Apocalypse: 1936 (PT/IC)

[Monsone]

Nizhny Novgorod
Bulganin's Office

The Chairman didn't pay much mind to Tukachevsky's rather unsubtle discontent for him, if anything he was rather amused that he made the General such a fuming mess. He could tell Stalin must've been on the General's ass for not having the city surrender earlier as was originally planned, Bulganin figured he could potentially use that to his advantage if Tukachevsky had an interest in remaining alive past today.

Of course it was good thing he had a lot more respect for Zhukov than Tukachevsky by a long shot. "You offer up an interesting proposal, Zhukov. I'll be inclined to take it, but of course I don't want to entirely sell out my people quite yet. See they need confidence that they won't get immediately given the short end of the stick here the moment I leave to become a Marshal of the Soviet Union. So that's why I will also demand for my base of operations here in Nizhny Novgorod to remain intact along with my Army at my command for the time being as the people transition into becoming guaranteed equal and fairly treated Soviet citizens. That'll ensure the best chance for longterm peace, General."

He took out a cigar to smoke as well, waiting for Zhukov's response to his slightly revised offer.

Now Tukachevsky took his turn to speak. He knew Bulganin detested him, but being a Marshal of the Soviet Union gave Tukachevsky a fair amount of authority. And so he spoke.

"Bulganin. I know you detest me. But Stalin would not give the short end of the stick to Nizhny. He has grandiose plans to make Nizhny Novgorod an arsenal of communism with factories, universities, and design bureaus." Tukachevsky said with a sigh and then continued. "I will make sure you are based in Nizhny Novgorod. And your army will remain under your command. However, your army will be redesignated as part of the RKKA and will still be subject to the most nominal control from Moscow."

"I may not always agree with Stalin." Tukachevsky stated. "But he has managed to rebuild industry in the USSR, and he is a man that get's things done and treats people fairly if they treat him with respect. And for that, I respect him. And if you surrender now on the terms Zhukov proposed, I can assure you that Stalin would treat you with respect too."

[Wasi State]

Now Tukachevsky took his turn to speak. He knew Bulganin detested him, but being a Marshal of the Soviet Union gave Tukachevsky a fair amount of authority. And so he spoke.

"Bulganin. I know you detest me. But Stalin would not give the short end of the stick to Nizhny. He has grandiose plans to make Nizhny Novgorod an arsenal of communism with factories, universities, and design bureaus." Tukachevsky said with a sigh and then continued. "I will make sure you are based in Nizhny Novgorod. And your army will remain under your command. However, your army will be redesignated as part of the RKKA and will still be subject to the most nominal control from Moscow."

"I may not always agree with Stalin." Tukachevsky stated. "But he has managed to rebuild industry in the USSR, and he is a man that get's things done and treats people fairly if they treat him with respect. And for that, I respect him. And if you surrender now on the terms Zhukov proposed, I can assure you that Stalin would treat you with respect too."

Bulganin took a puff from his cigar, sensing that Tukachevsky was likely a bit sincere on his word on what Stalin would plan to do for his small clique of a nation. The Chairman couldn't really counteroffer anymore either, the terms were sufficient as they were, and being accepted into the Soviet body would at least secure some future prospects for him and his men. It was likely after all that Stalin will eventually reunite Western Russia, it's just be a matter of when and how. He knew Kerensky was making his moves still as they spoke, hell he even had his red telephone in his office too gathering dust.

"I'll accept these terms then, Generals. Or should I say Comrades now, dah?" He gave an agreeable smile to the terms and extended his arm across the table to shake both their hands.

[Monsone]

Now Tukachevsky took his turn to speak. He knew Bulganin detested him, but being a Marshal of the Soviet Union gave Tukachevsky a fair amount of authority. And so he spoke.

"Bulganin. I know you detest me. But Stalin would not give the short end of the stick to Nizhny. He has grandiose plans to make Nizhny Novgorod an arsenal of communism with factories, universities, and design bureaus." Tukachevsky said with a sigh and then continued. "I will make sure you are based in Nizhny Novgorod. And your army will remain under your command. However, your army will be redesignated as part of the RKKA and will still be subject to the most nominal control from Moscow."

"I may not always agree with Stalin." Tukachevsky stated. "But he has managed to rebuild industry in the USSR, and he is a man that get's things done and treats people fairly if they treat him with respect. And for that, I respect him. And if you surrender now on the terms Zhukov proposed, I can assure you that Stalin would treat you with respect too."

Bulganin took a puff from his cigar, sensing that Tukachevsky was likely a bit sincere on his word on what Stalin would plan to do for his small clique of a nation. The Chairman couldn't really counteroffer anymore either, the terms were sufficient as they were, and being accepted into the Soviet body would at least secure some future prospects for him and his men. It was likely after all that Stalin will eventually reunite Western Russia, it's just be a matter of when and how. He knew Kerensky was making his moves still as they spoke, hell he even had his red telephone in his office too gathering dust.

"I'll accept these terms then, Generals. Or should I say Comrades now, dah?" He gave an agreeable smile to the terms and extended his arm across the table to shake both their hands.

"It was a pleasure to do buisness with you Comrade Bolganin." Zhukov said.

"Now we must get the message to the front lines." Tukachevsky said as he reached inside his greatcoat and pulled out a large red cloth. "This is for you to hang from the most prominent flag pole of the city."

"Marshal Tukachevsky, should I let the men know?" Zhukov inquired.

"No. I'll go." Tukachevsky replied as he then with a tip of his hat to Bulganin left.

Soviet Front Lines

"Nizhny is ours!" Tukachevsky proclaimed as the troops went estatic.

"Ura!" They all shouted with glee and joy as a select few even began to play the Internationale.

"But first a few ground rules!" Tukachevsky shouted as the celebrations abruptly stopped. "No looting, no vandalizing, no raping, no pillaging, no stealing, no killing, and above all, respect the people of the city! if any of you are caught doing any of those things, I will have you shot as a traitor!"

"Now celebrate your fools!" Proclaimed an officer as the troops began to sing Slav'sya.

"Slav’sya, slav’sya, ty Rus’ moya,
Slav’sya, ty russkaya nasha zemlya!
Da budet vo veki vekov sil'na
Lyubimaya nasha rodnaya strana!

Slav’sya, slav’sya iz roda v rod,
Slav’sya velikiy nash russkiy narod!
Vragov posyagnuvshikh na kray rodnoy
Razi besposhchadno moguchey rukoy!"

Sang the troops as they strated their vehicles and then headed towards Nizhny Novgorod for it was a joyous day for the Soviet Union.

[Dahyan]

The Nation of Islam

Chicago
February 1936

Thousands of members of the Nation of Islam had rallied around the banner, heeding the call of the Honourable Elijah Muhammad.

Conservative estimates claimed the masses convening in front of Temple No. 2 in the Windy City on the cold February morning numbered at least two thousand, but those were police statistics, sure to be disputed in the next issue of The Final Call, as the Nation's newspaper was called.

Ralleid around the red and white flag of the Nation of Islam, both men and women marched in disciplined formation, holding up signs with slogans such as "No to Integration, Yes to Separation", "A Land to call our Own" and the ominous official slogan of the Nation "Justice, Or Else". Some had come bearing the biblical line of "Let My People Go", referring back to the Prophet Moses and the Exodus of the Hebrews from slavery. Even the Bolshevik slogan "Peace, Land and Bread" was seen here and there.

The Fruit of Islam, the NOI's security wing and some would say paramilitary unit, marked the edges of protests in perfectly straight lines, marching along in their impeccable blue and white uniforms and armed with batons. All in all, a sight sure to put the scare in any defender of the status quo in the US.

"Justice! Independence! Black Power!" resonated through the streets of Chicago, as the caravan of protesters marched through the streets. Police forces surrounded the rally on all sides with anxious-looking officers, some on horseback and even some riding automobiles.

The tension was palpable. For over an hour, all went along peacefully, yet anyone could feel that a tiny spark would be enough to set off an explosion of violence.

And the spark was ignited.

How exactly it happened, was unclear. But a group of counter-protesters, bearing White Power slogans and KKK paraphernalia suddenly appeared from the side.

"How did they get through the police blockade?" a man marching alongside NOI leader Elijah Muhammad asked, astonished. The Supreme Minister ground his teeth.

"They were let through. They simply walked straight through it, probably getting a pat on the back by those pigs as they did it."

The Minister gestured to his brother Kalot Muhammad, Commander of the Fruit of Islam militia, stared him in the eye meaningfully and nodded.

Commander Kalot, understanding at once his brother's command, saluted and ran to rally his forces.

"Brothers. Stand your ground!"

The FOI militants didn't even allow the anti-Black counter-demonstration to issue any further provocation. The very moment they stepped near, the Nation's self-defence troops staring whacking them in the head with their batons. Blood stained the streets of Chicago.

"Kill the fascists!" was the shout that roared through the African American crowd.

Suddenly, the rally was transformed into a scene of combat. Using fists, sticks, bricks and streetstones as weapons, a chaotic street battle ensued. The intervention of the Chicago Police Department did nothing to soothe the violence. On the contrary, enraged at the perceived police collaboration with the white supremacists, and furious at the suspicious arrival of anti-Black mobs in the middle of a heavily policed rally, the followers of the Nation of Islam grew only more bold.

The street battle itself lasted around half an hour, but smaller groups of Nation of Islam members and white supremacists clashed regularly throughout the night. A special issue of The Final Call issued the next day honoured six martyrs of the Nation, killed by the white devils. Less officially, proud claims had it that the Fruit of Islam did succeed in killing eight fascists during that fateful night.

Supreme Minister Elijah Muhammad addressed his followers in The Final Call in a fiery speech, calling the attack a "declaration of war against our Nation by the demons that wish to enslave us yet again" and "an attempt to kill me, my brothers and my sisters all". Following the statement by the Minister, the Nation of Islam issued an order the very next day for a permanent guard duty by an armed FOI security detail around every single Temple and local mosque run by the organisation. Pictures of FOI militants standing guard armed with hunting rifles and revolvers outside Temple No. 1 in Detroit were published the very same day.

[Plzen]

Justice for the Blacks of America!

Six days after the Nation of Islam’s Chicago March

It was unusual, to say the least, for the NSRS to commit on a issue of foreign policy that did not directly involve herself. And yet, within a week of the now-infamous Chicago March, the Northern Council had already issued a declaration announcing their full moral solidarity with the efforts of the Black Americans of Chicago to rectify the economic injustices done against them as second-class citizens in their own country of residence. The Council further questioned the seeming unwillingness of Chicago police to protect this public demonstration of free citizens and denounced the actions of the KKK.

The declaration fell short of actually supporting the Nation of Islam in many ways. It was a purely opinionated document, with no concrete material support promised. It also meticulously refrained from the Nation’s Islamic ideology - a sore point within the increasingly secularising NSRS - and avoided any statement that could be interpreted as support for black independence. It even failed to denounce racism, per se, since race theory was still a controversial issue in the NSRS government - the rights and freedoms of the Sami and Greenlandic Inuit minorities within the Commonwealth could, after all, be highly questionable at times and social Darwinist theories continued to have a large following in the country. Rather, it was economic injustice that the NSRS denounced. The unwillingness of the American political establishment to permit their black citizens from fully participating in civil society, keeping them in poverty and ignorance, it was on this point that the NSRS announced their solidarity.

Even so, even this relatively weak statement from the NSRS was an unusual affair. The country normally kept a strictly neutral position on the internal affairs of other nations, despite the nominal internationalism of their socialist ideology. There was, perhaps, several reasons for this move. First of all, and probably the most important, was that the United States was herself a fairly isolationist nation and far away at that. The odds of a diplomatic breakdown between the two countries and an American threat to vital Northern interests was quite remote. The usual conservative argument that insensitive remarks made against their European neighbours might lead to retaliation was made rather threadbare.

