Firefox (1982) - full transcript
The Soviets have developed a revolutionary new jet fighter, called "Firefox". Naturally, the British are worried that the jet will be used as a first-strike weapon, as rumours say that the jet is indetectable on radar. They send ex-Vietnam War pilot Mitchell Gant on a covert mission into the Soviet Union to steal Firefox.
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One target left. Rejoin to
the west. I'll clean up.
Lead, this is 3 Watch.
37mm off the left.
Roger. Rolling in left.
Leave your cover.
Get out of there.
Mayday. Mayday. Mayday.
I've been hit 20 miles southeast
of San Juan. Heading 1-3-0.
Major Gant?
Can you hear me?
Sorry we had to
surprise you like that.
Come on, get him out of here.
This was taken on Friday. It is
the secret complex at Bilyarsk.
If you look at the
top right corner,
you will make out the main hangar.
Could we...?
This is a detail of that section.
Take a good look gentlemen...
because we have every
reason to believe
you're looking at the Firefox.
When the first rumours began to
filter out of the Soviet Union...
some three years ago...
our theoretical
weapons strategists
stood before NATO to explain...
with much confidence,
that it would take
the Soviets a minimum
of 10 years...
to develop a Mach 5 aircraft
with thought-control weapons.
I stand before you today to
explain, with much regret...
that they were wrong.
At 0400 hours, on Thursday...
we were stunned by the
encoded transmission...
that sits in front of you.
General Rogers?
Along with satellite
surveillance...
planes were flown up
Saturday over the.
Turkish-Soviet border,
roughly here.
And the Finnish-Soviet
border, here.
Using the information
of Dr Baranovich...
about the time and flight
path of the Firefox...
we monitored the arena formed
by these coordinates...
here, with our most
sophisticated radar devices.
Except for a flight of
cranes headed south,
nothing entered that
airspace all day.
We checked immediately with
our source in Bilyarsk.
The Firefox flew, and
flew at the exact time...
and within the
specified coordinates
given to us by Dr Baranovich.
We are left with only one
possible explanation, gentlemen.
It is quite inescapable.
The Soviets have
developed some sort of
anti-radar capability
for the aircraft.
The Firefox is...
to all intents and purposes...
invisible.
All right, Captain. You
came 5000 miles for this.
- Let's hear it.
- Captain Buckholz, sir.
It's been, what, three
years now? You're
still keeping in
shape. That's good.
A lot of people
miss you back home,
Major. They still talk about you.
All the guys think you must have
sprouted wings and flown away.
I had one hell of a
time tracking you down.
Look at these figures. Fifty
thousand pounds of thrust, per.
These Tumanskys deliver an excess
in a capacity of 100 percent.
Combat ceiling, 120,000 feet plus.
Note the increase in
capacity, 100 percent.
Speed is in excess of Mach 5, even
Mach 6, and able to maintain it.
Our best body design
begins to melt...
at Mach 3.
I think it should be very
clear why the Soviets...
were willing to risk using
a man like Baranovich.
A genius in theoretical
physics, yes...
but still a prisoner,
and a dissident Jew.
Our weapons system is, as
far as we can ascertain...
one of the most advanced
ever conceived.
It couples radar and infrared
detection devices...
with a thought-guided,
thought-controlled arsenal...
on board the plane.
The pilot's actual
brain emissions are
translated into a
central computer...
through sensors in his helmet.
Whatever target the pilot chooses
is instantly destroyed...
without his even
pressing a button.
Or, as quickly as his
eye detects a threat...
either visually or on
one of his scopes...
his thought impulses are guiding
a missile to that threat.
This amounts to a two-to
three-second speed advantage...
in reaction and
attack time over any
defensive system we have today.
If the Soviets can
mass-produce it...
it will change the
structure of our world.
We at the… We at the S.I.S.
have been working...
on the pipeline into Moscow and
on to Bilyarsk for two years.
The mechanics of that phase are
now ready to be implemented.
I understand that your
Navy's phase of the
operation can be
functional within 30 days?
Am I correct on that, Admiral?
That is correct, sir.
How do they expect me
to fly? You've seen me.
We're not worried. We have
three months to train you.
It's getting you there,
that's the problem.
Oh? Where is it?
Russia.
You've got to steal it.
Well, I don't choose to mount
an operation this way.
We didn't expect you to be
happy with it, General.
We're aware of his health record.
But his mother is
Russian, he's spoken
the language since childhood...
and is exactly the same
size as Colonel Voskov...
who the suit and cockpit
are fitted for.
You mean the operation
is reduced to the
decision that he fits
the pressure suit?
You're asking me to put our
resources on the line...
for somebody who's never be
on an intelligence mission...
who's subject to these
kind of seizures.
Delayed stress syndrome
is common among our vets.
It manifests itself in civilian
life, not battle conditions.
- This is suicide, Buckholz.
- That's exactly why it'll work.
They'll never expect it. It's too
unthinkable for them
to ever defend.
We'll get you on that aeroplane.
You just have to fly it.
- You guys are amazing, you know?
- We need you, Major.
- You're the best we've got.
- You'll find somebody.
There's a lot of guys who
could fly that plane.
You fly it.
Not with your qualifications.
The decision has been
made, gentlemen.
I'm afraid we have
no other choice.
It's already been set in motion.
This is government land, isn't it?
I've been authorised
to mention that it
could pass over to
the private sector.
I see, what you're
saying then is that
you've already picked
a volunteer, right.
Major, you will be
flying the fastest,
the most sophisticated warplane...
on the face of this earth.
You probably realised by now...
you won't be waltzing into
Moscow as Mitchell Gant.
Get to know that man in
front of you, Leon Sprague.
He's a businessman from Nevada.
He's been flying in and out of
Moscow the last few months...
from his factory in Marseilles,
selling our well-to-do comrades...
a highly efficient carburettor
part for their outboard motors.
What he's actually been doing,
is defiling the Soviet youth
with large quantities of heroin.
He's a drug smuggler. An
enemy of the Soviet people.
At least that's what the KGB
has been led to believe.
Mr Sprague doesn't
know it, but what he's
actually been doing, is
blazing the trail for you.
Look at that face.
Would you believe
me if I told you he
had 5 pounds of
heroin right there?
Looks like he's on a
weekend to Acapulco.
Could you be that cool, Gant?
Your suite will be bugged.
They know your habits.
You are trafficking
in heroin. They
will have followed you for months.
Any slip in character will be
noticed. It would be lethal.
I cannot stress this next
point strongly enough. In
the hotel, on the way
to the bridge...
you must not allow
them to lose you.
As long as you relax, they relax.
Remember, we are playing on
their only real weakness.
Because of its very size, the KGB
is sometimes slow to awaken.
It is like a monster.
If you can walk by carefully
enough, it may just...
lift an eyelid and sniff at you.
But if you awaken it...
You have but one objective.
You must reach the
Krasnokholmskiy Bridge...
at precisely 10.30 with
your KGB tail in tow.
They will see you
make the rendezvous,
and then you must obey...
the people you meet completely.
Whatever they tell you to do...
you do.
Mr Cunningham.
This to any Soviet policemen will
appear to be a cheap
transistor radio.
It will even pick up the
local radio stations.
In actuality, this is
your life in the air.
Because once you're airborne,
you have just two objectives.
Avoid their tracking systems and
find your refuelling point.
This little radio is
an unmonitorable,
highly complex one-way
homing device.
It will be scanning the airwaves,
seeking out a complicated set...
of alternating frequencies
coming from Mother 1.
The Soviets will be listening for
any transmission up in the air.
So this is your only
link with the outside.
Once it picks up the
signal, you're within
100 miles of your
refuelling point.
You will then follow it home.
It must never leave your person.
If you lose it, if
it is confiscated,
you'll never make
it out of Russia.
You will run out of fuel and you
will die in the Arctic Ocean.
Well, get up and walk around.
Let's have a look at you.
Mr Sprague, can you be
comfortable with it?
- Yes.
- Good.
Bloody damn good.
- The flight recorder.
- Huh?
The flight recorder.
Oh, yes. I nearly forgot.
Yes, one last thing. We just
learned this from Baranovich.
There will be a recording
device in the cockpit.
A "black box" I believe
you Americans call it.
It is voice-activated. It was
installed for their test pilot.
We'd like you to use it.
In the event that, well...
If it should happen,
and we were somehow
able to salvage the aircraft...
it might be possible
to reconstruct
enough from your
diary, as it were...
to be helpful.
- Sir?
- Yes, yes, yes, I'm coming.
Now, Mr Gant, I suppose this
is the end of the road for us.
Actually, let me rephrase that.
Let's say the beginning.
I'll be with you every
step of the way, Mitchell.
Your papers.
- Yes, Mr Sprague?
- Yes.
What is the nature of
your visit to Moscow?
Business.
Yes, what business? Specifically.
Carburettors. Bearings.
It's all right in there.
Mind telling me what
you're looking for?
You have been to the Soviet Union
several times in the
past few months.
Is that correct, Mr Sprague?
I've been here six times
in the past few months.
Nothing like this
has ever happened
before. What's going on here?
We apologise for the
delay, Mr Sprague.
But as you must be aware, every
international airport
has its own set of...
unique problems.
I've been in every international
airport in the world.
I've never been insulted like
this. I'm a businessman.
I do business with your superiors.
Are you threatening
me, Mr Sprague?
No.
And why do you bring this?
Perhaps you are hoping to receive
your stock market
report in Moscow?
Moscow Hotel.
Stop over here.
Why here? Across the
square is Hotel Moscow.
Thanks. I'll walk.
Thank you, sir.
I agree, Dmitri. We cannot be too
cautious at this
late point in time.
Viktor, you will pass that
on as soon as you arrive?
Consider it done,
sir. It will make a
fine complement to
the dog patrols.
Very good. Now, tell me...
where will our traitors be in
the hours before the flight?
The three scientists will be
inside the hangar itself, sir.
Baranovich himself
will be working on
the weapons system
during the night.
He will be working on the
aircraft until take-off.
Yes, comrade colonels.
And what of the others?
Natalia and Semelovsky
will be concerned
with refuelling and
loading the missiles.
Also, the rearward defence pod.
They are most familiar with the
systems. Not easy to replace, sir.
I understand, let them
continue working.
Your men, I trust, will be ready.
Yes, sir.
Our informers will be
shoulder to shoulder with
them throughout the night
and they will be armed.
As long as they can recognise
attempted sabotage
when they see it.
- They do, comrade Colonel.
- Good flight back, Viktor.
I want the Moscow end
of their pipeline
arrested at dawn tomorrow.
Wait until then.
I don't want our friends
in Bilyarsk to disappear.
Very well, sir.
I will have their
warehouse watched,
from tonight and move
in on your orders.
Very good, Dmitri.
I should like to see them
before I fly to Bilyarsk.
Just to see their faces.
