Darkstone Code

"Mr. President, have you ever watched a boxing match?"

Faced with the President's question, Mr. Truman did not answer immediately but asked an unrelated question.

There was no doubt that all four people in the room were aware of the importance of today's conversation. Especially Truman, the initiator of the conversation, knew better than anyone what he was doing and what he intended to do.

The President did not respond right away but pondered the purpose behind Truman's question, then nodded, "Yes, I've seen it."

Mr. Truman nodded slightly, "Then you must know boxing matches are divided into various weight classes. Before each match, both competitors have to weigh in before they can fight in the ring."

The President nodded again, "Yes, I know about these things." He was patient, not hurrying Truman to finish the irrelevant topics, but answering earnestly.

"Gafura is an outstanding heavyweight boxer with impressive records. He has knocked down one formidable opponent after another to claim the championship belt."

"On the current stage, he is deservedly the strongest, while we..." Mr. Truman shook his head, "are merely newcomers to the boxing ranks. No one cares about us; no one respects us."

"To date, we have always been passive on the international diplomatic arena. Apologies, I regard national diplomacy as a form of warfare, and we clearly belong to the losing side."

"We haven't demonstrated our value and strength like Gafura or other countries have. Even if they outwardly regard us as equals, deep down they look down on us because we have never flexed our muscles before any of them."

"This is an opportunity, a good opportunity, for us to show our muscles, let people see our strength, and make them respect us!"

"This is indeed a war—a war determining whether the Federation can rise in a rapidly changing international landscape, and a war we must fight and win!"

"Actually, we have an opportunity that no one else has. In the upcoming military operations, we will be facing the world's number one naval force. We can use this war to test our strength. It's an extremely rare chance."

"Others don't even have the right to challenge Gafura, but now we have this chance. If we can achieve victory in this war, then we can earn people's respect!"

The President kept listening thoughtfully. Truman's use of the ring and the profession of boxing brought a vivid image to the President's mind of nations' interest struggles.

It was no longer a conceptual notion but rather two strong boxers standing in the ring, ready to fight as soon as the bell rang.

With such a vivid image, he found it easier to accept what Truman would say next.

However, he raised a contrary opinion, "What if we lose?" He changed his sitting posture, supporting his chin with his hand, "We can't assume we'll win just because you think we will. What if we lose?"

Mr. Truman closed his mouth, and the Deputy Director of the Ministry of Defense beside him coughed lightly and took over the conversation, "Honorable Mr. President, I need to remind you—we won't lose."

The President looked at him without speaking, waiting for his explanation, and the 42-year-old Deputy Director of the Ministry of Defense calmly shared his perspective.

"Firstly, our preparation is more thorough than Gafura's, and we hold the initiative in this localized military conflict."

"They are unfamiliar with the models of our warships, unfamiliar with the performance of our warships, unfamiliar with the range of our artillery, unfamiliar with the destructive power of our warheads..."

"They are unfamiliar with everything about us, but we are more familiar with them than they are with themselves!"

Though constrained by escapism (a policy that has been nailed down; no isolationism, only escapism), the Federation's military development encountered significant limits. But this doesn't mean the military did nothing.

In diplomacy, almost at a standstill, Federation spies and agents kept running around the globe, bringing back information, mainly about Gafura's military equipment.

Details such as the model, performance, advantages, and disadvantages of their warships filled a room. People constantly studied the data, reviewing every naval battle repeatedly.

Unable to participate in the war, they could only sense the tragic war and its passion in this manner.

Because the Federation did not join the war, the world does not know whether the Federation's current warships can keep up with the times and rule a sea region.

This provides substantial convenience for the Navy, who can use the information asymmetry to fight a variable-paced naval battle.

Indeed, within the past two days, the Navy Headquarters' operations command center, those staff officers and generals have already gone through over a dozen rounds of simulations, formulating a variable-paced naval battle to disrupt their well-known Gafura Royal Navy.

"Secondly, our secret weapon is already usable. Apologies, Mr. President, since your term has been short, you haven't been exposed to some classified information."

"In fact, the Navy has been advancing a program called 'Wolfpack' these years. We are now in the harvest season; this new weapon will significantly alter the course of the naval battle."

Submarines have long existed but are limited by materials and technology, failing to play a decisive role in wars, particularly regarding attack issues.

In recent years, Vipai Industries developed a new type of torpedo, greatly solving submarine attack problems, transforming them from mere stealth transport weapons into ghosts beneath the sea's surface.

Thus, a company named Sheep Shipbuilding received the Navy's design and production orders, entrusted with producing combat-type submarines suitable for contemporary naval warfare intensity.

After five years of continuous modifications and designs, the "Ghost-I" submarines were officially launched and successfully trialed.

"Mr. President, from a military perspective, I do not think we will lose to the Gafura Navy. Quite the contrary—we have a high probability of winning," the Deputy Director of the Ministry of Defense stated firmly, his eyes showing some fervor.

If we can confront the Gafura Royal Navy, if we can defeat the world's strongest navy, the Federation Navy's reputation will rise instantly.

This is a rare opportunity, understanding both sides belong to the same allied camp; they are "insiders." Aside from this coincidental reason, military collisions can't occur again except possibly in the next world war.

The military also believes there will be a second world war; most share this view.

Missing this opportunity means waiting several years, possibly decades, for the Federation Navy to prove they are not inferior to the Gafura Royal Navy—pressing the Ministry of Defense and military's urgent wish to clash.

Hearing such resolute voices, the President began to contemplate. They told him the battle must be fought, ensuring a win, and he actually felt unafraid of the collision.

Some things don't require rephrasing for him to grasp, like Lynch said—the Federation needs war to reunite, requiring victory to restore confidence.

"This is just the optimal assumption. Isn't Nagariel now unwilling to establish diplomatic relations with us?" The President still seemed uneasy and asked once more.

At this moment, the highest-ranking official of the Security Committee's Operations Department, sitting on Mr. Truman's other side, slightly adjusted his posture, "Mr. President, if the Nagariel United Kingdom's government harms Federation citizens for no reason, plunders Federation citizens' personal properties, or even conspires with pirates to attack our merchant ships, how should we handle it?"

Politics is always dirty, and international politics even more so. Accusing and framing other countries carries no fundamental guilt, for with sufficient interests, there's nothing politicians wouldn't say or do.

The Security Committee's Operations Director's words made the President realize these people had already decided. Whether he supports or opposes, he couldn't hesitate at this moment.

Any hesitation would make him seem... useless. He turned to Mr. Truman, "Is this the war you were talking about?!"

"Yes, Mr. President, this is the war I mentioned. There's a possibility it might become reality, though we'll strive to avoid it, yet still have to prepare."

"However, luckily, given the current global political landscape, even if we launch this war, we won't directly confront Gafura's full strength or even their main fleet!"

"Everyone needs to develop quietly for some time; whoever disrupts the peace becomes a sinner!"

The President took a deep breath, holding it in his chest. After about ten minutes of contemplation, he finally nodded, "I agree in principle to launch this military operation, but I also have a requirement..."

"Firstly, we must win!"

"Secondly, be it localized military conflicts or war against Nagariel, it cannot exceed sixty days!"