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[i]Over three thousand years ago, sulfur was first used to propel a missile. Over the coming years, the gun would play many pivotal roles. It would come symbolize oppression and tyranny to some. Revolution and freedom to others. It will help start wars and keep the peace. Kill and save lives.[/i]

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[i]"Tools. A shovel is a tool. An axe is a tool. A calculator is a tool. A pen is a tool. A gun is a tool. Tools have one purpose in their existence - to serve the purpose they were created for. Many forget, that revolution is also a tool. It is a way to achieve one' goal and nothing more or less. However, many seem to forget that using tools for destruction is much easier than using them for construction. As it is, many other socialists have deemed the 'Worker' Revolution' the breaker of chains and freedom incarnate for the working man against the burgeoise. This is flawed on the simple fact, that any person is a worker themselves. Even the highest manager of a company, is working for his money. Although his skills are more in the field of intelligence than physical by then. Thus, the more radical socialists invoke the idea of killing one type of worker for the benefit of the other workers."[/i]

[i]"In that same regard, many others seem to forget - that after a revolution, things need to rebuild and remade. One can change the use of a tool, but one can't change the nature of a human being. Many such post-Worker Revolution states are thus, very unstable in small part because those who take over after the carnage are no better equipped to handle the running of a state than those they overthrew. In rare cases this might be the opposite, yet rarely. Thus, this is why many post-Revolution states are often so violent and hostile. Not because of socialist ideals but due to a lack of simple human intelligence."[/i]

[i]"I do belief in socialist ideals - yet I honestly believe any 'Revolution' such be a social one. Namely, the entire spectrum of a population should be involved in change. Both the very poor and very rich, anything less would marginalize the people against one another - and simply replace one system with another, without fixing the problems inside of that system."[/i]

[i]"This is why I state that a Revolution is a tool. It can achieve great good, as shown in the Industrial Revolution - but it can go awry due to human nature, as many state in the new industrial showed in their poor living conditions and meager wages. Like a gun, it can be used for good or bad. Ideas as well, are tools of the mind. Used well, they can be a force of great good. Or mis-used and they can be utilized to oppress the people even further. Once a goal has been achieved, one needs to change the tool used or switch to another one. A Worker' Revolution requires for a Social Revolution to follow - otherwise, human nature will dictate that those in power, will be as corrupt and oppressive as those they had replaced..."[/i]

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The Arkhangelsk Guards Army, the namely official defending forces of the ASU after the collapse of Imperial Russia, was currently practicing their soldiery skills in the vast snowy wastes of the country. Namely, while they weren't as vast as the others - they still had a good deal of ex-Imperial Army soldiers in their ranks. Men whom had decided to stay instead of flee to Petrograd. They had seen enough of the former Tsar' policies - the bloody hunt for socialists and communists, be they innocent or guilty, minority or Russian - to the point, that it bordered on oppression.

Instead, they had decided to remain in lands that were cold yet vast and beautiful. Plus, after the Rebellions, they couldn't namely return even if they wanted - the Imperial Forces had made it quite clear how they treated traitors. Also, despite living under a 'Socialist Union' the state they protected wasn't much socialist compared to some of the current countries in the world. The ASU was more 'cooperative democracy' than anything bordering on socialism. The fancy names and titles, were simply a byproduct - as they were easy to use and manage - and wouldn't get mixed up with Imperial ranks, in case they needed to fight the other Russian factions.

The AGA while small, was organized to be better trained and disciplined - so they wouldn't grumble like they had done against the German Army in the Great War. A soldier in the Guards Army, knew what he was fighting for, knew his brothers and his officers and would be required to give his best. In exchange, his standard of living was modest yet good - plus his pay was a step above, what had been provided in the Imperial Army - as well as his gear. They were namely, trained in guerilla and cold-weather warfare - the AGA had no desire for expansion or conflict with its neighbors, but was prepared for it, if they needed it.

For the most part, they were practicing with grenades - ammunition being scarce as it was, meant they had to enhance their combat multiplier potential. Or in layman terms, they had to punch more than their opposition - Arkhangelsk lacked the industry for heavy equipment. While a small munitions factory was being build in the main city, it would take some time to get it up and running - and even then, it wouldn't allow them to waste ammunition like crazy. 

For a soldier in the Arkhangelsk Guards Army, every shot was meant to count and to kill. For grenades, they utilized currently dummy-grenades, or simply potatoes with stuffed blanks in them. A great way to test the throwing arm of their soldiers, while also simulating the 'pop' of a grenade. 

"Alright, Comrades. Ready, ignite, THROW!" yelled their instructor, Sergeant Leprenkov. As everyone was made to prepare their 'grenade', ignite it near the lit torch, to stimulate pulling the pin and then throw it into the designated hole in the snow. So far, so good it had gone - until they heard the 'dreaded' splat from nearby.

Namely, one Private had dropped his grenade - having had the blank 'detonate' and namely shower the young guy in namely potato bits. "Bah! Yuri you idiot! If that was a real grenade, you would have killed yourself and half your squad. Twenty push-ups right now. Get your hand in straight, never drop a grenade when you have pulled the pin. Better throw it out now, then have it detonate nearby. Would you rather lose some bits of your uniform or half of your arm or leg?"

Leprenkov replied to the silence, by spitting into the snow and asking them to repeat the task. As far as things went, it could be worse - at least they had something approaching to an organized army. While it wasn't much, it was better than relying on the 'Will of the People' for protection. As things went, regular people were more afraid to die - if they had something deep to lose. They could only be relied upon, when things were bad enough that the enemy was at their doorstep. It meant, that while Arkhangelsk had a small population, a large portion of it had a rifle and at least twenty shots worth of ammunition with it and had been trained in how to use it.

Although, it also meant - they would only be utilized in a time of deep crisis - until that day came, the defense of the people was in the hands of people like Polkovnik Marakov, Sergeant Leprenkov and young fools like Private Yuri. Still all things considered, they were at least willing to lay down their life for this - instead of chasing around their own people and killing them like dogs, in some perverse hope that they caught a communist.