AWWA-Yesterday, Today, and Forever(IC-Closed)

[Shrillland]

The old Queen had an uncomfortable look on her face. She had thought that the truth might have been told to her before now, but it seemed that it was up to her to expose the indiscretions of her family.

"I cannot lie to you, Aysun. When my dear nephew was younger, and your mother a vivacious young woman herself, she and Alexander were very close, and Alexander found her more attractive than his own wife for a time. They were indeed in the throes of lust, and his conduct made our family totter and shake for some time. It was after I told him how disgraced we all were, and how his grandmother would have been, that he went on his great journey. I was disgraced because he and your mother were in an adulterous relationship, but I cannot be disgraced at the child who was born as a result. And that child is indeed you, Asyun. My nephew is indeed your birth father."

[Unicario]

The old Queen had an uncomfortable look on her face. She had thought that the truth might have been told to her before now, but it seemed that it was up to her to expose the indiscretions of her family.

"I cannot lie to you, Aysun. When my dear nephew was younger, and your mother a vivacious young woman herself, she and Alexander were very close, and Alexander found her more attractive than his own wife for a time. They were indeed in the throes of lust, and his conduct made our family totter and shake for some time. It was after I told him how disgraced we all were, and how his grandmother would have been, that he went on his great journey. I was disgraced because he and your mother were in an adulterous relationship, but I cannot be disgraced at the child who was born as a result. And that child is indeed you, Asyun. My nephew is indeed your birth father."

Aysun thumbed the leather book, and glanced at the copy of Aboard the Circumstance resting on top of her bags. "His grand journey across the planet... was because of me?" She seemed timid, and she sat down on the bed, and looked distant. "I grew up in the mindset that I was the heir of Arabs and Turks, the one to unite the faiths and bring Islam to a unification. I have done that, at least, mostly. I am 58 years old, yet, I suppose just like my great-grandmother, Empress Meiji, I have great fertility. I am with child again. This child will be the Heir of Muhammad... A Caliph of Sunnis and Shiites, yet, he must bear the standard of bastardry because of my birth... My mother never told me these things... I suppose... she didn't want to burden anyone by telling the truth... and neither did... my father. I remember him throughout the years... He would visit us during the Summer, just in time for my birthday. I don't think they did anything after my mother fell pregnant -- she was now married to the Arab I thought to be my father."

She sighed. "I do not know quite what the future will hold now for my dynasty and family, but... I suppose I have a new family now. All of my mother's brothers and sisters were killed. My brother Suleiman died in 1886 after drowning in the Black Sea, and my sister Lucia never speaks to us, she spends her days in Mesopotamia doing something haram... This is quite a predicament, isn't it?"

[Bojikami]

Caracas, Venezuela

Antoni was happy as he walked into his terraced home in the outskirts of Caracas. He had recently received an influx of good news, both in Venezuela and from home. He had received a letter from his brother back in Russia, his family had received the money he sent them and they were to move into Venezuela with him. Not only this, but his girlfriend, Sofía Marquez was pregnant with a baby girl.

Overjoyed with the news, Belinsky decided to return home shortly thereafter and finish work on his newest book, Seven Years in Afghanistan. While he was initially hesitant to write anything moderately political since the last outcry about his most recent, he decided to write one on a topic that he felt had not been talked about enough. The Chinese invasion and occupation of Afghanistan.

The novel is written from the perspective of Illyia Petrovich. Petrovich and his wife Natasha are being driven to the train station in Poltava, for Illyia's departure on a journey across the Ilkhanate and Afghanistan. Petrovich, Kasparov (A Russian man whom Petrovich doesn't like.) and the expedition group arrive and begin venturing into the central deserts of the Ilkhanate. After a violent sandstorm, Kasparov orders the group to retreat back to the base, despite Petrovich's determination to reach the destination. On reaching the base, they learn that the Ilkhanate has begun banning all tourists from "Axis" nations, so they are arrested by Ilkhan authorities and taken by truck to Yazd prison camp. Natasha writes to Petrovich with divorce papers. After several unsuccessful escape attempts, Kasparov manages to steal an Ilkhan uniform and several of the prisoners escape. The members of the group go separate ways, with Petrovich heading for the adjacent Afghan border.

