Rust - Chapter 507



Only Krnovel

RUST [RUST]-507

Everyone was silent when they heard that the Newport News Shipyard had been taken over by the Holy Kingdom.

The military generals had a lot to say but no expression on their faces, and the Virginia Company personnel also had serious expressions on their faces.

“If you have anything to say, please say it.”

The Confederacy was formed by seven states centered around Texas. It was a horizontal structure with Texas as the big brother and six states below it.

There were many reasons for leaving the United States, but the most important was uncertainty about the future.

How can we understand that the ever-increasing debt of the United States, and the stupid things they do to pay it off, always end with a bonus feast for the Eastern bastards?

Not only did they create a United States that would go bankrupt if it didn’t pay its debts indefinitely, but to avoid that, they raised China and then made it explode. And even after the explosion, they were having a performance-based bonus party.

With natural resources being plundered, cutting-edge space industries being dismantled, and future industries being taken away under the pretext of balanced local government development, public sentiment in Texas began to boil over.

Just when my patience was reaching its limit, the virus outbreak in China broke out.

If the federal government had responded properly in the early stages of the crisis, or if each local government had worked together to resolve the situation, the mounting discontent could have been tolerated, but the situation has become crazy.

In the midst of a large-scale outbreak of the virus, an absurd situation of a shortage of quarantine supplies has arisen. Let’s assume that it spread in an instant.

That wasn’t the problem. To prepare for a shortage of quarantine supplies, each local government began importing quarantine supplies on their own.

But guess what? The local governments in transit areas forcibly seized trains and ships carrying quarantine supplies and used them for themselves first.

After watching how the situation was resolved, I couldn’t trust the federal government.

The same was true of the response to the spread of the mutant virus, and when the cannibals appeared. From the mutant monster incident to the war in China. Strictly speaking, I didn’t like every single thing from start to finish.

When Texas announced its intention to secede, neighboring states responded, and in an instant, seven states united to form the Confederacy.

The opportunity was good. The Federation’s forces were scattered due to the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, the Sino-Taiwan front, the Japanese catastrophe, the Middle East threat, and the war with China.

Even though the Confederacy declared secession, there were no federal troops to stop it. The state guards in other states were struggling to protect their own neighborhoods.

In this way, the Confederacy created the Southern Army and succeeded in absorbing federal troops in the South by using the military connections of Southern origin.

There was another hidden force that enabled the Confederacy to be formed successfully: Virginia Langley, in effect the best intelligence agency in the United States, sided with the Confederacy.

If there had been no Virginia Company, the Confederacy would have had a hard time forming and maintaining itself. The Virginia Company had been doing a good job up until then, but when it got involved with Vladimir Kalin, its performance was particularly poor.

This was the same for the military, even during the Federal Army days, but even after he left for the Southern Army, his association with Vladimir Kalin did not end well.

“If the Holy Kingdom has control of the Newport News Shipyard, it would be a loss to touch it.”

The Virginia Company’s opinion drew uncomfortable voices from the military, especially the Navy.

“There are two new aircraft carriers that are nearly 90% complete, and three more that are 30% complete. Are you saying that we should give up on the shipyard that is currently building five aircraft carriers?”

“If they were going to fight, they should have done it at least before signing the non-aggression pact.”

“Who proposed that non-aggression pact? Wasn’t it the Virginia Company that proposed that pact?”

“If the Holy Kingdom had not made a treaty and had instead retreated south, who would have been responsible? Would it have been the empty Navy? Who was it that said earlier that the Second Carrier Strike Group under the Holy Kingdom might have entered the Gulf of Mexico?”

Tensions began to arise between the military and the Virginia Company.

“Let’s stop. Even if we had succeeded in capturing the Newport News Shipyard before the Non-Aggression Pact was signed, it would have been attacked and taken by the Second Carrier Strike Group without the Non-Aggression Pact.”

“······.”

“······.”

A battle of timing. It would be tempting to turn the hope circuit around and say that the Holy Kingdom struck at the perfect time, but the game was not going well from the start.

In order to successfully take over the Newport News Shipyard, the non-aggression pact should have been concluded at the same time as taking over the shipyard, just before the non-aggression pact.

If it had been even a little bit too late or early, there would have been no way to stop the kingdom with the aircraft carrier fleet. If the Aegis destroyer fleet had been intact, they might have tried to find an opportunity, but now that they had been completely stripped away, all of these were meaningless assumptions.

