At about 4 a.m. on 9 August, an officer on duty pushed open the door of an officer's dormitory on the American heavy cruiser Augusta anchored in Agin Hay Bay, Newfoundland, and woke up John, who was sleeping.

"Excuse me, are you Colonel Vanderbilt?"

"I am." John rubbed his eyes and sat up.

"The captain asked me to inform you that in another hour we will be reunited with the Tuscaloosa."

"Thanks, I'll be right away." Sending the young lieutenant away, John did not immediately go to the bridge, but went to the bathroom to wash his face with cold water.

As the flagship of the US Atlantic Fleet, the conditions of the officers' quarters on the "Augusta" were not bad. But last night, John didn't sleep very well. The room he lived in had originally belonged to Major Savage, the co-engineer. The area was not small, but it was so close to the engine room that he barely fell asleep late in the evening.

John had nothing to complain about, though. Today, the ship is populated with all kinds of big names, and there are more than 30 generals in the Guanghai Army. If it weren't for his concurrent position as Army Adviser to the President, he would not even be qualified to live in a separate dormitory.

After some washing, John finally came to his senses again. By the time he hurried to the bridge, there were already quite a few people gathered there. The most conspicuous of them is Ernest King, who is dressed in a snow-white admiral's uniform. At this moment, he was sitting in the high chair commanding the operation, asking the captain of the "Augusta" who was standing nearby, presumably to verify whether the arrangements made for Roosevelt on board had been put in place.

Hopkins, on the other hand, sat in a corner of the bridge with a group of White House staff. Seeing John come in, Hopkins beckoned to him, "John, the plan is going well. Mr. President had already moved from the USS Potomac to the heavy cruiser USS Tuscaloosa at 11 p.m. last night, and would be able to meet us in less than an hour. ”

Philip, assistant press secretary of the White House, added another sentence; "The reporter we arranged for has successfully taken pictures of the president's fishing, and it appeared in the newspaper early this morning. Several major radio networks have also been arranged, and the morning news will broadcast the news that the president is on vacation on the yacht Potomac. ”

"Good." John nodded, and whispered to Hopkins, "What about Prime Minister Churchill?" When will it arrive? ”

"The Prince of Wales has been spotted by the planes of the Naval Aviation, and they will arrive around nine o'clock." Hopkins whispered, "The president arrives in a moment, and you go with me to see him." Have a new assignment for you? ”

"What's new?" John asked, somewhat surprised. He had thought that his temporary adviser would be nothing more than a soy sauce maker during the formal meeting.

"As you know, Beard is stumbling and won't be able to come by seaplane until tomorrow before the official meeting. The President and I both think it would be more appropriate for you to pass on the agenda for this meeting to the British people in his place. ”

"Well, I hope there will be no objections from the Navy." John had also been involved in the preparation of the conference before, and he still knew the general process of the meeting.

The original plan was to wait for Prime Minister Churchill to arrive at Akin Hawny and send Colonel Bildell, the president's adjutant in the navy, aboard the "Prince of Wales" to convey to the British side Roosevelt's intention on the arrangement of formal meetings and social events. The Prime Minister and British military and political dignitaries were invited to a welcome dinner tonight aboard the heavy cruiser "Augusta".

However, at this time, Beard was stumped by the dispute between Stark and Kimmmel. John heard that in the end, it was Roosevelt himself who promised that the Pacific Fleet would be properly compensated in terms of personnel, aircraft, radar, and intelligence provision, so that Kimmel did not take the matter to Congress. However, there are still many differences within the Navy about the specific "compensation" standards.

Stark took the opportunity of the Atlantic Conference to pat his ass and run away (as Chief of Naval Operations, it is impossible for Stark not to attend the meeting. At the moment, he is sleeping in a compartment on the ship.) Poor Beard was temporarily in Washington by Roosevelt, supervising and following up the follow-up finishing work.

Since Colonel Bildell could not be in time for the time being, John, who had had had many contacts with Churchill and was also an army adviser to Roosevelt, became the "right person" to contact the British side first.

John had no doubts about the mission itself, but was just a messenger of the word. What worries him is whether the navy will be unhappy. After all, this is at sea, and the heads of state of the two countries are holding a meeting on a warship, and it is not appropriate for him, an army officer, to go to the home of others to be in the limelight.

"You're going on behalf of the White House, what can they say?" John, Hopkins reminded John, "You're now part of the White House staff, and you're representing the White House, President Roosevelt, not just the Army, you know." ”

Then, he explained in an unquestioning tone: "Your side is ready first. When the president arrives, he will confirm the agenda one last time. Then you go with Viscount Halifax (British ambassador to the United States) to meet Prime Minister Winston Churchill. ”

"Understood! I know what to do. ”

At this moment, a Japanese officer quickly walked into the bridge command room and informed everyone of the imminent arrival of the "Tuscaloosa".

John and the others got up and went to the window. It was 5 o'clock in the morning, and the sky was just getting dark. Gusts of wind dispelled the morning mist, and the rolling waves on the sea shook the 10,000-ton Augusta.

On the deck below the bridge, a group of sailors in naval uniforms were nervously busy. John saw that the captain, who had been listening to Admiral King's instructions on the bridge just now, was also on deck, and he was directing the sailors to install the special long gangplanks and handrails. Apparently this was specially arranged for President Roosevelt, who had limited mobility.

After about five minutes, the black figure of the "Tuscaloosa" emerged from the mist in the distance and slowly docked next to the "Augusta". John noted that the cruiser had not been lit during the voyage and had not been lit after anchoring, which was very rare in peacetime and a serious violation of the regulations.

There was no military music, no gun salute, and with a sharp whistle from the boatswain, the entire crew of the Augusta, dressed in snow-white uniforms, began to assemble on the long foredeck under the main turret. After a few more moments, President Roosevelt appeared on deck in a wheelchair, pushed by James Jr.

Roosevelt deliberately wore a white suit similar to the color of the Navy uniform today, and he also had a cigarette holder in his mouth. While the president was reviewing the officers and men of the Augusta, John and Hopkins left the bridge and prepared to go to the cabin that Admiral King had prepared for the president.

Before leaving, John couldn't help but look into the distance again. The morning sun had risen, adding a brilliant golden red to the gloomy grey sky of the North Atlantic. At this moment, John's heart was soaring, and he knew that a moment was coming that would change the political landscape of the world and the course of human history.