The rest of the group, apart from Kasparov, have been recaptured. Kasparov plans to travel to eastern China to find work. However, he joins group with Petrovich and the two cross the border into Afghanistan and set out east, but are intercepted by two men on horseback who tell them that foreigners are strictly forbidden in Afghanistan because of the tensions that would prelude the Great War. They are brought back to the Ilkhanate, but they escape and climb up the Afghan mountains. Petrovich and Kasparov join pilgrims traveling to Mazari Sharif, covering their faces to avoid recognition as foreigners. When they try to steal food, Ahmed Khalid invites them to stay at his home. At the guest quarters of Khalid's home an Afghan tailor named Mirza arrives to measure the two men; though both Kasparov and Petrovich take interest in her, Kasparov wins her over and subsequently marries her.

The foreigners are observed through a telescope by the Shah Mehdi Bazargan of Afghanistan in an Mosque. An Afghan diplomat, on orders of the suspicious government in Kabul, visits the Chinese embassy in the city and tells the officials there to stop subsidizing the monasteries. A Chinese official offers to bribe the ambassador, but he refuses. An Afghan servent instructs Petrovich on courtesy when meeting the Shah. Petrovich enters the interior halls of the great Mosque. At the Shah's request, Petrovich begins tutoring the Shah and his son in world geography and the ways of the west.

While Petrovich and Kasparov are attending a party, an Afghan turns on the radio and a Chinese announcer proclaims that they plan to invade and occupy Afghanistan. That night, the Shah has a prophetic nightmare of Chinese atrocities near the Afghan border in Fayzabad, his birthplace, with Mosques being burnt down.

Three Chinese generals fly to Lhasa to speak with the Shah, but they are visibly contemptuous of him and the leader of the delegation tells the Shah that "religion is poison". The Shah sends his close friend, Faiz Ahmed to lead the Afghan army in Northern Afghanistan to halt a Chinese advance, but Faiz surrenders and then blows up the Afghan ammunitions dump after a sadly one-sided battle in which hundreds of Afghans are slaughtered by better equipped and trained Chinese troops. During a treaty signing in Kabul, the Shah tells Petrovich that if Ahmed had not destroyed the weapons supply, Afghan guerillas could have held the mountain passes, buying time to appeal to other nations for help. As the Chinese invade and occupy Afghanistan, Petrovich visits Faiz Ahmed to menace him about "betraying his culture".

Petrovich pays a final visit to the Shah in Kabul and prays with him. Harrer bids farewell to Kasparov and Bazargan and returns to Ukraine-Romania to visit his son Ivan, now a young boy. His son refuses to meet with him, but Petrovich leaves for him the music box that the Shah gave him when he departed Afghanistan. Petrovich and Ivan are then mentioned mountain-climbing, suggesting he did mend his relationship with his son at the end of the book.

Belinsky later states in the end that the book, while based off of a real man and his accounts of the Chinese invasion of Afghanistan, he had altered the story in some parts, such as in the end.

The book sold well in Venezuela and in Roma Italia. The book is banned in the Ilkhanate due to its negative portrayal of the nation. The book doesn't sell well at all in Italy, Switzerland, Ukraine-Romania, and in Nigeria.

[Shrillland]

"It is a predicament, indeed. But understand that you are the heir of Arabs and Turks, and the man who you thought was your father was your father. He just wasn't your birth father. And Alexander didn't just abandon you as my uncle George did his wife...of course, that's a slightly different story involving how my grandfather felt towards Catholics....and you certainly do have the fertility that my mother had. She was in her 60s when she had me. And there is nothing wrong with him just because of his birth. You're a beloved leader, and your people will stand by you and behind you."

