Kalashnikov walked to Sokov and asked in a low voice: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I would like to ask, if the superiors agree to hand over this tank to us, do we also need to install a vehicle-mounted radio?"
"Of course, this tank must be equipped with a vehicle-mounted radio, otherwise how can we communicate with the tank soldiers in the vehicle." Sokov stared at the spherical tank in the corner and said to himself: "Even if a communication device is installed on the back of the vehicle, But it may not be easy to find the soldiers responsible for guiding. Because everyone will worry about whether the ball tank will overturn and smash itself underneath while driving. "
"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, the possibility of the rollover situation you mentioned does not rule out the possibility." Kalashnikov said thoughtfully: "After all, the data mentioned by Major Yakov are just theories. Data. How this spherical tank performs on the battlefield still needs to be tested in practice."
Kalashnikov's words reminded Sokov. He walked up to Yakov and asked directly: "Yakov, I wonder when you have time to get in touch with the Defense Committee?"
Yakov raised his hand and looked at his watch, and then replied: "The only way to convince the people of the National Defense Committee is to ask Comrade Ustinov to come forward. It is already late, and he is probably already resting. I think we should wait until tomorrow." Send him a telegram in the morning, and if everything goes well, we will be able to get this ball tank as soon as tomorrow evening."
"What, wait until tomorrow night at the earliest?" Sokov originally thought that as long as Yakov came forward and sent a telegram to the National Defense Committee, just as a formality, in two or three hours at most, the tank could be owned by him, or even as soon as possible. We have to wait until the next night, so Sokov can't help but feel anxious: "Yakov, can you think of a way to hurry up?"
Seeing that Sokov was so anxious, Yakov was silent for a long time and said: "I'm sorry, Misha, I know you are eager to get this tank back, but there is really no way. I can't bother Us for such a trivial matter." Comrade Zinov’s rest.”
Hearing that Yakov called the authorization from the National Defense Commission a trivial matter, Sokov almost jumped up, but then he thought: It is just a tank, even if it is only a few prototypes in the country, for the above For a big shot, this is really a trivial matter not worth mentioning.
But if Sokov really had to wait until tomorrow night to see this special tank appear in his defense area, he was not negligent in his heart. In order to transport the tank back to the underground tank depot as soon as possible, he decided to implement other methods. He walked to Peter and asked tentatively: "Comrade director, I want to discuss something with you. Is that okay?"
"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, if you have anything to say, just say it." After Peter said this, he turned his attention to the ball tank: "But if it is about delivering the ball tank to you, I hope that we can Obtain authorization from the National Defense Committee first.”
Peter's words blocked what Sokov wanted to say. Sokov scratched the back of his head and said awkwardly: "Comrade Director, can't you really be accommodating?"
"I'm sorry, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, it really doesn't work." Peter replied firmly: "If it were another tank, I would give it to you without saying anything. But this ball tank really doesn't work."
"Comrade Factory Director, do you think this will work?" Seeing Peter's resolute attitude, Sokov said to him in a negotiating manner: "Can I take this tank back to the underground tank depot first so that the soldiers can get familiar with it first?" Improve the performance of this tank so that it can play its maximum role in battle. As for the authorization from the National Defense Committee, I will definitely be able to get it for you before dark tomorrow. In this way, the superiors will not know that you are here. The tank was delivered to us first without authorization. What do you think of my suggestion?"
As soon as Sokov finished speaking, Bely added: "That's right, Comrade Factory Director. The day earlier the ball tank is transported back to the underground tank depot, the day earlier our tank soldiers will be familiar with this tank. If you insist on waiting until The tank was handed over to us only after the authorization was issued. I am worried that it will be difficult for the tank crews to master the operation technology of this tank in a short period of time, and it may cause unnecessary chaos on the battlefield."
Seeing both Sokov and Bely trying to convince Peter to let him hand over the tank to them first, Yakov felt that he could no longer remain silent. He also walked up to Peter and said, "Comrade Factory Director, I also think that the tanks should be delivered to the troops first so that they can get familiar with the process..."
Having said this, Yakov suddenly turned his head and asked Sokov in a low voice: "Misha, does he have the right to know the contents of the meeting two days ago due to his confidentiality authority?"
