Thought anyone who hadn't read this yet might appreciate a straight run-through 
. I knew something needed to be done, but I didn't feel like writing a chapter, so here it goes.
Grecian, by Nathan K., a.k.a. Toasty
For Lara ^^.
Alexander nervously sat at the desk in his Athens palace's office. The Russians, while good freinds, had been giving him a serious run for his money, and since the space race had heated up, he began to resent his meetings with Catherine.
"Alexander! I have come to you for some deals. We have begun lagging behind you in tech, and very much so need these. What may I trade you for such accomodations?".
Alexander pushed his glasses up his nose and tried to stop shaking. He had to stand up to Catherine to finish ahead of her in the space race, despite her 11 ICBMs.
"I'm sorry Catherine, but we can't accomodate any such accomodations," Alexander smiled on his play on words and stopped smiling when Catherine gave him a cold stare. "Your transitionist economy simply can't accomodate us accomodating such accomodations". Catherine's formerly cheerful smily turned to a look of mixed anger and confusion. At least Alexander had lost her in his words. "You see, you just simply don't have anything we want. Since you have just recently switched from Democracy to Communism, which I applaud, your treasury does not hold half of what would be neccessary. My interests favor the Greek people over the Russian people. You understand, don't you, friend Catherine?"
Catherine quickly turned cheerlful. She realized that the Greco-Russian friendship, though falsified, kept the world in a balance and also kept her safe from Greek ICBMs and their tactical nukes. "Of course I do. However, once we get the money, we'll send it, and I expect to get the technologies."
Alexander became nervous again. His glasses slid down his nose and he pushed them up again.
"Of course, Catherine. If you ever get the funds."
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Greco-Russian military stalemate had resulted in a technological and economical Cold War between the two. After a division among England, Greece, and Russia of the Iroquois continent, there was a military buildup in both the countries. The former communist and democratic sub-enemies (though both were now communist) waged a war of espionage and funding for the last 20 years. While Alexander had good taps on Russia's close ally, England, the Russians couldn't get a hold on either Greek or French information. With the seperation of the Iriquois, Romans, Germans, and Egyptians, only 4 powers remained with Greece controlling a Western continent and most of the islands.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
In a summit between Catherine and Elizabeth in the Northwestern Muscovite mountains, they "negotiated a mutual defence pact".
"Ah, Catherine! How may I be of service to England's ally?"
"Elizabeth, drop it. I didn't invite you to the freezing North for pleasentries. The Greeks are getting leagues ahead in the tech race--they have computers, lasers, recycling plants, research labs--if we can't catch up to them now, we'll _never_ catch up to them. Problem is, the Greek spies are too slippery for me to get my hands on them in Moscow. We'll have to catch them in London, and Paris."
Elizabeth snorted. "There are no spies in London, that I can guarantee! The Greeks wouldn't try to impede on the royal English gates--" Catherine shoved a document in Elizabeth's face--"Oh, I, erm, see. THEY _STOLE_ SUPERCONDUCTOR FROM US?!" Catherine looked smugly at Elizabeth in her naivety. "Elizabeth, what we need to do first is get our hands on the French. Joan is Alexander's protege, and he treats her like a child, giving her technology like candy. My spies investigated Paris, and they have no intelligence agency. Our agents will move undetected".
Elizabeth stood there, amazed at Catherine's cleverness. "What are you? Obsessed? It's scary".
"Yes, well, whatever--now sign this mutual defence pact so we have an excuse for meeting here. Alexander will never know, and the French will never catch us. At any rate, what should we worry? They have four cities, for gods' sakes. Now just sign, and let's get moving".
Moscow, Rusisia--November 23, 1952--8:56 A.M. local time.
Catherine called in her KGB head of office, Felix Kerensky. Kerensky was an experienced but quiet man; 36 years in the KGB had resulted in a socially excluded person of intellectual sorts. He always wore the same black suit with his sickle-and-hammer crimson tie, but that was as far as his communist allegiance went. He had faired far better under the Russian democracy, and disliked the new attitude of the state, and the space and technological races that devastated the Russian economy. With their army (though the largest in the world) quickly becoming outdated and giving way to nuclear technologies, the intelligence agency had played a far more major role, and Kerensky had become Catherine's right-hand man.
