A World Without America II [Closed / IC]

[Unicario]

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." - Thomas Jefferson

A World Without America II
Part I: The Reichening

---

OOC: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=329479

---

May 10, 1773
Berlin

The gentle breeze swept across the German city as Katherine, the Queen of Prussia, boredly ignored her tutor. The stuttering Saxon man, with thinning hair, was trying to teach her drivel she had already memorized some weeks prior. She was fluent in English, German and French, could play several instruments, and was the brightest young girl in the Kingdom, as far as was claimed. She was also the most bored Queen ever. She had come into power some twelve years prior after the sudden, unfortunate death of her father, Frederick "der Große" has most Prussian men had taken to calling him. However, Katherine's true calling was indeed the ways of warfare. In secrecy, with the help of Field Marshal von Steuben, she smuggled the works of Sun Tzu and other military masters into her quarters at night under the purvey of her guardians, the more strict nobility who saw her as a woman, and therefore incapable of commanding the field.

Katherine's dreams lay in receiving military training from Prussia, and even the Cossack Hetmanate, who lay to the east, beyond Poland. The sharp-witted girl also knew that the vultures circled her quite well, knowing for the right time to strike against her.

"Y-Your Majesty, are y-you paying attention?" the tutor exclaimed. Katherine looked at the man and said, "No, I am not." She gathered her things and said, "We will have a lesson later." She departed the room briskly, and walked down the hallways of the Stadtschloss, where she had been born and spent the majority of her life. With a begrudged huff, she wondered if she'd ever get to rule as the mighty Queen of Prussians, worthy of her father's name.

Field Marshal von Steuben, one of the more liberal and pointed regents of the land after Friedrich the Great's death in 1761, was to conduct a diplomatic tour of the Cossack Hetmanate in the coming weeks. Katherine pleaded to her marshal and co-regent to bring her along. After much cajoling, von Steuben agreed. When news of this spread to the nobility, plans began to form to finally rid Prussia of the festering Hohenzollern blight, once and for all...

---

Paris, France

King Louis XV was what could be described as a disgruntled King. Rumors had come to him of his eldest grandson, Louis-Auguste, being a sodomite. He was rather disgusted, more so than ever.

Louis XV knew that his time was not long for the earth -- something had compelled him to feel this way. Sitting at his desk, he began to pen an edict to be displayed upon his death. The edict was a disinheritance note of Louis-Auguste, and the appointment of Louis Stanislas to succeed him. Louis XV was not going to permit little brats to ruin France's prosperity and peace. He wondered, "Maybe I should look to find new allies elsewhere..." Prussia had a queen coming of age, the old enemy Britain remained a potential candidate, as did the Netherlands.

"I must move to make change... but things are still... so very difficult..."

[Luziyca]

May 10, 1773
Hanseong, Korea
Yeongjo was in his palace in Hanseong. He was a great ruler, having ruled from 1724 to the present, and had ruled by Confucian principles. Sure, he conducted some unethical actions (like sealing Prince Sado in a rice chest), but he had a very positive reputation, no doubt due to his efforts to rule by the principles set out by Confucius. He implemented financial reforms to make it more fair and equitable.

His grandson, Jeongjo was the heir to the throne. Due to the execution of his father, there has been rumors that he may take revenge when his grandfather dies, and be a terrible ruler. That was something that many Korean nobles and peasants feared.

In Gyeonghuigung, he observed the beautiful gardens and architecture: the cool wind blew towards him and Yeongjo seemed to have admired and cherished it. He said to Jeongjo, "Sir, you will need to listen to me, for I am growing old and frail: I want you to continue my policies, to serve as a great King to the people of Korea. I want you to end the isolation, but continue to be guided by the principles of Confucius. Do you understand?"
Jeongjo replied to Yeongjo, "Yes, your majesty."
Yeongjo pondered and stated, "All I urge for you is to do your best: the world is gradually changing, and we will eventually need to change too. The sun has set on our culture, for I see Europe slowly enroaching on Japan and China. We cannot stay like this forever, or Portugal will colonize us."

