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

[Unicario]

Algiers

"Muhammad?"

Selim bin Laden emerged from the office he had been working in, and shook the man's hand. "I have recieved a telegraph from Constantinople telling me that you are a good assistant to us."

"Indeed. I came to ask for help." He looked around to see if anyone was watching. "I mean to invade and liberate Spain from the current oppressive regime. I am calling a holy war, and I come to ask for your assistance in this conflict, as the militia forces I have gained in the Spain likely will do little against the Spanish army and whomever would help them."

Selim nodded and considered it. "I could approve such a means, I just request that you organize the establishment of a free, or at least, Islamic Morocco. It is a thorn in Dar al-Islam's side. I'm sure you understand."

[Bojikami]

"Indeed. I came to ask for help." He looked around to see if anyone was watching. "I mean to invade and liberate Spain from the current oppressive regime. I am calling a holy war, and I come to ask for your assistance in this conflict, as the militia forces I have gained in the Spain likely will do little against the Spanish army and whomever would help them."

Selim nodded and considered it. "I could approve such a means, I just request that you organize the establishment of a free, or at least, Islamic Morocco. It is a thorn in Dar al-Islam's side. I'm sure you understand."

"That is not a problem. I wish to see Morocco liberated from oppressive catholic rule as well." He shuddered. "God only knows how they suffer under the banner of the catholics."

---

January 20th 1898
Western Russian Empire

Shortly after the January Revolution's beginning, the Russian military began to reach the western provinces to Crack down on the dissent in the Baltic states and in Finland.

In Warsaw, as Russian troops began to approach the rebel held city. Upon the Russian approach, the polish defenders of the city began to raise their weapons at the barricades. Russian troops stormed the city as artillery began to shell buildings, weakening the morale of the defenders within. The ensuing battle lasted a mere two hours, many of the defenders either dying in the streets or imprisoned by the Russians. A few of the leaders of the Polish uprising fled to Sweden and sought asylum, which was promptly granted by the Swedish government.

In Belarus, due to the crackdown, the whiteshirts began reaching out to Ruthenia for funding and arming when enough men could be mustered for a revolt.

[Unicario]

January 20, 1898
Darfur

The train slowed and halted. Ferdinand Eichemann stepped off the train and a familiar scent hit his nose. The smells of his Jewish upbringing flowed to him from all directions. Jewish vendors selling in the modest train station's hallways, greeting travelers. A flag of the proposed Jewish state hung from one of the rafters, with "Darfur, the new Jewish Land" written in Hebrew on a propaganda banner issued by the Rumite Jewish League.

The normally arid town was beautified by wondrous Judeo-Arabic architecture and artificial canals running through the town, allowing for the first natural growth as agricultural experiments began to show fertility in a normally annoying desert. After Khartoum, this was his first stop on his Pan-Africa tour. Next, he would go north to Cairo, then to Alexandria, Benghazi, Tripoli, Tunis, Algiers, then south to Dakar, Timbuktu, Monrovia, to the various German colonies, then south to Cape Town, and the Japanese colonies, before returning on a long-haul to Nigeria, where he would deliver his speech.

He walked through the town, and stood outside the Jewish synagogue near the town center, and sighed. Emmanuel Carasso was an unperson, to quote Georg von Licht. Doomed to eternal remembrance as a racist and a bigot... Ferdinand Eichemann, however, was a different story. A hero to many as a crusader against fascism, and against discrimination. An emerging vanguard as Belinsky put it... yet Carasso was being quoted by the fascist leader of Ruthenia.

Eichemann sighed and walked away from the synagogue to check into his hotel.

[Unicario]

Selim nodded and considered it. "I could approve such a means, I just request that you organize the establishment of a free, or at least, Islamic Morocco. It is a thorn in Dar al-Islam's side. I'm sure you understand."

"That is not a problem. I wish to see Morocco liberated from oppressive catholic rule as well." He shuddered. "God only knows how they suffer under the banner of the catholics."

Selim nodded and said, "Members of the new Army will accompany you as mercenaries. Stir up dissent and wage a revolution, my friend. You have our support."

[Bojikami]

"That is not a problem. I wish to see Morocco liberated from oppressive catholic rule as well." He shuddered. "God only knows how they suffer under the banner of the catholics."

Selim nodded and said, "Members of the new Army will accompany you as mercenaries. Stir up dissent and wage a revolution, my friend. You have our support."

"Thank you friend. I plan on launching the attack in early February." He nodded and left Selim with a note. "That tells you where to look for my men when the war comes. I will send one of my men here a few days in advance to let you know when to move your armies into Spain. Now, I must take my leave. I must give my men the good news." Muhammad rose from his seat and walked out, off to Spain to tell his men of the good news.