The second reason was the internal political machinations within the NSRS government itself. With the Soviets continuing to quickly expand their influence across what was once European Russia, and with Britain and Germany both seemingly succumbing to civil strife, the balance of power in Europe seemed to be breaking down. Neutrality was only meaningful when there were multiple sides to be neutral between, and the NSRS maintained its national interests by playing the Entente against the Central Powers, knowing neither wanted the Commonwealth to side with the other. But with recent events, concern was rapidly rising that the Soviets might emerge as the only great power in Europe north of the Alps - and what use neutrality then?

Reactions were surprisingly muted, at least in the early days. The US embassy in Copenhagen registered a note of diplomatic protest, but that was all.

[The Felan Federation]

Berlin, German Empire

Minister Scheidemann had barely enough time to finish his lunch - even for a Minister and 'servant of the people' he was trying to ration things, in part because he felt eating more was unworthy of someone whom supported a government that left millions of their own people starve. Some people would likely kill for the meager meal he was dining upon - before an aide came up to him and whispered words into his ear that nearly caused him to fall off his chair and wish that God himself would deliver him from this madness.

Philipp just had been alerted of the old war-dog Hindenburg being literally blown up and in flames, just like the zeppelin that had been named in his honor a few years ago, followed by also the Kaiser too - dead, in a coma or bleeding out in some alleyway was uncertain. Just that the two remaining pillars of stability had just gone up and came crashing down. He didn't need to guess or predict what would happen next - things were gonna get ugly quickly.

...the ultra-nationalists would blame the communists, the communists would blame the government, the fascists would pin the blame on the 'inferior people' and everyone would begin to shoot at each other and anyone else got in their cross-hair. At this point, he doubted if the Army would obey any commands issued from them at all - when Hindenburg had 'taken' the post of President he had left his co-agent Ludendorff in charge of the Army Command. While he disliked Hindenburg for completely decimating any legitimacy they had left when he just 'took' the post without being approved by the Reichstag itself - the man had been a stable influence and managed to make the Army and Government work in cohesion for what few operations they had left. At a time where even the smallest mistake could end up costing them everything. Now...it was all gone, likely for good.

The Minister didn't waste time and immediately got to his phone and began to contact 'Paul'. It was a truly dark day when democracy had to be defended and fought for by force - but as the few remaining years had taught them all, that power would soon be determined down the barrel of a gun. "...yes...this is the 'Farmer'. Inform 'Paul' to rally the Front. I do not know what will happen, but I know there will be blood...ready the men and pray it will be enough," he spoke, before ending the call and sighing in response. It was truly a dark day for Germany, when the SPD' last remaining bastion of support remained in the old Prussian lands.

[Union Princes]

The seven days after the bombing in Las Vegas were extraordinary for the AFP campaign. Every civilian death was another mark in a long list of Al Smith's failures as a President. Every injury strengthens the cause of Huey Long and every dollar in damages proved the legitimacy of the "Share Our Wealth" program. As soon as the news reached New Orleans, Huey Long and his campaign raced to Las Vegas to express their condolences and reach out to the voters in the West.

"Mr. Long, I feel like I'm melting." William Dudley Pelly, the head of the Silver Legion complained as the sweat from his forehead dripped onto his glasses.

"Get some water quick then." Long advised, "I don't want you to drop in front the entire city of New Vegas. You can stay in the shade behind me if you want."

'Mr. Long sir" a campaign aide approached the two men, "5 minutes until you you make the appearance."

"Thank you." the Presidential candidate smiled, "I'll see you around, Mr. Pelley. Make sure the Silver Legion prevents any radicals from interrupting my speech."

Huey Long giving a speech to the families of victims from the Las Vegas Bombing.

The sun shined brightly on the man surrounded by mics like spotlight on a stage. After taking a sip of water, Huey Long began his speech.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I have heard the latest tragedy of New Vegas and upon seeing the headlines, I ran to this place as fas as my two legs can carry me." Long said somberly to his audience.

"What has happened to your neighbors, friends, family, and countrymen is downright sorrowful. Shame on the bomber for ruining your lives and your homes. Shame on the bomber for killing those innocent people. We are in a crisis right now. And there are better ways to resolve this crisis."

"We, Americans, should be working together not killing each other. This is our country, our home! I came to state because I have a better idea on how to climb out of the home our nation is in. I came to this state because I have a better idea to regain the wealth our nation has lost. I came to this state because I have a better idea to regain the peace and stability our nation so desparately needs."

"We, as Americans, must come to the truth, that unless we unite against the Depression, that these acts of terror will only continue. If we fail, then the Depression will consume us all. We have to be better, for our country and for the people that died here. Their lives didn't end happily so it is up to us to ensure that these tragedies would never occur again.

[Beutarch]

Berlin, several days after Black Friday
Karl Ismail Reiss

---

Reiss had seen the smoke from the explosion from the window of his small apartment. He had seen the trucks bearing military police that wound through the streets afterward. The Communists and anti-Monarchists who celebrated, in the streets, the death of the callous, warmongering Kaiser. Their looks of dismay once they were informed that he was not dead, yet. Over the course of the past two decades, Reiss had seen a great deal. Barely a teenager at the outset of the war, he did not qualify for military service. Many of his friends, however, lied about their age and joined out of excitement. The majority of them had died, and the few that stumbled home were irreparably damaged by the horrors they saw during their term of service. Reiss was determined to avoid their fate.

Asthmatic in his youth, Reiss played up his condition when first confronted by military recruiters. He compounded this by finding work in a munitions plant, an essential industry for the war effort. After Influenza swept Germany for the second time, however, Reiss became reclusive. Fearing that he would either catch the disease, or be conscripted without regard for his profession or exaggerated condition, he stopped leaving his apartment for weeks at a time. He failed to pay taxes, vote or appear in any census. At the end of the Pandemic, the only one who knew Reiss was not dead was his landlord, he himself a Socialist, with no desire to turn the young man in. In fact, the old man always looked pleasantly surprised when Reiss paid his rent, a sum of money cobbled together out of savings and odd jobs.

As such, the arrival of a strange, suited gentleman at his doorstep was a worrying turn of events. They found me, he thought. But, the man before him was not what he would imagine a government strongman to look like. On the contrary, he possessed an olive, Levantine complexion, and the pin on the lapel of his shirt was not red, white and black. The man warmly introduced himself as Ibrahim Yousef, a cultural attache of the official envoy of the Hashemite Kingdom in Berlin. He loftily enunciated the title in Arabic for effect. Dumbfounded, Reiss allowed the man to enter his apartment.

"Karl Reiss, my name is not Yousef. And yours is not Reiss."

What the man said was true. Another effort to avoid any prying eyes, Karl buried his Hebrew name with his parents, after the Pandemic. How could this man know this?

"This city is ready to explode. My colleagues and I would not normally interfere with such matters, Europeans have been murdering each other for decades. A German civil war, however, could very well be disastrous for our people. The followers of the Strassers, of Hitler and of Rhom all seek to expel, persecute or murder the Jewish population of Germany. The Kaiser, the Democrats, and even the Communists have little concern for such matters," he continued.

"And what do you want of me?"

"She'hagalim mitchazkim, hachazakim mitgalim. When the waves grow stronger, the strong men are revealed. We require such men."

"And ... who are you?"

"Ibrahim. I am a servant of Israel, and I wish you to join me in that service."

[Wasi State]

Danzig, German Empire
February 21st, 1936

Within a week since the death of Hindenburg and Kaiser Wilhelm II getting sent into a coma on Black Friday, pockets of revolts have begun to fully spew forth and grow rapidly in the Empire's Eastern holdings as armed resistance groups from the Polish Front for the Dismantlement of Germany (PFDG), started to take up more direct and violent confrontations with German peacekeepers. Having finally made their big moves after waiting years spending in the shadow of the Second Reich, now fully realizing their opportunity for freedom and the destruction of German supremacy with word of growing chaos happening in Germany's proper.

These armed groups of former subjugated Poles at first started taking to the streets of villages and smaller towns and managing to seize some control in taking their lands back already, before then escalating to attempting to remove the German military garrisons from the major cities in ethnic Polish lands! General Ludendorff could hardly believe it as reports had streamed in from Danzig of heavy street fighting from armed insurgent groups moving in to remove all traces of German occupation from the city.

"What in the hell!" He could only think himself now with a frustrated and stressed beyond all belief brow. "It's bad enough I got communists and Nazis getting ready to partition Germany itself, but now I got goddamned Poles thinking they can get a provisional government going. Jesus christ, this keeps getting worse every single day."

He then heard over the radio of a growing intensity of firefights happening on the streets as police and garrison forces try their damndest to repel them back, he knew already he was gonna have to call Erich Raeder of the Kriegsmarine in to provide some sort immediate aid to to his men in Danzig, he was too far tied in multiple places at once already. "Dammit it all to hell!" He continued to curse and smack at his command radio.

---

Kaiser's Wilhelm II

Tick-tock-tick-tock...

Wilhelm was in horrific shape to say the least, that part was readily obvious, except for himself of course, considering he was in a coma. August von Mackensen came bursting into the hospital room to see the condition of the Kaiser himself, who looked badly mangled enough to require a heaping amount of bandages and there were already some stitch work done on him from a lot of the initial surgeries done in order to 'stabilized' his doomed condition just barely enough to keep him alive up until this week. It was a shit-show, one Mackensen could only keep delaying the inevitable as much as he can to ready his forces for the inevitable collapse of Germany. The Kaiser was not going to make it, that part was obvious, his death was any day away at this point.

"Uhm Mackensen, sir..." The head physician and his surgeon then came in behind the Field Marshal with some surgical equipment on along with a whole team of nurses following suit in order to get ready to operate on the Kaiser. "The x-rays we've done on him earlier have shown that he had broken his entire arm in such a way that amputation is of utmost importance if he is to have chance of living another week." The surgeon then explained to him.

"Do it, I don't care if he's a bloody torso at the end of this, keep him alive for as long as goddamned possible, do you understand?" He told them in a deathly, serious voice and frightening tone.

"But Field Marshal, shouldn't Wilhelm's family be the ones making these drastic calls on his health? I think Wilhelm the Third might have some objections-" The head physician was then startled mid-sentence as Mackensen smashed a nearby medical cart with his fist.

"Wilhelm the Third isn't the one trying to save a goddamned empire here now is he!" He then exclaimed angrily at the physician and surgeon, making it very clear to them what was at stake. "We need to buy the Kaiser as much time as possible, precede with the surgery, if he can make it to Good Friday we'll have a chance." Leaving the entire medical personnel both shocked and stressed with the morbid implications. Mackensen then left the surgery room for them to keep the poor bastard alive for as long as possible against his will, time was only running short for them either way.

Tick-tock-tick-tock...

[Monsone]

Moscow

"At 11:28 Moscow Time, the city of Nizhny Novgorod surrenderd peacefully to the glorious Red Army that was led to victory by Marshal Tukachevsky under orders of Comrade Stalin to not fire unless fired upon, and to above all, maintain peace and stability. It was under these guidelines that Marshal Tukachevsky took Nizhny Novgorod."

"Nizhny Novogord is Soviet!"

The public loudpseakers crackled as the messgae was transmited in a somber tone was citizens listened in.

"Nizhny is ours?!" An young man said in shock.

"It always has been." Replied an old man. "Russia ceased to exist, it just temporarily fell appart."

"So what now?" Asked a middle age woman.

