September 29, 1938
St. Petersburg, The Russian Empire
Alexander palace
"...Austria is showered with swastikas. It was the 12th of March 1938 and Hitler have finally immerged from his self imposed inactivity. He crossed the boarder from his birth place at Braunau, the people rejoiced at this first act of expansion which they saw as a fulfillment of an old dream of the German nation; "The Anschluss"..."
That one paragraph made Olga more focused on the news reel as it continues to play on the screen, the film shows Hitler being greeted by the Austrian people whom they now see as a hero. Olga have kept a close watch on what the Nazis have been up to since 1933 and as time goes on she can't take her attention of the Nazis due to their determined and highly secretive nature, Olga can see through Goebbles' propaganda but she doesn't know full well about what the Nazis truly are than just a radical political party similar to the Bolsheviks despite the two parties being ideologically different from one another. A knock came on the door, Olga turns her head as it caught her attention.
"Please, come in." She modestly and calmy said.
The door opened and it revealed to be her sister, Maria Nikolaevna, whos now a mother of 8 children. Olga can't believe her eyes, her expression change to that of a happy child, she stood up from her chair and the two sisters embraces each other out of excitement.
"Maria! Oh its been so long!" Olga exclaimed cheerfully.
"It is indeed! Oh my you haven't aged much!" Maria complimented.
"Why thank you, Mashka. I have always took care of my body, as my doctor told me to do so, of course. Oh please have a sit!" She insisted. Olga walked across the room and brings a wooden chair for Maria to sit on. Its been 10 years since the big pair and the little pair have separated, Tatiana still lives in Russia, dedicated to work for the people and provide their needs, Maria now lives in Britian with a certain British officer and Anastasia removed herself from royalty once and for all and lives her dream of being an Actress in America where she now works in Hollywood, baring a stage name "Anna Anderson".
"So how is life in Britain?" Olga asked.
"Its splendid. The country sides are so astonishing, you can never really say you don't want to live there." Maria replied dazing. "And me and hubby are still playing it in bed. Hehehe."
"You be careful." Olga said as she grinned and raised an eye brow.
"I don't think we will." Maria replied mischievously.
Olga shook her head smiling "Oh you are still the same Maria I've always remembered. So what brings you here?"
"Oh nothing, I just wanted to visit home. I got to admit I do missed Russia so much, so I decided to pay a visit. Is it ok if I stay here in the Alexander palace for a week? Please..! This is our childhood home after all." Maria begged.
"Alright." Olga chuckled.
"Thank you, Olaya!" Maria happily replied as she hugs Olga tightly, turning her face blue.
"My pleasure. Now please let me go!" Olga said in a strained voice.
"Oh sorry!" Maria said as she lets go. Maria look around and sees a copy of one their most known portraits, she walks to the table where it stands and picks up the picture and looks at her parents. Maria smiled and sheds a tear, Olga walks to Maria and look at the picture. "I miss them Olaya.." Maria sniffed, Olga puts her hand on Maria's shoulder. "I miss them too, Mashka. They're the ones who made us who we are. I'm sure right now they are smiling at us from Heaven as they see us together again." Olga said, smiling. "It would be better if Tatiana and Anastasia are here. I miss that little rascal." Olga laughs a little. "Come on, let me give you some warm drink."
The dining room
"How's ruling Russia?" Maria asked.
"Well... I can't really say for certain. But I can tell you it's frustrating, but I know God planned this for me and I shall fullfill my duty." Olga replied.
"Have you heard of the Anschluss?"
"Yes I have, I was watching the news reel on that topic when you arrived."
"Oh, I'm terribly sorry to disturb you."
"Oh no no, you're alright. I need a break from watching the Nazis anyway."
"Watching Hitler and his party?" Maria retorted.
"Its no laughing matter, Mashka. I've been keeping a close watch on them ever since Hitler became Germany's dictator and formed "The 3rd Reich". What made me more concern about the Nazis is their plans, plans for eastern Europe, Hitler said it himself in his book "Mein Kamf" he wants to conquer Russia and divide it into colonies for his "Aryan master race". I red that book from start to finish."
Ever since 1926; Olga had been getting information about the activities of the Nazis, she hired her men to hire collaborators that are mainly Anti-Nazi in Germany. But so far, Olga couldn't get deeper information as the Nazis are good at keeping secrets as deep information are only to be found on the top ranks of the party as they only discuss certain plans among themselves and no low rank can ever know. Its much easier to disguise as a low rank compare to disguising as a top rank for the collaborators. Tho through out the years, few collaborators have disappeared without a trace.
"Why can't you send a warning telegram to him?"