[Bojikami]

February 2nd, 1898
Southern Spain

Today was the day Muhammad's plan was to come to fruition. 16,000 Jihadists rose up in Cadiz, all of them chanting "Allahu Ackbar!" The Jihadists stormed the city and began attacking local law enforcement. In the resulting bloody battle, the city was taken and none of the Spanish fighters in the streets had survived the bloody battle. Shortly after the black Jihad flag flew over the city, and Muhammad declared the new nation the Sultanate of Al-Andalus.

Shortly after the message of the battle frantically arrived at the capital the King of Spain declared a state of emergency and civil war, while Muhammad had his informants in Algeria, Italia, France, and Ruthenia inform their respective leaders of the victory and the beginning of this great plan.

[Unicario]

February 2, 1898

Islamic warriors from across Rum set sail to fight for glory in Spain. A large number of them banded together to form the Cordoba Guard, and requested that in exchange for their support, they be given land to govern, at least, the commanders. Their numbers totalled about 15,000.

[Bojikami]

February 2, 1898

Islamic warriors from across Rum set sail to fight for glory in Spain. A large number of them banded together to form the Cordoba Guard, and requested that in exchange for their support, they be given land to govern, at least, the commanders. Their numbers totalled about 15,000.

Muhammad himself along with his priests greeted the warriors and blessed them for their assistance in the war. He instructed the men to assist his main force in marching north towards Seville.

In Italia, Italian and Ruthenian troops met up in Sicily just prior to landing in eastern Spain, this operation would remain secret from the world, especially from the concerned Germans.

[Shrillland]

February 2, 1898
New York, New York

The British, Japanese, and Confederate delegations were already at the UN, but other nations still had not arrived.

Georgetown, West Guyane

Kapoor and her Venezuelan allies had been entrenched in street fighting for several weeks, but the Communists were running out of supplies. They now made a last desperate charge for the heart of the city.

[Bojikami]

February 3rd, 1898
New York, New York

The Russian and German delegates arrived at the UN.

Rome, Roma Italia

Benito Mussolini, after hearing of the emergency UN meeting decided to invite the leaders of France and Ruthenia to Rome to hold a meeting regarding Fascism in Europe and its destiny. He had hoped to hold such a meeting later, until after the Spanish revolution had been won, but he had decided that this meeting was urgent and must be held at the earliest opportunity.

Sevilla, Spain

Both Muhammad's and the Rumite holy warriors arrived at Sevilla and began laying siege to the Spanish-held city.

[Unicario]

((Tag for future reference.))

[Unicario]

February 4, 1898
Paris, French State

"The colours of the world are changing day by day,
Red, the blood of angry men!
Black, the colour of the banners we fly today!
Red, a world about to dawn!
Black, the night at ends at last!
Red, the colour of desire!
Black, the colour of change and renewal!"

The main avenue of Paris was packed with thralls of students, soldiers and workers as they flew the banners of the fascist regime, and the black banners of Le Syndicat, and the red banners of the Alliance des Travailleurs, the main Communist organization in France after the Revolution. The French re-release of Die Elenden, rewritten as a play depicting a 19th century rebellion against the King of France, had swept the nation in fervor of patriotic spirit.

The Célébration de la Fraternité was celebrated today in the main avenue of Paris, with thousands flooding the streets, in a spectacular show of patriotism.

"Will you give all you can give,
So that our banners may advance?
So before the sun relents,
Will you stand up and take your chance?
The blood of the martyrs will water the meadows of France!"

The Fascist Revolution had swept France, and with it, a new ideology had emerged between the collaboration of the Communist partisans and Fascist paramilitaries; Syndicalism had emerged as the new state, and with it, the permanence of fascism in the West. But in today's celebrations, something else took place -- instead of harboring the hatred for all things German, and all of the Allied states that had humiliated and embarrassed the French Republic, the people were celebrating European fraternity, and the establishment of a New Order, above the Old One.

Beneath the thralling masses, another song could be heard as well, from another, completely different thing.

"Die Gedanken sind frei, wer kann sie erraten,
sie fliehen vorbei wie nächtliche Schatten.
Kein Mensch kann sie wissen, kein Jäger erschießen
es bleibet dabei: Die Gedanken sind frei!"

...

4 February 1898
Tokyo

"I feel as if I have been sleeping for a very long time." Emperor Alexander stated with a sageness to his voice, as if he knew something that his kin did not. He gently smoked his pipe, and looked out into the vastness of the ocean from his palace.

"To our backs lies our allies in peace, China. They are a grave threat to our ambitions, no matter how we make them second to us in international economics... and to our east, lie a nation of enigmas. The Confederate States of America is... a peculiar place; and one can only wonder what they shall make of the coming century. The 20th century shall be full of surprises, but I am afraid I will never see it."