Krensky saluted Catherine as he entered her Cityscape office. The weather outside was chilly, late November had begun to set in. 1952 was supposed to be the warmest winter in Moscow history, but both Kerensky and Catherine resented it. The cold meant more money for armies, and less money for technology and space parts, which spelled more falling behind. The Greeks, able to move their industries to the Southern Roman homelands, would not suffer the same fate as Russia, since 90% of Russian industry was located in the icy former German cities of Hamburg, Frankfurt, Cologne & Berlin.
Catherine saluted to Kerensky, and returned to stirring her French coffee. Kerensky prepared for a verbal bashing on his agents failure in Athens; They had been arrested while Catherine was on "holiday". Instead, Catherine seemed warm and caring. "Comrade, I have some serious obligations I need you to fulfill. It is a necessity that we should act in Paris for technologies. As you know, our economy is no match for the Greek, so we have planned to steal technologies from the French, in Paris, with the association of English special ops. I need you to organize and plan this. Get your best agents, comrade. Our nation depends on it."
Kerensky, though disagreeing, kept to himself. Hell, the job payed well, why risk it--Catherine would keep him on so long as he did what she said, and no one had been in the KGB for over 35 years except him.
"As you wish, comrade. I'll get Joshifensky on the case".
"Good man".
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Athens, Greece--November 26, 1952--12:22 P.M. local time.
Alexander had invited Joan d'Arc to a Greek spa, BeauGreek, in Athens. God knows the woman needed it, especially with her insistency on fighting in & training for the front lines. Alexander's wife had gone to the BeauGreek for years past now. He had agreed to take Joan there after she arranged it with her over the satellite phone. Alexander resented it, but went along with it.
The planned to meet in front of the Greek politburo building, which stood in the shadow of Alexander's magnificent palace, at 12:45. Alexander had gotten done early and decided to go outside for a cigarette.
Athens was a busy city, rather unaffected by winter and its small population. Athens was the trading capitol of the world, and you saw the multinationalites of the Greek empire all converge into one beautiful city. While only having a population of 2.5 million (as compared to 6 million man Moscow), it was remarkably developed and clean. Joan d'Arc loved it here, especially in the fall, where the leaves turned colors and stayed on the trees longer than any other place in the world. The Greek flag was hung prominently on the front of the politburo, and it swayed gently in the wind.
Alexander stood there amazed. This was only a fraction of his creation, his family's millennia-old work. To think such a thing could be created and owned by a single man. It boggled his mind.
Joan D'Arc arrived, and the shook hands. They quickly left for the spa, and would spend the entire time discussing the Russians. Alexander loathed such things.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paris, France--December 2, 1952--10:42 P.M local time
Joan d'Arc was painfully aware of her nation's weakness. She looked down at the main street of Paris from her army headquaters; all the tanks in the armee wouldn't make up half the traffic on the road. such were the faults of democracy.
A gentle knocking was made on the door. Joan d'Arc snapped away from her pity party.
"Come in," she said quietly.
In stepped her intelligence chief. Their intelligence operation had been completely under wraps; not even the citizens of France knew of it.
"Bonjour, Mon ami. You were thinking pretty hard, eh?"
"Yes, yes...anyways, what have you come to see me about, Couplain?"
"Our informant in Moscow has given us information about an operation. It turns out the Russians and English have an entire intelligence undergroun running in Paris as we speak".
Joan d'Arc, still disheartened by thinking of her nation's faults, smiled weakly.
"Make sure Alexander knows about this. I know our informant wouldn't want another communist power knowing, but this is too important".
"Oui, Madamoiselle. I shall contact the radiomen immediately.
Couplain stepped out the door, and Joan returned to looking down at Main street.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Majenour (a suburb of Paris), France--December 2, 1952--12:03 A.M. local time.
Yuri Joshifensky was going to lead the Russian part of the special ops. They were going to place a man inside the palace, possibly as a cook of sorts; Joan d'Arc was well known for her extravagant banquets and great meals. It was the one area for France where no other nation could compare.
Yuri's counterpart, English lieutenant John Comwell, would also be helping the operation. The irony of it all was that they were meeting at a suburb resturant for cooking lessons. All in the sake of communism. Joshifensky had laughed in Kerensky's face when he had told him his first objective was to train his crew in French cooking.
While Yuri and John rarely spoke, there was a certain understanding between the communist and the democrat. They were both experienced, and both knew what they were doing, and as such they left eachother alone.
What they did not know, however, was that back in the Paris headquaters, French intelligence authorities were investigating. When they returned, they had no idea what had happened there.
