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You know, I’ve been re-reading this thing again and going over it for a second time I have to admit, the Romanovs...they’re kind of a-holes.

They talk a big deal about being the good guys, how Syndicalist imperialism is bad and how they’re trying to save democracy and all that, but truth is, no, no they’re not they’re just as imperialistic as the other guy, they just have better PR.
 
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You know, I’ve been re-reading this thing again and going over it for a second time I have to admit, the Romanovs...they’re kind of a-holes.

They talk a big deal about being the good guys, how Syndicalist imperialism is bad and how they’re trying to save democracy and all that, but truth is, no, no they’re not they’re just as imperialistic as the other guy, they just have better PR.
rare historical footage of the united states in the otl cold war
 
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Actually, speaking of the US, I've thought for a while that as the years go on some figures from OTL could rise to prominence in the USSA. In particular I'd think Richard Nixon, Lyndon Johnson, and George Wallace would have had little problem starting their political careers with the Socialists rather than the two party system. Hell, even Ronald Reagan might decide that there's a place for him in Chicago; he did, after all, start out in a labor union before moving to Hollywood.
 
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Actually, speaking of the US, I've thought for a while that as the years go on some figures from OTL could rise to prominence in the USSA. In particular I'd think Richard Nixon, Lyndon Johnson, and George Wallace would have had little problem starting their political careers with the Socialists rather than the two party system. Hell, even Ronald Reagan might decide that there's a place for him in Chicago; he did, after all, start out in a labor union before moving to Hollywood.

It would probably at this point depend a lot on -"Dad, what did you do in the war" as well as that age old factor - Background, Background, Background. You've got a Californian and 2 Southerners on that list. Both of them groups that are at best of times looked at suspiciously due to being former "enemies". Ironically enough, if Mr Rayguns wasn't as religious as he was then he'd probably be the best fit.

People can of course change and it would be weird of them to not change, after seeing America ripped in twain by war. However by 1936 there probably was enough wannabe unknown Syndies in the wings to staff the American administration twice over and these people expect roles. Why "revolutionary comrades" ought to sidelined in the name of, at worst, potential traitors and, at best, unknown quantities is surely a question that should be answered before introducing such players.
 
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It would probably at this point depend a lot on -"Dad, what did you do in the war" as well as that age old factor - Background, Background, Background. You've got a Californian and 2 Southerners on that list. Both of them groups that are at best of times looked at suspiciously due to being former "enemies". Ironically enough, if Mr Rayguns wasn't as religious as he was then he'd probably be the best fit.

People can of course change and it would be weird of them to not change, after seeing America ripped in twain by war. However by 1936 there probably was enough wannabe unknown Syndies in the wings to staff the American administration twice over and these people expect roles. Why "revolutionary comrades" ought to sidelined in the name of, at worst, potential traitors and, at best, unknown quantities is surely a question that should be answered before introducing such players.
Honestly at least for Nixon and Reagan (LBJ and Wallace were definitely Longists) I'd argue there's a very real chance they were Syndicalist true believers from the start ttl- Reagan's father was an Illinois union man, and Nixon grew up desperately poor; a worse Depression and a failure of the establishment could easily push them, particularly Reagan, into becoming Syndies.
 
LBJ is actually the one that I would doubt the Longist thing on. Wasn't he rather tight with Garner? Actually on that note, did Aussie ever mention who actually won presidential election prior to ACW2 or was it a very American coup? I tried looking for it, but gave up after a point as other stuff came up. On Reagan I do actually agree, as I said, provided he didn't end up in the PSA when the war started or he'd probably in a slightly sticky situation. Point taken about Nixon as well, but also being in the PSA at that point - probably not good for you if you're a Syndie or a sympathiser. Somewhat to tied in on this is also the question of whether they actually survived the war.

A lot of butterflies in this regard though and the question on their alignment towards the Church would probably have a rather big influence on their potential careers. Nixon was a Quaker after all and Reagan's mother was a very strong influence on him in this regard. One of the most tragic things with revolutions and civil wars is not necessarily the fact that so many that believe in one of the causes go down with it. Nor necessarily the fact that so many that just want to be left alone are drawn into the fight. Both although quite disheartening pale in the face Saturnian nature of the revolutions. Although, if nothing less seeing both Reagan and Nixon or either of them appearing in a show trial in California about undermining the USSA through the evangelisation of Christian Socialism or even "Liberation Theology" trying to argue their point by showing the medals they won in the fight to bring about Syndicalism in American during the Second American Civil War would also be something to behold and Aussie did promise us misery.
 
