Chapter Two: The Expedition

1963-01-07

Russia, Western Siberia,

Sverdlovsk territory, at the 'gate' area

"Okay, I have the cookware, water filtration bottles, utensils, and tools. But, I know I forgot something, but what?" a man said while looking through his camping bag. The man seemed to be in his early 60s by the looks of it, with a large grey beard and grey hair, which was made into a small ponytail that went to his nape. The man wore a grey cotton turtleneck sweater, winter pants, and Kirza boots. But this wasn't surprising since it was January in Siberia.

The man snapped his fingers, a quirk that indicated he had remembered what he had forgotten. "The compass!" he exclaimed. He began to search the entire room for the essential tool, but his efforts were in vain. Frustrated, he took a seat on a wooden chair near his work table. Just as he let out a heavy sigh of inconvenience, he noticed the compass lying right on the table in plain sight.

"Andrey, you old clumsy bag," the now-named Andrey said with an annoyed tone about his forgetfulness. "You're the head professor of the only university still operating in Sverdlovsk and one of the few Scientists still left in Russia, on the brink of a scientific discovery of the millennia, and you can't even notice your compass... what a joke."

The man grabbed the compass and stuffed it into his pocket while he pondered his forgetfulness. To Andrey Bobrov, he'd always been somewhat forgetful, often realizing he needed something insignificant at the moment he forgot it. Ironically, this didn't hinder his learning, and he excelled in math and natural science, which led to him becoming a Doctor of Sciences in Physical and Mathematical Sciences and a professor at the Ural State Technical University, making him the youngest man to accomplish such a feat. He would have gone even further if not for the German invasion two decades ago. Taking a deep breath, the professor looked out one of the many windows of the Izba he was staying in, focusing on a large structure made of stone in the middle of the forest, surrounded by sandbags and guarded by military personnel. The object was named 'gate,' and it was the reason why he and his research team were there.

Andrey nearly had a heart attack when the OVB showed up at his lecture looking for him. The Sverdlovsk Regime had become increasingly authoritarian after discovering that several high-ranking individuals were sleeper agents for Omsk. As a result, the OVB began cracking down on anything that appeared to be anti-Sverdlovsk activity, including criticism of the regime. Andrey had raised some minor issues with the military government, but he never thought they could lead to his arrest or worse. Fortunately, when he entered the OVB vehicle, the special agents explained that they needed him for a research expedition.

To say that he was shocked by what the agents were asking of him would have been an understatement. The last time he went on a scientific expedition was 24 years ago when the Soviet Union still existed. It was in the late 1930s when he and a few others were allowed to conduct a research expedition in the North Pole to study the Earth's magnetic field. They had plans for more expeditions, but these were postponed due to the start of the Great Patriotic War and were later canceled after the collapse of the Soviet Union. In the mid-1950s, Andrey tried to get permission from the West Siberian government for another expedition, but that also fell through with the government's collapse and subsequent turmoil, making any expeditions practically impossible.

Andrey felt suspicious about the 'research expedition' organized by Rokossovsky's government. He started questioning the two OVB agents about the details of the expedition, but they refused to provide any explanation until the expedition began. Andrey then requested to choose his team for the expedition, and surprisingly, the agents agreed with the condition that the team members meet certain criteria. After dropping him off at the university, the OVB instructed Andrey to find the team members for the expedition and keep it confidential before driving away.

In the days that followed, Andrey immediately began searching the university for anyone willing to join him on this research expedition. Although initially, few other professors and technicians were willing to join him on this venture, by the end of the deadline, he had rounded up 60 people ready to join him on this journey. They were picked up by the OVB in the early afternoon before driving out of the city and into the countryside. As they made their way, more vehicles began to join them, and it had transformed into a whole convoy with multiple types of vehicles and weaponry. He could even see some tanks in the convoy, which unnerved the professor. When he asked one of the OVB agents named Viktor why there was so much military hardware, the special agent's only reply was "insurance," and the rest of the ride went by quietly. By the time they arrived, the sun had already set, replaced with a nightly sky and a full moon. As they got out of their vehicles, Andrey and his team were led forward by the OVB agents and some military personnel before finally stopping at what looked to be a gate-like structure. When the professor had first seen the object, he seemed confused as he had been around these territories a few years back and had never seen such a landmark. When asked about it and what exactly it was, the special agent's response was, "That's up to you to find out."

