AN: Unsure what to call Vasilevsky… I don't like the 'Commissar for Defence' title, but apparently the Soviets didn't like calling them Secretary or Minister for Defence. I think I'll keep using 'Minister' though, as I think it's more natural in English. I suspect I'll similarly translate other similar things into the English equivalent… Thoughts?

Also, I use various non-English things in this chapter, which again I translate. Essentially the characters are speaking English, so it's sort of weird for them to use the Russian language abbreviations? I don't know.

Appendix for this chapter given I'm using the translated Russian terms not the Russian language abbreviations:

NIAI RK-I

NIAI LK

Nikitin-Shevchenko IS

Bordkanone 5

-x-

As Durov had ordered, the temporary defences and camp facilities had been completed quickly after Chapayev's arrival. A hundred romans had arrived a few days later with swords and shovels, the latter being of great help with their experience in engineering and fortification. The combined force had quickly thrown up a palisade with a deep ditch on the outside using several of the tanks to knock down or tear up trees for the fence. The rest of the vehicles were prepared in three motor pools by three gates, one facing the pass toward Nova Roma, the others looking deeper into the valleys. Durov had kept Suslov busy with the occasional raid to cull the beasts, as well as properly map the surroundings to prevent any secret attack by an unknown path. Even so, sentries with night vision equipment and powerful scopes had been placed on towers at the edge of the camp. The beasts had soon learnt not to come within half a kilometre for fear of the rapid shots of the rifles.

Indeed, in an attempt to prevent further attacks, and if only to spare the ammunition, Durov had been speaking with 'Ivan' the prisoner. To the marvel of several others, though not Durov, the creature was certainly intelligent, being able to even pronounce some of the Russian words he'd heard for 'food' or 'heat' and therefore be able to describe his wants. Though pantomime Durov learnt that the 'Unas', which was apparently the name of the species, had been transported in a similar manner to the early romans. The working theory between Durov and a few others was that the Unas were used similarly to the humans, but had been wanted for their great physical strength rather than their intelligence. Certainly, Vulcan could not have completed any electronics or even primed the Sphere Bomb with the talons of the Unas compared to the far more dextrous fingers of a man. At some point Durov recognised he'd have to find a solution to the Unas in the mountains. He was inclined to send Ivan out after a while, but was still considering things.

In general though, Durov was quite satisfied with the progression of events. He had most of what he needed currently, and certainly enough to defend the valley from any likely attack, either by humans or even with alien aircraft, as they'd brought in another battery of 88s, which he was hoping would be as effective as they had in taking down Vulcan's craft. He was quite frustrated with the lack of progress in other areas, but had been promised support in this by radio from the SGC. Particularly, he was less than pleased that he'd received no guidance from home regarding what do with the various objects too large to be transported back through the gate. At first, and particularly to secure the route back home he'd dispatched a company of riflemen back to the capital with the various smaller objects, for instance the alien body of Vulcan in its coffee flask, a rather ignoble end for a god. However, there had also been several of the staff weapons and a few Unas bodies for autopsy. All these had been received and Durov assumed sent to various laboratories around the Soviet Union, and he had no doubt the People would soon see the great benefits that the Stargate Program would bring to them in time, yet the current situation was not sustainable. Several other columns of vehicles had been sent back, inflaming the Roman people, or at least a proportion of them. Stone had been thrown and on one occasion a tense standoff had ensued between a T-34 and a cohort of infantry apparently sent by the Senate. Durov wasn't sure what it was exactly that they were trying to do, and indeed he was rather lacking in information.

In any case, regular supply convoys arrived from the gate without great trouble and Durov was reviewing his personnel to choose officers to train a company of the friendlier Romans with rifles, as he'd promised Thurius the last time he'd seen him. Major Stanislav and SG-9, embedded with the allied army, had sent word by radio that Thurius was refusing to leave the ruins of Castrum, and had even begun to rebuild and fortify it. The General was too honourable to march on the Senate and repay them for the assassination attempt, but also refused to return without his army, in the obvious fear that they would try again.

Durov was rather concerned regarding the political situation and had discussed it with Basin on several occasions. Their supplies weren't in danger, as a tank and a half-track protected each convoy, but there seemed to be a growing rift in the Elysian society. Crowds of Romans had left the capital and flocked toward the devastated cities, eager to claim land for farming again after their exodus centuries before. With the Emperor and Senate unwilling to laud Thurius' victory, or denounce his technically illegal actions, which went beyond his authority as a military governor, Thurius was growing in power, and had received several emissaries from the non-roman states. Durov and Basin had agreed that this paralysis couldn't continue, and after consulting their historical staff, had come to the conclusion that civil war would likely erupt soon.