"We celebrate." Suggested a younger woman.

"No." The gold man grumbled. "I'll celebrate once Russia is once whole again. Until then, I will not celebrate."

"He speaks the truth." The young man remarked.

Nizhny Novgorod

Voroshilov had arrived finaly with only 1/3 of his original force. Still, with his forces and those of Tukachevsky combined, they would muster 300.000 troops. Now it had shocked Tukachevsky that only 1/3 of Voroshilov's forces had arrived, but he quickly found out why.

"The Baltics?!" Tukachevsky asked in shock.

"Well, only Latvia and Estonia." Voroshilov replied.

"I hope that Stalin knows what he is doing." Sighed Tukachevsky.

"He asigned Yegorov to the job." Voroshilov sighed.

"And the 150.000 in the south?" Tukachevsky inquired.

"That would be Blyukher's domain." Voroshilov stated.

"That leaves 50.000 men unacounted for." Tokachevsky sighed.

"Budyonny." They both sighed.

"He must be going north to Vologda, Karelia, and Murmansk." Voroshilov stated.

"Besides what our other friends our doing, we're going to Urdmurtia next. You'll go north via Kirov, I'll go south via Chuvashia, the Mari-El, and Tartarstan. Then we're going to Orenburg, West Kazakhstan, and Atyaru to round off our fun in the east." Tukachevsky told Voroshilov, who just sat there silent.

"Well almost." Voroshilov added in. "I'll take Komi-Permyak as Perm. You're to take Bashkortostan and Chelyabinsk."

"Fair point, we need to take Chelyabinsk for it's industrial base and Magnitogorsk for the iron." Remarked Tukachevsky.

"Stalin would be quite happy when we present him with a hunk of Magnitogorsk steel straight from the mill!" Voroshilov joked.

"Even better, how about a statue of Stalin made of Magnitogorsk steel and put on display in Magnitogorsk?! Make the statue 15 meters high and make sure it is always polished and clean by the local citizens!" Tukachevsky added in as the two of them began to laugh.

"Stalin would truly enjoy that!" Voroshilov stated as they both snickered for a bit more.

"I just hope this all goes according to plan." Tukachevsky stated as a loud boom was heard outside.

"What was that?" Voroshilov inquired.

"The building of the foundations for the factories Stalin promissed Nizhny. Trust me, they work day and night. Expect no sleep." Warned Tukachevsky.

"Duly noted." Voroshilov replied as he got up and left.

[New Sriker]

A Cabin outside of Reno, Nevada
February-March 1st, 1936
The People's Judgement

It had been a tough 20 days for Oliver Law, after the news that members of the Communist Party, a close ally to the New Revolutionary Party, had committed a terrorist attack in Las Vegas, this was bad news for Butler’s Presidential Campaign for his rivals would use this to paint him and the NRP as terrorists. Oliver was told by the Central Committee to track down the suppliers of the terrorists and prevent future attacks, after about a week of researching and checking the PRA’s equipment logs, Law had discovered which group in the PRA supplied the terrorists.

It was a quiet cold night in Nevada, it took Law and his guards about three days to get to their location, but in the end they still found what they were looking for. Law and his men parked their truck about a mile away from the target location, on their way there the men were silent as snakes not even making a peep, then they arrived at the cabin. The cabin was the home of one Vladimir Szymanski, a Russian-Polish immigrant who joined the NRP in 1934, and enlisted in the Reno Revolutionary Militia, which had split a year later thanks to Mr.Szymanski spreading rumors about the Militia’s captain, when the split happened Szymanski took some of the Militia’s more questionable goods. Law and his men were about 200 feet away from the cabin, when they started to plan there way of attack

“There are about three cars here currently, and an unknown amount of hostels in the cabin, Sanchez and King you two sneak up to the cars and slash the tires, Phil, Carson, Tony, and Mary, you four will move up to the cabin with me. Alright?”

All of the soldiers readied their weapons, all of them had M1911s but Phil, the squad’s pointman, had a Winchester model 1912, a shotgun that would be useful in the close quarters of the Cabin,and Law was equipped with a Thompson. Law and his men went to work,they rushed up to the cars while being as quiet as they could and Sanchez and King slashed the tires as fast as they could, then the breach team reached the cabin’s door. Inside they heard the noise of what sounded like a party, Law peeked into one of the front porches windows, inside there were about ten men, about two of them were armed, but they all seemed drunk from partying, Law looked at Phil and gave him the sign. In an instant the attitude in the room changed, as Law and his four men moved into the building, one of the men reached for his pocket but received only a heap of lead to the chest from Phil, the other guests either started yelling in shock or pleading for their lives. One of the men rushed at Law but in response, Law fired upon the man ending his attempted break through.

Szymanski looked at Law with a look of fear in his eyes, Law looked at the man in disgust then told the remaining party goers orders “Get in the corner and empty all of your pockets, and remember if you try anything you will be turned into nothing but a sack of meat on the floor.” About ten minutes after the order, all of the guests were tied up and searched even after emptying their pockets. Law Grabbed Szymanski and pushed him outside over to Sanchez and King who then forced the man on his knees.

“Why are you doing this, comrade, what have I done to deserve this?” Szymanski said with a quiet and scared voice. Law looked at the man then smiled at him
.
“Well then, let me tell you comrade. You and your friends have been found guilty of the crime of terrorism, selling of PRA equipment, and finally, the murder of innocent civilians, what do you say for your crimes?”Law looked down at Szymanski with a cocky smile on his face.

“You’re a puppet, all of you, the NRP is a bunch of capitalist collaborators and should embrace the coming revolution for it can’t be achieved with Pea--.” Before the man could finish his escapade, Law shot him in the skull, then looked back at his men in the building and yelled “Stealing anything you want from that traitor's cabin, and get rid of all of the collaborators.” As he said this the yells of Szymanski’s compatriots were cut off by gunfire. Shortly after, Law’s men set fire to the cabin and started to walk back to the truck. By the time they got there, Law was sitting there waiting for them.

“Did you find anything of use, or did we just kill a bunch of traitorous terrorists for just the thrill?” Law asked his men, Phil the pointman, responded to Law “Nothing much but we found something you might like sir.” Phil handed Law a golden lighter, Law inspected the lighter, it was a nice lighter and probably expensive. Law wiped some blood off of the lighter then hopped into the truck and started the trip back to Philadelphia, Law smiled as they drove, because he knew that this wouldn’t be the last time he and his men would do this type of operation.

[Plzen]

15th March 1936

The Commonwealth Department of Foreign Affairs was in a state of near-panic.

While Soviet territorial expansion, coupled with Stalin's strict autocracy and famines caused by a disastrous economic policy, had unnerved the diplomats at Foreign Affairs for years, the NSRS has never particularly felt the need to respond to the crisis. The Soviets had, after their failed foray into Belarus and Ukraine, kept mostly to the Russian-culture provinces of the former Russian empire, seemingly recognising the independence of the various subjugated cultures that have broken free in the tumultuous years of the Russian Civil War, and between that and the 1922 Finnish-Soviet peace agreement the diplomats of Northern Europe were willing to count on Soviet non-aggression towards the NSRS.

Until now, that was. Russian pressure against Karelia and the independent nations of the Baltic coast had drastically increased over the past few days, with war seeming imminent and unavoidable, on the justification of... what, exactly? These territories were neither Russian culture nor did their populations have any strong Communist convictions. They were merely a part of the former Russian Empire, which the Soviets now seemed intent on reuniting... and when that line of reasoning was considered, then so was Finland.

The NSRS had no strong desire to find itself next in line for the chopping block, and the Soviets' reassurances of peace seemed very shaky indeed at this volatile hour.

While the conservatives, who held the largest sway in the Department, was still unwilling to provoke any kind of direct confrontation - whether military or diplomatic - against the Soviet Union, there were actions the NSRS was still willing to take.

The first was, of course, the illegal cross-border traffic. With neither the NSRS nor the splinter factions on the other side of the border able to effectively patrol the long borders and coastlines of the NSRS, people and material could often flow in and out of the country with no control or oversight by the government. Among this outflow were volunteer soldiers - nearly 10,000 mostly from Finland but a small minority from Sweden - who were guarding villages and towns in Estonia, East Karelia, and some even in the Sami-speaking regions of Kola - the final remnants of the Kinship Wars, there to defend the independence and sovereignty of what some nationalists perceived as other Finnic nations. There were some hints in civil society at a public fundraising programme to help raise money for the defence of the Baltic nations, conventionally seen as a peace-keeping buffer separating the NSRS, the Soviets, and the Confederation away from each other. Even if the government of the NSRS was unwilling to take any substantive action, the people of the nation were.

The second was government action. When reports of a Soviet military buildup along the Latvian frontier emerged, a special delegation was sent to the Confederation to discuss the Soviet threat with authorities in Odessa - NSRS authorities hypothesising that with the Soviets seemingly eager to re-conquer former subject peoples of the Russian Empire, Odessa would be feeling as threatened as Copenhagen was. The objectives of the declaration was to establish friendlier trade agreements binding the Confederation with the NSRS, to agree on a treaty of non-aggression and, if possible, to obtain a joint statement on Confederate and Commonwealth policy towards both immediate and longer-term issues in the Baltic States.

Meanwhile, in other departments, emergency measures were being put through. The Northern Council suspended the current round of new infrastructural and industrial projects in central and northern Scandinavia, instead diverting funds towards the emergency conversion of commercial factories in the Scandinavian heartland, in accordance with the provisional remilitarisation plan laid down by the Central Organisation of Scandinavian Labour. In the meantime, the draft was temporarily called in order to ensure that the reserve soldiers who could be called upon in times of war were properly trained for the rigours of modern warfare. It was the desire of the Northern People's Army Command to have enough weaponry and trained personnel to be able to put 20 divisions in Karelia by this time next year.

The Syndicate for Construction and Housing also reviewed its plans for the Mannerheim Line - a series of Finnish Civil War era fortifications on the Karelian isthmus, and a one hundred million kroner in emergency spending was approved to modernise the defensive construction of the Line.

There is an old saying that claims, if you want peace, prepare for war. And so the Commonwealth mobilised, frantically preparing in the hopes that those preparations would prove unnecessary but fearing, more with each passing day, that they would be.

[Dahyan]

The Nation of Islam

Official Communiqué by the Nation of Islam
From: The Honourable Elijah Muhammad, Supreme Minister of the Nation of Islam
To: Smedley Butler, Chairman of the New Revolutionary Party

Greetings, most honourable Chairman. May God shine his light upon you and your endeavours.

The Nation of Islam has been watching with increasing interest and sympathy the rise of the New Revolutionary Party and the militant activism of the People's Red Army. We also note the US government's attempts at suppressing and discrediting the NRP, both by the use of force as by underhanded subversion.

As Supreme Minister of the Nation of Islam, I would like to offer an olive branch of cordial and friendly relations between our two movements. It is my belief that we share several key concepts and interests, notably the overthrow of the oppressive yoke of the United States elite, and the liberation of our people from their bonds.

You may be familiar with the ideology of the Nation of Islam. We seek to establish a state of our own on American soil, a refuge for the African people on this continent. A reimbursement for four hundred years of slavery, servitude and oppression. A way for the United States to atone for its sins and for the Black race to receive its due.

Our Nation is not interested in taking over power in the United States as such, nor do we week political participation in the structures of power created by the upper classes of America. We seek secession, separation and independence.

I have written this letter to you and your movement because I believe you to be a man of honour and principle. And with this letter, I ask you kindly to consider the just demands of the Nation of Islam and find it in your heart to consider a honourable and righteous position taken by yourself, the NRP and the PRA regarding the Negro Question.

