Ursus Empire, the newly occupied North Victoria Province. Inside a former Victorian military base disguised as a logging camp.
Biting cold winds wrapped in snowflakes beat against the barracks windows.
In the workshop at the deepest part of the base, lights blazed brightly.
A dismantled Leithanien "Tiger I" tank lay quietly in the center, surrounded by Ursus's top engineers and technicians. Their expressions were focused as their tools tapped and banged against the tank's steel body, the sounds echoing through the empty workshop.
Ursus Emperor Fyodor, draped in a heavy greatcoat, stood on the observation walkway on the second floor, looking down at the scene with a commanding view. There was not a shred of joy on his face; instead, it was filled with agitation and impatience.
"Trash! You are all a bunch of trash!" He violently threw a report in his hand onto the ground.
"It has been three months!"
"We have gathered the Empire's finest craftsmen, and yet we cannot even copy a single tank engine?"
"Did the Leithanians build these things with witchcraft?"
Standing behind him, his Chief Advisor, Count Bogdanov, bent down to pick up the report and spoke calmly, "Your Majesty, please quell your anger."
"Leithanien's industrial technology is at least five years ahead of ours. Their metallurgical processes and precision machining capabilities are not something we can catch up to in a short time."
"According to the analysis from the engineers, this engine uses a composite material we have never seen before. We cannot even analyze its specific composition."
"I do not want to hear these excuses!" Fyodor roared.
"If Lacey can do it, why can't I?"
"Are the geniuses of Ursus inferior to those workers in Leithanien?"
"Your Majesty, we have a faster shortcut." Bogdanov's voice was pitched very low.
Fyodor's rage subsided slightly. He turned his head, looking suspiciously at his unfathomable advisor.
"The Columbians are already getting impatient," Bogdanov said slowly.
"Their special envoy arrived secretly yesterday, bringing the latest proposal from President Mark Max."
"What do they want?" Fyodor's eyes began to flicker.
"They are willing to provide us with the full set of production line technology for the 'Tiger II' tank, including the engine and fire control systems we have been unable to crack."
Bogdanov paused, then threw out an even more tempting chip. "Not only that, but they are also willing to share their various high-end technologies with us, including the new fighter aircraft they have developed."
Fyodor's breathing instantly became rapid. This meant Ursus had a chance to catch up to or even surpass Leithanien in the field of air force in one fell swoop!
"And the conditions? That old fox Mark Max wouldn't be so kind," Fyodor forced down the excitement in his heart and asked coldly.
"The condition is very simple."
"They need a promise. A promise that at some suitable moment in the future, Ursus will stab our dear ally, Leithanien, fatally in the back."
The clanging sounds in the workshop seemed to fade away in an instant; Fyodor could only hear the violent beating of his own heart.
Betray Lacey.
This thought grew wildly in his heart like weeds.
The humiliation of Leithanien eating the meat while Ursus only drank the soup during the partition of Victoria surged into his mind scene by scene.
Why should he, Fyodor, the Emperor of the great Ursus Empire, play second fiddle to an upstart of humble origins?
There can be only one hegemon on the Terra continent, and that is Ursus!
"Bogdanov..." Fyodor's voice was somewhat hoarse. "Do you think we should trust the Columbians? Are they just trying to use us as cannon fodder to consume Leithanien's strength?"
"Your Majesty, of course we cannot fully trust them," Bogdanov bowed.
"Between beasts, there are only interests, no trust."
"Columbia wants us to be the shield resisting Leithanien, while Leithanien wants us to be the spear piercing Victoria."
"But now, we have a third choice—to become the hunter holding the spear."
He stepped forward, leaning close to Fyodor's ear, and whispered, "We can accept Columbia's technical aid and use their resources to arm ourselves."
"We can continue to maintain our alliance with Emperor Lacey, letting him think we are guarding the gates for him in the north, letting him headache over how to digest Victoria and how to deal with the wariness of Yan and Columbia."
"When he gets bogged down in the quagmire of integration, or comes into direct conflict with Columbia, that will be the best time for us to strike."
"By that time!" Bogdanov's eyes shimmered. "The entire north of Terra will be your hunting ground, great Emperor of Ursus!"
Fyodor closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The blueprint Bogdanov painted for him made his blood boil.
He seemed to already see the steel torrent of Ursus trampling Trullinczentyr flat, the red flag of Leithanien torn to shreds beneath his feet.
"Good! We will do just that!" He suddenly opened his eyes, having made his decision.
"Reply to the Columbians. I accept their proposal!"
"Have them send the technology and equipment over as soon as possible! I want to organize ten heavy armored divisions within three years!"
"As you command, Your Majesty." Count Bogdanov bowed.
The Emperor's ambition was the driving force of the Empire, but overly hasty ambition could also become the millstone dragging the Empire into the abyss.
He only hoped that this young bear of the North would have enough patience to wait for the optimal hunting moment before brandishing its claws.
...
Late that night, a Columbian transport plane without any markings braved the wind and snow to land secretly at the military airfield.
Container after container was rapidly unloaded and transported to the base disguised as a logging camp.
At the same time, Fyodor signed a secret order commanding the three Ursus army groups deployed in North Victoria to enter the highest state of combat readiness under the guise of "Winter Exercises."
During a secret test flight of a newly provided Columbian drone, due to the Ursus operator's lack of experience and unfamiliarity with the new system, a prototype suddenly lost control. It deviated from the preset course and flew toward the Leithanien-controlled zone in the south.
Although the base urgently initiated the self-destruct sequence, the out-of-control drone still left a small patch of wreckage near the border line.
Upon hearing this news, Fyodor flew into a rage and executed the operator and his direct superior on the spot.
He immediately ordered the entire area sealed off and publicly declared it an accident.
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