Your best Havana, please.
Mr Sprague?
Yeah?
It's him.
I'm Leon Sprague.
How many followed you?
There was 3 of them on
foot and one car up above.
What are they doing now, Pavel?
The one on the steps has
returned to the car.
The short one is
wondering what to do...
since there are four of us
now. I think he is frightened.
He'll call for assistance. We
better get him out of here.
- Take his cigar.
- What?
His cigar. Smoke it.
Smoke it.
Your papers, quickly.
Your papers.
Come on.
Quickly, follow us to
the metro station.
Quickly.
They have killed him, Stechko.
They have killed Mr Leon Sprague.
Your name is Michael Lewis now.
You are a tourist staying
at the Warsaw Hotel.
It is all arranged. Do not
worry, just stay calm.
Passport.
- Mr Lewis, you're American?
- Yes.
You do not look like
yourself in this
photograph. Your hair is darker.
I was a little heavier then too.
St. Louis is a fine
city, I understand.
Yes, nice summers.
You do not appear to be
in the best of health.
I've had stomach
problems. The food is...
The food at the
Warsaw is not good?
It's fine. Just a
little rich for me.
Ah.
Thank you, Mr Lewis.
You look terrible, Mr Lewis.
I watched your performance.
It was not very convincing.
You kill real Sprague
like he's nothing
and then you dump a cover on me.
Hide in the toilets, over there.
Get yourself together. There
will be more KGB on the way.
We shall leave only
when they are confident
we have been searched
three or four times.
Go.
No.
No. No.
I'm busy.
English or American? State
Security. Your papers, please.
- Can you wait a minute?
- Very well. Quickly.
Your papers, please.
Are you ill, or maybe frightened?
I've been having some
stomach problems.
Your papers are not in order.
They're in order.
Look at them again.
No.
They are not in order.
You stupid American.
You've killed him.
He went for his gun. He knew.
He's KGB.
Do you understand what
that means? Do you?
Now go up the stairs, make
your way quickly to the exit.
If anyone stops you, obey them.
Show them your papers.
And pretend you are ill,
as before. Understand?
He said my papers
weren't in order.
You damned fool.
They are in order.
I was stopped by the KGB. My
papers also were in order.
Now get out of here.
When they find this, no one
will be allowed to leave. Go.
I'm an American, I didn't know
what I was supposed to do.
- You're an American?
- Yes.
Why are you out of
line? Papers, please.
You should wait in line, Mr Lewis.
You have been most uncooperative
in your behaviour.
- Well, I'm sorry...
- About what?
Let's see what we have
here. We don't want to...
delay you unnecessarily, do we?
No.
You're staying at
the Warsaw Hotel?
Wonder if we should call them?
See if someone there knows you.
No.
I think we shall trust you. Your
papers appear to be in order.
I apologise for any delay.
We are engaged in searching
for criminals, shall we say?
But you are free to continue your
nocturnal sightseeing
tour of our city.
Thank you.
Good.
- Let's get the hell out of here.
- This way, down Kirov Street.
- They found him.
- Let's go.
He has to change, come on.
Your name is Boris Glazunov. You
are married and have two children.
A boy, 3, and a little girl, 4.
You live in a flat on
the Mira Prospekt,
and you work for this company.
You are my driver's mate.
This Boris Glazunov, does
he work for the cause too?
Glazunov stays home today.
You will take his place.
Like Leon Sprague did?
Does he die like Sprague?
Mr Sprague served a purpose.
You must remember...
Mr Sprague was a smuggler in
heroin. He was not one of us.
Study these. You must know
everything about Glazunov.
They would not look here.
Gant.
Can you fly that
plane? Really fly it?
Yeah, I can fly it.
I'm the best there is.
Boris Glazunov?
How many?
One car and three men inside.
Keep watching.
Gant. We must leave now.
They are here. They are
out front. Quickly.
- Do they know?
- No.
These aren't the ones who
followed you last night.
These are KGB assigned
to the plane.
- They are coming for me.
- For you?
They know about me.
You can use this?
- Yeah, I can use it.
- Good.
Don't, unless it's
absolutely necessary.
Two of them just
left, in a delivery
truck. What do you wish
me to do, Colonel?
Stay with them, but
do not close up.
I'll check with Priabin.
Okay, sir.
What happens if they stop us?
If we are stopped, there
are other arrangements.
Other arrangements?
We've got over 600
miles to go today.
I am ordered to die, if necessary.
To ensure that you get away free.
What is it with you Jews, anyway?
Don't you ever get tired
of fighting city hall?
Fighting city hall, as you say,
Mr Gant, is a freedom
we don't enjoy.
Dr Baranovich and Semelovsky...
are amongst the most brilliant
minds in Soviet science.
They were born here. This
is their country too.
But when the Firefox
project is to be
completed, they will
be sent somewhere.
Just because of their
religious heritage.
And you? What happens to you?
I don't know. I'm not
a Jew, Mr Gant.
Yes, Colonel?
Priabin has just arrested
Boris Glazunov at his flat.
Who is in the van with Upenskoy?
I don't know, it should
be Boris Glazunov.
Exactly.
It should be Glazunov,
should it not?
If Upenskoy is making a
delivery, should it not?
Yes, Colonel.
The truck is heading
out of the city.
Shall we pick them up as ordered?
This is...
This is most curious.
Where is Upenskoy scheduled
to make the delivery?
I don't know, Colonel,
but we can find out.
No. I want you to stay back.
Follow them until they
reach the checkpoint.
Priabin is bringing
in the other Jew.
Perhaps he can tell me something.
Your photograph is
being taken now.
The KGB is in the door.
As far as I can tell,
that's Leon Sprague.
You could not be
mistaken, Mr Hoskins?
I don't think so,
inspector. There's
quite a bit of damage, of course.
Indeed. Almost as if
his former associate
did not want him to be recognised.
- But why?
- I don't know, Mr Hoskins.
Nor do you, I suppose.
I have a wife.
- Did I tell you that, Gant?
- No, you didn't mention it.
She is a Jew.
She is educated.
And still she married me. She's
been in prison for 12 years...
for demonstrating against the
invasion of Czechoslovakia.
They do not treat
her well in prison.
I've spent the last 12 years
trying to be worthy of her.
- What is it?
- Well, sir, I'm not sure.
I'm sorry, sir.
- You have killed him.
- You pressed me.
- He knew nothing, sir.
- What?
What does that mean?
He was ordered to stay home today.
That's all he knew.
He would have told us under the
pentathol if he had
anything to tell.
Very well, Dmitri.
Contact the tail car.
Have the van stopped.
Semelovsky was at the
gasoline station.
I didn't speak to him
but he was there.
He'll be waiting for
me after this turnoff.
Yes, on that road.
You're going to have
to jump for it.
I'll try not to let
them overtake me for
as long past the guard
post as possible.
Don't get yourself caught, now.
Not if I can help it.
Ready yourself.
Don't say anything. Your
words would be useless.
Maybe even insulting.
Just fly the damn plane.
Dr Semelovsky?
You're late.
It was a long walk.
It's a question of the
guards. A little longer...
and one of the guard
posts would have
sent someone to
discover where I was.
It's almost an hour
since I checked
in with the first guard post.
That is why the car
has to, for all
intents and purposes,
be broken down.
I am sorry I cannot be
more accommodating.
Won't they search it?
It was searched already
at the guard post.
Now get in. Please, we must hurry.
Quickly.
Where have you been? You
were checked through
the guard post more
than an hour ago.
Damn, the car broke down.
Much as the present Five-Year
Plan has achieved...
it has not solved the
problem of the Moskvitch.
Open the hood.
That engine's filthy.
You're a scientist, you
should be more careful, huh?
They work us too hard.
You are here, Mr Gant.
Mr Gant, I'm Dr
Baranovich. Please...
This is Natalia.
So we have some food for you.
Don't be afraid, you can speak.
They're listening,
but we've devised
pre-recorded tapes for them.
Television noise, innocuous talk.
Well, we do not have
many hours left.
Come, you must be hungry.
There's another fence, electric.
Guarded by these watchtowers.
Inside the perimeter fence is only
one other gate,
through this fence.
Here, on the other side. It is
used only by security personnel.
- It is the one you will use.
- How?
With bravado,
naturally. And a little
help from myself and the others.
Don't worry about
it. Do you smoke?
- No, not for years.
- Learn again, now.
These aren't even
Russian cigarettes.
Foreign cigarettes will prove
as convincing as anything else.
Even your papers. So you
go from this gate here.
You'll move to this area here, on
the other side of the airstrip.
This building is the hangar
where the final work is done.
There's a corridor here, to
the pilots' dressing rooms.
Get there as soon as you can.
Your pilot, Lieutenant
Colonel Yuri Voskov...
will arrive some hours before the
flight. You must be ready for him.
What about visitors? I may be
there three or four hours.
Conceal Voskov's body.
There are a number of
lockers. All with good locks.
Now, as for yourself,
since you don't
appear to be very
much like Voskov...
except in general build,
you'll be taking a shower.
For three hours?
You'll pretend to
be taking a shower.
We'll be downstairs, in the main
hangar working on the aircraft.
When the time draws near for our
diversion to occur,
you will dress.
And the visor of your helmet
will conceal your features.
What is this diversion?
Ah. You need not worry. An alarm
will sound off when we're ready.
You'll be able to
enter the cockpit...
and roll the plane
out of the hangar.
Here he is. If my colleague here
were to submit some photographs...
would it delay our
priority search?
No, the computers
can accommodate it.
Then as a favour to
an old classmate...
please tell us who
that man might be.
Anyway, Aleksei, you were saying?
We did not realise it was
an agent until tonight.
This man who died
at the hands of his
own associates, or
so we believed...
isn't the same man who
arrived two days ago.
But, Aleksei, how does that
make him a foreign agent?
Don't you see? The man who arrived
two days ago is a substitute...
covering his tracks with
the smuggler's dead body.
Sir.
You should take a look
at these photographs.
These are his photographs, sir.
It's the same man we are
hunting, is it not?
The guard at the gate
has been reinforced.
And the perimeter fence?
The watchtowers are
filled to overflowing...
and there are dog patrols inside
the fence every 10 minutes now.
You must understand, this is not
an element we had counted on.
The added security is a show
for the First Secretary...
who's coming for the
trials tomorrow.
We learned of this
only yesterday. Now
it will be that much
more difficult.
But it can be done.
Well, I'm not gonna walk back.
You haven't been told this, but
there is a second prototype...
in the hanger identical
to the one you will fly.
It is not to be used in the
trials. It's not armed.
It is, however, fully
fuelled and in a
state of preparedness
at all times.
It could be weaponed and
sent up in perhaps an hour.
But it couldn't overtake me.
No, but it could be refuelled
in the air, where you cannot.
In our little diversion, we
must take the plane out.
- How?
