
threats. It's so injected into the blood adrenalinchika, 
pereklinivaya brains and completely marginalized in humans 
desire and ability to think. But at the same time can be and 
"delete" once again someone else for them to Russia, with its 
science ... It was only versed in these matters experts can

see false. The others, even intelligent people, not to mention
of ruminant Beavis and Butt-hedah will think God knows about it!


        So, we sat at a table on which stood
uncorked bottle Gzhelka, and on television, drop by drop
flowed into oblivion the last minutes of life of the Russian 
(or rather Soviet!) space station besstrasstno lockable

speaker. Tomomi was busy in the kitchen, cooking with Natasha us
guys, artless snack.


        I will not speak for all of us, staring at the TV,
but my heart was rotten. Not once in those moments I recalled
childhood, when, like many boys of that time wanted to become
astronaut. And now before my eyes is
demonstrative embodiment of the destruction of this 
long-standing dream! But Judging by their faces, similar ideas 
have visited and my friends ... 


        On-screen broadcast the last image frame,
received from the Mir station: already been clearly visible
deformation of the solar panels, the station began to enter 
into the dense layers of the earth's atmosphere. The image now 
and then interrupted Noise - machinery, dying at the limit of 
their opportunities. These were the last frames received from 
the station. 

 - Scary! - Inadvertently blurted Nicholas, sitting on the right
from me. In my own mind, in addition to those words revolved
a bunch of other phrases, most of them unprintable. And on TV
showed PCO and the faces of people guessed a huge nervous
stress, some even glistened in the tears. You bet!
Own hands to ruin their child, the pride of the Soviet and
Russian astronautics. Not one head there, probably, there came
same unprintable words. I zhepodumal of "holy" trinity KKK -
Koptev-Klebanov-Kasyanov, who decided the fate of the world's 
miracle: so that now they appear on the station! That would be 
rushed about! The activities of this far more destructive of 
the notorious KKK MMM will ...



                           *


        The Mir station was part of the atmosphere ... Land, 
and with the same orbit which looked great, now swelled even 
more, turned into a huge blue and white and dark spots

cup, gradually becoming more and more are all ohvatyrayuschuyu
space around the station.


        It is no secret that when people interact with debt
items, machinery, adopt the latest part of their soul,
adding to it their individuality, finding your own and
unique character. Us spektrumistam is particularly well
known: our computer has already become a living, beloved friend.
Same thing happened with the world.


        For his short-lived by human standards fifteen years
"MIR" humanised. He was no longer as in the beginning, soulless
piece of iron - during his flight all its parts, machinery,
pipes, equipment, hatches, etc. "Worked together" to form a 
kind of single living substance capable of in their thinking and

respond to the outside world. The station had lived and 
thought, knowing its environment, and accumulating experience.



        Its meaning sischestvovaniya consisted of three major
elements that are Heaven, Earth and ... People.


        The sky surrounds the "WORLD" was his immediate life
space in which floated the life-giving for his sunglasses
rays.


        Land - is the complete opposite of Heaven - and in 
color, and significance. Sky - black, and the Earth - is a 
range set colors, predominant among which is blue. Sky

everywhere it around, it is formless in its infinity and
omnipresence. The earth is round. Yes, it is huge, but
Compared with the sky - nothing, but it's nothing - prerasno! 
Land together with the sun, moon and stars as it gives the 
completeness nothing great, referred to as heaven or the 
cosmos. MIR is tied to Land, though far from it. He is doomed 
to wind around loop for a loop, seemingly pointless at first 
glance, the furrow space. The meaning of this journey gave 
people arriving from Earth.



        People ... This word says it all. Mir knew that he was
created by people in their care. There was no doubt -
've already after MIR gained consciousness, he repeatedly
of being completed by the accession of new modules. People
fly, living inside the station, often for long periods. And 
then flew away, and flew the next shift. And all over again. 
And even when people did not have the invisible eye of the 
ordinary radio bringing the station "Mir" them, people, team, 
flawlessly performed by "the world".



