“Third: I hereby announce that, beginning in ten days, if the Americans do not destroy all of their space weapons, all airspace around the Russian Federation from the surface to five hundred kilometers’ altitude is now restricted airspace and closed to all unauthorized spacecraft or aircraft,” Gryzlov went on. “For decades, all nations recognized that only the airspace below twenty kilometers’ altitude could be restricted or controlled, but no longer. Our scientists estimate that the Americans can fire their directed-energy weapon as far as five hundred kilometers with enough power to kill a person on the ground, so that is the airspace that we will defend. Any unauthorized flight over the Russian Federation below that altitude, regardless of type of aircraft or spacecraft, will be considered hostile and be subject to neutralization. I know this impacts many nations, but the Americans have changed the world’s security dynamic for the worse, and we have no choice but to act. Ten days should be sufficient time for all unfriendly nations to alter the orbits of their spacecraft or provide us with details on the type, purpose, and orbits of aircraft and spacecraft overflying Russia in order to comply with this order.
“This restriction is especially true of one spacecraft in particular: the American single-stage-to-orbit spaceplanes,” Gryzlov said. “Because of their hypersonic flight capabilities in the atmosphere and their ability to boost themselves into Earth orbit, as well as their demonstrated ability to release weapons or insert weapon-carrying satellites into orbit, they are a particularly dangerous threat to the Russian Federation.
“Therefore, beginning in ten days, in order to allow time for the spaceplanes to evacuate any personnel from the International Space Station or Armstrong Space Station, the S-series of American spaceplanes will not be welcome over Russian airspace and will be engaged and shot down without further warning,” Gryzlov went on. “Let me repeat this so there is no confusion or doubt: beginning ten days from today, the American spaceplanes will be engaged if they overfly the Russian Federation. The threat of attack by these hypersonic aircraft is simply too great a threat to the Russian people. The United States possesses many man-rated commercial spacecraft that can service the International Space Station and perform other such tasks, and it will be allowed to do so after requesting permission to overfly Russia, but the spaceplanes will not be granted permission to fly over Russia under any circumstances.
“I was reluctant to take such drastic measures, my fellow Russians, but, after consultation with my counselors and after much prayer, I felt I had no choice if I was to protect Russian citizens from the danger they now face above their heads,” Gryzlov concluded. “I urge all Russians to take all necessary precautions to protect themselves and their families from the danger of space-weapon attack. If the Americans do not respond to my demands, I assure you, Russia will act. Stay informed and stay safe, my fellow Russians. May God bless the Russian Federation.”
Gryzlov rose from his seat and strode out of the Kremlin television studio, followed closely by his chief of staff, Sergei Tarzarov. He did not greet anyone or stop to chat, but quickly made his way back to his official office. Waiting for him inside were Foreign Minister Daria Titeneva, Minister of Defense Gregor Sokolov, and chief of the general staff General Mikhail Khristenko, who all rose when Tarzarov opened the door for the Russian president. “Excellent address, sir,” Sokolov said. “I think ten days will be sufficient for the Americans to begin negotiating for access to Russian airspace for their spacecraft.”
Gryzlov sat at his desk and glared at Sokolov. “I am not going to give anyone ten days,” he snapped, lighting a cigar, “and I will not negotiate for anything with anyone.”
“Sir?”
“Forty-eight hours, Sokolov,” Gryzlov said. “If I do not see that Skybolt module disconnected from that space station, I want that space station attacked the next time it flies over Russia, with every weapon in our arsenal. The same with any of their spaceplanes. I am not going to sit back and do nothing while the Americans fly over my head with a directed-energy weapon. I will take this country to war before I allow that to happen.”
Sergei Tarzarov picked up the telephone at the other side of Gryzlov’s office, listened, then put it back. “President Phoenix for you, sir,” he said.
“That did not take long,” Gryzlov said. He motioned for those in the room to pick up dead extensions so they could listen in on the translation, then picked up the phone on his desk. “What is it, Mr. Phoenix?”
“It wasn’t a directed-energy weapon, Mr. President,” Phoenix said through a translator. “It was a college engineering project, a space-based solar power plant. And that airplane wasn’t shot down by Starfire—it lost control while trying to evade an Air Force patrol helicopter after it had violated restricted airspace, several minutes after the test was terminated. I don’t know where Secretary Barbeau got her information, but she’s wrong, and you were misguided to believe it. She’s campaigning for president, and she wants headlines.”
“Wait.” Gryzlov hit the hold button and turned to those in the room with him. “Well well,” he said, “Phoenix starts this conversation with an attempt at an explanation. This could be interesting.”
“He could be willing to negotiate,” Tarzarov said. “Let him give something, and then you give something in return.”