When Kalashnikov proposes his design to a passing high-ranking officer named Basarov, he gets authorization to proceed, and with the help of the workers he successfully assembles his new submachine gun. While trying to bring it to Basarov, he is mistakenly arrested, but a guard officer takes notice of the gun's design and has it sent off for evaluation. As a result, Kalashnikov is released and encouraged to present his gun to General Kurbatkin, district commander of Central Asia, who approves him for a federal arms design competition.