        So, created to serve the people, "the world" over the 
years accustomed to them, to their way of life. Accustomed to 
trust them in everything. He knew that even if people make a 
mistake, it will do everything to correct it. It was not just - 
it was wrong to team with Earth, the failure of the board - 
there was even a small fire, delivered, however, a lot of 
trouble for people because of the smoke. Most serious mistake 
people was an accident a cargo ship "Missed" by the docking 
station and crashed into a module Kvant, because of what 
happened last depressurization. But here people have done 
everything possible to rectify the situation and to save the 
station: they blocked the hatches leading to "quantum", cutting 
off it from a steel part of the station, and then it repaired 
for a long time ... The truth is people aglyadyvali station 
less and less ... However, commands from Earth came as before, 
and the MIR was calm, knowing that about him will recall, 
although a bit and was bored. During such periods, Time-ins 
"Peace", which, though formed a uniform system of stations, 
each had its own character and consciousness, were together a 
variety of conversations. This, of course, very countries in 
terms of the human psyche, but after the MIR and was a man.


 - How are you, "Base"? - Came the voice of "Nature."

 - Do not miss, "Spectrum"! - Encouragement to "Crystal", while
something excitedly discussing with a docking module for
"Shuttle". Quiet about something its namesake chatted Kvant and
Kvant-2 "... It has been so held for weeks and months, although 
earlier people, to be replaced, were at the station 
continuously. But this time they were not particularly long. 
Yes, and course correction commands are already have not been 
reported, why MIR, overcoming the growing resistance of the 
atmosphere, descended unusually low. Down station before, 
though not to such features, after which the Earth came the 
command, the motors. As a result, the station disperse and rise 
above. Therefore "THE WORLD" with the impatience, engulfing his 
entire collective mind waiting for orders to rise above, waited 
a bit nervously, knowing what's on Earth, all was not well ... 
The possibility of accelerating were more than enough: the 
"world" was docked already became part of station and filled 
'brim "fuel cargo ship "Progress". True, he was a taciturn and 
rarely set foot in conversation ...



        And in one of these days, nothing to notice the signal 
from the Earth has finally arrived. In the first tiny fraction 
of a second MIR was pleased that once again interrupted his 
forced omission, but then, after analyzing its meaning, "chill" 
- It was his death. He did not know about how it will happen, 
but knew that no matter how beautiful the earth beneath, she's

not exactly suited for space stations. Namely, there
pushing the station signal, including the engines were ordered 
to ship Progress on the inhibition.



        "WORLD" in principle could not disobey orders, because 
it was his sense of life. But in his heart a void, and

the bitterness of what he has no use and therefore so
easily, one might even say - thoughtlessly kill. Collapsed
irrevocably and its system of worldview - "Heaven-Earth-People."
She dropped out of the most important element - "The Man", and 
without it all else loses all meaning, including existence 
itself. 


        "Well - he thought" THE WORLD "- again I am destined to 
die I will do nicely! "And thinking, so in the next nanosecond

He turned on full power brake motors have suffered
toward its end.


        ... Signals include brake motors arrived yet
twice, flawlessly executed, "the world". The last of them
entered when the station sailed beneath such
familiar to each module Kazakh steppes and the Baikonur 
Cosmodrome, where in due time came a long process of birth and

launch into space each. After that, the earth's surface
was approaching too quickly. More and more grew
headwind, yet strongly inhibits the station, causing a 
deformation solar panels and antennas.



        Mir space station entered the Earth's atmosphere.


                           *


        "Station" MIR "is the earth's atmosphere" - announced by
TV. We have all sat around the table in front of the screen. In 
the those girls came from the kitchen. I, as an organizer, 
stood up and picked up a glass of vodka. But Tomomi ahead of me.


 - Well, Kampala! - She said a toast ... Despite the sincere
naive misunderstanding Tomomi this tragic situation, I just
shudder - so do not relate hilarious Japanese "Campai with
those bitter feelings that overwhelmed me at this moment.

 - No, Tom, do not rush - I said - you do not understand.

 - What happened? - She was confused.