- Fire.
We'll set a fire in the hangar.
The fuel lines to the second
prototype must catch.
So, you see, you'll have
only a few seconds.
When you hear the alarm, you
must immediately come down.
Ignore what you see in the
hangar. Just get your plane out.
A fire is not very predictable.
It's past 12.
Natalia and I don't have to report
until 2.30, but you must go by 1.
Here are the coordinates
that you must
feed into the inertial navigator.
The 1st set of coordinates
will put you in
contact with a commercial
flight from Moscow.
As soon as they've made
visual sighting of you and it
appears that you're
flying south...
feed in the second set.
What happens if I'm late?
You won't be, if we
time it correctly.
The second set will take you
east through the Urals.
But be extremely cautious of
your speed during this phase.
There are a number of
listening installations.
"Big ears" we call them. Equipped
to detect a supersonic footprint.
What about this thought-controlled
weapons system?
Yes. You don't even
need to press a button.
Your thoughts are
transmitted through
the sensors of your helmet...
into a computer. The
rest is automatic.
Now, Firefox is
equipped with missiles
which drop from
under the fuselage.
There are two cannon
under the cockpit.
There's the rear defence pod which
fires explosives backwards.
Which could knock out
a potential missile.
But this is very important,
Mr Gant, you must
think in Russian.
You can't think in English
and transpose it.
You must think in Russian.
Do you think you can
do that, Mr Gant?
Yes, I can.
Yes, Captain?
Colonel. Sir, without
your permission...
I've ordered a dog for the
guards on Security Gate 3...
to search the trees in
the surrounding area.
Good thinking. Well done, Captain.
- Well done.
- Thank you, sir.
Have a good flight,
Colonel Voskov.
Hell, you didn't do anything.
Looks like the power transistor,
Comrade Director Baranovich.
Scrap it. Get another.
From the experimental
technical stores?
Yes, Grosch.
I've just come from
Security Gate Number 3.
The guards admitted a GRU
officer four hours ago...
who matches one of the
composite photographs.
They made a positive
identification.
They say he ordered a dog
patrol for the forest...
Wait a minute.
I have seen this man.
And he confirmed those same orders
to me. But where was it I saw him?
- Search the building.
- It's been searched.
Search it again, the hangar, every
closet and stateroom
in every building.
He's here. I know it.
Colonel Voskov?
Yeah, what do you want?
It's an emergency
condition. Security check.
Your identification,
comrade Colonel.
I'm taking a shower now. I
don't want to be disturbed.
Sorry, Comrade
Colonel, but there's a
saboteur on the loose.
We're certain of it.
Is this your idea,
soldier, or is it Colonel.
Kontarsky's orders
that I be disturbed?
Sorry, comrade Colonel.
Dmitri, look at this.
Get Bilyarsk on the
phone. Quickly.
The rearward defence pod...
is it completed, Maxim Ilyich?
I completed the
work two hours ago.
I was just stalling.
Good luck, my friend.
Where are you off to?
The lavatory.
I want to know immediately.
- Colonel, it's Moscow.
- I'll take it in there.
Put out the dogs. He might
be hiding in the hills.
Sir, Control was put on standby.
The First Secretary's car
will arrive in 12 minutes.
He wasn't to be here until 9:00.
They left Moscow early,
sir. No explanation.
- Yes?
- Colonel, we've got him.
He's been identified.
- Colonel, are you there?
- Quickly, tell me.
He's a pilot, Mitchell Gant.
- An American.
- American.
Yes, a member of their
Aggressor squadron...
trained in combat with
Russian machines.
- Go on.
- Obviously, sir...
he knows our planes, our
aircraft, as well as anyone.
He'd be a good choice for sabotage
or analysis of information.
Perhaps he intends a close
inspection of the MIG-31.
He cannot be here for that.
No, sir. Surely not. He couldn't
hope to get away with it.
Thank you, Dmitri.
Well done. Arrest
Baranovich and the others, now.
No one is to be let near the
aircraft. No one. You understand?
No.
Spread out, immediately. Get away
from those aircraft, everyone.
Dr Baranovich, come
forward immediately.
They know.
They know now.
Baranovich, come forward.
Colonel Voskov, I must
have your identification.
Colonel Voskov, I must have...
Mitchell Gant. Don't.
Close the door.
Sir.
Sir, airborne early
warning radar...
reports signs of a
staggered sector scramble.
Northern and southern
squadrons, Red Air Force.
Strike Command is monitoring signs
of heavy code communications...
between Bilyarsk
and the Red Banner
Fleet, northern and southern.
Predicted activity indicates
a definite lift-off.
He's up. Great mother
of God, he's up.
My dear Buckholz, it
might be interesting
if you were to contact
Washington...
and tell them to alert Mother 1.
My pleasure. He's
done it. He's off.
Whoo-hoo.
He did it.
Damn, if he didn't actually do it.
That should establish
my route south.
I might have cut
it a little close,
but you'll have heard that by now.
This is making me feel a little
strange. I'll make it short.
No sign of missile or search
activity at this time.
I'm cruising south-southwest
at 6-5-0 knots airspeed.
I'll now engage the homing device.
Homing device attached.
I'll activate as soon as you reach
the north coast if all goes well.
Reporting that as far as I could
tell, your contacts at Bilyarsk...
were eliminated.
I couldn't ascertain the extent
of the damage to Prototype 2...
- Mr Gant?
- That'll be Bilyarsk.
Possibly Air Marshal Kutuzov.
This is the First Secretary.
I'm speaking to the
individual who has
stolen the property
of the U.S.S.R.
Can you hear me, Mr Gant?
We're getting the royal treatment.
Yeah, go ahead, I'm listening.
Are you enjoying
your ride, Mr Gant?
- You like our new toy?
- It could be improved.
Huh.
- Your expert opinion, Mr Gant?
- You could say that.
Aren't you gonna threaten me?
I'll do so if that
is what you wish.
But first, I'll merely ask you to
return what does
not belong to you.
Then you'll forget
the whole thing?
I do not think that you would
believe that, Mr Gant.
Would you? Well, of course not.
All I'll say is, you'll live
if you return immediately.
It is calculated that no more than
four minutes would be required...
before we could sight
you back over Bilyarsk.
- And the alternative?
- You will not be allowed...
to hand over the MIG-31 to the
security services of your country.
I will not allow that to happen.
I understand.
I'm sorry, sir, but
I can't do that.
I see.
You will not, of course, make
it to wherever you are going.
Goodbye, Mr Gant.
Okay, the bait's been swallowed.
Let's head north to the Urals.
You have considered,
First Secretary...
that this might be some kind of
supreme bluff by the Americans
to distract us from
looking to the north?
While this single aircraft
attempts to escapes to the south?
No, they're simply
paying the price
for too many years of softness.
Paying with an act of
desperation such as this one.
- You are absolutely certain?
- I am certain.
They know the potential of this
plane, they know what it means.
I would imagine if the
roles had been reversed...
that we would have
acted similarly.
They will have
arranged a refuelling
point for this madman somewhere.
Once we have destroyed it
and recovered the MIG...
we will hear no more of this.
Give us the Wolfpack map
of the U.S.S.R. quickly.
General Vladimirov.
We've ordered a staggered
sector scramble in two areas.
We're putting up as many planes as
we can along our southern borders.
We merely have to wait until the
plane is sighted again, visually.
It appears, in fact, that
he is heading direct south.
We should sight him
within the hour.
What is the range of the aircraft?
Three thousand miles, maximum.
His refuelling point will
be waiting for him...
presumably, either in the deserts
of Turkey, here, or Greece.
But, sir, we'll need to know
only one thing from you.
What do you wish done when
the plane is sighted?
Obliterate it.
Completely.
And that's the latest. 6 am
your time. Still all clear.
Good. What's the
track of Mother 1?
Constant temperature
minus 31 and holding.
Communications just picked
this up only minutes ago.
Plain language, picked
up by the operator
listening in on the
Soviet airline frequency.
And?
He was spotted Northwest
of Volgograd.
Almost tore the nose
off the airliner
before they lost sight of him.
The pilot was screaming
his head off
before they told
him to keep quiet.
Good show.
Let's see what this thing can do.
He would not have
made such an error.
General Vladimirov, you
have something to add?
I'm sorry, First Secretary. I
was just thinking out loud.
Perhaps you find us a hindrance...
and would prefer to
continue on your own?
Well Vladimirov, are
you going to share
with us what you
have found, or not?
Sir, I've discovered...
what, I believe may be
a flaw in our tactics.
If the record is
accurate, then he's a
fine pilot, perhaps
even their best.
You must assume that he would have
seen the airliner on his radar in
plenty of time to
avoid the sighting.
I believe now, he was deliberately
seen heading south to mislead us.
But wasn't it your plan, General,
to order this net to the south?
I believe now, that he is a better
pilot than we first assumed.
Then where is he heading,
Vladimirov, if not south?
I do not have that
information yet.
Well, tell me what it is.
It is the damage report on the
second MIG, First Secretary.
As you are aware, it would appear
that the dissidents failed
to put the aircraft
out of commission.
How soon can it be ready to fly?
Perhaps an hour, perhaps earlier.
It must be cleaned of foam first,
then pre-flighted and armed.
Yes, I know that.
What about the pilot?
He is standing by, sir. He
insists that he can still fly.
Positive sound trace.
Installation at Orsk.
Yes? What did you say?
There has been an
unidentified sound trace...
from an overflying aircraft
travelling at more than Mach 2.
Picked up by our mobile
unit west of Orsk.
Yes. Yes, of course.
We have him now.
Give me a projection
of the Urals and
as much of the north as you can.
And get me confirmation
of that report, quickly.
Trace confirmed, sir.
Aircraft which refused a
demand for identification...
heading northeast
into the mountains.
They lost the trace in 30 seconds
but they confirm
heading and speed.
Well, Vladimirov?
If you look at the map, First
Secretary, I'll explain
my deductions.
He's indeed heading
north, not south,
along this track here, utilising
the eastern slopes of the Urals.
Apparently in an
effort to mask himself
from visual and sound
detection, as he goes.
Quite clever, if I may say so.
But if he followed the Urals, to
their northern most point, here
then he will have to
take a visual sighting
somewhere to adjust his
course for his rendezvous.
Most likely the Gulf of Ob or
Gulf of Kara, to the west.
There we can track him, sir,
despite his radar immunity.
- How?
- By heat source, his exhaust.
Yes.
Alert Wolfpack border
squadrons, north coast.
Alert all missile sites
along the first Firechain.
Instruct them to train their
infrared weapons' aiming
systems ahead of the
expected path...
and await further orders.
First Secretary, the infrared
guidance system is not
the most accurate means of aiming.
It may be necessary
for a Soviet aircraft
to act as a target
for the missiles.
Will you give that order?
Of course.
Very well, First
Secretary, then the
American is about
to enter the trap.