After the professor received an explanation of the situation and the reason for the research expedition, he was taken aback. What the men were saying made absolutely no sense! Something like that couldn't appear out of nowhere or fall out of the sky just like that, and they claimed it led somewhere, even if the back was a solid wall. However, when he saw that the agents and military were dead serious, he was allowed to observe and check the structure. He found out that they weren't lying. His shock and disbelief quickly gave way to excitement. The expedition presented the thrilling opportunity of discovering something new that defied the laws of Physics and, most importantly, something that even the most advanced nations hadn't found. The professor felt a bit embarrassed about his initial reaction, realizing that he resembled a young child who had just received a present on New Year's Eve. Everyone around him seemed to cringe at his reaction. After he had calmed down, he asked Viktor and his partner when they could start, and to his delight, they said, "Right now." And so, their research expedition began.

The first few days of the expedition were extremely challenging. When they arrived at the location of the object, there were no living quarters or buildings, so they had to live and work in the tents they had brought with them. Given that it was the middle of November in Siberia, it was not a pleasant experience. Later on, the military constructed some Izbas for living quarters and workplaces. Although they weren't the usual Sverdlovsk apartments or university labs, it was certainly better than the tents they had used before. At least now, they didn't have to worry about getting wet while working or sleeping. With that finished, the professor could finally start the research they had come for in the first place.

They began by observing the structure to see if they had missed anything the military might not have noticed. Next, they collected samples from the 'gate' to determine its composition and sent them for analysis. During this time, they continued observing and conducting various tests, including radiation testing, which did reveal some radiation but at insignificant levels. After two weeks, they discovered a small room at the top of the gate with a peculiar device resembling a large keyboard with unique imprints on moving blocks. They experimented with the device but didn't observe any immediate results. At the same time, they received the results of the samples sent for analysis, which surprisingly indicated that the structure was mainly composed of stone and marble, with a small amount of rare earth materials. Following this, Andrey and his team decided to begin practical testing.

They began their experiments with small animals, such as pigeons. One pigeon was sent through the gate and returned unharmed. An autopsy revealed nothing unusual. They then tested a dog, which also returned unharmed. After confirming that passing through the 'gate' was harmless to animals, they moved on to human testing. A criminal was provided by the military for the test, and he was instructed to enter the structure and explore. When he returned, he appeared dazed and confused. The interrogation of the convict about what he saw in the 'gate' revealed some intriguing information.

As the convict moved through the "gate," it seemed as though he was going through a tunnel. He estimated that it took him 15 minutes to reach a point where a bright light was shining at the end of the tunnel. Upon reaching the light, he found himself in a clearing surrounded by snow and mountains. He explored the area for only a minute before returning to where he came from. It was at this moment that he started to feel dazed and disoriented, although he didn't know why. After the questioning, the professor became ecstatic. This confirmed his theory about the gate being a portal leading somewhere, although they didn't know exactly where. At least now, they knew it led to a place inhabitable to humans and other living creatures.

After the interrogation, the professor wasted no time pestering the OVB agents and the military in charge of the 'gate' area to initiate an expedition into the new region. The lieutenant colonel vehemently opposed the idea, citing the dangers it posed to their team. However, the OVB agents were more open to the suggestion and promised to forward the request to the capital for consideration. Two months passed before they received a response. In the meantime, they continued to test the 'gate' for any hidden features. Then, three days ago, they finally received the government's decision. To Andrey's delight, the government approved the expedition, and Andrey found himself packing his bags for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

A soft knock came from the door on the other side of the room, taking the professor out of his thoughts and into the present. Looking up at the wooden door, the professor cleared his throat before saying, "You can come in."

