Chronological Influences II: An American AAR

[TC Pilot]

Fiftypence: It's fun that way

rule_brittania: Oh, how so?

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June 7th, 1870

Silence filled the hallways of the White House in the late night gloom. By the faint glow of candlelight, Alexei Stukov walked down the hall slowly, a cane in his right hand to help him walk faster.

With a sigh, he stepped into the President's office and closed the door behind him quietly. Walking up to the bookcase, he surveyed the room making sure no one was around. Carefully, he ran his hand across the books, pulling several of them off in a specific order. With a faint shudder, the bookcase swung open and he stepped inside. After taking a few steps, it closed behind him.

Making his way down an unlighted corridor, he reached a spiral staircase. Carefully, he stepped down.

At the bottom, he stepped into a small room. Reaching carefully with his candle, he lit the lights at the entrance. Light suddenly filled the room, decorated with a giant world map on the opposite wall and pile of manuscripts and papers scattered on a desk on the other. At the final wall was an assembly of mechanical contraptions and chemical apparatus.

Stukov looked up and frowned. "How the hell did you get in here?"

Eleanor turned in surprise. "Mr. Stukov! I...I didn't think you'd be in here."

His frown only deepened as he walked towards her, suddenly no longer needing his cane. He looked down at her hand, clutching several papers. "Good read?"

She nodded, her eyes locked on him, trying to read Stukov's intent.

He glared at her for a moment, silence falling between the two. Finally, his expression turned to a smile and he started laughing. Eleanor looked in puzzlement at him.

Stukov ambled his way over to the chair over by the desk and sat down with a faint sigh of relief. "I had this room added in during the reconstruction. No one was supposed to know about it," he paused, eyeing her suspiciously, "Which begs the question how you knew it was here, and how you knew how to get in."

"Feodor told me," she said, still standing where she had been.

Stukov laughed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I suppose there aren't any secrets between you two. Well, good. That's good."

"What's it for, anyway?" Eleanor asked, looking around at the assorted equipment.

"Few people of this time would really understand it even if I tried to teach it, and teaching was never one of my strongest points, which in some small way is the very cause you're standing here instead of whatever part of the South you came from."

Eleanor nodded, looking uncomfortable under Stukov's scrutinizing eyes.

"Tell me," Stukov said idly, "Why did you follow my son? Why did you leave with a complete stranger on a trip around the country that made no sense? And more importantly, how is it you have blue eyes and black hair?"

Eleanor smiled and laughed. "The last part I can assure you is a mystery I can't answer. As for why I followed Feodor..." her voice trailed off as if in deep thought.

Stukov grinned. "Please, Eleanor, you have your reasons and you know them well, and I know you know."

Eleanor sighed and opened her mouth to speak. Before she could, Stukov interrupted her again. "Wait! Let me guess. You're...you're a time traveller!"

"No," she answered, shaking her head. "I followed Feodor because of what I saw in him. All my life, I had hoped that some day, I could leave that wretched hell-hole and have a life, a real life, not some farce put on for the benefit of society. I wanted to be free, to make my own choices...." her voice fell silent again. Stukov nodded slowly, listening intently.

"I...I...when I saw your son....I can't explain it but I felt....I felt that was my opportunity to leave, to get away and be free. And it seems I'm right. Here I am, married to the heir to the throne of the United States."

Stukov lifted himself up off the seat with surprising speed, clasped his hands behind his back, and slowly paced around Eleanor.

"Is it power you want?" he probed.

She shook her head. "No."

Stukov, Eleanor's back to him, smiled and nodded appreciatively. "Good, good. You'll handle it well then, because you will have power, more power than any woman on Earth. Canada, Central America, and now Venezuela. Our influence is growing; the power the Imperial family wields is growing."

Stukov looked up towards the map and tapped it thoughtfully. "France declared war on Germany two days ago."

Eleanor turned to him. "I had no idea."

"France will lose," he declared matter-of-factly.

"Then that will mean..."

"Germany will be unified."

Eleanor gazed up at the map of the world. "They'll be unstoppable. If...if France falls, the only chance Europe would have to control Germany is through a Russian-British alliance."

"And that," Stukov said as he turned back to face her, "Will never happen."

Leaning heavily on his cane, he stepped past her and patted her gently on the cheek, "Feel free to read my work. You may find it interesting. Goodnight, Eleanor."

 

[Darks63]

i wonder what stukov will do to destroy the uk-russo alliance chances

 

[unmerged(27589)]

Nah, reckon Stukov juz telling elanor some history.

 

[Patrick Harte]

Stukov looked up towards the map and tapped it thoughtfully. "France declared war on Germany two days ago."

Eleanor turned to him. "I had no idea."

"France will lose," he declared matter-of-factly.

"Then that will mean..."

"Germany will be unified."

Eleanor gazed up at the map of the world. "They'll be unstoppable. If...if France falls, the only chance Europe would have to control Germany is through a Russian-British alliance."

"And that," Stukov said as he turned back to face her, "Will never happen."

This is just a masterpiece!!!!

Great Update! Superb!!!