Should be reaching
the Gulf of Kara
by now. Visibility's pretty bad.
Just turned you guys on.
Let's hope it works.
We've got company.
Single aircraft Higher
up. To the starboard.
Probably a Badger,
reconnaissance class.
Gonna take her up. I
doubt if she'll see me.
Oh.
I've got three ground missiles
homing in on my exhaust.
The way to go is to make
the Badger hotter than me.
Contact time. 9 seconds.
Weapons armed. Five
seconds till contact.
Four seconds.
Helmet firing system locked in.
Two seconds.
It's going to work.
Well, that's it. We might
as well all go home.
- We don't know.
- The hell we don't know.
You tell me. An explosion over
the Kara Gulf. Wycombe hears it.
Our reconnaissance
planes report it.
We don't know, he's lost.
Really? What was all that
coded stuff we intercepted...
between Bilyarsk and the
Firechain stations?
They got him. They blew his
ass right out of the sky.
I don't know.
That could mean they
didn't get him.
Admiral, I think that
we should notify Mother
1 to begin transmitting
the signal.
Right, it's time. Arthur?
Yeah.
Great, I just hit a spy trawler.
Passed right over its head.
Yeah, they spotted me.
I'm going to take her down low
to avoid an infrared fix.
It is you who's responsible,
General Vladimirov.
You who has failed in
bringing down the MIG-31.
I...
I am trying, First Secretary.
What about your plan? This
trap, as you called it?
And it failed, General.
We must proceed.
Amplify the position
of the Riga, please?
Sir.
Now, a computer projection of the
new heading based on the sighting.
Instruct the Riga to hold
her present position.
Sir.
Set a general alert to all
ships of the Red Banner Fleet.
Prepare them for the
alteration of Gant's
suspected course. Give
them that course.
What is the prediction
of Gant's fuel supply?
The computer predicts less
than 320 kilometres, sir.
What are your thoughts, General?
I am thinking, First Secretary...
that he has not enough fuel
to reach the polar pack.
He'll have to fly
very low and at a
greatly reduced speed
to conserve fuel.
On his present course...
he should pass within visual range
of the missile cruiser Riga.
I'm on reserve tanks now.
Switched in a few minutes ago.
Don't know how much time I've
got left. Not much, I suppose.
Mother 1 never made it.
Well, let's just say we
gave it one hell of a try.
Missile cruiser,
contact dead ahead.
Target does not appear to be
taking avoiding action, Captain.
He will.
Can't take evasive action.
I'm too low on fuel.
I'm going in. Let's see
what this baby can do.
Now you come. Homing
device just activated.
Estimated 140 miles out.
ECM picking up infrared detection
beams. They've got me locked on.
I'm coming in at 20 feet.
Weapons system armed. Rear
defence system engaged.
I hope it burns up the sky.
There she is.
Picking up choppers now. I
think I'll take one out.
Four missiles launched.
Got two of them.
Boy, is this a machine.
You do not need to
be reminded of the
absolute crisis that we face here.
The price of failure,
Colonel Voskov, for you...
for many in this room,
would be great.
The American is a dead
man, First Secretary.
Good.
Pass the order to the tower.
You do not seem to
be in agreement with
the sending of the
second prototype.
- I am in agreement.
- Then, what then?
Your cruiser is in direct line, I
believe you said,
is it not, General?
Perhaps you're so confident
that it can destroy the MIG?
- No, I am not that confident.
- What are you confident of?
Truly, there must be something
you are wanting to do.
- Sir, message from the Riga.
- What is it?
Contact made with unidentified
aircraft. Missiles fired.
And?
The aircraft appeared
to be carrying...
some kind of drone tail unit
which detached and ignited.
So, what do you intend to
do now, General Vladimirov?
First priority, First Secretary,
is to order take-off the MIG.
Yes, that is done,
General. And next?
Order the Riga to alter
course and head north in the
wake of the MIG at
all possible speed.
Good. And what else?
Scramble the Polar Search
squadrons immediately.
Instruct them to proceed to the
predicted landfall of the MIG...
on the permanent ice pack.
Order them to begin
searching for any
possible landing
sites or fuel dumps.
The permanent ice pack,
General Vladimirov?
Yes, First Secretary.
It is the only
place he can possibly refuel now.
There is no mother vessel.
Sir, the MIG is
approaching take-off.
Let us hope that we are
more successful this time.
Contact point, 90 miles.
I'm flying on air.
Estimated ditch point,
60 miles maximum.
Don't know if I have the fuel
for it, but I'm taking her up.
Gonna try to glide her in.
Fourteen thousand and climbing.
Polar pack is in sight now.
We just received this, transmitted
with the latest weather report.
My God.
My God, he must be
flying on vapour.
- Well?
- Well.
You're a bit of an
optimist, aren't you?
We're releasing decoys
into the North Cape area.
We just heard from Mother 1.
He was spotted five minutes ago.
He's alive?
- Where is he now?
- Four miles.
Slightly over 13,000 feet.
- Is he still on the same bearing?
- Yes, sir.
Can he see the floe?
He will in a second. Cloud
base is 13,500 feet.
Let's surprise him, gentlemen.
Prepare to surface.
I've got visibility again...
but I'm not showing anything.
Estimated three miles to target.
It looks like I'm going swimming.
I don't believe it.
He's coming in, in an awful hurry.
He must know what he's doing.
Okay, gentlemen.
I can't use the brakes.
It's gonna be close.
Simple.
Let's get those hose lines
down here. Let's go, move.
Move it.
Check the nose nozzles.
Well, you took long enough.
Check the tyres and the
windscreen, will you?
When were they sighted exactly?
The submarines appeared
seven minutes ago,
sir, steaming south
out of Spitsbergen.
The aeroplanes have
just now been sighted.
Well then, there can
be no question.
They have shown us their hand.
What is the latest report
from the Polar squadrons?
Still negative.
No landing sites or fuel dumps
reported on the permanent pack.
Come, come, Vladimirov. Is
it so difficult to accept?
You were simply matched against
inferior minds. And you have won.
There is no runway
carved out of the ice.
There is no mystical beast
waiting to save the American.
They are here. Now...
order all units into the North
Cape area. Everything you have.
Captain.
We have a surface radar
contact to the south
of us, along the
Major's flight path.
What?
60 miles out, constant bearing...
decreasing range, on a collision
course straight for us.
Any idea who it is?
Range is too far for
a computer image.
Well, that'll be that
cruiser I flew over.
It can't be. It's supposed to
be headed for the decoy area.
Maybe that's what
they're supposed to be
doing, but somebody's been
on my back since I started.
There goes the
neighbourhood. If we can
see them, they can
damn well can see us.
Sir. The Riga is picking
up a radar contact...
which they believe to be
too strong to be just ice.
They are showing it to be just
short of the permanent pack...
but in a direct line with the
American's last
reported flight path.
And they are awaiting orders.
In my estimation, First Secretary,
this contact is worth
investigation.
In your estimation?
I believe I understand how they
intend to refuel the MIG at sea.
They have used... Are using a
large ice floe as a runway.
The refuelling ship is
undoubtedly a submarine.
That is the sonar contact
the Riga has made.
What? The aircraft has
landed, Vladimirov?
Yes, First Secretary, the
aircraft has landed.
And how would you
choose to investigate
this sonar contact, Vladimirov?
Recall the Riga's helicopters
at once, First Secretary
and send them immediately to
the contact source point.
It would take 20 minutes.
Lieutenant Colonel
Voskov reporting, sir.
He has just made contact with the
refuelling tanker
over Novaya Zemlya.
He is awaiting further orders.
He could be there in two minutes.
No.
You may send the helicopters after
this highly dubious sonar contact.
But not the MIG. He must proceed
to the North Cape at once.
Vladimirov to Voskov.
Voskov over.
Proceed to the North Cape area as
soon as refuelling is completed.
- Repeat your message, please.
- I said North Cape.
They thought you'd need
some replacements.
Your bosses got these from a
MIG-25 they borrowed from Syria.
- What's the news on our friends?
- We got trouble, Captain.
Radar contact. Two
aircraft heading this way.
They were heading west into the
decoy area when we noticed them.
Yeah. Helicopters
from that cruiser.
You know how to make trouble for
me, Gant. You really, really do.
- How long before they get here?
- Eight minutes.
Commence Operation Harmless. That
is, commence Operation Harmless.
We've got eight minutes, maybe
less. Now, let's move it.
Contact is confirmed,
First Secretary.
Calm yourself, Vladimirov.
- Calm, calm myself?
- Yes, calm yourself.
How can I be calm when your
stupidity... Stupidity
is losing that aircraft
to the Americans?
You know what this man Gant is.
He could land on an ice
floe and take off again.
You must act, First Secretary.
Very well, Vladimirov.
What is it you require?
The immediate recall of the second
MIG from the North
Cape rendezvous.
Operation Harmless, Fleischer.
ETA. 5 minutes, 40 seconds.
All right, this is it.
I want you to call out exact speed
and distance every 30 seconds.
Yes, sir.
She's all fired up and
ready to go, sir.
You'll have to steam me a
runway. Right along here.
Can you do that in three minutes?
3 minutes, that's
impossible, Major. Why?
Surface snow is too hard
on the landing gear.
- Get to it, Peck.
- Yes, sir.
All right you guys. I want steam
hoses hooked here on the double.
- Hell, they'll never make it.
- They'll make it.
Sir, they're calling. They want
identification immediately, sir.
The hell they do. You know the
routine, Fleischer. Stall them.
They want to speak to you, sir.
Tell them I'm taking temperature
readings or something.
Yes, sir.
We're asking for your cooperation.
We want identification
from the superior officer.
Sorry, but as I said...
the Captain is involved
in an important
experiment at the other
end of the floe.
All right, team.
Come on, you guys.
Move it. Let's go. The man's
got a plane to catch.
You've gotta go now, Gant.
I'm a little worried
about you guys.
They're gonna be
watching my heat trail.
We're in international waters.
As long as you're out of here when
they get here. You will
be outta here, won't you?
- So fast you can't believe it.
- You better be right, mister.
ETA. 60 seconds. They keep asking
for you, sir. They
want convincing.
I don't think I've
done a very good job.
The hell with that.
Just keep stalling them.
Okay, secure this detail.
- So long, Captain. Thanks.
- Get out of here, you bum.
- ETA. 30 seconds.
- Gotcha.
Ok guys. Look alive.
We're a weather party.
Don't just stand there.
Come on, we're the greeting
party. Here they come.
- We're friendly. Wave, Stewart.
- Wave?
Sixteen thousand feet. New
coordinates punched in.
Radar says all clear.
Nothing can touch us now.
I'll be seeing you in a couple
hours. Better ice up a cold one.
Missiles avoided. Where
did they come from?
I don't know where it is,
but I'm a sitting duck.