"No," Victoria continued, "They did nothing after your birth save remain close. And he's still close to you I believe. And think of it in these terms, your family is not lost by this, if anything, your family now has branches amongst all the crowned heads of Europe and Asia. Your father loves you, and I love you as an aunt. And if your people love you as we do, the shadow of bastardry will be a phantom that disappears in the breeze."

[Unicario]

"It is a predicament, indeed. But understand that you are the heir of Arabs and Turks, and the man who you thought was your father was your father. He just wasn't your birth father. And Alexander didn't just abandon you as my uncle George did his wife...of course, that's a slightly different story involving how my grandfather felt towards Catholics....and you certainly do have the fertility that my mother had. She was in her 60s when she had me. And there is nothing wrong with him just because of his birth. You're a beloved leader, and your people will stand by you and behind you."

"No," Victoria continued, "They did nothing after your birth save remain close. And he's still close to you I believe. And think of it in these terms, your family is not lost by this, if anything, your family now has branches amongst all the crowned heads of Europe and Asia. Your father loves you, and I love you as an aunt. And if your people love you as we do, the shadow of bastardry will be a phantom that disappears in the breeze."

Aysun nodded, "Thank you, Victoria... I appreciate all the help you've given me."

[Shrillland]

December 1, 1897
London

Seven Years in Afghanistan had modest success in most of the empire, but it was a big hit in India thanks to Indians and whites who were interested in their neighbour to the northwest.

In the meantime, the Jubilee celebrations had come and gone and most leaders returned to their dominions or colonies. The West Guyanese representative was still in Pichegru due to continued street fighting in Georgetown, which thankfully was starting to turn in Canada's favour. The Tate Gallery had opened up and both Victoria and Alexander were present at its opening back in the summer.

Throughout the Empire

The Northwest and Yukon Territories had been hectic with the Klondike Gold Rush, where thousands from all over the world came to stake their lives and fortunes on the biggest gold rush since California or Transvaal. Also in Canada, the first tube system was opened in Boston, based on the London Underground.

In Australia, the movements toward unity were proceeding apace, and in a couple of moths, the major colonies would vote on a new Federal Constitution. In Ireland, Bram Stoker had written Dracula, while back in Britain, H.G. Wells was finishing The Invisible Man. It seemed that things were going back to normal throughout the Empire where the sun never set.

[Bojikami]

Bern, Switzerland

The nation was readying itself for the referendum that would indeed decide the future of the Swiss people. Across the nation there were campaigns for the different factions, strangely enough the Pro-Italians were gaining the most support in all but the westernmost provinces according to recent polls.

Stockholm, Sweden

Despite the frigid morning keeping most ships restricted to the city's docks, a great amount of excitement arose when the large Swedish ship which carried Gunvaldsson and his crew came into the port. People crowded around the dock as Bengt, followed by Arthursson and Iqsituittuq. People were fascinated by the sight of the man, but Bengt and his sailors ordered them to keep away as Iqsituittuq seemed frightened. After settling into a nearby inn, Bengt pulled the boy aside. "Tomorrow we shall meet the King, today, Iqsituittuq I want you to get adjusted to your surroundings. Here." He put some money in his hand. "Buy yourself some clothing here. As much as the King would love to learn about your people, he is still a King and you should appear before him in proper dress." Iqsituittuq nodded and headed outside.

He walked about a block down and found a clothing store, Arthursson's Swedish lessons proved useful as he told the tailor the kind of outfit he needed and gave him the amount of money Bengt gave him. After a few hours Iqsituittuq walked out and back to the Inn to Bengt who simply told him to walk around as he wished, but not to get into any trouble as he had a long day ahead of him tomorrow.

