Planet of Storms (Планета бурь)

Scientific data on Venus is scant and contradictory.

Only by imagination can we glimpse this world.

It may be completely different to our film.

but we believe in the heroic Soviet people,

who will see the Planet of Storms with their own eyes.

PLANET OF STORMS Based on a story by A. Kazantsev

Attention! This is Radio Moscow!

This is Radio Moscow!

All broadcasting radio stations of the Soviet Union are on.

Here's an official announcement from the "Telegraph Agency of the Soviet Union".

Three Soviet Cosmic Expedition Starships...

Sirius, Vega and Cappella...

have spanned the distance of over two hundred million kilometres...

...and are safely approaching Venus!

The astronauts are in perfect health!

Having gone all that distance...

...to be caught like that on the last lap, near Venus...

We're still helpless against large meteorites. But we were ready to run risks.

I can hardly believe it!

I've just been talking and making jokes with them.

- This is Earth! Let me answer. - Go ahead.

'Sirius", Vega...

we are shocked with the loss of Cappella

We believe in your determination.

Put the spaceships into the satellite orbit.

Specify the conditions on the planet.

What are your suggestions?

Arktur will be ready for launch in a week's time.

It'll take Arktur four months to get here.

- Just waiting without landing is a torture. - But you know the plan.

One ship, carrying the fuel, was to remain in the orbit.

The other two were supposed to land, to back up each other.

Therefore, until Arktur has arrived, landing is impossible.

Impossible for spacecrafts, but not for people.

What do you mean to say?

Ilya Vassilievich... according to one of the variants, Vega's soaring glider can land.

Yes, with Allan Kern's universal robot on board.

To hell with the robot! Let me land the glider.

- It's a one-way journey, Alexey! - I know. I'll be waiting for Arktur down there...

...working and transmitting the data by radio. I'm sure I can do more than

...this piece of metal. Venus should be seen with human eyes, not with photocells.

What if something happens to you there?

I promise not to call for help.

I'll sign a promissory letter for you.

My life belongs to me.

My life belongs to me...

Mister Kern!

- Yes? - I need to have a word with you.

Just a moment. I'll only be half a minute.

I can't believe they are no more.

They were lucky. An instantaneous death is better.

- Mister Kern! - I'm all ears, sir.

Instead of your robot, Alexey wants to land the glider on Venus.

How come, a Sirius crew member would man the Vegas glider?

I hope we understand each other.

- What are you talking about? - What about?

Well, nothing... Alexey is right...

...the last sacrifice is better than idling in the outer space...

waiting for a meteorite to squash you. Like them.

What are you up to, Ivan?

Yes, yes. Or the sun may suddenly give a flash and kill us with radiation.

- The Earth won't permit the landing. - It must!

- We should land without waiting for Arktur to arrive. - Let's figure it out...

- ...the danger factor being neglected. - It's crazy!

Running risks is a normal thing in the outer space.

Okay!

Make calculations! If you wish, make use of your new invention.

Okay!

"General Cybernetics" has been long awaiting a real job.

Listen! At such a moment.

Seven, twelve, nine...

Hallo, John! Wake up!

- Yes, Sir? - Please...

...dear John.

Give us the best possible variant of a landing with a safe return,

...with only Vega and Sirius available.

Including yourself, we're seven now.

Neglect the danger factor.

Vega remains in the orbit.

The glider of Vega seats three people,

Sirius takes three. So, altogether six are to land.

On the way back, Sirius can lift up five.

The sixth is to stay on Venus.

- Who's the sixth? - It's me, sir.

As the dead and the heaviest one.

Mathematics are ruthless.

- It's a poor variant. - Negative.

It's good for business, but hazardous for us, therefore it hasn't been in our plans.

One thing is not clear though... who's staying in the orbit?

According to this variant, I'm the only one who can stay.

To process all the information from the planet and transmit it to Earth.

- I'm the only one who can do it. - Listen, Masha!

