A Victory in the East (IC)
Posted: Fri May 21, 2021 2:33 pm
OOC
2021
May
The Russian Empire
The beginning of May was cause for much growing festivity and celebration in all regions of the vast transcontinental realm that is Russia. Spanning from the Pripyat Marshes in the West along the Polish Borders all the way across the Urals into Asia, reaching the Pacific Ocean, and from the arid deserts of Southern Central Asia to the frigid long nights of the Kola Peninsula. Home to over one hundred and seventy-seven million people. Spread across twelve time zones. Host to the worlds largest economy and this month, honoring the fallen of its venerable military. From the metropolises of Moscow and Saint Petersburg to the Far Eastern city of Vladivostok. From chilly Arkhangelsk to the palm tree lined shores of Batumi and Sochi. Banners were unfurled, portraits and icons raised, flag poles brimming, and the local military, police, and civil defense formations gathering in parade drill. Military vehicles lined boulevards, helicopters and planes of all types and stripes conducted aerial practice in the skies. All for a single day. May 9th. Victory Day. A day to remember all those who gave their lives in defense of The Motherland and its people seventy-six years ago.
The lead up to the celebrations was much fanfare. Cities unleashed an absolute plethora of decorations across famous landmarks, monuments received fresh flowers and laurels, while surviving veterans performed public appearances as living memories of the nation. High profile members of the Imperial Government likewise fullfilled similar duties. Members of the State Duma with past military service donned their old uniforms. While both Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev gave televised interviews regarding the nation and remembering its glorious past, and how it provides the seeds for an equally prosperous future. The Tsarina herself made appearances in Saint Petersburg, Tsaritsyn, Minsk, and Yekaterinburg before arriving in Moscow for the May 9th celebrations. Before her planned tour of the Empire's Asiatic districts. All the while Imperial Palaces opened their doors and displayed priceless collections of historic artifacts, memorabilia of the Great Patriotic War, and commemorating artworks.
Moscow
May 9th
By the time May 9th arrived for Russia's European territories the atmosphere could be described quite plainly as a mixture of high spirits meets dour remembrance. Millions of lives had been lost in the fight to defeat Nazism and the Axis powers that had conducted the largest invasion in history upon the Russian nation. A cost matched only by the number of civilians that had perished in the crimes perpetuated upon the population by the occupying Axis regimes. All of which was expounded in a calm, but passionate speech punctuated with phrases about Nazi ideas still persisting around the globe, by the Head of Her Majesty's Government, Vladimir Putin. Who addressed thousands on Red Square and millions throughout the country. One specific snippet from the speech's transcript, caught onto the airwaves and headlines around the Empire; with Moscow Gazette and Pravda clipping the following,
“Unfortunately, many of the ideologies of the Nazis, those who were obsessed with the delusional theory of their exclusiveness, are again trying to be put into service,” he said, without citing specifics.
The aging Head of Government, and one term head of the State Duma, had not lost his ability to make many Russians listen to his words. Able to speak clearly to the concerns of the citizenry much like he had done during the turbulent years of the 1990's. When it was unclear if the Empire would even survive the decade. A man of strength, yet reserved, the lines on his face complimenting the sage warning of his voice. Matched by a dour walk, holding a wreath, and joined by the Tsarina herself who remained silent at the parade, as both laid down the eloquent offering onto the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier adjacent to the walls of the Kremlin itself.
Only when both had returned to the stands did the boom of the cannonry situation outside of the Kremlin's famous red walls commence. High ranking officers of the Imperial military being driven forward in sleek black Lada's. Standing in the passenger seating as they gave their salutes, their observing of the neat blocs of soldiers and cadets of the Armed Forces gathered before them. Of the Military bands that would play in perfect unison the National Anthem and then a collection of patriotic songs. The Russian Army is the Strongest, The March of the Siberian Riflemen, Farewell to Slavianka, Song of the Volga Boatmen, and so forth.
Practically in tune, to the tramping march of the perfectly drilled blocks of soldiery. Ground Forces troops, Naval Infantry, Airborne, Sailors, Airmen, Cadets, and many more representing the various strata of the Imperial Military trooped past. Followed by honorary detachments of the Imperial Guards including several squadrons of mounted troops in full regalia like their Napoleonic ancestors. Then of course the vehicles. Underneath the colorful chemtrails of first a gunship flight, then a squadron of fighters and transports. Even a pair of bombers from the Aerospace Forces Strategic Bomber arm made skillful fly-bys. All while one hundred and ninety vehicles drove past in parade formations. New T-14s, modern T-90s and 80s alongside updated 72s, while venerable T-34s rolled by with banners adorning their turrets and chassis.
When the parade ended the days events were themselves not over. Fireworks boomed throughout the night across the country. Celebrations and cultural venues abounded. From concerts to social gatherings. Street markets to new exhibitions. A careful get away from the geo-political turmoil the world was constantly in...