Kiev, Ukraine-Romania

After the execution of Aydim Zöfär, dissent in the southern Ukrainian provinces, especially those with a muslim or tatar majority was high. In order to keep crisis from occurring, Oleksandr declared martial law in the southern provinces, where a military crackdown on any for of dissent would take place. Not only this, but with his mother Alina sick and immoble on her death bed, Oleksandr inherited the throne of Romania, unifying the entire realm under him. With this new power, Oleksandr meets with Nicușor Lupei, the head of the ZE to have his agents carry out what would be known as Nich Dovhykh Nozhiv (Night of the Long Knives), a systematic purge of all nobles in the Empire whom would oppose Oleksandr taking absolute authority, this included his brothers. He would blame these deaths on Communist extremists or Crimean terrorists. It would be then that Oleksandr would begin initiating his own Final Solution, not only to heal the wounds created by the Great War, but to purge all of those he saw as undesirable to the Ukrainian and Romanian people.

[Unicario]

December 1, 1897

Alexander had returned home to Japan after the Diamond Jubilee, a happy man. This cough that he had gotten on the trip back was not going away, which worried the elderly man, but he dismissed it as irrelevant to the things he must do now.

The funk of depression was marauding over him like a ghost. It was sixty years of his reign, but also sixty years since his father had perished at the hand of an assassin. He hadn't celebrated Christmas since then... the holiday hurt so much..." The elderly Emperor sighed, and looked out the window at the frosted streets of Tokyo.

---

December 1

Maritza smiled in one of the rooms of the palace in Ciudad de la Fortuna. Her daughter, Isabella, was giggling in her crib. Isabella had been born while she was in Britain, and was born on Victoria and Alexander's birthday. May 24.

She smiled, the heir to the Inca smiled back at her mother.

---

December 1

Empress Wilhelmina had been coronated in a ceremony in June 1897 to commemorate her reign. With a bright grin, December 1st was an interesting day. She could not wait for what the future held.

---

Istanbul

Caliph Iulia II was still deep in thought. A conversation with Alexander had confirmed her suspicions. Alexander, the morose elder, had admitted that he was indeed her father, and that he had not said anything for good reason. "You are a monarch, and cannot afford a stain of bastardry."

She sighed, and wondered if she could just be forward with it, and embrace her true identity, and not hide behind her mother's dynasty anymore.

[Unicario]

December 1, 1897
Sun City, Ethiopia

Ludwig Eichemann released his second book. Called Himmlischer Ruh, the book takes place on December 24, 1891, during the beginning of the Great War. On the French-German front, a stalemate has set in near Verdun, as French and German soldiers freeze in the trenches. During the lull of night, a French soldier, Pierre de Montoir, a Sergeant, overhears a German soldier singing "Stille Nacht" in the trenches. More and more Germans begin to sing the song with them.

Pierre rises from the trenches and walks across the No Man's Land as the Germans stop singing and watch him. His fellow Frenchmen rise from their trenches and sing Douce nuit, the French version of Stille Nacht. The Germans soon rise from their trenches, and abandon their weapons on each other's side. Pierre and the commanding German officer agree to a ceasefire to celebrate the birth of Christ.

The story tells the rest of the tale of the length of the ceasefire which lasted 8 days, expiring on January 1, 1892. The story shows the humanity of both sides, and the uselessness of war.

[Ruridova]

December 1, 1897
Sun City, Ethiopia

Ludwig Eichemann released his second book. Called Himmlischer Ruh, the book takes place on December 24, 1891, during the beginning of the Great War. On the French-German front, a stalemate has set in near Verdun, as French and German soldiers freeze in the trenches. During the lull of night, a French soldier, Pierre de Montoir, a Sergeant, overhears a German soldier singing "Stille Nacht" in the trenches. More and more Germans begin to sing the song with them.

