Apocalypse: 1936 (PT/IC)

[Thakia]

Montevideo, Federal League
July 6th, 1936
President Batlle Address to the Nation after the attack to the town of Rivera

"Good evening, my fellow Countryman,

As you may know, we received bad news from the border today, when our brave soldiers were the only thing standing between the wild caudillos of former Brazil and the respectable city of Rivera. This is not the first or the last time such an incident occurs on oriental lands, because we find ourselves in a time of general madness in this world, where men turn against men and all hell breaks loose.

At moments like this terrible century, the values on which our nation was founded must be stronger today than ever. Despite the verbiage and the raised voices in our nation, the defence of justice and freedom for which we are currently campaigning is the truest reflection of those very values in our national ethos. This valiant struggle to secure these rights continues unabated, and I am proud to say during my presidency that I have helped in this just struggle as best I could.

In Moscow, Berlin and Washington there is nothing but chaos, the former powers were reduced to rubble thanks to their arrogance and disregard for human life, now they find themselves in the greatest crisis of recent times, and now the burden of protecting fundamental human values falls on the peoples of the new world

The values of justice, freedom of speech and choice that define our nation and to which we are fully committed are going to be protected by all necessary means, and there is nothing that this government will not do to defend the personal safety of every free man, woman and child.

As President, it is my duty and my obligation to lead our nation in securing that future. We will no longer stand idly by as these caudillos harass our honest men and women, rest assured that these criminals will not go unpunished by their barbaric acts.

Our league has shown the best sides of Latin America in its culture and democratic traditions, so in this hour of responsibility I can only ask you to help us work together to secure a better future.

Thank you, and goodnight.”

[Dahyan]

Vyatka, Vyatka Oblast

"That's far enough!" an grizzled middle-aged man armed with a Mosin-Nagant rifle shouted, as he and the platoon of men under his command held the train at gunpoint.

His eyes opened widely in a gaze when he saw Tukachevsky in the door opening, his uniform indicating his high rank in the Red Army and the USSR political establishment.

"Holy Virgin Mary!" he exclaimed. "A Bolshevik apparatchik so far East?" He spat on the ground.

"I should shoot you all in the name of the Provisional Government. But I do believe the Chairman would like a word with you all. And I would guess that is exactly why you came here, da?"

----

Nikolai Dimitrovich Avksentiev sat at his desk in the town hall of Vyatka. An elaborate cross and icon of the Madonna with child adorned the wall behind him, alongside a flag of the Provisional All-Russian Government and the banner of the Socialist-Revolutionary Party of old.

Avksentiev officially still held on to the title of Chairman of the Provisional All-Russian Government, although his rule has withered over the years to include little more than Vyatka Oblast proper. A far way down from the role he played back in 1918, back before Admiral Kolchak led a coup d'etat against him and established his own neo-tsarist autocracy. He was the undisputed leader of the anti-Bolshevik government in Siberia, for Christ's sake. And now he had to scrounge by to hold on to this province in Central Russia, fighting off both Reds as well as Tsarist reactionaries alike. It had been a brutal couple of years.

And now this. A Bolshevik Marshal in person just rolling into town. The USSR was stronger than it had ever been since the start of it all in 1917, and Avksentiev knew in his heart of hearts that the Red steamroller may well be unstoppable.

But that did not mean he would go out without a fight. Or at least without getting some good concessions out of it.

"Citizen Mikhail Tukachevsky. Welcome to my humble abode" he said with a grimace. "Please, be seated. And tell me what the hell you are doing in my town."

[Plzen]

Flensborg Line, Sønderjylland, German Empire

The Flensborg Line - so named for being drawn just south of the town of the same name - was a site of considerable tensions between NSRS and German forces.

After the German ultimatum and demonstration of their willingness to defend the Flensborg Line if pressed, all units assigned to peacekeeping in Region C were recalled back north of the line. Frankly, it was not in the interest of the NSRS to provoke any significant German resistance, and the deployment of German Army units to defend the Flensborg Line was already quite unexpected. While the Commonwealth certainly did intend to renegotiate its border with the German Reich in the very near future, its first priority was to peacekeep, and that objective would be served extremely poorly by imposing a military presence on a region that does not want them there.

Perhaps they are still suspicious of our intentions, Field Marshal Mannerheim, overall commander of the Commonwealth Army, considered. Or perhaps they are simply unwilling to accept any NSRS presence that they don’t have to.

In any case, with the odds of an early conclusion to the German Civil War looking rather poor, it was starting to become clear that the ad-hoc arrangement in Sønderjylland, with an improvised sharing of power between the NSRS military authority and the local kreis governments of the area, was not going to suffice. With the Civil War going from weeks to months, some kind of formal, provisional government would have to be established - and one could not be established without the cooperation of the German authorities.

Thus, a suggestion was made to Berlin, with the following key provisions, for the consideration of the German foreign ministry;

Section I. Provisional Council

1. That a new Provisional Council for South Jutland be assembled, consisting of two members appointed by the NSRS Southern Army, two members nominated by the German government in Berlin, two members nominated by the NSRS government in Copenhagen, one member nominated by the Danish-speaking community in Germany, one member nominated by the German-speaking community in northern Schleswig-Holstein, and one appointed by the Schleswig-Holstein branch of the SPD, in order to govern that area of the German Empire north of the Eider Line until the end of the current civil war within Germany,

2. That both the NSRS and the German Empire recognise the legitimacy of this Provisional Council to govern and administer the aforementioned area for this period, and place any civil service resources and any state-owned infrastructure or enterprises in the area at its disposal,

Section II. Military Presence

3. That the NSRS Southern Army and other forces authorised by this army continue to provide the military resources necessary to conduct peacekeeping in that area of the German Empire north of the Flensborg Line and defend it from any external interference and that both the NSRS and the German Empire cooperate towards the evacuation or disbandment of all other military units in this area,

4. That the German Empire recognise the non-involvement of the area north of the Flensborg Line in the present civil war and therefore take no action within this area that could be reasonably interpreted as using the resources of this area, including but not limited to its population, industry, and geographical location, in conducting this civil war and suppressing the rebel forces,

5. That, similarly, the German Imperial Army and other forces authorised by the same provide the military resources necessary to conduct peacekeeping in the area between the Flensborg Line and the Eider Line and defend it from any external influence,

Section III. Post-War Border Revisions

6. That, upon the end of the civil war in Germany and thus the end of the Provisional Council’s mandate, two plebiscite be held, one in the area between the current NSRS-German border and the Flensburg Line and one in the area between the Flensburg Line and the Eider Line, on whether the inhabitants of each area desire their area to remain a part of the German Empire or whether to be ceded to the NSRS, that any man or woman at or above twenty years of age that has resided within each area for more than five years in the period 1916-1936, unless they did so as an active member of any nation’s regular armed forces, be empowered to vote in the plebiscites,

7. That the national border between the NSRS and the German Empire be revised, if applicable, to reflect the local preferences expressed in the above-mentioned plebiscites as soon as possible, and

8. That regardless of the results of the above-mentioned plebiscites, the rights of the German minority in NSRS and the Danish and Frisian minorities in Germany to their respective autonomies, cultural expressions, and cross-border discourse continue to be recognised and protected.

Now, Copenhagen waited with baited breath the response from Berlin.

[Monsone]

Vyatka, Vyatka Oblast

Tukachevsky simply smiled at the middle-aged man and the other guards trying to stop the train. Their brashness was almost comical considering that only a few miles where enough men and artillery pieces to turn Vyatka into nothing but rubble. Either way, Tukachevsky decided to cooperate.

"Correct, now if you wouldn't mind I would like to speak with him as quickly as possible." Tukachevsky told the middle-aged man.

------

Tukachevsky could see that Avksentiev didn't particularly like him. But what was to be expected when a high ranking Soviet official showed up unexpectedly.

"Thank you for setting aside to to meet with me Mr. Avksentiev." Tukachevsky said as he took a seat. "As you may or may not have known, the provisional governments of Kolchak and Kerensky are long gone. Their lands became Soviet and now are under Soviet rule. Well, all save for Vyatka. Now Vyatka is a critically important province to the Soviet government, and as such, the central government would like it to join the USSR peacefully. So what are your demands?"



Astrakhan Province

The patrol halted and so did Blyukher's convoy. Blyukher then got out of the car and walked over to the dissmounting patrol. The patrol was wearing old pre-unification era Soviet uniforms that lacked the clasical peaked cap or the more recent gymnastyorka with room for personal ranks.

"Privyet!" Blyukher said to the patrol.

"Privyet." Replied one of the patrol members.

"I would imagine you know who I am." Blyukher told the patrol.

"Certainly." Replied another of the patrol members.

"So who is your commander?" Inquired Blyukher.

"I am. Starshina Georgy Gamzatov." The commander of the patrol said as he shook hands with Blyukher.

"Now would you be so kind as to take me to yourleader?" Blyukher asked the patrol.

"Centrainly. Though he may not agree with you or the motives that brought you here." Replied the Starshina.

"That should not be an issue." Blyukher smiled as he climbed back into the car.

The patrol then rode along side the convoy of cars down the highway towards Astrakhan, through the sweltering heat of the summer, and along the gently downward sloping plains of the Caspian Sea region.



Petrozavodsk, Karelia

It would not be a stretch to say Karelia was nearly Soviet. After all 70,000 Red Army troops guarded the White Sea Canal and the Krov Railway, and it was both of those infrastructure links that the USSR paid for the upkeep of. But the dominat symbol of Soviet power was the White Sea canal and it's administrative building in Medvezhyegorsk.

In Medvezhyegorsk as in many other cities in Karelia, there where Soviet garisons that served to protect the railway line and canal. And it was on August 1st that the Red Army passed down an order from Moscow to the citiznes of Karelia. The Karelian people had 48 hours to either join the USSR peacefully or be forced to join at gunpoint. To make the point abundantly clear, Soviet forces began to mass at the border with Karelia and Red Air Force planes began to fly hourly sorties over Karelian cities to just prove how vulnerable they where to bombings.

Stalin had set his eyes on expansion, now it was time to put the plans into action and expand.