This was not necessarily a bad thing. Basin had made the argument that it was hardly different from aiding partisans in Albania or Lithuania against their fascist oppressors, and that therefore such a war was essentially according to plan, however, for the Revolution to successfully liberate the people of Elysium, Durov knew they would have to take part in it themselves, which Durov was unwilling to do without the proper knowledge of what would happen afterwards. By Durov's reckoning, Thurius was a decent and moral individual, possessing the essential qualities of leadership, but no matter the colour of his flags, he was hardly a socialist.

There was a balance to be struck between a bloody civil war, so common to the Roman political order, and a less injurious coup. Clearly the Roman aristocracy wouldn't come over willingly, and agree to the reforms necessary for the advancement of human dignity, so in the end it came down to Thurius' honour, the impatience of Durov's superiors to control the Elysian Stargate and the pride and greed of the Senate.

The weather had at least improved, overcast skies giving way to bright sunlight, and Vulcan's valley was experiencing somewhat of a heatwave, which had slowed down work significantly. Men worked in the shade as much as possible, with the half underground construction of the bunkers being a cooling respite from the heat. Igor had foolishly left the back of his neck uncovered and gotten badly sunburnt, but took it in good humour, joking that after defeating Vulcan they should strike down Apollo's chariot.

A knock, or rather, a thump of a palm against the fabric of his tent, interrupted his thoughts.

"Come!" he announced, moving his papers into some semblance of order.

A soldier drew back the tent flap, it was Sergei Mikhailov, the last survivor of SG-3, "Sir." He said, "Captain Konovalov's replacement is here."

"Excellent! Thank you Sergei." Durov replied. He had taken the young man into his service, if he put it in those terms. It was a terrible thing to lose his whole team but be unharmed through the experience, and it was a testament to the good character of the SG personnel in general that Mikhailov faced no accusation of cowardice that he might have if he'd survived in a different unit.

He motioned for the Corporal to bring the visitor in and he did so, pulling back the tent flap again to reveal a fine looking officer, tall and with a sharp face, carrying an air of precision about him. He, like Captain Konovalov, wore the shoulder badge of the logistics corps, but unlike the Captain, this officer was a Colonel, and where his epaulets had the same three stars and gold stripes as Durov did on his own, this officer's were on a blue field, demonstrating his position in the Air Force, not the Army. The man took two long strides and came smartly to attention.

"Colonel Durov, I am Colonel Yuri Tarelkin of the 37th Air Army. I am very pleased to meet you."

Durov had stood to greet the man and after returning the salute he extended his hand. Tarelkin shook it vigorously and smiled at him. "Was your journey very tiring?" he asked.

"Apparently I've travelled several billion kilometres." Remarked Tarelkin, but no I came in one of the new transports, have you seen them?"

Durov laughed, "I haven't, but let me ask whether you've eaten first before we get started?"

It turned out Tarelkin had not, so Durov led him down to get some food, immediately forming a good opinion of the man, in large part due to his serious and sober manner which Durov appreciated in an officer of logistics.

"I must tell you," said Tarelkin after they'd sat down, "All this is being followed with great interest in Moscow." And he gestured toward Vulcan's pyramid.

"No doubt." Replied Durov, for Abramovich had advised him much the same when he'd last spoken with him.

"I can't say anything officially, but they're very pleased with you, all the way to the top, Comrade Vasilevsky himself said so."

Durov couldn't help but feel proud at that, and at Tarelkin's implication. "You are to replace Konovalov correct?"

Tarelkin nodded, "Well," he said, "Not replace, the Captain's done well, but where previously he was the liaison between the Program and the Minister's office, now a separate office has been established which I'm to head. Essentially I take things from you and send them wherever they need to go in the Union, and take things form the Union and get them to you. Personnel, equipment, technology and resources. Konovalov will be posted to the SGC and I'll coordinate from Moscow."

"Where does Comras fit into all this?"

"The Committee for Expansion? They haven't been informed yet. They've made good progress on several designs for trains that can fit through a Stargate, and on various other systems but they still think it's for use expanding settlement past the Urals."

Durov nodded slowly, he supposed there wasn't much reason to tell many people yet, given there were so many good excuses. "At some point we're going to begin this outward movement of people though. Is your office handing that?"

