Tragedy on the Moscow Metro

So soon after the passing away of the Great Putin, the United Russia coalition was dealt yet another blow. Galia Ryzkhov, 48, died after being viciously gunned down while waiting at the Manezhnaya Ploshchad Metro station.

It is understood by this reporter that the incident occurred after a heated argument between the former Prime Minister and Grigori Nekrasov, involving the possibility of a new direction for United Russia. Witnesses said that Mr. Ryzkhov stormed off in a rage, swearing that he was going to join the major opposition party, the CPRF.

Mr. Ryzkhov's bodyguards attempted to follow him, but were delayed by large crowds of off-shift workers. It is thought by the police that the shooter or shooters then managed to catch him by surprise, as the ballistic trajectories showed that he was hit entirely in the back, while waiting for his train. He had been shot at close range 17 times with a semi-automatic pistol, possibly a Makarov PM.

When asked for his opinion, Mr. Nekrasov said that "I am very sorry that an event like this had to sully the reputation of our fair city. While I want the culprits to be brought to justice, I also believe that Galia would have wished us to keep on working for the good of the party, and the nation." He also said that a funeral will occur on the twentieth, with the location to be announced.

There are currently no known suspects, but the Moscow Police Department has stated that this attack does bear attributes of a Russian Mafia killing, and will be conducting inquiries.

- Pravda, 10/15/7


A New Direction?

Grigori Nekrasov, head of the Democratic Unionists, has announced his candidacy for President of Russia. After the historic restructuring of the United Russia coalition under his auspices, the newly-formed Democratic Union Party sailed on to win massive victories in the 2071 parliamentary elections, ending with 44% of the vote. The Communist Party of the Russian Federation got 32% of the vote, and the far-right National Bolsheviks finished third with only 18%. The remainder was split by the other minor parties.

Unless the other two major parties put up a big fight, it appears that victory is certain for the globalist Nekrasov. With the Democratic Union Party's broad base of support amongst the middle-class, others will find it difficult to challenge his lead.

- BnL World News Daily, 01/03/72


"We stand on the precipice of change. But simply because we are on the precipice, does that mean we should fear it? Nyet! We must not fear change, we must embrace change!

"Many years from now, your children and your children's children will ask you, what did you do? Did you stand with everyone else, to move the country forward? Did you act to have Russia join the world, join the rest of civilization?

"If you vote for me, you vote for change! You vote for a new beginning! With your vote, you will be able to look your child straight in the eyes and say, Da! I stood against tyranny, against poverty, against illiteracy, and against superstition. I stood against all of these things, but most of all, I stood up for you!"

Grigori basked in the waves of applause, feeling the drug-like adulation of his followers flow directly into him. As he left the podium, waving, his flunky Pavel hurried over to follow in his footsteps. "That was good, hozyain. Real good. Just like always." They got into their waiting car, as a cordon of security guards blocked off obsessed fans or possible assassins from getting too close.

When he finally got to his hotel room, Grigori collapsed bonelessly onto his bed. Pavel hovered around, asking him if he wanted anything to drink. He grunted by way of response.

After asking again in a louder voice, Pavel noticed that his superior's chest was rising steadily up and down. Realizing that Nekrasov must be asleep, he tiptoed quietly out of the room and closed the door.


The next morning, Grigori was eating his breakfast when Pavel, who was standing nearby, cleared his throat.

"Yes?" Grigori said, without looking up from his blini.

"Um, hozyain, I've been thinking…"

"What?"

Pavel scratched his nose absent-mindedly. "I've been kind of wondering to myself, you know? And I wanted to know what you're gonna do. After you're done with everything, I mean."

Grigori set his fork down with great deliberation. He said, "I'm afraid I have not planned anything specific, as of yet. Why?"

"Really?" Pavel's eyes bulged. "I've already thought that I'd buy a house in St. Petersburg. And a dacha. I think I'd have some money left after that, too."

"I am not doing this for money, Pavel."