He turned to his daughter, who was peering at him in reverence. "Fortune favors the worthy, and the bold. I have been blessed by all deities, including perhaps my grandmother. But my time shall be cut short by the passage of humanity, and I do not know if future generations shall look upon me in blessed victory, but I can only hope so."

He stretched and stood up, feeling his years. "The future awaits, dear Daughter, and you shall lead it."

[Bojikami]

February 10th, 1898
Roma, Roma Italia

The entire old city was prepared for the event to occur on this day. At each corner, beautiful decorations, posters, and flags flew commemorating Rome's two closest allies, the French State and the Empire of Ruthenia. The old and tired Colosseum bore Roman-esque standards which bore the flags of Ruthenia, France and Rome itself. Citizens stood at the sidewalks of Romes great roads cheering and applauding. Before them stood Roman soldiers, dressed in the typical dark green of Italian soldiers, wielding the finest of Roman rifles fixed with bayonets. The entire city seemed to be in celebration in contrast to the stoic soldiers that stood guard. Mussolini himself waited at the train station in Roma for his fellow leaders. Sure enough, a black locomotive pulled into the station, and out stepped the Tsar of Ruthenia, Oleksandr Kostiuk, flanked by two guardsmen dressed in black trenchcoats and wielding K-97s.

"Ave, Alexander!" Mussolini called and shook his friends hand. "Hello to yourself, Benito. Seems like you've got quite the captive crowd here in Rome." Mussolini grinned and Oleksandr stepped closer to the platform, seeing the crowd before him. To their gleeful cheers he held out his hand in the familiar Ruthenian salute, and the crowd saluted in return and called out "Khaylʹ Oleksandr! Pravda Tsar vsiya Rusi!" (Heil Oleksandr, True Tsar of all Rus'!) to this he nodded happily and stood next to Mussolini, who was situated in the middle of the platform. The two awaited their assuredly not to far off ally, Ferdinand Foch together, whilst they made small talk while looking out at the crowd.

Southern Spain

The military uprising was beginning to take form in the south of Spain. Francisco Franco, an exiled Spanish general had returned to his mother nation in secret in late May of 1896 where he had made connections with high ranking and charismatic Generals within the Spanish military. It was from here, he built up his underground movement. On February the 6th, his hour had struck. Spain's military grew increasingly tired of its inefficient leadership, and was ready to coup. By the 9th, the King of Spain, Alfonso XIII was killed by the palace coup. Despite initial success, soon local churches, loyalist segments of the army, and supporters of the monarchy reinstalled his son, Juan Carlos I as the new King of Spain. Though his powers were reduced, and a parliament made most decisions, he kept his crown, for now.

Now, no more than a day after the retaking of the government, Franco and his Spanish Revival Front have began an open rebellion in the south of Spain, devastating the countryside, and building support for Francos possible regime.

[Unicario]

February 10, 1898
Roma

Another locomotive arrived within a few minutes of the arrival of Tsar Oleksandr. The locomotive came to a calm stop, and two French "Imperial Guardsmen" emerged from the carriage, carrying the rifles of the Garde Impériale, and wearing the familiar light-blue uniforms with painted-steel helmets. The soldiers turned to face each other, holstered their weapons and snapped to a salute. This salute was a closed fist gesture across the chest, resting it on their heart, and locked legs together. Out of the carriage came Ferdinand Foch, the 48 year old Commandant de l'État. His hair was already graying, and he wore a beautiful white military uniform and a peaked cap with the Cross of Lorraine on it. His chest was decorated with the war medals he had received during his now 27 year career as a soldier of the French Army.

Behind him followed Solange Glaisyer, his second-in-command. The young African woman had her curled hair tied up into a large bun, and she also wore a peaked cap and a military uniform; this one being a uniform befitting her status as Capitaine de la Garde, the leader of the Imperial Guard; the paramilitary of the state. A third man followed, he was wearing a dark gray shirt, black pants, and a red beret; he was wearing the uniform of the Front Rouge, the leading Communist paramilitary. This man was Louis Lejeune. The three made up the leadership of the French State.

After Foch, Glaisyer and Lejeune passed by, the soldiers stopped saluting, and marched in step behind their leaders. Foch approached Oleksandr and Benito Mussolini and gave the Ruthenian salute, before smiling and offering a hand to shake. "It is a pleasure to see you gentlemen again, I hope we may do great work here today. I assume both of you know my second-in-command, Madame Glaisyer." He then gestured to Louis, "And this is the leader of the Front Rouge, our allies in the Revolution against republicanism and the fiat of corrupt demagoguery."