State Duma/Госуда́рственная ду́ма
Moscow
May 13th, 2021
The State Duma, official transliteration from Cyrillic being Gosudárstvennaya dúma, in the Tverskoy district of Central Moscow. Was tense as ever despite the jubilations pervading the country mere days earlier. The geo-political situation of the Empire was to put it bluntly, much better than twenty years ago, yet now facing a whole new set of challenges to the status quo. Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, a strong man by all definition and very much the sword and shield of the Tsarina, had helped pull the nation of recession. No small part played by the now head of the Imperial Treasury and financial consultant for the Imperial Purse, Alexei Kudrin, whose economic mind and treatises have earned world renown. Compounded by preserving the territorial integrity of the Caucasus amidst a fierce Chechen breakaway attempt during the same period. A threat which had at one point bore the implication of an unwinding of Imperial territory South of Stavropol Oblast, had been soundly defeated. Cementing his power and party in the process. Yet, it was not all a rose colored past, and certain issues still roosted.
Putin had introduced a series of Constitutional changes in the intervening years that had mostly ended in not only strengthening his office. But restoring powers previously lost to the Crown since the time of Nicholas II. The astute readers of Russian legislation over the last twenty years would carefully note the terminology and phraseology of many of those passages, many of whom personally scrutinized over Putin himself over long nights in the Kremlin. That while, on the surface, seeming to preserve the Constitutionality of the Empire's government structure. Really bent power to the Crown and the offices that immediately report to the Empress. That of Head of Government and Head of the Duma. Something which bore no small complaint from the more liberal minded echelons of the government and people of the nation. But as ever, good times seldom yielded much concern for the powers that be, and as the Russian economy continued to host stable growth, the ivory tower of high office remained unassail.
Externally, the situation was more mixed. The Donbass War, following protests against the Ukrainian government in 2014 which spun into separatist movements in the country's eastern oblasts, had dragged on with no real end in sight. As for while Armistices were periodic and de-escalation promoted publicly by both Ukraine and Russia. The situation was one of a frozen conflict with no real resolution on the table. Kiev did not recognize Luhansk and Donetsk as independent Republics. Nor would they tolerate their incorporation into the Russian Empire like that of the Crimea. While Moscow benefited from Ukraine being involved as a means of weakening a possible threat on its South-Western frontier.
Further South, Turkey and the Free City of Constantinople were another source of concerns for the Russian government. While both Russia and Constantinople were mostly Orthodox in the faith of the citizenry, the apartheid nature of Constantinople's political and social structure was troublesome. A troubling loose knife only dwarfed by the spilled gunpowder that was East Asia. Japan, Manchuria, Korea, and China was a situation that the Tsarina herself in more than one dispatch to both Putin and Medvedev espoused wishes to prepare for. But without major incident could seldom justify to the international community taking serious action against. Let alone the prospect of intervention in any hostilities.
Only time would tell...
2021
May
The Russian Empire
The beginning of May was cause for much growing festivity and celebration in all regions of the vast transcontinental realm that is Russia. Spanning from the Pripyat Marshes in the West along the Polish Borders all the way across the Urals into Asia, reaching the Pacific Ocean, and from the arid deserts of Southern Central Asia to the frigid long nights of the Kola Peninsula. Home to over one hundred and seventy-seven million people. Spread across twelve time zones. Host to the worlds largest economy and this month, honoring the fallen of its venerable military. From the metropolises of Moscow and Saint Petersburg to the Far Eastern city of Vladivostok. From chilly Arkhangelsk to the palm tree lined shores of Batumi and Sochi. Banners were unfurled, portraits and icons raised, flag poles brimming, and the local military, police, and civil defense formations gathering in parade drill. Military vehicles lined boulevards, helicopters and planes of all types and stripes conducted aerial practice in the skies. All for a single day. May 9th. Victory Day. A day to remember all those who gave their lives in defense of The Motherland and its people seventy-six years ago.
The lead up to the celebrations was much fanfare. Cities unleashed an absolute plethora of decorations across famous landmarks, monuments received fresh flowers and laurels, while surviving veterans performed public appearances as living memories of the nation. High profile members of the Imperial Government likewise fullfilled similar duties. Members of the State Duma with past military service donned their old uniforms. While both Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev gave televised interviews regarding the nation and remembering its glorious past, and how it provides the seeds for an equally prosperous future. The Tsarina herself made appearances in Saint Petersburg, Tsaritsyn, Minsk, and Yekaterinburg before arriving in Moscow for the May 9th celebrations. Before her planned tour of the Empire's Asiatic districts. All the while Imperial Palaces opened their doors and displayed priceless collections of historic artifacts, memorabilia of the Great Patriotic War, and commemorating artworks.
Moscow
May 9th
By the time May 9th arrived for Russia's European territories the atmosphere could be described quite plainly as a mixture of high spirits meets dour remembrance. Millions of lives had been lost in the fight to defeat Nazism and the Axis powers that had conducted the largest invasion in history upon the Russian nation. A cost matched only by the number of civilians that had perished in the crimes perpetuated upon the population by the occupying Axis regimes. All of which was expounded in a calm, but passionate speech punctuated with phrases about Nazi ideas still persisting around the globe, by the Head of Her Majesty's Government, Vladimir Putin. Who addressed thousands on Red Square and millions throughout the country. One specific snippet from the speech's transcript, caught onto the airwaves and headlines around the Empire; with Moscow Gazette and Pravda clipping the following,
“Unfortunately, many of the ideologies of the Nazis, those who were obsessed with the delusional theory of their exclusiveness, are again trying to be put into service,” he said, without citing specifics.