[Bojikami]

May 10th, 1773
Kyiv, Cossack Hetmanate

Hetman Ivan Yefrem Igorevich awoke that morning looking below at the fortress city before him. He let in a deep breath and exhaled. He had only been made Heyman five years ago, and he was only 37 years old. He had a long reign before him. The Muscovites and the Poles were an ever looming threat to the Hetmanate and in this time the Cossacks needed reliable allies. Initially, Hetman Ivan looked west to the courts of western europe, but he foresaw nothing but scorn and rejection.

Instead he looked to Prussia, and was delighted when he heard of the coming diplomatic tour. He immidiately set up arrangements for when they arrived. However, not wishing to estrange the Russian Empire, he made an offer to them regarding a diplomatic summit to be held between the two nations to discuss the future of Cossack and Russian relations.

London, Great Britain

King George was long awake before the sun rose. There has been trouble in the 13 colonies since not too long after the French and Indian War. Constant clashing between Parliament and the colonial governments ultimately fostered tension between Britain and her colonies. Most recently however, parliament sought to calm the colonies by partially repealing the Townshend Acts.

However, despite the act being repealed parliament passed a new piece of legislation just today, the Tea Act. This was to give relief to the East India Company so that they may undersell the smuggled dutch tea. Though some of the parliament initially feared such an action and that the Townshend Acts should be fully repealed, but Lord North simply disagreed and most of the parliament agreed on the passage of the tea act.

[United Marxist Nations]

May 17th, 1773, Saint Petersburg, Russia

Yekaterina, Tsarina and Autocrat of All the Russias, was preparing to retire when her chamberlain asked her if she would hear from a messenger. Though the hour was considerably late, she had little patience for waking up to administrative duties, preferring to wait until her mind was clear; thus, she told the chamberlain to send the man in. "Your Imperial Majesty," the messenger began; "I humbly apologize for the inappropriateness of my attire." He was right to apologize; here he was in her waiting room, tracking dirt in and covered in dust from his ride from the post. "I come with a message from our diplomatic corps in Novorossiya." This piqued Yekaterina's interest, for she had grand designs on the area; for too long had the Sultans and their Tatar lapdogs ruled over the Crimea.

Looking over the letter, she discovered that the Hetman wished to treat with her. Securing peace along the border with the Cossack Host was a crucial step in the lead up to a war over the Crimea, should the Hetman take advantage of Russian troops being occupied with the Mohammedans, he could take vast swathes of Russian territory in the Ukraine, an unacceptable possibility. She wrote a hasty reply urging the diplomatic corps to agree to such a meeting; however, she wrote a second letter as well. This second letter was not of a diplomatic nature, this was addressed to the general's staff, instructing them to send a representative to this meeting. She sealed the letter, handed it to the post man, bid him good night, and retired.

[Unicario]

May 18, 1773
Kyiv, Cossack Hetmanate

The sound of military drums beating echoed through the capital city of the Cossack Hetmanate, Kyiv. A diplomatic welcome was being offered up by the Hetmanate army as they drummed out Friedricus Rex. On a cadre of horses, the Prussian delegation marched by. Leading, was Queen Katherine. The thirteen year old Queen of Prussia, Electorate of Brandenburg, was dressed in a femininely-cut military uniform. A cap adorned her hat, and her long hair was tied into a braid. The young Queen gazed steely at the Cossacks. When one soldier nodded at her, she nodded back, and proceeded. Behind her, von Steuben and Meckenhausen, a Thuringian diplomat under the service of Prussia, walked along side.

As they passed by to meet with the Hetman, in front of the Queen, several men ran out into the street and blocked the way. Drawing her horse back and stopping, she looked at the men. von Steuben came up from behind and eyed the men impatiently. Looking aside, he noticed the Cossacks were confused as to why the Prussians had stopped. von Steuben twitched and had a bad feeling. When the men's hands moved to their jacket pockets, he shouted, "Your Majesty! Attentäteren!"

The Queen perked up as the men drew pistols from their jackets and aimed toward the young Queen. The Queen heeled her horse back and ordered it forward. They fired their weapons as the horse plowed into the five men. The horse itself was killed, and the Queen was thrown from her horse into the road. Tumbling some, the girl fell into the dirt before one of the men, hazed, charged after her with a knife. Coming close, he stabbed down upon her, before she, with reflexes, kicked the man in the gut. Stumbling, the man then tried to choke her. She attempted to resist, while von Steuben and Mackenhausen fought with the other conspirators who were trying to kill them as well.

