Greater Russian Republic
In Moscow, the capital...
The report of the Internal Minister is troubling to President Boris Karimov. It seems a socialist party has begun changing the laws in Quebec. And in the East, Mongolia is in rebellion, so there might be some rebels coming across the border or some instability on the frontier.
All this just before the President and his family were supposed to go to the countryside for a little vacation.
"So far the legal changes have been small," the Minister said, "but if they press on, it may even lead to secession from the Greater Russian Republic."
"I won't allow that to happen," Karimov responded, frustrated, "our gambit with freeing Liberia was a disaster. The poor fools were invaded within a year. Imagine what would happen if Quebec and Greenland suddenly are just released like that by us. The neighboring countries would be snarling over the opportunity to expand their territories."
"But luckily some nearby nations are allies. And Greenland, well... the only good areas are the coasts. The rest is an icy wasteland"
"Yeah, if we lose Quebec, we will have no more need for Greenland. Anyway, we though the French were friendly to us, but look what happened - we had to fight a war with them. Things in the international arena are changing since the Great War. Alliances may shift. Only the ancient Grand Alliance between Greater Russia, Sumeria, and the Teutonic Order remains firm. We must make sure who is friendly to us and who is plotting against us. Friends could be everywhere, but the same can easily be said about enemies. But back to Internal Affairs, is there anything else you'd like to add before I leave?"
"Well, yes, there have been reports of some militant activity near the Pacifican border - probably Russian Mongols trying to rush across the border to help their blood-brothers. Although some administrators have said that they fear the Dark Shroud has returned to plague Russia."
"Ah... the Dark Shroud... We can only hope they have not returned... but let's not jump to conclusions. Anything else?"
"No, sir."
"Well, I'm off, then."
"Goodbye, sir."
...In a village in Russian Mongolia...
Screaming, cries of horror...
A burning Orthodox cathedral...
People are locked inside!
The priests trying to lead a prayer to God, trying to make himself heard over the cries of terror of the faithful
On everyone's tongue is a name noone ever hoped to have to hear or repeat ever again...
By morning, nearly everyone in the village dead. Only a few Russians - two families to be exact - left alive. Why they were left alive, noone knows. What is known is that before they were expelled from their village, the hooligans that perpetrated the massacre branded them on their hands with the symbol "DS"... Could it be them again?