"Your Majesty," Sergei said as he proffered a missive to Alexander, "a letter has arrived from Istanbul."

Alexander took the correspondence and scanned its contents. He emitted a snort. "The proposal has been met with success. The oil-mining companies of the Ruthenian Empire have been granted exclusive rights to extract oil from their oil-rich fields. Mark my words, Sergei, he who holds sway over this black gold holds sway over the world."

"I comprehend the gravity of the situation, Your Majesty," Sergei concurred, nodding in approval. "Oil is an indispensable commodity, without which life would be a harsh and inhospitable experience. It is also the ones that make a country economically strong. This recent development brings us one step closer to controlling the Bosphorus Strait, does it not?"

"Indeed, it does. But the timing remains uncertain. The Sultan is struggling to maintain the cohesion of his Empire as increasingly radical groups emerge to challenge his absolute rule. Yet, he remains aligned with our interests. Our strategy must be to tempt him with irresistible offers until his defenses are lowered, at which point we can seize the Strait as easily as taking candy from a baby."

Sergei chuckled at Alexander's analogy. "It is pleasing to hear that we are progressing towards our goal. The Bosphorus Strait acts as a fetter and a bottleneck to our naval forces stationed in the region, and the key to unlocking their passage into the Mediterranean Sea. Though I must say, why don't we provide arms to the radical groups and install a puppet leader that we can control?"

"As I previously mentioned, Sultan's actions remain in line with our interests. However, should he deviate from this, he will be subject to disciplinary measures. Another matter addressed during the meeting was the fishing rights dispute in the Black Sea, an issue brought to light by the Anatolian Empire.

"Perhaps you are too consumed with domestic affairs?""That may be true, but the outcomes are still unsatisfactory. To think that there are traitors within our government aiding enemy states by smuggling firearms is disheartening. How is the investigation proceeding?"

"The Foreign Intelligence Services have uncovered actionable intelligence within the Republic of China. It is believed that the leader of the Communist forces, Wang Jiaxian, has established direct contact with the gunrunners. They are utilizing Ruthenian technology to create unrest in the country, and the Republic of China's government is pressuring us to take action or face dire consequences.

"Hmph," Alexander scoffed. "We have provided them with everything - weapons, training, intelligence - yet they continue to fail. Inform them that we will do everything within our power to prevent the flow of firearms into the hands of the Communists."

"You seem to hold a strong disdain for Communism, Your Majesty."

"It's not that I harbor a hatred for Communism, rather the idea of a world in which wealth and lands are shared equally is simply illogical. As capitalists, it is only natural for us to have a distaste for their ideology, wouldn't you agree?"

Sergei nodded in agreement. "Indeed, Your Majesty. Capitalism is built on the principles of individualism and the pursuit of profit, while Communism advocates for collective ownership and equal distribution of wealth. These two ideologies are fundamentally incompatible."action

Alexander leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers. "It's not just a matter of personal beliefs, Sergei. The success of our Empire rests on the stability and prosperity of our economy. Communism, with its disregard for private property and the profit motive, would threaten the very foundations of our society."

"Precisely, Your Majesty," Sergei concurred. "We must continue to be vigilant and proactive in our efforts to counteract the spread of Communist ideology. The future of our Empire depends on it."

Alexander nodded in agreement. "Agreed. Now, let us turn our attention to more pressing matters. We have a lot of work to do, and I do not wish to waste any more time on idle discourse...Oh.""What is it, Your Majesty?" Sergei inquired.

Alexander hesitated as if he had remembered something. "Oh, I just remembered. I have an engagement to attend in two hours' time. The commissioning ceremony of a ship at the St. Petersburg port."

Sergei's expression brightened in recognition. "Ah, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier."

Alexander's face lit up with excitement. "Indeed. An aircraft carrier that can traverse the world without refueling, a truly revolutionary concept in propulsion. Though it is just a new way to boil water into steam and use the said steam to turn the turbines, which in turn, turns the propeller shaft."

"Your Majesty, If I'm being honest, I'm curious as to how a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier works. If you would be so kind as to explain how it works in a way that I can digest easily."

Alexander hummed in thought, pondering for a simple explanation that he can use to teach Sergei.

"A nuclear-powered aircraft carrier uses a nuclear reactor to generate steam which powers turbines that drive the ship's propellers. The main advantage of using a nuclear reactor as opposed to a conventional fossil fuel-powered engine is that a nuclear reactor doesn't need to refuel very often, which allows the ship to remain at sea for much longer periods of time. Think of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier like a car that runs on a battery instead of gasoline. Just like a battery-powered car can drive for a long time without stopping to refuel, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier can operate for many years without refueling. This allows the ship to be deployed on long-term missions, such as patrolling the open ocean, without having to stop to refuel."

"But batteries also ran out of juice..." Sergei pointed.

"That's true, batteries eventually lose their charge and need to be recharged or replaced. However, the analogy with a battery-powered car is still useful because it helps explain the basic concept of how a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier operates.

In a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the nuclear reactor is like a battery. It provides the energy needed to power the ship's propulsion system and generate electricity for other shipboard systems. Unlike a battery, however, the nuclear reactor doesn't run out of energy. Instead, the reactor uses nuclear fuel to produce heat, which is then used to generate steam that powers the ship's turbines. As long as there is fuel in the reactor, it can continue to produce heat and power the ship. This is why a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier can operate for many years without refueling."

"I see, thank you for making me able to understand such a hard concept. One last thing, Your Majesty. May I come with you to the ship commissioning ceremony later?"

"I don't mind," Alexander said.