The door opened, revealing a woman in her late 20s or early 30s with blonde hair tied in a small bun. Her skin and eye color were similar to the professor's—pale and blue. She was dressed almost identically to Andrey, except for her yellow sweater, unlike the grey attire worn by the professor and the rest of the expeditionary team. This was Katerina Bobrov, Andrey's former student, now a faculty member at the university, a member of the research expedition, and last but not least, his daughter.

"Well, isn't it my little fawn lily," Andrey said with a smile as he got off the chair. "How about giving your old man a hug, for old times' sake?"

Katerina blushed a bit before saying, "Dad, didn't I ask you to stop calling me that? I'm a grown woman," she finished, crossing her arms.

"And I'm still your father," Andrey replied. "But if you don't want a hug, then so be it... What did you need, sweetie?"

"Hey, I just wanted to check on you," the professor's daughter said. "You've been taking your time packing, and everyone, including the military and SDB personnel, has been waiting for you. Gregory was going to check on you before I volunteered."

When Andrey heard the name Gregory, he couldn't help but smile. Gregory Bartosz was one of his outstanding students. Half Polish and half German, Gregory's father had died in the war, leaving him fatherless and his mother a widow. Andrey was rather shocked when he found out that Gregory's mother had survived the great patriotic war, given her ethnicity. However, from what Gregory had told him, his father was a good friend of Rokossovsky and had promised to protect her in the aftermath. Thanks to this, Gregory not only knew Polish but also German. This multilingual trait became very beneficial when he graduated from the university, as he was immediately given an invitation to join the Sverdlovsk Design Bureau. Andrey wondered whether it was because of his talents and good grades or because of his personal connections to Rokossovsky, but he was still happy for his student. After a few years, Gregory became one of the highest designers in the Bureau and had been one of the SDB personnel to be on this research expedition, and now on this incursion into the 'gate'.

However, his smile quickly dissipated as his mind returned back to what his daughter had just said. "What do you mean by, 'everyone' has been waiting for me? I've just finished packing, which took only… a few minutes."

Katerina gave a deadpan look at her father before saying, "Dad, it's been almost 30 minutes since we went off packing."

"WHAT!?" the professor said while practically yelling. He quickly looked up the clock in his room to see the time for himself. To only regretted it as the clock showed 12, telling him that his daughter was being truthful. 'Dammit! This forgetfulness will get me killed one of these days.'

Quickly, the professor dressed in his winter clothing and gathered his equipment. Before long, Andrey was ready to go. "Okay, I have everything we need, Katerina. Let's get going!"

Katerina couldn't help but smile, "Um, Dad, you're wearing your vatnik inside out."

(Meanwhile, at the gate)

Lieutenant Feliks Volkov was annoyed. Annoyed at standing in the cold weather, waiting for a bunch of annoying scientists, annoyed at the fact that for the next few hours of his life, he'll be forced to spend his time with a bunch of nerds, and lastly, he was annoyed because he was still here, standing right beside that darn gate. Honestly, Feliks had started to curse himself for finding this... well, whatever this thing is, as if he hadn't, he wouldn't have been standing here.

When Feliks and his platoon returned from their scouting mission and reported their findings, he never expected to see that thing again. He was excited at the prospect of doing something more than just raiding and scouting when reports came in that they were preparing for war against the other statelets of west Siberia. However, two days after his return to the base, he was called into a meeting with the head of the OGBM. Initially, he was praised for finding the structure and was even given higher pay and a medal, along with his whole unit. But things took a turn for the worse when he was informed that his unit would be attached to the military detachment responsible for monitoring the 'gate' object and defending the research expedition. Feliks wanted to express his disapproval, but he knew better than to speak out against his superiors, so he found himself stationed in the middle of nowhere while the rest of the OGBM liberated West Siberia. Now, he was being forced to escort the scientists heading into the 'gate'. It's safe to say that Lieutenant Feliks was pretty annoyed.

"Is your mood still soured, lieutenant?" Boris asked while holding his weapon.

Feliks looked up at the burly man with a scowl before saying, "That's a stupid question, starshina."

