Red Dawn

[Sarah Tintagyl]

Sygh-Varthys, Former Vaule

"A splintered land, upon a splintered map." Said Pyotr Andrevich Gurov as he stared down at an old world atlas opened at the map of Asia. "Those were better times. Those were far better times." The world had changed a great deal since the reforms in the Vaulian government had brought secession of the states to reality, however while protected by their brethren in Buryatia and the independence of a few states near the southern and western end of the area previously known as Vaule, the states seemed to languish, like a shifting wave upon the sand without any direction, any leadership, any destiny. How could such a great state, such a powerful state as Vaule had been be reduced to happiness in a protectorate? Gurov would not believe it was true, he saw the sadness in people's eyes as he walked through the streets of downtown Sygh-Varthys, he saw the patriotism in men's eyes when they looked up that the flag that still hung high in the once proud capital, but since had been extinguished by the independence of new states. He saw the yearning of women, to become greater than they were in the world, to see their sons and husbands off to war, or even to fight themselves and he saw the hope in children that would lead to a bright future to all of Asia and possibly the world, if only they could take the next step.

But what was the next step?

Gurov for all intensive purposes was not by any means an expert politician, mainly because he wasn't a good liar. When he wanted to lie, his fat face would begin to sweat and his gray hair would begin to turn into a sight of shrubbery or wild grass on his head. Though at the same time, because he knew he couldn't lie, he normally tried to tell people exactly what was going on, and the citizens of the region of Sygh-Varthys, the true successor to Vaule thanked him for it. However, Gurov was also a man who knew what he wanted and had a decent knowledge of what the people around him wanted as well. They wanted a destiny, they wanted a future, and they did not want to spend the rest of their time in the purgatory that befell all protectorate states.

The problem here, was while the people of Sygh-Varthys and the outlying regions wanted a rebirth of Vaule, there was no unified movement to achieve that and charisma was something that Gurov did not have. He was an administrator, not a speaker and he was not a leader, but he did want something or someone to follow who was not just an image of dust in the wind. Standing up from his chair, Gurov stretched his old body as he moved about the room. He clasped his hands together and thought deeply for a moment. What had it been that had held Vaule together for so long? His eyes lit up. "The Monarchy!" How could he have been so stupid as to not give the monarchy credit, however even in a monarchical line to bring the nation together there was a problem, the line was linked to Buryatia and therefore most of the relatives had left Sygh-Varthys to join the Royal Court in the east, therefore the problem wouldn't be so much of finding a leader figure, Gurov had the entire genealogy of the House of Zenn at his fingertips, the problem was finding one who wanted a Vaule independent from the wealth and power of Buryatia.

Gurov sighed again as he walked over to his closet and pulled out his coat, his hand, and filled his pipe with a few pinches of tobacco, before taking a match to the leaves. He would have to meet a friend about the future.

The palace in Sygh-Varthys that once housed the Vaulian Royal Family was more a museum than a center of political intrigue and scandal, at times Vaulian Royals would return to walk through the halls and stay their nights in the drawing rooms, sometimes even the Buryatian Royal Court would come and grace the halls of the palace for nostalgic experiences, but for the most part the palace was dark. By the time Gurov had arrived at the black iron gates separating the courtyard from the other avenues of the city, the day guards had long since retired and a night patrol could be seen on the other side of the bars. But what was much more important for him was the sight of a dark figure in a black cloak staring sadly up that palace, the smoke from his breath blowing up into the cold Siberian night.

"You miss it as well don't you Prince Nikolai." Said Gurov as the old man, in the black coat with a brown fur hat approached the cloaked figure, still puffing on his pipe. He took out the pipe as he stood next to the prince and with his tongue licked off the last tastes of tobacco from his teeth.

"How can I not?" Nikolai reached under his cloak and grabbed the cold metal bars. "Our destiny of the nation thrown away by politicians and bureaucrats." He looked at Gurov and laid a strong hand on his shoulder. "We could have had a bright future Pyotr, Vaule could have been the voice of the world."

"It still can Your Excellency. The people want to be united, the people want a future, a strong future, but we can't achieve that with only guidance from Buryatia. The only way that we can have our own path again is if we have Vaule again."

"So the rumors are true then." Nikolai sighed. "I had heard that council members were busy making alliances for such a movement."

Gurov joined the prince holding onto the bars looking into the palace. "I have given a great deal of thought to this matter Your Majesty, a great deal. But the regions, however ambitious they are still mistrusting of each other and therefore we are divided with out a central figure. Your Majesty, you know very well that it was the Royal Family who held this country together."

"Along with the military."