The second Firefox.
Fire rearward missile.
Come on, damn it, now.
You must think in Russian.
Think in Russian.
Punching in new coordinates.
I'm coming home.
---
One target left. Rejoin to
the west. I'll clean up.
Lead, this is 3 Watch.
37mm off the left.
Roger. Rolling in left.
Leave your cover.
Get out of there.
Mayday. Mayday. Mayday.
I've been hit 20 miles southeast
of San Juan. Heading 1-3-0.
Major Gant?
Can you hear me?
Sorry we had to
surprise you like that.
Come on, get him out of here.
This was taken on Friday. It is
the secret complex at Bilyarsk.
If you look at the
top right corner,
you will make out the main hangar.
Could we...?
This is a detail of that section.
Take a good look gentlemen...
because we have every
reason to believe
you're looking at the Firefox.
When the first rumours began to
filter out of the Soviet Union...
some three years ago...
our theoretical
weapons strategists
stood before NATO to explain...
with much confidence,
that it would take
the Soviets a minimum
of 10 years...
to develop a Mach 5 aircraft
with thought-control weapons.
I stand before you today to
explain, with much regret...
that they were wrong.
At 0400 hours, on Thursday...
we were stunned by the
encoded transmission...
that sits in front of you.
General Rogers?
Along with satellite
surveillance...
planes were flown up
Saturday over the.
Turkish-Soviet border,
roughly here.
And the Finnish-Soviet
border, here.
Using the information
of Dr Baranovich...
about the time and flight
path of the Firefox...
we monitored the arena formed
by these coordinates...
here, with our most
sophisticated radar devices.
Except for a flight of
cranes headed south,
nothing entered that
airspace all day.
We checked immediately with
our source in Bilyarsk.
The Firefox flew, and
flew at the exact time...
and within the
specified coordinates
given to us by Dr Baranovich.
We are left with only one
possible explanation, gentlemen.
It is quite inescapable.
The Soviets have
developed some sort of
anti-radar capability
for the aircraft.
The Firefox is...
to all intents and purposes...
invisible.
All right, Captain. You
came 5000 miles for this.
- Let's hear it.
- Captain Buckholz, sir.
It's been, what, three
years now? You're
still keeping in
shape. That's good.
A lot of people
miss you back home,
Major. They still talk about you.
All the guys think you must have
sprouted wings and flown away.
I had one hell of a
time tracking you down.
Look at these figures. Fifty
thousand pounds of thrust, per.
These Tumanskys deliver an excess
in a capacity of 100 percent.
Combat ceiling, 120,000 feet plus.
Note the increase in
capacity, 100 percent.
Speed is in excess of Mach 5, even
Mach 6, and able to maintain it.
Our best body design
begins to melt...
at Mach 3.
I think it should be very
clear why the Soviets...
were willing to risk using
a man like Baranovich.
A genius in theoretical
physics, yes...
but still a prisoner,
and a dissident Jew.
Our weapons system is, as
far as we can ascertain...
one of the most advanced
ever conceived.
It couples radar and infrared
detection devices...
with a thought-guided,
thought-controlled arsenal...
on board the plane.
The pilot's actual
brain emissions are
translated into a
central computer...
through sensors in his helmet.
Whatever target the pilot chooses
is instantly destroyed...
without his even
pressing a button.
Or, as quickly as his
eye detects a threat...
either visually or on
one of his scopes...
his thought impulses are guiding
a missile to that threat.
This amounts to a two-to
three-second speed advantage...
in reaction and
attack time over any
defensive system we have today.
If the Soviets can
mass-produce it...
it will change the
structure of our world.
We at the… We at the S.I.S.
have been working...
on the pipeline into Moscow and
on to Bilyarsk for two years.
The mechanics of that phase are
now ready to be implemented.
I understand that your
Navy's phase of the
operation can be
functional within 30 days?
Am I correct on that, Admiral?
That is correct, sir.
How do they expect me
to fly? You've seen me.
We're not worried. We have
three months to train you.
It's getting you there,
that's the problem.
Oh? Where is it?
Russia.
You've got to steal it.
Well, I don't choose to mount
an operation this way.
We didn't expect you to be
happy with it, General.
We're aware of his health record.
But his mother is
Russian, he's spoken
the language since childhood...
and is exactly the same
size as Colonel Voskov...
who the suit and cockpit
are fitted for.
You mean the operation
is reduced to the
decision that he fits
the pressure suit?
You're asking me to put our
resources on the line...
for somebody who's never be
on an intelligence mission...
who's subject to these
kind of seizures.
Delayed stress syndrome
is common among our vets.
It manifests itself in civilian
life, not battle conditions.
- This is suicide, Buckholz.
- That's exactly why it'll work.
They'll never expect it. It's too
unthinkable for them
to ever defend.
We'll get you on that aeroplane.
You just have to fly it.
- You guys are amazing, you know?
- We need you, Major.
- You're the best we've got.
- You'll find somebody.
There's a lot of guys who
could fly that plane.
You fly it.
Not with your qualifications.
The decision has been
made, gentlemen.
I'm afraid we have
no other choice.
It's already been set in motion.
This is government land, isn't it?
I've been authorised
to mention that it
could pass over to
the private sector.
I see, what you're
saying then is that
you've already picked
a volunteer, right.
Major, you will be
flying the fastest,
the most sophisticated warplane...
on the face of this earth.
You probably realised by now...
you won't be waltzing into
Moscow as Mitchell Gant.
Get to know that man in
front of you, Leon Sprague.
He's a businessman from Nevada.
He's been flying in and out of
Moscow the last few months...
from his factory in Marseilles,
selling our well-to-do comrades...
a highly efficient carburettor
part for their outboard motors.
What he's actually been doing,
is defiling the Soviet youth
with large quantities of heroin.
He's a drug smuggler. An
enemy of the Soviet people.
At least that's what the KGB
has been led to believe.
Mr Sprague doesn't
know it, but what he's
actually been doing, is
blazing the trail for you.
Look at that face.
Would you believe
me if I told you he
had 5 pounds of
heroin right there?
Looks like he's on a
weekend to Acapulco.
Could you be that cool, Gant?
Your suite will be bugged.
They know your habits.
You are trafficking
in heroin. They
will have followed you for months.
Any slip in character will be
noticed. It would be lethal.
I cannot stress this next
point strongly enough. In
the hotel, on the way
to the bridge...
you must not allow
them to lose you.
As long as you relax, they relax.
Remember, we are playing on
their only real weakness.
Because of its very size, the KGB
is sometimes slow to awaken.
It is like a monster.
If you can walk by carefully
enough, it may just...
lift an eyelid and sniff at you.
But if you awaken it...
You have but one objective.
You must reach the
Krasnokholmskiy Bridge...
at precisely 10.30 with
your KGB tail in tow.
They will see you
make the rendezvous,
and then you must obey...
the people you meet completely.
Whatever they tell you to do...
you do.
Mr Cunningham.
This to any Soviet policemen will
appear to be a cheap
transistor radio.
It will even pick up the
local radio stations.
In actuality, this is
your life in the air.
Because once you're airborne,
you have just two objectives.
Avoid their tracking systems and
find your refuelling point.
This little radio is
an unmonitorable,
highly complex one-way
homing device.
It will be scanning the airwaves,
seeking out a complicated set...
of alternating frequencies
coming from Mother 1.
The Soviets will be listening for
any transmission up in the air.
So this is your only
link with the outside.
Once it picks up the
signal, you're within
100 miles of your
refuelling point.
You will then follow it home.
It must never leave your person.
If you lose it, if
it is confiscated,
you'll never make
it out of Russia.
You will run out of fuel and you
will die in the Arctic Ocean.
Well, get up and walk around.
Let's have a look at you.
Mr Sprague, can you be
comfortable with it?
- Yes.
- Good.
Bloody damn good.
- The flight recorder.
- Huh?
The flight recorder.
Oh, yes. I nearly forgot.
Yes, one last thing. We just
learned this from Baranovich.
There will be a recording
device in the cockpit.
A "black box" I believe
you Americans call it.
It is voice-activated. It was
installed for their test pilot.
We'd like you to use it.
In the event that, well...
If it should happen,
and we were somehow
able to salvage the aircraft...
it might be possible
to reconstruct
enough from your
diary, as it were...
to be helpful.
- Sir?
- Yes, yes, yes, I'm coming.
Now, Mr Gant, I suppose this
is the end of the road for us.
Actually, let me rephrase that.
Let's say the beginning.
I'll be with you every
step of the way, Mitchell.
Your papers.
- Yes, Mr Sprague?
- Yes.
What is the nature of
your visit to Moscow?
Business.
Yes, what business? Specifically.
Carburettors. Bearings.
It's all right in there.
Mind telling me what
you're looking for?
You have been to the Soviet Union
several times in the
past few months.
Is that correct, Mr Sprague?
I've been here six times
in the past few months.
Nothing like this
has ever happened
before. What's going on here?
We apologise for the
delay, Mr Sprague.
But as you must be aware, every
international airport
has its own set of...
unique problems.
I've been in every international
airport in the world.
I've never been insulted like
this. I'm a businessman.
I do business with your superiors.
Are you threatening
me, Mr Sprague?
No.
And why do you bring this?
Perhaps you are hoping to receive
your stock market
report in Moscow?
Moscow Hotel.
Stop over here.
Why here? Across the
square is Hotel Moscow.
Thanks. I'll walk.
Thank you, sir.
I agree, Dmitri. We cannot be too
cautious at this
late point in time.
Viktor, you will pass that
on as soon as you arrive?
Consider it done,
sir. It will make a
fine complement to
the dog patrols.
Very good. Now, tell me...
where will our traitors be in
the hours before the flight?
The three scientists will be
inside the hangar itself, sir.
Baranovich himself
will be working on
the weapons system
during the night.
He will be working on the
aircraft until take-off.
Yes, comrade colonels.
And what of the others?
Natalia and Semelovsky
will be concerned
with refuelling and
loading the missiles.
Also, the rearward defence pod.
They are most familiar with the
systems. Not easy to replace, sir.
I understand, let them
continue working.
Your men, I trust, will be ready.
Yes, sir.
Our informers will be
shoulder to shoulder with
them throughout the night
and they will be armed.
As long as they can recognise
attempted sabotage
when they see it.
- They do, comrade Colonel.
- Good flight back, Viktor.
I want the Moscow end
of their pipeline
arrested at dawn tomorrow.
Wait until then.
I don't want our friends
in Bilyarsk to disappear.
Very well, sir.
I will have their
warehouse watched,
from tonight and move
in on your orders.
Very good, Dmitri.
I should like to see them
before I fly to Bilyarsk.
Just to see their faces.
Your best Havana, please.
Mr Sprague?
Yeah?
It's him.
I'm Leon Sprague.
How many followed you?
There was 3 of them on
foot and one car up above.