"If I send a telegram that states that the power of Russia will be used on him, it will just provoke Hitler and give him a good reason to attack us. Which is what I don't want. And besides, Russia isn't ready for a war ever since the border conflict with Poland which I gladly recognize their sovereignty in return to keep a little bit of territory from their eastern boarder, in addition of a non-aggression pact. Me and my government have been focusing mostly on our economy. So in retrospect; It will be war that ends with a stalemate. At least I think. Russia is too large for Hitler to conquer all of it." As Olga finished, she takes a sip of her warm tea.
Maria flattens her lips and nods in an interested expression. She turns her attention to the tea she drinks. "mmm this is actually one the best teas I have ever had. What spices did you use?"
Olga puts her hand against Maria's ear and whispers it to her
"Oh.."
"Now they shifted their focus on Czechoslovakia. They're the next target." Olga remarked.
"What would you do?" Asked Maria
"Nothing...I-I-*sigh* I don't know." Olga replied in a worrisome tone.
Berlin, German Reich
The Kroll Opera house
The once former stage is now decorated with giant swastikas on each side of the front where performers once dazzled the German Aristocrats and Nobility and a gain German Hawk emblem carrying the Swastika at the center wall now a house of politics with over 800 members of the National Socialist Party on the audience seats and on the stage itself with courtroom like interior with Reichsmarshall Herman Goering on the top, positioned like the United States supreme judge. As its occupants stands up before in the respect of the Fuhrer as he enters the room down the hall section; they raises their right arms to form the Roman salute that turned into an Iconic look of the Nazis, they take a deep breath and shout "SEIG HEIL! SEIG HEIL! SEIG HEIL!" and then stopped. Hitler raised his right hand on a backward position as a follow up greeting to his 800 subjects.
"You may be seated." Hitler orders and slowly all 800 members takes their seats.
Hitler looks around his audience surround him and clears his throat quietly. "Gentlemen, I have gathered you all here today to discuss a long term issue and that is the Sudetenland. Now, knowing full well that the British and the French will not retaliate to the next German conquest, this will be a quick and swift deal. There will a meeting in Munich organized and planned for the Sudetenland crisis, if the Czechs, French and the British does not concede on our terms then we shall threat them an all out war!"
The crowd applauds and nods.
"I also know. I also Know, that the Russians have been "eavesdropping" on our activities, that became worse ever since the Anschluss. So I am inviting the Russian Empress herself to the Munich conference that will held on the 30th of September so we could give her the impression that we do not seek harm."
"Why would we get the Russians involve? They're nothing more than inferior beings who copied western society." A Nazi Politician claimed.
"And what would be the point of pulling the trigger on the Russian imperialists when they have the largest and a very develop army of the world? They can launch them at our path at any moment they wish. Why? Because they are led by an Aryan woman! And we have yet the necessary strategies to launch an attack on Russia and raise the swastika over St. Petersburg. So, your thoughts?"
The politician just stood silent and sat back down.
"Good." Hitler smuged.
"And what if Britain and France does retaliate this time?" Another politician asks.
"Then we shall initiate the full might of the German Reich on their fronts, weather we are prepared or not." Hitler answered seriously. "Now we shall continue on the issue over Czechoslovakia, I have sent a warning to the Czechoslovaks that if they do not concede then war will be our response."
The crowds mur mured to discuss about what Hitler had announced. They all agreed on the matter if Czechoslovakia are to resist the German claims of the Sudetenland in a scenario with Britain and France not involved, they are to respond by war. "Good. You are all dismissed." Hitler raised his hand to which is then followed by the Roman salute of 800 of the politicians.
Great Britain, London
The Parliament Building.
"I say we should retaliate on this expansion!" A British politician claims.
"Do you want another war ya bloody idiot!?" Another rebuttal.
"Order!" The Prime Minister shouted. "Now we are all concerned about issue about Czechoslovakia and how should we respond."
"We have never respond! We let the German re-militarized the Rhineland, we let them violate an agreement in the Versailles treaty, we let the Anschluss slide. And now we are letting them expand to the Sudetenland!?"
"Well it is to avoid war at all cost!"
"Avoid!? We are planting a seed for a new war!"
The Parliament again falls into chaos by the 2 sides of the coin. Neville Chamberlain have struggled to maintain peace, not just in Europe, but the whole world ever since he came to power. Neville could not let this keep up for any longer.
"Order! Order!" He shouted. "Now we are all here to have a civil discussion over the Sudeten crisis, not to act like bloody school children. As we all know; Hitler is an ambitious character and an expansionist at best and the only way to maintain our delicate global peace is by accepting his geo political offers, we cannot afford to cause a second world war. Now I understand many of you lot are angered by this decision. However If Hitler will not stop his expansionist policies then we will respond by war, but that time hasn't come yet."
"But wh-"
"If I were you sir I would respond with war Immediately." A bombastic aristocratic voice said.