They were being weaved in to a trap by something they did not even know about.
. I knew something needed to be done, but I didn't feel like writing a chapter, so here it goes.Grecian, by Nathan K., a.k.a. Toasty
For Lara ^^.
Alexander nervously sat at the desk in his Athens palace's office. The Russians, while good freinds, had been giving him a serious run for his money, and since the space race had heated up, he began to resent his meetings with Catherine.
"Alexander! I have come to you for some deals. We have begun lagging behind you in tech, and very much so need these. What may I trade you for such accomodations?".
Alexander pushed his glasses up his nose and tried to stop shaking. He had to stand up to Catherine to finish ahead of her in the space race, despite her 11 ICBMs.
"I'm sorry Catherine, but we can't accomodate any such accomodations," Alexander smiled on his play on words and stopped smiling when Catherine gave him a cold stare. "Your transitionist economy simply can't accomodate us accomodating such accomodations". Catherine's formerly cheerful smily turned to a look of mixed anger and confusion. At least Alexander had lost her in his words. "You see, you just simply don't have anything we want. Since you have just recently switched from Democracy to Communism, which I applaud, your treasury does not hold half of what would be neccessary. My interests favor the Greek people over the Russian people. You understand, don't you, friend Catherine?"
Catherine quickly turned cheerlful. She realized that the Greco-Russian friendship, though falsified, kept the world in a balance and also kept her safe from Greek ICBMs and their tactical nukes. "Of course I do. However, once we get the money, we'll send it, and I expect to get the technologies."
Alexander became nervous again. His glasses slid down his nose and he pushed them up again.
"Of course, Catherine. If you ever get the funds."
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Greco-Russian military stalemate had resulted in a technological and economical Cold War between the two. After a division among England, Greece, and Russia of the Iroquois continent, there was a military buildup in both the countries. The former communist and democratic sub-enemies (though both were now communist) waged a war of espionage and funding for the last 20 years. While Alexander had good taps on Russia's close ally, England, the Russians couldn't get a hold on either Greek or French information. With the seperation of the Iriquois, Romans, Germans, and Egyptians, only 4 powers remained with Greece controlling a Western continent and most of the islands.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
In a summit between Catherine and Elizabeth in the Northwestern Muscovite mountains, they "negotiated a mutual defence pact".
"Ah, Catherine! How may I be of service to England's ally?"
"Elizabeth, drop it. I didn't invite you to the freezing North for pleasentries. The Greeks are getting leagues ahead in the tech race--they have computers, lasers, recycling plants, research labs--if we can't catch up to them now, we'll _never_ catch up to them. Problem is, the Greek spies are too slippery for me to get my hands on them in Moscow. We'll have to catch them in London, and Paris."
Elizabeth snorted. "There are no spies in London, that I can guarantee! The Greeks wouldn't try to impede on the royal English gates--" Catherine shoved a document in Elizabeth's face--"Oh, I, erm, see. THEY _STOLE_ SUPERCONDUCTOR FROM US?!" Catherine looked smugly at Elizabeth in her naivety. "Elizabeth, what we need to do first is get our hands on the French. Joan is Alexander's protege, and he treats her like a child, giving her technology like candy. My spies investigated Paris, and they have no intelligence agency. Our agents will move undetected".
Elizabeth stood there, amazed at Catherine's cleverness. "What are you? Obsessed? It's scary".
"Yes, well, whatever--now sign this mutual defence pact so we have an excuse for meeting here. Alexander will never know, and the French will never catch us. At any rate, what should we worry? They have four cities, for gods' sakes. Now just sign, and let's get moving".
Moscow, Rusisia--November 23, 1952--8:56 A.M. local time.
Catherine called in her KGB head of office, Felix Kerensky. Kerensky was an experienced but quiet man; 36 years in the KGB had resulted in a socially excluded person of intellectual sorts. He always wore the same black suit with his sickle-and-hammer crimson tie, but that was as far as his communist allegiance went. He had faired far better under the Russian democracy, and disliked the new attitude of the state, and the space and technological races that devastated the Russian economy. With their army (though the largest in the world) quickly becoming outdated and giving way to nuclear technologies, the intelligence agency had played a far more major role, and Kerensky had become Catherine's right-hand man.