"Okay, you got a point there lieutenant," the starshina says while scratching the back of his head. "Would your mood change if I told you about our advances?"

"And how would that help, Boris," Feliks replied back while turning his full attention towards the burly man. "That would only make me want to be on the frontlines then standing here, doing glorified guard duty, and worse now, we're going on a mission that could get us all killed."

The starshina looked at the lieutenant with a raised eyebrow before saying, "You mean the incursion into the gate? From what I've heard, this thing is harmless to animals and people alike, so where's all of this worry coming from, lieutenant?"

"Honestly, Boris, I can't explain it," Feliks said while gazing up at the structure called 'Gate'. "I just have a bad feeling about this object, and I can tell you that I'll trust my gut over any expert any day of the week, you could believe that, Starshina."

"Still... doesn't it excite you just a bit that we'll be heading through a portal?" Boris stated while rubbing his chin. "I mean, we're the first ones to ever do such a thing, and surely this is more interesting than battling out on the frontlines."

The lieutenant felt the urge to challenge his second-in-command, but he couldn't dismiss Boris's valid points. The prospect of investigating this mysterious matter seemed more captivating than engaging in frontline combat and possibly held greater significance. Nonetheless, Feliks couldn't shake the ominous premonition gnawing at his insides. He was certain that this endeavor posed a significant threat, but he couldn't articulate why. Regrettably, he had no option but to partake in this mission; orders were absolute, and Feliks had learned the consequences of insubordination the hard way. Feliks was about to retort to Boris when he caught sight of a group of figures advancing in their direction.

The Lieutenant quickly recognized the group they would be escorting for the mission. At the forefront stood Lieutenant Colonel Pavel Streltsov, the commanding officer in charge of the military detachment guarding the 'gate'. He was a towering figure, standing at 6 feet 7 inches, with a distinguished small mustache. Walking alongside him was special agent Viktor Benediktov, easily noticeable with his lanky frame and bright orange hair. Viktor was an OVB agent stationed at the gate, accompanied by his partner Sergei Guba. The two high-ranking men were flanked by soldiers, while the scientists followed closely behind. Among them were Andrey Bobrov, the head scientist of the detachment, and his daughter, Katerina Bobrov. Additionally, there were two more scientists whose names escaped the lieutenant's mind at that moment. Lastly, there was Gregory Bartosz, the scientist whom Feliks hated the most out of the scientists.

When Feliks and Gregory first met, Feliks couldn't shake the feeling that their conflicting personalities would lead to friction. Feliks, a no-nonsense officer in the Ural military district, adhered strictly to protocol and took his duties seriously. In contrast, Gregory was more laid-back, often pushing the boundaries of rules and regulations. Feliks couldn't fathom how Gregory managed to bend the rules without consequence, which only added to his frustration. Despite the heavy workload, their limited interactions had done little to improve their relationship. Now, facing the prospect of spending an entire mission with Gregory, Feliks's irritation only intensified.

"Starshina, get the men into formation," the lieutenant said while pulling his AK-47 over his shoulder. "It seems the rest of the team has finally arrived."

Boris saluted the lieutenant before turning his attention towards the soldiers who were about to join the incursion. He yelled at them to get into formation as Feliks made his way to the approaching group. When he came face to face with the lieutenant colonel, the lieutenant swiftly saluted the high-ranking officer before saying, "Sir, Lieutenant Feliks Volkov of the OGBM battalion, at your service!"

The Lieutenant Colonel saluted back at Feliks before saying, "At ease soldier, I can see that your team is ready to go." Pavel then turned his attention towards the head scientist, "Dr. Bobrov, tell your people to join the rest of the incursion team, as I would want to go over the plan with you and the lieutenant over here again."

The head scientist, though hesitant at first, reluctantly followed the orders. Eventually, only the lieutenant colonel, Feliks, and Dr. Bobrov remained. Even the soldiers escorting Pavel were ordered to leave. After a few seconds of silence, the lieutenant colonel looked down at his wristwatch and said, "You probably already know this, but as a reminder, you only have 48 hours until you must return. So don't get too absorbed in your research, doctor. Also, you'll be under the command of Lieutenant Volkov here, and you'll be following any of his orders. Is that understood?"