 

[rule_brittania]

I hope Germany wins - i have never seen an AI Germany unify, especially with the three Hurrahs; they usually have no more military power than 1836 and get crushed.
Poor Prussia.
Steezful update.

 

[VILenin]

Yes, Stukov seems to have everything in hand. But he should remember that the future isn't what it used to be. Every change he makes causes the timeline to diverge farther and farther from the original and one of these days it's going to surprise him (unless TC decides that it won't).

And what's the relation to Eleanor? They can't be blood relatives because that would just be wierd but there's definitely some connection. Damn you TC Pilot! *shakes fist angrily*

 

[Fiftypence]

I get the feeling that Stukov says that France will lose because he (or Feodor) is going to make it so, rather than his knowledge of history. Peopl.e with black hair and blue eyes tend to have a mixture of European and Asian blood, as far as I know. I'm not sure why Stukov thinks that is so significant, though. Great update, TC!

 

[unmerged(19063)]

Obviously, Elanor is Stalin's illegimate daughter from 1967, who has travelled back to seize power from the Stukovs and ensure Stalin's rise to power is not interrupted.

Geez, guys, you just have to see the clues...

 

[Morpheus506]

*thumps forehead* Agh, I should have known!

 

[unmerged(22087)]

I still think she's Eleanor Roosevelt.

 

[Joepritch2]

Just amazing stuff. This one's kept my attention even though Victoria's collecting dust on my CD shelf right now.

 

[unmerged(33638)]

You guys watch to much tv, it is obvious that she is a sex robot sent back through time to make the future for one lucky fellow.

Great updates TC, looking forward to the US taking on Europe

 

[TC Pilot]

Darks63: Honestly, do you see it happening without his meddling?

weychun: What do you mean?

Patrick O'Harte: o Wow

rule_brittania: Well, you'll be happy to know Prussia has the 4th highest military score, just below France.

VILenin: He experienced this well enough in Chronological Influences.

Fiftypence: I don't think he finds it significant, so much as just odd. It was really more of a joke.

Rocketman: 1967?

Morpheus506: For all you know, it might actually be Skorzeny in disguise

GuyB:

Joepritch2: Glad to hear it

BBBD: You saw that Futurama episode, didn't you?

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August 1st, 1870

Atop a rise in the terrain of pastoral green country land, Yuri watched as the Prussian army marched down the dirt road, a cloud of thick dust rising up from the end of the column marching in perfect formation. Behind them, the faint trails of smoke lazily floated up from the extinguished fires in the city of Metz. Beside him, his son, Nikolai watched the soldiers marching.

Armed with AK-45s and dressed in a camouflaged version of the Imperial Guardsman's standard body armor, the two were practically impossible to spot from this distance, and unless someone was looking directly at them or searching for them specifically.

"The Prussians are impressive," Nikolai commented.

Yuri nodded his agreement. "The Emperor expected this turn of events."

The war had started in early June with the French declaring war on Prussia. With their armies eastward, the Prussians and their allied German principalities faced an onslaught of French soldiers. Many in Europe and the Western Hemisphere had preemptively believed this to be the end of Bismarck's ambitions. But the wily Chancellor had proven them wrong. Though not positioned at the border, Prussia's armies were ready, and with the French invasion, had rallied the three remaining German nations, Bavaria, Baden and Saxony to their side. The profession Prussian armed forces launched a counter-offensive just north of the Saar Valley, smashing France's forward armies and hurling them back across the border.

They had wasted little time, and the Germans were swarming in through the Saar into the French interior.

"The French are in disarray. If they don't regroup soon," Yuri said, "They'll be in Paris before autumn."

"Home before the leaves fall," Nikolai responded.

Yuri glanced over at his son, looking curiously.

"I overheard the Emperor saying that, father," Nikolai answered his father's unasked question.

"Ah, I see," Yuri nodded, turning back to the Prussian column, now almost vanishing behind another hill."

The Emperor had given Yuri the mission to observe the war's procession, distrusting the reports by either French or German publications. But more than that, it was a chance to give at least some experience to the newer members of the Imperial Guard. Antanov's son and daughter were also with them, concealed further down the slope of the hill.

Training could only go so far. It was vital that the Emperor's protectors be experienced and tested.

"Did you dispose of the corpses?" Yuri asked, breaking their self-imposed silence.

"Yes, father." This had been the third group of French soldiers that had suffered the misfortune of encountering them. As per the Empress' orders, combat experience would be another part of the mission. Yuri, of course, had been only happy to oblige her. She no doubt would derive satisfaction from it.

Yuri took a long breath and exhaled slowly, patting his son on the shoulder. "It's time for us to get moving again. Go get the others and meet back at camp."

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February 8th, 1871

"Are they serious?" Azuren asked, amazed at what she had read on the small slip of diplomatic paper held in her hand.

Stukov shrugged. "Probably. I don't see why they would bother sending us a joke."

Azuren read through the words again, more carefully this time. Again, the meaning was clear. "They can't be serious!"

Stukov laughed lightly. "You're right. They can't be, but here we have a request from Atjeh for the United States to make them an American protectorate."

