"Mr. Mavi, I sincerely appreciate the hospitality extended by both the Ukrainian and Russian military! Thank you very much!" said the elderly Mr. Yuan Kaimin, a senior naval officer, as he extended both hands to shake Mavi's.
"You're very welcome. We're just fulfilling our duty as hosts," Mavi replied modestly.
What he had managed to accomplish was truly impressive. At times, even he felt as if he were dreaming, unsure of how he had pulled it all off…
"Alright, everyone, the joint military exercise is about to begin. It's time to board the ship!" Mavi said with a smile to the gathered naval officers. He was looking forward to the spectacular display that was about to unfold—it was, after all, his first time experiencing such an event.
Twenty minutes later, the group split into two teams and successfully boarded a Type 956 destroyer. The warship slowly set sail, carrying the Chinese naval officers toward the Black Sea.
Two 8,000-ton Sovremenny-class destroyers cruised side by side across the vast sea. Towering waves crashed against the ships' bows, sending white sprays of seawater into the air.
Inside the destroyer's command center, Mavi, Mr. Yuan Kaimin, and others stood watching as the massive vessel cut through the waters. The sight stirred a sense of awe and exhilaration within them.
Compared to sports cars or armored vehicles, warships—the true behemoths of military machinery—were far more capable of satisfying a man's innate desire for conquest.
After about 25 minutes of sailing, Mavi suddenly noticed several Grisha-class frigates emerging from both sides of the sea, advancing toward them at full speed!
"Captain, the Black Sea Fleet has assembled. We are now proceeding toward the designated location at a speed of 27 knots per hour," the ship's first officer reported inside the command center.
"Understood. Relay the order to maintain this speed and continue forward," the captain commanded before glancing at Mavi, who stood beside him.
Before setting sail, he had learned that this joint exercise with the Russian Navy was made possible thanks to Mavi's generosity. Even though it was his first time meeting Mavi, the navy captain paid him extra attention, knowing the young man's pivotal role in making this event happen.
After another 30 minutes of sailing, the captain suddenly picked up his binoculars and carefully observed the sea ahead.
"Mr. Mavi, your country's navy is positioned directly ahead on the left. We are about to send them a rendezvous request," the captain said, handing the binoculars to Mavi.
However, instead of using them himself, Mavi respectfully passed the binoculars to Mr. Yuan Kaimin. "Mr. Yuan Kaimin, the Russian naval fleet is about to join forces with the Ukrainian Navy. They are positioned just ahead on our left."
In the military world, hierarchy and seniority mattered. A single misstep, even in small details, could ruin a person's future. Mavi saw no issue in letting Mr. Yuan look first—it made no difference to him.
Seeing Mavi's gesture, Mr. Yuan Kaimin gave him an approving look.
From the beginning—whether it was the Dongfeng sedan, the Varyag aircraft carrier, or now the joint Ukraine-Russia military exercise—Mr. Yuan had taken note of all of Mavi's actions and remembered them well.
To be honest, this young Russian was truly exceptional. He possessed the right temperament, was composed and mature, and had the courage and meticulousness necessary for leadership. Such talent was rare.
"Thank you, Mavi. I truly appreciate everything you've done," Mr. Yuan Kaimin said sincerely.
"You're too kind, Mr. Yuan," Mavi replied as he accepted the binoculars back. Through the lenses, he saw the Russian Navy approaching with two additional Sovremenny-class destroyers, accompanied by several Grisha-class frigates, forming a formidable military exercise fleet.
Thirty minutes later, the Russian fleet officially rendezvoused with the Ukrainian fleet.
Four Sovremenny-class destroyers, each displacing 8,000 tons, sailed in unison across the open sea. The waves created by their movement made for a stunning spectacle, prompting photographers aboard helicopters to frantically press their camera shutters, capturing this historic moment.
Surrounding the destroyers, dozens of escorting frigates spread across the Black Sea, enveloping the region in a display of military might from both Ukraine and Russia. The scene was nothing short of breathtaking.
A typical naval exercise usually involved a fleet patrolling a designated area, firing a few rounds at the open sea, and expending soon-to-expire missiles and ammunition before calling it a day.
However, Mavi wanted this joint exercise to be truly spectacular. To achieve this, he had arranged for four freshly repainted Sokol-class frigates to be brought in from his Northern Shipyard. These vessels had already been retired and now served only one purpose: to be completely obliterated by Ukrainian and Russian naval firepower, showcasing the two nations' military prowess to the world.
As both fleets slowed down and positioned themselves 1.5 kilometers from the Sokol-class frigates, the captain glanced at Mavi and Mr. Yuan Kaimin, signaling that the most exciting part of the exercise was about to begin.
Mavi gave a slight nod, acknowledging the captain's signal, before turning to the Chinese naval officers beside him.
"Mr. Yuan Kaimin, in a moment, the main gun of our Type 956 destroyer will fire upon the four Sokol-class frigates ahead," Mavi explained.
"This main gun has a caliber of 130mm. Aside from the massive guns on Iowa-class battleships, it is currently the largest dual-mounted 70-caliber naval gun in the world. It is guided by an MR-184 fire-control radar and can be remotely controlled from the combat information center. Alternatively, it can be manually aimed using the optical sight on the top right of the turret…"
Mavi provided a detailed explanation of the weapon's capabilities, earning nods of approval from Mr. Yuan Kaimin and the surrounding officers.
"Mr. Mavi, we've heard about the main gun on the Type 956 destroyer before, but we've rarely had the chance to see it in action firsthand!" one of the Chinese naval officers said excitedly.
The anticipation was evident in his eyes. Everyone present was eager to witness the upcoming live-fire demonstration, as such an opportunity was extremely rare. It would also give them valuable insight into the combat capabilities of the modernized destroyers from Ukraine and Russia.
Just as the excited officer finished speaking, the Ukrainian captain, holding a shipboard intercom, received the final order from his superiors.
"Attention all crew! Prepare the main bow gun! Target… range…"
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(End of Chapter)