"You're kidding me!" he said incredulously. "But isn't that's what it's all about, hozyain? That's what BnL is paying us f-"

"Stop." Clouds had gathered on Grigori's face. "Do not say their name. I'm still not sure if it is safe, here."

"Right, hozyain," Pavel said shamefacedly.

Grigori's expression softened a bit. "I'm sorry, Pavel. I think I'm still a little tense. That was a pretty big crowd, last night. Still having to get used to it, that is all."

Pavel nodded eagerly in agreement, and Grigori went back to eating his blini as though nothing had happened. After he had finished breakfast, he suddenly said, "I will probably be running things, you know."

His flunky gave him a look of complete incomprehension.

"What you said earlier. I'll probably keep on running things. That's what the Yankees said would happen, anyhow."

"What, really, hozyain? But you don't have to! You could retire. Hell, you could even build a whole damned house out of gold bricks!"

"As I said earlier, Pavel, that's not the point. That's not why I am doing this."

Once again, total confusion.

Grigori decided that this would require an extensive discussion, and so he pushed back his chair, and got up. He walked back into the bedroom, which had been swept earlier and was certified to be safe, at least from any non-BnL equipment. Pavel followed him silently.

Nekrasov turned and looked the other man in the eyes. "How can I explain this…" He thought for a second. "You remember the old man? Ryzhkov?"

Pavel screwed his eyes up. "Oh, yeah. The guy you wha-" He caught himself.

"Yes, that guy. Anyway, do you remember what his policies were?"

"I dunno." He shrugged helplessly.

"Stop being an idiot, Pavel! I know you've got a brain in there, somewhere."

"Um… He wanted to keep things the same?"

"Perfect. Yes, he wanted to keep the status quo. That was his mission, his goal in life.

"The problem is that the status quo was untenable. Impossible to keep. Unemployment is rising, companies are shutting doors, and prices are always going up. Why? Because of BnL, of course. Nobody can compete with them exporting, exporting, exporting.

"And he just wanted to keep things the same. So what would his solution be? Bailouts, subsidies, tax cuts. Nothing that addressed the underlying problems.

"Galia Ryzkhov was wrong. And not just wrong, but dangerously wrong. If he got into power, Russia would disappear, forever. It would be the Time of Troubles all over again. But with nuclear weapons.

"What are the other choices? The Communists or the National Bolsheviks, of course. Almost interchangeable, the two of them, just on opposite sides of the political spectrum. But they aren't only just as bad, but worse.

"They'd institute massive nationalization of companies, military buildups, and start rattling their sabres.

"And Buy n Large would respond, naturally, with unstoppable force. We would have no chance of winning.

"So those were the two options. Stagnation, followed by a violent suicide. Or a very short, pointless war with the Yankees, where we'd kill off millions of our citizens.

"When I realized this, I knew there had to be a third way. And there was one. The Chinese took it."

Pavel realized something. "Oh. You mean BnL China?"

"Da. You do not hear much about 'Red' China, anymore. There were one of the first to participate in the Consolidation, after America disappeared.

"We have to take the same route. By peacefully joining BnL, we can avoid bloodshed and death. In addition, we will gain privileges we cannot have if they were forced to conquer us. It is the choice I made. The only right choice.

"So, do you understand now, Pavel?" Grigori looked expectantly at the other man.

"Yeah, I do." He grinned. "So you're basically saying that you believe all that crap you say in your speeches, hozyain?"

Nekrasov was about to strangle him when someone burst into the room. It was Nikolai, their top media watchdog. "Sir!"

"What is it?" Grigori asked, as he removed his hands from Pavel's trembling shoulders.

"I've got terrible news, sir! It's about the Commies and the Nazbols!" Nikolai said, panting.

Grigori snorted in derision. "What? Has Lenin returned from the dead to lead them? Or perhaps God Himself came down and gave His blessing?"

Grim-faced, Nikolai said, "Worse, sir! They've merged and formed the Nationalist Communist Party of Russia!"

As the other two men looked to their leader for direction, Grigori felt the world contract around himself. He knew then that they were, without a doubt, doomed.