Traveller Probo
84. England

I am of the opinion that to travel back in time is not right. We are not emotionally or psychologically prepared for it and, I believe, in the end it will do us no good.

I am Senior Lieutenant Ihor Vovk of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, more specifically of Alpha Group, and I am a Traveller. That is all that matters now. I was selected for the Kiev Traveller project and, after the deplorable politically motivated events that caused so much discontent among my fellow countrymen, was compelled to participate in the criminal activities that resulted in the theft of the Transporter and the kidnap of three British Traveller personnel.

In my defence, I was assured that failure to comply would result in the unfortunate eviction of my dear mother and aunt, while participation would see their preferential selection for improved accommodation. There was also to be a healthy remuneration for my efforts. I knew that any resistance would come to nothing and could ultimately kill my family, so I complied. When criminal enterprises have such a strong hold on the decision-making apparatus of our government bureaucracies, who am I to contest against the inevitable?

Sergeant Nastya Novoishka and I were the first Ukrainians to be Transported one thousand years into the past. What we found was an almost impenetrable forest and a river that had moved. We were equipped with a reconnaissance drone aircraft, marked our extraction point with an electronic homing device and bright orange tape, and then hiked to the north where we soon discovered the untamed Dnieper River.

There was no sign of human habitation or presence. By the river we spied otters and heard the call of forest bison. Sergeant Novoishka suggested that the presence of bison implied wolves and that we should be prepared.

I believed that she was trying to make a joke, as my code name is ‘Wolf!’ Despite her no-nonsense, peasant exterior, she was found to be quite a joker once one got to know her.

As ordered, we tested the drone and conducted an aerial survey of the river, which confirmed there was no visible human activity within five kilometres of our location. We saw evidence of a fur trappers’ camp further upstream, closer to Smolensk, where the small community was surrounded by an ocean of dense forest. The main settlement was defended only by a timber palisade. Some farm plots had been cleared and the potential as an important trade centre was confirmed as we identified bundles of pelts and racks of drying fish. Surprisingly, there were two pretty little churches decorated with gold and silver. One even had a glass window, so we deduced that the Kievan Rus town of Smolensk had a measure of wealth.

After a three hour mission, we returned to the Area of Convergence, the 21st Century, and our comrades. Our footage was met with enthusiasm from First Sergeant Maksym Vasylenko and associates of his uncle who were working with us. These men were under strict instructions to ensure the success of the mission, which was to rob Smolensk of any precious items. It was expected to house religious icons, precious stones, and maybe even metals. Any authentic Kievan Rus artworks were considered to hold significant value. I was told that Smolensk was to fall to Mongol invaders in the 1240’s, so robbing the town a couple of hundred years early should not eventuate in any negative historical impact. There was also the assumption that other townships could be looted as long as they were in Russian territory. The towns of Rostov, Suzdal and Ryazan in Russia as well as Vitebsk, Turov and even Minsk in Belarus were suggested. These were known to be population centres for the Kievan Rus but as the population rarely exceeded a thousand it was felt that operations to remove valuables would be easy, taking into account our modern training and equipment.

I again stress that only population centres located outside of Ukraine were identified as potential targets.

My comrades acted like pirates searching for buried treasure, as if Ukrainian sovereignty would be enhanced through the looting of our ancestors. In this way, they felt we would justifiably take revenge and redress against past wrongs and do so without anyone being the wiser.

So, the next day, the team took their zodiac and equipment into the past. Naturally they insisted on wearing their Traveller uniform. They also took night goggles and standard issue silenced Fort 224 carbines. Waterproof radios would maintain contact and be used to guide them back to the Area of Convergence. Two of the team; one of whom was of our lads, stood guard at the extraction point in case there was any trouble. Everyone wanted to take a turn at being sent into the past, at being a Traveller.

Due to my objections, I was not included.

The team dragged their zodiac through the trees to the river and vanished into the past. The Dnieper ran a lot faster then and, I suspect, was more treacherous but the team were well trained. They made a couple of radio calls to confirm their progress.

So, back to the 21st Century, we waited. The guys we had kidnapped from the UK were quite friendly, particularly Zak Chandler, who turned out to be a real joker. They knew that to make a run for it would have been more trouble than it was worth, so we drank vodka and played cards. Each hour we sent someone back to check with the on-site support team.

When dawn broke without any news, we knew something was wrong. I suggested one of Aleksei’s men and one of our lads get Transported back to see what was going on but the lads on the ground had not heard a thing. They walked to the river and, after a search, found the remains of the zodiac with Nastya and Sergeant Gleb Hubenko still inside. Nastya was dead, probably drowned, and Gleb had an arrow in the groin. We think he bled out.

But all was not lost. They had one plastic bag tangled in the wreckage. In that bag, a couple of silver candlesticks were found. That’s all! We don’t know what happened, if the others are alive or dead, if they successfully stole more than the two candlesticks, if they were ambushed … we knew nothing!

After they returned to the present, Aleksei’s men just ran. They took their car and the mobile home and that’s the last we saw of them. Fortunately, we were left with the truck, so we disassembled the Transporter and loaded it for shipment. We knew what would happen. The other guys with me were never too enthusiastic about the project, hence the reason they were left behind, so together we opted to hand ourselves in.

We left that to Zak Chandler. He made a phone call and, well, you know the rest.

I confirm we have been treated well and this statement is made without coercion and of my own free will and choice.

I would prefer not to be returned to Ukraine.