"Pleasure." Louis gave a smooth smile and a grin.

[Bojikami]

February 10, 1898
Roma

"And it is my pleasure to meet all of you. Ave, and I bid you welcome to the Eternal City, Roma." He gestured to the cheering crowds before them and the various decorations that adorned the city. Before them, Italian soldiers stepped to the side to show a custom-made Fiat Brevetti, with two drivers in the front and various seats in the back and without a roof. "Come, my friends. There is much to speak of." Mussolini had walked over to the car, with Bandera and Oleksandr following suit. When the group had piled into the vehicle, it jolted slightly and began sailing down the street towards the Senatum Roma building at a comfortable speed.

When they arrived, they were greeted with Roman soldiers posted as guards around the building, and a small group escorted them into a private chamber with a long table and chairs set around in an official manner. "Please, my friends, take your seats." When everyone was seated, Mussolini's demeanour became more serious. "Now, as you may have assumed we are gathered here in Roma not only in the spirits of goodwill, but because, as I speak, the nations of the UN are convening in New York City to discuss us, as circling vultures do their prey." He paused, to allow his words to set in. "You see, our three nations stand at the vanguard of a new, and to them, our would be enemies, dangerous idea. Our nations have each, through our own means, thrown off the shackles of feudalistic and so-called democratic systems and instead instituted our own. Whereas instead of politicians, or lords, our people devote their loyalty solely to the state, and the state solely to the people. This, in the eyes of our enemies who would rather see the common man crushed beneath strangling caste systems or through other societal divisions, is dangerous and such a revolt from their common ideas of the gentry must be put down immediately." He drew another breath. "And this is no better exemplified than by our common enemy, the Germans. The very people who would see France raped and torn apart, the very people who turned their backs on Italy, and the very people who seek to bring war to Ruthenia with Great Britain and the other 'free nations of Europe' in tow. It is in light of this, I propose a public declaration of an alliance between our nations. With the combined might of the Romans, the courage of the French, and the fanaticism of the Ruthenians, we can ensure that Europe, no, the world shall rotate on the Rome-Paris-Kyiv Axis."

[Shrillland]

February 12, 1898
New York, New York

The news had just arrived in New York from journalists in London, a new alliance had threatened the peace of the world. When it became clear that the remaining security council members would not likely appear, Britain's Prime Minister, the Marquess of Salisbury, opened the meeting of the UN with a speech:

"Noble allies, it appears that a new menace has risen in the eastern horizon, the menace of Fascism. Italy, France, and Ruthenia have determined that the causes of peace and liberty that all men should strive for are a mockery, and they wish to unleash this new terror upon a world that is still recovering from the last one that was stopped by God Himself.

They claim to rescue the world from tyranny and starvation, yet their systems will mean nothing but annihilation for all who subscribe to them. They claim to offer the world true freedom, yet they will gladly suppress all who stand against this new order. They claim to deliver the world from the scourge of Communism, yet their system is a mirror image of the Marxist horror that has emerged in South America, even within our own colonies.

Such a fanatical vision created by a band of fanatical men will not be content to settle in peace. This machine requires war to supplement its ideology, which is starved of vitality by denying the right of people to be free. It is therefore, up to us to strangle this message while it can still be strangled with the dove of peace rather than the dog of war. We must isolate these nations that think they can conquer the "decadent democracies" of the East and West. We must agree to impose severe sanctions on these lands to ensure that their terror will not be tolerated, and we must ensure that the ideas that created the United Nations can prosper in what seems to be an increasingly hostile world."

The stress that had racked Salisbury's head for days fell away with each word that he spoke. It was difficult for a man who, only two months before, said that Fascism wasn't the enemy that it seemed and that they had their part to play in destroying Communism. The thing that had changed his mind most was the news that had just been delivered of the new Axis agreement, which seemed to lump Britain in with the other democratic powers of the World. Needless to say, however, such a change would be met with surprise and frustration back home.

Georgetown, West Guyane

The scourge of Communism, meanwhile, did not seem to be doing well. Kapoor's forces did charge against the Loyalists and Canadians, but they only succeeded in splitting Georgetown in two for the time being.

[Luziyca]

February 12, 1898
Pichegru, Guyane
As the Guyanese troops fought alongside the Loyalists and Canadians in Georgetown, suspected communists were often executed by guillotine for "disloyalty to the principles of the [French] Revolution," many of them summarily in kangaroo courts. Some of these heads were put on pikes in the main square as a warning to others who dare criticize the state.

Propaganda was rising forth, criticizing the communists as "enemies of the Revolution," and urging citizens to send the communists out. People signed up to fight against the communists in West Guyane, to fight to "liberate Ville du Guerrier Marat (Georgetown) from the communist foe."