[Plzen]

Warszawa, the Confederation

The Commonwealth Department of Foreign Affairs was nothing if not efficient.

The Soviet demands to stand down and surrender was picked off the Karelian Republic’s capital in Porajärvi by the Eastern Chapter of NSRS Security Bureau in Viipuri, reported to the government and the Department of Foreign Affairs in Copenhagen, and within three hours of the demand first being issued, before the government at Porajärvi even got an official missive out to Copenhagen, the Northern Ambassador to the Confederation of Three Nations was sitting in the Confederation’s Foreign Office demanding an audience with the Minister and, it at all possible, Chairman Rydz-Śmigły himself.

And no, it really couldn’t wait.

While negotiations with the Confederation over issues of common defence and a joint stance towards the affairs of what used to be the northwestern corner of the Russian Empire, considered earlier his year during the Baltic Crisis, had largely stalled - the USSR redirecting their attention eastwards and the NSRS not particularly inclined to provoke the bear - with the Russians directing their attention to the west again suddenly the interest in the stalled negotiations have been reignited.

The Commonwealth Ambassador was hoping for a joint guarantee of all the formerly Russian states along their frontiers - not just Karelia but also Kola, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Transcaucasia, and the small splinter states of Ruthenia and the north Caucasus. If the Confederation balked at the extensive treaty terms, then at least the three Baltic States. In addition, the ambassador hoped to establish a defensive alliance, aimed at countering potential Russian aggression as well as that of the German extremists - just in case the unthinkable happened and the moderate Berlin government lost their civil war. Westwards Russian expansion was a dangerous thing, and the NSRS was of the opinion was that by the time the tide rolled into Finland it would already be too late - best solve the problem before it grew to that point, when the cities being rolled over was still some distance from the North’s own shores.

Hopefully the Confederation agreed, and an agreement of some kind could be hammered out.

In any case, while East Karelia might not be salvageable even with Confederate support, let alone without, the grave threat posed by rampant Soviet expansionism was becoming increasingly clear to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Copenhagen. While the country’s diplomatic infrastructure further afield was too poor to arrange quick meetings with, the Confederation being the only country they could adequately consult the matter with in a matter of forty-eight hours, the necessity of turning their long-term diplomatic strategy towards Russian containment was beginning to force a reconsideration of the NSRS’ former aloof and only regionally-interested policy.

To that end, the day after the Soviets issued their East Karelian ultimatum, the NSRS finally appointed a full Ambassador to the CSR, giving them equal diplomatic recognition and status of relationship as the Commonwealth already had with the KMT’s Republic.

[Thakia]

Legislative Palace, Montevideo
Federal League

It was a sunny day in Montevideo, cars and horses roamed the streets in front of the palace, and the songs of Gardel could be heard from the bar across the street, President Batlle worked at his desk and went through the preparations for the coming invasion of Rio Grande do sul, the zone had been a nuisance to the League sice Brazil basically no longer existed, and it contained resources that would be crucial for the recovery of the industry of former Argentina.

Batlle had appointed Alfredo Campos as Chief Commander of the Uruguayan Armed Forces in the operation and Domingo Mercante as Chief Commander of the Armed Forces of Entre Rios. This request was approved by the High Command of both regions after some debates.

General Campos would march through Santana do Libramento to secure the most fragile part of the border with a garrison, and then advance along the railway line towards Cacequi to await the arrival of General Mercante. In the meantime, Mercante would march through Uruguayana and towards Entrocamento.

From there, Mercante's forces are to defend a perimeter around the railroads in the north, while Campos will take the relatively weak cities of Bague, Hervai, Pelotas and the coastal city of Rio Grande. In addition to both detachments, there will be an engineering company ready to repair any damage to the railways so that a continuous supply can be maintained.

Once the crucial areas along the border have been secured, the High Command will mobilize to integrate the occupied cities into the League, while most of the army prepares to push back the better prepared garrison of Porto Alegre and its warlords.

Batlle was still going through the last iteration of this so-called "Operacion Cruz del Sur" when suddenly a man storms into his office, Batlle inmediatly asked: "Whats is this all about?"

"Don Luis, a letter from Santa Fe has just arrived," the young men said. Hastily, Batlle stands up from his seat and receives the letter, barely able to hide his satisfaction: "Thank you, Joven, and now back to work," he says and dissmiles the messenger before he sits back up.

The content of the letter was an official communication from Lisandro de La Torre, the President of the self-proclaimed Republic of Santa Fe. Although the League had tried to approach him and his government, it had not yet succeeded in receiving a response.

In the letter, Lisandro welcomed the League's efforts to maintain some semblance of order in Southern Cone after the collapse and showed interest not only in trade relations with the League but also in hypothetical integration into its ranks.

Apparently the renewed assurances were an attempt to protect themselves from the "Argentine Government in Exile" that had been set up in Mendoza under an as yet unknown leader, Towards the end of the letter he advocated a meeting between both states in the city of Rosario on the edge of the league's borders.

Good news for a change: Batlle sat down relaxed on his chair and called for a coffee before the meeting with the generals, which was to take place in less than two hours.

[Strala]

The Red Star
Campaign to Suppress Bandits, warlords, and strongmen in Yunnan

Two months ago, the Chinese Soviet Republic declared it's control over the province of Yunnan. Ever since the rampant spread of the Spanish flu and the stock market crash of 1925, Yunnan had fallen into a state of anarchy with local bandits, warlords, and village strongmen taking control of whatever they could. Entire cities and villages were empty as survivors sought refugee in other provinces. The dead formed large mounds in the streets. Bandits and other scavengers looted these places, and the impoverished masses could do nothing to stop them.

The Chinese Soviet Republic has dedicated itself to ending the anarchy in the province. The 1st corp of the 5th Route Army totaling 50,000 men along with all 20,000 of former members of the CSR southern operations were sent to Yunnan to root out and end the bandits, warlords, and local strongmen. Just last week, the elements from 70th, 71st, and 69th rifle divisions managed to eradicate nearly 3000 bandits along with eight bandit strongholds. One of the local warlords was also captured last week and is currently held prisoner in an undisclosed location.

The local population, upon hearing this news broke out in celebration, with many villagers and city dwellers cheering whenever CSR soldiers pass by. However, many of these same people also ask those very same soldiers to treat the soldiers of local warlords and villages with some leniency. They talk about how many were conscripts and had no choice but to fight for the local warlord. The lieutenant general in charge of this operation, Wang Li Wei, has stated that he has every intention of letting conscripts to return home to their family and farms. People that willing joined bandit groups or warlord armies are to be punished harshly with the punishment chosen by the very people they have wronged.

It seems to have calmed down the local population, and with the release of his statement, desertion among warlord and bandit groups skyrocketed. Local villagers were encouraged to report to CSR officials as to who were conscripts and who willingly joined bandit groups or a local warlord's army.

Yunnan has a bright future ahead of it, but to reach it, first, we must deal with tumors that drag it down. Please report to a local CSR official today!

The Second Northern Expedition

Eight years ago, both the KMT and the CPC were united in the goal of defeating the warlords' that have long plagued China. This alliance resulted in the first united front and the creation of the National Revolutionary Army, which the current CSR's military is modeled after. Many of our top and senior officers in the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army were also officers and generals in the NRA.

The NRA, at the start of the northern expedition, had only 190 thousand men and were facing warlord armies that far outnumbered their own. However, it managed to defeat multiple warlords before being halted in Nanjing by the newly created National Pacification Army. The NPA formed by warlords that feared the growing strength and support of the United Front managed to win several crucial victories that saw the fortunes of the NRA be reserved. In months they managed to retake Hunan and Hubei Province. The Wuhan government during this time moved back to Guandong while the Nanjing government fell to the dastardly Sun Chuanfang. The CPC, with members of the Wuhan government who disagreed with Wang Jingwei's decision, retreated to Sichuan and Shaanxi and proclaimed the creation of the Chinese Soviet Republic.

Last month, just a day after the 10th anniversary of the Northern Expedition and three days after Chairman Mao's speech, the second Northern Expedition was launched. At the crack of Dawn, armored, cavalry, and motorized divisions or regiments of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Route Army drove into Shanxi, Ningxia, Henan, and Shangdong, catching the opposing forces off guard. The main attacking forces would arrive two days later, with artillery and air support. The battles during these attacks were relatively short and bloodless for the CSR as they possessed greater firepower and had more air support. Local warlord resistance to the CSR began to crumble in three weeks, with the collapse of each warlord state within the month. This event is also due to local support, mass desertion among the warlord armies, and CSR saboteurs and guerilla fighters causing logistical issues for the warlords. Two of the four warlords managed to escape to Manchuria, each with their army, which totaled 20,000. Currently, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Route Armies are about to capture Inner Mongolia and Hebei Province. The former Qing capital of Beijing is within sight for the 1st armored division and 1st through 5th rifle division of the 1st Route Army, as is Tianjin. The battles for Hebei, Beijing, and Tianjin will be harder than most. The Fengtian, unlike many warlord cliques, has a relatively well trained and armed army. While it is worse than the CSR's, it is nothing to laugh about since it is far superior compared to what most warlords have. The Fengtian also has the infrastructure and industry to support its soldiers, tanks, and airplanes.

To the South, the 4th Route Army has managed to occupy Jiangxi and Fujian after three weeks of fighting. The local peasantry and workers rose in rebellion when the 4th Route Army arrived. Small bands of CSR saboteurs and guerilla fighters roamed the countryside ambushing enemy convoys and took out enemy officers. It was during one of the larger attacks, with several CSR saboteur groups, around 400 men, managed to find where the local Jiangxi Warlord was located, and capture him. With that, his armies fell into disarray, which made it easier for the 4th army to defeat them. Fujian fell similarly, but instead of capturing its warlord, the band of resistance fighters managed to ambush his convoy, and during that skirmish, he was killed.

The 5th Route Army excluding the 1st Corp has been left behind in CSR controlled lands to help suppress former warlord army remnants that still roam across the country.

It will only be a matter of time before China is once again reunited under a single government, and when that day comes, it will be a day that will shake the world.