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Ok, again, I’m still re-reading the story and I’ve noticed a couple other things. Putting aside the fact that I just noticed that we’re reading the story from the Russian perspective, which means that we probably aren’t getting a full/fair picture of how things went on, which makes me confident of my theory that the Russians are actually the baddies (the totalists are also evil, even more evil than the Russians I might say lol) but the royals’ autocratic rule over Russia cannot be allowed to last. Anyways:

1) Why/how did the Pope not officially object to the Russians calling themselves the “Russo-Roman” empire ? They’re as much Roman as I am a Russian lmao.

Also their claim to “Romanhood” should carry as much international legitimacy as the old Ottomans’ claim to be Kaisers of Rome, that is, no legitimacy what so ever.

2) The states of Syria, Lebanon and Iraq are powder kegs waiting to explode, and explode they most certainly will, probably around the 1960s. Just around the same time all of Russians other mistakes come to bite them in the bum.

3) Where does Vlad get off telling the Ottoman caliph that his rule is now illegitimate because of the atrocities committed by his house agains his Armenian subjects ? Did Vlad forget the history of Russia and the history of his own house ? Did he forget why Russia was such a fertile ground for the Bolshevik revolution to take hold ? How did the Ottoman caliph not just burst out laughing in his face when he heard his words ?

4) how did the move that he pulled with the OHL when Kira called him to help her out not make the Germans distrust him even more ? How did they not see that they have most probably now permanently and irreversibly lost Kaiserreich and that the Kaiser of the German empire is now little more than the Governor of Russia’s Oblast of Germany ? Especially since the Tsar’s other sister (I forgot her name) pulled the same move with her husband in Serbia.

For all those reasons I now announce that I have switched parties and have formally joined the opposition wing of the SR. Russia must never again be ruled by the whims of one man no matter who he may be. Limits must be set on the powers of the tsar and the Duma must regain its legislative powers again instead of its sad current existence as an “advisory body” serving little more purpose than to be a rubber stamp existing only to cheer for the tsar every time he farts or to cower from him like chided slaves everytime a Duma member “forgets his place” and actually speaks up his mind.
 
Ok, again, I’m still re-reading the story and I’ve noticed a couple other things. Putting aside the fact that I just noticed that we’re reading the story from the Russian perspective, which means that we probably aren’t getting a full/fair picture of how things went on, which makes me confident of my theory that the Russians are actually the baddies (the totalists are also evil, even more evil than the Russians I might say lol) but the royals’ autocratic rule over Russia cannot be allowed to last. Anyways:

1) Why/how did the Pope not officially object to the Russians calling themselves the “Russo-Roman” empire ? They’re as much Roman as I am a Russian lmao.

Also their claim to “Romanhood” should carry as much international legitimacy as the old Ottomans’ claim to be Kaisers of Rome, that is, no legitimacy what so ever.
When you have the biggest army and the mostest guns, you can make cheesy proclamations as much as you want, others have to eat it. It's good to be the Czar.

And why should the pope mind. He's got other things to worry about than protecting an expired "Roman" trademark.

The people in the Russian empire loved the "Roman" thing btw. Total no brainer if you're the Czar. It's good to be the Czar.
2) The states of Syria, Lebanon and Iraq are powder kegs waiting to explode, and explode they most certainly will, probably around the 1960s. Just around the same time all of Russians other mistakes come to bite them in the bum.
Tbh given demographic trends in mid 20th century middle east it's always a powder keg irrespective of political system. No political system really handles the transition from illiterate agrarian autocracy to modernity well. Russia herself being the prime example.

I don't quite see why Iraq or Syria or Lebanon are any worse off than they were IOTL? Slapdash creations at the hands of disinterested colonial powers they were, and that's what they are here. What they become is what their elites make of them.

