Chapter 15

Polnoye Resheniye, February 22, 2163
Geosynchronous Orbit over the remains of Atlanta

The Polnoye Resheniye (Complete Solution), the largest, stealthiest bomber ever built, sat quietly in space and at certain hours of the day, they could see the sunlight glinting from the white wagon wheel that was Camp Schmitt far off in the distance. They could destroy it if they wanted, and no one would know. The Polnoye Resheniye was flat and rounded, like two limpet mollusks stuck together. Its shape allowed all forms of radar and even light to slide off its smooth, rounded body. It was built in the orbit of Venus after the battle of Venus Prime, when everyone was looking away. Now she’s active, slipping silently from target to target, running bombing drills in silence, 22,000 miles above their unsuspecting heads.

They had been sitting over what was once a ‘target of opportunity’ during World War IV and nobody was any wiser. Their ship radiated nothing, no radio waves, no light is reflected off its flat dark brown paint. The only sign of life was the occasional chuff of an attitude thruster, but that was rare. As far as anyone was concerned, they were a hole in space.

Kapitain Radmir Valery Kovalyov had ordered, “all quiet,” months ago, and the ship has been in silent mode ever since. The Eastern Bloc denied the attack on Thundering Waters and Lake Ontario was their doing, but they’ve been hunting the Polnoye Resheniye ever since. However, if the crew of the Polnoye Resheniye didn’t want to be found, the Polnoye Resheniye wasn’t found.

On the bridge, they were listening to the conversation between Alan Scarlett’s men as they got Saturn CXLII moving away from Saturn. Captain Kovalyov grinned. “That’s what we want. The entire planet ... Now what is wrong Vitold Akim Antonov?” he demanded from his executive officer, but Vitold didn’t say a word. Captain Kovalyov was mad. The entire crew was guilty of piracy and terrorism and murder because of his actions, but anyone who complained was spaced. If the Polnoye Resheniye was ever found, it would not be from radar but from following the trail of bodies following the Polnoye Resheniye.

“The riches of Mars,” said Captain Kovalyov. “It is ready for us. Undefended! With an entire moon heading its’ way to do our work for us.” The second officer looked on at Captain Kovalyov in horror. “A LRAM (Long Range Attack Missile) here, a tungsten rod there and a small moon is sailing toward Mars with no control and it will all be Admiral Alan Scarlett’s fault. Are you not excited Vitold Akim Antonov?” said Captain Kovalyov. “We will soon be rich!”