[Unicario]

February 10, 1898
Roma

"We are certain that the undisputable nature of human events shall bring us to victory; but the French State has no qualms with any race or civilization; from West to East. This is where we differ from you, our Ruthenian and Italian comrades; the Syndicalist ideology, is, fundamentally, open to the concepts of Fraternal European Brotherhood, and the forgiveness of sins. We, as pious Catholics, must practice restraint, and pair good faith towards our proletariat, with good works to benefit the masses; and we must turn the other cheek to the evils of others; including the Germans." Ferdinand Foch stated, taking off his peaked cap and looking at the assembled groups of representatives.

"Perhaps our variant of fascism is unique from yours, but we share in the concepts of reforming the world through a new age, without the burdensome nature of representative democracy, but instead the operation of worker councils, and the establishment of a society of working class men, women and children; without bourgeois masters." He stated, before taking a seat.

...

February 12, 1898
New York, New York

"Your Excellency," began Paul Yakushi, the Japanese UN representative, "We are under the impression that the statements made by this proto-alliance of fascist nations stems entirely from a few off-cuff remarks in a between the Duce of Italy and the Commandant of the State of France within range of foreign press officials." He glanced at his papers, "The Empire of Japan declares it's commitment to democratic principles and ideologies, and will, as ever, refute the concepts of fascism within it's own borders. But we see the events in France, Ruthenia and Italy as beyond our control, and not of concern to the Japanese Empire."

"However, we will condemn the blood-lusted overthrow of the democratic regime in France, and the pre-existing authorities in Italy and Little Russia. This is what His Imperial Majesty has given me sanction to state before this esteemed body."

[Bojikami]

February 10, 1898
Roma

Mussolini nodded at Foch's remarks. "You see my friend, this is the beauty of the Fascist ideology. While there are core ideas that should remain unaltered, there is much open interpretation so that the idea works best for each individual nation. We, the Romans hold to a more Orthodox form of Fascism. We take the base principles and mix it with those of the old Roman Empire. It is because these ideas where at the core of Fernando's Glorious Revolution against the decadent King of Italy." Mussolini then took his seat as the group sat around the table.

It was at this moment in the silence, Oleksandr stood. He himself was a tall, pale man. Dressed in a black trench coat with the symbol of the Ruthenian Imperial Guard on his sleeve and on the Generals hat he wore. He stood before the group and removed his hat. "Comrades, this talk of fraternity between the people's of Europe is fine and well, and peace is always something to seek as an alternative to war, but we should face the obvious reality that there is not just one, but many wolves at our door.
Britian, Russia, Germany, and whatever other threat to the harmony we promote, they must all be dealt with. This, of course must be done in time. On both sides, our nation's are very much recovering from the utter devastation of the Great War. Even in, say twenty or so years when our forces are gathered, our industry is exceeding the foes we face, this will be a bloody road to any form of victory. I have no doubts our enemies convened in New York plot our downfall before we can even put up a good defensive, and it is in this I have thought that we should attempt to do the same. In the south of Spain at this moment, Francisco Franco, a Spanish general loyal to the Fascist cause is raising his and his military's banner in open rebellion against their incompetent monarch, a man propped up by greedy industrialists, corrupt bishops, and deceptive counterrevolutionaries. I propose that in an act of good will to our potential ally, we all get into contact with Franco and fuel his uprising."

New York

Radoslav Matveev the Russian delegate to the United Nations stood. "I wholly agree with the British Prime Minister. Since a time before the Great War, Ukraine-Romania and its most recent descendant, Ruthenia have been a peril to both Russia and the nations they neighbor. Its expansionist desires are only exemplified by its pact with the Romans and the French. With these in mind, however I do understand that no nation, on either side of this theoretical conflict is ready to wage a war the caliber of the Great War. Our people long for peace, our infrastructure, in some nations is recovering, and overall it seems unlikely that Ruthenia or the Fascists will be ready to launch any assaults any time soon. However, the Tsar will honor his commitment to world peace and we will partake in any sanction laid upon the new Axis Powers, and we shall keep a close eye on the Ruthenians."

[Unicario]

February 10, 1898

Foch sniffed, "We can commit a few resources to help Franco, but France is still rebuilding from the devastating ruin the Republicans left behind. We can spare some help for him, but not much more; War is the last thing France wants."

...

February 21, 1898
Southern Rhodesia

Ferdinand Eichemann and his son stepped off the train and emerged into the streets of Salisbury, the capital of the small British colony. Eichemann was impressed at the European architecture of the city. This was yet another stop on his African Tour that would end in Nigeria's capital city the coming May. The famous author got some attention from people who recognized him from his portraits on the books he published.

