Damn the World, Ride a Submarine - Chapter 234



Only Krnovel

Episode 234 – Azovia

It was unexpected. They were trying to create a military alliance of Black Sea coastal countries. Starting with Greece, small Balkan countries were expressing their intention to join the BBSA as a group.

“Sir, even Kosovo? What about Serbia?”

“There is still no news from Serbia.”

“Serbia does not recognize Kosovo’s independence…”

“I think ···.”

“What do you think, manager?”

“If Kosovo were to join the BBSA, it would be assured of security from Serbia. Serbia might object or even take military action.”

“Yes. In the past, NATO’s intervention was limited to mediation because they could not stand to see the tragedy in Kosovo.”

“Neighboring countries such as North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Montenegro all want to join the BBSA. This is because the military determination shown by the OSS is recognized by the international community and the entire Balkan Peninsula wants to be under our influence.”

“What is the point of that statement?”

“Just allowing Kosovo to join the BBSA could bring peace to what has been called the powder keg of the Balkans.”

“hmm …”

“And it opens up the possibility that the influence of the Representative and OSS will expand further into Europe, not just the Black Sea.”

“Well, you’re saying that the political benefits are greater than the military benefits.”

“Yes, it is.”

“Okay, since we’ve come this far, let’s go all the way.”

“Yes. Then I will prepare. It is exciting to be creating something in the sun after working in the shade all day.”

This was the manager who had lived his entire life in the shadows. He had experienced the crisis of becoming a nameless star several times. It was exciting for him to reveal his presence and work on the international diplomatic stage.

* Nameless Star: If a South Korean National Intelligence Service agent dies during a special operation where neither his name nor his position can be revealed, he becomes a nameless star.

Then, the number of stars on the signboard at the main entrance of the National Intelligence Service increases by one. There were 18 stars until 2018, but recently, an unnamed star was added, making it 19.

“It seems like you have the inner strength to work in the shade, so you can achieve results in the sun as well. Haha.”

“Thank you, sir.”

…

The steel submarine headed for Constanta, Romania. It had to cross the Aegean Sea, through the Dardanelles and Bosphorus Straits to reach the Black Sea.

‘I guess I’ll be the center of attention again…’

The Bosphorus Strait was dozens of degrees shallower, requiring submarines to pass through while surfaced.

Even as the ARK sailed throughout the Mediterranean, the war in Ukraine continued.

The Polish-Ukrainian combined forces liberated all the cities in the north and restored the border, while the Ukrainian army in the south continued its advance, leaving only Kharkiv left.

The OSS Crimean Army had advanced to Volgodonsk, Russia and the Don River area, and was taking a short break to control the occupied territory.

Russia, despite being pushed back, has yet to make any ceasefire or negotiation proposals. BBSA is becoming a reality.

I had hoped that some movement would occur as Russia faced the situation of being isolated inland, but on the other hand, I was worried about the repeated attrition war that seemed to kill us and Russia’s attitude, which was accustomed to it.

However, the immediate issue at hand was how to organize the political system in the southern part of Russia that we had occupied.

It was not easy to sustain military rule, and it was not easy to achieve independence by finding a specific historical and cultural identity.

However, political stability in the occupied territories was necessary even to pressure Russia.

We received a variety of information and suggestions from the Eurasian Front and OSSIA, but there was no clear solution.

After much thought, I decided that I had no choice but to create a new identity.

The area from the eastern coast of the Sea of ​​Azov to the Black Sea coast started out as an ancient Greek colony, then became part of the Ottoman Empire, the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union, and finally Russia.

The ethnic composition was also diverse, including Russians, Ukrainians, Crimean Tatars, Cossacks, and Greeks.

We needed a concept that would present a new identity suited to the multicultural nature of the Azov and Black Sea coasts, and a name that everyone could call by.

With that, he came up with the idea of ​​Azovia and instructed OSSIA to conduct psychological operations to spread the identity and awareness of the Azovians.

So that the people of Azobia, who have been exploited by various empires in the past, realize, no, believe, that an opportunity has come for them to become independent.

The psychological operation also involved Georgian rebels who had set up a headquarters in exile in Sochi.

The logic was being spread that Georgia’s efforts to gain independence from the Soviet Union and free itself from Russian influence were part of the pan-Azovian movement.

As a Georgian rebel force, the support and assistance of the Azobia region and its people were essential, so they were conducting very active propaganda activities with the tacit approval of the OSS Crimean Army.

It was similar to the relationship between Albania and Kosovo. The two countries had similar ethnic and cultural identities, but Kosovo was on Serbian soil.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia, and Albania supported and assisted Kosovo’s independence.

