Empire of the Ring

"Mr. Yaniv said he'd ask Putin to sell a nuclear submarine?"

Park Jong-il reacted the same way as Victor Jun did before.

"Are you deaf? How many times do you need to ask?"

"It's because I can't believe it. If we have a nuclear submarine on top of Aegis destroyers, we wouldn't worry even if the Chinese start a war."

"Oh, it's just one submarine."

"Nuclear submarines are a great thing. It's a strategic weapon that makes you formidable even if there's only one."

A nuclear submarine was something that one could not have even with money.

The world would be surprised if a small and weak country like Kazakhstan possessed a strategic weapon that was perceived as a relic of the great powers.

"I'm not sure how the International Atomic Energy Agency will react to this."

"You worry about everything. India but Brazil are building nuclear submarines. And it doesn't matter if we're not making it ourselves. We're bringing a second-hand submarine. It's a great opportunity. Great powers don't care to sell their strategic weapons. It's only possible because we're close to Russia."

"The Chinese will put all the pressure on Russia."

"Oh, I'm sure. Why don't you tell Putin yourself instead of leaving it to Chairman Yaniv alone?"

"If Putin refuses, it'll might get awkward. It's better to have someone in-between. I'm sure it'll be burdensome even for Putin to sell a nuclear submarine."

"Oh, it's like a cat thinks of a mouse. Since when do you consider Putin's position like that?"

"I don't want to make things between us difficult by asking a favor that's hard to accept."

"Don't worry about it and just push it."

"And why are you so excited?"

"Do you know how much the intelligence chief in a country with a nuclear submarine has a great pride? I'd like to join the league, too."

"Are you kidding? That's the stupidest reason I've ever heard."

"They say that there are three men who command the world, the president of the United States, the president of Russia, and the captain of a nuclear submarine. It's a joke but how great would it be to have a nuclear submarine?"

"Well, then Commander Jun should be the one to be proud, not you."

"Oh, come on. We're all in the same field."

Following Commander Jun, Jong-il also was eager to get a nuclear submarine. It also made Youngho want it more.

"I wonder how the U.S. will react…"

"It will stick to the principle of non-interference because the U.S. has said it will not deliver nuclear submarines to other countries in any case, although it was forced to transfer nuclear submarine technology to Britain only to fight the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The evidence is that the U.S. did not interfere when the Indian government borrowed a nuclear submarine from Russia. It must've judged that it was a force to keep China in check in the Indian Ocean. So if we said we'll buy a nuclear submarine, the U.S. will be more than welcome."

As the intelligence chief, Park Jong-il was quite knowledgeable about world military situation.

"Is that so?"

With India's case, there seemed to be little problem with bringing in a nuclear submarine from Russia.

"An Oscar-class nuclear submarine would be perfect for us. The new Oscars are 15,000-ton supertankers."

***

It was only two days that Youngho received a call from Yaniv.

-Duke, you should buy me a vodka.

"I guess you have good news from Putin."

-He told me to take it right away because an Omsk submarine just came into the 402 Naval Shipyard to be repaired, and he will sell it at a very low price.

"Didn't he say it's an Oscar?"

Youngho had already received nuclear submarine data from Park Jong-il, so he guessed it.

This was because 402 Naval Shipyard was mainly used to handle Oscar-class nuclear submarines.

Yaniv was surprised to hear Youngho's remark.

-You are almost a fortuneteller. Putin said the Duke would not be satisfied with submarines below the level of the Oscar. Since he can't treat India and Kazakhstan as equals, so he's thinking of offering it. How do you like that?

"I don't know if I can handle such a large submarine."

-That's the size you can keep China in check.

It was a strange situation. Russia was selling nuclear submarine technology to China and was now handing over its nuclear submarine to Kazakhstan, which was in a rage by the fact that China would have the technology.

Would Russia have predicted this situation?

"I was going to lease it, but if it's a purchase, it could be a financial burden…"

-When I mentioned leasing at first, Putin laughed. He said he knows the wealth of the Kazakh royal family, and it will be a shame to rent it. He'll give you a good price, so take it.

"I hope he is not trying to pass on a submarine close to its retirement."

-He said the Oscar-class nuclear submarines are rather new.

"As far as I know, most of the oscar-class submarines are old-fashioned submarines produced in the mid-'90s."

-Oh! What are you talking about? They say it's been tested in the Pacific Ocean and it's a perfectly fine submarine.

The new submarines often caused trouble during the test-driving process, so it may be better to get the second-hand product that had been tested and proven to be flawless.

"If that's the case, that's fine. Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Yaniv."

