Chapter 88 — Hearth and Steel
Leningrad—a city named after the great Red leader. One of the Soviet Union's largest urban centers, it stood proudly in the northwest, facing the Baltic Sea and sitting at the mouth of the Neva River. A vital hub for both land and water transportation, Leningrad was the heart of the northwestern region. Founded in 1703, the city had always played a major role in the empire's history. Now, it thrived as a massive industrial center for the Soviet Union.
It was here, decades ago, that the October Revolution began.
Sadly, in future generations, the city would revert to its original name—St. Petersburg. That change would come to symbolize the end of a great era. The thought left Andrei quietly reflective.
Luckily, the journey from Moscow to Leningrad was short—just over 600 kilometers—and the train arrived in about eight hours.
"Ivan, come on, we're getting off!" Andrei called as the train rolled into the station, belching black smoke from its coal heater. Little Ivan bounced on the bunk, unwilling to wear his coat.
Andrei and Ekaterina were already dressed. Ekaterina wore a white leather coat that immediately gave her a graceful, noble appearance. They had bought it in a Moscow department store before departure. It had cost Andrei an entire month's salary—a painful sum at the time—but seeing her now, radiant and elegant, he felt it was worth every kopek. A beautiful wife brought joy not just to herself, but to her husband.
Once Ivan was finally bundled up, the trio stepped off the train. On the platform, a middle-aged couple stood waiting.
Andrei's father, Vladimir Nikolaevich Tolstoy, and his mother, Lyudmila, watched eagerly as their son and daughter-in-law stepped down from the carriage.
Andrei had rarely returned home since enrolling in aviation school. The military kept him constantly busy. Now, after years apart, their son had come back—with a stunning bride by his side. Seeing Ekaterina's white coat flowing behind her, Vladimir's face lit up with pride, completely ignoring the biting cold.
But then he noticed something unexpected.
Why was there a child with them?
Had they already had a child? Lyudmila stared at little Ivan in confusion.
"Mom, Dad, it's good to see you. Let me introduce you—this is Ekaterina. She works at the Moscow Central Hospital," Andrei said quickly.
Noticing his mother's puzzled expression and her gaze shifting toward Ivan, Andrei added, "This is Ivan. Ekaterina is his godmother."
Ah—so that explained it.
Relieved, Lyudmila smiled. "Ekaterina, you are truly beautiful. Come, it's freezing. Let's get out of the station."
They exited the terminal and climbed into a waiting Moskvitch sedan. The car pulled away from the station, heading into the snowy streets.
Andrei gently held Ekaterina's hand, reddened from the cold. Ivan, on the other hand, seemed unfazed. As soon as he got into the car, he pressed his face against the window, watching the city roll past.
"Are we going to the countryside?" Ivan asked, noticing the buildings becoming sparse.
"Yes," Vladimir replied from the driver's seat. "We're heading to a town called Bor outside the city. It has big factories and beautiful windmills."
Since taking a position at the Leningrad Power Station, Vladimir had chosen to live outside the city. Lyudmila, ever the loyal wife, had followed without complaint.
"Awesome!" Ivan clapped his hands in delight at the mention of windmills.
Beyond the outskirts of the city, snow-covered fields stretched endlessly. Though the rivers had yet to freeze, the flowing water nourished the surrounding Eastern European plains. Windmills turned slowly in the breeze. The peaceful scenery brought calm to the road ahead.
The houses in the suburbs were spacious. In one such yard, Vladimir parked the car.
"Here we are. This is our new home. Ekaterina, I hope it's not too modest for you."
"No, it's lovely," Ekaterina said warmly. "I actually enjoy the countryside."
Andrei helped her out, holding her hand, and led Ivan inside. A fire roared in the hearth, filling the house with comforting warmth.
The power station nearby had been completed only a few years earlier. As a newly established facility, it played a key role in alleviating energy shortages in the region. This was no ordinary station—it was among the most advanced nuclear plants in the Soviet Union.
Though living in Kyiv would have been more comfortable, Vladimir, a lifelong Bolshevik, had volunteered to come here when he heard they needed skilled engineers. He remained dedicated to the socialist cause until the end.
But more than work, Vladimir cared deeply for his son. When he learned that Andrei had become a Hero of the Soviet Union, pride swelled in his chest. And now that his son was getting married, his joy was complete. Their family was finally whole.
...
Baltic Sea
An inland sea of Northern Europe, the Baltic lies between Scandinavia and the European continent. It is a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, nearly enclosed by land, flanked by Sweden, the Soviet Union, Denmark, and Germany. Its northern reaches, close to the Arctic Circle, freeze during harsh winters.
During the Cold War, the Baltic Sea remained a zone of silent tension—a critical arena of Soviet-NATO confrontation. The Soviet Baltic Fleet, one of the USSR's four main naval forces, was stationed here. If war ever broke out, it would be tasked with sealing the Gulf and deterring Britain and NATO forces.
On the icy waters, a large warship sliced through the waves.
Its long, narrow bow lifted above the surface, designed to minimize surf impact and reduce resistance. This warship looked different from older Soviet designs. It resembled the later Udaloy- or Slava-class ships—sleek and modern, crafted for speed and stability.
The ship's hull featured a broken-line profile, with a high freeboard at the front and low, wide superstructures toward the rear. This layout lowered the ship's center of gravity and reduced wind resistance across its surface—ideal for maintaining balance in rough seas or under fire.
From bow to stern, the warship was arranged in a tight, efficient layout: forward weapons systems, bridge, midship superstructure, smokestacks, aft weapons systems, and sonar arrays. Its deck was clean and uncluttered, designed for functionality over flash.
This vessel was the newest of its class—the Soviet Project 1135 large anti-submarine ship.