“No matter what the situation, we too must build aircraft carriers.”

“An aircraft carrier? It would take at least a year just to prepare. Depending on the situation, it could take two to three years or more.”

Time was not an issue. Land-based airports were useless because of the crazy birds and monster rats, so if you wanted to use air power, you absolutely needed an aircraft carrier.

“Are you saying that you will start building the aircraft carrier in 2~3 years? Not even deploying it, but starting construction? It’s too late.”

“It is dangerous if the aircraft carrier is not deployed within one to two years at the latest.”

“That’s right. If an empire that is on good terms with the Holy Kingdom were to secure the aircraft carrier currently under construction at the Newport News Shipyard, we would be effectively left with no way to respond.”

“Let’s not overdo it, since we can easily stop it with just a sufficient number of Aegis ships.”

“I agree. Even if you secure an aircraft carrier, it’s just like an empty can without aircraft on board. Even if the Empire succeeds in securing an aircraft carrier, it will take time to fill it with aircraft as well.”

“First, let’s secure fighter jets to use as carrier-based aircraft.”

The more urgent it was, the more I had to go back. Building an aircraft carrier was a huge undertaking that would take one to two years just to prepare. It also took time to build a fighter jet.

Fortunately, the F-35 production plant was located in Fort Worth, Texas, so producing a carrier-based fighter was no problem.

Besides, there was a proper shipyard in the south.

“Let’s try to turn around Ingalls Shipbuilding as much as possible.”

Ingalls Shipbuilding was a shipyard located in Pascagoula, Mississippi, that built the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.

The America-class amphibious assault ships, which are focused on air power, were also built here, so this shipyard is fully capable of building small aircraft carriers.

“A combination of assault ships and vertical takeoff and landing aircraft would be nice.”

“It is entirely possible if we use carrier-based aircraft, mainly F-35 B/C.”

Realistically speaking, operating several small aircraft carriers or assault ships simultaneously was not a bad option.

However, if we focus our capabilities on building large-scale assault ships or small aircraft carriers, it will be difficult to build Aegis ships and missile patrol ships.

“How about taking over the shipyards in California?”

“You mean San Francisco? Will it stay?”

California was known as a literal lawless place. It was even more so after the mutant virus incident. Not to mention after the nuke. So most people thought it was better to leave it alone.

“If we can negotiate with the powers that be in California, it doesn’t seem like a bad option.”

“Are you saying there is a force that controls that hell?”

“Yes. It’s a large corporate power called the Charlotte Group. In addition, it is said that they absorbed the federal forces that retreated from the Chinese front and established local security.”

“···If we’ve absorbed the Federation forces, it’ll be difficult to take over your shipyard by force.”

The soldiers who are with the Charlotte Group are elite soldiers who fought against mutated monsters in the fallen Japan and special forces in the northern theater of China.

It would have been nice to get them out, but that was impossible. Most of the Union Army had ill feelings toward the Confederacy, because they thought they were the ones who had destroyed the Union.

“I don’t think there is any reason for armed conflict. It would be better to negotiate, form an alliance, or at least maintain neutrality.”

“I agree. If we do get involved, I hope it will be to the point where we can place orders for Aegis ships and missile patrol ships at the shipyard in San Francisco.”

Information released by Virginia Company.

“According to our investigation, the Charlotte Group was a Japanese-Korean company. It is known that the current Charlotte Group Chairman Sim Eun-young had an acquaintance with the Ohjin Group when she was working in Korea.”

“If you have a connection with Chairman Na Ju-yeon of the Ohjin Group, it would be better to negotiate through him.”

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California LA.

Sim Eun-young looked at Na Ju-yeon and shrugged her shoulders slightly.

“I never thought I would meet someone in America who I would have a hard time meeting even in Korea. I heard you went to Ulleungdo, but when did you come to America?”

In the Southern Federation, contrary to expectations that Chairman Shim and Chairman Na would have a good relationship because of their connection, the relationship between the two was not very good.

Sim Eun-young, who hadn’t forgotten the last time they met in Korea, tried to tease Na Ju-yeon, but she got straight to the point.

“···I came here to seek an alliance with the Confederacy.”

“You’ve been ignoring me until now and now you’re suddenly an ally?”

The supplies brought from Korea and Japan were depleted during the harsh winter.

It was more than enough to feed the Charlotte group and the federal troops, but it was not enough to feed the people of big cities like LA and San Francisco.