"Yes sir, understood." both the head scientist and the OGBM lieutenant answered in unison.

Pavel smiled at the answer given to him by the two men in front of him. "That's good to hear, gentlemen. Now, let's get going, as time is of the essence," the lieutenant colonel said as he bypassed the two men, who quickly followed him. Before long, the scientists, the OGBM personnel, and other military members were at the 'gate'. They went through a final check-up to ensure that nothing important was forgotten, and after confirming that everything was in place, the incursion team was ready to go. After being given the green light by Pavel, the lieutenant began the operation.

"Okay, Starshina Boris, you take half of the squad behind, while I and the rest of the squad will be in front," Lieutenant Volkov said before turning his attention towards the scientists. "You'll be in between us so that if anything comes from behind or in front, you'll have enough time to escape... any objections?"

"We are in your care, lieutenant; no need to worry," Dr. Bobrov replied respectfully, causing the lieutenant to cringe slightly.

Feliks let out a sigh as he turned towards the gate, gripping his AK tighter. "Okay, let's get this over with," he said. With that, the incursion team started moving towards the gate. Before long, they stepped through the gate, disappearing from the view of the lieutenant colonel and the soldiers who were guarding the object.

"Do you think they'll make it?" the OVB agent asks the lieutenant colonel who was standing right beside him.

"Hard to say, Agent Benediktov," the lieutenant colonel replied as he took out his flask. "The crossing of the 'gate' itself shouldn't harm them. However, what's on the other side... well, I can't say. But what's making me more uneasy is that half of the science team was allowed to join this incursion."

"Hey, don't look at me, lieutenant colonel," the OVB agent said while Pavel opened the flask. "These were orders from the higher-ups, and if you ask, I believe Bartosz was the one to push it, and we both know his connections."

"Dr. Bartosz," the lieutenant colonel said, clicking his tongue. "It still surprises me that he has connections to the marshal, considering his heritage."

As Pavel said that, he took a swig from the flask before continuing, "Well, whatever the case, let's just hope they come back in one piece."

As the incursion team made their way through the gate, they followed the precise formation of Lieutenant Volkov, with soldiers positioned at the front and rear, and scientists in the middle. As they reached the halfway point, the dimming light compelled them to switch on their flashlights, illuminating their path through the encroaching darkness. Determined to avoid obscurity, Feliks issued a straightforward command for the entire team to activate their lights and press forward. Amidst the following moments, nothing extraordinary occurred until they caught sight of a glimmering light marking the end of their journey.

'While I'll be dammed,' the lieutenant thought as he increased his pace, 'It would seem that the convict was telling the truth.'

As the scientists and soldiers approached the other end of the "gate," the light grew larger. It temporarily blinded the incursion team before quickly dissipating, allowing them to see the other side of the object. They were deeply surprised by what they saw.

Currently, the incursion team found themselves standing in the middle of what appeared to be a clearing in a forest. Behind the forest, two massive mountain peaks were visible, connected to other mountains that extended to their sides, indicating that the group was situated in some sort of valley. However, the air around the team was relatively light compared to their original location, suggesting that even though they were in a valley, they were still at a high altitude.

"Starshina, bring up your group. We're going to do a sweep around the perimeter," Lieutenant Volkov ordered his second-in-command before turning his attention towards the head scientist. "You and your team stay here while my men and I do a quick sweep to ensure everything is safe. Then you can start your work."

Dr. Bobrov simply gave a nod of approval as Boris and the rear group joined the rest of the soldiers, before starting the sweeping of the area. The sweeping itself only took a few minutes, as the soldiers quickly found that there wasn't any kind of threat around them, and after reaching the end of the clearing, the lieutenant gave a simple order to 'at ease' before heading towards the scientists. When Feliks finally reached the scientists, he stated, "Well we're done with our sweep, and didn't find anything dangerous or life threatening, so you guys start what you came here for."