The day before, word had arrived from the foreign affairs office that the small nation of Atjeh on the northern tip of the island of Sumatra was offering the United States the status of protector of their nation. Essentially, they were offering to become American puppets.

"But why?" Azuren asked, her skepticism evident.

"I asked myself the same question when I read it myself, love. Except it turns out that the Netherlands attacked them. Obviously they have no chance of stopping the Dutch."

"Obviously."

Stukov smiled, continuing. "So they offer to save themselves in the best way they know, to get another power to stop the Dutch. Britain's still busy in China, and probably has no interest in the island anyway. France is at war with Prussia. Spain is too untrustworthy. Which leaves us as their only possible savior."

Azuren frowned. "That makes no sense. They'd give up their independence to us rather than have it taken away by the Netherlands."

"Exactly my thoughts, love," Stukov nodded his concurrence.

There was a pause. Azuren fell deep into contemplative thought. Finally, she abruptly spoke. "Leave them to the Dutch."

Stukov smiled again. "I knew you'd say that. Very well, we leave them to the Dutch. That fits our plan quite nicely anyway."

 

[unmerged(19063)]

Hmm... I think I missed something. Why not annex them?

And I mean 1968, obviously. How silly of me.

 

[VILenin]

Yes, Stukov did experience that before but that was a long time ago. He might have forgotten the lessons of the pas-, er, future. He certainly wouldn't be the first person to get a little overconfident when thngs are going well, and things seem to be going very well for the Imperial family. On another note, nice to see the up-and-coming generation of Imperial Guards.

I'm continuously awaiting someone to say, "The Emperor has forseen it." I don't think I would be able to resist a montage of that sort to Star Wars but I applaud your restraint. It wouldn't really fit anyways. Stukov doesn't see the future, he makes it.

 

[Darks63]

prussia is lucky they didnt get the revanchlism event which makes u fight france and A-H at the same time

 

[TC Pilot]

Rocketman: Why annex them is the real question? I have no reason to go to war with Atjeh. They just offered to become a satellite via event.

VILenin: You'd be amazed how many Star Wars quotes I used in the first Chronological Influences

Darks63: Indeed.

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December 3rd, 1870

Snow drifted lazily down from the sky, blanketting the lawn of the White House in pure, undisturbed white. The light of the moon reflected brightly off the newly fallen snow, casting shadows against the leafless trees.

Stukov stared out the window, hands clasped behind his back, a gilded cane clutched in his grip tightly. He sighed softly, his breath fogging the glass. For the past several months, as Feodor took upon himself more of Stukov's old work, he had found himself with more and more time to devote to his writings. He had done his best to craft the most accurate portrayal of history as it had been originally, all the way up to massive Red Army uprising that had overthrown him and his beloved Azuren.

Grimacing, Stukov felt a dull aching in his chest. Recalling those days had been painful. He missed that time. He missed his early days with Azuren, brimming with love and youth. He missed his ascension to power, the birth of Feodor, and everything in between. He wanted so desperately to perhaps live through those times; they seemed so wonderful from far off.

"Oh well," he whispered, "I guess you can't have everything..."

Stukov felt the warm, familiar embrace of his wife wrap around him. She gently rested her chin on his shoulder and held him tightly.

With a sigh of contentment, Stukov held her to him.

Stukov cleared his throat to speak. "Do you ever regret the things we've done, my love?"

He felt her smile and kiss him on the cheek. "Never, love. Even our mistakes, I've never regretted it. We should be glad for what we have: a family, a future, and the time we always wanted together, just to ourselves."

Stukov glanced back into the room. Feodor and Eleanor were playing with Catherine, who was squealing happily like a very young child. He couldn't help but smile in blissful contentment.

Azuren nodded. "You see? Even you feel the same way."

Stukov nodded back his agreement. "You're right, my love. It's just...my writings have made me think of those times..."

"I know, my love," she kissed him gently.

-------------------------

Feodor looked up from Catherine, who was whacking two wooden blocks together, and watched his parents stand before the window. He smiled, and pointed to them for Eleanor. "Look at them," he said quietly, "They look like an old couple."

Eleanor smiled. "Feodor, they are an old couple."

Feodor blinked and looked back down at Catherine. "Right...of course they are..."

He spoke up again a moment later. "Do you ever think we're turning into them?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well," he hesitated, "It's almost like they're trying to make us so much like them, it's like we're a younger version of them."

"You think they're trying to carry on even after they die?"

He shrugged. "Maybe, but it just seems like they...they don't want to die and have what they've worked for lost."

Eleanor leaned back, propping herself up with her arms. "And is that a bad thing? Would it really be so bad to become more like them?"

Feodor didn't answer.

 

[Darks63]

Hmm so eleanor wants to be more like Azuren huh? does that mean she will be wearing military uniforms soon

 

[Fiftypence]

Interesting update. Stukov should publish his writings as a sci-fi novel. It would undoubtedly be a bestseller.

 

[unmerged(33638)]

There is only one person who can stop Stukov and that is......Marty McFly, thats right in the Doc's time travelling Delorian!

TC you must make sure that this car is never produced!