We await your reply with eager anticipation.

May the blessings of Allah be with you,

Elijah Muhammad, Supreme Minister of the Nation of Islam

[Monsone]

Moscow

"Those fucking traitors!" Stalin shouted in an outburst of anger. "The Province of Karelia is free for the taking and already has Soviet infrastructure in it, and the bloody Scandinavians want it! Tell them to take Northern Norway instead of messing in the old lands of the Russian Empire!"

"Do you think they would agree to that?" Asked Maxim Litvinov---the Soviet Foreign Minister---in a hushed tone.

"If they know what is best for them, they must." Stalin replied.

"And the Baltics?" Litvinov inquired.

"Let them go. Once we're strong enough, pesky Scandinavia won't be able to stop us, and the Confederation will fall by then, too." Was Stalin's response.

"So we continue eastward, and northwards? I'm assuming taking out Kerensky is you goal." Litvinov sighed.

"Well somewhat, I want Kerensky alive to use him as a political tool. But the strategy, it is sound." Stalin stated.

"And in the south?" Inquired Litvinov.

"Rostov-on-Don as well as Kalmikya will be ours along with Luhansk and Donetsk." Stalin said nonchalantly.

"What about the Confederation?" Litvinov asked with great concern.

"I have my plans for them brewing. And it all will make sense when Germany colapses." Stalin smiled in a disarmingly charming way.

"That is good to know. So is there anything I could do? Litvinov asked.

"Yes. Tell the Baltics we won't invade, tell the Scandinavians that we will support their territorial claims and not attempt to take Finland if they allow us Karelia and the Kola Peninsula. After all, the Kola is mostly Russian inhabited. Maybe the Murmansk Soviet will rise again. As for the Confederation, do nothing. Tell them nothing. Understood." Stalin told Litvinov.

"Yes." Litvinov replied as he then left the room.

Declaration of Religious Freedoms in the USSR

The resumption of religious services has been allowed bybthe Supreme Soviet. All places of worship may resume service under the following guidelines mandated by the central government to ensure the safety of the worshipers.

1. An NKVD guard must be present at every service to make sure no violence breaks out, as well as to report on any suspicious people like religious extremists who do not agree with the core tenements of true religion.

2. All services must include a prayer to Comrade Stalin. For our dear Comrade is under much stress, and could use the help. Different prayers for every religious denomination will be created and made in accordance with each religion's doctrines.

3. Places of worship are to be all state owned with state approved religious leaders from the local community. All supplies needed will be supplied to the larger national branch of each religion.

The changes with this law will be ad follows:

1. The Russian Orthodox Church will be allowed to elect patriarchs once again, and the properties of the church will be owner, administrated, and maintained by the central government. The same will apply to all other religions.

2. The public practice of religion will be unbanned.

3. The display of religious objects in public will now be allowed.

To: Whomever it may concern
From: Joseph Stalin

Greetings,

It is not often I need to write a letter to a foreign head of state. Most of the time, I would delegate the task, or I simply would have no need to write to a foreign nation since most nations hate me, and they hate my country. But in this case, I believe me writing this letter is merited.

I understand Scandinavia is rattled by the prospect of the USSR retaking Karelia. I understand that a large army near ypur border is obvious cause of alarm. However, I intend to not harm Scandinavia in any way. Rest assured that Finland will remain independent; I swear by my mother's grave on that. All I ask for is Scandinavia to allow Russia to take Karelia and the Kola Peninsula. The Kola Peninsula is majority Russian, and Karelia is also by a slim margin, majority Russian. As such, they are lands that the USSR wishes to own.

Rest assured that Karelia would get additional autonomy as an Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. And also rest assured that not a single inch of Scandinavian land will be touched. I know your nation may not trust me, but I fancy myself as a man of my word. And so I implore your nation to not mess with the USSR, and the USSR will not mess with you. I will personally have the troops near Latvia and Estonia withdrawn as an assurance that I am a man of my word. After all, I believe the world could use some peace.

Please understand where I am coming from. For the fact of the matter is, I meant to harm to your great nation.

Sincerely,
Joseph Stalin

[Wasi State]

Ides of March
Munich, German Empire.

After a month has elapsed since the Kaiser having been left incapacitated, being brought into a coma on the Black Friday bombing. One that he'll never be able to recover from, it had become rather clear to the general consensus of the German public and for much the world over that it had been only the start of something far, far worse to come that had been feared for years ever since the first Spartacist uprising at the closing of the 1910s, and Hitler's first attempted coup of Bavaria in the early 20s, a German Civil War.

With mob street fighting and brutal firefights erupting, first in the ethnic Polish sectors of the Empire with the still ongoing Danzig Uprising. Many other cities in the Empire and within the German countryside having experienced a massive uptick of mass violence and warring factionalism, the years of meticulous planning for the inevitable day where the match is dropped on a gasoline drenched hostage of a nation finally reaching it's ugly head. It's only a matter of who will set it off.

Despite Mackensen's damnedest effort to delay the horrid reality of the Judgement Day reaching Germany, keeping Wilhelm II alive despite the cruel moral implications of doing so to prolong the doomed man's life. The smoke and mirrors attempt to keep the country together for a just a little while longer could only pay off for so long before it's seen as the weak facade it is and everything comes crashing down.

---

Munich Takeover
Adolf Hitler

Marching elbows locked together down the streets of Munich for the second time not since the last decade, with the likes of Heinrich Himmler, and Rudolf Hess side by side. The demagogue of the NSDAP's march of tyrannical triumph being flanked by Schutzstaffel troops violently rounding up opposing police and the government soldiers that have surrendered after intense fighting with the undermanned garrison. Shooting a grueling majority of them indiscriminatingly point blank in the head or with other ghastly styled executions in a massive purge all throughout the city and in Bavaria as a whole, fires burned throughout Southern Germany.

The streets and alleys were lined with blood stained walls that went up to head height. Even more disturbing reports of civilians also being targeted and attacked, particularly with the Jewish population as stores and homes were broken into, being either looted clean with the resisting owners shot dead where they stood, or torched to the ground along with the whole residential block in Jewish neighborhoods.

This was more than just the Second Beer Hall Putsch as many would come to realize too late, this was just the start to the Nazi-led Pogrom. As Swastika banners raised over a scarred Munich by the end of the day, the self-proclaimed Führer addressed an audience of his SS and most rabid supporters in the Munich Town Square.

"The City of Munich is ours my brave and fearless soldiers of the Third Reich! And soon we'll have all of Bavaria! And then finally we'll take all of Germany from the dirty Judeo-Bolsheviks who have soiled and embarrassed Germany's name as a supreme world power that should be reckoned with! Today marks the day of a new era in German history and for the world, where Germany will no longer be weakened and instead take back her pride for the Fatherland!" Hitler opened his speech and continued on for several more minutes as the crowd grew in support of him while chanting a thunderous cacophony of "Sieg Heils" at the end of his speech.

Munich and by extension much of Bavaria have fallen to the Third Reich. The Kaiser was already dead in name to the rising Dictator.

[Monsone]

Off the coast of Danzig

A Dekabrist Class submarine surfaced in the dark of night. Typically the German Navy would have caught such incurrsions, but it's amazing what a civil war could do to loosen up defences. Once the submarine had fully surfaced, out came seven figures. Because of the dark of night, their black overcoats, and black hats, it was impossible to tell who they where. Five of the figures then pulled out a long black tube from the submarine and unfurled it before begining to pump it up with compressed air from the submarine.

Meanwhile two of the men pulled out of the submarine a wooden crate whcih they then opened. In it was a small engine and a gas tank.The engine and gas tank where then fitted tothe contents of the long black tube. Clearly it was a rubber dinghy. Then two of the men climbed back into the submarine as the other five climbed into the rubber dinghy. With them where a few boxes.

With a loud crackle the engine started and the submarine began to submerge as the rubber dinghy headed towards Danzig. The men in the dinghy where armed with Mauser C96 pistols as to remove any possiblity the USSr had been involved in what was about to unfold. As the dinghy reached the port, the engine was shut off, and the dinghy driffed slowly along the dark, cold water. Once the coast had been reached, the five men removed the engine from the dinghy and hid it away. Meanwhile the dinghy itself was purposely filled with water and slid under the dock.

While the faint sounds of battle could be heard, the five men where undetered as they walked along the relatively desolate streets of Danzig. Soon they foound exactly who they needed to speak too; a soldier (hopefully Polish).

"Excuse me." One of the men said in perfect Polish to the soldier. "We're looking for the headquarters of the Provisional Polish Government. Could you so kindly lead us there please?"

"It's imperative we get to the headquarters as soon as possible, time is of the essence." Stated a second man in Polish as the soldier stared at them.

"We sympathize with the Polish cause." Stated a third man as the soldier remained immobile and unresponsive, much like someone who is processing a difficult decision, a decision of life or death almost.

[New Sriker]

Las Vegas, Nevada
March 5th, 1936
Butler’s Speech

Butler sat in his car smoking a cigarette checking over his speech for about the fifth time, it had taken him a whole month to respond to the attacks in Vegas, and this was used against him by some of his political rivals across America, but he waited long for a good reason. First he wanted to let Las Vegas heal before he visited the state and for the fact he wanted to make sure those behind the attacks were handled before he spoke, but thanks to Law, all of Butler’s needed requirements were done.

Butler put out his cigarette and left his car, waiting right by his car door were four men from Butler’s security detail. The guards donned the Marine dress uniform, and a red bandana on their right arms with an insignia of a black rose.The guards guided him to the stage, then Butler walked onto the stage and walked up to the mic, he looked into the crowd, the first thing he noticed was the large amount of older veterans, most of which were from the Marines, the last thing he noticed was near the back of the crowd there was a group of about ten American First supporters, one of which had the attire of a minuteman. Butler finished inspecting the crowd and started to speak.

Butler speaking to the Crowd during his rally in Las Vegas

“As I look into this crowd, I see not people I should convince to Support me, or people who should be honored that I am here. No, I see my fellow Americans gathering to remember the lives lost on the day of the attack on Vegas.” told Butler in a somber tone.

“The attacks that took place are a shame that has not only harmed Las Vegas, but the whole of America, these terrorists sought to create a divide to drive our great nation to conflict, yet the American people are more united than ever. All this attack did was unite us, but for what you may ask, for change that is what.”said Butler looking at the audience

“A change for Las Vegas, a change for Nevada, a change for you, a change for I, all this attack has done is show that the American people will unite to change our once great nation, the United States of America, But who will give you this change? Smith, the man who assisted in deepening this divide and has ruled as incompetently as a small child, only causes more trouble for the average American worker. Huey the man who hides his rancid, despotic, and unrightly authoritarian rule behind the “Share Our Wealth” program, let me tell you about Huey, the man claims that every man is a king, but does he truly believe that? No he does not, for you see, this so called “American First Party” seems to not support all Americans for Huey’s friends, the Silver Legion and the Klu Klux Klan see the Black man as an inferior race compared to them. If you ask me, that doesn’t sound like an American First Party to me. Since Huey allows these disgusting elements in his party.I don’t the AFP to be the best choice for America, but you know what party doesn’t sell out to the banks, doesn’t allow racists in it’s ranks, and most definitely puts the American worker first, the New Revolutionary Party does. So if you go to vote, don’t pick the puppet Smith or the dictator Huey, check the box that reads NRP, For America, for Justice, and for Liberty!” Butler yells out in an intense voice filled with happiness and enthusiasm.