He, with interest, wandered the streets of Salisbury, visiting the less fortunate and the more fortunate, markets and shops alike.

[Shrillland]

February 19, 1898
Georgetown, West Guyane

All of the city north of Princess Street was now back in Loyalist hands. Field Marshal Miles now intended to rout the Communists up the Demerara while sending a smaller force further south to block the final retreat at the town of Hyde Park, about nine miles south of Georgetown. The charge began this morning, but was initially repulsed with heavy losses for both sides. It took ten hours of battering-ram style attacks to punch a hole in the Communist defences and send them southward.

February 22, 1898
Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia

Today, the South African Company finally gave their approval to building the Afro-European railway, which meant that all British holdings on the route now approved it.

[Bojikami]

February 10th, 1898
Roma

"And such is fine." Mussolini stated. "Roma herself must go through a restructuring of her military. The introduction of new weapons and the creation of new doctrines. It appears the only one of us whom is able to give serious military and economic aid to Franco would be Ruthenia, as they took on the least industrial damage from the war."

"Enough of this talk of war, however. I was also interested in enursing a lasting peace between the French State and the Roman Empire. As you know, as a result of this great Tragedy, France remains shattered, with her people under the servitude of foreign powers. And it is in the light of our friendship, that I declare that the Empire is willing to cede all non-Italian majority or areas with no significant Italian minorities, to France."

February 22nd, 1898
Caracas, Venezuela

President Ernesto, worried about the declining situation in Guyane, extended an offer to all communists fighting against Britian to be granted asylum in Venezuela.

[Unicario]

February 25, 1898

"God on high,
hear my prayer.
Take me now,
to thy care..."

Emperor Alexander sat in silence, his elderly eyes sweeping the stage as the Tokyo Performing Arts College performed the first Japanese rendition of the Fascist French version of Die Elenden.

"...Take me now,
take me there,
Bring me home...
Bring me home."

Emperor Alexander rose from his seat, gathered himself up and silently walked out of his box. His daughter eyed him pensively, and made to rise. The Emperor placed his firm, age-warped hand upon her shoulder. "Stay, my daughter." The Emperor continued out of the box, into the hallway.

"On this page
I write my last confession
Read it well when I, at last, am sleeping
It's the story
Of one who turned from hating
A man who only learned to love
When you were in his keeping..."

The sounds of the play grew distant as he walked down the main hallway of the Meiji Theatre, Japan's equivalent to some of the finest performing arts theatres in the world. He stopped at the doorway and turned to face the staircase that lead back to the box.

"Take my hand
I'll lead you to salvation."

The Emperor gave a smile and stepped into the cold snowy night, and continued down the street. Ordinary citizens rushing through the streets were so wrapped up in their affairs, that they scarcely noticed the Emperor of Japan walking down the streets of Tokyo. The Emperor's face was bright with a smile, as he watched his people bustle and hustle to return to their homes to escape the biting cold.

"Take my love
For love is everlasting
And remember
The truth that once was spoken
To love another person
Is to see the face of God."

The Emperor's walk through the streets stopped briefly as he sat down on a bench near a place of great auspicious nature to him. The seemingly innocent stretch of street in Tokyo had been the site of his most painful memory. How many years has it been now...? The Emperor thought briefly, before remembering. 61. 61 years. He sighed, and gently set his cane beside him, and rubbed his face. "Sixty-one years I have lived with you gone. Yet somehow I have... I have gone on without hesitation."

He gently rose, with his cane in hand, and continued walking down the street. "Sixty-one years. That is indeed, a very long time, Father."

His walking brought him, without much direction, to a familiar European-styled Church. The bell above chimed eight times, to indicate the time of evening. The Emperor silently walked through the threshold of the Church, and sat quietly in the back of the grand chamber. Sixty years. His mind reminded him; this year marked the sixtieth year of his marriage to Augusta d'Este; and 30 since her death from cancer.

"This church sure has changed," He quietly breathed out. Where at one moment it had been a multi-faith church, servicing Shintos and Christians; it was now all but dedicated to the Sanguinist faith. A large mural stood behind the preacher's pulpit; the Empress Meiji as a divine figure, and her children as holy messiah; and her eldest son as the Holy Martyr. Alexander sighed and stood and walked out of the Church. "Sixty years... sixty years."

The end of his journey, the Emperor stood before the IJN Circumstance; the "planned" museum ship that had, so many years ago, been his vessel to explore the mighty world. He let out a laugh and remember his days upon the Circumstance. His body, as old as it was, still bore the strength and discipline he had gained as a sailor. The tattoos he never showed the world underneath his yukata and imperial garb, always bore a reminder of his youth. The Emperor gave a mighty sigh and sat down on a bench in the Merchant Row, watching the ship gently teeter and totter in the ocean breeze and tide. What he wouldn't give for one last journey... one last journey far away.

