Meanwhile, in Stasograd
- I'm happy to see you again, comrade, - Stanislav looked around the banquet hall, noting quite a few familiar faces from the Supreme Soviet, his usual trusted aides were there, but many faces were new. Well, that's quite understandable, new leaders bring their own teams to work with them; after all, political experience is also tied to having a good team. - The more things change, the more they stay the same, isn't it?
- Indeed.
- I'm fond of my voyage not becoming a huge ceremonial mess, thanks for keeping it quiet, - the former Crimson leader said. - Congrats on the police operation in the former Borders. Couldn't have done it better.
- Yeah, that operation was long overdue. And hey, you called me recently, asking to set aside some funds for this year. Quite a lot actually. The reason? - asked Shady.
- Well, I used to look through some old files not long ago.
- What of them?
- Straight after the World War, a proposal to unite the continent with a gigantic two-track train carriage that would operate a nuclear locomotive, was drafted up by our engineers. However, the political debacles in the Old Continent, including the issue of undefeated Japanistan, the rapid leave of war-ravaged nations before we could... akhem, solidify friendly governments at their helm... and so on, and so forth - have left this idea dead for years. However, with the recent advances in nuclear power, including our mobile nuclear plants which we use for the military, we are coming closer to this project becoming real -and political unification of the Continent is also making it more feasible. The intensity of train traffic allows for a passage of one such locomotive during the week, I would believe. It's passenger capacity would well off-set the necessity to occupy both track lines.
- You came to talk about a nuclear trans-continental train? - the President asked and smiled.
- Bear with me. It's not the train par se that matters.
It's the symbolism. Like an iron chain, this two-track, gigantic train would bind the capitals of the Old Continent - ignoring our Japanistani neighbours for a while, of course! - and operate for years without replacement. It may be even a single locomotive, a single-issue creation - but it's impact would be enormous. This train will be an awesome sight to behold, and a Trans-Continental magistral would signify the unity of the Continent to all the world. Kinda like the Trans-Siberian is the arteria of the Union, and the "Crimson Arrow" is a symbolic train which is instantly recognized in any city along the route. The important part is not doing it alone, but also involving Shroomania, Pezookia and other nations in the CATO. This project would be the pride of the Continent; it's quite certain that similar undertakings won't exist for quite a while, and it will go down in history as one of the technical wonders of the world. Unmatched in size, power and luxury, this train would symbolize the might of the Combined Treaty, it's unity - and all that in a rather non-threatening way. The old project was solid enough, but I asked the KB of Heavy Machinery if they did some further studies, and there's a 1990s project. Take a look when you have free time.
- Anything else?
- There is a shortage of agricultural produce hitting Japanistan right now, or so the rumors say. It's pretty clear to all that modern agriculture is the cornerstone of an industrial civilization; but the recent events, I mean biowar, hit agricultural trade real good. Even we faced these effects, despite the strategy of self-sufficiency in main foods being fulfilled in the 90s, which effectively ended the food import vacchanalia.
- The short-term deflation of prices and the long-term hidden inflation after the export market dried up really messed things up, - Shady agreed.
- Any crisis is a motive for change. The modern agricultural market is a place which favours the strong, and those willing to invest a lot in their agriculture. More than that, we are moving into the modern age here as well. Those Zorian PUMA robots we installed in thousands in the 1980s are sure cool, but I think we should pay even more attention to Zoria as it's now tying it's fate with CATO. The Zorians have an interesting agricultural robotics projects, the Valtra Robotic Tractor.
- And?
- We should be polite to the Zorians, but explain that we need some of their technologies and would love to have them at a discount. Basically we need a license for that robot and start massively introducing it on our own fields. The size and distances of our lands makes humans toiling on them exhausted, the climate is harsh. Robots are more suitable for some Siberian lands than men are. Keeping these fields productive will be a task of the machines. And as a current tactic, we should be offering the current excess crops to Japanistan at discount prices. It would be seen as a friendly gesture, it would help our agricultural market to weather the bad times without a production decline, and finally, it would help us solidify our hold over the agricultural policies of the Old Continent - the Tonkins are making inroads here, and I'm not liking it. The Tonkins' greatest treasure is debt. They create debt, and debtors - it's their profession. Debt is a lever of control and manipupation. And I don't want any Tonkinese manipulation here, especially if it's jeopardizing the security of the Old Continent, our industries and our political peace. This has a lot to do with Japanistan and the recent diplomatic ouvertures between the two nations - we don't hear much, but it's still enough.
- Heh. That's a lot of thoughts, - Shady smiled.
- Just been payin' attention to what goes on in the world. I have TV there in Shelter Zero, so it's not like I'm totally lost.
- What of your further travels?
- I'll travel with Vassily, and visit some places more or less without fanfare. Or so I hope. I've planned a visit to Tonkin, and Pezookia, Byzantium and Canissia are definetely on my list, as is Zoria and Langley, and possibly Baerne. Depends. I'll talk to people there. Well, you know,
the people - former heads of state do have some ties in just about every world nation - and maybe help them realize the new reality they are facing. Far too long have some of them not been paying any attention to the Old Continent, which was fractured, ridden by decade-long conflicts and such. Remember, the peace and security we forged here is fragile, and can implode any time so violently, like that Humpty Dumpty character. And there won't be a way back.
- You sure you don't want to return... in some fashion? Take some official post?
- Thanks for the kind offer, - Stanislav smiled. - But I am an old man, and official duties burden me. I like the way I am now, and the shadows I'm staying in are comfortable.
- Shadows?
- Yup, Crimson Shadows, - the former leader laughed. - No, seriously, the names we conjured were awesome. I never thought that "Till shines the light of Crimson Star" would be the military funeral hymn here, though.
- When will you return from the Tonkin trip?
- Soon. I'll be back in Severomorsk in a few months to see the comission ceremony of our second "Comrade Stanislav" class supercarrier, that's for sure - can't miss the christening of a ship which class is named in my honour. I am also of the opinion that we should call this carrier "Comrade Korabelnikov". Valery was the GRU chief during the war in the South Frequesque and did a lot for the re-establishment of our military and political presence there. It was the first step, which later has shown to be correct, as we now have four allies in Frequesque. He's now retiring, would be a good present.
- And then?
- I'll leave again for some other nation, but I'll return till October 2017, of course. Remember, it would be the 100th Anniversary of the Great October Revolution. Can't miss the celebrations either. Hope we'll both be there and offer good news to our people on TV and on the Crimson Square. Oh, and it would be completely awesome if we could unveil that Transcontinenal Nuclear Locomotive during the celebrations. It's a once-in-a-century event.
- Good luck, then, - Shady said.
- I'll need it. Oh, and could you pass me that wine - talking so much got me a sore throat. Hah. Happens, though - Shelter Zero's sort of remote, not many folks to talk to.
- Sure, - Shady was kind. The glass of red wine from the famed Massandra vineyards travelled right to Stanislav's mouth. - A game of chess afterwards?
- I'm not sure I'm in the condition. Chess are for the sober... I'll prefer cards this time. Tonkin Hold'Em.
"
- PeZook