The crowd roared with supportive cheering and cries of “For Liberty” and other well known NRP slogans. As Butler and his security walked to the parking lot, one of his guards noticed something. “Sir get down now!” the young guard yelled at Butler, less than a second after he yelled, a bullet flew past the head of Butler and hit one of his guards in the side. Immediately after the first shot was fired, the crowd that gathered quickly ran for cover and screams roared out as hundreds of civilians ran for cover.

“What the hell was that” Asked the Injured guard in a shocked and pain filled tone of voice.

I don’t fucking know, but all I know is we got a sniper somewhere aiming for the Chairman. I’ll cover you three, get the Chairman out and only come back if you know he will be safe.” Yelled the Captain of the guards. As he yelled this order, the captain fired a few shots from his Springfield at the building where the sniper fire came from, as the captain shot at the sniper, the two uninjured guards, the injured one, and Butler rushed to their vehicles and drove off deeper into Las Vegas. The Captain fired one last round before starting to reload, as he finished loading a police cruiser pulled up to his position

“Sir, we heard of the situation, which building is the shooting coming from?” asked one of the officers. The captain looked at the two officers and told them the needed information “From the Diner across the street , I’ll cover you two then you will move in, alright?” Asked the captain. The two officers then started running to the diner while the captain provided covering fire, the two officers moved into the building and rushed to the second floor. Once they reached the second floor they saw the shooter, the man was wearing plain civilian clothing but had one distinction, an armband with the symbol of the AFP on it. The two officers moved in and disarmed the shooter and put him into custody. A few hours later, Butler and 3/4 guards would return to New York, while the one that was left in Nevada would be picked up by PRA escorts a few days later.

[Sarderia]

THE CONFEDERATION OF THREE

---

Tolstoy Palace
Odessa, Federal Capital
1st of February, 1936

The Tolstoy Palace has been seized by the provisional government of Ukraine during the Independence War. It has now been renovated and converted - filled with numerous treasures and ornaments from Hungary, Romania, and Russia, due to Ukraine being interestingly one of the foremost destinations for noble refugees who wished to flee the constant conflict in their nations. Now, it is the residence of the Chancellor - not unlike Britain's 10 Downing Street. Two dark ZAZ cars stopped in front of the Palace's door; several men, dressed in black suits, exited and walked inside the building. Chairman Edward Rydz-Śmigły recognized them as Alexey Kaledin, the Major General of the Confederation Ukraine Army - he was the famous leader of the Great March, over a decade ago. Besides him is Lavr Kornilov, a former White Army general now stationed in the Ukrainian Army. Minister of Finance Vasil Zacharka, the former temporary Prime Minister of Belarus, followed them. Śmigły greeted the three of them cordially.

"As you know, gentlemen," Śmigły started, "our efforts to reconquer Eastern Ukraine and land as far as the Volga has been... adequately prepared recently. I have faith that the production of tanks and armaments that the General Sejm... Rada, or Duma - well, whatever the name is - they have passed the legislation a year ago asking for the immediate transport of newly-produced armaments towards Dnipropetrovsk. The city, alongside Zaporizhia, remains the only bastion of stable government east of the Dnieper - in whatever remains of Makhno's anarchist state. Not counting Kharkiv, of course, as it's too far north to be within Makhno's reach, and we've spent a considerable amount of fortune fortifying the city..."

"Of course, Chairman," Kornilov stated. He pulled out a map of Ukraine, with important cities marked in red, and current positions of the Ukrainian Army divisions in blue. "There are four mechanized divisions in Dnipropetrovsk, each armed with a hundred 7TP light tanks. They are spread from the outskirts of the city into Pavlohrad. We have an additional three cavalry divisions... about ten thousand men, two-thirds of them mounted... and about forty 10TP, medium cavalry tanks with them. This is from the Cossack Regiments. They are experts on horse-riding, and they excel at cavalry warfare."

Śmigły chuckled. "Ah... just like Genghis Khan?" He sipped a small bit of vodka from a nearby glass. "What about the units in Zaporizhia?"

Now Kaledin was the one to answer. "Six regiments stand ready. All the veterans of the Great March's been prepared, in addition to the Cossack refugees... which was recruited to join our cause. And that would total to about fifty thousand troops. All Ukrainian and Cossack, of course, so we have a greater chance to be seen as some sort of liberators."

"That is very good, Major General. Before I am to issue the command for mobilization, I must know if all of the units would be ready come March. I would imagine they will. It is not such a huge operation, after all - some of the ex-Makhnovian states are already asking to join us. Donetsk and Luhansk most of all. Our route would be just straight out crossing the Dnieper, into both cities."

"I will update you with the reports every time I get it, Chairman... but for now, I am confident the preparations for men and ammunition are running smooth," Kornilov said, and Kaledin nodded in agreement.

"Finance Minister, what about the production of armoured vehicles? I haven't visited the General Assembly within this week, but I trust you have good news regarding the budget, and the production."

Vasil Zacharka sipped a glass of the vodka. "We are in the process of building more Szybki Czołg (BT-7) tanks in Warsaw and Lviv. It is expected the new batch of tanks, which would amount somewhere near 200 to 300, would finish production next month. It could be used to reinforce our batallions in the Donbass after they have captured the cities of Donetsk and Luhansk. Funds, likewise, has been allocated to the production of rifles and other armoured cars... most importantly the Ursus, and the 7TP tanks. We have just so many 7TPs in our arsenal already... though I'd imagine it wouldn't be needed too much, Chairman, given that they would certainly be persuaded to join their fellow countryman in the Confederation."

"I trust our Cossack generals would see to that," he gestured at Kaledin. "Tomorrow, generals, I assign you to oversee the preparations in Dnipro. We will need a large amount of Confederation and Cossack soldiers present at the march. Horseback, General Kaledin - and I'd expect you to blare marching songs as well... the Zaporizhian March, perhaps? That would surely rouse their patriotic spirits."

Kaledin chuckled. "The Winged Hussars and the Cossacks. It is a very fitting match for me. Ukraine is not yet lost..."

---

Market Square
Lviv, Ukrainian People's Republic
8th of March, 1936

The Sunday of Forgiveness, last day of a week's celebration of Maslenitsa - a Slavic holiday to hearld the coming of Lent - was officially ended in Lviv by the arrival of Chairman Edward Rydz-Śmigły. Though the Chairman was a Polish Catholic, he took part in the celebrations, largely to present himself as the unifier, rallying point of the Confederation as a whole - sending a message that the Confederation is, and always will ever be, an unified nation of three peoples, staunchly defending each others against the horrors of Bolshevism.

With the fall of Kiev to the Soviets, and their subsequent banning of all religious practices, the Ukrainian Autonomous Orthodox Church's seat has to be moved; the Primate now managed Church affairs from the Dormition Church, which have already been expanded and renovated, to be more or less the same size to the former seat in Kiev. As usual, the traditions - which includes burning the Lady Maslenitsa figure, which in this occassion suspiciously resembled Stalin, was closed by a donation of gifts to the Church, and the Chairman's speech.

Excerpt from the speech of Chairman Edward Rydz-Śmigły

"Let me extend my most sincere greetings to my brothers and sisters, the Poles, the Ukrainians, the Belarusians; Tatars, Russians, Cossacks, and Jews; Moldavian, Lithuanian, and German. We are all united in our desire to live free or die; to know no bounds of tyranny, and to strike back at the Red tumour that has threatened our desire of freedom and for liberty to all peoples. Let all know that it is for that thing that we strive the most; to guard the borders, and the frontiers of our sacred homelands; to defend, most of all, our Confederation, our alliance, and our way of life.

The Red Menace on our borders, is an imperialist and expansionist force. They are no better than the old Tsar Nicholas, ruling with an iron fist, starving the citizens, and dragging the state into endless war. They are not the epitome of the Communist ideal; contrary, they had strayed so far from the core of it. Karl Marx envisioned a classless, egalitarian society that transcended borders; a thing similar to the Confederation's nature right now, albeit that our national ideal is not Communism, but still we adhere to the revolutionary principles of it. Contrary, the so-called Soviet Union is a totalitarian state, everyting, even a stray dog's place to eat is controlled by the Dictator. They gave their citizens stability, indeed, but at what cost? At the cost of a severe famine that enveloped all Bolshevik land - their refugees still discreetly cross the border to Belarus, day by day. Brothers and sisters, Joseph Stalin seeks to recreate the Russian Empire. He wishes to bring us back into the fold of tyranny, no better than all of us had experienced under the Tsar. I ask you this - who would not willingly die to defend their Motherland against the Red invasion? Who would rather surrender themself to the Red minions than to fight side by side with their comrades against the Red invasion? NONE! Brothers and sisters, are we not opposed to such a vile concept? Are we not opposed to the motion of giving our independence, our way of live, our language, our culture, and our freedoms in exchange of repression?

I heard your response - your cheer, brothers and sisters, and truly, I cannot be more proud than to witness you all, my fellow citizens and comrades of the Confederation, standing firm to defend their land, standing firmly defiant in the face of the Red Menace! Truly, most of all, today is one of the darkest hours of the Confederation. Our brethren in Eastern Ukraine and Kuban has not yet been liberated from the hellhole that is the anarchist region. It is our solemn duty, as a coalition of stable, firm, and sound nation-states capable of spreading the light of liberty to the surounding regions, to embrace our brethren there, and take them together to be reunited... with the Confederation.

By Christ Jesus, I swear, we shall all see the day when the nation of Poland reconquers the lost territories once carved by foreign powers, that the nation of Belarus would once again see the shining light of their ancient capital, the nation of Ukraine would span the length of Galicia to the Donbass, the heartland of the old Empire of Kievan Rus again, and the Cossack nation would firmly stood upon liberty, treading the plains again as an unified nation - instead of the myriad of warlording states that has plagued the Cossack lands to-day. Let our promises and our oaths here be passed upon our childrens and grandchildrens... because, brothers and sisters, it is the utmost need to educate our descendants of the pain we had to endure fighting the menace, the bane of our nations, and their dictatorial leader who rose up from the deepest underground to continue their revanchist dreams of spreading this so-called "world revolution" across this Earth. Refuse, I say, refuse! Now in brotherly spirit, and as the Confederation Armed Forces had been prepared... I say unto you all, March! March to the Donbass!

---

Donetsk
Unorganized Territorry, Eastern Ukraine
9th of March, 1936

The city of Donetsk has been ruined over several years of heavy infighting. First used as a base of the Ukrainian People's Republic as a bastion against both the White Army and the Bolsheviks, it fell to the hands of Nestor Makhno's anarchist Black Army on 1918 - after the Ukrainian government, short on money and ammunition, abandoned it, going beyond the Dnieper and installed a provisional government on the city instead. Needless to say, it was quickly captured by the Black Army several months later - neither the Cossacks' Great March nor the repeated Alliance offensives managed to capture the whole of Eastern Ukraine again. In 1924, while the Confederation emerged as one of the largest and most properous Russian successor states, the Donbass region meanwhile became a lawless territory - with the Black Army having splintered to pieces. Villages turned against villages, towns against town... and cities against cities.

In the distance, a loud rumble can be heard - the sound of more than a hundred Ursus armored cars rolling through the plains following the Vovcha river. The Armoured cars halted, about fifty kilometres off the outskirts of Donetsk, but the sounds did nit stop. Rather, it was the footsteps of horses - more than a thousand Cossacks, holding bolt-action rifles, sabres, and Ukrainian flags, as well as the anti-tank guns and machine guns.