The assassin on top of her was slowly choking her to death before the man abruptly was thrown off of her. A Cossack soldier had delivered a blow to the man's head with his rifle's butt. The man toppled over and the Queen could finally breathe again. Gasping and getting to her feet with the help of the Cossack, she saw that von Steuben and Meckenhausen had both been fatally wounded in the street battle, knives protruding from parts of their body where blood would flow out and death would embrace shortly. The men who had accosted her and her company were seized by the Cossacks and taken into custody. Katherine watched the life begin to drain from her closest allies' eyes... she knew that Prussia was in dire straits.

She muttered to herself, "Gott helfe uns." as she began walking toward the Hetman's estate.

[Bojikami]

May 18th, 1773
Kyiv, Cossack Hetmanate

Ivan sat quietly at a long table and pondered over the current situation the Hetmanate now saw itself in. Had the Russians accepted the Cossack terms for friendship, the Hetmanate would likely be caught in the middle of any conflict Prussia or Russia had against one another. Suddenly his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the chaos outside. He quickly drew his sword and approached the door cautiously. Ivan threw the door open and saw the result of the battle before him.

He turned to one of his guards "Have this place secured. I don't want whoever started this getting away." His attention was turned to the young Prussian queen staggering toward the palace and he ran out to meet her. "I'm horribly sorry." He said as he walked her toward the front door of the palace. "Again, horribly sorry. I don't know what caused such a tragedy." He looked around at his guards rushing to secure the entrances to the palace "Let us go inside. You shall be safe there, in the meantime my guards will scour the city and search for whoever did this to you and your friends." He allowed her to enter before him before he shut the door behind him. Ivan let out a sigh and followed her to the hall.

Caracas, Vice-royalty of New Granada

For quite some time, relations had become tense between Spain and the people of eastern New Granada. Spain's mercantile policies harmed trade income in the region and caused widespread poverty. It was this, and numerous attempts by the Spanish government to force the integration of the native populations that lead to the creation of "La Facción Libertad", a faction that sought compromise with the Spanish crown on these policies that had troubled the people of New Granada.

The group held its first meeting in Caracas, numerous supporters of the underground faction had decided to, in secret, begin writing letters and sending petitions to the Spanish crown in hopes of lessening the burden the Spanish had created.

[Unicario]

May 18

Katherine found refuge in the Hetman's estate. Walking down the hallway, she entered a room and said, "Unfortunate, isn't it..." She drew her lips into a fine line. She rubbed her arm where she had scraped it up when she fell from her horse. "I don't think it's broken, but it's definitely not in right shape." She grumbled to herself and looked to Hetman Ivan. "I don't think your guards need to find who is responsible. I think I know. I am the young daughter of the Great Frederick of Prussia... I am merely but an obstacle for old men to seize the power of the state... I am but a feeble girl." She laughed some, and said, "I'm sure you, honorable Field Marshal of the Cossacks, know of the circumstances my father began his reign."

"He invaded Silesia after the ascent of Maria Theresa of Austria. The idea of a woman ruling the Habsburg Empire marked it as weak and effeminate, and therefore open season to military campaigning. He won his war, but God has ordained he be punished eternally for this. In multiple ways. I was born. My father was disappointed that a girl had borne, and planned to have more children immediately afterwards, however, he perished fighting the Russians in Kolberg, Pomerania. I have been the Queen of Prussia for twelve years; twelve years where I live in the repressive heat of manipulative men aiming to turn me docile and brainless."

"My Saxon tutor is more fit to be a pig-farmer than a teacher. Day on and on he drones about the most meaningless of things -- not the things my father would want his only child to learn!" Her voice was getting louder. "But no, I am demeaned day in and day out, taught the delicacies of womanly trade, preparing to spend my life in the shadow of my husband, whomever the court decides he shall be! It is not fair that I should be relegated to being denied my rightful place as the commander of Prussia's mighty armies! It is not fair that I shall be denied my right to rule over my domains because of the greeds of elderly men who circle me like vultures..."

She broke down into tears. "And it is unfair that my only friend, von Steuben, lies dead in the streets of Kiev! That the only way of refining my education in all things is now gone, and with it, my certainty that I shall survive should I return to Berlin... and now as we speak, they maneuver... to take my throne... to take my country... I only wish I could act, but what can I do? I'm just a girl... a silly, silly girl..."