"Which helps hold all nations together. Your Majesty we need a rallying figure. I would do it myself, but I am one of the people that citizens see helped divide our land. But you Prince Nikolai! You, one of the last of the Royal Family to still hold your heart to Vaule, we could unite the regions again, we could become a union again."

The prince let go of the bars and turned out towards the street. "Gurov, we are two men with an unreachable goal without anyway to accomplish it. Two men cannot unite forty-million people."

The administrator smiled and took a puff from his pipe. "That will be my job Your Majesty, I will organize our stepping stones, the regional councils, old and young military commanders, our politicians, our administrators. But you, you can take these pieces, these gears and place them together for a finely tuned machine."

"But will it not just fall apart again? The same people that we are trying to unite, were the people that pulled us apart at the beginning."

Gurov scoffed. "Their notions of independence all failed and now the Dragons and the Asiatic Unity Pact Members are encroaching on our traditional territory. There is a necessary desire or Vaule to hold its own again. Please Prince Nikolai, you want it, I want it, dammit the people want it as well. The only thing separating Vaule from having life again, is for you to give it breath."

Nikolai smiled through his black beard as he took Gurov's hand firmly in his own. "Par Vaule!"

Gurov with tears in his eye wrapped his arms around the Prince. "Par Vaule!"

---

Over the next four months both Gurov and Nikolai set out across the vast expanse of Siberia to begin gathering support for their United Vaule Movement and to Nikolai's surprise, Gurov had been right, the leaders and councils, and most importantly the people wanted to come together, back into the success that they had only a few years prior. From the cities in the south to the frozen villages of the north, the Prince and his soon to be Premier captured the hearts and minds of former Vaulian citizens and brought them, once again under one flag to the beginning of a country. Nationalistic pride grew, patriotism grew, and the desire of the influence that Vaule could once again have on Asia and on the world grew. This had been a nation that had been instrumental in the Communist International, it had moderated various alliances and peace conferences and for Vaule to just dissipate from history would be a sin.

Finally their journey ended, they had moved through the entire protectorate and for the regions that showed a great interest to once again take up a united banner, those councils and their leaders were called to Sygh-Varthys for a broadcast meeting to the world. There, underneath gray skies on the streets of the new capital, stood Nikolai, who was to be proclaimed the new Imperator of the Union of Vaule and to his right, Pyotr Andrevich Gurov, Premier of the new Council of Regions and together they would announce to the world, their success.

My fellow citizens of the Buryatian Protectorate. Our days of living without independence, our days of living without being able to have our own destiny are over. Today, the sun, as in our flag shines down on us with favor and goodwill. For years past, our nation has fallen, some say that we were relocated to the prosperous nations of Buryatia. That is not the case, we are Vaulian, and as such we are entitled to our own destiny that will one day remake Vaule, will remake Asia, my citizens, one day we will remake the world. Inside of each of us there is a greater being that wants to step down their own path and today we have that chance, our Motherland has too great of a history to only stand aside and let time pass without us.

To the world, my friends and neighbors, Vaule will strive to what it has done in the past. To provide a voice of reason to a world divided in chaos and noise. We live in peace of ourselves and that of our friends and I hope as well as my citizens surely hope that our presence in Asia will only lead this continent to further stability.

Under the principles of Meritocratic Socialism Vaule will be taken into the future, our army is tested and ready, our soldiers are dedicated, and our people desire a future. My brothers and sisters, my citizens, and my friends. Please, walk this path with us and together, the sun in our sky will shine brighter than it ever has before.

The crowd turned to wild applause on the television and in a small military compounded near the Poliz border a young woman, Zhana Akatova threw back a shot of vodka and pounded the glass on the table as she stared at the crowd. "Monarchs." She scoffed. "They don't know !@#$ about this country or what people do out here. It all sounds very nice in a speech comrade, but I'm afraid that you want the same destiny that the politicians did before hand." Zhana smiled. "And I am not going to let that happen again."

The door to the tavern swung open as a lieutenant dressed in a white Siberian uniform walked in. "General Akatova?"

Zhana looked around. "Da?"

"The Administrator from Sygh-Varthys is here to observe the bomber construction. He said he wanted to have a word with you."

She scoffed and turned around. "Yeah, I know why he wants to talk." Zhana reached over a poured herself another shot. "Tell him I'll be right out." The Lieutenant left as she threw back the vodka and turned of the television. "As I said comrade, it will not happen again."

Edited September 18, 2009 by Sarah Tintagyl

[Razgriz 2K9]

OOC: Did you consult IA before you took back Vaule.....again?

Edited September 18, 2009 by Razgriz 2K9

[Sarah Tintagyl]

OOC: Did you consult IA before you took back Vaule.....again?

