Struggle in Soviet Russia

"Victor, Victor..."

Sophia's light call awakens Victor from his shallow sleep.

She shook her body and almost fell off her chair. Thanks to Sophia's help, she was finally saved from embarrassment.

"What's the matter?" Rubbing his sore eyes, Victor yawned and grabbed the coat that was sliding down from him with one hand. He looked at Sophia who was standing in front of him and asked.

"Those two," Sophia said with a stubborn mouth toward the entrance of the laboratory, "They have finished the discussion, are you going to see them?"

"Ah? Ah!" The first one is a question, it shows that Victor is not awake yet, the second one is affirmative, he is already awake.

"Why fell asleep?" Victor squinted his eyes and glanced at the pale sky, and asked subconsciously, "How long did I sleep?"

"Four hours," Sophia looked at his watch and smiled, "I called you to let you go back and rest. You have to wait here."

"Um..." Victor replied vaguely, and Victor handed the coat in his hand to Sophia, then raised his hands, rubbed his numb face vigorously, and said, "Is there any water?"

He pointed to his throat and said, "The throat is too dry."

Sophia handed the coat to a guard behind him, took a water glass from the opponent, and handed it to Victor, saying, "It's already ready."

When Victor took the water glass, she said again: "Let's smoke less cigarettes."

Victor nodded while sipping the water, but he certainly didn't take his words to his heart.

"Go and prepare some breakfast, which is richer," said Victor as he passed the water glass back to Sofia, walking towards the laboratory door, "I will accompany the two experts to have breakfast, and then go to the Kremlin."

"Breakfast is also ready," Sophia said, following him, "However, the two expert comrades went to take a shower first. They didn't even bother to change clothes last night..."

Having said that, she leaned close to Victor, lowered her voice and said, "Are they really counter-revolutionaries?"

Victor stopped and glared at her, but said nothing.

On the table used by Korolev and Grushko last night, a hearty breakfast was already placed at this time. It was indeed very hearty. It was prepared completely according to the standard that Victor can enjoy, even three cups of milk. Braving the heat.

Victor squeezed a piece of red sausage from the plate and threw it into his mouth. While chewing, he looked at the other party's documents and materials on the other table.

He doesn't understand those professional things, but it doesn't matter, he only needs to know what those things mean.

In fact, as early as two years ago, when Korolev was still in the 4th Special Prison, he had already developed the first rocket, which successfully climbed to an altitude of more than 2,900 meters.

However, at that time the Soviet Army’s focus shifted, and the use of Katyusha rockets began to receive more attention. Later, due to the outbreak of the war, the funds that could be used for military research were greatly reduced, and related projects were promoted. stopped.

Korolev and Grushko, who were still serving their sentences, were sent to the first-line factories to directly engage in production work.

Now Victor has obtained the first-hand information sent back from Germany. With this information, he can persuade Comrade Stalin to restart rocket research related projects and provide them with sufficient budget.

Yes, Victor has never thought of being called the pioneer or developer of rocket technology. That is not realistic at all. What he wants to do is to become the leader of this project, at least in terms of intelligence.

Now, he has occupied a place in the development of nuclear weapons. If he makes some achievements in the development of rockets, then these two achievements alone will be enough to make him the most outstanding intelligence staff in the history of the alliance. .

After waiting for about twenty minutes, Korolev and Grushko rushed back to the laboratory. They have changed into new clothes. Interestingly, what they are wearing now is the uniform of the People’s Committee of National Security. The people who served them even found them two blue hats.

Compared with the time when they first came yesterday, although the two of them stayed up all night and their eyes were bloodshot, their mental heads have improved a lot. This may be the so-called "good spirits at happy occasions". After all, they can not only do it now. You don’t need to worry about your favorite job all day.

"Hello, Comrade Korolev, Comrade Grushko." Seeing the two reappearing in the laboratory, Victor stood up, greeted them with a smile, and stretched out his hand from a distance. Said, "Allow me to introduce myself."

