[Almaty, Kazakhstan]
Vladimir Trotsky sat at the head of a table in the basement of a small house near the industrial region of the city of Almaty. Outside, the ground was frozen and snow fell from the sky. A dark grey sheet of clouds blanketed the sky, yet a narrow shaft of sunlight broke through the barrier, casting its radiance on the ice-covered ground. Around Trotsky were the other leaders of the underground North Germania Socialist Party (NGSP). Before its economic collapse and subsequent dissolution, the former North Germanian Reich was vast and stretched from Portugal, across Europe, and continued so far as to include portions of Russia and Central Asia. After the fall of the former fascist government, the Germanian people were scattered, disenfranchised, impoverished and starving. Comrade Trotsky realized that the Germanian people were still very relevant to the world stage, were completely unrepresented, yet held on to their spirit of tenacity and steadfastness. He saw the struggles of those around him, which mirrored his own, and made the decision to at least attempt to change the world around him and the fate of his people. Using the soviet model, Trotsky and his comrades successfully organized a proletarian movement in Almaty and applying the tenets of democratic socialism, established a system of soviets in Kazakhstan, combining the agricultural workers of the north and the industrial workers of the south into a political majority.
Now, the NGSP was poised and ready to strike at the heart of the state. The current government is weak and has only managed to keep its grip on the nation through its police force. Although there was no military presence like there was under the former Germanian dictatorship, the abundance of military goods and weapons left behind provided ample opportunity for not only the state, but for the people to pick up what was left behind and arm themselves. The new government of Kazakhstan did not have the material wealth and capability to produce the goods it needed and was in a vulnerable situation. Kazakhstan’s previous state of prosperity was due entirely to the enormous industrial sector created by Germanians from Germany, but was now existing under forced austerity by the semi-authoritarian government. Although they realized that a modicum of democracy was necessary to prevent an outright revolt in the first few years of its existence, the haphazardly assembled government did not have a planned economy, nor did it have a way to provide for its people. Due to the weakness of the government and the large wealth gap, crime and drug use rates skyrocketed with no feasible plan to fix the social problems faced by its people. The murder rate was one of the highest in the world and public education programs were virtually nonexistent. With roughly 70% of the population living in abject poverty and another 25% living right on the poverty line, it did not require much agitation to organize the people and educate them on the tenets of socialism and its potential for the whole world.
“Comrade Trotsky,” a young female comrade by the name of Rosa Ivanova said, “initial vote counts place Comrade Sawant in the lead. Her victory in the Almaty Parliament will finally secure for us the majority we need to implement collective ownership of the factories. However, the agricultural soviets to the north report increased police and military activity. The bourgeoisie may be aware their impending doom and are preparing for a fight.”
“Very well,” Trotsky replied, “please send word to all of the Soviets and inform them of the situation. However, I feel it is vital that they not begin any assault until--"
The door to the basement burst open and slammed against the wall. A young man rushed in, breathless.
“Comrades! The North Kaz Soviet has just sent word that their leadership has been arrested and executed by the capitalists! The police raided the headquarters just as their meeting was starting! Our comrades have begun a full assault on the police headquarters in Petropavlovsk and it is expected to be overrun within the hour! Anti-government riots have been reported there, Pavlodar, Oral, Kostanay, Atyrau, and Aktau!”
Without even realizing it had happened, Trotsky was on his feet and rushing out the door, followed by his comrades. Speaking anxiously and quickly as he flung his heavy coat on, he replied, “The revolution is happening now. Arm yourselves, comrades, and be prepared. We must be in the street with the rioters as a sign of solidarity. Let them have their revenge, but do not allow this fire to burn out of control. If we can harness the energy of the masses, we can emerge victorious. Comrade Ivanova,” he continued, “Get in touch with every single contact we have in the Kazakh Army and inform them of the situation. Promise all of them absolution of any past crimes if they defect now and join the revolution. We cannot win this without the support of the military. Inform our comrades in Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan that the revolution has begun. The appropriate protocol must be put into action immediately.”
The protocol Trotsky was referring to was a previously established agreement with comrades from the neighboring territories to provide weapons, revolutionaries, medical supplies, food, water and other basic necessities to the NGSP of Kazakhstan, as it had been agreed upon in advance that because of its higher level of industrialization and unrest, the majority of the revolutionary action would occur there and be of paramount importance.
Meanwhile, fires burned in the street and the drumming sound of automatic weapons echoed through the hills…
