Machine Tractor Station Kharkov-37 03: ‘The Rural Electrification Truck’

*”In which the tractor station reveals more of its grim secrets, leading to alarming theories about its previous occupants. Meanwhile, suspicions of disloyalty begin to arise…”*

## Machine Tractor Station Kharkov-37 03: ‘The Rural Electrification Truck’

### Players

Dominic Allen as Maj. Yuri Kopolev
Joseph Chance as Sr. Sgt. Dr. Vissarion ‘Beo’ Ivanovich Iuskov Liubimova
Danann McAleer as Sr. Lt. Grigor Fyodorov

### Podcast Link

MTSKh-37 03

The aftermath of certain discoveries sees fracture lines starting to form between the Red Army and the TASS agents. We learn a little more about what was happening at the tractor station before their arrival.

## Synopsis (Spoiler Warning)

### Intro

After a series of clips from this episode with a preview of what’s to come, the investigative hearing scene continues, summarizing the story to date, ending on the moment Fyodorov saw a face appear out of the liquid of the silo.

### Scene 1: Aftermath

The episode starts just after Fyodorov’s discovery, beginning with Beo witnessing his reaction and realizing he has seen something horrific. Beo, not liking the look of things and thinking they need reinforcement, requests Kovalevskii bring an additional five men from the idling squad. He notices that the lights at the silo are unlikely to work due to damaged lines from a fallen telegraph pole. Meanwhile, Fyodorov considers his next steps, first trying to determine if this was a single corpse or one of many in the silo, or possibly just a trick of the mind. He sees the disfigured face and body are still there, but it’s the only one clearly identifiable. The stench is still unbearable and overwhelming. A bit shaken, he climbs back down without incident and immediately speaks with Beo about his findings.

### Scene 2: The Rural Electrification Truck

While the Red Army officers are at the silo, Kopolev and Triepinov are over by the rural electrification truck. Kopolev spots a blood splatter on the driver’s side window; it does not look fresh, but it is on the interior. He finds a bullet hole in the same window, but it’s unclear whether it’s an entry or exit hole. The two of them debate whether suicide is Soviet-approved or not before Kopolev “lets” Triepinov open the door. A slightly desiccated corpse, uniformed and with a pistol in his hand, awaits them. Kopolev spots an OGPU uniform under the man’s Red Army coat, while Triepinov notices and grabs a leather satchel, containing a map of the area and a sketchbook with so-so sketches but precise journal entries.

### Scene 3: Suspicions

Before walking toward the rural electrification truck, Beo and Fyodorov have a brief moment of conference to determine how much to tell the TASS agents. They decide that some, but not all, of the information should be shared, and Beo warns Fyodorov he in particular should be careful. As they head over to meet up with the telegraph agents, Kopolev intercepts them in a direct and concerned manner, telling them they need to first get the lights working, and quickly; at the same time, he hides the satchel and journal they found. He and Fyodorov have a drawn-out discussion, verging on argument, about why Kopolev would insist on getting the lights working first, without even moving them toward the station. There is growing tension between the TASS and Red Army officers as they continue to be suspicious of the others’ motives. Fyodorov is finally — mostly — convinced to get some of his men to fix the lights, although he insists on turning them outward, while the remainder set up camp.

> As the old saying goes, a Georgian, a monkey, and an idiot can set up a camp.
>
> Admin. Maj. Kopolev

Fyodorov suspects that Kopolev is not who he says he is, and that something happened immediately before their conversation (which we know is the discovery of the OGPU uniformed body). Also suspicious, Kopolev decides to show them the body and OGPU uniform to gauge their respective reactions. He can tell that Beo’s laugh is a defense mechanism, masking a demeanor that may not be as jovial as he seems. He also notices that Fyodorov has an immediate panicked and annoyed reaction to the OGPU, quickly covered by resignation, and recognizes that Fyodorov knows that Kopolev is not who he says he is and knows more than he’s saying.

Beo notices that the body in the truck is desiccated, almost mummified. The wound is more likely than not to be self-inflicted, although he has not fully confirmed. He notes that the body has been there awhile and muses out loud what the possible cause could be. After a brief verbal scuffle, Triepinov notes that shortages and starvation could have played a role. They recognize that they haven’t heard from the station in several months, but Beo is concerned that desiccation could happen so quickly to a body, thinking also of the mice nest they found, the seeming quick decay of the rabbit, and the lack of mold on the abandoned food. The process seems accelerated — perhaps from something atmospheric in the area.

### Scene 4: Fractures

The TASS agents confer separately, and so do the Red Army officers. Dugov is ordered to start working on the lights, and to not let the soldiers rearrange the lights to point outward. The Players decide that taking out headphones to allow for truly private conversations between the two factions will lend the scenario some juicy real-feeling secrecy. Kopolev notes his observations of the two Red Army officers, and Triepinov offers to get rid of the doctor, perhaps a bit too eagerly. Kopolev also mentions his belief that Fyodorov is an OGPU agent.

> Do you want me to take him out? Tonight maybe I take him out.
>
> Triepinov

After Kopolev suggests that the OGPU agent whose body they found likely knew more about what was going on, Triepinov reads from the journal entries they found. It suggests that the thing they were trying to keep in by using the lights was only held back for a short period, with failure coming quickly and it coming to take the men by “pouring around the silo,” and the agent taking his own life rather than being taken by the horror. Kopolev is worried about what he assumes is a thing living in the liquid, wanting the lights back up and working, and is concerned that Fyodorov knows more about it. Triepinov is unconvinced that the fantastic-sounding story is true. They plan to strike at the officers, Fyodorov in particular, later that night.

## Important NPCs

* Kovalevskii: One of two Sergeants in charge of a division of Red Army soldiers. Smart but disobedient.
* Blochinstev: The other Sergeant in charge of a division.
* Yalenkskii: A Private in Kovalevskii’s division.

## Places

* Machine Tractor Station Kharkov-37
	+ Central silo, ‘Stalin’
	+ Rural electrification truck

## Quotes

JOSEPH: “Just pop on down and check. In fact, isn’t Popondown part of the squad?”

JOSEPH: “Guys! Acronym-off!”
DAN: “Acronimov.”
JOSEPH: “He’s part of the company too, isn’t he?”
DOM: “Acronimov is in charge of political correctness.”

DAN: “I can tell you that, given your profession — and your expert rolling - I can tell you that, without a shadow of a doubt: this man is dead.”

KOPOLEV (DOM): “Write that down, Triepinov. Write down ‘liquid in the silo.’”
DAN: “Triepinov says, “Dugov, write down ‘liquid in the silo.’”
”DUGOV” (DOM): “How do you spell liquid?!”

TRIEPINOV (DAN): “I know how to make a man squeal like a pig.”

## Trivia

* Dan (perhaps unintentionally) seems to refer to his character Kirk Sleep from Crimson Letters when he has Triepinov note, “I like to work alone.”