What are they doing now, Pavel?
The one on the steps has
returned to the car.
The short one is
wondering what to do...
since there are four of us
now. I think he is frightened.
He'll call for assistance. We
better get him out of here.
- Take his cigar.
- What?
His cigar. Smoke it.
Smoke it.
Your papers, quickly.
Your papers.
Come on.
Quickly, follow us to
the metro station.
Quickly.
They have killed him, Stechko.
They have killed Mr Leon Sprague.
Your name is Michael Lewis now.
You are a tourist staying
at the Warsaw Hotel.
It is all arranged. Do not
worry, just stay calm.
Passport.
- Mr Lewis, you're American?
- Yes.
You do not look like
yourself in this
photograph. Your hair is darker.
I was a little heavier then too.
St. Louis is a fine
city, I understand.
Yes, nice summers.
You do not appear to be
in the best of health.
I've had stomach
problems. The food is...
The food at the
Warsaw is not good?
It's fine. Just a
little rich for me.
Ah.
Thank you, Mr Lewis.
You look terrible, Mr Lewis.
I watched your performance.
It was not very convincing.
You kill real Sprague
like he's nothing
and then you dump a cover on me.
Hide in the toilets, over there.
Get yourself together. There
will be more KGB on the way.
We shall leave only
when they are confident
we have been searched
three or four times.
Go.
No.
No. No.
I'm busy.
English or American? State
Security. Your papers, please.
- Can you wait a minute?
- Very well. Quickly.
Your papers, please.
Are you ill, or maybe frightened?
I've been having some
stomach problems.
Your papers are not in order.
They're in order.
Look at them again.
No.
They are not in order.
You stupid American.
You've killed him.
He went for his gun. He knew.
He's KGB.
Do you understand what
that means? Do you?
Now go up the stairs, make
your way quickly to the exit.
If anyone stops you, obey them.
Show them your papers.
And pretend you are ill,
as before. Understand?
He said my papers
weren't in order.
You damned fool.
They are in order.
I was stopped by the KGB. My
papers also were in order.
Now get out of here.
When they find this, no one
will be allowed to leave. Go.
I'm an American, I didn't know
what I was supposed to do.
- You're an American?
- Yes.
Why are you out of
line? Papers, please.
You should wait in line, Mr Lewis.
You have been most uncooperative
in your behaviour.
- Well, I'm sorry...
- About what?
Let's see what we have
here. We don't want to...
delay you unnecessarily, do we?
No.
You're staying at
the Warsaw Hotel?
Wonder if we should call them?
See if someone there knows you.
No.
I think we shall trust you. Your
papers appear to be in order.
I apologise for any delay.
We are engaged in searching
for criminals, shall we say?
But you are free to continue your
nocturnal sightseeing
tour of our city.
Thank you.
Good.
- Let's get the hell out of here.
- This way, down Kirov Street.
- They found him.
- Let's go.
He has to change, come on.
Your name is Boris Glazunov. You
are married and have two children.
A boy, 3, and a little girl, 4.
You live in a flat on
the Mira Prospekt,
and you work for this company.
You are my driver's mate.
This Boris Glazunov, does
he work for the cause too?
Glazunov stays home today.
You will take his place.
Like Leon Sprague did?
Does he die like Sprague?
Mr Sprague served a purpose.
You must remember...
Mr Sprague was a smuggler in
heroin. He was not one of us.
Study these. You must know
everything about Glazunov.
They would not look here.
Gant.
Can you fly that
plane? Really fly it?
Yeah, I can fly it.
I'm the best there is.
Boris Glazunov?
How many?
One car and three men inside.
Keep watching.
Gant. We must leave now.
They are here. They are
out front. Quickly.
- Do they know?
- No.
These aren't the ones who
followed you last night.
These are KGB assigned
to the plane.
- They are coming for me.
- For you?
They know about me.
You can use this?
- Yeah, I can use it.
- Good.
Don't, unless it's
absolutely necessary.
Two of them just
left, in a delivery
truck. What do you wish
me to do, Colonel?
Stay with them, but
do not close up.
I'll check with Priabin.
Okay, sir.
What happens if they stop us?
If we are stopped, there
are other arrangements.
Other arrangements?
We've got over 600
miles to go today.
I am ordered to die, if necessary.
To ensure that you get away free.
What is it with you Jews, anyway?
Don't you ever get tired
of fighting city hall?
Fighting city hall, as you say,
Mr Gant, is a freedom
we don't enjoy.
Dr Baranovich and Semelovsky...
are amongst the most brilliant
minds in Soviet science.
They were born here. This
is their country too.
But when the Firefox
project is to be
completed, they will
be sent somewhere.
Just because of their
religious heritage.
And you? What happens to you?
I don't know. I'm not
a Jew, Mr Gant.
Yes, Colonel?
Priabin has just arrested
Boris Glazunov at his flat.
Who is in the van with Upenskoy?
I don't know, it should
be Boris Glazunov.
Exactly.
It should be Glazunov,
should it not?
If Upenskoy is making a
delivery, should it not?
Yes, Colonel.
The truck is heading
out of the city.
Shall we pick them up as ordered?
This is...
This is most curious.
Where is Upenskoy scheduled
to make the delivery?
I don't know, Colonel,
but we can find out.
No. I want you to stay back.
Follow them until they
reach the checkpoint.
Priabin is bringing
in the other Jew.
Perhaps he can tell me something.
Your photograph is
being taken now.
The KGB is in the door.
As far as I can tell,
that's Leon Sprague.
You could not be
mistaken, Mr Hoskins?
I don't think so,
inspector. There's
quite a bit of damage, of course.
Indeed. Almost as if
his former associate
did not want him to be recognised.
- But why?
- I don't know, Mr Hoskins.
Nor do you, I suppose.
I have a wife.
- Did I tell you that, Gant?
- No, you didn't mention it.
She is a Jew.
She is educated.
And still she married me. She's
been in prison for 12 years...
for demonstrating against the
invasion of Czechoslovakia.
They do not treat
her well in prison.
I've spent the last 12 years
trying to be worthy of her.
- What is it?
- Well, sir, I'm not sure.
I'm sorry, sir.
- You have killed him.
- You pressed me.
- He knew nothing, sir.
- What?
What does that mean?
He was ordered to stay home today.
That's all he knew.
He would have told us under the
pentathol if he had
anything to tell.
Very well, Dmitri.
Contact the tail car.
Have the van stopped.
Semelovsky was at the
gasoline station.
I didn't speak to him
but he was there.
He'll be waiting for
me after this turnoff.
Yes, on that road.
You're going to have
to jump for it.
I'll try not to let
them overtake me for
as long past the guard
post as possible.
Don't get yourself caught, now.
Not if I can help it.
Ready yourself.
Don't say anything. Your
words would be useless.
Maybe even insulting.
Just fly the damn plane.
Dr Semelovsky?
You're late.
It was a long walk.
It's a question of the
guards. A little longer...
and one of the guard
posts would have
sent someone to
discover where I was.
It's almost an hour
since I checked
in with the first guard post.
That is why the car
has to, for all
intents and purposes,
be broken down.
I am sorry I cannot be
more accommodating.
Won't they search it?
It was searched already
at the guard post.
Now get in. Please, we must hurry.
Quickly.
Where have you been? You
were checked through
the guard post more
than an hour ago.
Damn, the car broke down.
Much as the present Five-Year
Plan has achieved...
it has not solved the
problem of the Moskvitch.
Open the hood.
That engine's filthy.
You're a scientist, you
should be more careful, huh?
They work us too hard.
You are here, Mr Gant.
Mr Gant, I'm Dr
Baranovich. Please...
This is Natalia.
So we have some food for you.
Don't be afraid, you can speak.
They're listening,
but we've devised
pre-recorded tapes for them.
Television noise, innocuous talk.
Well, we do not have
many hours left.
Come, you must be hungry.
There's another fence, electric.
Guarded by these watchtowers.
Inside the perimeter fence is only
one other gate,
through this fence.
Here, on the other side. It is
used only by security personnel.
- It is the one you will use.
- How?
With bravado,
naturally. And a little
help from myself and the others.
Don't worry about
it. Do you smoke?
- No, not for years.
- Learn again, now.
These aren't even
Russian cigarettes.
Foreign cigarettes will prove
as convincing as anything else.
Even your papers. So you
go from this gate here.
You'll move to this area here, on
the other side of the airstrip.
This building is the hangar
where the final work is done.
There's a corridor here, to
the pilots' dressing rooms.
Get there as soon as you can.
Your pilot, Lieutenant
Colonel Yuri Voskov...
will arrive some hours before the
flight. You must be ready for him.
What about visitors? I may be
there three or four hours.
Conceal Voskov's body.
There are a number of
lockers. All with good locks.
Now, as for yourself,
since you don't
appear to be very
much like Voskov...
except in general build,
you'll be taking a shower.
For three hours?
You'll pretend to
be taking a shower.
We'll be downstairs, in the main
hangar working on the aircraft.
When the time draws near for our
diversion to occur,
you will dress.
And the visor of your helmet
will conceal your features.
What is this diversion?
Ah. You need not worry. An alarm
will sound off when we're ready.
You'll be able to
enter the cockpit...
and roll the plane
out of the hangar.
Here he is. If my colleague here
were to submit some photographs...
would it delay our
priority search?
No, the computers
can accommodate it.
Then as a favour to
an old classmate...
please tell us who
that man might be.
Anyway, Aleksei, you were saying?
We did not realise it was
an agent until tonight.
This man who died
at the hands of his
own associates, or
so we believed...
isn't the same man who
arrived two days ago.
But, Aleksei, how does that
make him a foreign agent?
Don't you see? The man who arrived
two days ago is a substitute...
covering his tracks with
the smuggler's dead body.
Sir.
You should take a look
at these photographs.
These are his photographs, sir.
It's the same man we are
hunting, is it not?
The guard at the gate
has been reinforced.
And the perimeter fence?
The watchtowers are
filled to overflowing...
and there are dog patrols inside
the fence every 10 minutes now.
You must understand, this is not
an element we had counted on.
The added security is a show
for the First Secretary...
who's coming for the
trials tomorrow.
We learned of this
only yesterday. Now
it will be that much
more difficult.
But it can be done.
Well, I'm not gonna walk back.
You haven't been told this, but
there is a second prototype...
in the hanger identical
to the one you will fly.
It is not to be used in the
trials. It's not armed.
It is, however, fully
fuelled and in a
state of preparedness
at all times.
It could be weaponed and
sent up in perhaps an hour.
But it couldn't overtake me.
No, but it could be refuelled
in the air, where you cannot.
In our little diversion, we
must take the plane out.
- How?
- Fire.
We'll set a fire in the hangar.
The fuel lines to the second
prototype must catch.
So, you see, you'll have
only a few seconds.