The scientists wasted no time in starting their research on the object on the other side. Meanwhile, Volkov's men stood guard around the clearing, just in case. This gate, similar to the one in Sverdlovsk territory, was almost identical, with the only significant difference being its light color. In all other respects, this gate was practically a copy of the other gate.

"Anatoly, Maxim, give me a hand here," Dr. Bobrov said to two of his subordinates as he looked up at the new 'gate'. "I think I can see a gate room almost identical to the one back home, so help me get up there."

The two subordinate scientists didn't waste any time and quickly moved toward the head scientist. After reaching Dr. Bobrov, Anatoly and Maxim gave the older man a lift to get up onto a pair of stairs that led to the small room. While this was happening, Katerina was standing a few meters away, looking over the object, when she noticed her father being lifted and trying to get a hold of some rails. This made the relatively young woman a bit worried, as her father was rather old and could get hurt.

"Father, be careful up there," Katerina said as she moved closer to the three men. "It's pretty high up there, and the last thing we need right now is for you to fall and sprain something or worse."

"Don't worry, sweetheart. I've done this multiple times with no issue," Dr. Bobrov reassured as he took hold of the rails and pulled himself up onto the stairs. He turned around to his daughter and smiled at her. "See, everything's alright, honey. So come on now, let's go see what's inside that gate room."

With that, the head scientist turned around and entered the small room, vanishing from his daughter's and two subordinates' view. Katerina shook her head at her father's behavior, and then turned to Anatoly and Maxim, saying, "You heard him. Help me up, boys."

Meanwhile, Dr. Bobrov stood in the middle of the small gate room. The head scientist had just concluded that this room, like the rest of the structure, was an identical copy of their 'gate'. The only substantial difference was the color scheme, which was different from the one in their world. The room only had one object of interest: a large keyboard that looked the same as the one in their world. As Dr. Bobrov walked up to it and examined it, he noticed that the form and structure were the same, but the imprints on the moving blocks were different, which piqued his interest. Just then, Katerina finally entered the room, and, seeing her father over at the gadget, she walked over to him.

"Well, did you find anything of interest, Dad?" Katerina asked as she walked up beside her father.

"Take a look at the imprints on these keys," Dr. Bobrov instructed, gesturing towards the moving blocks on the keyboard. "They appear slightly different from the imprints on the other keyboard. I can't say for certain why that is, but it is an undeniable fact."

"Do you think these can be used to control the 'gate'?" Katerina asked as she looked over the control board.

Dr. Bobrov said, "That's certainly a possibility. However, let's not test anything right now. After all, the last thing we need is to do something and get stuck here or worse." He rummaged through his bag, took out some tools, and said, "Now, could you help me gather some samples, dear?"

While the two Bobrovs were in the small control room, Starshina Boris found himself in a conversation with none other than Doctor Gregory Bartosz. However, it wasn't the most pleasant conversation if one had to say, "You want to do what?"

"I just want to head into the forest," Gregory said. "I won't go far, just a few meters to see the fauna and life on this… side of the 'gate'."

"Sorry, but I can't allow that," Boris said while gripping his light machine gun. "The lieutenant has ordered that no one steps out of the boundary of the clearing without a partner and permission from the lieutenant himself."

"You're not changing your mind, aren't you?" Gregory asked with the NCO giving a simple nod before looking away. The SDB scientist couldn't help but sigh internally, as he had somewhat suspected this to be the outcome, meaning that Gregory would need to use more unconventional means of getting his way. "I could make it worth your while."

The starshina turned his gaze back to Gregory, raising an eyebrow to show his suspicion but also his willingness to hear him out. "How would you do that exactly?" he asked.

Instead of directly responding to Boris's inquiry, Gregory swiftly reached for his bag and unzipped it, exposing its contents to the soldier's gaze. The starshina peered inside with a hint of suspicion, but his expression transformed into one of utter astonishment as he beheld the items within. Amidst the assortment was a glass bottle containing a mysterious reddish-grayish-brown liquid, juxtaposed with a small box adorned mostly in white, with a bold red top inscribed with the word 'Marlboro'. It was evident to anyone that these items, nestled within Gregory's bag, were considered luxuries to the average citizen, particularly those hailing from Europe or the Americas. Given Gregory's extensive connections, acquiring such items was undoubtedly a more feasible feat for him than for the average Sverdlovsk resident.