Pierre rises from the trenches and walks across the No Man's Land as the Germans stop singing and watch him. His fellow Frenchmen rise from their trenches and sing Douce nuit, the French version of Stille Nacht. The Germans soon rise from their trenches, and abandon their weapons on each other's side. Pierre and the commanding German officer agree to a ceasefire to celebrate the birth of Christ.

The story tells the rest of the tale of the length of the ceasefire which lasted 8 days, expiring on January 1, 1892. The story shows the humanity of both sides, and the uselessness of war.

Himmlischer Ruh sells amazingly well in Germany, particularly in the Alsace-Lorraine region, which remains predominantly French. The book also experiences great popularity in the CSA, which also engaged in large amounts of trench warfare.

[Shrillland]

Himmlischer Ruh was released under the name On Earth Peace... in Britain and the Empire. It sold best in Britain and Canada, but was a best seller throughout the Empire.

At this time, an Anglo-Japanese author named Michael Nagano had also written a book called The Broken Image. He was a soldier who had spent some time in South Africa during the war, and his memories poured into this book.

It told the tale of a young man named Andrew Montshiwa, one of the Tswana natives who fought in the war. He had decided to fight for the Boers after the British had killed members of his family. He had fought alongside them at Kimberley and made friends among them. But after the British broke the siege and the Boers were scattered, Montshiwa and a few of his friends fled east with them to Pretoria, where they again stood to fight.

When they arrived, Andrew had heard stories about the British concentration camps, which fueled his hatred for Britain even more. But after some months went by, he began to hear rumours of what the Boers were planning to do with the Black soldiers who fought for them. There was a plan in the ZAR to create something called "Separate Development", which would force non-whites to live substandard lives compared to the white Boers. Montshiwa told his friends, and to his dismay, one of his close friends, Marcus Sjoerds, actually said "Well, a lot of them should be kept away." An enraged Andrew killed Marcus and fled.

Now hunted by both sides, he sees the pointlessness of the fight, convinced that neither Britain nor Transvaal cares for the people who truly belong in Africa. He flees back to the Tswana and asks their king the lead a fight against both sides for an African Cape. But the king had already made a deal with Kruger, and sold Andrew to the Boers. Andrew died by a Boer firing squad, an execution that enraged all Africans and many Asians.


Nagano said in the afterword that, while the story was fiction, it was based on the conduct of several tribes who were caught in the middle of the Anglo-Boer conflict. Sales in Britain were moderate and sharply divided along socio-political lines with hardline imperialists opposed o the book and radicals and Labour supporters gladly buying it. It also sold fairly well in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, while both Britons and Boers agreed that it was a subversive book in South Africa, and accordingly banned it. Black South Africans still smuggled the book in from other colonies such as Swaziland and Rhodesia.

[Unicario]

December 3, 1897

Emperor Alexander formally proposed a railway project to all nations in Afro-Eurasia. The plan involved connecting the Afro-Eurasian continents together via a massive rail network. With the Trans-Japanese Railway having been completed, connecting Korea and Japan together, the Emperor proposed expanding the Trans-Japanese Railway to include the Manchurian and Trans-Siberian ones, as well as the main Chinese rail system, running from Tokyo in the farthest east point, as far west as Darfur and Lisbon, running all the way from Cape Town to Scandinavia, covering the entirety of Afro-Eurasia with a single rail network.

He said that "by working together, we can achieve great means to an end."

In South Africa, the Japanese Natarujin opposed the ban on the book The Broken Image. The Japanese joined the Africans in smuggling the book in, this time through Japanese Mozambique. The Natarujin however, did not overtly protest to the South African government, as they were afraid of being reclassified as coloureds and discriminated against. However, they knew that if South Africa did take away their rights of property, and other means, Japan would be extremely unhappy; and would likely lead to London bearing down on them like the Mongol Horde upon Russia.

[Bojikami]

Moskva, Russkaya Imperiya

Tsar Nicolas II responded with acceptance to Alexander's proposed railway.