3) Where does Vlad get off telling the Ottoman caliph that his rule is now illegitimate because of the atrocities committed by his house agains his Armenian subjects ? Did Vlad forget the history of Russia and the history of his own house ? Did he forget why Russia was such a fertile ground for the Bolshevik revolution to take hold ? How did the Ottoman caliph not just burst out laughing in his face when he heard his words ?
Vlad declared war on the Ottomans with that proclamation, and that war was going to be somewhat one sided, in his favor. There was nothing to laugh about, for the poor Sultan :)

Also, see item #1: It's good to be the Czar.
4) how did the move that he pulled with the OHL when Kira called him to help her out not make the Germans distrust him even more ? How did they not see that they have most probably now permanently and irreversibly lost Kaiserreich and that the Kaiser of the German empire is now little more than the Governor of Russia’s Oblast of Germany ? Especially since the Tsar’s other sister (I forgot her name) pulled the same move with her husband in Serbia.
When you're big you don't need trust as much as when you're small. Others need your trust instead. Like, an exiled German government on the run.

It's good to be the Czar!

For all those reasons I now announce that I have switched parties and have formally joined the opposition wing of the SR. Russia must never again be ruled by the whims of one man no matter who he may be. Limits must be set on the powers of the tsar and the Duma must regain its legislative powers again instead of its sad current existence as an “advisory body” serving little more purpose than to be a rubber stamp existing only to cheer for the tsar every time he farts or to cower from him like chided slaves everytime a Duma member “forgets his place” and actually speaks up his mind.
Oh you!

*secretly hands him a letter inviting to a conspirational meeting*
 
When you have the biggest army and the mostest guns, you can make cheesy proclamations as much as you want, others have to eat it. It's good to be the Czar.

And why should the pope mind. He's got other things to worry about than protecting an expired "Roman" trademark.

The people in the Russian empire loved the "Roman" thing btw. Total no brainer if you're the Czar. It's good to be the Czar.

Tbh given demographic trends in mid 20th century middle east it's always a powder keg irrespective of political system. No political system really handles the transition from illiterate agrarian autocracy to modernity well. Russia herself being the prime example.

I don't quite see why Iraq or Syria or Lebanon are any worse off than they were IOTL? Slapdash creations at the hands of disinterested colonial powers they were, and that's what they are here. What they become is what their elites make of them.


Vlad declared war on the Ottomans with that proclamation, and that war was going to be somewhat one sided, in his favor. There was nothing to laugh about, for the poor Sultan :)

Also, see item #1: It's good to be the Czar.

When you're big you don't need trust as much as when you're small. Others need your trust instead. Like, an exiled German government on the run.

It's good to be the Czar!


Oh you!

*secretly hands him a letter inviting to a conspirational meeting*
*evil smile* I love democracy.
 
Escalation - Part 2

India

The SeK jets thundered over the Indian countryside, cameras rolling. They adopted their well practiced dance, one jet focused on giving smooth exposure the the rack of cameras rigged in its belly, the others watching air and ground for threats.

In the early days of the war it had always been something. Fire from the ground, ambushes from the air.

But as they roared over the front, this time there was nothing. No flak, no fighters, not so much as a desultory rifle round from a determined revolutionary down below.

The cameras rolled and captured nothing but animal carcases, abandoned villages, and deserted roads.

There was nothing but death to see here.

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STAVKA briefing - Saint Petersburg

“In short, your Majesty may wish to ensure that, should circumstances escalate, we possess the means to strike at the Browderites with sufficient speed and severity.”

Vladimir silently ignored the advice.The Tsar was craned over the great map of India set out on the war-table, zones of red, penciled over with time stamps and scribbled shorthand details were the focus of his shocked attention. “Have we done casualty projections? Do we know how widespread the effects will be?”

Markov stood out of respect, though age was clearly catching up with him prematurely and his stance lacked the robotic rigidity of earlier days, a supportive hand found rest on the table. “We can only guess exposure zones based on reports of illness among our own, or reconnaissance showing evidence of casualties in civilian centres. But based on what we’ve gathered, the exposure areas must be relatively vast - and the spores could easily have traveled on the wind or by river, and we’ve confirmed at least half a dozen cases of contaminated…”

“Marshal, how many?”

“Tens of thousands at the absolute minimum, hundreds of thousands at the worst, based on what we know now.”


