Eagle Sauce: The 055 destroyer was launched into the sea just after the founding of the country?

In his office deep within the Kremlin, Joseph's face was as gloomy as the leaden sky before a storm. He stood at his large oak desk, clutching a document stamped "Top Secret" in his hand, his fingers turning slightly white from the pressure. Outside, Moscow's summer sun gently streamed across Red Square, a stark contrast to the stagnant air inside.

"Is this news correct?" Joseph's voice was low and dangerous, and his eyes were like ice piercing at Karpov, the head of the KGB intelligence department standing opposite him.

"Yes, Comrade Joseph Vissarionovich." Karpov's back was straight, beads of sweat on his forehead. "Our spies in the White House saw with their own eyes that the special plane of the Eagle Sauce envoy Blake arrived in Dragon Country yesterday and held secret talks with them for seven hours. We have reason to believe that they have reached some kind of peace agreement."

Joseph slammed the document down on the table, and the heavy oak made a dull thud. "And what about the military supplies Howell promised me?"

"It should have arrived in Vladivostok three days ago, but there has been no news so far, and our navy has not found any related ships in the Pacific." Karpov's voice gradually became smaller.

Joseph took a deep breath, turned, and walked to the window, his hands clasped behind his back. His shadow stretched in the sunlight, covering most of the room, a symbol of his decades of absolute authority in the Soviet Union. But at this moment, this iron-fisted leader was filled with unprecedented anger and anxiety.

"Howell, that despicable liar!" Joseph turned suddenly, his facial muscles twisted with anger. "He promised me to join forces to deal with the Dragon Kingdom and asked me to mobilize 15 legions to the Far East, consuming a lot of resources, while he himself secretly reached a reconciliation with the Dragon Kingdom? This is the integrity of capitalism!"

Karpov remained silent, wisely choosing not to incite the leader's wrath. In a corner of the office, Joseph's personal doctor quietly monitored his blood pressure, his finger gently pressing on the medication in his pocket.

"What's even more ridiculous," Joseph's voice was filled with sarcasm, "is that they joined forces to block our economic cooperation with Longguo, but Longguo not only didn't collapse, but instead made amazing breakthroughs in science and technology. Electric cars, stealth fighters, nuclear power plants, hybrid rice..." He slammed the table with each word, "And what about us and the Eagle Sauce? We're still fighting over the oil pipeline!"

Joseph suddenly stopped, his eyes sharp. "Comrade Karpov, tell me, how is the Dragon Nation's new weapons testing going?"

"According to our latest intelligence, they have completed the theoretical design phase and are making final engineering preparations. If nothing goes wrong, the first test explosion may be carried out by the end of this year or early next year."

"By the end of this year..." Joseph muttered to himself, a complex expression on his face, a mixture of vigilance against potential threats and a strange admiration. "How did they do it? How many years did it take us? How much resources and manpower did it cost? And Longguo, a country that was starving ten years ago, is now ahead of us?"

He paced over to a world map hanging on the wall, his finger tracing the long Sino-Soviet border. "Two years ago, when the news came that the J-20 had shot down an Eagle fighter jet, I thought it was a good opportunity to strike a blow against the capitalist camp. Unexpectedly, it actually pushed us closer together."

Joseph turned to Karpov, the anger in his eyes turning into calm calculation. "Immediately send a telegram to the Far Eastern Military District, instructing them to remain vigilant but refrain from any provocative actions. At the same time, contact the embassy in the Imperial Capital to inquire about the Dragon Nation's attitude."

"Yes, Comrade Joseph Vissarionovich." Karpov saluted but did not withdraw immediately.

"Anything else?" Joseph raised his eyebrows.

"Yes, sir." Karpov hesitated. "Regarding the supply problem of the Far Eastern Military District. If the Eagle Sauce's supplies really stop arriving, we need to immediately allocate resources from other regions. Otherwise, the army may face severe shortages within two weeks."

Joseph closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, his gaze was filled with determination: "Mobilize supplies from warehouses in Ukraine and Belarus. If necessary, requisition civilian resources."

"But, sir, the reserves in those areas are already—"

"Follow orders!" Joseph interrupted harshly. "I don't care what method you use, but within a month, the Far East Military Region's supplies must be guaranteed. If you fail to do so, you know the consequences."

Karpov's face paled instantly, and the sweat on his forehead became more obvious. "Yes, sir. I will complete the mission."

After Karpov left, Joseph returned to his desk and took out a bottle of vodka and a glass from the drawer. He poured himself a full glass and drank it all in one gulp. The hot alcohol slid down his throat, slightly soothing his tense nerves.

"Longguo..." he muttered to himself, his eyes fixed on a document on his desk. It was a report from the Far East last month detailing Longguo drone patrols along the border. These drones could operate normally in extreme cold conditions, flying at altitudes and for extended periods far exceeding the capabilities of existing Soviet technology. Even more disturbing, Soviet radar systems could only occasionally detect them.

Joseph picked up the phone and dialed a private number known only to a select few. “Comrade Yegorov, it’s me. Regarding the ‘special’ plan you mentioned last time, it’s time to discuss the details.”