Japan Space-Time Strange Chronicles

Meeting in Cold Sweat

This will be this month's post.

Finally, disruptions will be introduced on the Empire's side... Please watch to see what happens.

- Kazuhiro Kasami

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November 25, 1750

Palin, Republic of Francesca

On this day, Henry Drake, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Grand Lago Kingdom, and Arnold Antia Mannenheim, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Finweden Sea Kingdom, were scheduled to hold a meeting.

The representatives and guards of Finweden seemed surprised by the Republic of Francesca's transformation. Since the commencement of exchanges with Japan, the cityscape has changed significantly. While predominantly constructed with wood and stone, the buildings displayed a highly refined design and practicality, surpassing even their own capital in development. Another source of amazement was the vehicles running through the streets. Those resembling the Yetisk Empire's Eizel tank (bearing a striking resemblance to the historical Panzer III Ausf. L with a 60-caliber 50 mm gun) and vehicles without turrets but with similar chassis were seen in action.

These were the Deserta tank and the Corliss assault gun (a StuG III Ausf. F lookalike, with a 17-pound gun similar to a Sherman Firefly) produced under license by Francesca from the Divine Kingdom of Anubisius. They seemed capable of holding their own against the home country's tank forces. Given the presence of long-barreled 50 mm guns and 17-pound guns, these vehicles could easily penetrate armor equivalent to tanks like the Panzer III or IV. Originally, both Panzer III and IV did not possess particularly high defensive capabilities. Compared to the Panther, incorporating sloped armor and the Tiger series with thick, heavily armored exteriors, the difference was clear. However, the introduction of these vehicles was a response to the overwhelming strength of the T-34 in the war against the Soviet Union. Without that influence, they might have undergone a different evolution. This, of course, remained a possibility.

While contemplating the cityscape, Arnold made his way to the designated meeting venue. It was the international conference center that Japan had previously mobilized police and riot squads to guard. Originally intended for larger conferences, it was chosen for this meeting to avoid escalating conflicts involving Japan. Upon reaching the conference venue, Arnold was further surprised. Despite being primarily made of wood, the atmosphere exuded sophistication and a luxurious feel. Moreover, despite the rain the previous day, there was no sign of water penetrating the wood. Instead, it seemed to sparkle as if freshly polished.

"The talks regarding the attack on Japanese ship... How will Grand Lago respond?"

"The performance of Grand Lago's carrier-based aircraft is unprecedented. We never imagined they would become so powerful as to sink a battleship."

While aware that their own warships' anti-air capabilities were not particularly high, they had undergone modernization, including retrofitting with high-angle guns and anti-aircraft machine guns, even for older battleships. However, despite these efforts, battleships considered robust as naval vessels sank without much resistance due to bombs dropped by enemy biplanes and the impact of "underwater running bombs."

"There was a mention in the reports of underwater running bombs... It's from the military, but what are your thoughts?"

"Come to think of it... in the Yetisk Empire's ruins, there is a weapon called a 'fish-shaped projectile,' commonly known as a 'torpedo,' designed to attack ships submerged in the sea. Torpedoes propel themselves underwater by rotating fins, so if they were used for propulsion, it would likely leave a wake similar to this underwater bomb."