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“Majesty, that is hardly the worst of it.” Semenovsky was becoming more confident at these meetings, he had clearly found his place, even if his Guard uniform marked him as an outsider compared to the regular military officers. “My understanding is that this agent, these ‘spores’ are persistent, these areas are not just closed to maneuver, they’re uninhabitable, and they will be for years. I can arrange for a medical expert to provide a briefing if required.”

Vladimir mulled, trying to understand the enormity of what those red marks on the map meant. “There is no way Calcutta managed this by themselves, this has to be a product of the American program, surely?” He didn’t have to ask, Sokhov had already briefed him, but it was always good to test to ensure the military shared the same information.

“We’ve recovered several dispersion munitions Majesty, all manufactured in American arsenals - they may be from a supply transferred to the Mosleyites, though that would hardly explain the payload.”

“Our allies”
interjected President Yusupov “will be well aware that those American flights ranging out towards Britain and Iberia could easily carry such a payload. The media is already openly speculating on whether or not the American bombers might range over the North Pole to deliver such devices here. It would be the end of Saint Petersburg, or Moscow…hundreds of thousands could die in a large-scale attack…”

“They wouldn’t dare, Majesty, and we have no evidence that they have the capabilities required for such a strike on a grand scale”
Markov’s voice was confident, firm, but the room hardly settled.

“I would have agreed, Marshal, but there are now vast tracts of land in India that suggest they would indeed.”

“The Americans have claimed otherwise, or so was my understanding Majesty.”

“And yet…”
Vladimir shuffled through the folder of images he had been presented with to find the image of a salvaged american cluster bomb, complete with biological warning markers “ despite Browder’s claims he had no hand in this we see their fingerprints all about this matter.” He turned to the assembled staff “do the staff have a recommendation for me, given this newly emerged threat?”

“I do not see how war could possibly be carried on”
interjected Trubetskoi, "the warzone is horrifically contaminated, armies can no longer move, and should we persist, this desperate maniac Mosley may go yet further. The Americans are clearly pushing for a settlement of some kind, that is the only thing that can explain their private outreach on the matter. I would suggest your Majesty mimic, in some fashion, that outreach in order to extend our demands. We have achieved many of our goals, this war can end.”

The assembled Generals looked to Markov, as the Prime Minister’s determined interjection closed. Vladimir gestured with an open palm to invite a contribution. Markov bowed his head “it would be prudent to prepare appropriate contingencies, Majesty, if it becomes necessary to strike America itself.”

Vladimir’s gut churned. This whole matter was fast growing out of easy control. Markov’s hints were the most open the old Marshal had ever been. He knew what the Empire had stashed under lock and key behind the walls of its closed settlements, and had been pushing without success for years to move the stockpile, to make that collection of devices more readily deployable. Now, with these horror agents being used in battle, the line on central storage and secrecy seemed harder than ever to hold.

“Can we clear the room please Gentlemen?” Those in attendance understood what that meant. The many filtered out, the few; Yusupov, Markov, Semenovsky, Trubetskoi, stayed.

The men who knew about the devices.

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North Star Facility - Wisconsin

Jamie Sullivan’s hands were still as stone as he depressed the penultimate red tipped plug into position. Without looking away from the device, he extended his left hand back, palm open.

“And the last one now, if you will.”

Mitchell dutifully handed the plug over. They were tubular metal things, with solid red caps that belied their purpose. “Is there a reason we decided to make red ‘safe’?”

Sullivan ignored the dumb question as he practiced inserting the final plug. “Read back on me will you, let’s make sure the list flows.”

Mitchell flicked open the hand-pencilled list. Sullivan stared at his watch, keeping a rough count on time elapsed.

“Check green plugs are installed.”

“Check”


9l50JBnKujQaotGATaBrpfe5EjvuMKgHTZ2onKIqF46P6MEY5XBNYY1M5Iaouez8e11XeZlUG8iHEZPRaCXKG9w4re9cLkLYY5n8t1ceHc_b2sBd9aLpCvrsB-VIOw6OoU-y4z3XfOZcC1GCi7EyMb0

“Remove rear plate”

Sullivan had the thing off with practiced speed. The rear plate of the bomb had scratch marks across its paint from repeated tests and practice runs, making sure the sequence was doable even by whatever idiot the military assigned - assuming the party was ever idiotic enough to hand something like this over. “Check.”