Excuse me.

It's silly, perhaps,

But I've always hoped for other variants.

I've been working for so many years, trying my best.

It' been so hard: the satellite,

then the Moon,

...you do know, don't you...?

- I wanted to do it together. - So what do you suggest?

I don't know.

Masha, Kern and his robot,

...they were recommended by the International Association.

You know it'll be a test for a whole field of research in cosmonautics.

- But I... I need to be on Venus. - As if I don't...

An alien world.

How many times we've been sending probes here these years.

With their help we've studied the atmosphere, discovered the oceans and continents

...and measured the temperatures. Thousands of figures.

But robots can't answer the biggest question...

...if there is Life. Who is there?

Now, at last, to get this question answered...

...Man himself has come!

Get the beacon ready for launch.

The pressure on the surface is two and three.

The height of the clouds is 15.

There are dust clouds above the shore...

and another source of carbon dioxide.

Some light-red spot can be seen through the clouds.

Thousands of new data but none about the main thing.

And the main thing is...

- who is there? - There's nobody.

No living thing has evolved there as yet.

But perhaps this reddish spot is...

a city flooded with lights?

It's a dead planet, extinct.

Here intelligence has already destroyed itself.

Who's right then?! Nay,

...no robots can substitute for a man.

Hello, Sirius? Ilya Vassilievich?

Yes?

In the prospective landing district I don't see a single plane site for Sirius to land.

- Too rough, true. - Shall we change the landing district?

Negative. The order is to land here.

- I have a suggestion. - Yes?

We don't need Arktur.

From a 1000 meter altitude the glider will find a good spot for your Sirius to land.

- Which can't be seen from here. - If it fails to find one?

- Pensions to the families and monuments to the heroes. - You mean the glider crew?

It's me, Kern, and the root.

Masha stays in the orbit. We'll dump the robot on Venus.

- You seem to have figured everything out? - Sure.

What shall we answer?

I wish I could be with them.

Adventurous.

Listen, prepare a report for the headquarters.

...and a well... grounded one.

Perhaps, they'll permit it.

- Ready? - Yes!

Then go ahead.

I envy you, Shcherba! And you, Allan Kern!

I understand you, Commander.

- Good luck to you! - Bon voyage, my friends.

Bye!

They're approaching it!

Black clouds, a lightning!

Put John in charge of the controls.

A steep rock ahead, I go upwards.

Wow! Well done, devil's dummy!

Clouds on the ground. We're tracking them with the locator.

Not too good, as yet.

Here it is! A smooth little spot in the hollow.

Solid ground, good! That'll do. This is quadrant seventy three. We'll drop our beacon here.

You should land three hundred meters south-west of the beacon. We're blown away.

There's water under us.

We can only land on the swamp.

Rocks sticking out. Crash chances...

...are 90 per cent. I come in to land.

Ilya Vassilievich?

Masha, calm down.

They're just screened off by the horizon. They've landed.

We'll contact them in an hour, on the next turn.

Shcherba, hallo!

Kern, hallo!

Shcherba, Kern, hallo!

The situation looks bad.

Well, get ready.

We're going to land now. The atmosphere is calmer at night. Quadrant 73.

- Masha? - I'm here.

Masha, we come in to land.

You're staying alone in the outer space.

Mashenka, my dear.

Track us on the locator.

- But you know what to do. - I do.

Listen, Masha.

If we die...

- don't lose your head. - Message acknowledged.

- May I cut off communication? - You may, my girl.

It's the hardest on the one who's alone.

- Earth. - The mission headquarters...

...allows you to interrupt the expedition any moment.

Your people, that's most important.

We wish you a success! Your country is with you.

Hallo, Earth!

Headquarters! We're landing in the charted district.

The landing field has been chosen from the glider. Quadrant 73.

We promise to the Soviet government

...to our country,

...and all the Soviet nation

...that we'll do our best to justify your trust.