The Suez Canal, one of the busiest waterways in the world, had ground to a halt. No ship could pass, not even the smallest civilian vessel, as a tense confrontation unfolded.
"You're insane! Do you realize the consequences? This will start a war!"
"Good. Let it come. I'm done playing games," said Admiral Zinovy Rozhestvensky, the infamous "Mad Dog" of the Russian Baltic Fleet.
The British officer bristled. "We told you the canal is under maintenance! It will be ready soon—just wait a little longer!"
Rozhestvensky sneered. "Maintenance? Spare me your lies. I've seen your ships pass through without issue. Strange how this so-called maintenance only seems to block Russian and French ships."