 - Now your eyes is a tragedy. Mir space station
was the pride of our country. I understand that it is 
difficult, but you Imagine all that I am about to say is 
happening in Japan, is mentally everything that happens on your 
home. Imagine that for short period of time the state budget 
declined from 600 millions of dollars to somewhere around 30 
million, after which the country was not enough money on almost 
all areas life - science, education, medicine, agriculture

agriculture, defense. The result - closed factories, 
disappearing Whole sectors of the economy and especially high 
technology, as the most complex, and therefore the most 
delicate and need to pay special attention. And our space 
industry is not just the best in the country - it is unique on 
a global scale. The same applies to a host of other high-tech 
industries in all sectors. Just In this case the situation is 
most clearly - closed unique plants and research centers, and 
now they will not return, so as staff run in different 
directions, stop projects unique design zabestsenok sold to 
foreigners, to at least have something to pay the salary 
remaining employees to at least they do not run away. And 
everything falls apart and disappears. That station "Mir" 
stoked, not creating a replacement - the project "Mir-2" long 
stopped. Sam MIR else could fly, but the money for it too No, 
although to create a new need of much more. It's not just a 
"WORLD" stoked, but the entire Russian space! Because I in 
childhood as many of my peers wanted to be astronaut, played in 
the spacecraft. And parents me small boys, they said - you will 
learn, and take into space. This was a clear goal! A dream 
about the current generation? Now all bend under him the money 
and rags! That is so Behold! - I stopped and looked at Tomomi - 
What is it? 

        Her eyes were full of tears:

 - But ... But it uzhastno! - Whispered Tom. It is - very
sensual, and my monologue touched it for a living.

 - Yes, uzhastno. But it is a fact of life in Russia.

 - Silly me ... I thought that came to hold the station ...
So good, so good work. Goodbye! And then
is that!

 - Calm down, Tom, And here you are! You're not to blame for 
that did not understand. It's my fault, we are all guilty, that 
somehow did not thought you all used to describe in detail. And 
so simple Looking good for the beautiful Moscow stores deep

the nature and extent of the ongoing degradation and 
inconspicuous. 

 - Yes - added Kohl - the decay and degradation of society and
States primarily disappear the most complex structures
mechanisms, communication and education. Station "Mir" flush is 
not so much because no money - you can find them, chances were, 
and not because it allegedly worn out, but because

she was not needed rapidly deteriorating Russia, its elite.
Is that so ... popontovatsya. But just for the sake of it
save - too expensive for any country and
especially in today's Russia. The current real Russia - in
flea market, and shuttles - its most striking character. A 
science, high technology - it's all there out of inertia, 
simply because can not disappear immediately. That is - a real 
relic Last, but not those old men with red flags, over which

tired mock our "democratic" television. They only
most acutely experiencing what is happening and the most active 
of the all available to their understanding of the way this is 
demonstrated by the community. They will be in 50 years - will 
take these, there is sufficient number in a little more change, 
and so young. And that's about what Scientific and 
technological and cultural heights reached in due time country 
already know will be a unit - the human memory is weak! After 
all, for example, that we, students of Moscow State University, 
specializing in humanities, even know about Tsarist Russia? 
Well, yes, we know historical facts, names, symbols, dates, but 
the overall picture life, aspirations, people, etc. hardly 
imagine. Others know even less - a set of stereotypes. In our 
case, will even worse: in progressive disintegration of the 
education system Russia very soon, within a generation or two 
will cease to be a country with one of the most educated 
nations. And the illiterate people are just in such knowledge 
need not be ... 

 - But the Mir space station still worn out in triplicate. She
old, and it's a fact! - Insert last and Lena his word - and
Now we have to preserve some kind of science should ever
fear that it will fall on our heads?

 - Yes, it flies more than 15 years, although the planned five.
However, experts and astronauts, except for a narrow circle
government and RosAvivKosmos "-native-ranking officials (with
all have been clear) argue that the station is in excellent 
condition and can still fly for at least five years. This is 
the greatest triumph our space technology. And in recognition 
of this new International Station ISS, being built on similar 
principles (No new tech is not here), based on the experience 
of "peace" calculated exactly for 15 years. A "World" also built

gradually, and the last module was launched in 1996
and certainly far from being developed his life ...

