Viktor Markov

Viktor Anton Markov was a Russian-American biochemist and engineer who played a prominent scientific leadership role for Seaboard. His exceptional academic performance meant he frequently traveled throughout the Soviet Union and Europe, the former of which he was fiercely loyal. He worked for the Soviet military, and following the collapse of the Soviet Union, was hired by Michael Sisk to oversee Arthur Wald and his biological program. He continued to serve Seaboard in the decades after, even beyond the Great Collapse as the Administrator of Biology and at points the Director of Science.

A proficient student in university in Saint Petersburg (then Leningrad) in his youth, he formulated many original ideas that gained the attention of the KGB. The security administration that inevitably hired him in the early 1980s when Markov was only in his mid 20s. He worked for the agency, contributing to biological and psychological programs until the collapse of the Soviet Union. On a research mission in Cuba, Markov was only able to return to Russia after a year- by the time he did, his KGB file was erased. Michael Sisk sought to hire him, and after having many talks where the two seemed to see eye to eye, Markov agreed.

Markov was an established political and scientific leader in the Seaboard Territories. He held position as Scientific Director before Kyle Wald took to the helm, and after was the Administrator for Biological programs. Many ruthlessness, unforgiving, and otherwise cruel trials took place under his command. Usually, they were done in secret- and only successful results made public, if even. Despite his relatively long and prolific life, he was killed by Kyle Wald since he felt Markov might be seen as a suitable replacement if Sisk wanted to terminate Wald.

## Early Life

Viktor Anton Markov was born in the city of Surgut within the Soviet Union. He was considered gifted as toddler, and into childhood went through school at a rapid pace. His advancement came at a price, however, as he was often friendless and surrounded by peers much older than himself. He did not consider himself a happy child, although as a teenager, began to make connections within various academies. He attended a local higher education in Surgut, before being accepted to the state university in Leningrad (Now Saint Petersburg). He attended, studying biology and engineering and received a diploma for Biology in 1979.

He was a popular student within the University, and grew a sense of strong nationalism while there amid the end of the Vietnam war, dissatisfied with the American policy of containment. He began writing papers in favor of the Soviet Union and Vietcong, as well as those against western imperialism. After attaining his doctorate, he wished to become a military officer but due to being diagnosed with Meniere's disease, he was barred from enlistment. He instead worked as a professor's assistant at his university. He did this about two years, meeting his future wife- a student. Looking for for other work, Markov was privately contacted by the KGB, the Soviet Union's state security agency. Originally believing he was target for investigation, instead, the KGB wanted him to join the service.

He began as an academic researcher, where he helped in psychological and biological experiments with unwilling patients. However, his medical condition left him unable to leave his apartment for much of his time. When bedridden, he processed and developed testing results from prior experiments. By the late 1980s, he was traveling to other nations and joining international scientific gatherings. He was not officially in the KGB, and secretely recorded, copied, or even stole data from other researchers. This was initially exciting for him, but sometimes aggitated him as he thought it took away from his own accomplishments.

In late 1990, Markov left the Soviet Union on a KGB mission to Cuba. He was offered high pay, since his wife and children could not come with- for over a year. In Cuba, he led a scientific team in biological and medical sciences. However, when the Soviet Union fell, Markov was still in Cuba. He had a difficult time returning to his homeland, and his contacts with the KGB had been erased. His science team was taken control of by the Cuban government, but was soon disbanded. Markov, still trying to return to Russia, had no money or property. He fully learned Spanish in short order, and became a teacher who taught both science and English.

## Introduction to Seaboard

In 1993, Markov was offered a ride on a cargo ship to Russia. He agreed, but month-long his journey- due to his vertigo-like disease, was described by him as being "like hell". When he returned, his wife had remarried since she needed money and believed Markov to be dead. He requested she leave her new husband at once, and because Markov was unemployed and without any trace of being a KGB agent, she declined. When a fight broke, Markov became rageful and murdered her new husband. She contacted the police, and Markov ran as his wife and children did the same- only to escape him.

Markov was able to travel to Poland, but it was ill-planned. While there for a few days, agents hired by Michael Sisk, the owner and CEO of Seaboard Technologies, located him. Sisk flew to Poland, and then the group flew to Berlin. While there, Sisk sympathized with Markov and his cause, wanting him to join him. Markov, who was distressed, had a hard time making clear decisions but agreed because he had nowhere else to go. He traveled to the United States and was able to gain residency under political asylum. Markov was able to communicate well with Michael Sisk, since they both spoke spanish. Markov quickly grew on Sisk and what limited ideas he had of the executive's plans. Sisk, who wanted to fully trust all of his secret employees, began to spend most of his time around Markov. He was a little confused, but knew why he did- and thus, the two traveled, as well as staying up on long binges. Multiple times, Sisk even secretly put himself in situations where Markov, his loyalty, and ability to take action were questioned.

By March of 1993, Markov became a legal employee of Seabord Industries, officially working to develop medication for farm animals. However, because of his experience with the KGB, Sisk actually had him become a co-lead for his top secret, highly lucrative genetic program. He was also tasked with overseeing and intimidating Arthur Wald, the genetic program leader, of who Sisk began to question.

Knowing limited English, Markov had a strong communication barrier between he and the lab members- as well as those he tried to meet in Maryland. Arthur Wald understood and spoke Spanish fluently, however. While not in the laboratory, he stayed home practicing English with a personal tutor. However, his disease continued to impair him much of the time. Sisk did not help him undergo surgery, however, knowing it was a weak point that could be exploited.

Unable to make lasting relationships due to his cultural and language barriers, Markov only spent any casual time with Sisk- even though it was rare. He began to gain weight, and entered a depressive state. He continued living in Maryland and overseeing security and progress in the laboratory, although he was extremely unpopular with the workers. Arthur Wald critiqued him for not being able to be keep up with the pacing and intelligence of even the young post-graduate lab assistants, calling him no more than a babysitter.

Markov continued to sit in and contribute to the laboratory crew, although he was often thought of as a hindrance- which Viktor Markov knew. One of the lab assistants, however, did grow to like Markov. She was much younger, but despite the age difference, the two entered a romantic relationship. They married in 1998. In the end of the decade, Markov found a surgeon who nearly cured his medical condition. This, with his new wife, helped him gain a clear mindset. He began working diligently with the team, keeping updated with the work. He then split the team in two, with more members being hired into both. He became the head of one, so he could work without Wald.

In 2000, Sisk hired Levi Sherman Frazier to be the Chief Security Officer of Seaboard Industries. Markov did not like Frazier, the two quickly becoming at odds with one another. However, Sisk mediated the two. In the end of 2001, Wald abruptly quit working for Michael Sisk and Seaboard. This was startling to all, and both Frazier and Markov believed it to be suspicious. Frazier was to keep an eye on him, while Markov took over the project altogether. This significantly slowed the pace, as Wald's contributions were immeasurable. However, he continued leading the team into the 2000s.