"It was a good speech, Your Majesty," Admiral Kuznetzov said, shaking the hand of Alexander.
"I'm honored that you like it. It's just that it's sad that I won't be able to attend every ship commissioning ceremony," Alexander said with a hint of sadness in his voice.
Admiral Kuznetzov gave a sympathetic nod and smiled down at him kindly. "I understand Your Majesty, attending to each and one of them would take you hours. Don't worry, the Imperial Ruthenian Navy assures you that the ceremony will progress smoothly."
They both released their hands and made small talk for another few minutes before Alexander had to leave.
Alexander looked around the hangar bay the moment, taking in the various faces from the various crews that were present for today's ceremony. As he was about to turn away, he saw a pair of eyes staring up at him.
He raised an eyebrow, trying to identify who they belonged to. He felt like he knew this face from somewhere, but he couldn't exactly place it. However, as soon as he got close enough, he recognized who it belonged to, and all thoughts of not recognizing the other person vanished.
"Andrei Serebyakov..." Alexander chuckled as he patted the man on the shoulder. "I didn't see you on the platform."
"Well, sir," Andrei chuckled stiffly. "I don't have a clearance to share a seat among the exalted military officials of the Ruthenian Navy."
"That's stupid," Alexander scoffed. "You were the head of the design bureau and one of the key people who made this ship possible."
"And yet, here I am." Andrei laughed dryly.
"Have to settle for a consolation prize of meeting the Tsar face to face."
Alexander sighed and shook his head, running a hand through his hair. He then turned and began walking toward the door of the hangar bay. "You know what? Why don't we go up to the flight deck, I have something to discuss with you about."
"May I ask what it is?" Andrei asked, trailing along beside him as he walked.
"I'll tell you once we are in a secure location. I don't want unwanted ears listening in to what I'm about to tell you."
"It sounds serious, Your Majesty," Andrei stated, a hint of concern lacing his words. He paused for a moment and let out a long sigh. "Very well, I suppose my curiosity is getting the better of me, so I'll come with you but before that, may I inform my daughter about this?"
"Your daughter?" Alexander's brows furrowed and a look of surprise came over his face. He stared blankly for a moment before returning to his usual self again. "I don't mind—
—"Father, I've finished looking around,"
A soft voice interrupted them from behind them, and Alexander quickly turned around and saw a navy-blue-haired woman approaching them. Her gaze flickered to his and it widened upon realization. She immediately averted her face, cheek reddening a bit as she looked back down at the ground.
Memories of the past flitted across his mind. It was this girl in front of him that he met almost seven years ago. Baroness Elaina Serebyakova, even though years have passed she still looked the same: the navy blue hair cascading down her waist; the gentle blue eyes, and the rosy cheeks that made everyone around her swoon. Even now, her appearance has never changed. Except for her three sizes. Top, middle, and bottom. Bigger, same, and somewhat bigger.
She stopped a few feet away from them and bowed her head slightly, keeping her attention on the ground. "Your Majesty, I didn't expect you to speak to my father," she spoke softly but firmly.
"Andrei, your daughter is here. You should inform her right now," Alexander ignored her comment entirely. Instead, he shifted his gaze to his father.
"I don't mind her coming with us," Alexander interjected, gesturing to the two of them. "If she wants to, of course."
"Your Majesty, would that be, okay? I thought we were discussing something serious..."
"Yes, it is serious but not to a degree that will harm the national security of the Ruthenian Empire. Besides, it's not like your daughter is a spy, right?" Alexander's gaze flickered back to Elaina. "You're not a spy, right?"
"Wha...what are you talking about?" Elaina stammered nervously.
"See? If you are a spy, you would've been flagged already by the CIA. Follow me to the flight deck. Lead the way, Rolan."
"Yes sir!" Rolan responded and walked ahead of them, leading them towards the flight deck.
...
"This is your helicopter...Your Majesty," Andrei inquired, his eyes wandering around an opulent interior design. Elaina glanced around the cabin as well, feeling rather out of place.
"Please take a seat," Alexander motioned them towards two seats next to the window.
"...Do you want something to drink? Tea or perhaps coffee or water?" Alexander asked, leaning forward as he looked around the room.
"No, thank you, Your Majesty. We're fine," Andrei denied shyly.
"I see...well why don't we start? Rolan, get me my briefcase," Alexander ordered.
Rolan handed him the briefcase he was carrying after Alexander's speech.
Alexander opened the briefcase and grabbed a scanned blueprint from within it. He handed it to Andrei who then perused it closely. The first thing he noticed is that the neatness of the schematics, the drawings, and the lines is so perfect and detailed that it's almost impossible to be drawn by hand.
Then he recognized the drawing.
"It's a schematic of a submarine and an aircraft carrier..." Andrei commented.
"And?" Alexander prompted. "What else do you notice?"
Andrei looked closely at the schematics, Elaina took a quick peek and she noticed something.
"The size of the ships is larger than what we are building," Elaina commented, taking both Alexander and Andrei by surprise.
"Sorry father, may I borrow it for a moment, father?" Elaina asked. Andrei glanced at Alexander, asking if it was okay.
Alexander nodded his head, indicating that it was okay.
'So she has an interest in shipbuilding as well? Sounds like a good potential.'
Andrei handed the blueprint to her daughter and then let her peruse it.
"The tonnage of this aircraft carrier is 30,000 tons heavier than the Petropavlovsk Class Carrier. It's also the same with the submarine here. Looking at it closely, especially on the propulsion system, the design is not your typical steam turbine engines or electric diesel...instead...it's something new, it's the first time I've seen this kind of design..."
"I'll give you credit not for noticing the physical appearance because the specifications are written there, but in the unique propulsion system, I'll give you an A plus. Yes, the IDS is planning on developing a new type of ship that runs with a new type of propulsion that would make the ship run indefinitely. A submarine that won't have to resurface to get air. Ever heard of nuclear energy?"
The two frowned at the sudden question. "No, Your Majesty,"
That's sad. Looks like the concept of nuclear energy has not been discovered in this world. Or it was already, he just had to look for it carefully, specifically in the Deutschland Empire.
"But you know atoms, right? The smallest particle of matter."
The two nodded.
"Atoms have a nucleus where protons and neutrons are located..."
"Your Majesty...we are aware of protons but not neutrons. Is there such a thing called a neutron in the nucleus?"
Alexander clicked his tongue inwardly. It just made sense to him that in this era, the neutron is not yet discovered. This is embarrassing.
"My mistake, I meant "electrons". Somehow "neutrons" rolled off my toes- sorry, I meant my tongue." Alexander resolves it by pretending to have a tongue twister problem today. Covering up the new undiscovered particle with humor. Though this humor is wrong because electrons are not located inside the nucleus.
"That happens sometimes, Your Majesty. But I still do not understand by the "New-clear" energy you spoke off." Andrei scratches his head, puzzled by the Tsar's wording.
"I see, if that's the case then we won't be able to proceed but do you like the design though?" Alexander asked.
The two nodded awkwardly.
"Okay, you may now leave."
Andrei and his daughter prepared to leave but Alexander stopped them.
"Miss Elaina, may I talk to you for a moment? It won't take long."
"What do you want from her, Your Majesty?"
"Don't worry, it will only take a minute," Alexander said. "You may leave now. You too Rolan."