When you hear the alarm, you
must immediately come down.
Ignore what you see in the
hangar. Just get your plane out.
A fire is not very predictable.
It's past 12.
Natalia and I don't have to report
until 2.30, but you must go by 1.
Here are the coordinates
that you must
feed into the inertial navigator.
The 1st set of coordinates
will put you in
contact with a commercial
flight from Moscow.
As soon as they've made
visual sighting of you and it
appears that you're
flying south...
feed in the second set.
What happens if I'm late?
You won't be, if we
time it correctly.
The second set will take you
east through the Urals.
But be extremely cautious of
your speed during this phase.
There are a number of
listening installations.
"Big ears" we call them. Equipped
to detect a supersonic footprint.
What about this thought-controlled
weapons system?
Yes. You don't even
need to press a button.
Your thoughts are
transmitted through
the sensors of your helmet...
into a computer. The
rest is automatic.
Now, Firefox is
equipped with missiles
which drop from
under the fuselage.
There are two cannon
under the cockpit.
There's the rear defence pod which
fires explosives backwards.
Which could knock out
a potential missile.
But this is very important,
Mr Gant, you must
think in Russian.
You can't think in English
and transpose it.
You must think in Russian.
Do you think you can
do that, Mr Gant?
Yes, I can.
Yes, Captain?
Colonel. Sir, without
your permission...
I've ordered a dog for the
guards on Security Gate 3...
to search the trees in
the surrounding area.
Good thinking. Well done, Captain.
- Well done.
- Thank you, sir.
Have a good flight,
Colonel Voskov.
Hell, you didn't do anything.
Looks like the power transistor,
Comrade Director Baranovich.
Scrap it. Get another.
From the experimental
technical stores?
Yes, Grosch.
I've just come from
Security Gate Number 3.
The guards admitted a GRU
officer four hours ago...
who matches one of the
composite photographs.
They made a positive
identification.
They say he ordered a dog
patrol for the forest...
Wait a minute.
I have seen this man.
And he confirmed those same orders
to me. But where was it I saw him?
- Search the building.
- It's been searched.
Search it again, the hangar, every
closet and stateroom
in every building.
He's here. I know it.
Colonel Voskov?
Yeah, what do you want?
It's an emergency
condition. Security check.
Your identification,
comrade Colonel.
I'm taking a shower now. I
don't want to be disturbed.
Sorry, Comrade
Colonel, but there's a
saboteur on the loose.
We're certain of it.
Is this your idea,
soldier, or is it Colonel.
Kontarsky's orders
that I be disturbed?
Sorry, comrade Colonel.
Dmitri, look at this.
Get Bilyarsk on the
phone. Quickly.
The rearward defence pod...
is it completed, Maxim Ilyich?
I completed the
work two hours ago.
I was just stalling.
Good luck, my friend.
Where are you off to?
The lavatory.
I want to know immediately.
- Colonel, it's Moscow.
- I'll take it in there.
Put out the dogs. He might
be hiding in the hills.
Sir, Control was put on standby.
The First Secretary's car
will arrive in 12 minutes.
He wasn't to be here until 9:00.
They left Moscow early,
sir. No explanation.
- Yes?
- Colonel, we've got him.
He's been identified.
- Colonel, are you there?
- Quickly, tell me.
He's a pilot, Mitchell Gant.
- An American.
- American.
Yes, a member of their
Aggressor squadron...
trained in combat with
Russian machines.
- Go on.
- Obviously, sir...
he knows our planes, our
aircraft, as well as anyone.
He'd be a good choice for sabotage
or analysis of information.
Perhaps he intends a close
inspection of the MIG-31.
He cannot be here for that.
No, sir. Surely not. He couldn't
hope to get away with it.
Thank you, Dmitri.
Well done. Arrest
Baranovich and the others, now.
No one is to be let near the
aircraft. No one. You understand?
No.
Spread out, immediately. Get away
from those aircraft, everyone.
Dr Baranovich, come
forward immediately.
They know.
They know now.
Baranovich, come forward.
Colonel Voskov, I must
have your identification.
Colonel Voskov, I must have...
Mitchell Gant. Don't.
Close the door.
Sir.
Sir, airborne early
warning radar...
reports signs of a
staggered sector scramble.
Northern and southern
squadrons, Red Air Force.
Strike Command is monitoring signs
of heavy code communications...
between Bilyarsk
and the Red Banner
Fleet, northern and southern.
Predicted activity indicates
a definite lift-off.
He's up. Great mother
of God, he's up.
My dear Buckholz, it
might be interesting
if you were to contact
Washington...
and tell them to alert Mother 1.
My pleasure. He's
done it. He's off.
Whoo-hoo.
He did it.
Damn, if he didn't actually do it.
That should establish
my route south.
I might have cut
it a little close,
but you'll have heard that by now.
This is making me feel a little
strange. I'll make it short.
No sign of missile or search
activity at this time.
I'm cruising south-southwest
at 6-5-0 knots airspeed.
I'll now engage the homing device.
Homing device attached.
I'll activate as soon as you reach
the north coast if all goes well.
Reporting that as far as I could
tell, your contacts at Bilyarsk...
were eliminated.
I couldn't ascertain the extent
of the damage to Prototype 2...
- Mr Gant?
- That'll be Bilyarsk.
Possibly Air Marshal Kutuzov.
This is the First Secretary.
I'm speaking to the
individual who has
stolen the property
of the U.S.S.R.
Can you hear me, Mr Gant?
We're getting the royal treatment.
Yeah, go ahead, I'm listening.
Are you enjoying
your ride, Mr Gant?
- You like our new toy?
- It could be improved.
Huh.
- Your expert opinion, Mr Gant?
- You could say that.
Aren't you gonna threaten me?
I'll do so if that
is what you wish.
But first, I'll merely ask you to
return what does
not belong to you.
Then you'll forget
the whole thing?
I do not think that you would
believe that, Mr Gant.
Would you? Well, of course not.
All I'll say is, you'll live
if you return immediately.
It is calculated that no more than
four minutes would be required...
before we could sight
you back over Bilyarsk.
- And the alternative?
- You will not be allowed...
to hand over the MIG-31 to the
security services of your country.
I will not allow that to happen.
I understand.
I'm sorry, sir, but
I can't do that.
I see.
You will not, of course, make
it to wherever you are going.
Goodbye, Mr Gant.
Okay, the bait's been swallowed.
Let's head north to the Urals.
You have considered,
First Secretary...
that this might be some kind of
supreme bluff by the Americans
to distract us from
looking to the north?
While this single aircraft
attempts to escapes to the south?
No, they're simply
paying the price
for too many years of softness.
Paying with an act of
desperation such as this one.
- You are absolutely certain?
- I am certain.
They know the potential of this
plane, they know what it means.
I would imagine if the
roles had been reversed...
that we would have
acted similarly.
They will have
arranged a refuelling
point for this madman somewhere.
Once we have destroyed it
and recovered the MIG...
we will hear no more of this.
Give us the Wolfpack map
of the U.S.S.R. quickly.
General Vladimirov.
We've ordered a staggered
sector scramble in two areas.
We're putting up as many planes as
we can along our southern borders.
We merely have to wait until the
plane is sighted again, visually.
It appears, in fact, that
he is heading direct south.
We should sight him
within the hour.
What is the range of the aircraft?
Three thousand miles, maximum.
His refuelling point will
be waiting for him...
presumably, either in the deserts
of Turkey, here, or Greece.
But, sir, we'll need to know
only one thing from you.
What do you wish done when
the plane is sighted?
Obliterate it.
Completely.
And that's the latest. 6 am
your time. Still all clear.
Good. What's the
track of Mother 1?
Constant temperature
minus 31 and holding.
Communications just picked
this up only minutes ago.
Plain language, picked
up by the operator
listening in on the
Soviet airline frequency.
And?
He was spotted Northwest
of Volgograd.
Almost tore the nose
off the airliner
before they lost sight of him.
The pilot was screaming
his head off
before they told
him to keep quiet.
Good show.
Let's see what this thing can do.
He would not have
made such an error.
General Vladimirov, you
have something to add?
I'm sorry, First Secretary. I
was just thinking out loud.
Perhaps you find us a hindrance...
and would prefer to
continue on your own?
Well Vladimirov, are
you going to share
with us what you
have found, or not?
Sir, I've discovered...
what, I believe may be
a flaw in our tactics.
If the record is
accurate, then he's a
fine pilot, perhaps
even their best.
You must assume that he would have
seen the airliner on his radar in
plenty of time to
avoid the sighting.
I believe now, he was deliberately
seen heading south to mislead us.
But wasn't it your plan, General,
to order this net to the south?
I believe now, that he is a better
pilot than we first assumed.
Then where is he heading,
Vladimirov, if not south?
I do not have that
information yet.
Well, tell me what it is.
It is the damage report on the
second MIG, First Secretary.
As you are aware, it would appear
that the dissidents failed
to put the aircraft
out of commission.
How soon can it be ready to fly?
Perhaps an hour, perhaps earlier.
It must be cleaned of foam first,
then pre-flighted and armed.
Yes, I know that.
What about the pilot?
He is standing by, sir. He
insists that he can still fly.
Positive sound trace.
Installation at Orsk.
Yes? What did you say?
There has been an
unidentified sound trace...
from an overflying aircraft
travelling at more than Mach 2.
Picked up by our mobile
unit west of Orsk.
Yes. Yes, of course.
We have him now.
Give me a projection
of the Urals and
as much of the north as you can.
And get me confirmation
of that report, quickly.
Trace confirmed, sir.
Aircraft which refused a
demand for identification...
heading northeast
into the mountains.
They lost the trace in 30 seconds
but they confirm
heading and speed.
Well, Vladimirov?
If you look at the map, First
Secretary, I'll explain
my deductions.
He's indeed heading
north, not south,
along this track here, utilising
the eastern slopes of the Urals.
Apparently in an
effort to mask himself
from visual and sound
detection, as he goes.
Quite clever, if I may say so.
But if he followed the Urals, to
their northern most point, here
then he will have to
take a visual sighting
somewhere to adjust his
course for his rendezvous.
Most likely the Gulf of Ob or
Gulf of Kara, to the west.
There we can track him, sir,
despite his radar immunity.
- How?
- By heat source, his exhaust.
Yes.
Alert Wolfpack border
squadrons, north coast.
Alert all missile sites
along the first Firechain.
Instruct them to train their
infrared weapons' aiming
systems ahead of the
expected path...
and await further orders.
First Secretary, the infrared
guidance system is not
the most accurate means of aiming.
It may be necessary
for a Soviet aircraft
to act as a target
for the missiles.
Will you give that order?
Of course.
Very well, First
Secretary, then the
American is about
to enter the trap.
Should be reaching
the Gulf of Kara
by now. Visibility's pretty bad.
Just turned you guys on.
Let's hope it works.