[New Sriker]

Several Places in Montana
July 8th , 1936
Operation Eagle’s Nest

The Sky was a nice blue color on the morning of July 8th, in a Phalanx camp in the woods the Hoplites were preparing to move out and raid a nearby small town, as they finished preparations, one of the men looked up to the sky. Dozens of US bombers and fighters lit the forest ablaze with the explosions of bombs and gunfire, hoplites ran for cover from the bombs but would be struck by gunfire from the fighters. The AA was destroyed by the bombs, so the hoplites had no way of fighting back. At the end of the air attack, the hoplites, losing most of their comrades sat in shock, but as they thought the attack was over, armored cars and US fighters swarmed the camp massacring those that hadn't died at the hands of the planes, hundreds of the hoplites lied dead, as Red Guard, National Guard, and FOI soldiers walked past their rotting bodies, still pushing to free Montana from the slavers.

“This Camp is cleared sir, those bombers crushed most of them, us and the cars killed those that were left.” A Red Guard reported through a radio.

“Good, we only got about one more camp to clear out and Livingston, then our work is done and we can rest.” stated Captain Ezekiel Falk. Ezekiel radioed his forces outside of Livingston.

“The camp north of Livingston was wiped out, tell the men to get ready to assault Livingston, You’ll attack a Nine, be careful, those bastards are tricky.” said Ezekiel.

The officer put down the radio and ran towards one of the squads waiting to attack Livingston, he then told them the orders and then ran around the US forces established frontline giving the order to attack to all of the soldiers.
The Battle started when the armored cars began their advancement, the cars gunned down the defenders of Livingston at the east side, the hoplites had no counter to the cars. Once the cars pushed into the city, the infantry swarmed the first few buildings they encountered, some of the buildings still having hoplites inside, close quarters combat broke out and in almost every building in the eastern side of Livingston there was a hand to hand fight between a hoplite and any one if the US forces. After about an hour of clearing out the east side, the US forces began to prepare to move out and clear the rest of the town. The Combined might and numbers of the US forces allowed them to push out of the easern side of town and allowed them to continue their attack on Livingston, most of the town fell pretty quickly thanks to the numbers and fire power of the US forces and the armored car support.

Only one holdout remained after about 3 hours of fighting, it was the town hall, the Phalanx forces had heavily fortified it and set up around two MG nests. The hall was the hardest location to take in town, since not only were there MG nests. The officers of all three groups attacking debated about how they should attack the hall, and after about ten minutes they decided to use the cars to push up to the stairs of the hall then make the infantry charge in and clear out the building. The cars pushed up clearing out most of the Phalanx infantry holding the outside of the hall and taking out a few of those inside, the Infantry then began their charge, at first they pushed through the doorway and managed to gain a foothold in the building, then the slowly began clearing out the hall, on the first floor, most of the rooms either had very few hoplites or traps of a sort, once they cleared the first floor they began to take the second. As the first few US forces raced up the stairs they were gunned down, the hoplites had set up an MG position right a the doorway to the second floor, After a few minutes of exchanged fire between both sides, an African Legionnaire threw several grenades into the doorway managing to kill the hoplite on the MG. After that the US forces charged into the second floor killing almost all of the remaining defenders. After the Battle, the Bozeman forces established contact with the Western push, and with that gave the news of how in Butte the around a thousand of Phalanx slaves massacred their masters in the middle of the night. Contact with the National Guard in Helena was established by Red Guard forces and shortly after the new frontline was fortified.

Ezekiel sat in the war room in Billings and turned to Law.

“We lost 700 Red Guard,about 400 National Guard, and 340 FOI, but we killed about 800 hoplites when we attacked the camp and 2,000 on our attack on Livingston. We have 400 POWs and managed to free about 1,500 slaves, 500 from Livingston, the rest from Butte. We lost many but we sent more of those slavers to hell, in the east our boys encountered only a few small squads of Phalanx hoplites, Glendive was ransacked before we got there but Wilbaux is alright, I’m going to radio Patton soon, hopefully he has some more good news for us.” Ezekiel said as he sat down on his chair and checked the war map.

[Kenobot]

Admiralty House
Singapore, British Forces Far East Command

As Rule Britannia rang out across the grounds of Admiralty House, The Third Sea Lord Admiral Frederick Tudor stood at attention to receive his two subordinates in the junta which had controlled British possessions in the Far East for the last decade, Lieutenant General Sir Henry Pownall and Air Chief Marshal Robert Brooke-Popham. The three were gathering at Admiralty House to discuss the situation in the Far East, with particular attention given to Japan and China; the only potential rival powers in the region. Welcoming his colleagues in, Admiral Tudor began with an overview of the situation back in the Home Isles; the Reds seemed on the verge of victory over His Majesty's Government and we can expect no reinforcements from now on. We are on our own. This eventuality had long been prepared for by the junta over the last 10 years, but such preparations were not yet complete. Industrial capacity was still too low to supply our forces and we didn't have access to enough natural resources. What preparations were complete though, were the expansion of the naval dockyards in Singapore and new air bases in Sri Lanka, Fiji and Hong Kong.

"Well at least the Navy and Air Force have been prepared for this." Said Lieutenant General Pownall, "Ammunition is our greatest problem in the Army; we just simply don't have enough."

"Yes indeed and we are working on that," replied Admiral Tudor, "The War Office has estimated that our needs will be met by the end of the year and from there a surplus and upgrades can begin"

"What worries me though is the reds and nationalists on our doorstep," added Air Chief Marshal Brooke-Popham, "If the Reds or the Nationalists reunite China, we may have some serious issues on our hands in Hong Kong. If we lose the Pearl of the Orient; what's the point of the Gibraltar of the East!"

"I certainly share these sentiments," responded Admiral Tudor, "But we may have an old ally able to assist us in this endeavour. What it will take for them to help us is another question however, but I shall inquire with our Ambassador to see what we cannot achieve."

Your Imperial Majesty, Emperor Hirohito:
Our two great empires have suffered immensely over the past two decades and dreams of expansion have come to naught. To compound on these humiliations, reds control large parts of China and seek to reinstate their historical 'Mandate of Heaven' under a new name.
Despite these disasters, there is a spark of hope that lies in a renewed friendship between the British Forces in the Far East and the Japanese Empire. We would propose that a detachment of our forces are sent to assist you in retaking the Home Islands from rebel control. In return, we would ask that you pledge to assist us if we found ourselves under attack and we the same to you.
We look forward to your response,

Third Sea Lord Admiral Frederick Tudor

---

Meanwhile aboard HMS Revenge
With the mounted troops of the 2nd Army set to be rotated out of Hong Kong to be replaced by the 1st Army's Gurkhas, Sappers and Miners and Light Cavalry, the HMS Revenge prepared to set sail from Singapore Harbour to escort the new troops to Hong Kong.
This new rotation were to enhance the fortifications of the New Territories of Hong Kong with tunnels, mines and gun emplacements. As the Light Cavalry loaded up in their troopships, something of a novelty was being loaded up with them; 50 of the new Universal Carrier Wasp variants.
It was expected that these new armoured vehicles would strike fear into any attacker.

[Thakia]

Uruguayana, Rio Grande do Sul
August 3, 1936

"This is it, boys, we're crossing the river now. You know what to do," Peron said as he and his men advanced through the dark water, so that the caudillos in the town did not know what was going on until it was too late. The invasion was to serve as an example for the outlaws of the border: "If you attack us, we will strike back". Colonel Peron had received orders from General Mercante to go in with 450 men and secure the city of Uruguayana.

The oriental soldiers stormed into the city in the middle of the night. When they opened the offensive with artillery guns, the vision of the men from the river appeared, promptly followed by explosions and gunfire that disordered the inexperienced defenders of the river.

The High Command had sent the AFP Rosario to the Uruguay River to assist them in the invasion. The ship fired its batteries at the coast of the city, forcing the defence forces to retreat and diverting their attention from the main invading force led by Peron, which was advancing from the east.

The Brazilian cities along the river had long been depopulated, the people living there fled either to the other side of the river or to the most populated parts of Brazil, in these cities there were only looters and small mercenary troops.

Peron's forces advanced under light fire from bandits hiding in the buildings and from there marched into the actual city, there the weak organization of the enemy forces collapsed completely when they entrenched themselves in the buildings or fled directly inland.

The advance was slow, the men had to be careful as they did not knew where the next enemy would be, every corner could be a trap and every square a battlefield, the High Command needed the town in one piece to use it as headquarters on the other side of the river, so the use of artillery was limited to non-essential infrastructure and the coastal areas.

After an hour of fighting, the last defenders of the border town began to surrender and the troops marched into the town centre, the town hall and the church were the first to be taken, not much remained of these places, and the resistance had since dwindled.

The oriental troops marched with relative ease through the rest of the city, later it would be confirmed that the army only had 8 dead and 10 wounded, General Mercante arrived in the city later that day to inspect the aftermath, The oriental army had established a headquarters in the church of the city.

Mercante walked around his office, there was now no turning back for the league, they had invaded the former Brazil for the first time in decades, through the windows he could only see burnt or looted buildings, a product of the savages in Porto Alagre, who allowed these degenerates to move freely.

he took a cigarette and sat near the church window when his men turned the city into a stronghold for the League, the few civilians still living in the city were taken to the town hall, they were given temporary quarters until the time of reconstruction actually came.

Mercante could only hope that his Uruguayan counterpart in Rivera was doing fine. The gauchos there were better organized and more numerous, now he could only wait for the garrisons to reach Uruguayana and then send Peron on his way.

[Union Princes]

July 8th, 1936
Patton's Push to Malta

While the Reds were advancing west, General Conner's Minutemen were moving north in a grand coordination effort to form a pincer movement on the Phalanx. It was plan to split their control of Montana in two. While fighting was fierce for the NRA and NOI, Minutemen engaged in combat that was sparse and more akin to Western gun duels as Patton's cavalry played cat-and-mouse with Phalanx cavalry over the hills and plains between Grass Range and Malta while General Conner's infantry rode on the GMCs like garrisoned wagon trains. Resistence in Roundup and Grass Range were rather minimal given their small town size. Patton had made good use of his cavalry by surrounding the towns to intimidate the local garrisons into surrendering.