Not so long after that, a column of horsemen rode to the outskirts of Donetsk - holding the blue-and-yellow Tryzub banner, as well as the symbol of the Don Cossacks - the white deer struck with a golden arrow, on a blue background. They were escorted by several horse-riders holding bolt-action rifles. The riders unveiled a white flag on the city's outskirts, and flew it ahead for all people to see. The leader introduced himself as Andriy Livytskyi, the Foreign Minister of the Confederation - and a well-known Ukrainian statesman, as well as Alexey Kaledin, Major General and commander of the Cossack Army. Now, they only asked for the leader of Donetsk to meet them... and negotiate Donetsk's incorporation as a state within the Confederation.

---

Tolstoy Palace
Odessa, Federal Capital
9th of March, 1936

The three Prime Ministers of the Confederation - Jozef Piłsudski, Jan Sierada, and Volodymyr Vynnchenko, gathered with Chairman Śmigły in the Tolstoy Palace, soon after the Chairman returned from his visit to Lviv. Śmigły gestured for all three to sit, before placing a bottle of vodka and four glasses on the table. "The night is cold, Gentlemen... the winds of Spring has barely reached us. Please, drink. There is something I want to discuss with you all."

"Any news from Donetsk, Chairman?" Vynnchenko asked. He was the leader of Ukraine, after all, and inherited the position from former Hetman Skoropadskyi. Vynnchenko is a Socialist, whom many saw as borderline Communist, but he is also a staunch anti-Russian nationalist.

"None, I fear, Prime Minister," Śmigły answered. "I am sure Livytskyi and Kaledin would reach a conclusion soon. The presence of the Confederation Army would be enough to discourage ex-Makhnovists from attacking the convoy, and I expect the Donetskii would accept a peaceful integration into Ukraine. We will be moving to Luhansk as soon as it is concluded."

Vynnchenko took a sip of the vodka. "I am relieved. I believe it is of our greatest interest to see the whole of our three nations - Poland, Belarus, and Ukraine, being unified with their respective... lost territories once again."

"That is exactly what I am inviting you to talk about. As you see, the Soviets had been amassing troops near the Baltic states' borders, and Germany... has plunged into a state of civil war. A new Polish nation has risen from the German Empire's remains. I am looking to integrate it with our own Confederation," Śmigły said.

Piłsudski smiled and responded. "Is it true, the rumours that Wilhelm II is on the brink of death?" he took a sip of the vodka. "If it is true, then God cast him to hell already! His death would mark the start of the Civil War... and I think, it is imperative for us to bring the whole of Poland to our fold, immediately!"

"I respect and support your eagerness, Prime Minister," Jan Sierada, the Belarusian Head of Government responded. "But... it is surely wise for us to see how the situation unfolds first? The Nazi Party is tearing itself apart, and the Sturmabteliung has declared their own state, this Greater Teutoburg, separate from Adolf Hitler's faction. Hitler himself is no better. He despised the Jews, which is already bad enough, and the Bolsheviks - which is good for us - but he despise the Slavs as well. Should Hitler rose to power, we would be trapped between Germans in the west and Bolsheviks in the East."

"Jan, that is exactly why we want the entirety of Poland returned!" Piłsudski exclaimed. "Almost the entirety of Belarus, and soon Ukraine, is already secure under our hands. A stronger Polish nation would be more beneficial to us. More than a million, new loyal citizens, my own countrymen - the natural resources, and the industrial capacities as well. We could end the Bolshevik once and for all."

Vynnchenko could fully grasp Sierada's fear; that the Polish influence within the Confederation would grow very large. Belarus, as the smallest state within the three Confederation members, risk themselves losing a say in the Confederation government. "Perhaps, Prime Minister... we can reach a compromise. Poland will be united once again, it is guaranteed. But the Belarusians would gain more seats in the General Assembly, as to not... drown the Belarusian voice outright...?"

"So that is what you are trying to say?" Piłsudski pointed at Sierada. "You did not trust me. You did not trust us, the Polish? We lost more than ten thousand men securing the independence of your nation - I am there, kicking the Bolshevik ass out of Minsk! While the city has fallen down to Bolshevik rule now, you have your nation back again, and you still object to my nation, being reunified?"

"That is not what I am trying to say!" Sierada shot back. "Of course I trust the Polish down to my bones. Have we not fought with you side by side as well?" He sipped the vodka again, trying to calm his temper. "Jozef, there is nothing wrong to reunite your nation back. In fact, I would pledge the Belarusian Army entirely to support that goal. Well, I am not trying to be a hypocrite - I did think on that as well, the Belarusian interests in this federation of ours, which we have bulit with the blood of countless Poles, Belarusians, and Ukrainians, but... we have solved the matter of representation long ago, so I dare not tread on such... matters once again. But we risk the entirety of Germany, should they be unified once again, becoming revanchist as well. We have one bloody, mad hell-spawn of a Dictator spreading his tentacles all over Russia on our east. We don't want another one threatening us to our west. That would undo our struggle to bulid this independence entirely..."

Piłsudski stroked his beard. "Ah... I... I apologize for my earlier statements. But, I see the merit in your opinions. It is particularly threatening to Poland as well."

Finally, Śmigły entered the conversation to moderate. "I am a Pole as well, Prime Minister. I have fought all of your battles as well, and I certainly want my homeland to be reunified entirely. But we cannot disregard the German factions, as Prime Minister Sierada said."

"We could... offer the Germans a compromise," Vynnchenko said. "Negotiate with the faction that is most likely to conquer all Germany, and secure the return of Poland's German-controlled parts to us."

"The problem is," Śmigły said, "we do not yet know who to back."

"The Sturmabteliung is out of the question..." Sierada answered. "They are the most revanchist of all. Their leader even purged his ranks of Hitler's supporters. If he can do that to his fellow German, imagine what he can do towards us."

Vynnchenko scoffed. "Hitler's faction is no better. Both still presented likely disastrous outcomes for us if they are to unite Germany whole."

"How about a compromise..." Śmigły stated, pondering the options. "We could send a delegation to each German faction, and wrestle out a deal. If we are to give them support, they must secure the legal return of Poland's German-controlled territory to us, and renounce all claims to that region."

"That sounds like the best outcome we could possibly reach," Piłsudski responded. "With your permission, Chairman, I will lead the delegation to discuss our support, and integration, of the Polish rebellion into the Confederation."

"All in favor?" Śmigły asked. Expectedly, the remaining two Prime Ministers nodded. "You have our blessings, Marshal," Śmigły referred to Piłsudski's earlier military title in the Russian Civil War. "When could we expect you to depart into Germany?"

"Once I arrive in Warsaw, immediately, so that would be... three days from now," Piłsudski answered. "I am grateful for your support, Prime Ministers Sierada, Vynnchenko," he shook hands with the aforemenetioned politicians. "Poland is not yet lost."

Memo from the Confederation Armed Forces General Chief of Staff for the Państwowe Zakłady Inżynierii

Dear Rudolf Gundlach,
It is of an important note for the Confederation Ground Forces that the most recent design the PZI has put into production, the 7TP tank, has been extremely excellent in the auspices of plains warfare. We have conducted multiple - more than four dozen exercises with this tank and the Szybki Czołg (SC-7) tanks, and so far, the 7TP has proven to be a comparable, if not more excellent, light tank that is suited to the needs of our Cavalry. Truly, the 7TP is a marvel of Polish engineering - even the Cossack regiments of our troops, who originally rode horses into battle, and was, just in the last decade, received mechanical training, found it to be most satisfactory. For that, I commend you and your design team's efforts and hard work into crafting this marvel of engineering.

Needless to say, while the Bolsheviks - as far as our knowledge goes - currently did not have a tank as fast comparably to both the SC-7 or 7TP, it is imperative for our military to always stay a thousand step ahead of the Bolsheviks. You have in your possession, numerous Russian engineers, craftsmen, and technician that formerly worked both for the Tsarist regime and the White Army. Most of them have settled in the Polish capital, or nearby Western Lviv. I am sure that you could always persuade them to work for your engineering bureau. They would be sponsored, and their lifelihood financed, by Federal treasury. Your bureau, and the Polish state, did not have to worry about the costs of production and design; we have stressed this before, and we have stressed this again,

The Bolsheviks' main armament is currently the so-called T28 medium tank, which is based on an earlier British design, the Vickers A1E1 "Independent". Needless to say, we have the sufficient counter of this menace in our 7TP and SC-7 tanks, but light tanks are not medium tanks. We cannot stress the importance of having a panzer-machine that could take the T28 face-to-face and can still ride without so great a damage. Our current military doctrine ensures an all-out attack carried by three branches of the Armed Forces, but also, needless to say, we surely require an armored vehicle with the capability of a medium, if not heavy outright, tank. You have my permission to contact our previous comrade in the United States, J. Walter Christie, for assistance - or a British tank engineer, or a French tank engineer. Whosoever that they suits your needs, we would gladly facilitate, as long as you hasten this development as much as you are possible. Dear Rudolf; this is not an order, but merely a sincere request - do not interpret it as such, but be informed that we need this development as soon as possible. You may send me a memo back later - perhaps you are curious about the tensions ongoing in Donetsk, perhaps you are not - but Chairman Śmigły has informed us that it would likely, God willing, not turn out to a violent confrontation.

Sincerely,
Semen Kostiantynovych Tymoshenko
General Chief of Staff of the Confederaton Armed Forces

[New Sriker]

Los Angeles, California
March 11th, 1936
Butler’s Visit to the Golden State

Butler looked over a series of papers sent to him and his guards at their motel in Los Angeles, a few of the letters were from Law talking about the current status of the PRA, some from supporters rooting for Butler to win the election, but the last note was special. The last came from the Nation of Islam, a group that Butler thought would help the NRP in some way. The note read.

Greetings, most honourable Chairman. May God shine his light upon you and your endeavours.

The Nation of Islam has been watching with increasing interest and sympathy the rise of the New Revolutionary Party and the militant activism of the People's Red Army. We also note the US government's attempts at suppressing and discrediting the NRP, both by the use of force as by underhanded subversion.

As Supreme Minister of the Nation of Islam, I would like to offer an olive branch of cordial and friendly relations between our two movements. It is my belief that we share several key concepts and interests, notably the overthrow of the oppressive yoke of the United States elite, and the liberation of our people from their bonds.

You may be familiar with the ideology of the Nation of Islam. We seek to establish a state of our own on American soil, a refuge for the African people on this continent. A reimbursement for four hundred years of slavery, servitude and oppression. A way for the United States to atone for its sins and for the Black race to receive its due.

Our Nation is not interested in taking over power in the United States as such, nor do we seek political participation in the structures of power created by the upper classes of America. We seek secession, separation and independence.

I have written this letter to you and your movement because I believe you to be a man of honour and principle. And with this letter, I ask you kindly to consider the just demands of the Nation of Islam and find it in your heart to consider a honourable and righteous position taken by yourself, the NRP and the PRA regarding the Negro Question.

We await your reply with eager anticipation.

May the blessings of Allah be with you,

Elijah Muhammad, Supreme Minister of the Nation of Islam

Butler looked at the note and cracked a smile, he then the grabbed a pen and paper and started to write out his response

To:Supreme Minister Elijah Muhammad
From:Chairman Smedly Butler
I agree to the terms that the Nation of Islam have laid out,We can go into greater detail at a later date. Until then PRA related groups will provide security at your protest and religious centers, and possibly in the near future weaponry for the FOI. May our two movements forever be united by brotherhood and cooperation, and may God bless you and your people.
Smeldy Butler, Chairman of the New Revolutionary Party

Butler looked at one of his guards and said “Get this to the nearest PRA hideout then tell them to make sure this gets to the Nation of Islam, and tell them to watch out and make sure no one but them know what that letter says.”
The guard nodded then left the motel to follow Butler’s orders.About three, Butler and his security, now ten men instead of four, started moving towards the rally at city hall. Once Butler and his guards arrived they were met by a crowd of over a thousand supporters, Butler walked up to the stage along the way shaking hands and accepting flowers. Once he reached the stage he looked down into the crowd and started his speech

Butler giving his speech to the Workers of Las Angeles

“As I look into this crowd I see the Brave workers of this city of Angels gathering to tell the American elite that enough is enough, for too long you have been underfed and underpaid, but today you stand with the might of the brown bear, ready to fight for your basic human rights!” Butler shouted as the crowd cheered.