 - Ha! It means "Peace" will be pouring on our heads to pieces! 
- snidely said Lena.


 - Do not talk nonsense! - Boiled over Boris. - Station - is a 
unified whole. And in general it is you do not like a car that 
can disrepair and collapse. At the station, there are no moving 
parts: it how to fly by inertia around the Earth, and would 
have flown farther, housing the less strong will not. Obsolete 
only equipment, but that's it-that's just easy to replace. And 
if much compared with the car, imagine that you have

old, but reliable car. Will you use it
or throw out, left without any vehicle so
as the money to buy a new car there and is not expected?

 - Friends! - I intervened. - Stop arguing. In my time has come!


        At this time the announcer on TV proclaimed that the
station has already reached that height, where it begins its 
irreversible active destruction. I got:


 - At this point, committed the murder: the creation is 
destroyed human genius, leaving no replacement okromya bluff so

called "international", but actually American, but
created by Russian space station hands. A MIR falls
now, burning, forced his way through the atmosphere. He is now 
probably very painful! Accompanying him to say: Sorry, man, 
that we You have not saved. What did stop the project "Mir-2"

parse is constructed in the early 90's this miracle plant. My 
apologies for the many other unimplemented breaches of human 
thought, particular project Buran, ruined as a crime, as well as

you. Forgive me if you can. And I still believe that my country
have a future. What's wrong with our new launch sites will 
shoot missiles new space stations. That MIR-2 "yet once

vzmoet skyward. Therefore, seeing you, old man, I drink to the 
hope which is alive no matter what, for a new "World", with 
quotes or not, as someone more like it. We have ours, we have a 
new World is constructed!



                           *


        It has long been, by the standards of this last flight, 
with the Corps station disappeared antenna, solar panels and 
other speakers part. One after another, crumbling and breaking 
under the pressure of more and denser air stream, they are 
rapidly losing speed, instantly disappeared behind. Even before 
all communication was lost with the Earth. And around the main 
design increasingly growing fireball plasma, leaving a long 
glowing tail. But the station, hot and blinding, was still 
alive. MIR walked steadily toward his ultimate death, 
completing the his last in the life of revolution. And he was 
hurt ... Very. He has remained sealed, but felt that it was not 
for long - the first would not stand windows. And then - the 
end. But it will be stick to the last and die beautifully.


 - Keep it up, "Base"!

 - Cheer up, "Spectrum"!

 - Another wait, Kvant!
 ...

        So, talking, supporting each other modules of
last forces holding together. With incredible speed, they
flew forward, and almost as quickly melted height, mile after
mile. And then - the moment of "X": almost one point burst all
windows, and at the same time and effort did not become modules
stick together ...

 - Good-bye, "Base"!

 - Do not think badly of me, "Spectrum"!

 - Good-bye, "Quantum" "..

 ...


        Deadly Force broke modules scattered them from each
other. Came to an end and the module itself: after burning 
plasma broken windows, and former places of interface modules 
broke inward, and combined with superheated air and combustible

materials inside the station, formed a hellish mix, torn
modules from the inside, after which they turned into the set
lifeless fragments rushing parallel courses to the ground.
Mir space station ceased to exist ...


        Her own pieces, dazzling sparkling, splash a line the 
sky Southern Hemisphere from horizon to horizon. It was amazing

beautiful! "The last flight of Russian gems" - so
described one of the numerous journalists, this spectacle.

 - God, how beautiful! And I had somehow not looked at the sky 
and thinking about what's going on there! - Admired some

Australian farmer. Perhaps for the first time this "ruminant"
western people in the head moved, thanks to the "world"
at least some little thoughts.


        Devotee, slandered and obolgany, MIR, it is true
what was left of him, and touched the Pacific Ocean just in
given area, once plugged mouths all the gossips and put into
clean water all the detractors, who until the last moment
doubt "as Russian (in fact it's certainly not hot
loved them superlyudi - Americans!) can be reduced so accurately
station from orbit! "He died without dropping their dignity as
befits a real man, though he was just a machine,
albeit very difficult. He died like the crew of the Varyag,
who opened the sea cock his ship and remained on it, and
St. Andrew's flag is not lowered.