“Remove armour plate”

“Check”
The breech plug was visible now.

“Insert breech wrench into breech plug.” As Sullivan complied, Mitchell opined “do we really need that step, the next one asks them to remove the damn plug. Are we worried they’ll try to do it with their teeth if we don’t specify that they should use the wrench?”

Sullivan stole a glare back at his assistant “Well are you keen to chance the results if some Comrade - bombardier should happen to try?”

Mitchell shrugged in understanding assent “remove breech plug, place on rubber pad”

“Check.”

“Insert charge, 4 sections, red ends to breech…heck you really do spell it out for them don’t you.”


Sullivan ignored him, instead, he practiced setting the perfectly charges into position. Almost there. “Check”

“Connect firing line”


Sullivan casually gathered up the line and prepared to connect it, not that it’d do a thing with the red plugs in place. As he set them, the clacking sound of boot heel on steel flooring reverberated though his skull. The messenger ignored him, handing Mitchell a note before wheeling away and leaving the room as fast as possible. Clearance or not, the non-technical staff knew that seeing as little as possible was the best way to hold on to what few privileges the staff here had for outside leave.

“Issue?” There was silence for a good ten seconds. Sullivan, frustrated, disconnected the firing line and turned around “did you hear me Comrade?

Mitchell was grinning ear to ear. “We’ve done it Comrade, or rather, those rat-bastard Reactionaries have gone and done it.”

Sullivan’s mind raced, while his heart sank. “What?”

“Well they must have done something, somewhere. They’re asking if you can sign off on the arming sequence and draft a manual. We’re to cross-train our air-force comrades, and then hand the devices over in deployment ready condition.”


Sullivan’s heart was getting hit with bursts of adrenalin, he could hear his pulse in his ears. “Mitchell, it’s a science experiment, it hasn’t been tested, I’m not right sure it should be tested. If it’s deployed…”

“Now don’t be humble Comrade”
he said, slapping Sullivan on the back “the minds that went into this, it’ll work just fine, and It’ll carry a hell of a message across the Atlantic.”

“We can’t know they’re actually planning to use the thing Mitchell, how can we?”

“Well we can hope, I’m sick of reading about these damn crimes in India, or the provocations at sea, it’s time London were reminded that it isn't’ out of reach, perhaps give the inbred assholes a payback for New York. Just like that, war over”


Sullivan’s brain recovered, he chose his words more carefully now. “What do they need?”

“Just your arming sequence, and confirmation we’re ready to start training the crew.”

“It’s not ready.”

9c0iGAD8kEp7KdhBXT18KzPr1sKPrynQU5BUedKro01tDFTDVPiPf-AqPXAHuW0ulW_2lQ7R_BADRNtjLpp6yQ4zlUD4J8O_j16NxwcN96JV06aU_YirnuCPko_7VcMKJgjOUABeRPAXzXwPoA3uI1k

Mitchell held out his hands in exasperation “what do you mean it’s not ready, you just ran half the sequence in a few minutes!”

Sullivan lied, he lied like he’d never lied before. There were still risks, he claimed, maybe the crew would set it off early. It could be improved. He didn’t need long he claimed, just a short time, a chance to get it right, the first time. Mitchell raised an eyebrow, but gave in.

“I’ll talk to the boss, get us a few days, a week maybe.”

A few days. May god have mercy on us.

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So, do y’all think India’s gonna get nuked both ways ? With both the Russians and Americans testing out their new toys there ?

“Well we can hope, I’m sick of reading about these damn crimes in India, or the provocations at sea, it’s time London were reminded that it isn't’ out of reach, perhaps give the inbred assholes a payback for New York. Just like that, war over”
You could read that to mean they are gunning for the Britain
 
You could read that to mean they are gunning for the Britain
Wow, how the h did I miss that ? Lol.

If that happens though, even though the Americans know the Russians have “something” up their sleeve and the US is also definitely not out of reach of Japan/Russia, seems like a horrible escalation of the conflict. I know they want to go for an IRL Hiroshima situation, but the UK is no where near as isolated or (rightfully) antagonised as Japan IRL. Also, it would be a shame if a certain young queen gets annihilated in the blast.

Anyways, I wonder who Vlad will appoint as the new king of America.