-You should let me the lead in this kind of work. I'll take care of it and give you the best bargain price. Putin won't be so greedy.

It was a great decision to go through Yaniv.

He was a man who had been a mafia and lived a rough life all his life.

He was capable of buying a nuclear bomb if he willed. Of course, it was possible because it was Russia.

"Maybe I should have dealt with the Russian Ministry of Defense."

-It would have been possible if it had been the time of the Soviet Union's collapse, but now you won't have a chance. I think it's better to give Putin some extra money and buy it cheaply. So you can ask him to make it look like new.

With the deal, Putin also intended to save his slush fund.

Under the guise of supplying weapons to the blood alliance, he will likely to save his face by selling it cheaply.

"Tell him we won't take it if core components are missing."

-Putin loves you and he won't do such a thing. Putin's approval rating has risen recently thanks to you.

"It's no use liking me. I'm not interested in men."

-Hahaha… So now, how do you feel about taking a nuclear submarine?

"Yes, I'll take it. I will finally have a weapon to check China."

-Can you take on China with only one nuclear-powered submarine?

"It's just the beginning. I'm confident I'll make three or four similar ones in the near future."

-If you ask Putin, he might also hand over the key technology because he seems to be leaning a lot towards Kazakhstan these days.

"Then I guess we can make it public that we're taking over the nuclear submarine."

-Putin's already made up his mind, so it'll be okay.

***

Commander Jun could not hide his excitement when Youngho mentioned about the Omsk ship.

"Your Grace, the Omsk submarine is a nuclear-powered submarine that has been deployed as a member of the Pacific Fleet and has recently entered a repair shop for maintenance. It's a submarine that's never been in trouble."

"You know it well."

"Western countries treat Oscars as big nuclear submarines, but there is a great secret behind them."

"What is it?"

"This is a double hull with a space of 3 meters between the outer and the inner hull. A missile launch tube is installed in that space, so it has the advantage of having a spacious room inside the submarine."

Most submarines, due to their narrow interior space, crew members felt highly fatigued during long-term operations. However, the 15,000-ton Omsk submarine was known for its low fatigue level for crew members on board even during a long-term operation, as it also had helpful facilities such as a fitness center.

It was a legendary submarine that had a history of not surfacing for 120 days. It was proof of how easy it was for the crew to be active.

"It also has strength because it generates very little noise, which usually is a chronic problem with nuclear submarines. They put special rubber film on the outside of the hull and adopted a seven-lobe screw to dramatically reduce noise. It is known as Tiger because it looks like a Siberian tiger that approaches its prey without any sound."

The former colonel's eulogy of an Oscar-class nuclear submarine was continuing endlessly.

"I must bring an Omsk submarine or you'd be very disappointed in me."

"I'm sorry, Your Grace. I guess I'm too excited."

"Hahaha… A commander should be a little greedy for weapons."

Bringing in a nuclear submarine would raise the morale of the entire military as well as the Navy.

"It's a verbal promise, but in the near future, the nuclear submarine will be ours. So pick up crew members to board a nuclear submarine in advance. Choose soldiers who are fluent in Russian as much as possible."

"All right. Your Highness, I'll make a good selection."

"And think about the armament to be mounted on a nuclear submarine."

"Yes, sir."

The rumor would soon spread to all sides.

That was why Youngho ordered the recruitment of crew members to be rumored.

It soon became an issue that Kazakhstan was taking over a nuclear submarine from Russia.

It was not the first time for Russia to hand over a nuclear submarine to a foreign country, but the fact that Kazakhstan, an inland country, had a nuclear submarine had drawn keen attention.

"Your Highness, journalists from all over the world are asking for more information. What shall we do?"

"Leave it to Commander Jun. Now, he has to practice dealing with the media, too. Tell him that he can reveal the rest of the power that's to be increased in the future."

"I'm a little reluctant to have an active officer brief."

"What do you think? It shows the confidence of the Kazakh Navy."

"I'm afraid that he will say something unnecessary since he doesn't have political sense."

"That's why I'm letting him take the lead."

The intention to expose Commander Jun to the media was to promote the Kazakh Navy, which was active in the Indian Ocean.

If the captain of the task force briefed the Kazakh naval power, he would face all kinds of questions. Commander Jun, who was known for his pride for the Kazakh Navy, would not hide any power from the reporters.

Sometimes it was better to show off your strength by exaggerating rather than hiding it.

Youngho wondered how China would react if the power of the Kazakh Navy was revealed.

China would certainly try to block sales by putting all kinds of pressure on Russia.

If China interfered too much, it could be a blow to Putin's pride.