[Bojikami]

May 18

Katherine found refuge in the Hetman's estate. Walking down the hallway, she entered a room and said, "Unfortunate, isn't it..." She drew her lips into a fine line. She rubbed her arm where she had scraped it up when she fell from her horse. "I don't think it's broken, but it's definitely not in right shape." She grumbled to herself and looked to Hetman Ivan. "I don't think your guards need to find who is responsible. I think I know. I am the young daughter of the Great Frederick of Prussia... I am merely but an obstacle for old men to seize the power of the state... I am but a feeble girl." She laughed some, and said, "I'm sure you, honorable Field Marshal of the Cossacks, know of the circumstances my father began his reign."

"He invaded Silesia after the ascent of Maria Theresa of Austria. The idea of a woman ruling the Habsburg Empire marked it as weak and effeminate, and therefore open season to military campaigning. He won his war, but God has ordained he be punished eternally for this. In multiple ways. I was born. My father was disappointed that a girl had borne, and planned to have more children immediately afterwards, however, he perished fighting the Russians in Kolberg, Pomerania. I have been the Queen of Prussia for twelve years; twelve years where I live in the repressive heat of manipulative men aiming to turn me docile and brainless."

"My Saxon tutor is more fit to be a pig-farmer than a teacher. Day on and on he drones about the most meaningless of things -- not the things my father would want his only child to learn!" Her voice was getting louder. "But no, I am demeaned day in and day out, taught the delicacies of womanly trade, preparing to spend my life in the shadow of my husband, whomever the court decides he shall be! It is not fair that I should be relegated to being denied my rightful place as the commander of Prussia's mighty armies! It is not fair that I shall be denied my right to rule over my domains because of the greeds of elderly men who circle me like vultures..."

She broke down into tears. "And it is unfair that my only friend, von Steuben, lies dead in the streets of Kiev! That the only way of refining my education in all things is now gone, and with it, my certainty that I shall survive should I return to Berlin... and now as we speak, they maneuver... to take my throne... to take my country... I only wish I could act, but what can I do? I'm just a girl... a silly, silly girl..."

"That is quite unfair." Ivan began. He looked down at the girl and placed a hand on her shoulder to console her. "I, as both a cossack and a man who believes strongly in the principles of justice will not let such an injustice pass. As you may know, my people and I knew such great treachery as well, at the hands of the Polish bastards, the infidels of Crimea, and even at the hands of the Muscovites. The first of the three my father had the great pleasure of driving from our rightful lands. Sadly, he was killed by an artillery shell outside of Krakow. I was forced to come to terms with the Poles and compromise with those latinised bastards." He knelt before her so that he may look at her at eye level. "Katherine, I will help you reclaim your rightful place as Queen of Prussia. I see it as my duty to help my guest against those whom wish to cause her harm. Merely state the moment, and the Cossack Hetmanate will rain hell upon these usurpers."

[Unicario]

Kyiv

The Prussian Queen looked up at the Hetman and smiled. "I... have a couple of ideas, sir. I think that I shall do my father proud... and as well, this may provide you the means of showing those bastard Poles a thing or two... my honest thoughts that are... in order to send soldiers to destroy the usurping regents, we must lead an army, a large one, of Free Prussians, and Cossacks, against them. But in order to allow armies to transit across Poland, we must either attack Poland, or secure passage rights. I'd prefer the former, if I may be honest."

"I shall lead an army of Cossacks, bearing the standard of Prussia, into Berlin, and see my enemies broken before me..."

---

Berlin

The Regency Council waited for news from Kyiv of the death of the Queen so that they could install one of her cousins as King. They also attempted to justify a war with Poland by planting false orders in one of the men's pockets from the Polish-Lithuanian court. Wilhelm von Askanier, one of the more liberal minds in the court, was unsure. "There's no news, are we really going to go forward with this?"

"We must, I believe." August Krenz spoke with a firm voice, "We can easily take the Kingdom now; the girl is in Kiev at the very least, she's harmless. The Slavic monkeys won't help her, and Poland stands in her way -- if we entice the Poles to our side, we can prevent her from ever leaving Kiev... provided she's alive."