"I have a full bottle of Cognac, and this isn't some cheap Brandy, while these Marlboro cigarettes are an exclusive version." Gregory said, "You can have it all… if you allow me to head into the forest."

Boris carefully considered the scientist's proposal, feeling the weight of the decision like a heavy burden on his shoulders. On one hand, he knew that going against his superior's direct orders could lead to severe consequences, endangering his rank and possibly even his safety. However, the tempting offer of a whole bottle of Cognac and a full package of Marlboro cigarettes held great allure. Not only would these luxuries provide him with a moment of respite in the form of good smoke and drink, but they also held significant value as potential currency. In a world where anything from the West was considered a precious commodity, these items carried more worth than any paper currency printed by Sverdlovsk or any other Russian statelet.

"Fine, you've got yourself a deal," Boris said to the SDB scientist as he handed over the two luxury goods to the starshina. Who looked around to make sure that no one could see what he was doing. When everything was done, the NCO said, "Don't go far and try to come back in a few minutes. I don't want to end up explaining to the lieutenant why one of the scientists was gone. Got that?"

Gregory merely nodded at the older man before heading into the forest and disappearing from the starshina's view, leaving him alone. Boris couldn't help but let out a heavy and long sigh after what he had just done. Breaking small rules or even orders wasn't uncommon in the Sverdlovsk army, and it wasn't Boris's first bribe he'd taken. However, it was the first time he'd broken a direct order from Lieutenant Volkov, a person he'd respected and considered a friend. Lieutenant Volkov was also someone who didn't take too kindly to corruption or bribery. The starshina could only pray that his misdeed wouldn't be found out.

Meanwhile, the lieutenant found himself standing at the back of the gate, looking over a half-eaten, rotting carcass of a dead dear. "Well, what do you say, sergeant, what killed it?"

Sergeant Michael Troubetskoy was of medium height and had a slim build, sometimes bordering on being skinny. He also had brown hair and brown eyes. Like the rest of the squad, he wore a green vatnik and a grey ushanka made of fox fur. At the moment, the sergeant was on one knee looking over the dead deer. "It looks like it was killed by a wolf if I had to guess. As for when, I would have to say a few weeks if not months ago, judging by the state of decay."

Since Michael was a hunter from birth, he was always given the duties of pathfinding, scouting, and anything to do with animals or wilderness. Because of this background, Feliks had asked the hunter to look over the dead animal and to see what had killed it.

"But if it had been killed by a wolf, then why didn't the predator finish devouring it or take it back to its pack?" the lieutenant said. "From what I remember, wolves hunt in packs, and I highly doubt that they'll just leave their prey to rot. That also doesn't explain why no other predator had eaten it already."

The sergeant remained silent for some time, contemplating an explanation for Lieutenant Volkov. Michael then shifted his gaze toward the lieutenant, or more accurately, in the direction of the 'gate' structure. "If I were to speculate a guess, sir, I believe it has something to do with that 'object'."

"The 'gate'."

"Yes, the 'gate'," Michael said to his superior commander as he stood up. "My theory is that when the wolf or wolves were feasting on their prey, this thing came flying from the sky like our 'gate' did. The impact surely scared off the wolves, like any animal would in that situation. Now, why did no other predator attempt to eat the deer? Well, I think the 'gate' has something to do with that too. I haven't heard any animal or seen a trail since coming here."

"I can see your point there, Michael. The same thing happened back on our side of the 'gate'. I haven't heard or seen any kind of animal for the past month or so as if they're avoiding this thing like the plague," Feliks said as he looked over the object called the 'gate'. He then turned his attention back towards Michael, saying, "Thanks for your input, sergeant. You can get back to your post."