Stockholm, Sweden

Bengt and Iqsituittuq walked into the Stockholm palace, flanked by Swedish soldiers. Inside the throne room, King Oscar awaited them. Upon seeing him, both Bengt and Iqsituittuq bow. Oscar looks at them with a smile. "You may rise. Now, whom is that of which I have the honor of knowing?" Bengt and Iqsituittuq stood. Bengt motioned for Iqsituittuq to speak up. "I am Iqsituittuq, y-your majesty. I am a hunter from the far off nation of Greenland." He bowed again. Oscar laughed. "Do not be nervous, boy. Now come. Let us eat and dis cuss your home."

Oscar, Bengt and Iqsituittuq entered the dining hall and feasted on foods from throughout Sweden. Oscar was entranced by Iqsituittuq's tales of his homeland and its rich culture. Afterward Bengt talked about trade deals, discussions carried on throughout the night.

[Unicario]

December 4, 1897

Leonie Delacroix, a female historian living in Normandy, arrived in Fascist Rome on December 4th to continue work on her life's work, to understand the new "Roman Empires" that existed in Europe -- why they wished to rehash the old order, what they viewed was their purpose, and things of that nature. She had, in the previous year, visited Constantinople, and Moscow, and was arriving in Rome for her final leg of the trip -- she had left Berlin off for personal reasons, mostly French nationalism.

She walked around Rome, looking at the old Roman effigies, and the new ones popping up.

[Bojikami]

December 4, 1897

Leonie Delacroix, a female historian living in Normandy, arrived in Fascist Rome on December 4th to continue work on her life's work, to understand the new "Roman Empires" that existed in Europe -- why they wished to rehash the old order, what they viewed was their purpose, and things of that nature. She had, in the previous year, visited Constantinople, and Moscow, and was arriving in Rome for her final leg of the trip -- she had left Berlin off for personal reasons, mostly French nationalism.

She walked around Rome, looking at the old Roman effigies, and the new ones popping up.

Rome, Roma Italia

Benito Mussolini strolled down the streets of Roma greeting citizens and speaking with his bodyguards when he noticed a foreign woman whom appeared not to be of Italian origin. While he thought little of her at first, his attention was fully turned to her when he saw a flash of a camera in his direction. "Subleva." He ordered, and he walked towards the woman while his guards stayed a safe distance behind. "Now, what are you taking a picture of an old man for?" He asked as he approached her.

[Unicario]

December 4, 1897

Leonie Delacroix, a female historian living in Normandy, arrived in Fascist Rome on December 4th to continue work on her life's work, to understand the new "Roman Empires" that existed in Europe -- why they wished to rehash the old order, what they viewed was their purpose, and things of that nature. She had, in the previous year, visited Constantinople, and Moscow, and was arriving in Rome for her final leg of the trip -- she had left Berlin off for personal reasons, mostly French nationalism.

She walked around Rome, looking at the old Roman effigies, and the new ones popping up.

Rome, Roma Italia

Benito Mussolini strolled down the streets of Roma greeting citizens and speaking with his bodyguards when he noticed a foreign woman whom appeared not to be of Italian origin. While he thought little of her at first, his attention was fully turned to her when he saw a flash of a camera in his direction. "Subleva." He ordered, and he walked towards the woman while his guards stayed a safe distance behind. "Now, what are you taking a picture of an old man for?" He asked as he approached her.

"Salve, Dux." Leonie greeted, "I'm Leonie Delacroix. I'm touring the Roman Empires to compile a book about why the Roman Empires have been revived after being dead for so long -- your capital is the last leg of my trip... I haven't gone to Berlin, but I don't intend to." She smiled, "And I'm taking your photo because you're the leader of Italy. It's not every day you see the leader of Italy walking around the streets."