"No, I know nothing at all about that. My office is only for the logistics and placement of resources through the Stargate going both ways. As I understand it we're to have a meeting at some point, General Abramovich, Minister Vasilevsky, all relevant parties. Predominantly to decide the future of the Program."

"Is it in doubt?" asked an alarmed Durov.

"No no, of course not!" replied Tarelkin, "As I say, they are all very pleased with the outcomes. Alone, any of the gains would be valuable, whether advanced weapons, energy shield generators, or even just the possibility of completely safe colonisation space away from the Anglo-Americans… All together though there's a sense of great confidence and optimism."

They speculated for a few more minutes on the events that would likely be brought up in any similar meeting, but Durov turned the conversation toward previous issues, specifically various requests he'd made for their mission on Elysium.

"Hang on a moment, I've some notes here." said Tarelkin, pulling out a pad of paper and leafing through it, "You've submitted a number of suggestions and requests Colonel-"

"Please, there's no need for such formality!"

"Vladimir then," smiled Tarelkin, "Here we are! You have all military equipment necessary?" he asked, looking down at the pad.

"We have everything necessary to resume ordinary operations yes. That means teams through the gate and light support vehicles. However, we need more mechanics and engineering staff in general to fully occupy this world."

"Meaning what sort of things?"

"Concrete for one thing. Railways, locomotives, and personnel to build the line between here and the gate, but also things like mines and a larger quantity of ammunition and supplies in case we`re besieged here."

"I'll certainly see to it. Now, you've also requested an aircraft?"

"Vulcan shot our last one down. We need reconnaissance, transport, photographic and technical craft, as well as some combat support aircraft. And of course pilots."

"I've read your file Vladimir you can fly can't you? Very well it seemed, given that incident with the Stuka."

Vladimir grinned. He'd once been ordered to pick up an enemy agent from outside a Hungarian outpost and after landing at midnight he'd encountered a German bomber on the way back. Because his aircraft was unarmed he'd used its greater mobility as a biplane to force the slower Stuka down, eventually causing the enemy plane to crash. The spy's story had impressed the generals and Durov had been decorated for the action.

"Many of the SG teams can fly yes." He said, "But that's not what they're trained for and we'll need pilots at some point anyway."

Tarelkin made a note on his pad. "Ah before I forget," he said, "I brought some technical drawings for you to review." He went into his bag and pulled out some rolls of paper, spreading them across the table, moving his plate away, half-unfinished as he did. Somewhat of a crowd had accumulated around them, listening in. Durov did not dismiss them as other officers might have done, for the heat outside was punishing and there was no purpose to having men stand about under the sun for no reason.

"What on earth is that?" he asked, looking at Tarelkin's pictures.

"A Heinkel Lerche." Replied the officer, "It's what's called a 'coleopter', the Germans designed them to take off from any open space to minimise the risk of bombing of facilities, runways and the like."

To Durov's eyes the craft looked ridiculous. Essentially a normal fuselage, but with what seemed to be a large barrel attached, jutting out from the middle as if the plane was wearing it like a coat. Between the barrel's edge and the fuselage there were two propellers, which would push the plane forward as its belt-wing provided lift. He examined the specifications.

"This is only 40cm wider than the Stargate!" he exclaimed.

"Exactly." Replied Tarelkin. "This aircraft never flew, it was never built, but the essential concept is sound. Instead of transporting aircraft through the gate, the them taking off and such, a pilot could fly straight through and provide support and engage the enemy immediately."

Durov could almost see it, this ridiculous aircraft speeding toward the gate, guns primed. He shook his head. "Even if you shave off half a metre or so you'd still have a difficult time finding pilots skilled or foolish enough to try it. If they even scrape the sides they'd crash."

Tarelkin shrugged. "We can dream comrade, we can dream." The man smiled, "This is my job you see. It's what I did during the war."

"Oh?"

"Logistics is essentially knowledge and application. Nothing creative is truly necessary, because all the solutions exist already." Said the Air Force officer, "I met comrade Kalashnikov once you know."

"As in the one who designed the rifles?"