He gently closed his eyes for a moment, and gave a warm smile. A gentle hand rested on his and he opened his eyes to see his grandmother; for the second time in his life. The Empress Meiji gave a laugh, "Our family is insane, you know that, right? We hallucinate, obviously."

Alexander gave a sigh, "Yes, I suppose you're right Grandmother."

"I'm proud of you. I'm proud of Victoria, and I'm proud of Japan."

"And I am proud of the world." Alexander muttered, resting his tired muscles on the bench. "And I'm proud of Lilibet, she will make a fine Empress... once I am gone."

Empress Meiji gave a smile, "Your time, Alexander. I believe it draws near."

"Already?"

"You're 79. That's no small feat."

Alexander looked hesitant, "What about Victoria?"

"She has some time to go before her time, my child. She's an old woman too, and she certainly takes after her mother. She has done her Empire proud, and she will be cherished for generations by Britons for her tireless work, and her descendants will throw themselves into their stature like you both did. I can foresee it."

Alexander rose from the bench without assistance, and looked at the Circumstance. Behind him, a far off bell rang 12 times, to indicate that it was now midnight.

"One last journey, right?"

---

Tokyo, Japan
February 26, 1898

Solemn bells rang from every church spire and temple across the mighty Empire that morning, after the news had broken.

Ichiro Matsui had been a simple police officer, tasked with escorting any homeless persons to the local shelters, and ensuring the streets were calm. He had come across an unmoving figure laying on a bench in Merchant Row, not far from the Emperor's most famed ship, the Circumstance. As the police officer approached, he gently nudged the figure. "Come on, mate. You can't sleep here, I'm gonna take you somewhere nice." He kept poking the figure, to no avail. He realized then that he was dealing with a "cold one", and moved to get him into a position so he could tag and summon the coroner.

However, he was filled with a cold, bitter dread as he came face to face with a serene, elderly face. A face he had seen numerous times in newspapers. The Emperor. The Emperor.

Officer Matsui began to panic as it set in exactly what he was seeing -- The Emperor is dead. The Emperor is dead. The Emperor is dead.

With speed he hadn't summoned in years, he dashed across the road to one of the nearby shoppes. Slamming through the door he loudly shouted for somebody to call the police department, immediately. The proprietor, an older Korean woman, came out from around the back of the store and asked him, "What's wrong, officer?"

"The Emperor is dead! Call the police!"

The Korean woman, who had been carrying a tray of goodies to put on display, as this was her candy shoppe, dropped the tray unceremoniously and with agility unseen in a woman of her age, leapt over the counter and into the backroom, to dial the police.

It took but 10 minutes for a squadron of police carriages and the coroner to arrive. The police closed the Merchant Row for the day, and examined the body. Without a doubt, it was the Emperor. His supervisor explained to Officer Matsui that the Princess Elizabeth had reported her father missing in the night, after he left the Meiji Theatre without explanation and didn't return home, or to the Imperial Palace. The snowfall it had made it impossible to find him otherwise.

The Emperor's death spread across the Empire within a matter of hours, carried on the backs of telegram. A few more hours it would take to reach China, Europe and the Americas. Before the end of February 26, the world knew that Emperor Alexander had left the mortal plane.

[Shrillland]

February 26, 1898
Buckingham Palace
London

The news had arrived at about four in the morning from Tokyo. It fell to Prince Edward, who had also recently learned that his brother, Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, was now suffering from throat cancer, to tell his mother the terrible news. Her nephew, the Emperor of Japan, had died after leaving a performance at Meiji Theatre. This he said to his mother, who sat silent.

For what seemed like an eternity, she merely sat in the darkness, tears forming in her eyes and pain in her soul that had never yet recovered from the death of her husband. They suffered still from when her daughter Alice had passed, and when her son, Leopold, Duke of Albany had left this world. Now, she faced the loss of her nephew, and it seemed that even now, all that she loved would die long before God granted her relief. She simply said in a pained calm, "Let the news be broken throughout the Empire."

She then doubled over and wept yet again for one she had loved dearly. In the coming days, she prepared for what would be her last journey to Japan, to witness the rise of a new Empress.

March 3, 1898

Ships from all over the Empire were heading to Japan filled with leaders who wished to pay their respects. From Canadian Prime Minister Roosevelt to the Earl of Elgin, Viceroy of India, all headed to Tokyo. Most prominent of them all was the aged Queen, who now ruled for longer than any other British monarch save one that was to come.

