International Tankery

Chapter 2: Enter The Soviet Union

Filip and Bogdan were standing in the hallway talking. Bogdan asked Filip, "Где им падне напамет да они могу нама да говоре кога смемо да пустимо на наше тенковске тимове? Ово је најглупља ствар који сам икад чуо. (Where do they get the nerve to tell us who we can allow onto our tankery teams? This is most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.)" Filip told Bogdan, "Знам Богдане, знам. Али морамо да пустимо дипломатију да ради свој посао сада. (I know Bogdan, I know. But we have to let diplomacy do it's job now.)"

Bogdan said, "Ја немогу да подразумем њихово размишљање. Ми смо освојили турнире не само кроз Југославији, него смо и дванаест пута освојили Европски турнир. (I just can't understand their thinking. We won tournaments, not just in Yugoslavia, but we also won the European tournament twelve times.)" Filip replied, "Сигуран сам да ће друг Тито да направи тачну одлуку. До сад никад није погрешио. (I'm sure that comrade Tito will make the right decision. He wasn't wrong before.)" Bogdan told Filip, "Верујем и ја да ће Тито тачну одлуку да направи, али и он је човек, мора понекад и он да погреши. (I also believe that Tito's going to make the right decision, but he's also human, even he's bound to make mistakes.)" Filip chuckled.

With Maho and Erika

Maho was worried. She loved Filip, and didn't want to go to war against him, even if it was a mock one. She asked Erika, "How could my mother give them such an ultimatum? It's not fair towards them." Erika told Maho, "Maho, sensha-dō was created exclusively for girls. Boys have no place in that. Besides, your mother is doing the right thing. I'm willing to bet that Filip is incredibly stupid and a complete incompetent."

Maho grabbed Erika by the collar and slammed her against the wall. To say that Erika was scared, would be an understatement. In a deathly voice, Maho said, "Don't you ever talk about him like that again. He's fully competent and he's ten times smarter than you. If anything, you're stupid and incompetent." Erika asked, "Maho, why are you defending him?" Maho let Erika go, and sighed. She told her, "Filip is my boyfriend. My mother doesn't know about him, as you know know, she doesn't approve of me hanging out with boys and dating." Erika told her, "You have to tell her." Maho shook her head and said, "No, I don't. And if you tell her, there will be dire consequences."  Erika gulped and said, "I understand commander." Erika asked her, "How long have you been together?" Maho told Erika, "5 years." Erika whistled in amazement. Shiho Nishizumi usually finds these things out quickly.

With Tito

Tito was debating whether to accept their ultimatum or accept the mock war. He knew that Filip and Bogdan would easily win. Hell, they drove out the German wehrmacht out of Yugoslavia in a mere two weeks, and with nothing but infantry. If he accepted the war, any victory could be a huge moral booster for the nation, and they could prove their might as a united Slavic nation. He knew that other countries were coming and would base his decision on what the majority chose.

With the Shiho Nishizumi

Shiho Nishizumi was smiling on the inside. She knew that Tito wouldn't risk a war, even a mock one. But she couldn't have been any more wrong. Afterall, Tito wasn't a fool. What she also didn't know, was that Shichiro Kodama also invited the Soviet Union, the United States of America, and Singapore, to the meeting.

Back with Filip and Bogdan

Filip and Bogdan were still talking when Filip noticed someone that they knew. Filip said, "Comrade General secretary, comrade Vlashenkov." Bogdan looked over at who Filip was talking to, and said, "It's good to see you comrades."

Dimitri Vlashenkov

Filip asked, "What are you doing here?" Stalin said, "We have a meeting with the Japanese Sensha-dō Federation. Why are you guys here?" Bogdan told them, "Same reason. Who else is coming that we don't know about?" Vlashenkov said, "Rumors have it that the United States and Singapore are also coming." Stalin said, "There is no doubt in my mind, that the Americans will choose the mock war." Filip said, "We mustn't be quick to assume. Perhaps president Kennedy, may choose a more peaceful and diplomatic approach. Perhaps, he will try and reach a compromise with them."

Vlashenkov said, "Well, anyways we have to get going to our meeting. I hope for our sakes, that you are right."

Filip muttered, "So do I, Vlashenkov, so do I."

With the Japanese Sensha-dō Federation, and the Soviet Union

Stalin and Vlashenkov were given the same ultimatum. Vlashenkov wouldn't sit here, and take the crap that was being served to them. He told Stalin, "Товарищ Сталин это предложение - шутка. Мы не можем даже думать о том, чтобы принять его. Если они хотят запретить нам, мальчишкам, заниматься танками, то пусть докажут свою силу на войне, как советские трудящиеся и наша славная красная армия докажут свою мощь и несокрушимость перед Родиной. (Comrade Stalin this offer is a joke. We cannot even thunk of accepting it. If they want to forbid us boys from doing tankery, then let them prove their strength in a war with just as the Soviet workers and our glorious red army will prove their might and undying spirit towards the motherland.)"

Stalin looked at Vlashenkov and said, "Вы правы, товарищ Влашенков. Если они хотят насильно запретить мальчикам заниматься любимым делом, то они должны сделать это дорогой ценой. (You're right comrade Vlashenkov. If they wish to forcefully ban boys from doing something they love, then they shall do it at a great cost.)" Stalin looked at the members of the Japanese Sensha-dō Federation and told them, "We have our decision, but I believe that we should wait for any other countries to make up their minds, and you can get all of our answers at once." Chiyo Shimada nodded and said, "That would be acceptable."

Stalin and Vlashenkov walked out of the conference room, and Vlashenkov told Filip, "Every country will give their decisions at the same time." Filip nodded, and went with Tito and Bogdan back to the hotel.

With Vlashenkov and Stalin

Vlashenkov and Stalin were sitting on a bench smoking. Vlashenkov told Stalin, "Я считаю, что выбор войны был правильным решением. Мне нравится заниматься танкостроением, и я не хочу отказываться от него без боя. (I believe that choosing the war, was the right decision. I enjoy doing tankery, and don't want to give it up without a fight.)" Stalin nodded and told Vlashenkov, "Мы должны опасаться того, что выберут американцы. Если они тоже выберут войну, мы должны показать, что мы сильнее тиранических капиталистов. (We must be wary of what the Americans will choose. If they choose the war as well, we must show that we are stronger than the tyrannical capitalists.)" Vlashenkov said, "Понял товарища Сталина. Я сделаю все, чтобы наша армия не подвела славную и могучую Советскую Родину. Память и наследие Ленина будут сохранены. (Understood comrade Stalin. I will make sure that our army doesn't fail the glorious and powerful Soviet motherland. Lenin's memory and legacy will be preserved.)"