Given the distance between Malta and Grass Range, General Conner had to make a decision to let Patton take his cavalry and ride towards Malta aggressively or force him to exercise caution and have the cavalry continue to screen the flanks of the motoized convoy. Given how easy it is to hide in the rough terrain, General Conner chose the latter. Slowly but surely, the Minutemen's advance crept along the main road to Malta careful of ambushes from partisans. Nightfall would be difficult as the army would find itself miles away from the closest center of civilization. As such, like the wagon trains 100 years ago, the Minutemen would set up a camp using their trucks as a wall protection against night attacks.

[Wasi State]

Montana
Coalition Front
July-August Report

The Iron Phalanx's front seemed to scattered heavily from the immense pressure contributing from the combined and coordinated offensives unleashed by the coalition front of Longist, Federal, PRA, and FOI troops working together to forcibly remove the foreign invaders from the state of Montana at all costs. It wasn't a cakewalk of course, loses were taken in a substantial number on both sides of the conflict. Of course Eisenhower couldn't be expected to push his men any less than they already were, he actually couldn't afford to be anymore lenient with them, the costs for any further delay was far too great to not be able to ensure total victory over the Spartanists.

By July they had been able to secure half the state, with Eisenhower's divisions linking up with the Longist Minutemen finally in Roundup and Grass Range. A final confrontation was seemingly ahead at Great Falls nearing the end of August, where the Spartanists had put the bulk of their forces after following a general regrouping of their units from the rather unexpected counter-offensives from the Coalition.

The final battle of sorts was readily ahead for the factions involved, one that will decide the fate of Montana by the 1936 Election and the Spartanists who reside and wrought their terror throughout Canada and the American Northwest.

---

Kuomintang, Guangzhou
Wang Jingwei

Wang couldn't believe the substantial amount of progress the CSR has managed to make with their Second Northern Expedition in the past recent months. It almost seemed too good to be true for his constituents, they had just been outdone in their own efforts immensely to reunify the country by their own standards. And for the likes for the military faction-leader, Chiang Kai Shek, it really was too good to be true!

"I want a goddamn equal amount of that land, Wang, those goddamned commies had just taken over half the country at this rate! Land that you helped gotten them!" Chiang argued heavily with the Primer, being very displeased with his rather passive nature so far for Mao.

"Chiang you need to calm yourself! It'll all work in our favor shortly, I can assure you." Wang tried in vein to reassure him, but he obviously wasn't fooling anyone at this rate.

"Like hell it will! Are you on our side or his? Should I remind you that you're only in your position right now because of me? I am the Kuomintang, Wang. Your leadership will live or die because of me. I advise you to not fail me yet again, do you understand? You will get me more Republican Chinese Land very shortly or else..." Chiang forebode, not being particularly subtle with his threats any longer to the Primer.

Knowing he had not choice but to to oblige by Chiang's command, Wang sent the CSR a telegram.

To the Honored Chairman of the Communist Party

Due to your recent successes in the Second Northern Expedition, I humbly request a switch of control to a series of provinces bordering preexisting KMT controlled territory within fair reason in order ensure the longevity of stabled stability between our two factions in the immediate future. Control that has been brought through contribution from Republican Chinese forces to the aid of the CSR. I highly wish that you are able to hear us on this highly important request.

Premier of the Republic of China,
Wang Jingwei

[Monsone]

Astrakhan, Astrakhan

As the convoy of GAZ-As entered Astrakhan, Blyukher was shocked by how little had changed. The city was practically the saome as it had been under Soviet rule, and even portraits of Stalin weren't that uncommon. Soon the convoy stopped at the Astrakhan Kremlin, there Blyukher got out and was led into the Kremlin and promptly shown to a small room where he was to await an audience.

The room was a simple office with a desk, some maps, dustry portraits of both Lenin and Stalin, some protraits of the Imperial Russian Army and of course, a few empty bottles of Stolichnaya vodka along with a shot glass and two plates littered with the remains of assorted Zakuski dishes. After observing the room briefly, a familiary figure entered the room.

"I was expecting you Vasily Konstantinovich." Remarked Nikolay Rattel---the former commander, and now leader of Astrakhan---as he took a seat across from Blyukher.

"I was expcecting you to have rejoined the USSR, Rattel." Blyukher stated as the two men cordially shook hands.

"Can I get you a drink?" Rattel asked Bluykher.

"Anything cold would be perfect." Blyukher replied.

"So what brings you to Astrakhan? Official buisness I assume." Rattel stated as a bottle of Vodka was brought to the table.

"Yes, official buisness if you could call it that. It's more like a grand loop of the Caucasus." Blyukher remarked as the two men grabbed shot glasses and Rattel propossed a toast.

"To life and freedom!" Rattel stated.

"And to peace and an end to this bloody war!" Blyukher chimed in before the two of them downed their Vodka.

"Ah, perfectly cold." Rattel chuckled.

"True." Blyukher interjected.

"So this buisness. I assume this is Stalin and his damn expansionisim again." Rattel stated as he rolled his eyes.

"Exactly. But this time it's personal. He wants the Caucasus to be Soviet by January 1st 1937. And not just the Northern Caucasus, the whole Caucasus." Blyukher explained to Rattel.

"I see." Rattel said somberly. "But I am hesitant at best to join the USSR again in it's bloody combat."

"It's not really a choice Rattel. You know better than me that Stalin is going to be furious is you don't join peacefully." Blyukher warned.

"And what is in it for me if I join? I need an incentive Vasily." Rattel stated as he stared Blyukher in the eyes.

"How about getting promoted to Marshal of the USSR?" Blyukher suggested.

"Do you have the authority to do that?" Rattel asked sarcastically.

"No I don't." Blyukher responded quite seriously and the added on: "But I can put the good word in for you, and the Red Army is due for expansion."

"Ah I see, it's only a possibility. Blyukher, give me a a real reason why to join the USSR once again. Give my people a reason to join the USSR once again." Rattel stated firmly with a bit of irritation in his voice.

"How about you and all your men receive the Hero of the Revolution and all of you are given clemency. Additionaly, I would work to make sure you're promoted to Marshal of the USSR." Blyukher suggested.

"Still sounds like you're overreaching your authority." Rattel smiled maliciously.

"Oh Rattel, if you knew what awaited you if you rejoined." Blyukher chuckled.

"An execution does Vasily. Didn't you learn from what happened to Kolchak and Kerensky?" Rattel asked with concern.

"What are you talking about Rattel? They're both alive and well. In fact the only high ranking official to die during or because of the coup was Genrikh Yagoda, and that was at the hand's of Kerensky's men." Blyukher shot back in confussion.

"Do you realy beleive what the government tells you Vasily?" Rattel asked angrily.

"Not always!" Blyukher shouted. "But when I just had lunch with Kolchak a week ago and I saw Kerensky two weeks agon, it's tantilizing evidence they are alive!"

"And couldn't they have been executed in the last few days since you last saw them?" Rattel inquired tensly as Blyukher turned red with frustration.

"If they had been executed, I would not be here right now." Blyukher said as calmly as he could.

"Then it's settled. I'll join the USSR if you make good on your part of the deal." Rattel said as Blyukher breathed a sigh of relief.

"Should we toast is with vodka?" Blyukher asked.

"The bottle is a bit warm." Rattel remarked.

"That's no problem." Blyukher smiled as Rattel filled both shot glasses back up.

"To the USSR!" Rattel toasted.

"And to Stalin!" Blyukher added in as the two of them drank their shots.

"So now what?" Rattel asked.

"Raise the Soviet flag, and allow Soviet troops to move in peacefully." Blyukher replied as he got ready to leave.

"And what about you?" Rattel inquired.

"I'm off to Kalmykia. Do you happen to know the local warlord?" Was Blyukher's response.

"Very well in fact." Stated Rattel.

"Maybe you should come with me then." Blyukher told Rattel.

"Are you serious?" He asked.

"Dead serious." Blyukher responded.



Danzig/Gdansk

An Aeroflot DC-2 came in low over the Baltic Sea. The plane was in the tasteful palate of all silver accented with blue cheatlines and in prominent black letter's the aircraft's registration. Inside the plane was a Soviet delegation headed by Maxim Litvinov himself. All fourteen seats of the plane where taken, but the delegation itself took up only seven, with the other seven carrying security personel and even two mechanics for the plane.

The coastline of Poland had come into viewand constrasted with the almost silvery looking Baltic Sea. And the city of Danzig was in view. The plane began to descend as the airport for Danzig came into view. And soon the plane had touched down at Danzig's airport. As the propeller's on the plane began to slow down, Polish troops stared at the plane in confusion. A Soviet plane was a rarity outside the USSR. And once the door of the plane opened and Litvinov had stepped out, it was clear something was up.

[Dahyan]

Vyatka, Vyatka Oblast

"Yes, we have all heard of this little... theatre that Stalin has played with Kolchak and Kerensky," Nikolai Avksentiev said with a grimace. Taking a sip of his tea, he kept his eyes fixed umovingly on Tukachevsky.

"Don't get me wrong. I have no issues with putting Kolchak in his place for the shenanigans he has been pulling across Russia for the past decades. In fact, I'm slighly disappointed to hear that you didn't just let the NKVD deal with him as you have with so many of his ilk. But I suppose I can look past that unfortunate fact since you showed the same courtesy to Kerensky. A man whom, as you know, I supported as member of the Committee for the Salvation of the Homeland and the Revolution back in 1917."

Sighing deeply, he continued after a few moments.

"Look, Mikhail. I'm no fool. I know as well as anyone that the fact that you're here means that the Red Army isn't far behind. And I know that I'm far from the Chairman of the Provisional All-Russian Government that I once was. I've got Tsarists breathing down my neck left and right, thugs and bandits plundering our towns from the east every now and then, and now you lot close by. But what I also have is a dedicated group of tough sons of Russia who will fight tooth and nail if I tell them to. We've held this town for over a decade, so don't underestimate that we know what we're doing.

So here are our demands. First and foremost: a complete and total pardon and amnesty for myself, my troops, all citizens under my command and the entirety of the political structure that I've kept in place around here for this long. I've been locked up by Bolsheviks in the Peter and Paul Fortress in my Committee days back in Petrograd. That suffices for me.

