True to her words, the Reich Marshal soon leads the Rusviet delegation to another Leman Russ, parked inside a concrete hangar. When the Rusviets see the second tallic behemoth, they notice technicians and engineers performing external work on the tank. So are calibrating the engine block, and others are applying a new coat of paint to the vehicle. Regardless of their tasks, they do add credibility to the Leman Russ design, thus reinforcing the idea that the Reich is Hellbent on mass-producing the armored beast in the mind of the foreign delegation. Unlike the prior Leman Russ which was explained to be a Breakthrough Pattern with heavy weaponry, this Leman Russ is designated an Assault Pattern. Ard with a generous amount of automatic weapons, the Assault Pattern can shred anything but the most heavily armored targets.
Instead of the 150mm howitzer of the Breakthrough Pattern, the Assault Pattern features twin 75mm long-barrelled cannons in the turret, with a pair of MG-35s for the tank commander. Down in the hull, the 57mm gun taken from the Panzer III M is replaced with a pair of 37mm autocannons. The sa can be said for the side sponsons which are now fitted with a pair of 37mm autocannons and a MG-35 machine gun each.
When Rokossovsky was first introduced to the Leman Russ, he could imagine a potential infantry ambush might be able to overwhelm the tank with accurate use of AT weapons. However, such a tactic has a significantly lesser degree of success when an infantry unit faces the Assault Pattern Leman Russ. The amount of suppressive this Leman Russ variant can dish out is just too great for anything short of a heavily armored counter. Even then, an armored unit may not be able to counter any Leman Russ the Belkans will field, owing to its absurd protection and firepower on all of its variants. The only thing Rokossovsky can see that will work to a certain extent is overwhelming artillery fire or airstrike. Throw enough firepower into a problem, and pray it might be solved. It's a solution that worked when the first tank ever graced the battlefield, hopefully, it still holds up against the behemoth the Belkans are constructing... Is this really what Rokossovsky should be thinking about right now though? Unless sothing seriously goes off the rails, Belka and Rusviet will be best of buddies for the foreseeable future. Even with his ambition, Stalin is not that oblivious to Belka's strength and its necessities in his grand vision.
... Rokossovsky hopes he hasn't jinxed himself.
Still, when it cos to the Leman Russ, the Marshal allows them to closely inspect the tank while she is suddenly needed elsewhere. As the Rusviets start to mingle with the Belkan chanics under supervision, Rokossovsky and his more knowledgeable subordinates notice an interesting lineup. By the sides of the hangar are damaged tal plates, held aloft by trolleys and steel fras with nurous scribbles on the plates describing armor thickness and the cause of damage. What catches Rokossovsky's attention is the armor plates that are angled at a 60-degree slope with thickness ranging from 45mm to 60mm, all of them are cleanly penetrated through with holes of varying sizes. While it may be a stretch, or it's just Rokossovsky's paranoia acting up, the Rusviet General thinks that the plates are arranged in a very specific manner, very much akin to a program that is being developed in the Union. The T-34 Affordable Universal Tank program. If his suspicion is proven true...
Rokossovsky needs to verify the veracity of his suspicion, but he will need to do this subtly. From what he has seen so far, this place is a military proving ground, and the hangars around him are where the Belkans store their projects and materials for testing. It may be a risky move to gain access to the other hangars, but Rokossovsky is confident in so of his n's subterfuge. It also helps that there's a sudden onset of rain that occurs in the area, it will help mask any act that's about to be committed. The Rusviet General needs to distract the Belkan guards sohow...
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"Seriously, raining?"
"Well, since you already slackened the security around the hangars to invite the Rusviets into making a move, I figured why not help facilitate it?"
"Heh, if Rokossovsky and his n manage to fuck up their covert actions with your subtle help, I won't even know whether to laugh or cry."
"We shall see then, my dear. Are the guards there instructed with anything?"
"They're on a standard guard command, I can't just make it too easy for them by telling the guards to ignore everything."
"Heh... I can see where you're coming from."
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That was quite lucky of them.
When the rain arrived, Rokossovsky managed to convince the guards to join them inside the Leman Russ' hangar, if only to not let themselves be soaked. The Rusviet General then had so of his n gathered around and shared their cigarettes and stories with the Belkans, creating a distraction that lasted just long enough for two of his n to sneak out the side door of the hangar.
