The Grey

It's all just a cycle.

Panama does one thing, Reagan does another, Soviets do something else,

and then Reagan's got to respond

so that he shows the public he's standing his ground.

Honestly, at this point, I just tune the whole thing out.

Flight.

Jamestown is showing a depressurization event.

That can't be right. Raise Rossi.

Jamestown, come in.

Jamestown, do you read?

What's going on?

Pressure issue on Jamestown.

Jamestown, we're showing readings of a depressurization event.

Ops/Comm cabin pressure is less than one PSI. Do you copy?

-Jamestown, do you-- -Jamestown here.

We've been having some issues with our sensors.

Think we've finally got it under control.

Ops/Comm pressure is returning to normal.

Just a faulty sensor.

Copy that, Jamestown. Thanks for the clarification.

Okay. No problem, Houston.

Good.

They are not aware of the situation.

Locked.

Leave this hallway depressurized to protect our flank.

We want they release Rolan Baranov. Where is he?

Like I said, I don't know.

Like I said, you help us…

I would. I just don't know.

-You will help us. -Wait.

I'm just tryin' to--

Wait--

Skipper?

Yeah?

It's your turn to get some shut-eye.

No. I'm okay.

Sir, you haven't slept since TLI.

How far are we away from the blockade line?

Two hours, 15.

Where's Buran?

Already in low lunar orbit. On course to intercept us when we cross the blockade.

Give me updated numbers for LOIT and delta-V total.

You okay, sir?

Not if you keep looking at me like that, I'm not.

You get back to work, Mr. Piscotty.

Yes, sir.

What's the latest with Apollo-Soyuz?

The Soviets are asking for more time before docking. Again.

We can't just keep orbiting ad infinitum while they get their act together.

What are they saying the holdup is this time?

No official reason was given.

Sergei said they need more time before docking. That's all.

Which is what they've been saying for the past five hours.

I know. I know.

But I still think this can work.

I don't know why they don't just admit it's to do with the lunar blockade.

Save us all some time.

What's the latest with that? Have we crossed the blockade line yet? Is Buran…

Margo, you know I can't get into the details. It's a classified operation.

How are we supposed to make informed decisions

without knowing what's really going on in there?

I--

I'm sorry. I wish I could, but…

Just making friends left and right, Wilson.

Speaking of which, you want to give Apollo the bad news, Bill?

Apollo, that's a no-go on the coplanar rendezvous burn.

Star City's still dragging their feet.

We'll give you an update as soon as we have one,

but that's another orbit on deck.

-Sorry, guys. -Copy that, Houston.

Damn it.

Hurry up and wait, huh?

Guess it's one more trip around the world.

It's really depressurized out there.

What the hell is going on?

Maybe a meteorite hit the base.

Maybe, but no one's responding on the comm. It's like they all vanished.

Not everyone.

Try to get their attention. Let them know we're--

Get down.

Jesus, Gordo, what the fuck is going on?

I don't know.

Jamestown Base, this is your commander.

I am being held by the Soviets.

They have not harmed me.

They are offering an exchange, me for their fellow cosmonaut, Rolan Baranov.

Don't do it. Don't do it--

We must do what they say.

No. Not a chance.

Isn't this at least worth discussing?

No. There's nothing to discuss.

The president has given this man asylum, and we are not giving him back.

Seriously?

They'll kill Rossi. We are outmanned. Two of your marines aren't even here.

They're still guarding that stupid goddamn claim site.

You really think we can take them at their word?

They get him back, they'll probably just kill Rossi anyway.

They won't leave… until they have me.

Then we make 'em leave.

Wow, this place is impressive.

It's not too shabby, huh?

It's nothing compared to what Trace and Ed wake up to every morning, but…

Well, for us earthlings, it's really something.

-Morning, Mr. Cleveland. -Morning.

Hey, do you…

Do you ever worry about Ed when he's up there?

Of course.

You know, I just try not to think about it.

We all find ways to manage.

Pot really helps.

I bet.

You don't have anything to worry about, though. Tracy is as tough as they come.

Yeah.

Tell me. What is the next big move for Karen Baldwin?

'Cause you're about to make yourself a nice chunk of change.

I'm not too sure.

We're just right on in here.

Okay.

If you're having second thoughts, we can stop right here.

I don't want you to do anything you're uncomfortable with.

No…

It's okay. I'm ready.

Right this way then.

Houston, approaching lunar orbit insertion.

Copy that, Pathfinder.

We're about to cross the blockade point.

Entering orbit in five, four,

three, two, one.

Pathfinder, Houston. We show you in lunar orbit.

Any sign of Buran?

Negative. They're not showing up on our radar.

Where the hell are they?

Houston, we have no radar contact with Buran.

Pathfinder, wait one while we check with Goddard for an update.

Houston, any sign of Buran?

Buran has crossed to the far side of the moon.

We can't track their orbit until they reemerge.

-They were bluffing. -You don't know that.

There's still over two hours

till we're able to deliver Sea Dragon's cargo to the lunar surface.

Come on.

Our badass nuclear-powered space fighter scared those Russkies back to their cave.

All right. Sally's not wrong. Let's stay vigilant here.

You were warned not to cross the blockade.

Now, Yuri, you're being unreasonable.

We were quite firm, Ronald. Sea Dragon cannot enter lunar orbit.

Well, we were very clear

the United States does not recognize your blockade.

It is not a blockade.

It is a quarantine against offensive weapons.

There are no weapons on Sea Dragon, Yuri.

And it is provocative actions like this that lead--

The US was first to shoot a gun on the moon.

The first to kill someone on the moon.

If the US fires on Buran,

we will have no choice but to respond in a substantial way.

The Soviet Northern Fleet off the coast of Panama

has 30 targets in the southern US.

If Buran is destroyed, we will have no choice but to strike back.

You know our missiles in Western Europe--

Our position is clear.

Further signs of escalation in the Atlantic today,

as the Russian Northern Fleet has taken offensive positions

off the Central American coast.

US carriers have been deployed in the Gulf of Mexico

as people across the nation begin to stockpile supplies

in anticipation of an all-out conflict,

causing runs on everything from bottled water to toilet paper.

We must again delay the docking, I'm afraid.

Why?

All I can say is that we need more time. You must hear me.

That's not good enough, Sergei.

Every time we're supposed to dock, you come up with another delay.

And we both know what this is really about.

I'm sorry, Margo.

Best I can do is to give you our state vector for next docking opportunity.

Fine, go ahead.

07 853

58… 72.

Thank you, Margo.

He's so full of shit.

If this is a lost cause, I want to bring our people home.

Every trip around the Earth increases the chances that something will go wrong.

I hate to say it, but she's right. Takes two to handshake.

Ellen, we've gone through too much to just give up on this now.

Up until a month ago, you thought this whole thing was a waste of time.

Yeah, well, a month ago we weren't on the brink of war.

This is what Tom was talkin' about.

Just give me one more orbit.

Ninety minutes. And then they come home.

Five minutes to the coplanar burn and docking initiation, Apollo.

Copy that, Houston.

Strausser, tell 'em they won't be docking.

Russkies are kicking the can again.

One more time around. After that, we're pulling the plug.

Just like that? No, everyone has worked so hard.

You can't just say it's over like it's nothing.

Bill, who is this? Why is she speaking to me?

She apologizes.

-No, I don't. -Yes, you do.