Secondly: I will remain in command of the city and oblast of Vyatka, and will appoint whatever advisors I see fit from among those close to me. Obviously, we will accept the official oversight and nominal suzerainty of Moscow, and will allow Bolshevik commissars accordingly. But factual power will remain in my hands.

And thirdly: the Socialist Revolutionary Party will be allowed to continue to legally exist and operate in Vyatka oblast, and will continue in perpetuity to participate in free and fair elections for the rule over the territory."

Affixing the small banner of the Provisial Government that was standing on his desk, Avksentiev concluded after a few seconds of silence.

"These are our demands. What say you?"

[Dahyan]

Formation of the Alliance for the Liberation of New Afrika

The allied forces of the Nation of Islam (NOI), the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA-ACL), and the National Negro Congress (NNC) have agreed to form an official joint coalition called the Alliance for the Liberation of New Afrika (ALNA).

This was announced in a joint meeting between Supreme Minister Elijah Muhammad, the Right Honourable Marcus Garvey and Executive Secretary John Davis. The three leaders collectively signed an official document forming the Alliance and proclaimed its formation in a press conference held in Washington DC on August 1, 1936.

The Alliance for the Liberation of New Afrika is a collaborative union between the three member organisations, dedicated to the formation of the Republic of New Afrika on American soil. The movements composing ALNA will still continue to operate as independent organisations, however. The leaders of the NOI, UNIA-ACL and the NNC have agreed to hold joint coordination meetings on a monthly basis in order to strengthen the bond between the movements and ensure the strength and unity of the Alliance.

The New Afrikan tricolour, a banner composed of the colours of the Black liberation movement: red, black and green, has been approved as the official flag of the ALNA, and is set to be flown alongside the banners of the three member organisations at rallies and protests.

[New Sriker]

New York City, New York
September 6th, 1936
Old Friends

Butler walked into his office followed by two guests, one an old war buddy, Lieutenant General John Lejeune who was the Marine Commandant in the past and a friend of Butlers, and Major General John Russell, the Commandant of the Marines and a follower of Butlers. Each man having a large influence in the Marines,The guests sat down and Butler poured drinks for all three of the men.

“I like the office Smedley, it suits you well.” Said Lejeune.

“Well, it’s not much but it’s what I thought would look good, but let's move on to more important matters. Do either of you have anything to report?” Asked Butler.

“Carlson was sent to China alongside a Battalion of Revolutionary Marines and a few gifts for our Chinese Comrades. He’ll be in Shanghai by the 10th and assist the Chinese military with other matters as well. In other news, our stockpiles in Philadelphia, Chicago, and Pittsburgh are full, we’ll need to relocate some of the weaponry to other Armories, we could see if Detroit is available to take some or we could check Boston, but Boston’s will most likely not be able to take too much.” Reported Lejeune.

“In the means of the Marines, I've managed to gather the support of a few of my colleagues in the Corps, in case of conflict, you and the PRA will have the support of around 60% percent of the Marine Corps, but that may change depending on how loyal my colleagues are to the cause. Hopefully the guns get to the locations without feds interfering with them.” Reported Russel. Butler looked at the two mens reports and gave them a quick read, he then took a drag of his cigarette

“Good, now we only got two months until this election, we seem to be ready. If anything changes, report it to me, but if that’s it, this meeting is over, I will see you two in a week.” Butler stated. He then gave the two men handshakes as they walked out of his office

Shanghai, Chinese Soviet Republic
September 10th, 1936
Good Ol’ Shanghai

Carlson exited the boat, with him were a Battalion of Revolutionary Marines, Marine Corps veterans who pledged their skills to the PRA, and a few crates. Carlson and his men walked on the port, carrying the crates , all around them were Chinese and Mexican troops, all of them were shocked at the group of around 800 Americans with M1 Garands and Thompsons. A Chinese officer ran up to Carlson and began interrogating Carlson.

“Stop, what is your business here?” Asked the Officer in Mandarin. Carlson looked at the Officer, then pulled a letter out of his jacket and handed it to the Officer.

“Sorry if my Mandarin is poor, these men and I were sent here to assist the Chinese revolutionary cause, the crates have a few gifts from the People’s Red Army.” Carlson said in Mandarin. The note had a list of the “gifts” the PRA had sent in Mandarin, It was around 2,000 American guns, including Thompsons, Springfields, and Trench Sweepers. The Officer read the note then escorted Carlson and his Battalion to their temporary residence.

[Monsone]

Vyatka, Vyatka Oblast

Tukachevsky's lips curled as Avksentiev stated out his demands. While Tukachevsky didn't want to loose his chance to take Kirov peacefully, the demands seemed a bit too...liberal. However this feeling was hidden under Tukachevsky's stoic face. And once Avksentiev was done with his long list of demands, Tukachevsky spoke his mind.

"Nikolai, let be very clear here. Your assumption is correct, the Red Army is not far from here. So there are two ways to the solution, the peaceful one, and the one where Vyatka get's obliterated. And I believe you have chosen the peaceful path. But let me make it very clear what the demands will be if you still wish to issue your demands." Tukachevsky said in a midly menacing tone before stating his demands and what concessions he could make.

"You and all the citizens of Vyatka Oblast will receive amnesty, and you will be allowed to remain in control of Vyatka and it's oblast. Further more the Socialist Revolutionary Party will be allowed to fuction in not just Vyatka, but in the whole USSR with the provision to even elect members to the Supreme Soviet if they run as independents." Stated Tukachevsky as he then listed the caveat to the deal. "But as one final favor, you will help the USSR gain more territory in Siberia and Central. You will serve as a mediator between the factions in Siberia and Central Asia. These services would be in addition to running Vyatka. However, you will receive a Mercedes-Benz W07 limousine and a government dacha as compensation for your services."

"Do you agree to these terms?" Tukachevsky asked as he finished talking.



Moscow

Preparations for the celebration of the 19th anniversary of the October Revolution where underway. On Red Square, giant posters where being erected and the city was being beautified before the giant celebrations. It was planned that the celebratiosn would even be broadcast on TV, by default making it the first live broadcast in the USSR of a major even on TV. Meanwhile, there where plans to roll out new products to show the general public like a series of Limonads (sodas) produced using equiptment aquired in Germany, the first production sets of televisions, new smaller and cheaper radios, as well as other goods to show the "good life" had finally reached the USSR.

But inclement weather was hampering these preparations. Cold winds, heavy rain, and other pre-winter weather was affecting the preparations. Yet day and night laborers toiled slowly but surely to acheive their demanded goals. And all the time, they where watched by Stalin from his office with great intent.

[New Sriker]

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
September 13th, 1936
The September Tour

Butler sat in the back of his car, inside with him were three bodyguards, and behind the car he was in was another vehicle with another four security staff.

“Sir, we’re about to pull up to the Parade, do you need anything before we arrive, we could stop by a gas station if needed.” Asked the driver.

“No need comrade, I’m good, this tour has been a good one so far. Did you see all the happy folks in Cleveland, or all the proud workers in Chicago, the happiness on their faces is the only thing I need to drive me farther, because to keep them happy we must change America for the Better.” Stated Butler.

The Driver and the other guards laughed at Butler's remark.

“I can tell why you’re the Chairman sir, your way with words can make anybody crack a smile, get ready we’re only a block away now.” Said the driver.

Butler and his Guards had been on a campaign tour for 4 days, they had visited Cleveland, gathering a large number of NRP supporters from not only the state but also from neighboring Michigan. The two rallies in Illinois were massive, with almost every worker in Chicago going to the first Rally, the second one was accompanied by a march by the Local PRA forces. This one was guaranteed to be the largest, since it was held in Philadelphia, home of the PRA.

The two cars pulled into a parking lot, the passengers then exited the vehicles, The seven guards formed a VIP diamond around Butler and escorted Butler to meet the Parade organizers. Butler and his Guards reached a tent set up in a local park and walked inside. Butler was met by an older gray haired man and a young blond haired woman.

“ Father Look, it’s him, it’s the Chairman!” The young woman said in an excited tone.

“Welcome, welcome Chairman, the preparations for the parade are almost finished, all we have to do is get you and your guards on your float and then we’re ready.” The old man told Butler.

“That sounds great Comrade, my men and I will follow you to the float then we will start the show.” Butler said to the old man. The old man then took Butler and his guards to their float and put them where they were to stand, Butler’s float had a large red fist made of roses and several red and black flags flying, Butler’s guards marched along the float as it moved down the streets of downtown Philadelphia. With the float was a band playing the Internationale, a few groups of marchers waving flags and some bearing firearms, and finally behind all of the other groups were the 1st Red Guard, or also known as “Butler’s Bastards”, the Red Guard marched in front of their armored cars, holding Banners, guns, and flags.

As the Parade made its way to the rally, almost the whole city of Philadelphia was out on the streets watching the parade, camera crews recorded the Parade and broadcasted it across America. After an hour the Parade had stopped after reaching the Town Hall, where the rally started. Butler got off of his float and walked onto the stage and cleared his throat.

Butler speaks to the workers of Philadelphia

Hello my comrades of Philadelphia, today I'm here to tell you of a day that we prove to be hard for all of us, that day is November third. On that day, the rich men, the fascists, and the Longists will try to silence the worker, but that will not happen for on that day the worker will triumph, for the worker has the New Revolutionary Party to vote for. No longer will you have to pick which rich man will exploit you based on red or blue, now you have a party who fights for one cause, the Liberation of the American worker, for the American worker is mistreated and manipulated by the rich into nothing more than cogs in a dying machine. Now the American worker will have a party that will stand by them no matter what, that will fight for their rights no matter what, a party that will, no matter your race, creed, or sex fight for you, for we are the New Revolutionary Party, and we will fight for you this November and years, decades, and centuries after. For we are the party of one, and that one is the spirit of the American worker!” Roared Butler as he held the mic. The massive group clapped and cheered at Butler’s speech, the crimson and black flags were waved in the air as many people celebrated. Butler with his guards walked into the crowd, giving handshakes to any that wanted them. After they walked through the crowd, Butler and his guards got in their cars, then started the drive back to New York

“Chairman sir, that was one hell of a speech you gave, hell I could barely stand still without cheering you on, Sir.” Said the driver.