Wilhelm von Askanier gave a nod, and left the room. Mounting his horse, he rode from Berlin to the military garrison outside the city, in Potsdam. Approaching the military commander, he said, "Herr Waltz. We need to talk, immediately."

Alexander Waltz, a veteran commander, looked at one of the Regents, and took him into the General's office.

"What's a matter, Herr von Askanier?"

Wilhelm took a drink of the booze on the general's desk. He said, "It's Krenz... and Waltman, they're planning on overthrowing the Queen."

Waltz's face turned red. "What?!"

Wilhelm nodded, "We... we've been planning it for weeks. To smother her in her bed, and to have her death be blamed on a Polish lady-in-waiting, giving us justification to invade Poland... but... I can't deal with it anymore. She left for Kiev last weeks with von Steuben -- one of the obstacles to our goals, and... well, he paid a five assassins to kill her, von Steuben, and that Thuringian!"

Waltz frowned deeply. "Is that so..." He cast his eyes and said, "So now what?"

Askanier said, "We need to stop them before it's too late -- the Queen must be still alive, there was no word from the assassins... we're going to hope and pray to God that we can reverse this. Maybe God will give me providence and I will be spared the blade."

Waltz frowned, "Herr Askanier, if I was anything like Friedrich the Great, I would've had you hung for treason already, and put down this rebellion.... now go, go to Silesia and to Pomerania, tell them about the Regency's deception! Hurry, now, before it's too late!"

Askanier took off in a hurry. Waltz also began to send letters and urgent messages to his fellow military officers, warning them of the lies coming forth from Berlin.

Indeed, by the next morning, the Regents announced in the papers and in the public, that Katharine had died by a Polish assassin's hand in Kiev. However, when the Regents vowed justice, the soldiers of Prussia, at least, under Waltz and Askanier's sway, decreed their rebellion and fealty to the Queen of Prussia, as they had "firm belief she is still among the living".

Free Prussian military units, loyal to the Queen, began to secure the countryside. All that remained, was for the Queen herself to make an entrance...

[Bojikami]

Kyiv, Cossack Hetmanate

Ivan nodded and grinned. "Yes, and I believe I know of another who would give us much support." He pointed at the map of Europe upon his wall, to the Russian Empire in specific. "You see, while my people are still fairly wary of the Muscovites, we have recently made attempts to bring good relations between us. If we manage to strike an alliance, Russia may be able to assist us as I am sure they wish for a destroyed Poland as much as we do." He cleared his throat and walked over to a stack of papers. "I can get you the Cossacks you need. Merely tell me how many and when the attack is needed."

While he said this, he had looked down at the papers before him. Though he had not received a reply from the Russians yet, he had written orders for his diplomats as to what points to bring up. He quickly penned in some orders regarding the support of Katherine of Prussia and the Polish Question.

[Unicario]

Katherine made a calculation mentally, "...I'd say... maybe five to seven thousand would do the job. I can expect there to remain loyalists to me within the ranks -- usurping a monarch is risky business, after all."

---

Kyiv

Alexander Pechersky was unsure what he had just witnessed. The Prussian Queen paraded by, and was accosted by a cadre of men. Whom, he didn't know. He knew that something bad was following. In a quick motion of history, Pechersky continued on his duties, helping his fellow soldiers arrest the men responsible. Little did Alexander know what effect he would have on the coming time...

---

Paris

Louis XV was continuing his plans against his eldest grandson. Organizing a hunting trip into Lorraine, he paid off a couple men to have his grandson killed "on accident."

"Do not fail me." was all he had to say to them.

[Bojikami]

Kyiv, Cossack Hetmanate

"Consider it done." Upon his order, Marshal Stanislav Ivchenko entered the room. "Stanislav," Ivan began. "Yes, my Hetman?" Stanislav stood at attention. "Stanislav, I am going to need around seven thousand Cossacks ready and here in Kyiv. We will be sending these men through Polish territory and they will be under the command of Queen Katherine or whomever she wishes to appoint as leader of this expeditionary force." Stanislav looked at Katherine and back at Ivan. "My Hetman, are you sure? She is merely a noblewoman and-" Ivan stopped him. "Yes I am sure. This woman here is descended from Fredrick the Great. If she truly has her fathers blood running through her veins, I am confident that she will do well as a field commander." with this, Stanislav nodded and stated that the army should be in Kyiv within two days. He walked down the hallway and Ivan took a seat at the long table. "I do hope, that when this is all over, Prussia and the Cossacks shall form an eternal friendship."