OOC: Yes I did...I'm just waiting for his post. But it is approved.

[Executive Minister]

OOC: Niiiice!!! Its about time we had a Soviet government to balance out the multitudes of far righters in Europe!

[Biohazard]

Furon welcomes Vaule back to the world stage, and hopes that it will live a prosperous reign amongst the few Asian nations that are untainted.

[Zarfef]

OOC: NICE! I look forward to hearing more of this! (If I start up the Greco-Aether States ever, this could be even more interesting)

[Razgriz 2K9]

OOC: As am I, only wish I still had Belka.....

[Subtleknifewielder]

"Upon the approval of Buryatia, consider our recognition automatic. We are glad to see Vaule returning to the world once again."

OOC: And nicely done, as always, Sarah.

[Maelstrom Vortex]

"The Dragon Empire would like to welcome Vaule back to the world stage..." Tidus stated, then murmured out of earshot.. "Hopefully this region has settled on an identity for a while now."

Edited September 18, 2009 by Maelstrom Vortex

[JEDCJT]

OOC: Nice, Sarah!

IC:

"We welcome Vaule back to the world stage."

[Justinian the Mighty]

So Vaule reemerges to plague the world with it’s indecisiveness and cowardice. What a shame. -Bitter Slavorussian MP

[Sarah Tintagyl]

So Vaule reemerges to plague the world with it’s indecisiveness and cowardice. What a shame. -Bitter Slavorussian MP

Vaule hopes that in the future our relations with Slavorussia will improve, we know full well of the sins during the Nordic-Slavorussian War and the government and the people of the Union will not let such a travesty happen again. We hope to work with you in the future and look forward to a new healthy relation with the Slavorussian People, our distant cousins from across the Urals.

[Imperator Azenquor]

Declaration from the desk of His Most Orthodox Royal Highness Prince Yuri Vladimirovich Guttorp-Farone-Zenn, Prince of Vaule & Buryatia, Duke of Caledonia, Lord of Novaya Zemlya, Holder of the Holy Orders of Vaule and Buryatia

The government of Buryatia and it's associated organizations recognize the formation of a new state from the ruins of Vaule. We hereby accord this new state full diplomatic recognition as well as the appropriate guarantees and terms under the Zhukov Doctrine. We sincerely hope that this new government shall be able to unify what is left of the former Vaule into a stable and valuable partner in the Asian region.

We wish to exchange Embassies at your earliest convenience. We take this unique opportunity to extend an invitation to a representative of the government of Vaule to attend Buryatia's 500th Independence celebrations. After the celebrations we would appreciate the opportunity to hold a meaningful discussion.

Signed,

Yuri Guttorp-Farone Zenn-(Li)

Once the letter arrives, the government of Buryatia sends a gift to the new government of Vaule. In a mahogany case with the Royal Coat of Arms emblazoned on it lay a magnificent sword. Along the hilt was gold with the words "For Nation and Honor" etched into the blade in the most ancient of Vaulian script. The sword, one of three created, was the sword of the Imperators of Vaule. The very blade that was last held by Azenquor I himself. The locations of the other two blades remained a mystery.

Inside the box, was a short note:

"This sword belongs in Vaule. So we have returned it."

[Sarah Tintagyl]

Sygh-Varthys, Vaule

It touched Gurov's heart with an air of utter joy to see the uniforms of the Vaulian Royal Family once again grace the outcroppings of the palace. Things were beginning to return to normal again, though there was an almost mythical amount of work that was needed to be done to continue consolidation of the country. Infrastructure had taken a dive in the various outlying regions and first and foremost this needed to be fixed, roads would need to be built, bridges repaired, and trade resumed with Vaule's outlying neighbors. For the most part, people had taken to the rebirth of the nation with a positive attitude, except for of course Slavorussia, but Gurov didn't concern himself with Moscow, in fact he did want to concern himself with anything past the Urals. Europe was calm for now with a mixture of fascists, monarchs, and faux republics while Asia was beginning to show the signs of division, due to the debacle going on in Oceania, concerning Borneo. To survive in such a hostile environment, Vaule needed allies that they could count on, they needed friends that would support them on the world stage, but it was hard work to find good help in such a chaotic world.

The Vaulian Royal Palace had been refurbished over the past few months becoming a replica of the Tsarist palaces of St. Petersburg in Slavorussia, the original Vaulian architecture, and the palaces currently home to the Buryatian Royal Family. Gurov walked with pride up the marble staircases, surrounded by crystal clear fountains depicting the golden gods and goddesses of classical mythology. Here in this home of Olympians, Zeus held Hera in his arms, while Poseidon commanded the jets of water that sprang up into the air. Past the marble stairs, he came through gilded doors to a large entrance hall, with two staircases spiraling up towards the upper floors of the palace. Near a hanging picture of Azenquor I, Nikolai stood with his hands clasped behind his back and a smile on his face.