Now that these two Rusviets are outside, they realize sothing they missed earlier. It's raining, and they will be drenched the mont they step beyond the cover provided by the hangar. If these two Rusviets are soaked when all of them are supposedly still inside the sowhat busied Leman Russ hangar, a brief questioning will be the last of their concern. Thinking fast, one of the Rusviets searches around the area, seeing what seems to be a waterproof tarp covering a waste disposal area. The man motions to his buddy, with the latter gritting his teeth before pulling on the dirty tarp and holding it over for their heads. Together, the pair dashes straight to the hangar across after ensuring the coast is clear. Ducking in the shadow of the building, the Rusviets huddle together, with one of them pulling out a lockpicking set while another trying to peer through the viewing slit on the door.
"You always bring a set with you?"
"It's my good luck charm, never fail when I need it." Their conversation occurs in hushed whispers. Seconds later, the Rusviets unlock the door with a soft click, allowing them entry into the first hangar.
Coming inside, the first thing the two Rusviets see is a stack of boxes with Belkan markings. One of them tries to read the labels on the boxes but ultimately gives up when he doesn't understand the Belkan classifications. It's also unwise to pry open these boxes so the best thing they can do is to maneuver around them. After walking ten steps, they reach the corner of the hangar where a workstation is set up. On it are papers and instrunts, with the forr being what the Rusviets have a keen interest in. One of them moves closer, reaching out into their pocket for a Minox subminiature cara, sothing that was given to him stealthily by Rokossovsky. When the Rusviet begins the process of photoing the papers, he also gleans their contents, feeling disturbed by what he is seeing.
"What in tarnation...?
"Luchenko, you may wanna take a look at this..."
Turning around, the one holding the cara is shocked when his friend pulls down a tarp, thus revealing a tank that is coated in a distinct Rusviet military green. On instinct, the forr snaps an imdiate photo of the tank while the latter comnts in a shocked whisper.
"What the Hell... Isn't this...?"
"The T-34. Fucking Hell the Belkans sohow acquired one." The cara comnts while his partner moves to touch and inspect the tank in disbelief.
"... Damn it. This is a legit tank. The armor seems solid enough and the tracks are used well enough if we go by the mud that is still on them. Heck, there's even so of them on the driver's hatch and whatever the Belkans did, there are gun residuals on the barrel."
"Since when did you beco a tank expert."
"Since the tank still needs to roll through mud and dirt like us, dumbass. Unless you think it's better to try and force the hatch open for the internal?"
The caraman shakes his head before snapping pictures of the details listed by his friend. "Better not risk it, the last ti we saw one in action back ho, the hatch groaned like a bitch."
"Yeah... We might have missed the significance of this finding if General Rokossovsky hadn't brought it to one of the T-34's trials. The General won't like this news, Luchenko."
"Neither will Moscow, comrade. Just the Belkan Leman Russ will get the capital's pants in a twist, imagine just how devastating this news will be. I won't be surprised if we see soone or an entire group, being axed for this. The T-34 is too big, too obvious for an undercover act of any kind, unless..."
"The Belkans received help to get a whole operational unit down here... Fuck."
"Fuck... Co on, I think we have overstayed our welco at this point. Let's just double back and don't risk it any further. This intel is too hot to how on for long."
"Agreed."
Making their way out silently while covering their track, even making sure the door is relocked, the pair of Rusviets rejoins the delegation surprisingly without any hitch. General Rokossovsky has been covering for them real nicely, so for now, none of the Belkans seem any wiser. The pair breathes a suppressed sigh of relief when the sky clears up and their tour is resud normally. Covertly, the Rusviet caraman passes the Minox to Rokossovsky, thus ensuring the contents are in safer hands. Though none of them are looking forward to unveiling the photos inside any ti soon.
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"For so reason, I can't help but feel bad for Mikhail Koshkin, the man just wanted to build tanks."
"Stealing his blueprint is much easier than stealing a tank. All we need is to build the tank up from scratch and create the illusion that we stole their tank wholesale, sothing that is quite unheard of. This way, Stalin's paranoia will be acting up in full swing."
"Thus canceling the Rusviet's acquisition of T-34 tanks at the very least, worse, Koshkin's team will even face the firing squad."
"Hopefully, it won't be to such an extent. Koshkin is a rare talent, after all, his gift is better off used elsewhere."
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