[ WP ] - Tell a story through a phone conversation twice : the first time , the reader can only hear one side of the conversation , and the second time , the reader can hear both sides .

`` Lieutenant Nabokov, Mount Yamantau Facility 09635, station 12, reporting at 09:23 hours.'' 
 
 `` It's come to that, Commissar?'' 
 
 “ I ’ ll retrieve them, Commissar. ” 
 
 “ You can, Commissar. ” 
 
 `` Could I make a personal call from my phone after the orders are logged, Commissar?'' 
 
 `` Of course, I had just hoped with the situation at hand that it would n't matter, Commissar.'' 
 
 `` Of course, Commissar.'' 
 
 `` Yes, Tovarishch.'' 
 
 *CLICK* 
 
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 `` Lieutenant Nabokov, Mount Yamantau Facility 09635, station 12, reporting at 09:23 hours.'' 
 
 Lieutenant Nabokov had made that report more times than he could remember, it was second nature, just not at this time of day. The times he was to make a station readiness report was when his phone rang at 07:00 hours, 12:00 hours, and 16:00 hours. Never had the red phone rung at this time. 
 
 **'' Lieutenant Nabokov, the Americans have refused to remove their missiles from Turkey. In punitive response to this action the Kremlin has ordered that all stations be moved to defense condition one. `` ** 
 
 Commissar Antipin's tone was nearly despondent. He was trying to hide it behind authoritative gobbledygook. 
 
 `` It's come to that, Commissar?'' 
 
 **'' Yes, it has Lieutenant. You are to log the order sheet reserved for this contingency within the next 30 minutes. `` ** 
 
 The Commissar seemed to be sickened by gravity his words had and the robotic way in which he had to speak them. 
 
 “ I ’ ll retrieve them, Commissar ” 
 
 **'' When the orders have been logged you and your commanding officer will be expected to lock the orders in and confirm the consignment of the facility's computer systems to their autonomous mode. If the Commander refuses to use his confirmation key have him detained, and go ahead with the confirmation. Can I trust you to do this, Lieutenant? `` ** 
 
 `` You can, Commissar.'' 
 
 Commissar Antipin paused on the line. He felt the need to instruct the Lieutenant further but had no more orders or information to give. 
 
 **'' Once the confirmation has been made maintain facility security and await further orders, Lieutenant. `` ** 
 
 `` Could I make a personal call from my phone after the orders are logged, Commissar?'' 
 
 Lieutenant Nabokov's voice shook as he made the request. He did n't fear the Commissar, but the only words he had ever spoken to him had been the stony dialogue of his station readiness report. Asking the Commissar, a man who was just a voice on a phone to him, for something so personal felt deeply alien. 
 
 **'' I'm... sorry tovarishch we know not what the outcome will be of the upcoming exchange, operational security is still of the utmost importance, and will continue to be, as... as long as your station is operational. `` ** 
 
 Commissar Antipin sounded as though he was fighting back tears. 
 
 `` Of course, I had just hoped with the situation at hand that it would n't matter, Commissar.'' 
 
 **'' We will need to be resolute in our action Lieutenant, now is not the time to become careless with our protocol. The Mertvaya Ruka facility will be Mother Russia's last line of defense as we proceed. `` ** 
 
 Lieutenant Nabokov could tell the Commissar did n't mean what he was saying. But for an official in Moscow it was impossible to gauge how many Stasi agents could be listening to a phone call. 
 
 `` Of course, Commissar.'' 
 
 **'' Man your station and do not falter, for in the next hours you will be one of the most important men in the world to the Motherland. `` ** 
 
 `` Yes, Tovarishch.'' 
 
 *CLICK* 