[United Marxist Nations]

23 May 1773, Kyiv

The diplomatic corps had finally arrived at Kyiv from Kharkiv, rain having plagued them for most of the journey; however, now the rain had stopped, only to be replaced by an ominous cloud cover. General Grigory Potemkin had received the order to appear as the Imperial Army's representative at almost the same time as the news of the assassination of von Steuben, and now he wondered if this weather foreshadowed something; four days of mourning, and did the clouds mean wrath? And if so, whose? A little Prussian upstart girl's? He had had no time to write to Petrograd for what to do in this situation, but he knew that peace had to be maintained with the Hetman and Prussia. Russia and her generals had already won glorious victories in the Caucasus, if the peace could become stable enough to mount a second front in the Crimea, the Turk could be forced to give up far more.

On the other hand, with Prussia's leadership disputed, any war would likely be a swift victory, leaving Russia the dominant power in Eastern Europe. At the very least, he had to use this event to press for greater influence. The negotiations would be a chess match in which he had the upper hand, but wasn't sure how to use it, which meant his biggest advantage was to not betray his uncertainty. As he and his party neared the Hall, he could see the Hetman and the Prussian Queen; attempting to seem as jovial as he could (to hide his intentions and thus catch them off guard during negotiations), he bellowed out "Greetings, friends, majesties, dignitaries all!"

[Unicario]

23 May 1773

"Your Majesty, news from Prussia -- the civil war has erupted." announced an aide to King Louis XV. Louis looked concerned, "Prussia's facing internal strife?"

"Yes sir, reports say that there was an attempt on the life of the Queen, and that she is now currently in the court of the Hetman of the Cossacks, awaiting to reclaim her home from the usurpers." The man said, checking the sheaf of paper he had in his hands.

Louis XV thought about it before frowning, "How disgusting -- no doubt their neighbors will try to strengthen their position by weakening Prussia. Inform the Queen, if you can, that France shall back her bid for the throne."

"But, my liege, she's a disciple of Luther!"

"That is irrelevant, boy. Do as I said." The aide left the room, and Louis sat back in his throne, thinking. France would have to do something to prevent the disruption of the balance of power in favor of Russia or Austria. If that meant backing the Protestant Prussians well... so be it.

---

Kyiv

The Prussian Queen tensed when the Russian delegate entered the room. She and the Hetman were reviewing their plans for the liberation of Prussia from it's harsh state of affairs. Seven thousand Cossack men would be under her command. She had been proposing her military campaign when the Russian arrived.

Glancing at the Hetman, she turned and gave a smile toward the Russian delegate, before returning to her work.

[Bojikami]

Kyiv, Cossack Hetmanate
23rd of May, 1773

Ivan and Katherine had begun finalising the plans for the Prussian liberation when suddenly General Potemkin had greeted them. Ivan shot up immediately and shook the General's hand. "Ah, hello there friends." He began. "Welcome to my home, and welcome to my country. I am sure you are hungry after such a long travel." He motioned for the servants to bring food over to the long table he and Katherine were seated at. "Come, gentlemen, have a seat. We have much to discuss." He had promptly sat back down and waited for the Russians to take their seats. "Now, I am sure you have all heard of the tragedy occurring in Prussia. I suppose since that is the most current of events, we should discuss that first." He turned towards Potemkin. "I am interested as to what our Russian friends here have to say about this."

[United Marxist Nations]

Kyiv

Potemkin was a bit flustered, he had expected to be the one performing the interrogative. "We had heard of the assassination the night it happened; however, we have only heard rumors on the road about events as far to the North as Prussia. That the assassination was part of a larger coup is what the word in Kharkiv is.", Grigory said, quickly recovering; his ignorance was largely true: the news had yet to reach Kharkiv when they set off, with everything being nothing more than conjecture by clerks. "I cannot know the strength of the coup, but it appears that the Queen is still the Prussian authority here. So, I must ask, what is it you shall do?", directing his question at the young Queen, hoping to ascertain her ability.