Hyde Park, West Guyane

Here, however, the insurrection continued. Marshal Miles had prepared to stay his troops upon the news of the Emperor's death, but all was changed when the Communists opposite them actually started playing triumphant music, and even launching a celebratory artillery barrage. The anger that came from the Loyalists and the Canadians was such that Miles ordered a charge on the Red positions.

Those that tried to retreat were cut off by the force to the south, others fled west into the jungles and thence to Venezuela. Kapoor, however, went south into the jungle with 40,000 troops, and waited....for what she did not know.

[Unicario]

"Enough of this talk of war, however. I was also interested in enursing a lasting peace between the French State and the Roman Empire. As you know, as a result of this great Tragedy, France remains shattered, with her people under the servitude of foreign powers. And it is in the light of our friendship, that I declare that the Empire is willing to cede all non-Italian majority or areas with no significant Italian minorities, to France."

February 10, 1898

"I do not doubt you mean well, and I shall look forward to the day France's territories are reunited with the motherland; it shall be a day in which France may be great allies with Italy and the fascist powers. We shall see what becomes of our Triple Entente."

---

March 3, 1898

Elizabeth Yamato was preparing to arise as the second Empress of Japan in a century; she had shoes to feel; big ones at that. Her father, the World Traveler; her grandfather, the Martyr, and her mother, the Divine; she pondered briefly, as her aides and maids rushed around her preparing to dress her in her ceremonial kimono for her to meet with the British Empire's representatives; Japan was de facto part of this brotherhood of nations, no Japanese man or woman could believe in a breach in Japanese-British friendship, and no Emperor of Japan would be the one to severe ties with the great Empire of the West.

That was what Japanese called Britain these days; not Great Britain, but Dai Seibu Teikoku, the "Great Western Empire"; to contrast Japan's Dai Nippon Teikoku. It was a peculiar arrangement, typically aided on by the general fact that the British had a Yamato dynast sitting upon their throne; something of note in the grand scheme of things.

The beautiful 54 year old Empress looked in the mirror and gave a sad smile. The kimono was devoid of colours, and was made of black and gray. She finished her garment and prepared to meet with the assembled delegates of the Empires abroad, and had a favor to ask of Victoria before her father was laid to rest in the Pantheon, beside his grandmother, his father and his wife.

The Empress of Japan rose from her chair and walked through the doorway of her chamber, and made her way to the ground floor to meet with the delegates from the Empire.

The first delegates to arrive were, in fact, France's delegates. Solange Glaisyer, and two men were the party from France. Solange Glasiyer removed her hat and bowed in respect to the Empress. "The French State expresses their sorrow for the death of your father, he was a well-respected man; and was well known in France for his championing of justice for all men. We are saddened by his passing, and we congratulate Her Majesty on her rise to the throne, even if under awful circumstances, and we offer this gift." Glaisyer's fellow representative of France brought forward a large portrait. Taking the cover off it, the portrait was in fact one of France's most famous.

Mona Lisa, the most known work of Leonardo da Vinci, was presented as a gift from the French State to the Empire of Japan. The Empress was floored by the gift; an inexpensive historical work offered up from one of France's most known art galleries. Accepting the gift, she gave a thankful and deep bow before smiling. "It is wonderful, we shall find a place for it." The gift officer on hand, Isoroku, took the painting carefully and took it to be hung somewhere in the palace; it was decided that since Meiji was a large fan of da Vinci, it would go in the Meiji Room.

Empress Elizabeth smiled, "We thank you, Madame Glaisyer." She gestured to one of her aides, "My aide Yoshi will guide you and your assembly to your rooms here in the palace." The French delegation gave a final bow and departed upstairs to their rooms. The Empress was still a bit winded, before the arrival of Caliph Aysun and her diplomats. Aysun approached Elizabeth and wrapped her in a deep hug. "My dear sister, I am sorry to hear of Father's death. He was a great man, and I am sure even the Prophet, peace be upon him, is eager to meet him in the afterlife."

Elizabeth bowed her head and gave a nod at her father's bastard daughter. "I thank you, dear Sister, and welcome home. You'll find your quarters, as gifted by father, in perfect condition." The elderly Caliph gave a bright smile, "This is a gift to you from the Rumite Caliphate, my sister."

She knelt and presented Elizabeth a large Mamluke sword. "This sword may not be too special, but it was designed specifically for you and your kin."

Elizabeth accepted the gift, and Aysun adjourned with her cadre of diplomats up the stairs to where they would be staying. The Dutch delegation, Tawantinsuyuan delegation, and other nations as well, arrived in tandem, all coming before the grand British delegation from the many realms of Britain's empire. Elizabeth patiently awaited the arrival of her Great Aunt; with anxious breath.