Such activities were sure to cause Russia to fear the physical disintegration of the Union. The Far Eastern Republics had become fully independent states and were under the protection of the OSS as members of the ESSO.

At a time when Tatarstan’s independence was barely suppressed, Azobia became independent and joined the newly formed BBSA.

Russia would permanently lose the Black Sea, its last remaining warm-water port, and become a landlocked country.

…

As the ARK passed through the Aegean Sea and approached the Dardanelles Strait, it surfaced and continued its voyage.

It was a safety measure in the narrow strait, but it was also intended as a show of force against Russia and to demonstrate influence in Europe.

It was also a signal that the formation of BBSA, known only through media reports, was not a rumor.

The sight of a Typhoon-class submarine passing through the strait with its escort carriers lined up in front and behind was also quite a sight.

Super-zoom cameras were lined up on both sides of the strait, and reporters on chartered cargo ships and yachts followed the ARK at a distance.

It was a chaotic sight, with the escort carriers and the press boats all tangled together, but on the other hand, it seemed to represent the international influence of the OSS.

As we passed through the Dardanelles Strait and entered the Sea of ​​Marmara, despite warnings from our fleet, news ships and broadcast helicopters began to follow us.

Director Kim Jun-myeong tried to chase away the press corps following the escort column, citing security and protection issues, but stopped them.

I thought it might create unnecessary fuss and that a more public-friendly gesture was now needed.

I went up to the submarine mast with Director Kim Jun-myeong to get some fresh air and smoke a cigarette.

The crew members who had been out on guard saluted, and I encouraged them with a slight wave of the hand.

* Lookout (見視): A soldier who is given the task or duty of visually observing, especially in the navy.

As I lit a cigarette, the press boats following the convoy began to get closer, and I could see that the press cameras on the boats were all pointed at me.

Director Kim Jun-myeong, who was also exhaling smoke, spoke up.

“Sir! Aren’t you uncomfortable?”

“Yeah, that’s true, but I’ve come to accept it now. Haha.”

“Yes. I often think about the first time I met you, sir.”

“I miss those days.”

“Me too. But I thought I’d grow old and die as a mercenary…”

“…”

“Meeting you, sir, I realized that I was in the middle of world history and I feel like I am living a good life.”

“That’s right. I think there’s always a clash between the desire to live quietly and the desire to take the lead.”

“I think that’s it···.”

“?”

“I think there’s a difference between living quietly because you have no choice and living quietly while having power.”

“Oh, that’s true. But now I feel a strange sense of deprivation, as if I’ve missed the time to make that choice. I also had a dream of becoming a farmer and creating a large farm.”

“If that’s the case, why don’t you just do it?”

“yes?”

“Once this work is over, let’s go back to Kiribati and build a large farm with Director Kim Wan-jun. It would also be good to do it on a huge scale in your own style.”

“…”

“Well, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to just buy a piece of land larger than the Korean Peninsula in Africa or South America. Haha.”

“Oh, if that happens again, there will be a headache. I suddenly realized something…”

“?”

“I think my problem is that once I start something, I can’t stop and I go all the way.”

“Well, sir, there is no middle ground. Hahaha.”

“Anyway, after I finish this work, I’m going to go back to Kiribati and work with Director Kim Wan-jun on the farm. I’m thinking about trying tobacco farming, which I didn’t succeed at at Shinheung Camp.”

“If you harvested the tobacco leaves, you have to dry them and make cigarettes.”

“Oh! That’s right. Should I buy a Cuban cigar brand and bring it over?”

“Kukukukuk.”

“Why are you doing that?”

“As expected, there is no middle ground with the CEO.”

“Ah, ah~ I see. I guess I’m not the type of person to live a simple life.”

“No. The representative has a warm and simple personality. However, he is someone who puts his imagination into practice without any filter, what should I say…?”

“?”

“It’s not even driving force… Well, I don’t know the right word… In common parlance, it’s ‘the ability to execute without hesitation’? Well, there is something like that. Haha.”

“Haha. By the way, are the preparations for the Constanta meeting going well?”

“Yes. OSSIA and OSL Ukraine branches are fully mobilized and preparing. The Polish, Romanian, and Greek governments appear to be actively helping.”

“Yes, but I am worried.”

“which?”

“What should we do about the voting method?”

“ah ···.”

“It makes sense, both logically and emotionally, that one country, one vote is the right thing to do, but I am a little worried that all the Balkan countries are joining.”

“Do you really need to do that? Don’t the permanent members of the UN do whatever they want? Russia and China are using their permanent member status to create this mess.”

“That’s why I’m more worried.”

“…?”

“It would be easier if we gave the countries that are on the same level as us a permanent member status. But as time goes by…”

…