Tarelkin nodded, "Indeed, I asked him how he came up with the design, he replied he hadn't. I asked for clarification and he said that a designer should always have an appreciation for all developments in the field. I'm here to know what we have already and how we might apply it to the needs of this Program. Nothing new need be created, that's not my duty, mine is just to know the state of various issues currently. If no solution exists we commission one. Take this aircraft for example, I agree it will be difficult to do, and I shouldn't expect you'll have your 'Gatefighter' anytime soon, however, that's where these come in." he motioned to the other diagrams. "Here we have the first solution, simply finding aircraft small enough to fit through whole, rather than having to be assembled on the other side. There are a number of options for this. For one, we find aircraft with detachable wings, or we ship the fuselage and the actual plane of the aircraft separately, thus the wing can just be slotted in on the other side.

"Yes I see." Said Durov, "And these?" he asked, looking at two rather unusual designs.

"The first here, the Extending Wing Fighter" he tapped one curious aircraft with two pairs of wings, not vertically situated like a biplane, but one in front of the other, "comes from the Scientific Test Aero-Institute, the pair of main-planes generate increased lift while taking off and then this sail is extended telescopically once airborne. Similarly, its cousin the Leningrad Young Communist design also has an extending design. These two variable geometry aircraft are able to change depending on their circumstance. They're quite outdated by now, being designed in the 30s, but we'll investigate any possibilities. Similarly, here we have the Folding Fighter series," and he motioned to a biplane which demonstrated how its lower wing would fold up into the upper one. "These designs all demonstrate some polymorphism or variable geometry which would allow them to either get through the Stargate or take off faster once through it. However, we've also been considering a number of other solutions. Here are some foreign designs, mostly American, for carrier based aircraft. Due to the obvious storage issues, their wings fold or swivel back in a number of ways that would make getting them through the gate much easier. Lastly," he said, turning to another paper, "We have this system we've been considering. I'd like to talk to a Major Chernov I believe is name is, your Chief Engineer? We have a rail system, two or more rails are placed leading up to the gate, and then we use detachable rockets to shoot the aircraft down the rails from a standing start, either the aircraft is small enough to pass through by itself, or we have a sort of spring system that will keep the wings close enough to get through the gate, but then will lock the wings into position once its free of the rails and on the other side. We're currently trying to locate Comrades Bakshayev, Nikitin and Shevchenko, as well as a number of others to re-establish some sort of polymorphic testing facility."

"This looks very promising!" said Durov. There were a few previous missions he could think of where air support, or even an aerial spotter, would have been very useful. "What are these?"

"You recall the 'Hedgehog' system?" asked Tarelkin, and Durov nodded, "We've adapted it. Before you'd load up 50 submachine guns into a bomber and fly over a target, and of course you used it to clear positions outside the gate. As I understand it was never used? Only tested?"

Durov nodded again, "Mostly we didn't need it." The other sides of the Stargate had never been heavily guarded. Or rather, they'd never known if it was. That knowledge hadn't been of much help to the SG teams who'd disappeared through it though. He returned to Tarelkin's explanation:

"Instead of many smaller guns we use a few larger ones, depending on the range of the engagement." And the officer demonstrated several different designs. In each Durov saw that they'd essentially packed a four metre box with various weapons, he saw heavy machine guns, flamethrowers, and one where four field guns had been suspended.

"Are these auto-loaders?" he asked.

"Yes, automatic anti-tank guns firing High Explosive ammunition. Well, any ammunition really. 12 rounds in a rotary magazine for each of them, at 45 rounds per minute. You can have 48 50mm shells on target at ranges of several kilometres within a few seconds once its set up. You don't even need to take it through the Gate, because it can shoot so far you can supress a large area of lay a smoke screen over a retreat from all the way back at the SGC."

Durov nodded slowly. This would indeed devastate anything, and it wouldn't even matter that more maintenance was required or that the weapon might jam, because due to the modular system you could have a whole new weapon set 'loaded' into place. Unlike the original Hedgehog system loaded into a bomber this weapon wouldn't be under fire or moving about a lot, and so would have a much easier time. He was already considering the new training he'd have to put his men through. Perhaps an artillery observer in each team? Or just the front line and combat support teams. He'd speak with Suslov and Revik later. Then something half remembered came to him and he laughed.

"What is it?" asked Tarelkin, Durov's laugh having interrupted the man's excited explanation of radio controlled missiles fired through the gate and other systems for the future.

"This is a German system isn't it?" Durov asked rhetorically, "They used them on bombers?"

"Yes how did you know?"

"We started with this idea from Stalingrad. That's where the Hedgehog was used. We called these," he tapped the automatic canons, "'Stalingradtyp'. The Hitlerites used them to supress flak emplacements. I found it amusing that we'd come full circle."