The morning air was crisp and carried the scent of salt from the sea as President Matthew Hesh stood on the deck of a naval transport ship, watching the horizon as the imposing structures of the Newport Naval Base came into view. The sun had barely risen, casting a golden hue over the shipyard, where dozens of steel-clad warships were in various stages of construction.
Beside him, Secretary of the Navy Samuel Whitmore adjusted his coat against the breeze. "The battleship program is proceeding ahead of schedule, Mr. President," he said, his voice filled with pride. "By the end of the year, we will have at least two fully operational dreadnought-class warships ready for deployment."
