Cold War Rivals in a New World

Chapter 7

A conference between the Empire of Mu and the Holy Milishial Empire.

"There is clear evidence that the weapons the Americans and Soviets claim to possess are indeed real. During their joined intervention in Qua Toyne, American planes downed Lourian wyverns without the wyverns ever spotting them. There are multiple confirmed reports from on the ground that the guided weapons are real."

Elizabeth Clarke, the head of the Mu Empire stated.

"I still want nothing to do with these charlatans. Their weapons are as impractical as they are impressive. They cannot have more than a few of them."

Mirishial the VIIIth deflected her arguments.

"Still, you cannot deny that they would be very useful should a war with the Gra Valkan Empire break out, which could be at any minute. There is no point in arguing against that."

"No. Their weapons will be useless. We have to rely on ourselves. These nations are largely isolationist in nature. They do what is needed to sustain themselves. No more, no less. The only way to get them involved in something is if they are attacked. Kick the hornets nest, so to speak."

"Allow me to be frank, but your supremacy complex is clouding your judgement. They are useful allies, not even just for their weapons. To sustain such weapons, they will need massive logistics and manufacturing bases. And everything we have points to that being the case. Not at least opening trade relations with them is not very smart."

"They are no good. There is more harm in engaging with them than not doing so. They seem peaceful, but under that cover of peacefulness hides a mountain of dangerous ideology."

"Sorry for being so blunt, but each time I try to convince you of the good they can bring, your responses become more and more unhinged. If you cannot show the tiniest bit of open-mindedness, then there is no point in trying to get reason into you. We cannot allow ourselves to be misled by hubris."

"This is not hubris, it is realism! The point I am trying to make is that we cannot rely on them for anything! Be that defense, trade or whatever!"

"If you really think they are unreliable, we can make an experiment. The Mu Empire will ally itself with the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, as they call themselves, and you will not. We will see who does better when attacked."

Elizabeth Clarke said, leaving Mirishial the VIIIth by himself, as she went to her sleeping quarters.

"I can't let him fall to hubris. Even though he is increasingly unhinged and unwilling to accept reality, I must convince him to ally himself with the Americans and Soviets. Otherwise, the Gra Valkan Empire will take over. It's only a matter of time until it attacks."

She thought to herself.

King Mirishial the VIIIth was rambling to himself.

"Those "Americans" and "Soviets" are nothing but trouble, ever since they arrived. I don't care about their weapons or economy, I care about what helps my people. And they will not. They are unhinged, powerhungry narcissists who think they are the top dogs in this world when they really aren't. They are arrogant, unaware bastards who will flinch at the slightest of shows of force. I will not have anything to do with them."

His rambling continued on, until he fell asleep.

3rd of May 1990, Lockheed production facility for the YF-22, 7:32 pm.

The night shift workers would not be up until much later, even though the noise produced by the evening shift workers was substantial. The sound of welders, and mechanical screwdrivers was audible throughout the assembly hall, as two prototypes were constructed simultaneously, one with YF-120 engines, and one with YF-119 engines.
The prototype using the YF-120 was further along, but not by much. Overall, it could be said that work was progressing. Workers had assembled fuselage sections and engines already, with all the smaller parts as well. The workers working on the cockpit were much quieter, as their job mostly consisted of installing electronic systems, the seat and other, smaller components.
At 10 pm, the nightshift would take over, and do much more complicated work, such as installing control surfaces, engine nacelles, connect piping and wiring, and integrate the cockpit with the rest of the aircraft.
At 10pm, the shift manager for both the evening and night shift wanted to deliver a motivational speech to his employees, so that they would not be grumpy and irritable.
As the clock struck 10 pm, the night shift workers and evening shift workers rallied in front of the two aircraft.