“Well then, that’s great news. I hope the rest of the crowd felt the same, once we get back to New York, how about you three get some rest, I'll be good once we get there.” Butler Said.

“Thank you, Sir!” Said all three of Butler's guards. Butler then pulled out a cigarette and thought about what would happen in two months.

[Strala]

The Red Star
The Fall of Beijing
It had been over a month since the 18th Rifle Division had encircled Beijing, with more and more enemy deserters fleeing to their trenches each day. Yesterday, several reports read aloud to ordinary soldiers, which stated that Beijing and Tianjin would fall soon and that nearly 3,000 defenders had deserted last night. Loud and enthusiastic cheers broke out among the ranks that day. Many of them, including himself, were dedicated Communists, who had joined and fought for the CPC ever since the first Northern Expedition. The Beiyang government, after the death of Yuan Shikai, had fragmented into multiple warring Cliques. Now only one remained the Fengtian Clique, which many consider the most dangerous warlord faction in all of China. Before the collapse of the Russian and Japanese Empires, they had received aid, money, and weapons from both. The Fengtian was the first to bring tanks to China, and they were also the main force behind the NPA.

Now trapped within the city of Beijing, and if the reports were to be trusted Tianjin, were hundred of tens to maybe even hundreds of thousands of Fengtian and assorted Warlord soldiers. Although this is a small loss in manpower for the Fengtian, it would be a disastrous loss in Prestige as they failed to protect the capital of China and the internationally recognized Beiyang Government.

At 11:00, the artillery from the 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 35th, and 39th divisions opened fire on the last remaining pocket of resistance, with the heavy artillery of the 1st and 9th corp supporting them. It was no doubt a demoralizing sight for the defenders as explosive shells detonated all around them. One of the prisoners I would interview later that day stated as if the very gods themselves were feeling vengeful today. By 1 p.m, the shelling had stopped, and all across the line, CSR troops were preparing for the final assault. Bayonets were gleaming under the sun, and the engines of CSR tanks were revving in the background. At 1:15, the sound for the assault began, and the first to appear were the mighty tanks of the CSR. Behind them were brave soldiers of the CSR who up to this point have been sitting in reserve. Since the KMT high command was independent, they had attacked the city multiple times, each time they were repulsed after taking heavy casualties. The survivors are currently sitting in reserve plugging in any holes that appeared within the CSR encirclement of the city. By 3:00, the last of the Fengtian soldiers had either been captured or surrendered. The CSR flag flew over the city of Beijing for the first time. Alongside it was the flag of the NRA and the KMT, with many veterans of the first northern expedition placing NRA flags alongside any CSR flags they could find.

Later that night, while the soldiers were already celebrating within the city of Beijing, news came in that Tianjin had fallen just two hours after the fall of Beijing. The celebrating soldiers began to create an uproar that woke up many of the city's remaining residents. I, too, began to shout and cry in exuberance. It makes me wonder how the troops along the frontline of the Northern theater reacted to this news. Did they celebrate as we did, or were they too busy or too tired from fighting to care that much? I knew that night that the future of the CSR and China was safe and bright. There would be nothing that would ever threaten us again. The Fengtian had lost two important cities, and almost every province outside of Manchuria itself had fallen to CSR control.

When I woke up the next morning, I was treated to the sight of a destroyed and ruined city. What had once been no doubt a grand and ancient city was now mainly reduced to rubble. The Forbidden Palace and many of the city's historical sights thankfully were still intact. If only the Fengtian weren't so stubborn, then maybe this priceless city would have been spared from the damage it received.

Add-on: With the fall of Beijing, the CSR has begun to dig in and wait for a potential Fengtian counter-attack. The newly raised 7th and 8th army totaling 600,000 soldiers had been sent to reinforce the 1st and 2nd Route Armies. The Third and much of the armored support, and air support have been shifted south to counter Yunnan bandits and the remnants of warlord armies in Jiangxi and Fujian. The high command decided this due to the Fengtian having lost the vast majority of their armored and air support during the Hebei subjugation campaign. According to CSR sources, most of these losses occurred during, before, and after the battle of Beijing.

To the Honored Priemer of the KMT, Wang Jingwei

Comrade Wang, it is too soon to redistribute the land. The Fengtian have yet to been defeated, and we still need to defeat the remainder of the warlord armies in the Region. If you want, I would encourage you to send KMT soldiers to help speed up this process.

From,
Chairman of the CPC, Mao Zedong

To be delivered in secret to Wang Jingwei

Comrade Wang, I have received news about your relations with Chiang Kai Shek from several sources that I will not name. As we speak, nearly 3 million men are fortifying the provinces bordering the KMT. CSR militias, as we speak, are armed and ready to fight against him. The CSR navy and the 1st Mexican fleet are also currently moving closer and are prepared to aid you. All I ask is that you move to somewhere safe, preferably somewhere easily guarded and declare Chiang Kai Shek a traitor the moment the Fengtian is defeated. If you wish to do this, please burn this letter somewhere. If not, then I assume this will be the end of KMT CSR relations. I would like you to decide quickly. The Fengtian is nearing total collapse. At most, they will hold out for 1 or 2 months.

From,
Chairman of the Communist Party of China, Mao Zedong

To General Secutary Joseph Stalin

Comrade, I would like to offer my most sincere apology to you and the USSR. I now understand and see what you had to do to ensure that the USSR would continue to thrive and prosper. I, therefore, sent this letter to you as a way to apologize to you and to invite you to Shanghai to formally apologize to you in person.
From,
Chairman of the Communist Party of China, Mao Zedong

To Socialist and Communist leaders all across the world

I have sent you this letter to invite you all for a meeting in Shanghai where we can all hopefully work out our problems and to see what direction we should go in the future. I eagerly await your replies, and I hope that many of you will accept and come to Shanghai when that date arrives.
From,
Chairman of the Communist Party of China, Mao Zedong

To the British Far East High Command

I wish to discuss our future relations. While I and many in China view Hong Kong as Chinese land, we are more than willing to work with you and your honored peers to see when Hong Kong will be returned to China. I have no plans of invading Hong Kong, and despite this, I understand that you will feel threatened by me and the CSR, and will no doubt strengthen your fortifications. If you agree to not aid the KMT if any war breaks out between the CSR and them, I am willing to continue to sell grains and water cheaply to Hong Kong, and you will not fear a potential attack. We wish to send one of our diplomats to Hong Kong to establish official relations with the forces of the British Far East.
From,
Chairman of the Communist Party of China, Mao Zedong

[Dahyan]

Alliance for the Liberation of New Afrika

Monrovia, Republic of Liberia
15th September, 1936


Part of the military parade in honour of the Honourable Elijah Muhammad's visit to Liberia

The Honourable Elijah Muhammad, Supreme Minister of the Nation of Islam, has arrived in Monrovia, the capital of the Republic of Liberia. Minister Elijah Muhammad is visiting the West African nation on a solidarity tour of independent states on the Mother Continent.

The Supreme Minister, who is officially visiting as High Representative of the Alliance for the Liberation of New Afrika (ALNA), was received with full honours by President of Liberia, Edwin James Barclay. The President and the Supreme Minister participated in a tour of the Liberian capital, after which the Minister was treated to a military parade.

During his speech following the festivities, the Honourable Elijah Muhammad praised the spirit of freedom and independence that made Liberia the first modern republic on the African continent and a safe haven for Black Americans escaping slavery and oppression.

"The Love of Liberty has brought us here, the Liberian national motto says. This very same love drives the Alliance for the Liberation of New Afrika as well," the Minister said. "It is this love of freedom and justice that drives the Nation of Islam, the UNIA-AIC and the National Negro Congress to demand our rights on the American continent. All hail Liberia! All hail the African people!"

Liberia was founded as an independent state in 1847, by former slaves from the United States who found refuge on the African continent. The Republic of Liberia has withstood many challenges, and succeeded in retaining its full independence throughout the years of European colonisation of Africa.

Following the visit to Liberia, Supreme Minister Elijah Muhammad is set to visit Sierra Leone, Guinea and the Mali Federation, all three of which are West African states that only recently achieved their independence following the near total collapse of European imperial control in Africa.

The official goal of the visit is stated to be "building ties of brotherhood and goodwill amongst our nations, and sowing the seeds for future diplomatic contacts and friendship between the nations on the African motherland and, God willing, an independent New Afrika."


Shanghai, Chinese Soviet Republic
16th September, 1936

Paul Robeson walked down the ramp separating the ship he had sailed on and the dockyards of Shanghai. He breathed in deeply, and looked around the bustling city. The famous African American bass baritone concert artist, movie actor, lawyer, former professional athlete and social activist stepped foot on Chinese soil for the first time in his life.

Paul Robeson, widely known for his support for the Communist cause as well as the liberation of the Black race in America, was technically visiting China as a private citizen, eager to see the developments the ancient nation was going through following the rapidly spreading success of the Revolution. He had been to the Soviet Union two years prior, visiting Moscow at the invitation of film director Sergei Eisenstein, and marveling at the progress made under the directives of the Communist Party.

However, behind the scenes, the singer with a voice smooth as silk and deep as the ocean had been asked by the National Negro Congress, and by extension ALNA as a whole, to make contact with leading circles in the Chinese Soviet Republic and establish relations that eventually could hopefully grow into official diplomacy between New Afrika and China. A private message had been sent to Chairman Mao Zedong by NNC Executive Secretary John Davis, informing the Chinese leader of Robeson's mission.

Noticing an automobile standing ready to transport him, Robeson walked briskly towards the cab, humming his famous melody Old Man River.

[Plzen]

Copenhagen, Commonwealth of Northern Socialist Republics

In the end, with Confederate authorities staunchly uncooperative during the negotiations in general and unwilling to intervene in a military conflict as far north as East Karelia, talks between Copenhagen and Warszawa fell through and the Northern government in the end declined to guarantee the independence of the Republic of East Karelia, unwilling to be drawn to a confrontation against the Soviet Union, essentially alone, over the matter.