The aging Head of Government, and one term head of the State Duma, had not lost his ability to make many Russians listen to his words. Able to speak clearly to the concerns of the citizenry much like he had done during the turbulent years of the 1990's. When it was unclear if the Empire would even survive the decade. A man of strength, yet reserved, the lines on his face complimenting the sage warning of his voice. Matched by a dour walk, holding a wreath, and joined by the Tsarina herself who remained silent at the parade, as both laid down the eloquent offering onto the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier adjacent to the walls of the Kremlin itself.
Only when both had returned to the stands did the boom of the cannonry situation outside of the Kremlin's famous red walls commence. High ranking officers of the Imperial military being driven forward in sleek black Lada's. Standing in the passenger seating as they gave their salutes, their observing of the neat blocs of soldiers and cadets of the Armed Forces gathered before them. Of the Military bands that would play in perfect unison the National Anthem and then a collection of patriotic songs. The Russian Army is the Strongest, The March of the Siberian Riflemen, Farewell to Slavianka, Song of the Volga Boatmen, and so forth.
Practically in tune, to the tramping march of the perfectly drilled blocks of soldiery. Ground Forces troops, Naval Infantry, Airborne, Sailors, Airmen, Cadets, and many more representing the various strata of the Imperial Military trooped past. Followed by honorary detachments of the Imperial Guards including several squadrons of mounted troops in full regalia like their Napoleonic ancestors. Then of course the vehicles. Underneath the colorful chemtrails of first a gunship flight, then a squadron of fighters and transports. Even a pair of bombers from the Aerospace Forces Strategic Bomber arm made skillful fly-bys. All while one hundred and ninety vehicles drove past in parade formations. New T-14s, modern T-90s and 80s alongside updated 72s, while venerable T-34s rolled by with banners adorning their turrets and chassis.
When the parade ended the days events were themselves not over. Fireworks boomed throughout the night across the country. Celebrations and cultural venues abounded. From concerts to social gatherings. Street markets to new exhibitions. A careful get away from the geo-political turmoil the world was constantly in...
State Duma/Госуда́рственная ду́ма
Moscow
May 13th, 2021
The State Duma, official transliteration from Cyrillic being Gosudárstvennaya dúma, in the Tverskoy district of Central Moscow. Was tense as ever despite the jubilations pervading the country mere days earlier. The geo-political situation of the Empire was to put it bluntly, much better than twenty years ago, yet now facing a whole new set of challenges to the status quo. Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, a strong man by all definition and very much the sword and shield of the Tsarina, had helped pull the nation of recession. No small part played by the now head of the Imperial Treasury and financial consultant for the Imperial Purse, Alexei Kudrin, whose economic mind and treatises have earned world renown. Compounded by preserving the territorial integrity of the Caucasus amidst a fierce Chechen breakaway attempt during the same period. A threat which had at one point bore the implication of an unwinding of Imperial territory South of Stavropol Oblast, had been soundly defeated. Cementing his power and party in the process. Yet, it was not all a rose colored past, and certain issues still roosted.
Putin had introduced a series of Constitutional changes in the intervening years that had mostly ended in not only strengthening his office. But restoring powers previously lost to the Crown since the time of Nicholas II. The astute readers of Russian legislation over the last twenty years would carefully note the terminology and phraseology of many of those passages, many of whom personally scrutinized over Putin himself over long nights in the Kremlin. That while, on the surface, seeming to preserve the Constitutionality of the Empire's government structure. Really bent power to the Crown and the offices that immediately report to the Empress. That of Head of Government and Head of the Duma. Something which bore no small complaint from the more liberal minded echelons of the government and people of the nation. But as ever, good times seldom yielded much concern for the powers that be, and as the Russian economy continued to host stable growth, the ivory tower of high office remained unassail.
Externally, the situation was more mixed. The Donbass War, following protests against the Ukrainian government in 2014 which spun into separatist movements in the country's eastern oblasts, had dragged on with no real end in sight. As for while Armistices were periodic and de-escalation promoted publicly by both Ukraine and Russia. The situation was one of a frozen conflict with no real resolution on the table. Kiev did not recognize Luhansk and Donetsk as independent Republics. Nor would they tolerate their incorporation into the Russian Empire like that of the Crimea. While Moscow benefited from Ukraine being involved as a means of weakening a possible threat on its South-Western frontier.
Further South, Turkey and the Free City of Constantinople were another source of concerns for the Russian government. While both Russia and Constantinople were mostly Orthodox in the faith of the citizenry, the apartheid nature of Constantinople's political and social structure was troublesome. A troubling loose knife only dwarfed by the spilled gunpowder that was East Asia. Japan, Manchuria, Korea, and China was a situation that the Tsarina herself in more than one dispatch to both Putin and Medvedev espoused wishes to prepare for. But without major incident could seldom justify to the international community taking serious action against. Let alone the prospect of intervention in any hostilities.
Only time would tell...