"I think there should be." Sokov also replied in a low voice: "Anyway, he is the person in charge of such a large factory. It is estimated that he is qualified to know what we know."
After receiving Sokov's reply, Yakov continued to turn to Peter and said: "Comrade Director, I think you should know the upcoming counterattack plan, right?"
"I know." Peter nodded in affirmation, and then asked: "But there seems to be no inevitable relationship between the upcoming counterattack and whether this tank is delivered to you in advance?"
"Why doesn't it matter?" Sokov waited for Peter to finish and immediately said, "It matters a lot."
Sokov's words aroused Peter's curiosity, and he asked: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, can you tell me what the relationship is?"
"At the meeting the day before yesterday, our brigade's superiors agreed not to allow us to participate in this counterattack due to insufficient strength and equipment." Sokov pretended to be annoyed and said: "Who knew that so many troops had been added in the past two days? and tanks, giving us the conditions to launch a counterattack against the enemy. If the tank crews can master the operation of this ball tank early, then we will be more certain to win on the battlefield."
Peter smiled: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, what you guys have said so much is just to make me violate the regulations and hand over this spherical tank to you without the authorization of the National Defense Committee, right?"
Sokov thought to himself that he was wasting so much money just because he wanted you to hand over the spherical tank to us as soon as possible. Therefore, he did not deny it, but nodded vigorously to express that he indeed thought so.
"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, to be honest, what you said makes sense. From a personal point of view, I also want to help you and hand over this spherical tank to you." What Peter said made Sokov Cove and the others saw a glimmer of hope, but the next words made their hearts feel as if they had fallen into an ice cellar: "But it won't work. The rules are the rules. As a factory director who manages 20,000 to 30,000 workers, how can I do whatever I want?" What about violating rules and regulations? If the workers knew about it, what would they think of me? Therefore, I absolutely cannot agree to hand over this spherical tank to you before getting authorization from the relevant parties."
"Director Peter, I have a suggestion." Seeing that the situation had reached a deadlock, Yakov suddenly said to Peter: "Do you want to hear it?"
"Please tell me, Major Yakov." Peter said to Yakov with a smile on his face: "I want to hear what your solution is?"
"I want to get in touch with Comrade Khrushchev, the Military Commissar of the Front Army, and ask him to give you an authorization to lend us this spherical tank first." Yakov said carefully: "I will give it to Ukraine tomorrow." Comrade Stinov sent a message asking him to obtain the necessary authorization from the National Defense Committee. Once I get the authorization, you can change the spherical tank from temporary loan to delivery. What do you think of my suggestion?"
When Sokov heard what Yakov said on the sidelines, his eyes lit up and he thought to himself: Who said the old man is a stubborn person and doesn't know how to adapt? Yakov knows how to take advantage of the system's loopholes. He quickly stared at Peter to see how he would reply.
Regarding Yakov's proposal, Peter thought for a long time, and finally nodded and said: "Major Yakov, your proposal is really good. We can try it. You can call the front army directly through the phone in my office." Command calls, we can go there and make the call.”
Now that Peter is going back to his office, Sokov and the others can no longer stay in this warehouse and can only follow Peter back the same way. On the way, Sokov asked curiously: "Comrade Factory Director, I would like to ask where do you transport so many materials into the warehouse? It can't be through this corridor, right?"
It makes sense for Sokov to ask this. The corridor is only about one meter wide, so it is more suitable for one person, but it would be too crowded for two people to walk side by side. It is really inconvenient if goods need to be transported through this passage.
When Peter heard Sokov's question, his eyes widened in surprise: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, how is it possible to transport supplies through this secret passage? Open the door to the east of the warehouse, and you will see a freight elevator and A ramp. The elevator is for transporting various supplies, and the ramp is for easy entry and exit of tanks, armored vehicles or trucks."
"Then let me ask one more question," Sokov continued: "Who is guarding such an important warehouse?"
"They are the most reliable workers in the factory, as well as two shifts of internal affairs troops." When Peter said this, he lowered his voice and said: "The passage I took you through today is a secret passage. You can't tell others casually. oh?"
"Don't worry, Comrade Factory Director." When Sokov saw that the entrance to this side of the warehouse was so secretly arranged, he knew it was to deceive others, so he readily agreed: "I will never tell anyone about this secret. Passage. Also, the commanders I am traveling with will also keep secrets."