Michael saluted the lieutenant and said, "Yes sir," before returning to his position. This left Feliks alone with the remains, lost in thought. For fifteen minutes, nothing noteworthy happened as the scientists examined the 'gate' and Volkov's men kept watch. The lieutenant called everyone for a group meeting to check on their progress and plan their next steps. As Volkov finished taking attendance, he quickly realized that Doctor Gregory Bartosz was missing.

"Where in the world is Bartosz?" Volkov asked in an annoyed tone, looking over the scientists and his men.

"From what I recall, Gregory was on the right side of the 'gate,'" Dr. Bobrov said. "At least that's where I last saw him." And since the person stationed at the right side of the 'gate' was none other than the Starshina himself, the whole incursion team turning their attention to Boris made the Starshina sweat a bit.

"Starshina, what was the last time you saw the good Doctor Bartosz?" Lieutenant Volkov asked while gazing at his second-in-command.

"A few minutes ago," Boris said, keeping his cool. "He was looking over some trees or doing whatever scientists do, but that was the last time I saw him," the starshina said, lying through his teeth.

Lieutenant Volkov, however, seemed to become a bit suspicious of Boris's answers, as something felt off. "You weren't watching the area you were stationed in to make sure that no one got lost? That was exactly the reason I had the whole unit do such a thing in the first place!"

Boris remained silent, which only heightened Volkov's suspicion regarding his second-in-command. Before the lieutenant could continue questioning the starshina, Katerina suddenly perked up. Along with the rest of the group, she had been observing the exchange between Boris and Feliks, until she heard footsteps approaching from beside her. Turning towards the source of the footsteps, the woman couldn't help but stare in disbelief at who she saw. "Gregory!?"

Suddenly, both the scientists and soldiers turned their attention towards Katerina. They followed her gaze and were surprised to see a lone figure, Gregory Bartosz, approaching them looking spooked and petrified. The team quickly surrounded him, bombarding him with questions about his whereabouts and why he looked terrified. However, the first person to break through to him was his former teacher.

"Gregory, are you okay?" Dr. Bobrov asked while examining his former student. "It seems like you've seen a ghost or something."

For a moment, the Polish-German man didn't say anything, until he uttered a single sentence. "I-I… I think I saw someone."

End done!

Here's chapter two of the TNO x AOT Story: Rise of the Siberian Phoenix. I promised to release a new chapter within two months and I fulfilled that promise. I wanted to post this a bit early on the 11th, but FFN was down for the past two days. I waited for it to come back online, but eventually got tired of waiting and took a break from the internet to do some things in the real world. Finally, FFN has been up and running for almost two days now, so I apologize for the delay. As for the next chapter, I'll probably release it in two months, as I'll be be doing something this fall. Also, there may be a new story coming out soon. That's all for now, I'm signing off.

DukeJmes OUT!

TRIVIA TIME!

Starshina: Literally speaking, 'starshina' means in English, elder. It's a rather old word that back in the medieval ages and early modern ages was used as a title and local administrational rank, In Russia and other Slavic countries. In the Red Army, it was used as the highest rank that an enlisted soldier could get. Often the person with this rank was the oldest and most experienced soldier in the platoon, who could, theoretically command and lead a platoon size unit when the lieutenant was absent. Starshina would continue to be the highest non-commissioned rank in the Soviet Army until the reintroduction of the imperial rank of Praporshchik in 1972. As such, I used this rank for the character of Boris Falcon.

Vatnik and ushanka: A vatnik or Telogreika as it's more commonly known is a variety of Russian warm cotton wool-padded jackets. When worn with valenki and an ushanka, the wearer can comfortably remain warm in sub-zero temperatures for long periods. The vatnik was used by the Soviets for 30s years, starting in 1935 and ending in the late 1960s. The ushanka is a Russian fur hat with ear-covering flaps that can be tied up on the crown of the cap, or fastened at the chin to protect the ears, jaw, and lower chin from the cold. It was first used in the 1917s by the whites called the kolchakovka, while the modern and most well-known version was put into issue after the Winter War, and has been used since.

Izba: An Izba is a traditional Russian countryside dwelling. Often a log house, it forms the living quarters of a conventional Russian farmstead.