“The American people need a new bill of rights to get our once great nation out of the pit of depression and bring us into the valley of Equality and prosperity. These rights are for every American, no matter their skin, religion, wealth, or sex. These rights are a home to live in and raise a family, food for their plates, a job with a fair and living wage, economic protection during crises, guaranteed medical care, and last but not least, a right to a good education no matter who they are. These are the things the New Revolutionary Party and I promise you, the American worker if you help us take over the corrupt system and clean it out!” Butler yelled.

The response from the crowd was good and loud, for soon after Butler finished speaking the crowd started waving flags of the NRP and singing Solidarity Forever, alongside other supporters clapping and cheering. Butler walked of the stage and with his guards headed to his vehicle to go rest up at the motel then continue his campaign.

[The Felan Federation]

Berlin, German Empire

Phillip didn't need to read the reports he got every day or so, due to his position as a Minister of the Imperial Government to see the death of his home, he could look outside and see the actions unfold in the streets.

Paul and the Iron Front had been mobilized and were currently helping the police keep order in the streets, arresting any looters or rioters and keeping the extremists and radicals at bay for now. Ironically enough, the massive division that was splintering the Empire was helpful to them. Since there were so many enemies, it also meant they were very likely rivals to themselves.

Meaning it was easy to understand where they were strongest and where they were the weakest. Since once an organization had established a foothold they usually repelled away the others - by persuasion, bribery or force. For now the eastern portions were 'peaceful' which was a bitter lie itself - more like, less burning than anywhere else. Still the government was losing everything fast - Hitler had already made his move, a mercy given repaid by an attempt again and he'd bet the Communists were on the move as well.

As it was, the situation was brewing badly and he needed to enact something if Germany would emerge from this in any shape at all. As it happened, he ordered his aides to prepare letters for August von Mackensen and Strasser - in case the phones failed.

Minister Scheidemann' proposal was simple: forming of an Anti-Radical Pakt between the German loyalists into a cohesive formation. The Freikorps held several veterans and soldiers in their ranks and Mackensen commanded several units loyal to the Kaiser and Empire. If they could put aside their differences and unite against the radicals they may have a chance of success.

Scheidemann held hope that Strasser was willing to cooperate, seeing how he had helped cooperate in the past to put down several communist uprisings and refused to aid Hitler and his first coup those years ago - no doubt making him a target to the ultranationalist. That and Mackensen was a military officer whom wouldn't hopefully turn down potential manpower, land and industry. If the ARP could be formed - then they'd have a possible bulwark against the radicals whom would tear themselves apart upon each other.

Once the letters and Messengers were prepared, as a precaution - Minister Phillip Scheidemann picked up his phone and began dialing, hopeful that the phones lines still worked enough for what might be Germany's last moment.

[Dahyan]

Temple No. 1
Detroit
6 March 1936, One day after attempted murder of Smedley Butler

"Do you see now? Those who doubted before: do you see now how dangerous the enemy is? Have you witnessed it now?

Behold how not only did they send lynch mobs after our Nation in Chicago, not only did the police allow and even participate in anti-Black racist violence. But their blind hatred is aimed even at those Whites who dare speak out against the elite, the leeches of this country!"

Supreme Minister Elijah Muhammad was fuming during his fiery speech to the assembled crowd. Thousands of enthusiastic sympathizers had rallied to hear the leader's words on the cowardly assassination attempt at the presidential candidate of the New Revolutionary Party in Las Vegas. The crowd was massed even outside the  mosque, listening to the Minister's voice through loudspeakers, as the place of worship itself couldn't fit them all.

The Fruit of Islam militia surrounded the meeting from all sides, thoroughly inspecting every possible source of danger. The batons they wore in Chicago had been hung on their belts, while their white-gloved hands instead held hunting rifles and carbines. The bloodbath in Chicago and the series of attacks in Las Vegas had made the FOI decided to kick security up a few notches, with lethal weaponry being very much on the table for the defence of the Nation.

"The White oppressors are killing even their own kin nowadays. First this terrorist bombing of Las Vegas, and now this! An attempt, no doubt by the Ku Klux Klan, Silver Legion or any of the countless other fascist organisations that make up the powerbase of Al Smith and Huey Long both!"

After the roaring applause and shouts of dismay had calmed down, Minister Elijah Muhammad continued.

"Yes, my fellow brethren. Make no mistake! Let us not be fooled by honeyed words and false claims of shock and disapproval by the crackers amongst the Democrats, the Republicans or the AFP! They are all in on this, in one way or another. They know whom to fear, most of all the Nation of Islam! But also every single movement that threatens their privileges, their unearned wealth, their elite position at the top of a blood-soaked pyramid of evil they have constructed on this continent.

To the New Revolutionary Party, we send our heartfelt well-wishes, our prayers for the continued safety of their members, and our deepest hopes that our two organisations may find common ground for cooperation in the future.

And to the oppressors, these Pharaohs of today, we say: we know who you are! And we are coming for you!"

Office of the Supreme Minister
Chicago, 8 March 1936

"Supreme Minister, the delegate from the CPUSA has arrived."

Elijah Muhammad looked up and nodded.

"Excellent, please send him in."

The man walking into the office was named Harry Haywood. A prominent African-American activist and member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party. And, not unimportant, a leading figure in the Black Liberation movement nationwide, and a fervent supporter of the concept of a homeland for the Black race in America.

"Pleased to make your acquaintance, brother Haywood," Elijah Muhammad said as he shook his hand. "Please, be seated. We have much to talk about."

[Monsone]

Nizhny Novogord
March 11th, 1936

Stalin took a seat at the desk and picked up the red phone. He prayed it would work. Then Stalin looked at the piece of papaer with the numbers that he had been given. He dialed in the numbers, and waited. After nearly a minute of static, someone on the other end of line picked up.

"Hello?" Asked Kerensky's voice.

"Alexander Fyodorovich Kerensky." Stalin said into the phone with a smirk.

"What do you want Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin?" Kerensky asked coldly as he began to consider hanging up the phone.

"I want to talk about a little mutual problem." Stalin replied.

"Which problem is that, Stalin?" Kerensky spat.

"The Confederation and the frailty of Russia. This damn civil war has gone on for long enough, and I think it is time that Russia rise once again." Stalin replied as Kerensky sighed.

"I would never join the USSR. You know that." Was Kerensky's answer.

"I know. That is why I have a proposal. The USSR will cease to exist and will be renamed the Russian Social Republic. I would remain head of the Russian Social Republic for the time being. Meanwhile you would contact Kolchak and unify your lands under the banner of White Russia. Once that is done, White Russia and the Russian Social Republic would unite into the Federal Republic of Russia. You would be President, Kolchak would be head of the Armed Forces, and I would be Prime Minister." Stalin told Kerensky.

"It is an interesting plan. But what assurance do I have this would work? And frankly, why should I trust you and your vile socialisim and fake communisim?" Kerensky asked and the continued. "I agree that this war must end, and I must say your proposal is probably more viable than fighting your way across Russia to expand the USSR. However negotiations will not occur until you dissband the USSR and replace it with the Russian Social Republic. And the Russian Social Republic must be a democracy for talks to be even considered."

"Alexander." Stalin said as he adressed Kerensky by his first name. "You know as well as me that if we ever want to see a unified Russia even again, we need to act now. The world is already in turmoil, and Germany is on it's deathbed. If we act now, Russia will become the most powerful nation in Europe. After all, don't you want to see a united Russia once again? Don't you want the see peace in Russia? Answer me Alexander."

"Joseph, you know better than anyone else that the Confederation feeds on the very existence of your nation. even if you where Prime Minister, they would still see Russia as a threat. And even if we restore all the Tsarists institutions, the Confederation would still not bow to us. We would need to inavde them." Kerensky told a mildly irrate Stalin.

"I frankly don't care Kerensky. People may not see me as alturistic, but I am trying to be alturistic now. If we immediately unify, we can rebuild the great glory of Russia once more. I swear that this is not a joke, or a ploy to get you and Kolchak arrested. I truly am sick and tired of the lack of unity and the lack of a homeland. As soon as we unify, I'll send Tukachevsky and Voroshilov into Central Asia to seize the terriotry there, and I'll send the Blyukhor into the North Caucasus. Kerensky, do this for the Russia you so badly believe in, and don't bicker over petty ideologies." Stalin said tensly into the phone.

"Fine. I'll bring Kolchak with me to Moscow. We'll be there in ten days." Kerensky said as he cracked under Stalin's pressure.

"You will not regret this. In fact, I will create the Russian Social Republic immediately. I am a man of my word Kerensky. I hope you are too." Stalin said as he then hung up the phone and then got up with a huge smile.

"I'm assuming it sent well." Molotov said to Stalin.

"Yes it did! The USSR may be no more, but Russia will rise again. And Molotov, expect to be Foreign Minister." Stalin said to Molotov, who just smiled in response.

"Should I bring out some Vodka?" Molotov asked Stalin.

"No. Bring out some Georgian wine. This is a true celebration." Stalin told Molotov.



Moscow
March 14th, 1936

The Council of People's Commissars of the Soviet Union all sat in the Presidium. Infront of them was the contitution of the Russian Social Republic. For nearly thee hours they had read it over and there had been not a word of critique. Despite the genral air of consensus towards Stalin in the USSR, this silence was not because of obedience, but out of shock.

"Shall we sign the papaers, kill the USSR, and gein a new dawn for Russia?" Stalin asked the People's Commissars.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Asked Alexei Rykov.

"Certain." Stalin replied with not atinge of mercy or joy in his voice.

"Then let's sign it." Molotov stated the obvious.

The constitution was passed to each member of the Presidium. And once everyone had signed it and it had returned to Stalin, the room seemed to sigh in relief. And Stalin had a huge smile on his face that could only mean one thing, Stalin had been pleased.

"Men, the USSR is dead. Long live Russia!" Stalin shouted as the room burst out cheering.

Meanwhile the Soviet flag on the Kremlin was lowered---much to the confusion of the general populace----and the Soviet flag was replaced with the Russian tricolor of old. Most citizens just stared in shock. It seemed that the USSR had just ended in the snap of a finger. Some wanted to cheer while others where nearly on the verge of tears. And just then, the public loudspeakers answered all the questions and doubts.

"Men, Women, and Childern of Russia; the USSR is dead. Now Russia shall rise again under democracy and freedom and Russia shall once again prosper. Feel tree to speak your minds once again. Feel free to say what you want however you want to. But continue to work, obey civil order, and remain loyal to your homeland; Russia. Long live the Russian Social Republic, long live Russia, and long live Premier Stalin!"

"Did my ears deceive me?" Asked a Red Army soldier.

"No. It is true. Democracy has returned." Replied another soldier.

"Well, what anthem do we sign now?" Asked an youn woman.

"The one of always, God Save the Tsar. But replace the Tsar with Russia." An old babaushka said.

"Alright. 1...2...3...go!" Shouted the first soldier as the crowd began to sing.

"God save our noble homeland!
Great be it's glory!
Growing in power and majesty;

Russia! May good fortune be
Showered upon thee;
God save thee still, Our Noble Russia!"