Krensky saluted Catherine as he entered her Cityscape office. The weather outside was chilly, late November had begun to set in. 1952 was supposed to be the warmest winter in Moscow history, but both Kerensky and Catherine resented it. The cold meant more money for armies, and less money for technology and space parts, which spelled more falling behind. The Greeks, able to move their industries to the Southern Roman homelands, would not suffer the same fate as Russia, since 90% of Russian industry was located in the icy former German cities of Hamburg, Frankfurt, Cologne & Berlin.
Catherine saluted to Kerensky, and returned to stirring her French coffee. Kerensky prepared for a verbal bashing on his agents failure in Athens; They had been arrested while Catherine was on "holiday". Instead, Catherine seemed warm and caring. "Comrade, I have some serious obligations I need you to fulfill. It is a necessity that we should act in Paris for technologies. As you know, our economy is no match for the Greek, so we have planned to steal technologies from the French, in Paris, with the association of English special ops. I need you to organize and plan this. Get your best agents, comrade. Our nation depends on it."
Kerensky, though disagreeing, kept to himself. Hell, the job payed well, why risk it--Catherine would keep him on so long as he did what she said, and no one had been in the KGB for over 35 years except him.
"As you wish, comrade. I'll get Joshifensky on the case".
"Good man".
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Athens, Greece--November 26, 1952--12:22 P.M. local time.
Alexander had invited Joan d'Arc to a Greek spa, BeauGreek, in Athens. God knows the woman needed it, especially with her insistency on fighting in & training for the front lines. Alexander's wife had gone to the BeauGreek for years past now. He had agreed to take Joan there after she arranged it with her over the satellite phone. Alexander resented it, but went along with it.
The planned to meet in front of the Greek politburo building, which stood in the shadow of Alexander's magnificent palace, at 12:45. Alexander had gotten done early and decided to go outside for a cigarette.
Athens was a busy city, rather unaffected by winter and its small population. Athens was the trading capitol of the world, and you saw the multinationalites of the Greek empire all converge into one beautiful city. While only having a population of 2.5 million (as compared to 6 million man Moscow), it was remarkably developed and clean. Joan d'Arc loved it here, especially in the fall, where the leaves turned colors and stayed on the trees longer than any other place in the world. The Greek flag was hung prominently on the front of the politburo, and it swayed gently in the wind.
Alexander stood there amazed. This was only a fraction of his creation, his family's millennia-old work. To think such a thing could be created and owned by a single man. It boggled his mind.
Joan D'Arc arrived, and the shook hands. They quickly left for the spa, and would spend the entire time discussing the Russians. Alexander loathed such things.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paris, France--December 2, 1952--10:42 P.M local time
Joan d'Arc was painfully aware of her nation's weakness. She looked down at the main street of Paris from her army headquaters; all the tanks in the armee wouldn't make up half the traffic on the road. such were the faults of democracy.
A gentle knocking was made on the door. Joan d'Arc snapped away from her pity party.
"Come in," she said quietly.
In stepped her intelligence chief. Their intelligence operation had been completely under wraps; not even the citizens of France knew of it.
"Bonjour, Mon ami. You were thinking pretty hard, eh?"
"Yes, yes...anyways, what have you come to see me about, Couplain?"
"Our informant in Moscow has given us information about an operation. It turns out the Russians and English have an entire intelligence undergroun running in Paris as we speak".
Joan d'Arc, still disheartened by thinking of her nation's faults, smiled weakly.
"Make sure Alexander knows about this. I know our informant wouldn't want another communist power knowing, but this is too important".
"Oui, Madamoiselle. I shall contact the radiomen immediately.
Couplain stepped out the door, and Joan returned to looking down at Main street.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Majenour (a suburb of Paris), France--December 2, 1952--12:03 A.M. local time.
Yuri Joshifensky was going to lead the Russian part of the special ops. They were going to place a man inside the palace, possibly as a cook of sorts; Joan d'Arc was well known for her extravagant banquets and great meals. It was the one area for France where no other nation could compare.
Yuri's counterpart, English lieutenant John Comwell, would also be helping the operation. The irony of it all was that they were meeting at a suburb resturant for cooking lessons. All in the sake of communism. Joshifensky had laughed in Kerensky's face when he had told him his first objective was to train his crew in French cooking.
While Yuri and John rarely spoke, there was a certain understanding between the communist and the democrat. They were both experienced, and both knew what they were doing, and as such they left eachother alone.
What they did not know, however, was that back in the Paris headquaters, French intelligence authorities were investigating. When they returned, they had no idea what had happened there.
They were being weaved in to a trap by something they did not even know about.
