Ch.412Modern Era: The Age of Grand Anastasia (11)

# South Vietnam

In South Vietnam, American forces were busy conducting operations in the northern region against the Chinese Freikorps.

President Nguyen of South Vietnam didn’t particularly try to stop them.

This was because his beloved Mini Anastasia had told him to let the American forces do as they pleased for a while.

And finally, they reached their limit.

The American forces fought worse than the South Vietnamese army and were only depleting South Vietnamese supplies. Even their decorative supplies.

Using this, South Vietnam’s President Nguyen pressured the American forces.

“What have American forces accomplished so far?”

“Soon we’ll be able to push out all the Chinese terrorists from Guangxi and Guangdong.”

Of course, the American forces felt wronged.

They had only been deployed for a week, and already the South Vietnamese government was pressuring them.

Though perhaps it was understandable, given they had achieved nothing in those few days.

“We’ve been handling American supplies all this time. Do you think we’re just helplessly suffering against Chinese terrorists because we lack ability?”

President Nguyen openly criticized the American commander.

“We’re getting used to combat now. We can push them back soon.”

“Even if we win, what about the chaos afterward? Are you planning to send political advisors?”

Even victory would create its own problems.

Let’s say they somehow managed to break through with America’s reckless tactics – what would happen to the remaining Chinese people in Guangxi and Guangdong?

Until now, South Vietnam had employed a carrot-and-stick approach, trying to prevent the Chinese in Guangdong from joining the Freikorps.

“We have the Aegis system for that.”

Aegis system. That’s a nice way of putting it.

The Aegis system only works against countries of similar technological level, at best against cyber attacks from countries with e-government systems. What use would it be against Chinese guerrillas?

Of course, from America’s perspective, the Aegis system was meant to defend America alone, a service exclusive to the United States that wasn’t shared even with small countries in Southeast Asia.

Offering it to South Vietnam showed how much they valued the country, but still.

“Isn’t the Aegis system defensive? Are the Chinese terrorists all hackers who will paralyze our government institutions? I can’t stand this anymore. I will contact the Constantinople Treaty Organization.”

“What are you saying?”

“We will request help from the Constantinople Treaty Organization and stabilize our society with AI Anastasia.”

Of course, this was essentially just an excuse.

With American forces making such a mess, he was using their incompetence as a pretext to align more closely with the Constantinople Treaty Organization.

America was furious at South Vietnam’s actions.

To be fair, South Vietnam had reclaimed their homeland, but who had made that possible? It was America who had supported South Vietnam at the United Nations.

America couldn’t just stand by and watch South Vietnam act this way.

“Let me warn you in advance. South Vietnam is a valuable ally to us. However, if you try to cozy up to the Constantinople Treaty Organization while we send soldiers to shed blood for your country, we cannot let this slide.”

America’s warning. This was clearly a threat that if South Vietnam didn’t fall in line, there would be consequences.

Since they couldn’t win logically against the Constantinople Treaty Organization, they planned to resolve the issue by intimidating South Vietnam directly.

But our President Nguyen would never submit to America.

After all, he had hundreds of thousands of elite troops hardened by fighting the Chinese army and “Mini Anastasia”!

“Ha, do as you please.”

Mini Anastasia had helped Nguyen lead his country until now.

And it was the same this time. He decided to put Mini Anastasia forward.

‘Mini Anastasia will handle this somehow, right?’

Thus, “South Vietnam’s crisis” was approaching.

Around that time, a new spacecraft launched into the sky from Russia.

People from the Constantinople Treaty Organization, including Russians, marveled at the sight of the spacecraft heading toward space.

On one hand, this was the power of the Constantinople Treaty Organization leading space technology!

All kinds of national pride was swelling, and…

“Nikolai V is heading toward the moon! Mother Tsarina is watching over us! Let’s succeed and become children she can be proud of!”

All citizens praised Mother Tsarina and hoped to become children she could be proud of.

The ultimate goal of the Constantinople Treaty Organization’s space colonization project was terraforming Mars.

As the first step, citizens of the Constantinople Treaty Organization flew to the moon once again.

The Constantinople Treaty Organization had no interest in the situation in South Vietnam.

* * *

The AI industry in this world is classified in a unique way.

Because of the AI Anastasia project I mentioned. Everything about AI has been redefined around AI Anastasia, and what were called AIs in the original world have fallen far behind, inferior to Anastasia.

So, what about space?

The Constantinople Treaty Organization flew to the moon in the 1970s.

Yuri Gagarin, unlike in the original history, didn’t die and was able to enjoy the glory of going to the moon.

Additionally, I’m not sure if it existed in this world, but in the original history, there was a Soviet cosmonaut whose spacecraft malfunctioned and crashed to the ground, leaving only part of what had been human. That didn’t happen here.

Pretty much everything succeeded on the first try.

And now, the Nikolai V spacecraft was launching toward space again.

Many spacecraft had been sent into space so far, and among them, the Nikolai was a spacecraft that would land directly on the moon.

There was also a space station.

“Wow, the spacecraft is flying away.”

I marveled at the spacecraft stretching toward the sky on the screen.

“The goal this time is to establish an actual base on the moon.”

Establishing a base on the moon. If this is achieved, it would truly be a new challenge for humanity toward space development.

Preserving Earth, the cradle of humanity, while expanding outward.

“When you say base, do you mean like setting up a camp?”

“Not quite a camp, but it’s like preliminary learning for going to Mars. We’ll be able to build structures.”

Maria III showed me the plan brought from the Constantinople Treaty Organization’s Gagarin Research Institute.

I see. So the primary goal is to build structures on the moon.

“But why is the first thing being built a statue of Anastasia?”

Why is my statue the first thing being built?

My statue, standing alone on the moon, seems pitiful.

