| abstract | - Vladimir Gorchakov was a Russian prince and a spy. Along with Boris Ivanovich Petrov and Fedor Ivanovich Trotsky, Vladimir was sent to Grantville by Tsar Michael of Russia to determine if the reports about the town were true, and if they were, to learn about Russia's future history and bring back any innovations that could benefit Russia. Neither Vladimir nor Boris believed the stories about the town until they saw it themselves. Vladimir volunteered to take Grantville High School's library science course, since he spoke and read English, and did not consider himself to be a very good spy. Shortly afterward, he visited the Thuringen Gardens, where he met Bernie Zeppi, and hired him part-time. Soon after meeting Bernie, he formed a plan to remain in Grantville and send Bernie back to Russia with Boris. Part of it was that sending an up-timer would be the ultimate proof that the up-timers were real. However he also realized that, while he could probably get copies of books and pamphlets, getting them translated out of 20th century English would be another matter. In March of 1632, Vladimir briefly met Brandy Bates, when he delivered a letter his sister Natalia had written to her. They did not meet again until March of 1633, when he was in the National Library trying to decide where to start with research on mica. After learning that Brandy had become a researcher, he hired her to do that research. Their relationship quickly moved from professional to personal, and they started dating. They were married on July 17, 1634.
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