[Bojikami]

Rome, Roma Italia

Benito Mussolini strolled down the streets of Roma greeting citizens and speaking with his bodyguards when he noticed a foreign woman whom appeared not to be of Italian origin. While he thought little of her at first, his attention was fully turned to her when he saw a flash of a camera in his direction. "Subleva." He ordered, and he walked towards the woman while his guards stayed a safe distance behind. "Now, what are you taking a picture of an old man for?" He asked as he approached her.

"Salve, Dux." Leonie greeted, "I'm Leonie Delacroix. I'm touring the Roman Empires to compile a book about why the Roman Empires have been revived after being dead for so long -- your capital is the last leg of my trip... I haven't gone to Berlin, but I don't intend to." She smiled, "And I'm taking your photo because you're the leader of Italy. It's not every day you see the leader of Italy walking around the streets."

"Ah, well it does the mind well to get out of that musty senate building every now and then." He nods. "Writing a book on the Romes, huh? Perhaps there is something I may be able to contribute to it, as I was writing some things on the Romes myself, especially about the claimants to the north and to the east."

[Unicario]

"Salve, Dux." Leonie greeted, "I'm Leonie Delacroix. I'm touring the Roman Empires to compile a book about why the Roman Empires have been revived after being dead for so long -- your capital is the last leg of my trip... I haven't gone to Berlin, but I don't intend to." She smiled, "And I'm taking your photo because you're the leader of Italy. It's not every day you see the leader of Italy walking around the streets."

"Ah, well it does the mind well to get out of that musty senate building every now and then." He nods. "Writing a book on the Romes, huh? Perhaps there is something I may be able to contribute to it, as I was writing some things on the Romes myself, especially about the claimants to the north and to the east."

"The Rumiyyun were very friendly on my journey to Constantinople. They are doing much to restore the glory of Rome -- the Hagia Sophia, the Theodosian Walls, the libraries of Alexandria and Baghdad, are all being restored after centuries of ruin... but I'd love to hear what your thoughts are on the matter, Dux."

[Bojikami]

"Ah, well it does the mind well to get out of that musty senate building every now and then." He nods. "Writing a book on the Romes, huh? Perhaps there is something I may be able to contribute to it, as I was writing some things on the Romes myself, especially about the claimants to the north and to the east."

"The Rumiyyun were very friendly on my journey to Constantinople. They are doing much to restore the glory of Rome -- the Hagia Sophia, the Theodosian Walls, the libraries of Alexandria and Baghdad, are all being restored after centuries of ruin... but I'd love to hear what your thoughts are on the matter, Dux."

"The Rumites are admirable people, I see them as a natural ally against... pretenders." He motions to the north. "For example, the so-called Holy Romans. They of which claim that an old mandate is still legitimate, when the pope today would rather die than grant them the mantle of Rome. I say the same of the Russians. They both seek to destroy Italia and all she holds dear. It is my sole duty to prevent this from happening, to protect Rome, Constantinople, and whomever finds themselves aligned with them from the barbarians of the north."

[Unicario]

"The Rumiyyun were very friendly on my journey to Constantinople. They are doing much to restore the glory of Rome -- the Hagia Sophia, the Theodosian Walls, the libraries of Alexandria and Baghdad, are all being restored after centuries of ruin... but I'd love to hear what your thoughts are on the matter, Dux."

"The Rumites are admirable people, I see them as a natural ally against... pretenders." He motions to the north. "For example, the so-called Holy Romans. They of which claim that an old mandate is still legitimate, when the pope today would rather die than grant them the mantle of Rome. I say the same of the Russians. They both seek to destroy Italia and all she holds dear. It is my sole duty to prevent this from happening, to protect Rome, Constantinople, and whomever finds themselves aligned with them from the barbarians of the north."

Leonie nodded and replied, "The Holy Roman Empire was dissolved in 1806 by Emperor Napoleon." She shrugged, "The Germans have revived it as a means of legitimizing their fabricated claim to Rome. If the Papacy falls apart, then so shall their mandate... I think the Ruthenians have a stronger claim personally -- Romania was the heir of Rome in the eyes of many after the Greeks took back their land from the Latin Empire."