“That’s because it’s Your Majesty, of course. Building Your Majesty’s statue is like staking a claim that the moon belongs to Your Majesty.”

What is this, some kind of lunar Nazi talk?

Okay, let’s say that’s a nice gesture, then when can we go to Mars?

Honestly, that’s all I’m curious about right now.

“I see. AI Anastasia, when will we be able to go to Mars?”

Full of anticipation, I casually asked AI Anastasia.

-“The important issue is whether we can create a base on the moon. At least we’ll be faster than the United States, so we have the upper hand regarding the moon.”

Right. That makes sense. We did get there first.

The upper hand regarding the moon. Now that I hear it, it feels quite novel.

It’s a result I created, after all.

This world, far more advanced than the original 21st century. Especially in space development, with European integration bringing together many talents focused on space exploration.

There’s also the effort not to fall behind the United States.

“The upper hand regarding the moon, huh.”

It really does sound new when I hear it.

-“Eventually, we’ll be able to colonize planets in space.”

AI Anastasia clenched her fist and spoke energetically.

This means space expansion is confirmed, right?

Come to think of it, there was a book I read long ago.

A book about humans who expanded into space, residing on Mars and establishing human planets throughout the universe, but were destroyed by an alien species beyond imagination.

Not stopping at destruction, the angered alien species devolved the surviving humans into various monsters unlike current humanity, only found in our imagination, and after the alien species left, they went through the process of evolving again.

Despite evolving, because they evolved from monster forms, they had nothing in common with current humanity.

I read such a book, and I wonder if something like that might happen in the future of this world?

“What if there are beings in space with superior intelligence and civilization, and we clash with them?”

At this point of space expansion, I can’t help but worry about that aspect.

No matter how I think about it, Earth doesn’t seem like the only planet with living organisms in this universe.

-“If that were the case, wouldn’t they come to us first? From their perspective, it would be better to strike before we venture into space.”

“That’s true.”

It was a foolish question.

They wouldn’t simply watch as we make such progress.

I’ve been having too many useless fantasies lately.

-“Master. And there’s news from Asia.”

“What is it?”

-“South Vietnam has declared that as soon as they suppress the Chinese Freikorps, they will officially adopt AI Anastasia, which is me.”

Declaration of AI Anastasia adoption. This would create a new Anastasia world connecting South Vietnam, Shandong Autonomous Region, and Western Japan.

If Balhae also passes the adoption, that’s the end.

America will only have the sea, and instead, America will use the Aegis system to block Anastasia’s intrusion.

An invisible competition with America.

Essentially, the era of US-China confrontation, called the Second Cold War in the original history.

In this era, it’s no different from the confrontation between the AI Anastasia Cybernetics Constantinople Treaty Organization, where AI has completely settled, and the Aegis System United States.

Of course, even that was largely due to the role of President Tactical Nuclear Scene thanks to Mini Anastasia.

“Hmm, Mini Anastasia is doing great work.”

This is all thanks to Mini Anastasia’s help, isn’t it?

-“At the same time, Balhae has officially declared the adoption of AI Anastasia.”

They must have been quite intimidated by South Vietnam’s declaration.

Well, I could overlook Balhae since I’m a man.

Of course, in return, I plan to firmly control Balhae’s communication network.

“Hmm, but won’t Balhae have issues with network usage fees? I heard they’re extremely expensive there.”

Is the network usage fee as crazy as in the original world?

Why are there so many similarities?

-“For Balhae, we can build an independent system different from existing communication networks. I can crush those bastards’ telecommunication companies.”

Oh, what a wonderful statement.

Right. Our AI Anastasia could create it instantly.

Moreover, Anastasias will help Korea while freely playing in the world created by satellite internet.

“This means we can completely open the Asian world.”

-“Yes. That seems to be the case.”

Does this mean America will only be left with the Atlantic, Pacific, and the American continent?

Small countries in Southeast Asia remain, but it’s uncertain how much strength they’ll provide.

While the Aegis shield world might block it, they can’t block all the small worlds of Mini Anastasia.

And shortly after, Original Maria came.

“Your Majesty. Your character is complete!”

“Oh. This resembles AI Anastasia.”

“I thought this would be cuter.”

That’s right. It does seem quite cute. Am I going to use this to work as a national pride VTuber?

Appealing AI Anastasia’s lovability.

“I’m surprised Original Maria could make something like this.”

“I can make anything for Your Majesty.”

She can make anything for me.

I was moved by those words.

Yes, this is the bond, the solidarity we’ve shared since Yekaterinburg.

*Sniff* This Mother Tsarina is touched.

“It’s good for me, but is this a side job?”

The pension alone should be enough to live on.

Honestly, the Kremlin Palace Maid Guard, and its representative, the Maria Family, have power that’s essentially that of behind-the-scenes influencers.

Of course, they don’t actually enter politics and manipulate things. They’ve rejected my talk of abdication so many times that I can’t even bring it up anymore.

I once tried to put forward Vladimir III’s son as a Tsar candidate but got caught and gave up.

“As I’m now entrusting things to the next generation of Maria, I felt I needed to do something, so I learned the technology with help from the AI team.”

Even so, is it this quick?

It’s truly amazing. Original Maria is the best.

As I’m looking at Original Maria with sparkling eyes, Maria III gives me a scary look.

No, why? Really. Isn’t it too much to be jealous of your grandmother?

“Let’s put VTuber Anastasia in the upper right corner. Hmm, but won’t there be people who oppose this?”

“Opposition?”

“I mean exactly what I said. For example, couldn’t some people accuse me of impersonating the Tsar?”

I think there might be some who would oppose. Like saying, “Who are you to impersonate the Tsar!” Even I, as a man, have been teased for impersonating the Tsar.