While some Finnish volunteers in East Karelia still expressed an interest in fighting, without the support of the NSRS government if need be, the Republic’s government admitted the hopelessness of the situation and caved to Soviet terms, pushing the borders of the Union as far north as Kandalahti. There would not be another Kinship War, at least not this month.

Despite a direct confrontation being avoided, the incident shocked the Northern public and the nation’s leaders alike. While the aggressive Soviet pushes into the southern and eastern regions of the former Russian Empire did raise many eyebrows and considerable tensions, ultimately the conservatives and internationalists both were of the opinion that Affairs so far away from Norden were none of its concern - they had far larger fires to put out, far closer to home.

But the Soviet Union demonstrating a clear desire to reunite the former lands of the Russian Empire, just rolling over any military or diplomatic resistance with sheer force if need be, and doing so in a region that directly bordered the NSRS’ own territory... well, that changed things.

It was not very clear, however, what Norden could actually do about this concern.

The reformists, a relatively powerless but very vocal faction within the Council after the elections in April, favoured building a Northern sphere of influence to counter the Soviets, but the internationalists were not convinced of the viability of such a coalition. Relations between the NSRS and Estonia were, to put it mildly, very not good, the Confederation of Three did not seem to be particularly receptive to any Northern diplomatic proposals - perhaps themselves fearing having to confront the Soviets over an issue that was of little concern to them - and Germany was in the midst of civil war and in no condition to make arrangements for mutual security with the Northern Commonwealth. The prospects for any kind of anti-Soviet coalition in Central and Eastern Europe looked rather dim. The internationalists agreed with the reformists that some kind of bloc-building was necessary, but from the internationalist perspective none of Norden’s neighbours seemed like a suitable partner for such cooperation.

The conservatives, of course, was reluctant to take any action to take the NSRS out of its diplomatic neutrality, although the rising Soviet threat was starting to force a reconsideration of the issue within the faction, even in the highest ranks of the Northern Social-Democratic Party. It could sometimes be very dangerous to stand neutral, after all.

The much-enlarged budget for the Commonwealth military in the Northern Council budget for fiscal year 1937, as well as the SAC Syndikalisterna’s and Suomen Puolue’s decision to modernise and militarise the security branches of their respective parties, reflected these concerns. The reformists has always been in favour of a stronger military, and the conservatives and the internationalists conceded that in the absence of reliable international partners, it was vitally necessary that Norden be able to defend herself alone if need be. Even with an enlarged budget, and the NSRS’ sophisticated industries behind it, that would be a challenging task indeed.

Work on defensive fortifications along the Karelian isthmus continued and accelerated, and plans were expanded into North Karelia and Kainuu to account for the Soviets’ now much-expanded territory, as well as in Sápmi with the expectations that the Soviets will probably conquer the Kola peninsula in the near future. The tentative expectations of Home Command was that fortifications along the border and 200,000 men defending them would suffice to at least prevent the Soviets from overwhelming them with sheer numbers, although Command wanted 300,000 men and contested air superiority for a comfortable defence.

With threats growing all around her, the Commonwealth seemed more vulnerable than even during the frenzied height of the Great War.

[Wasi State]

Great Falls, Montana
God Is Marching On...

General Eisenhower ordered his artillery to strike the Iron Phalanx's remaining positions in the town with incredible force and extreme prejudice, smashing them bit by bit as he sent in the troops afterwards he had to mob up the remains of the dastardly bandits and terrorists. By the end of the day, the mongrels that escaped had begun to fully route back into Canada, where only bombers and CAS planes were waiting for them as they cut them down and began airstrikes on the enemy's backline, fully intending to destroy any will and capability they still possessed to pursue anymore conceivable offensives against the United States.

The General, walking into the center of the town, after achieving triumph for the Federal Government at last in these dire times for the United States. Had officially announced the full liberation of the state solely by Federal forces, purposely discounting the efforts made by the coalition forces that had helped in their efforts. In his mind the American Republic soon after was far more at stake than any vain attempt to maintain some weak sense of chivalry between his allied forces that weren't absolutely behind him on his side. In his speech in Great Falls, the General had condemned the deemed radicals actually,

"The Republic has and will remain to stand alone in these terrible times on its own two feet, with or without these radicals attempting to subvert the values of the constitution on their own arbitrary merits of American idealism." His voice broadcasted across Montana and the country all over.

---

Austin, Texas
Vice President, Frank Knox

With the Election in November drawing near, Knox decided that now more than ever was the perfect time to campagin in the few two months the R-D Coalition has left to campagin for support in none other than the Lone Star State itself, Texas. Arriving in Austin shortly after the victory announced in Montana by Federal Forces by General Eisenhower. The Vice President made a speech in the state capital of Austin to deliver to both the people of Texas and by extension to the American Southwest as a whole.

"My fellow American, Texan Patriots! Today is a grand day that we are reminded of the prowess that this Republic was founded on! From the Alamo to the Marne! This Lone Star State will forever be known as the one and truly known Yellow Rose, in this trying time with radicals at our doorstep, I can promise you that the Republican-Democrat Coalition will fulfill its promise and vanquish the foes that threaten America if elected this November! Or do so trying!" Knox opened his September speech at nationwide.

---

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
President Al Smith

Now was the time for the President to make his best attempt to win a third election, apparent one that he has been already having to try to win an overwhelming uphill battle for in the of face of radicals attempting to subvert American democracy. Butler of the NPR had already started on the tail end of the campagin trail in trying and successfully winning the hearts and minds of the Pennsylvanian people earlier in the month. But the President wasn't going to have anymore of it, having arrived directly in the commonwealth's capital of Harrisburg to try and deliver a speech to his party's base to downplay the successes of the communists polling against him in rapid numbers in recent months.

"My fellow Americans, it is crucial more than ever that we of the status quo unite against these radicals that wish to subvert American democracy." He immediately started his speech off with, condemning pretty much every opposition party that had been opposed to him.

[Thakia]

Salvo Palace, Montevideo
Federal League, Uruguay

The last month had been a busy month for Gonzales. He had agreed to have dinner with Forteza tonight at Salvo's restaurant, the building was the culmination of Uruguay's golden age, its mighty structure stood over Montevideo like nothing that had ever existed in the country before, its architecture told ancient stories of places from the United States to India, And from the top of the building you could see the whole city, and even more, at the top of the high building there was a bright light, the light reached all parts of the city, from the statue that immortalized Artigas in Independence Square, to the beaches of Pocitos and even across the river in Buenos Aires, It was really a sight to see.

Gonzales sat there at the table next to the windows of the well-furnished restaurant, Forteza arrived later in the building and both men ordered their dinner, Epidio Gonzales was formerly an Argentinean politician, he fled with De la Torre to Santa Fe when the country collapsed, but quickly moved to the League areas, There he received citizenship in Entre Rios and finally a political office as mayor of Concordia. When the first federal elections came, he was invited by close friends to join the Battist movement and ended up as the League's defense minister under Battle's initiative to bring politicians from Entre Rios into government as a compromise.

The other man was Fransisco Forteza, a native of Uruguay, who had been imprisoned on the Isla de Flores after Terra came to power. His Colorado Party connections quickly managed to release him after Terra itself was overthrown, his imprisonment gave him martyr status that the Colorado Party did not want to waste, and he will eventually be elected Secretary of Health on two separate occasions.

Both men greeted each other and began to drink, because today was a day of celebration, the invasion of the north came to an end after almost a month of fighting, the troops made the final push in Rio Grande and Porto Alegre, while the men spoke, it was a deserved victory for the government.

---

Porto Alegre, Palace of the Azoreans
Rio Grande Do Sul

Campos stood restlessly in his new office, later that day he and his troops had marched into the former capital of Rio Grande do Sul, there was little resistance, after the armies of Entre Rios had broken through the West, there was a steady advance, but somehow it didn't feel right for anyone, city after city they reached, everything was the same, there was no enemy or resistance, there were only burnt buildings and dead people in the streets, those who stayed alive were begging for food or water.

The General had expected Porto Alegre to offer a little more resistance than the other cities, but nothing was different. This city, which at one time housed 180,000 people, now barely held 43,000, the streets were filled with all sorts of barricades, the people of the city had resorted to whatever they could to get to safety, so that when the Oriental armies came to the city they were received not as invaders but as liberators.

The troops marched through the street and General Campos and his officers entered the town hall of the city, the oriental armies had expected a fight, but instead they found only misery and desperation, there was no point in being proud to defeat some starving men, if the republic wanted to see this place flourish again, the effort to come would have to be enormous, but not everything was sour.

The state of Rio Grande was known to be the capital of the Brazilian coal industry, and the League now had control of the mines, which were back in operation and sent new coal back to Montevideo. It was certainly not oil, but it was a huge advantage not to be dependent on Mendoza alone for energy imports. Now that the League's borders had been extended to the border of the Uruguay River, the constant skirmishes would finally come to a halt, and after all this, the invaluable strategic ports of Porto Alegre and Rio Grande were acquired.

[Dahyan]

The Nation of Islam

Kalot Muhammad, Supreme Commander of the Fruit of Islam, assumed his position in front of the microphone. It would be a live radio broadcast, sent out on air to all mosques, temples and Nation of Islam offices and gatherings nation-wide, as well as meetings of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and the National Negro Congress.

The entire Alliance for the Liberation of New Afrika has mobilised for this moment. A response to the scandalous words of General Eisenhower, President Al Smith and Vice President Frank Knox, particularly their depsicable attempt to discredit the contribution of the combined forces of the PRA and the FOI in destroying and routing the Iron Phalanx in Montana. In the absence of Supreme Minister Elijah Muhammad, who was in Sierra Leone at present, his brother had taken the task upon himself.

"My dear brethren," the voice of the Supreme Commander rang though the aether.

"We, the Black race of America, have vanquished a great foe on this continent. In alliance with the People's Red Army, the forces of the Fruit of Islam, the African Legion and the militia of the National Negro Congress, were at the forefront of this war against slavers invading from abroad.

It was our blood, our bodies and our sweat that freed the people of Montana, in cooperation with our allies. It was African blood that stained the sands in order to ensure the liberty of the population of the Midwest. We did this because it is our God-given duty to fight slavery and defend freedom wherever we can.

