Traveller Probo

The atmosphere was electric, as if those in the room jiggled with unseen voltage. Hurley sat tense and expectant. While he had no doubts as to the discipline of the elite troops before him, their fury was palpable.

Predictably, First Sergeant Maksym Vasylenko was the first to speak. He was perhaps the most famous of the Ukrainian candidates as his family had received numerous medals in half a dozen Olympics. Not as well-known was his military career that included clandestine action against the Russians, action that had left him well-respected and highly decorated. Trim and good-looking, Maksym’s boyish features belied a man who was highly competitive and who had suffered much for his country. Hurley knew that, like many in their profession, most of his scars were invisible to the naked eye.

“You cannot be serious!” He exclaimed quietly as he looked to Hurley angrily but the Irishman could only shrug non-committedly. He could not show any emotion, though he was also seething. As usual, politics looked to trump common sense. “You mean to tell me that after years at killing the very Russians who’ve been taking hostile action against our country, the very Matyook who killed too many of our citizens and my comrades, these now insist to be part of our project, Kiev Traveller! How’s that going to work?” he snorted.

The Kiev Traveller team sat to attention in one of the classrooms where their formal language training took place. They sat stiffly in fatigues similar to those worn by Hurley and the Saxon Traveller team only scant years previously. As tradition dictated, there was no insignia of regiment or rank.

Maksym conversed in Old Slavic, the language spoken by their ancestors, the residents of Kiev of one thousand years ago. This was the only language permitted in the classroom and Hurley could not but smile inwardly at how Professor Balanchuk was to have a small victory. Despite appearances, their visitor, Professor Yumashev, would struggle to keep up with the conversation. Which might be for the best.

The big Russian grumbled “Now Sergeant, this decision is not for you to question. There has already been a decision to include Russian Travellers into the Kiev Traveller project because of our common heritage.”

“With respect Professor Yumashev, this decision is partially ours to make,” replied the Commanding Officer for the Ukrainian team, Senior Lieutenant Ihor Vovk. Another highly decorated veteran, Lieutenant Vovk was like his namesake, for Vovk meant wolf. Rarely speaking unnecessarily, Vovk adopted the strategy to lead from the front, so he spent a prodigious effort on his fitness and language regimen. He had, on numerous occasions, demonstrated that he was a natural, gifted leader. Also known to have proved his courage in combat on many occasions, Vovk had been readily accepted as the leader of the team.

After a pause to make sure he had captured the distinguished Russian academic’s attention, Vovk continued, “As demonstrated in Saxon Traveller, the success of these projects depend on the input of all team members. We’re free to manage and determine the skills we need to ensure the success of what will always be a challenging mission. We wish to survive our visit to ancient Kiev and visit our ancestors, the Kievan Rus. This is the first operation that will include the skills of women, so we have to rely on each and every team member’s input. How can we do that if you decide to include soldiers who, only a couple of years ago, were intent on killing us? I suspect this would not be conducive to the efficient operation of such a delicate project.”

Sergeant Kateryna Kravchenko gave a snort of amusement. Hurley had known these soldiers to be hard, much harder than the Saxon Traveller crew and just as capable. Though he had their respect, he doubted anyone could force them to take any action to which they would object. Kateryna was one of the two females of the team. Both she and her colleague Sergeant Nastya Novoishka, knew they had a lot to prove to justify their inclusion. Another face of a famous family, Hurley knew from her records that her grandfather was a hero of the Soviet Union, while a cousin was an Olympic triple-jumper. When it came to Ukrainian military and sporting celebrity, this team certainly represented a hefty slice of what Ukraine had to offer. However, despite the apparent need to have the right connections to be part of the Kiev Traveller project, the assembled team were skilled, disciplined, experienced and were definitely the right stuff for the mission at hand.

The inclusion of women had been an innovation Hurley believed risky. To visit an age where women were not considered the equals of men, the inclusion of two female Travellers was considered brave or, by some, even foolhardy. Perfectly able to look after themselves in a fight, the two women were to act as daughters or wives of traders. It was anticipated that they would gain valuable insight into the lives and status of women of the time. Kateryna growled, “Lieutenant Vovk, we know what is wanted. Now we have something the Russians want, they want to take it away from us, again.”

Professor Yumashev reddened and blurted out a denial while Professor Balanchuk remained silent, his head bowed. Hurley had been as surprised at the announcement as the other members of the team. The Russians had been openly furious at the acceptance of a Ukrainian project that rejected Russian involvement. Having lobbied for a unified project based on the historical importance of the Kievan Rus as ancestors of both the Ukrainians and the Russians, Transporter Corp and Historical Research International had, despite Professor Yumashev’s lobbying to the contrary, given heed to the United Nations opinion on this matter. A recent history of ongoing disagreements and armed conflict between the nations convinced Traveller Corp that the project was to proceed as a Ukrainian project.

Predictably, Russia had been furious but no matter how much noise they made on the international scene, Transporter Corp had remained surprisingly resolute. Hurley knew he had to keep quiet and let the team and the politicians sort it out.

The Russians wanted the project to be moved from Kiev to the Viking trade city of Novgorod, another dominant city of the time. Located to the north of the land that would become Russia, the timber city of Novgorod was a location worthy of research. However, because of the location and significance of Kiev and the fact that both projects targeted the trading habits of the Kievan Rus, much to Ukraine’s obvious delight Kiev Traveller had been given the final nod.

Hurley watched the big Russian sweat as he came under more verbal abuse. There was no way the Ukrainians would allow the inclusion of Russian troops into their project, any more than they would stand aside and allow the Russians to take over. To them it would essentially mean the same thing. Voices were raised until Professor Balanchuk finally spoke up, silencing all other parties with his quiet voice.

“Comrades, please, let us approach this with the dignity and logic which this latest attempt at interference does not deserve.” The big Russian turned beet-red but remained silent. “We have an approved and ratified Traveller Project, remember that. It is called Kiev Traveller and is to target the lives and trade of the Kievan Rus; the Vikings and Slavs who were ancestors to both the Ukrainians and the Russians. I remind you, the old Kiev was a great city, a major trading town and a centre for the trade of furs and silver. This mission will still go ahead. You have been chosen to be part of this momentous, incredible duty. Remember, any nation with an approved Traveller mission is the envy of the other nations, and in our case our old friend and foe, Russia, is very jealous. It is obvious that, as Russian representative in Historical Research International, our friend Professor Yumashev has come under intense political pressure to involve Russia in Kiev Traveller, no matter what. He is an esteemed academic and a man to be respected and even admired.” The small man looked to his Russian colleague who looked on with surprise and suspicion. The Ukrainian nodded, “Don’t trust him comrades! He has his agenda, and we have ours. We must be faithful to our mission.”

The soldiers shouted in support and raised their fists in victory while Professor Yumashev, knowing he was beaten, wearily shook his head. “You don’t know what you are doing. This is all very good, this nationalistic spirit but mark this, comrades,” his voice dripped with venom, “others seek to take your place! Without the right connections, Kiev Traveller will be relegated to later as other, more influential projects will be placed as the priority. You need the influence of Russia. You need me to be your ally!”

He frowned and growled as he stood to leave, “Remember this!”