[Bojikami]

"The Rumites are admirable people, I see them as a natural ally against... pretenders." He motions to the north. "For example, the so-called Holy Romans. They of which claim that an old mandate is still legitimate, when the pope today would rather die than grant them the mantle of Rome. I say the same of the Russians. They both seek to destroy Italia and all she holds dear. It is my sole duty to prevent this from happening, to protect Rome, Constantinople, and whomever finds themselves aligned with them from the barbarians of the north."

Leonie nodded and replied, "The Holy Roman Empire was dissolved in 1806 by Emperor Napoleon." She shrugged, "The Germans have revived it as a means of legitimizing their fabricated claim to Rome. If the Papacy falls apart, then so shall their mandate... I think the Ruthenians have a stronger claim personally -- Romania was the heir of Rome in the eyes of many after the Greeks took back their land from the Latin Empire."

"Ah yes, but Oleksandr is far too humble a man to claim the throne of Rome, but then again, he has found ways to prove me wrong before." He chuckled. "He, Oleksandr, is a rather unique individual. Hardly ever talks yet somehow gives these rousing speeches back in Ruthenia." He squints at the bright sun. "Won't you come inside? I'm sure you've more questions, and I've got more answers."

[Unicario]

Leonie nodded and replied, "The Holy Roman Empire was dissolved in 1806 by Emperor Napoleon." She shrugged, "The Germans have revived it as a means of legitimizing their fabricated claim to Rome. If the Papacy falls apart, then so shall their mandate... I think the Ruthenians have a stronger claim personally -- Romania was the heir of Rome in the eyes of many after the Greeks took back their land from the Latin Empire."

"Ah yes, but Oleksandr is far too humble a man to claim the throne of Rome, but then again, he has found ways to prove me wrong before." He chuckled. "He, Oleksandr, is a rather unique individual. Hardly ever talks yet somehow gives these rousing speeches back in Ruthenia." He squints at the bright sun. "Won't you come inside? I'm sure you've more questions, and I've got more answers."

Leonie nodded and followed Mussolini.

[Bojikami]

"Ah yes, but Oleksandr is far too humble a man to claim the throne of Rome, but then again, he has found ways to prove me wrong before." He chuckled. "He, Oleksandr, is a rather unique individual. Hardly ever talks yet somehow gives these rousing speeches back in Ruthenia." He squints at the bright sun. "Won't you come inside? I'm sure you've more questions, and I've got more answers."

Leonie nodded and followed Mussolini.

Benito led her inside of an office within the Italian senate. He pulled out a chair beside a desk for her and sat down. "Now, about those questions?" He said as he lit a cigar and inhaled.

[Shrillland]

December 6, 1897
Cape Town, South Africa

Rhodes was still Prime Minister, and had no intention of discriminating against the Japanese in his dominion,and today, he released a statement to allay the fears of the Japanese in Natal. Today, Parliament also approved the reservation of money for use in making Alexander's idea a reality. The United Government of Bechuanaland, Swaziland and Bausto land also made their approval. Only Rhodes' other darling, the South Africa Company, had not made any announcements as to allowing it to travel through Rhodesia, but they were in the midst of the Matabele wars, subduing the local tribes to ensure the rightful control by White Britons and Boers alike.

Georgetown, West Guyane

Field Marshal Miles had finally taken the Western Parliament building and the Governor's residence. Kapoor and her forces fled to the west seeking Venezuelan assistance.

[Bojikami]

Venezuelan-Guyanese Border

Venezuelan soldiers marched east, disguised as Guyanese communist Guerillas. They had recieved Intel that Georgetown had fallen to the Pro-British forces.

They had noticed Kapoor and the defeated guerillas and met up with them, one of the soldiers waved a Venezuelan flag to signify that they were friends.