[Wasi State]

Danzig
Antoni Nowak

The Polish partisan wasn't sure of what to make of the strange visitors he stumbled across that were seemingly wandering around the dangerous city that was currently in the middle of a full-scale uprising by their lonesome selves, the sight had obviously perplexed him at first. Were they spies? Didn't entirely seem that way, especially given their accents. They definitely didn't seem German, but then again they could easily be collaborators as well, especially given their suspicious question of wanting to see his 'HQ,' of all things. He was gonna have to take them in, but probably not in the way they were intending.

"Lay any weapons you have down on the ground, and raise your hands up high!" The partisan then demanded from the five, "You'll be brought in questioning by the Polish Front, comply or I'll be forced to open fire." Antoni then sternly ordered the five before being met up with another group of partisans who joined him.

"What you got here Antoni?" His squad leader then asked him, seeing the darkly dressed men.

"Spies or collaborators I think, sir, they came out of the blue and were asking about our HQ." Antoni then relayed back to him.

---

Berlin Command Bunker
August von Mackensen

Given some spouts of random gunfire on the streets of Berlin and news of Bavaria's downfall, the Field Marshal was fully aware that the Civil War was mere days away from officially starting regardless of if the Kaiser was dead or not. Looking at his available units on his map with his officers, he could sufficiently only really hold Old Prussian lands for the time being given the circumstances. He could not afford to attempt to fight back the Nazis and Fascists now when he already has the multiple flavors of communists and dreaded democratic factions sooner or later barreling down for him too. And of course there was still the ongoing Polish problem wreaking hell on his Eastern flank. The only thing he needed now was some sorta good news.

"Field Marshal!" A communications officer then joined them in the command room, "Strasser's Freikorps and the SPD's Iron Front are looking to make an alliance of sorts with our Government! An Anti-Radical Pakt of sorts they said."

"Strasser and Scheidemann? God these really are the end times now are they." Mackensen was both surprised yet astonished. "Tell them we'll be willing to accept the Pakt if they are willing to recognize the legitimacy of Wilhelm the Third, cause christ knows his father isn't going to be alive for much longer to see this horrid nightmare come to full fruition." His fellow commanding officers with him raised an eyebrow at the statement, but were forced to agree with him given their circumstances. Mackensen almost envied the comatose Kaiser at this point.

---

Outside Donetsk

A small group of Donetsk cossacks galloped their way towards the diplomatic envoy upon the site of the white flag, being very clearly former members of the Black Army that have more or less been part of a bandit clique that has taken over much of the city of Donetsk in a self-declared Oblast realm.

"What do you Confederate dogs want? To speak with Mikhail Krichevsky you say? Why wouldn't you want that don't you." The much older and jaded cossack amongst the Black Riders said very dismissively to Livytskyi and Kaledin, having little to no care in the world to the amount of guns, men, and tanks they brought with them if they couldn't earn their people's respect in the slightest first.

"You ride around like you're Don Cossacks, but do you have a spirit of such of a rider to our people of yore in your hearts? Let me tell you what, if one of you can beat me in a race from that tree over there to right back here before my brother Ivan can finish his flask without puking his guts out you have yourselves front row seats to meet our chief." The Old Cossack then offered the two, pointing at a tree nearby some odd fifty or so meters away.

"Hey it's not the worst brew I've made!" Ivan protested.

"Shut up and get ready to drink, Brother!"

---

Office of the Supreme Minister
Chicago, 8 March 1936

Harry Haywood took his seat as offered by Elijah Muhammad, to him it only made sense for this meeting to take place in no better time then now. Browder was making gains in the Midwest as they spoke while Butler was making an appearance in California after securing much of the North Atlantic for his NPR. To Haywood, securing the black vote for the Communist Party in the Rust Belt was essential to fully winning the upcoming election against the problematic "Old" and "Dixie" America of Al Smith and Huey Long respectively.

"Brother Muhammad, it is good of you to invite me, I'll be one to say that Black Liberation won't be finished and truly fulfill without unity with of its Black brothers and sisters with the Nation of Islam." Haywood was rather eager indeed to discuss these grand progressive plans with Muhammad, given how America has been heading in the past 11 years since the Stock Market Crash of 25'.

"We need to get the Communist Party, the NPR, and the Nation of Islam in a coalition I believe to best get the vote for either Browder or Butler. And I know what you might be thinking, another whitey in office? But if I recall Browder hasn't made any plans yet for a VP to choose from his party yet. That gives me an idea if you know what I'm thinking." Haywood then seeded the idea to him.

[Monsone]

Moscow

For nine days now talks had been ongoing about the reunification of Russia. And progress had been made. While ministerial apointmens ahd been agreed upon, as had a flag and crest, still there was much more to cover. Mainly it boiled down to how the economy would progress, and what the national anthem would be.

Kolchak wanted a full privatization. Kerensky wanted to keep certain sectors of the economy government owned, but without any central planing. And Stalin wanted a mixed economy with Five Year Plans. And for the national anthem, Kolchak wanted a modified form of God Save the Tsar, Kerensky wanted the Anthem of Free Russia, and Stalin wanted the Worker's Marseillase.

"Alright, so the economy." Sighed Kolchak.

"We've been over this many times. The economy should still have some central planing for stability, but I am open to private enterprise and foreign investment." Stalin said a little bitterly.

"I agree with you Joseph, but we don't need five year plans." Kerensky shot back.

"As I've said before, privatize it all!" Kolchak exclaimed.

"How about only the government owned parts of the economy would be centrally planed?" Suggested Stalin.

"Fine. It would make sense." Kerensky stated.

"I guess that settles that." Kolchack rolled his eyes.

"Now for the state anthem." Stalin grinned.

"Clearly we can't find a choice we all like." Kerensky sighed.

"I mean, we could try a more unconventional song." Kolchak suggested.

"That being?" Both Stalin and Kerensky asked.

"How about Slav'sya?" Kolchak responded.

"That's what you sing when you win you imbicile!" Kerensky snapped at Kolchak.

"I think it's a beautiful song, but not really anthem material. It's like making Beethoven's 9th Symphony into an anthem." Stalin remarked.

"Yet is could work. As a symbol of Russia's rebirth and as a symbol of the return of a united and strong Russia." Kolchak said as he pushed the point that Slav'sya was not a bad song.

"He does have a point. Slav'sya is a perfect song for a reborn Russia. albeit new lyrics would be needed since the Tsar isn't exactly around anymore." Kerensky stated.

"Fine. We can use Slav'sya as the anthem. However, the Soviet lyricis must be used." Stalin said frustratedly as Kolchak and Kerensky just stared at him. "The Soviet lyrics only remove mentions of the Tsar with no other changes." Stalin added in.

"So I guess that's it?" Kerensky asked.

"That it is." Kolchak said in shock.

"Should we toast this with some vodka?" Stalin asked his guests.

"Not quite yet. first we must make it official." Kolchak answered.

"And ho would we do that?" Stalin asked.

"By stating it over the radio." Kerensky mumbled.

"Do you wish to do it Mr. President?" Stalin asked Kerensky.

"I guess I must." Kerensky weakly smiled.

Speech on the Unification of Russia

"The history of Russia and the world sets off on a new path today. After eighteen years of civil war, a new chapter begins for Russia and for the citizens of Russia. Today, April 1st, 1936 shall be remembered as the day Russia began anew. Today White Russia, Free Russia, and the Russian Social Republic have put their differences aside and unified for the greater good of the Russian people. Peace in Russia is now not just a dream and aspiration, but the reality."

"From this day fowards, regardless of your political affiliation, ethnicity, or family lineage, you are a free citizen of the Russian Federal Republic. From this day on, freedom, justice, equality, and prosperity will belong to all. No longer shall we have to suffer, and we can from now on preach a bright future for our children. Today a new day dawns on Russia, and we should all celebrate. While the past may have been difficult, the future is much brighter."

"But there is still work to be done. Central Asia, the Caucasus, Belarus, the Ukraine. All of these lands and more require reunification with the nation of Russia. The truth is the truth, Russia will rise again, and rightfull Russian lands will be taken since they are rightfully Russian and belong in Russian hands! Bot to acomplish this our great nation must arise from it's ashes as it is doing now. i urge all groups, nations, peoples who wish to join the Russian Federal Republic to do so for the benfit of their people and for the benefit of Russia as a whole. In these trying times, Russia can be an example of stability, prosperity, and sucess. But that can only be acheived if we work together."

"My fellow countrymen, Russia is reborn a new today. The question is, will you participate in that rebirth, or will you betray your homeland and fight for unjust causes? It is a question only you can answer from deep withing your heart. But for now i leave you to joyously celebrate, for you well deserve it."

Just as Kerensky finished his speech via the radio, a message entered the room that scared Stalin, Kolchak, and Kerensky. There was a pro-Soviet mutiny in Kronshtadt. The Baltic Fleet was revolting once again, and this time, it really was unknown how the revolt would be crushed. The NKVD technically no longer existed, the Red Army was in a similar state, and the police was in no shape to stop an armed revolt where battleships could be used as weapons. But it was clear, if something wasn't done quickly, the very change that had just occured in Russia, might not last.

[The Felan Federation]

Berlin, German Empire

As it happened, Scheidemann received the news about a few hours later and slightly cursed under his breath - as with fighting slowly picking up, one had literally people running from one street to another. Some likely trying to flee the chaos going on in the streets, others ferrying important information to one side or another. As it happened, the 'concession' he received was both a blessing and a curse. It was ironic to say, that convincing Strasser and the Freikorps had been the easy part - granted, despite the rhetoric he could understand Strasser on some level; the man wanted equal opportunity for him and his men under a banner of an united nation. As it happened, despite being seen as 'weak' or 'radicals' depending on whom you asked - the SPD's goals had always been the protection and advancement of the German worker - be they the worker in the mill, the farm or on the field defending the Fatherland. As it was, he had left any political or ideological argument into the trash-bin and focused more on the social and improvement side of politics, since trying to match the rhetoric of the true radicals was pointless and a game of trying not to choke on one' hypocrisy.

Still, the Field Marshal' request was somewhat...tolerable. As much as he disliked Wilhelm the 'Fool' for dragging them all into this insanity, the few times he had seen the man in person - the Kaiser looked more like a man seeing his home and nation burning down around him and he couldn't do anything about it. That seemed metaphorically a bigger burden, than his political career which he could and leave at any time. Although by now, the current Kaiser was likely dead or dying depending on how long Mackensen could keep up this charade.

Nevertheless, they could argue about guilt and responsibility later. He'd kiss the literal ass of the next Kaiser if it meant every problem that German had was erased. Still, he quickly penned a response in agreement and sent the messenger on his way. Accepting of the Kaiser was a double-edged sword - their rivals could bash them over the head and blame them for keeping hold of a decaying system, although at the same time they could easily point to them destroying this symbol of unity and taking advantage of the chaos for their own benefit instead of the people. The rumors of Hitler having taken Bavaria, without any claim or justification just as the Kaiser was nearly killed in a car explosion was a literal propagandist' dream. Plus, as much as the people disliked the war - many would hopefully prefer a return to status quo than any new 'enlightened' ideology that promised everything yet gave them in the end nothing.

As it was, this might hopefully ensure that eastern Germany was secured - as long as Mackensen could deal with the rebellious Poles. As Phillip hoped this Antiradikaler Pakt could keep up something of a bulwark against the radicals out in the west. Either they tore apart each other and would be easy clean-up afterwards, or the Entente or whatever remained of them would bleed them out. As ironic as it sounded - this civil war would have at least the 'benefit' of weeding out the weakest and ensure that Germany would in someway emerge united...although how much of the country remained after that would be a different story in itself.