Palace of Tsar Alexander, Saint Petersburg

"... noble Tsar, another imperial magistrate has been killed in Finland this week. We cannot possibly afford to withdraw a single man from the garrisons there. The situation is simply too tenuous to permit a reallocation of forces from that province, a firm presence in Finland is vital!"

"You sound so much like my father - believing that a million soldiers sitting on their SPORE is enough to deter crime from restless yokels. You do not understand, it is not the presence of a garrison that deters dissent, but it is vicious brutality that is served to these impudent upstarts that dissuades these bumpkins from ever inciting rebellion again. It was Machiavelli that said men must either be treated with kindness or ruthlessness, for men cannot revenge themselves for great injuries. I assure you, that despite the fact that I will be withdrawing garrisons from the region, these Finns will pay dearly for their impudence. Now I'll hear no more of it from you, Lord Reshenkov ." The Tsar said firmly.

"Of course, noble Tsar."

"These troops will be of far more use stationed at the Sea of Azov, noble Tsar." General Rykov assured the Tsar. "Even if the situation in the Ukraine goes as planned, it could draw negative international opinion, perhaps even military involvement from nations like Germany who would like to keep Sevastopol out of Russian hands."

"I agree whole-heartedly, General. I expect to have the Finland garrison at Helsinki halved and brought to Rostov-on-Don on the Sea of Azov by the end of the week."

"It shall be done, Tsar." General Rykov assured.

"Zǎoshang hǎo gémìng!!" the loud speakers said in their echoing electronic call. It was five 'o clock now. Five 'o clock Beijing. Five 'o beginning of the day.

Hou Sai Tang had bothered himself to be in the office at three, well before the workers of China stirred for Breakfast. He had an hour of peace as he viewed his secretaries schedule for him. The ministers of The People's Economics and The People's Welfare were scratched in for twelve. He had seven hours to finish reviewing their reports and concerns as written by The People's Parliament. Outside the loud speakers continued to blare: "The Ministry of the Peoples Resources reports that rice supplies have doubled within the previous two months!" it blared, beginning the daily grind on any changes in rations, "Good weather in Hubei, Zhegiang, Shanghai, and Anhui have brought forth a plentiful harvest over this years winter! More is yet to come as the provinces of Hunan, Guizhou, and Guangxi have yet to report in!"

Hou rubbed is head in frustrated agony. Rice production had been on the rise since last year. It was becoming such an expected thing that he was warned the people would likely revolt if the supplies dropped. Flipping through the pages he looked for possible solutions or ways to fake the rise. But all he could produce was to tap into the reserves of rice to spill out onto the streets and have the logs written as if there was a rise.

"Iron production has dipped down!" the speakers said. The announcer on the other end obviously going to all ends to pretend to be saddened. But his voice perked up when it announced what for, "However it is to be noted from the Ministry of Outward Revolution that iron production is still at the same level as has been! Simply because the production has started on several more war-ships to be put into production later this month!"

The speakers went on, discussing an estimated number of tanks produced. Followed shortly by artillery batteries, planes constructed, and bombs made. These numbers were always vague, often within a deflated range. But no one knew. It was simply said to keep the people positive, thinking that the numbers advertised within sufficient need. And any agents wishing to topple the Socialist regime would go home reporting a number far weaker than really is.

This also reminded Huo Sai Tang. Shortly after his meeting with the ministers he was to discuss furthering the revolutionary cause in Indo-China. Targeting Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand. It had been suggested that agents be sent to Russia to tell the people how they suffer under the Tzar. But one problem arose in the meeting: they knew of no agents who looked Russian enough.

The speakers drowned on. The blaring of rations fading into patriotic anthems of the revolution: powerful choral music that sung of the deeds of the brave boys who lost their lives at Xi'an, Chengdu, Beijing, and elsewhere blood was shed for the revolution. As the day wained further toward the noon hour the songs gave way to news.

Nekemte, Ethiopia

It was early in the morning, early enough that the merchants had yet to awaken and fill the streets with the typical bartering bustle. The quiet of morning was disturbed by the low rumble of engines as a convoy of military vehicles and dark cars crept toward the mansion that stood upon the hill. The Mansion itself paled in comparison to what could be found in richer parts of the world. It has been built out of a church which had been bombed out during one of the many civil wars that had been fought in the last century. The austere remnants of the church had been fixed and combined with the more comfortable (if not gaudily so) trappings of a wealth, a juxtaposition that represented the current state of affairs quite effectively.

This residence did not belong to your average man of wealth, but rather the powerful Ras Hassan. A man of Arabic decent, Hassan was Yohannes's bodyguard before he was emperor. Now middle aged, he had upgraded to political office as Defense Advisor to the emperor, and arguably the emperor's right hand man. He was a man with a short fuse, and well known for his fits of rage, a trait that complimented Yohannes more intellectual and subdued behavior.

Yohannes was indeed a more stoic figure from the outside, but those who knew him were aware he was a man of strong opinions and convictions. His beliefs had been fueled by the things he had witnessed first hand while traveling the world. He was seen a west african woman starve to death within yards of a dinner party held by a German Merchant in Bagamoyo. These events had solidified his belief that the Europeans should be driven from the continent. It was that belief that had started the events leading up to the meeting in Nekemte.

From all over Africa, the leaders of the many anti-colonial independence efforts had managed to smuggle themselves out of their countries to meet with their greatest common supporter. For the first time in the history of the European occupation, these freedom fighters would come together in a united effort to free the continent, and they would do so under the leadership of Yohannes. As the sun started to rise, the meeting that would decide the fate of Africa began as Yohannes started to speak.

"First of all, I would like to thank all of you for coming here. I hope your journeys weren't too difficult considering state of things." the emperor began. "First order of business is the Congo. Mobutu, what is the situation there?"

Joseph-Désiré Mobutu was the leader of the Congolese Independent Army, which had seen the most success of any anti-colonial rebellion. "The Belgians have been forced into the capital at Leopoldstad, and we have taken near control of the countryside. We would have already beaten them, but Belgium has air-lifted troops and supplies. We will need better weapons if we are to liberate the city." reported Mobutu. Yohannes quickly replied "Done. We will furnish you with all you need, on the condition I will explain as our second order of business. Ethiopia is willing to furnish you with the supplies, but we do not give without expectations of return. We will only support your governments in exchange for your vassalage.". Everyone at the table except for the Ethiopians looked shocked. This was not the way they had seen him before, and they weren't fans of oppression. None the same, not accepting would put them at the mercy of the colonial governments. They had no other choice but to agree, and that is exactly what everyone did.