– Happy birthday, Viacheslav Dmitriyevich!
– Ah, Pasha, spasibo bolshoye! Come in, come in, please, don’t just hang there! Masha! Maria! Where are you? Take the coats! Pashka and Ana arrived!
– All the best, Viacheslav! Wishing you so much success at your research at the Institute.
– Blagodariu, Anna!
– And here is something to celebrate with!
– That’s an excellent cognac, Pasha – we’ll take it apart and research straight away!
– Hahaha – right, like at work – no cutting any corners!
– Come, please, to the living room. Many are here already. – Dear guests, Pavel and Ana arrived. Pavel is a junior research assistant at the A-Level currently. An intelligent, bright man. And Anna… is… Anechka, dear, what are you exactly doing?
– Dispatcher! I am a dispatcher in the administration.
– Ah yes, dispatcher, yes, of course. Our beautiful voice to the outer world! Let me, let me introduce you to the guests!
– Let them take a seat first!
– This is Sergey Pavlovich, he is the Block – C director, one of the A.E.G.I.S. leading figures. And his wife Sasha. Sasha, you work at the city library?
– Yes, yes, I do.
– Horosho, horosho. Any news on the Big Kerzhovian Encyclopedia I am waiting for?
– No no, we are still waiting for that shipment.
– Mmm. And here is Vladimir Vladimirovich! – Vova, I am so happy you could make it today! Vladimir is lieutenant colonel of the Kerzhovian State Committee on Counterintelligence and Antiterrorism. He is taking care of Novograd and the Institute. Vova, with you here I am sure we are all safe today.
– Hahahah! Toast! Toast! To Kerzhovia! Toast to SCCA!
– Masha, bring in another bottle, please.
– And here is Dmitriy Alexandrovich, from the Party! And his wife Svetlana. So so, and there on the balcony Andrey and Viktor, smoking. Both from our Institute’s presidium.
– I guess I saw them at A.E.G.I.S.
– Indeed? Ah yes, that can be, can be! Sometimes they eat in the common canteen with the rest of the colleagues.
– Close the door tighter, gentlemen! Smoke is leaking in!
– Masha, where is champagne?! – So, Pasha, and here is San Sanych and Tatiyana, his wife. San Sanych is the Institute’s director. – Shake his hand. – What would we all do without you, San Sanych!
– Not much I am afraid!
– Hahaha, skazal kak otrubil! All true, all true!
– Please, sit down here – feel at home! Champagne? Wine? Vodka?
– Toast! Toast, Viacheslav!
– Dear guests! Today I turn fifty-eight! Fifty-eight already—who would have thought. Much has been accomplished, but an enormous road still lies ahead of us. And I am indescribably happy that I can spend this wonderful May evening together with all of you—with my friends, my colleagues, my fellow Party members, with those who stand guard and keep watch. Together, we shall conquer every summit! I am proud that I can march forward side by side with all of you, with the Party, beneath the banner of Kerzhovia—toward the victory of communism! Thank you all for your gifts and congratulations! To Kerzhovia! Glory!
– Bravo, Viacheslav! To our glory!
– More vodka, please!
– Is there any French salad left?!
– Turn down the TV a bit!
– Attention, please! Attention! Taking an opportunity… Allow me here… I want to express here once again, in the name of the Kerzhovian National People’s Party… and publicly, so to say, the gratitude to Viacheslav… and how much in high regard we at the Party hold him… Viacheslav, it is because people like you, brilliant, deep, hardworking, we could put Kerzhovia, our Fatherland, on the map, and develop… the technologies, the means to keep us safe.
– Bravo, Dmitriy Alexandrovich! To the Fatherland!
– Our hero!
– Viacheslav, allow me… So to say… this State Order of the Hero of Work…. To grant it to you on this festive day! Deserved! The Party is proud of you!
– Our pride! Toast!
– Excellent! Brilliant!
– Well deserved, Viacheslav!
– Viacheslav, vodka!
– Thank you so much, Dmitriy! Dear guests, thank you so much! All these years, all this work, night shifts. But so much lies still ahead of us!
– To the future!
– To our bright future!!
– Tovarischi, davaite vypiem. Za partiyu!
– To the Party and the Fatherland, tovarischi!
– I’ll smoke on the balcony!
– Vsio, kurim.
– When does the main course come, Masha?
– Soon, Viacheslav! Have some patience! The steaks are not done yet!
– Tovarischi! After the main course we will have a tombola! All the proceeds I will take personally to our Novograd orphanage and donate!
– Viacheslav! What a heart! What a spirit!
– Bravo, colleague!
– To the children! To the future of Kerzhovia!
– Main course coming! Move the bottles!
– Finally! Is there more vodka, Masha?
– Tomorrow’s work!
– Hahaha, let tomorrow be tomorrow!
– Right so!
– Masha, the phone!
– Sergey, don’t push! Careful!
– Gentlemen! On the balcony! Not so loud!
– Masha, the phone is ringing!
– Viacheslav, it is for you!
– Who is there?
– No idea. They want to talk to you!
…
– Viacheslav Dmitriyevich speaking.
– Viacheslav Dmitriyevich, good evening. I am Major Kochanov, the 1st duty officer at A.E.G.I.S. Institute.
– Code password?
– Dead Hand. Code password?
– Dead Grip. I am listening.
– Special Train 2 arrived at the Institute at 19:37. First-class bio-material. 128 bodies. 90 criminal, 38 political.
– Excellent. Visual check done?
– Completed.
– Initiate Protocol-2. IQ over 120 – to the surgery. IQ below 120 – to the zoo lab.
– Yes, sir.
– Sterilize the aggressive ones. Prepare my tools. Alert the Genetics team on duty.
– Yes, sir.
– Send a car for me. I’ll arrive in 45 minutes.
– Yes, sir. – … – Viacheslav Dmitriyevich?
– What else?
– Happy birthday, Viacheslav Dmitriyevich!
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