"Sir. Winston Churchill?" Neville said shockingly
"That's right. If we were to maintain global peace, we should earn that peace!" Churchill said loudly. The pro war camp cheers and applauds at Churchill whilst the anti-war camp shakes their heads in disagreement, as well as Neville.
"Mr. Churchill, You do not earn peace by force, you earn peace through civil discussion and compromise, as to the case with us and Germany, so far it worked." Neville proudly said.
"You're right; It worked by making the enemy stronger and be its puppet. You sir are a puppet without the strings." The pro war camp cheered at Churchill's remark.
Neville stayed silent, internally defeated by Churchill's remark.
Russian Empire
The Duma Building, St. Petersburg
Tsarina Olga announced a meeting in the Duma at the noon of September 29th. The center room of the building is modeled like a auditorium with bright and dark colors, a red patterned carpet on the floor and a giant Russian Banner at the center wall where the monarch or any other Duma politician would make his/her speech to the Russian Parliament. over 856 Duma Politicians arrives for the meeting and took their seats. The Tsarina walked to the front where the podium is placed with 4 microphones attached to it. Olga stands behind the podium where she then placed a piece of paper. She then turns on the microphones with a switch and clears her throat before she speaks to the whole of the Duma. Her voice fills the room with echo
"Ladies and gentlemen. I gather you all today that we have received message from the German government."
The audience looks at one another with confusion looks as they wondered about the German's intentions are.
"I am invited to a conference at the city of Munich that will take place tomorrow on the 30th of September. Mr. Sergey Verenich will be coming along with me to this meeting."
The crowed applauds at Duma politician Verenich for his honor to come with Tsarina Olga to the Munich meeting.
"Thank you, your highness." Verenich said.
"Your welcome." Olga replied politely. "While I'm away at Munich, a relative of mine shall take my spot as regent of the country and that is my sister, Grand duchess Tatiana Nikolevna, whos skill and talent to lead can fill in the role as temporary regent. Further more, I am announcing that we are to start train our armed forces, just incase if war breaks out."
A mur mur from the whole Duma then results from Olga's statement.
"Further more we are to also to heavily guard and defend our vital cities and keypoints within the empire that IF the Germans ever declare war they will be stuck at a attrition warfare. Thank you for attending, you are all dismissed."
The politicians stands from their seats and starts discussions with one another with groups being formed about the topic. Tsarina Olga meets up with diplomats Ivanov and Verenich.
"Now, Mr. Verenich, you speak 10 languages, German is one of them, correct?"
"Yes, your majesty."
"Good, you will be my translator."
"Yes, your highness." Verenich replied.
"Thank you. Go home and get yourself prepare for tomorrow." Olga ordered.
The Sergey bows and heads of.
In the Alexande palace
Later in her office in the Alexander Palace, Olga phones the British Prime Minister, Nevill Chamberlian. The office is newly completed being medium size space with a large portrait of Peter the Great at the right with the top walls painted dark brown with square shallow panels on the left, right, center walls with gold strip on its center extended surface and 4;5 ft Victorian style white wainscoting at each wall with squares on each center to give a room a more stylish look with a aristocratic feel. Olga helds the phone on her ear as she waits for a reply, after 3 seconds of waiting an old slow voice fills the silence.
"Chamberlain speaking."
"Good afternoon Mr. Chamberlain." Olga greeted.
"Oh, you're majesty, yes what do you need?"
"Asides the upcoming meeting in Munich. Are you really going to bail on the Czechoslovaks to the Germans? That will tarnish the Allies' image and I am saying this as your loyal supporter. You already let the Anchluss happen."
"You're majesty there is no other alternatives to stop Hitler on his expansionism. War should be avoided at all cost, appeasements is the answer. Don't worry I have it sorted a document which states that, he, Hitler, shall halt his expansionist policy once we agree to give him the sudetenland."
"I do not see him ever follow that agreement even if he signs it tommorow. Besides, I have given the order for the Russian emperial army to train incase of war. I think you should do the same." Sterned Olga.
"Oh that wouldn't be nesseary. Once the Munich agreement document is signed we can all lay down our arms and avoid war."
"I still dounbt it, Prime minister. And I am not lowering any arms anytime soon."
"Well then, you do you, your majesty."
Neville hangs up and Olga exhales heavily in stress and worry. Even as she doubts the Munich aggreement would ever work, she hopes it will avoid war. Olga's memories of the first world war is still fresh in her head, she saw the torture the soldiers expirenced at the fronts when she and her sister, Tatiana, were nurses for the Red cross, Olga wants all that to never happen again, she also fears of repeating her father's mistake. Olga stood up and look at the window behind her.
A new game has began...
AN: Do you think I should include the French meeting about the upcoming Munich agreement in this chapter? Yes or no.
AN: Also I decided to add background to how Olga knew information about the Nazis to add more sense to the story. Suggested by JustDerkT