As soon as the weather cleared and the land route was opened, they asked for supplies to be sent to the Confederacy, but they were rebuffed sharply.

In fact, even the fact that such a demand existed was not relayed to the upper echelons of the Confederacy.

What did they do when they asked for supplies from an armed group from Southern California, known for being the worst in the worst? They were just turned away.

Na Ju-yeon, who was listening to Sim Eun-young’s awkward words, snickered. It was a laugh that seemed to say, “Isn’t it something to be proud of when you treat people coldly?”

“······.”

“······.”

Sim Eun-young bit her lip slightly and picked up her teacup.

“So. You think it would be better if I didn’t ally with the Confederacy?”

“You can tie it, or you can choose not to tie it.”

“Why? Because the headquarters in Korea was blown away, and Ulleungdo, where I fled, was blown away, and I’m stuck in the Southern Alliance, just getting medicine, and that’s a sad situation.”

“······.”

Na Ju-yeon also covered her face with her teacup. The eyes of the two women reflected in the black tea in the teacup were cold. Sim Eun-young, who had put down her teacup first, turned her head slightly, exhaled softly, and opened her mouth.

“Yeah. Anyway, both of us. We’re in a situation where we have to struggle to survive in an unfamiliar place. Sorry. I was a bit sensitive because I had a lot of things built up.”

“···Here’s a suggestion. Read it and decide.”

When Na Ju-yeon handed over the documents, Manager Lee Ki-young, who was standing behind Shim Eun-young, went out holding the documents with his gloved hands.

A moment later, Manager Lee, who had copied the documents, nodded slightly toward Chairman Shim. Na Ju-yeon, who was watching him, raised her eyebrows slightly.

Sim Eun-young didn’t even blink an eye at Na Ju-yeon’s uncomfortable expression.

“We should understand each other to this extent. We’ve had a lot going on. I guess it’s not the same for you?”

“······.”

Sim Eun-young continued her story while carefully reading the copied documents.

“But how is it with that guy? I heard he became the King of the Sacred Ark Kingdom.”

“······.”

Na Ju-yeon’s hand, which was holding the teacup, trembled slightly.

“The bodyguard with sunglasses over there. Ms. Ki-sun? Is that you, Ms. Ki-sun? Is your hair still like that? Your face looks really damaged.”

“······.”

“······.”

The two people didn’t answer. They made expressions that said, “Sim Eun-young has become me.”

“The terms of the alliance are strange. We can’t form an alliance under these terms. Let’s end it with a non-aggression pact.”

“······.”

“And. The shipyard in San Francisco, Union Iron Works, is in ruins, with only a small part of the place remaining. I don’t know if they’re going to revive it and build destroyers. It’d be difficult.”

“······.”

“Even if we revive the shipyard, there are no engineers here. Then what if we bring engineers from the Confederacy? Then they’ll say they need security personnel. It’s too obvious that they’ll gradually come in like that. Isn’t that right?”

“······.”

Na Ju-yeon silently handed over the documents related to the non-aggression pact. When Sim Eun-young, who had signed it, returned the documents, Na Ju-yeon immediately got up.

Sim Eun-young didn’t even say an empty word to bid her farewell, and Na Ju-yeon didn’t even say an empty word to bid her stay well.

The black tea on the table was cold.

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The nurse stamped her feet when she heard Maru tell her to stay still.

“What should I do? Your voice was so loud.”

KAAAH! (Where have you been hiding, you little shit! Die!)

Knock! (Kill!)

Kkiruk- kirururuk- (Oh my, they’re catching seagulls. They’re catching seagulls.)

“Ahhhh- Don’t fight. It’s dangerous. I’m fine.”

Caw- Caw? (Isn’t there an order to kill all the seagulls?)

Kkak-kkak? (Betrayal?)

“No. What are you talking about? You said you’d be here right away, so if you say something like that, you’ll be in real trouble. Really.”

“What are you talking about? Is something serious happening?”

Maru, who arrived silently, asked. The nurse was surprised.

“Ah. No. The crows were trying to kill the seagulls.”

“Was it like that?”

Caw-

Kak-

The floor answered the cries of the crows.

“Well done.”

“to?”

Srrrrrrrr-

Maru, who had pulled out Eclipse, asked the three seagulls surrounded by crows.

“So, where are the freshly laid eggs?”

Kkiruk–

Kkirururuk-

Was that a joke?