“Mr. President!”

The other admiral of the navy, who was also the overall commander of this joint military exercise, was a little surprised to hear that the president wanted to see him. But soon, the smile on his face turned serious.

Immediately after, something unusual occurred, noticed by both Federation personnel and other observers, including military attachés from various countries.

The previously aggressive formation of the Federation fleet suddenly shifted into a defensive posture. The change was highly noticeable.

Not only that, but parts of their drill were also cut. In this small-scale skirmish, the Federation fleet performed the worst, taking down the fewest target ships. It suddenly seemed like they were… scheming something.

The Gephra fleet’s commander was more sensitive than most. His sharp instincts quickly picked up the subtle shifts in the Federation’s formation.

“They’re moving into a defensive position. Something must be happening that we don’t know about. Where are their submarines?”

“The submarines are still docked at their designated locations.”

“Keep a close watch on them. If any sub dives, inform me immediately. Understood?”

After giving those instructions, the Gephra commander still wasn’t at ease. He ordered his fleet to adjust as well. Their ship angles shifted—some by over thirty degrees. It was a change that didn’t go unnoticed.

From a third-party perspective, it looked like both sides… were preparing to guard against each other.

Were they planning to use this military exercise as cover for a sneak attack?

The two most powerful naval forces in the world suddenly altering their formations defensively was not something that would go unnoticed. If any other nation failed to catch the implications of this shift, they likely wouldn’t have survived previous wars.

At that moment, the leaders of all other countries were thinking the same thing: what if Gephra and the Federation started fighting again?

Would they choose a side—or stay out of it?

Would they be the first casualties?

To avoid becoming collateral damage in a clash of giants, other nations also began adjusting their stances. Some weaker navies even signaled mechanical failures, requesting tugboats to pull them out of the exercise area.

And just like that, what was supposed to be a thrilling military exercise became increasingly perplexing.

Due to the adjusted angles, target ships were no longer in proper firing arcs. Many ships could only use their forward or aft guns, losing the overwhelming effect of a full broadside.

It became dull and uninspiring.

Less than an hour after these changes began, the Gephra ambassador requested a meeting with the President. Meanwhile, all national leaders were in close communication.

Of course, none of this really concerned Lynch. He, Truman, and some military officers were grilling meat, drinking beer, and casually watching the increasingly tense joint exercise.

“Our new navy ships will take another four or five years to hit the water. That’s a bit too long…” Truman casually brought up the topic of upcoming military equipment.

The room was filled with military personnel—both army and navy. The highest rank among them was colonel, but each represented a general behind the scenes.

Each of them was a core figure within their respective factions.

The military operated independently of both the political system and the Ministry of Defense, structured almost like a dictatorship. Senior officers held near-absolute authority over their subordinates.

Some have criticized this lack of transparency, but that’s exactly what defines the military.

If the armed forces—responsible for national sovereignty and security—became like a public parliament, that would be the real disaster.

Truman, a politician from a military background, now held a high position and had strong backing from the military. New-generation officers were often sent to connect with him and build ties.

Having someone in government to speak on your behalf—especially someone with clout—made all the difference.

As for Lynch, he was considered a friendly and respected ally. The naval officers liked him.

Once the discussion turned technical, Lynch fell silent. The navy officers followed Truman’s lead and continued the conversation. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

“Some of our slightly outdated training ships are being refitted. They can’t handle long-range missions, but they’ll do fine for coastal operations. We should have a temporary fleet ready by next year.”

A navy colonel sighed. “Building warships takes too long. If only it were as easy as equipping the army.”

“If you want to switch over to the army, we’d gladly trade,” an army officer joked. “We’ve already started rolling out new gear—you’ll love it!”

The navy had already proven its value, so instead of being downsized, it was expanding. The army, on the other hand, was still undergoing small cuts.

However, there would be no more cuts next year. At least for the next few years, the army would remain stable—after all, it was the backbone and final defense of the homeland.

The new army equipment included standardized weapons—two semi-automatic rifles, several new pistols, some new machine guns, and upgraded artillery. Basically the same tools, but improved in performance.

Along with that, all calibers were now fully unified across all military-industrial manufacturers. Regardless of which company produced the weapons, they would use the same specs.

This was the Defense Ministry’s decision, with logistics efficiency as the top priority.

Their reasoning was that a defensive war on Federation soil was unlikely. A proactive war abroad was more probable—making logistics critically important.

While the group chatted excitedly, Lynch quietly watched TV, eating barbecue and sipping beer. No one spoke to him, and he didn’t speak either. Yet he didn’t seem lonely.

Suddenly, Truman asked, “Lynch, what do you think the war of the future will look like?”

It was a sharp question. From decades ago until now, war had evolved at a pace too fast for many to keep up.

The emergence of mobile units and advanced weapons had transformed warfare. The era of lining up and exchanging volleys was gone forever.

Artillery—especially heavy-caliber—now ruled the battlefield. Whether bunkers or trenches, nothing held up under a concentrated barrage.

Like every phase of warfare, once it reaches a certain point, it stagnates. In recent years, not much had changed. Slightly buzzed and creatively free, the officers began to speculate about future warfare.

Lynch took a sip of his beer. The malt flavor was strong. He set the bottle down and thought for a moment before saying, “We have soldiers on land. We have soldiers in the sea. Where else should we have soldiers?”

It was a curious question. The officers, some slow, some quick-witted, began to ponder.

Truman, not too drunk, seemed to already have an idea. In a cautious tone, he answered, “In the sky?”

Lynch nodded. “Yes, in the sky.”

“Land, sea, and air—launching simultaneous attacks on all fronts is the future of warfare. The age of giant battleships will be ended by the age of the sky.”

Just as Lynch finished speaking, a navy officer interrupted him. “Impossible!”

“Mr. Lynch, I admit… your idea is interesting, but it’s not realistic.”

“I know those aircraft—barely able to carry two people. Add anything more and they can barely get off the ground. How could something like that possibly replace the navy?”

He raised his voice. “What, are they going to fly into warships and crash into them?”

People burst into laughter, the officer included. “Those aluminum-covered wooden frames—other than smearing some blood on the deck, what else can they do?”

“Oh right, they might wear out our cleaning crews!”

As the officers laughed loudly and drank their beers, Mr. Truman didn’t join in. Instead, he was seriously considering the idea.

Lynch remained calm. He wasn’t the least bit offended. A civilized man doesn’t get angry just because a group of backward savages mocks his top hat.

At this very moment, he was certain: the future belonged to the skies. These men would eventually witness the dawn of an aerial era.

The more they laughed now, the more ashamed they’d be in the future.

“Could aircraft really reach that point, Lynch?” Truman asked, more rational than the others. “I know they can carry light weapons, but ship-targeting weapons seem too heavy. A single torpedo weighs almost as much as those aircraft. How could they ever dominate the battlefield?”

Lynch pulled out a pack of cigarettes and lit one. Exhaling smoke, he replied, “Technology is always advancing.”

“When people first used muskets that couldn’t kill an enemy fifty yards away, they never imagined there’d one day be oversized muskets—cannons—firing dozens of pounds of explosives and killing groups at once.”

“Right now, many see aircraft as a dangerous hobby for the rich. But why couldn’t they one day carry a torpedo or two?”

“Specialized bombs. Specialized torpedoes. The times are changing. That day isn’t far off.”

Truman looked thoughtfully at Lynch. “So that’s why you started an aircraft company—for the skies of the future?”

“Maybe it is. Maybe it isn’t. Someone has to feel their way toward the future. I’m not the first, and I won’t be the last.”

“But on this, I’m confident—I’ll be the one who succeeds.”