                           *


        MIR drowned, it was all over, all of the words were 
uttered, and we said goodbye to the hostess, dispersed. I went 
to the University to class. A few days later flew one after 
another, faster and faster, hiding the past for a routine 
college life. But these events are not forgotten completely, 
bitterness settled on the bottom of my soul, surfacing again 
and again. In those days, I recall that a few days prior to the 
date seen, "World" ... I'm sure it was him. This it was early 
evening, the sun had just disappeared behind the house. I 
walked along the Moscow downtown, as suddenly over the houses 
on West began to flare up slowly moves across the sky

star, which soon surpassed by the brightness of the maximum 
brightness Venus, shining at times that on the morning, then in 
the evening sky. No It was not an airplane - a star do not 
leave a trail. Reached its maximum brightness, it also slowly 
faded. Outside no doubt it was the "Mir", makes one of his

recent turns on the ultra-low orbit, and sends a farewell
hello earth people ...


        Often after such memories, I went to roam the
Moscow, no, no, yes, and looking in places where the traces
grandeur of my native land. I visited the Exhibition Center, 
went to the pavilion "Cosmos", where the bashful shaded 
portrait of Gagarin on background dripping from under the dome 
of water and crumbling plaster is brisk trade in seeds and 
whosoever is usual for the covered market trinkets. All this 
was like the barbarians, herding their goats on the ruins of 
the Great of Rome. Front of the pavilion stands as a forlorn 
Rocket "Vostok", the construction of an entirely different era. 
Yes, two more ragged, long painted and now obsolete aircraft

slightly diluted with her loneliness.


        Then I walked once in Gorky Park and visited more
another legacy of the past - the space shuttle "Buran", where
female guide to outfit a cosmonaut and painted a la
Pauline from the movie "The Guest from the Future," briefly 
told the story project, while Yeltsin was not covered (then 
just said, that Russia does not need! Bastards! America needs, 
and we are, you see Do not!), and also about what the Buran 
best American shuttles (It turned out that all. Overall - just 
look: the laws Aerodynamics are rooted). It also appeared that 
prior to closing project was built twelve (!) "Buran". Of them 
into space managed to fly one. He now stands at Baikonur. 
Another - in Australia, in an amusement park and one - here, in 
Gorky Park. 

 - And the rest? - I asked.

 - Others cut ... - That was the answer. Words after that
me there were not any, but my heart cried ...


        Later I was in a museum space and the Polytechnic
Museum: only there one can still see what is irretrievably
we lost everything in the past 10 years. And these items, 
carefully laid out on shelves, evoke the idea that everything - 
in the past: our future, our great minds, and hence our Russia, 
our Russian civilization. If the first thing destroyed

the best, most advanced, then that nation has no future.
And what happens now - only agony.


                           *


        And yet I believe the best, in spite of all remaining
optimistic, as in the darkest days of 1941, people believed in
coming victory over fascism.


        I believe that the Russian people shake off his torpor,
throw off the parasites having stuck, and escaped from the 
creeping degradation, jerk forward again in science, culture, 
come on ascending branch of social evolution, only lead to

Currently the future. And then a new world will necessarily be 
built, and in heaven and on earth ... Primarily on the ground.



            On the death of "peace."

The soul is empty, but the severity of her Nemer,
And it seems that for centuries, but no -
All dreams forever lost
And interrupted their flight crime forever.

    And on this day heart desires the bitter,
    So you want to forget, having been in paradise ...
    No MIR, I then "soaked" blind,
    But at the same time and my home.

I am ready to howl at my inability to
Murder stations on TV watching.
Why do I need speakers and an abundance of shmotok -
I am Russian Space does not want to lose!

    But I believe in this hour regrettable
    What a gang of bastards give a kick
    That will endure, and the world is constructed a new,
    AND RUSSIAN space will be forever!