[Unicario]

Katherine nodded, "The plan is to allow the generals rebelling against the putsch to continue their operations of securing the country-side. With a support army of about seven thousand Cossacks, I, in junction with a Cossack commander, plan to march back to Prussia and link up with the royalist armies in Silesia or Pomerania, before striking into the heart of Brandenburg, where their rebellion is strongest. With seven thousand Cossacks and a number of loyalists, the rebellion should falter in a matter of days upon my return to Prussia. The primary reason why the situation is so tense is the uncertainty of if I perished in Kyiv. Communications are hard to get in and out of Prussia right now."

[United Marxist Nations]

"Ah, so the blackguards do not yet control the country." Something perplexed Potemkin, the route of the march. "If I may, how do you intend to reach Silesia or Pomerania? You would have to cross the borders of another country to reach either of them, and none of them diplomatic pushovers."

[Bojikami]

"Ah, so the blackguards do not yet control the country." Something perplexed Potemkin, the route of the march. "If I may, how do you intend to reach Silesia or Pomerania? You would have to cross the borders of another country to reach either of them, and none of them diplomatic pushovers."

"That is one of the things I would wish to address." Ivan chimed in. "You see, in order to reach Prussia, the fastest route that Katherine's army could take would be through Poland, but Poland lies under Russian protection. It is in this event that we must ask for the ability to move the army through Poland and into Prussia." Ivan exhaled and looked at Potemkin.

[United Marxist Nations]

"Ah, so the blackguards do not yet control the country." Something perplexed Potemkin, the route of the march. "If I may, how do you intend to reach Silesia or Pomerania? You would have to cross the borders of another country to reach either of them, and none of them diplomatic pushovers."

"That is one of the things I would wish to address." Ivan chimed in. "You see, in order to reach Prussia, the fastest route that Katherine's army could take would be through Poland, but Poland lies under Russian protection. It is in this event that we must ask for the ability to move the army through Poland and into Prussia." Ivan exhaled and looked at Potemkin.

"Hmm", Grigory pondered, thinking of how he could exploit this, "A deal could be worked about... As I'm sure you are aware, we are at war with the treacherous Mohammedans. Well, we have long been planning a new offensive against the Crimean Khanate, but we feared the possibility of our neighbors taking advantage of our absence. What I am getting at is -- we want a guarantee that the Hetmanate will not disturb us in this offensive." The Major-General smiled, looking pleased with himself.

[Bojikami]

"That is one of the things I would wish to address." Ivan chimed in. "You see, in order to reach Prussia, the fastest route that Katherine's army could take would be through Poland, but Poland lies under Russian protection. It is in this event that we must ask for the ability to move the army through Poland and into Prussia." Ivan exhaled and looked at Potemkin.

"Hmm", Grigory pondered, thinking of how he could exploit this, "A deal could be worked about... As I'm sure you are aware, we are at war with the treacherous Mohammedans. Well, we have long been planning a new offensive against the Crimean Khanate, but we feared the possibility of our neighbors taking advantage of our absence. What I am getting at is -- we want a guarantee that the Hetmanate will not disturb us in this offensive." The Major-General smiled, looking pleased with himself.

Ivan nodded and smiled to express sincerity "Of course we would not hamper your efforts at annihilating those scum. The Tatars have been nothing but a major source of annoyance for the Hetmanate. What I am saying is, General Potemkin, that you have our assurance that no harm will come to Russia in their campaigns against the Tatar or the Turk as we consider them an enemy just as much as you do."

[United Marxist Nations]

"Hmm", Grigory pondered, thinking of how he could exploit this, "A deal could be worked about... As I'm sure you are aware, we are at war with the treacherous Mohammedans. Well, we have long been planning a new offensive against the Crimean Khanate, but we feared the possibility of our neighbors taking advantage of our absence. What I am getting at is -- we want a guarantee that the Hetmanate will not disturb us in this offensive." The Major-General smiled, looking pleased with himself.

Ivan nodded and smiled to express sincerity "Of course we would not hamper your efforts at annihilating those scum. The Tatars have been nothing but a major source of annoyance for the Hetmanate. What I am saying is, General Potemkin, that you have our assurance that no harm will come to Russia in their campaigns against the Tatar or the Turk as we consider them an enemy just as much as you do."