But what did we get in return for the shedding of our blood? Lies! Lies and deceit, propaganda and discredit! The crackers in charge: Al Smith, Frank Knox and Eisenhower have shown their true colours: they are naught but corrupt sell-outs, bartering their souls for power and wealth! There is no honest bone in their bodies, no scruples in their dark mind.

Smith, Knox and Eisenhower have immediately claimed all credit to themselves in the Liberation of Montana. They didn't even wait until the war was properly over to start stabbing us in the back and even threatening war against our Alliance and the New Revolutionary Party.

What is the truth though? As God is my witness: the brunt of the conflict was borne by the People's Red Army and the forces of ALNA! This is the one and only truth. The Federal forces barely lifted a finger to help us, to help Montana at all! They barely cared enough for the White people of Montana to even bother helping until after we had already freed Billings. If they care for their own race so little, what does that say about how they think of us?

The truth is, the armies of Smith and Knox were but there for show. They came too late, did barely a thing and yet claimed all the credit for it. Even the followers of Huey Long did more for the cause of Montana.

We condemn the dishonesty that the Smith administration has shown in the clearest possible terms. It is clear now that Smith and Knox have shown themselves for who they truly are: enemies of the Black people of America.

My fellow brothers and sisters: remember this when the elections come in November! Remember this betrayal! Remember Montana!"

[Monsone]

Kalmykia

As the begining of fall drew closer, the Caspian had begun to cool down. And the steppes of Kalmykia where constantly at the mercy of Caspian winds as well as storms from the Arctic. Blyukher and Rattel observed this as a thunderstorm formed over the Caspian Sea thanks to cold air from the Arctic. Soon however the train was heading inland towards the capital of Kalmykia, Elista. The rolling grasslands of Southern Russia seemed neverending, and as the sun set, their golden beauty was superimposed against a setting sun and a darkening sky thanks to the afromentioned thunder storm.

Day turned to evening, and then to night. By then both Blyukher and Rattel where in the dining car, enjoying a typical meal of post-Imperial Russia. Two boiled potatos, some pickled cabbage, and some dubious meat cut which seemed to taste like pork. Accompanying the food was as expected a bottle of vodka (at roughly $0.10 in 1936 or $1.86 in 2020), though instead of the classic Stolichnaya brand often associated with the USSR, it was a bottle of Moskovskaya vodka. As dinner came to an end and a desert of Medovik cake was wheeled out along with tea, Blyukher and Rattel began to talk about buisness.

"So tell me about the leader of Kalmykia." Blyukher stated.

"Frankly speaking Vasily he is not just the leader of Kalmykia but all lands from there to the Black Sea save for Rostov. A crazed man some call him, a mad man too. He is bloody militaristic after all and it's by sheer luck he didn't annex Astrakahn." Rattel responded as he sipped some tea.

"Are you talking about the Black Baron?" Blyukher inquired with a comically raised eyebrow as he then proceeded to grab his tea cup and sipped it a bit nervously.

"None other." Rattel replied with a warm smile.

"Have you not considered how much he will hate us in our Red Army uniforms riding a Soviet train being pulled by a locomotive with a red star on it's smokebox door, and bringing a letter signed by the person the Black Baron views as Satan himself?" Asked Blyukher with great concern.

"Oh he will hate us, he hates out kind with a vengance. But his grip on power is weak. Back when I ran Astrakhan a source told me that his grip on Krasnodar is weak. And the Caucasian factions are breathing down his back. Despite all his power his position is quite frail at the moment, so a deal with the USSR could be his saving grace." Rattel explained.

"Interesting." Blyukher mumbled as he chewed a piece of cake and then proceeded to drink a sip of tea before speaking again. "Yet once his course of utility has run, are you okay accepting the fact that his termination date would be iminent? This is a serious question Rattel. Stalin is going to use the Black Baron as a tool, and once he is no longer needed, the survival of the Baron is not granted."

"I knew you would ask that. But the Baron's utility is quite broad and will be useful elsewhere. The caveat is that his health is not in the best of shape. After all he is in his late 50s and is suffering from heart problems. I believe it's hypertension. If you used medical treatment that could extend and even save his life as a barganing chip, you could gain yourself control of most of Southern Russia very quickly." Suggested Rattel as he replied to Blyukhers question.

"Nikolai, I am no doctor." Blyukher said somberly. "But hypertension can't really be treated effectively. The doctors probably put him on a limiting diet with an increased excersise routine, but that is about it."

"No Vasily, they can treat hypertention. It's called quiting your job to reduce stress. That means the Baron can't actually have much sway or power save the stress do him in." Retorted Rattel.

"Not a bad plan." Blyukher aquiesced.

"Yet it is going to be tough to convince him to join our side. The actual benefits of the outcome are clear and beneficial, the caveat is getting him to out side an making sure the provinces run by him don't escape at the last minute and mess up our plans." Rattel explained.

"I heard that while he runs the lands, much of the power is delegated. I'd imagine the provincial rulers would be upstarts and pains." Blyukher remarked.

"They are." Rattel aquiesced. "Especially in Krasnodar and Chechnya. Those two places could very easily atempt to fight off Soviet troops even when the Baron agrees to Soviet demands."

"Lovely." Blyukher grumbled as the train jolted to a stop.

"We've arrived?" Rattel asked confusedly as the two men peered out the window.

"No. there are no lights, city, or town to speak of here." Was Blyukher's response.

Just then a humm of aircraft engines could be heard. And very quickly that hum became louder and louder until bright lights could be seen on the left side of the train. A minute later a Red Army officer had broarded the train and was stadining infront of Rattel and Blyukher's table.

"It is my honor to notify you of the promotion of General Rattel to Field Marshal of the USSR Rattel. Comrade Stalin sends his regards." The soldier stated as he handed Rattel an envelope with the letter from Stalin and the apropriate epaulettes for the rank.

"Congradulations!" Blyukher told Rattel.

"Marshal Blyukher, your presence is requested in Moscow immediately. Please come with me." The offier said as Blyukher got up and followed the officer off the train.

About 100 meters from the train was a DC-2 in Aeroflot colors. The officer signaled for Blyukher to follow him onto the plane. Blyukher did as told and he walked onto the plane.



Moscow

Vasily Blyukher, Alexander Yegorov, and Semyon Budyonny all sat across from Stalin. There was no one in the room save for the four of them and various maps of the USSR. The three Marshals had no idea what to say, so they just sat there silently. Meanwhile, Stalin smoked his pipe for a minute before getting up from the table and began to speak.

"I think the three of know why you are here." Stalin said coldly.

"Yes Comrade Stalin." The three Marshals replied.

"Good. So then you will know what we are doing." Stalin remarked.

"Of course." Budyonny stated.

"Kiev and Minsk must be conected to the USSR, as must Belgorod and the Donetsk region." Stalin demanded.

"The Confederation would know what were planing. It's going to be hard to conceal our movements and our plans." Yegorov remarked.

"There is a way, albeit it's really ambitious." Blyukher said.

"How would that be done?" Stalin inquired.

"All troop movements would be at night with no headlights on, and during the day, the vehicles would hide in the forest. Observation planes will be painted in the color of survey aircraft, and the whole pretext for all the noise at night is road improvement. Very believeable since the roads are attrocious in the region. And when it is time for the invasion, a swift push to Minsk and Kiev will be the main goal with a push into Belgorod. That should take all of two days at most." Blyukher explained.

"With tanks and mechanized infantry?" Asked Budyonny.

"Yes." Yegorov replied befre begining to say his point of view. "After the first two days, resistance will be much stiffer, hence, a push from Minsk down to Kiev and then along northern Ukraine is necessary."

"Exactly." Stalin stated. "Then I want part of the northern forces to reach Kharkov and link up with the forces pushing south. Once both forces link up, a drive south towards the Donetsk is necessary with the southern forces while the northern forces will reach the Dnieper River. Once that is done, we will offer the Confederation peace and list our demands. If they refuse, we march on Odessa."

"Understood." All three Marshals stated.

"Then make sure this remains top secret. You have two months to prepare for this." Stalin ordered.

"And if the Confederation finds out preemtively?" An unusally silent Budyonny asked.

"We'll ask our socialist friends for help." Stalin smiled as the three Marshals left the room.

Kuntsevo Dacha

Stalin's 1935 Packard 12 rolled up to the gates of the dacha and then drove on towards the dacha itself. The car stopped and Stalin exited the car and walked into the house. By now it was the wee hours of the morning, and most everyone was asleep in the house save for a few soldiers and Stalin himself. With slow steps Stalin walked into his office and then to his couch. After taking his boots off, he layed down on the couch.

As Stalin began to feel sleepy, he noticed an envelope on his typically tidy desk. So he got up and strode over to his desk and grabbed the slightly yellowed envelope. It had a CSR stamp but also a handful of other stamps from different warlord groups in Siberia, and even a few stamps still had the face of the Tsar on it. With a letter opener in hand, Stalin cut open the letter and removed the contents from it. It was a short message from Mao himself. The letter was both in Chinese and in Russian.

With a quick chuckle and a slight smile Stalin pulled out a sheet of paper and a pen. And Stalin quickly penned a letter to Mao. Once that was done, Stalin haded the letter to a guard and demanded to have it translated into Chinese and send it to Mao.

To Chairman of the Communist Party of China, Mao Zedong

It takes deep understanding to comprehend the enigma that is the USSR. It is a land of warlords and complicated other groups that all wish to achieve their different views, and yet often can't because of idiocracy or hipocracy. Form all sides anti-revolutionaries in Estonia, the Confederation, and the NSRS have encroached on the homeland of socialisim. It would be my honor to go to Shanghai, however the political situation in the USSr demands I remain in the USSR. If you wish, you could come to Moscow to apologize as well as to discuss possible alliance plans.

At the moment, the Red Army and the Soviet peoples are preparing for a struggle against the anti-revolutionaries. The support of the CSR and socialis nations and groups around the World would be much appreciated regardless of what the air necessarily it. Revolutions around the world are hinged on the sucess of defeating these anti-revolutionaries.

Sincerely,

Joseph V. Stalin
General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union