Shaking hands with the two, Victor said: "I am Victor Viktorovich Tarasev. I am currently serving in the People's Committee of National Security."

He doesn't need to introduce his specific position in the committee department, because...someone will speak for him.

Sure enough, Sophia added to him on the side: "General Victor is the first deputy people's commissar of our committee department and the main head of the intelligence department of the alliance."

Korolev and Grushko may not know what kind of department the National Security People’s Committee is, but they do know what the intelligence department means and what the first deputy people’s committee means.

Therefore, the two suddenly seemed a little cramped.

"The data and information that the two people saw last night was just sent back from Germany by our intelligence personnel," Victor continued, "In order to get them, we did a lot of work and paid a great price. ."

Korolev and Grushko looked at each other and nodded in unison. Then the former said: "This should be Feng's technique. In 32 years, he published a paper in the special issue of Humboldt University. , He has already expounded his vision in this regard, and obviously, he succeeded."

Speaking of this, Korolev's mood seems a little depressed.

"Did he succeed?" Victor asked. "We only got the data, but there was no information about the success of the experiment."

"Calculating based on the existing data, theoretically there should be no problem." Grushko walked to the table with the data, quickly searched for it, and then took a sheet full of calculations. The formula paper came back and said, "Considering the performance of the liquid engine they are involved in, as well as the propellant..."

"Comrade Grushko," Victor interrupted. The guy looked a little excited at this moment, and when he picked up the paper, it felt like he had a lot to say.

But Victor doesn't have so much time to listen to him talking about technical things. He only needs results. For him, only results are the most important.

"You know, I am not a technical person, so those technical issues are not what I am concerned about," Victor said. "I just want to know if you have the data and information, do you have the ability? Reproduce this technology and bring me a real object."

Grushko looked back at Korolev, hesitated for a moment, and said: "It's difficult, Comrade Committee Member, that's very difficult."

Hearing this, Victor couldn't help feeling disappointed.

"Yes, Comrade Committee Member," said Korolev. "This technology requires a lot of investment and requires the cooperation of many departments. Moreover, Feng's technology uses liquid oxygen in the choice of propellant. It reacts with ethanol. According to the existing data, just one such rocket needs to consume 4 tons of ethanol and 5 tons of liquid oxygen. Its cost..."

Victor interrupted him again and said: "Well, Comrade Korolev, Comrade Grushko, I think it may be that the question I just asked is not comprehensive. Now I repeat it again, if you don’t consider the investment of resources Under the circumstances, can you reproduce this technology and come up with a finished product?"

Korolev and Grushko looked at each other again, and then the two nodded at the same time, and the former said: "There is definitely no problem, and we also have our own rocket engine, so there is no need to reproduce their technology. In addition, in the choice of propellant, I think kerosene or liquid hydrogen..."

"Comrade Korolev," Victor interrupted again, and said with a serious face, "you see, the situation is like this now, you know technology, I don't, but I know politics, but you don't. As for the research on this technology, its political priority is as follows: It is a war period, and all resources are tilted towards war. Therefore, if you want to get relevant resource input, your technology must be able to ensure that it can be quickly used in war."

The tone of voice paused, he looked at the two men and asked, "Do you understand what I mean? Yes, you must let the People’s Committee of National Defense see the results in the shortest time possible and see one that can be used to destroy the enemy. In kind."

"Of course you can tell me how good your design will be, how cheap, and how high you can send most of the weight, but do you think I can use these to convince the heads of the NKVD? "Victor spread out his hand and said, "But from another angle, if you tell me that the rocket you designed can launch a thousand kilograms of explosives from a ship in the Black Sea to the Ploiesti oil field in Romania, So what do you think the heads of the People’s Committee for National Defense would have?"

The two were silent. They must admit that Victor's statement is very reasonable. During the war, any work must give way to the needs of the war, even scientific research.

"So, comrades, two experts," Victor said at last, "I think we should cooperate in this way, you arrange your research priorities according to my requirements, and I solve the political problems for you, how about? "