We've got company.
Single aircraft Higher
up. To the starboard.
Probably a Badger,
reconnaissance class.
Gonna take her up. I
doubt if she'll see me.
Oh.
I've got three ground missiles
homing in on my exhaust.
The way to go is to make
the Badger hotter than me.
Contact time. 9 seconds.
Weapons armed. Five
seconds till contact.
Four seconds.
Helmet firing system locked in.
Two seconds.
It's going to work.
Well, that's it. We might
as well all go home.
- We don't know.
- The hell we don't know.
You tell me. An explosion over
the Kara Gulf. Wycombe hears it.
Our reconnaissance
planes report it.
We don't know, he's lost.
Really? What was all that
coded stuff we intercepted...
between Bilyarsk and the
Firechain stations?
They got him. They blew his
ass right out of the sky.
I don't know.
That could mean they
didn't get him.
Admiral, I think that
we should notify Mother
1 to begin transmitting
the signal.
Right, it's time. Arthur?
Yeah.
Great, I just hit a spy trawler.
Passed right over its head.
Yeah, they spotted me.
I'm going to take her down low
to avoid an infrared fix.
It is you who's responsible,
General Vladimirov.
You who has failed in
bringing down the MIG-31.
I...
I am trying, First Secretary.
What about your plan? This
trap, as you called it?
And it failed, General.
We must proceed.
Amplify the position
of the Riga, please?
Sir.
Now, a computer projection of the
new heading based on the sighting.
Instruct the Riga to hold
her present position.
Sir.
Set a general alert to all
ships of the Red Banner Fleet.
Prepare them for the
alteration of Gant's
suspected course. Give
them that course.
What is the prediction
of Gant's fuel supply?
The computer predicts less
than 320 kilometres, sir.
What are your thoughts, General?
I am thinking, First Secretary...
that he has not enough fuel
to reach the polar pack.
He'll have to fly
very low and at a
greatly reduced speed
to conserve fuel.
On his present course...
he should pass within visual range
of the missile cruiser Riga.
I'm on reserve tanks now.
Switched in a few minutes ago.
Don't know how much time I've
got left. Not much, I suppose.
Mother 1 never made it.
Well, let's just say we
gave it one hell of a try.
Missile cruiser,
contact dead ahead.
Target does not appear to be
taking avoiding action, Captain.
He will.
Can't take evasive action.
I'm too low on fuel.
I'm going in. Let's see
what this baby can do.
Now you come. Homing
device just activated.
Estimated 140 miles out.
ECM picking up infrared detection
beams. They've got me locked on.
I'm coming in at 20 feet.
Weapons system armed. Rear
defence system engaged.
I hope it burns up the sky.
There she is.
Picking up choppers now. I
think I'll take one out.
Four missiles launched.
Got two of them.
Boy, is this a machine.
You do not need to
be reminded of the
absolute crisis that we face here.
The price of failure,
Colonel Voskov, for you...
for many in this room,
would be great.
The American is a dead
man, First Secretary.
Good.
Pass the order to the tower.
You do not seem to
be in agreement with
the sending of the
second prototype.
- I am in agreement.
- Then, what then?
Your cruiser is in direct line, I
believe you said,
is it not, General?
Perhaps you're so confident
that it can destroy the MIG?
- No, I am not that confident.
- What are you confident of?
Truly, there must be something
you are wanting to do.
- Sir, message from the Riga.
- What is it?
Contact made with unidentified
aircraft. Missiles fired.
And?
The aircraft appeared
to be carrying...
some kind of drone tail unit
which detached and ignited.
So, what do you intend to
do now, General Vladimirov?
First priority, First Secretary,
is to order take-off the MIG.
Yes, that is done,
General. And next?
Order the Riga to alter
course and head north in the
wake of the MIG at
all possible speed.
Good. And what else?
Scramble the Polar Search
squadrons immediately.
Instruct them to proceed to the
predicted landfall of the MIG...
on the permanent ice pack.
Order them to begin
searching for any
possible landing
sites or fuel dumps.
The permanent ice pack,
General Vladimirov?
Yes, First Secretary.
It is the only
place he can possibly refuel now.
There is no mother vessel.
Sir, the MIG is
approaching take-off.
Let us hope that we are
more successful this time.
Contact point, 90 miles.
I'm flying on air.
Estimated ditch point,
60 miles maximum.
Don't know if I have the fuel
for it, but I'm taking her up.
Gonna try to glide her in.
Fourteen thousand and climbing.
Polar pack is in sight now.
We just received this, transmitted
with the latest weather report.
My God.
My God, he must be
flying on vapour.
- Well?
- Well.
You're a bit of an
optimist, aren't you?
We're releasing decoys
into the North Cape area.
We just heard from Mother 1.
He was spotted five minutes ago.
He's alive?
- Where is he now?
- Four miles.
Slightly over 13,000 feet.
- Is he still on the same bearing?
- Yes, sir.
Can he see the floe?
He will in a second. Cloud
base is 13,500 feet.
Let's surprise him, gentlemen.
Prepare to surface.
I've got visibility again...
but I'm not showing anything.
Estimated three miles to target.
It looks like I'm going swimming.
I don't believe it.
He's coming in, in an awful hurry.
He must know what he's doing.
Okay, gentlemen.
I can't use the brakes.
It's gonna be close.
Simple.
Let's get those hose lines
down here. Let's go, move.
Move it.
Check the nose nozzles.
Well, you took long enough.
Check the tyres and the
windscreen, will you?
When were they sighted exactly?
The submarines appeared
seven minutes ago,
sir, steaming south
out of Spitsbergen.
The aeroplanes have
just now been sighted.
Well then, there can
be no question.
They have shown us their hand.
What is the latest report
from the Polar squadrons?
Still negative.
No landing sites or fuel dumps
reported on the permanent pack.
Come, come, Vladimirov. Is
it so difficult to accept?
You were simply matched against
inferior minds. And you have won.
There is no runway
carved out of the ice.
There is no mystical beast
waiting to save the American.
They are here. Now...
order all units into the North
Cape area. Everything you have.
Captain.
We have a surface radar
contact to the south
of us, along the
Major's flight path.
What?
60 miles out, constant bearing...
decreasing range, on a collision
course straight for us.
Any idea who it is?
Range is too far for
a computer image.
Well, that'll be that
cruiser I flew over.
It can't be. It's supposed to
be headed for the decoy area.
Maybe that's what
they're supposed to be
doing, but somebody's been
on my back since I started.
There goes the
neighbourhood. If we can
see them, they can
damn well can see us.
Sir. The Riga is picking
up a radar contact...
which they believe to be
too strong to be just ice.
They are showing it to be just
short of the permanent pack...
but in a direct line with the
American's last
reported flight path.
And they are awaiting orders.
In my estimation, First Secretary,
this contact is worth
investigation.
In your estimation?
I believe I understand how they
intend to refuel the MIG at sea.
They have used... Are using a
large ice floe as a runway.
The refuelling ship is
undoubtedly a submarine.
That is the sonar contact
the Riga has made.
What? The aircraft has
landed, Vladimirov?
Yes, First Secretary, the
aircraft has landed.
And how would you
choose to investigate
this sonar contact, Vladimirov?
Recall the Riga's helicopters
at once, First Secretary
and send them immediately to
the contact source point.
It would take 20 minutes.
Lieutenant Colonel
Voskov reporting, sir.
He has just made contact with the
refuelling tanker
over Novaya Zemlya.
He is awaiting further orders.
He could be there in two minutes.
No.
You may send the helicopters after
this highly dubious sonar contact.
But not the MIG. He must proceed
to the North Cape at once.
Vladimirov to Voskov.
Voskov over.
Proceed to the North Cape area as
soon as refuelling is completed.
- Repeat your message, please.
- I said North Cape.
They thought you'd need
some replacements.
Your bosses got these from a
MIG-25 they borrowed from Syria.
- What's the news on our friends?
- We got trouble, Captain.
Radar contact. Two
aircraft heading this way.
They were heading west into the
decoy area when we noticed them.
Yeah. Helicopters
from that cruiser.
You know how to make trouble for
me, Gant. You really, really do.
- How long before they get here?
- Eight minutes.
Commence Operation Harmless. That
is, commence Operation Harmless.
We've got eight minutes, maybe
less. Now, let's move it.
Contact is confirmed,
First Secretary.
Calm yourself, Vladimirov.
- Calm, calm myself?
- Yes, calm yourself.
How can I be calm when your
stupidity... Stupidity
is losing that aircraft
to the Americans?
You know what this man Gant is.
He could land on an ice
floe and take off again.
You must act, First Secretary.
Very well, Vladimirov.
What is it you require?
The immediate recall of the second
MIG from the North
Cape rendezvous.
Operation Harmless, Fleischer.
ETA. 5 minutes, 40 seconds.
All right, this is it.
I want you to call out exact speed
and distance every 30 seconds.
Yes, sir.
She's all fired up and
ready to go, sir.
You'll have to steam me a
runway. Right along here.
Can you do that in three minutes?
3 minutes, that's
impossible, Major. Why?
Surface snow is too hard
on the landing gear.
- Get to it, Peck.
- Yes, sir.
All right you guys. I want steam
hoses hooked here on the double.
- Hell, they'll never make it.
- They'll make it.
Sir, they're calling. They want
identification immediately, sir.
The hell they do. You know the
routine, Fleischer. Stall them.
They want to speak to you, sir.
Tell them I'm taking temperature
readings or something.
Yes, sir.
We're asking for your cooperation.
We want identification
from the superior officer.
Sorry, but as I said...
the Captain is involved
in an important
experiment at the other
end of the floe.
All right, team.
Come on, you guys.
Move it. Let's go. The man's
got a plane to catch.
You've gotta go now, Gant.
I'm a little worried
about you guys.
They're gonna be
watching my heat trail.
We're in international waters.
As long as you're out of here when
they get here. You will
be outta here, won't you?
- So fast you can't believe it.
- You better be right, mister.
ETA. 60 seconds. They keep asking
for you, sir. They
want convincing.
I don't think I've
done a very good job.
The hell with that.
Just keep stalling them.
Okay, secure this detail.
- So long, Captain. Thanks.
- Get out of here, you bum.
- ETA. 30 seconds.
- Gotcha.
Ok guys. Look alive.
We're a weather party.
Don't just stand there.
Come on, we're the greeting
party. Here they come.
- We're friendly. Wave, Stewart.
- Wave?
Sixteen thousand feet. New
coordinates punched in.
Radar says all clear.
Nothing can touch us now.
I'll be seeing you in a couple
hours. Better ice up a cold one.
Missiles avoided. Where
did they come from?
I don't know where it is,
but I'm a sitting duck.
The second Firefox.
Fire rearward missile.
Come on, damn it, now.
You must think in Russian.
Think in Russian.
Punching in new coordinates.
I'm coming home.