AN: I'm considering the way I update. I'm a few updates ahead usually, and the daily schedule is good for drawing in readers, as the story stays higher in the boards for longer, but I think it might harm readability. For example, this chapter and the one before are rather crudely separated, when they should really be one chapter, as one follows quickly on the heels of the other. Thoughts on this? I can increase the size of the chapters but that reduces the speed of the updates.
Also there are a few intentional errors in this chapter, consider the characters' limited knowledge, different research available in the late 40s, and unreliable narrators.
Also, Markov was only a Doctor in the earlier chapters, but now he's a Major. Let's go with the later. Interestingly, the canon Russian program also had a Markov in it. An amusing coincidence!
Igor rolled his eyes. "As Comrade Lebev has indicated, the roman society was an inefficient one, relying on slaves. Since coming here they subjugated the native population, and attempted to enslave the beasts. This created two tiered system of slavery, with the human natives being domestics, and the beasts the labourers. The beasts proved rebellious and once the romans conquered this side of the mountains they were unable to penetrate further to get more slaves. Their population of beast slaves wasn't high enough to be viable, and eventually they were abandoned or killed. The human slaves refused to do the work of beasts and eventually slavery was reduced significantly. The only slaves now are debtors and criminals… which I suppose tells you something about the nature of capital here." The last statement was cowardice on his part, Igor knew, but he had to maintain his position after all, even if that meant further adherence to doctrine. His influence on the program and friendship with Vladimir only went so far.
At any rate, he got a laugh out of them, which was more than Lebev managed. "The allies the romans brought with them were settled closer to Vulcan's lands, and have most often borne the brunt of the attacks, while Roman colonists established the towns that you've seen the ruins of on our journey here. They seem to almost practice the Deep Battle techniques that you are no doubt more familiar with than I, as the periodic attacks penetrate quite far into roman territory, in the last hundred years getting within ten kilometres of the city, before being halted. This means the roman military is directly toward the mountains in a cone shape, with the edges being marked by the allied cities. The military establishment is composed of three echelons, degrading in morality and quality as they get further away from the enemy."
"As usual!" Someone shouted.
There was a laugh at that as well, but Igor saw Basin's eyes narrow, though Vladimir grinned at it. He heard a huff of amusement from Ilya behind him. One thing he understood was that morale was excellent in the SGC, mostly due to Vladimir and Abramovich's skill and charisma. As he understood it most of the SG team members, and all of the leaders, had known both the commanders for years or more. He was less sure of the Regimental men and officers, perhaps that was why they hadn't been included in the meeting. That made sense really, the SG teams were much more diverse than usual, and their quality merited it. There were a few Jews, and some others that didn't belong, Ilya being a good example. The man had a slight lilt on certain words, perhaps why didn't speak so much. Igor thought he was a Ukrainian. He had seen Dimitri wearing a cross along with his tags, but the big man, just like the sniper, was much too close to the Colonel for anyone say a word against him.
After the men had settled down he continued, "The first echelon is manned by solid, but ultimately expendable soldiers. They see themselves as the bulwark of their civilisation, and it's a position of great honour to be chosen for the position. It can enhance a politician's status greatly to hold office there. However, roman officers fight from the front. Most of the governorships end violently, and I get the impression its used to get rid of people the Senate doesn't like. General Thurius, the current military governor, has three ancestors who held the same position, all of which died in battle."
"Lastly, Comrade Lebev and I have observed a definite schism in the roman society. The oppressing classes favour the old systems from a thousand years ago, while those close to the enemy, the peasant farmers and soldiers, have adopted 'foreign' customs from the auxiliary troops, both in terms of tactics and politics. This divide has occasionally erupted into violence, with several of the military governors, once they've repelled an invasion, marching on the capital and taking over. Some had attempted reform, and are assassinated, others are corrupted into vice." Having finished his presentation, Igor sat, and the meeting continued for a while, with various military matters discussed that largely went over Igor's head.
At length, Vladimir stood. "Comrades! We have heard the historical narrative, and the judgements of our experts on the societies of Elysium. What then are we to do? Can we abide not only a system that holds slaves, but a system ruled by an autocrat?"
The rhetoric largely washed over Igor, though he found himself seeing his friend in a new light, not only his words (which Igor expected from any senior officer of the Red Army), but his bright eyes and piecing gaze. They had often debated issues of politics resulting from their experiences of primitive societies, and had exchanged their stories of the cultures they'd visited, Igor regarding his travels in the Middle East, and Vladimir telling him about his time in the Balkans and the Baltic states. Perhaps where Igor had ignored the conditions of the people, Vladimir had seen a situation to be changed.
"Comrade Lebev has told us of the 'democratic' system" and Vladimir spat the words, "and of the mysticism and superstition that governs all estates of the people… But should we be surprised comrades? Haven't we recently seen men marching under eagles? Who did we know Caesar as?"
"The Tsar." Igor heard himself say.
"We must remind our roman comrades that Rome was a republic before it was an empire! When the romans drove out their king, they shouted 'And thus to Tyrants!', don't you think Comrade Voykov did the same? Can we do any different than as he did then and remain true to our principles?"
Dark laugher rang out from the soldiers.
"So comrades, make mistakes!" Vladimir laughed, "Talk to the romans, ask them the policies of their rulers, ask them what they king believes, then apologise when they tell you kings are abhorrent to them. 'After all', you will say, 'if a man wears a golden crown what can he be but a king'."