"I am very glad to hear this, Ivan Igorevich; if you keep your word, this can be the start of an era of good feeling. You have my word that your Cossacks will not be molested by Polish troops; nay, they shall be escorted along the fastest route." Potemkin took the Hetman's hand and kissed it in formality. "I'll have an attendant send word to Warsawa. With any luck, the assassins will be forced out." He turned to look at the Queen, "Von Steuben was an honorable man, and I am glad to make a deal that will carry on his legacy; I wish you luck on behalf of my Orthodox Earth."

[Bojikami]

Ivan nodded and smiled to express sincerity "Of course we would not hamper your efforts at annihilating those scum. The Tatars have been nothing but a major source of annoyance for the Hetmanate. What I am saying is, General Potemkin, that you have our assurance that no harm will come to Russia in their campaigns against the Tatar or the Turk as we consider them an enemy just as much as you do."

"I am very glad to hear this, Ivan Igorevich; if you keep your word, this can be the start of an era of good feeling. You have my word that your Cossacks will not be molested by Polish troops; nay, they shall be escorted along the fastest route." Potemkin took the Hetman's hand and kissed it in formality. "I'll have an attendant send word to Warsawa. With any luck, the assassins will be forced out." He turned to look at the Queen, "Von Steuben was an honorable man, and I am glad to make a deal that will carry on his legacy; I wish you luck on behalf of my Orthodox Earth."

Ivan was pleased by this agreement. "It is good we have reached an understanding on this. I am sure Prussia will be in your debt for this." He leaned forward and crossed his arms "Now General, are there any concerns or deals the Russians wished to bring forth?"

[United Marxist Nations]

"I am very glad to hear this, Ivan Igorevich; if you keep your word, this can be the start of an era of good feeling. You have my word that your Cossacks will not be molested by Polish troops; nay, they shall be escorted along the fastest route." Potemkin took the Hetman's hand and kissed it in formality. "I'll have an attendant send word to Warsawa. With any luck, the assassins will be forced out." He turned to look at the Queen, "Von Steuben was an honorable man, and I am glad to make a deal that will carry on his legacy; I wish you luck on behalf of my Orthodox Earth."

Ivan was pleased by this agreement. "It is good we have reached an understanding on this. I am sure Prussia will be in your debt for this." He leaned forward and crossed his arms "Now General, are there any concerns or deals the Russians wished to bring forth?"

"Other than the setting of the current borders, none that I can think of. Was there a concern that you had, Hetman?"

[Unicario]

Queen Catherine rose. The thirteen year old girl was unimposing in many forms, but was no slouch. She smiled, "I appreciate your hospitality, honorable Feldmarschall of the Cossacks." She bowed in respect, before turning to the Russian. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Herr Potemkin." She said to the Hetman, "I shall go review my troops before we set off for Prussia." She smiled and walked out of the room, and down the steps of the Hetman's estate.

A Cossack man approached her. "Your Majesty. My name is Alexander Pechersky. I am the commander of your Cossack regiments." The Cossack man was a little concerned at the fact that he was going to invade Prussia under the command of a teenage girl, but he had been told by his superior not to underestimate the "flesh and blood of Frederick the Great". Catherine smiled and bowed her head some and said, "It is an honor to meet you, Herr Kommandant. We have a long march ahead of us, I'm sure your men will be ample and ready to do so."

"Yes, your Majesty. Shall we leave immediately?" The Cossack commander asked, looking at the girl. "Yes, absolutely." The Cossack walked off and returned with a horse. "This horse is a gift from the Hetman to you, Your Majesty." She thanked him, and climbed up onto the horse. The horse was a Russian Don breed, different than the horse she had been given by her father, which was a Trakehner breed, from East Prussia. She petted the horse and navigated him toward where the Cossack soldiers were waiting for her. She drew her saber and assembled before her soldiers. Many of the soldiers were reluctant to take orders from a thirteen year old girl, but she looked at them with the steely gaze she had inherited from her father. She spoke, "Soldiers, I know you may be reluctant to follow my lead, being that I am only a child, however... I assure you, I will not fail you. The good Kommandant here, Herr Alexander, will help me in leading you to victory. There lays fortune for many of you in Prussia. Now, come. Let us ride."

She and her soldiers began their march back to Prussia.