"It feels good to be home doesn't it Prince?"

"It does indeed, Premier Gurov, I have been shuffling through papers all morning and it seems the world is quite happy with us."

"The world often say such things, we will have to wait to discover the world's true intentions on how they will take to our new Vaule."

The Prince smiled and nodded his head, summoning Gurov to walk with him as they strolled through the marble halls of the palace. "I assume you came with a purpose, something that the government requires perhaps?"

"There is a great deal of work that needs done all over the country, roads, bridges, better water systems and an expansion of urban development." Gurov sighed. "For as much as it pains me, not all of our brother states found it applicable to join a united Vaule and we have neither the cities of Irkutsk or Novosibirsk under our control. To be straight forward your majesty, only the capital is a strong example of Vaulian urban development, the rest of our cities are more or less towns and villages with small localized economies, and small localized governments."

"The Council has proposed action?"

"The Council believes that a development campaign is necessary to begin turning the economic table around. They propose a construction of industry, mining, weapons material, and developing our natural resources to the point where we can at least monopolize those select goods in the region. With the state controlling production to a minor degree I don't see how this could become a problem in the future. But we need a larger industrial economy considering we are lacking in the agricultural department dearly." Gurov reached into the bag strapped along his shoulder and pulled out a few papers. "These are the figures for the budget that the Council approved or military, industrial, and economic development."

Nikolai looked down the rows and columns of numbers as his eyes narrowed. "The military figures are a bit extreme don't you think Pyotr?"

"General Akhatova said that those were her personal recommendations for the air force, infantry, and cavalry divisions. She said we would be fools to agreeing with anything less."

"Funny that the general of the air force seems to be speaking from the position of Marshall of the Armed Forces. She is much too loud for my liking."

"She is also our most qualified officer, but that isn't important right now. The military spending only takes up about eight percent of the budget, the numbers might be a bit extreme, but they go hand in hand with industrial development. We just need the approval of the Royal Family to place the budget into effect and we can begin construction."

Nikolai smiled as they entered into his upstairs study, he placed the budget proposal on his desk and quickly scribbled his name onto the paper. "Also Gurov, I received word from Buryatia this morning that they recognize our independence, they invited us to an independence ceremony, I believe we should attend."

"You'll be going yourself Your Highness?"

"Well I was hoping that both you and General Akhatova would accompany me, one for of course celebratory reasons and the other that I want to keep a closer eye on this qualified general of ours."

"Very well Your Majesty." Gurov bowed and took the paper off the desk. "I'm sure we'll speak together at dinner."

Nikolai watched as Gurov walked out of the office as he sat back in his chair looking at the small Vaulian flag on the desk. His mind was foggy and the future was foggy.

[Razgriz 2K9]

We re-recognize Vaule as a sovereign state.

[Amyante]

OOC: Couldn't leave Asia alone for long, eh Sarah?

IC: "Zargathia welcomes the return of Vaule. Would you be interested in scheduling a meeting between our countries, by any chance?"

[Sarah Tintagyl]

OOC: Couldn't leave Asia alone for long, eh Sarah?

IC: "Zargathia welcomes the return of Vaule. Would you be interested in scheduling a meeting between our countries, by any chance?"

OOC:

IC: Zargathia only needs to give us a time and a place and we will send our representatives to your doors. It is good to see our neighbors reaching out to us, hopefully this will be the beginning of a fruitful friendship.

[iamthey]

The Citadel recognizes this state, and wishes them luck.

So Vaule reemerges to plague the world with it’s indecisiveness and cowardice. What a shame. -Bitter Slavorussian MP

"And the slavorussians are classy as always." - Anonymous Local Baron

Edited September 18, 2009 by iamthey

[Sarah Tintagyl]

Ust-Illmsk, Vaule

"Commence."

The voice from the loudspeaker rang across the opened field, barren from years of artillery bombardment, this was immediately followed by the sounds of cannon discharge as ten T-90 Battle Tanks, the pride of new Vaulian armored divisions rolled across the snow aiming towards the stationary targets across the field. Shells flew through the cold air before coming to rest in a great explosion obliterating any remains of the metallic target as shrapnel flew high into the air. Across the field, in a cement bunker, Zhana Akhatova looked through a pair of binoculars and smiled at what had taken place, around her other men dressed in the forest green of the Vaulian military uniformed looked through their own spyglasses at the damage their new modern military was capable of doing and quite honestly, smiles were all around.

"As you see gentlemen." Began Marshall Sergei Glimko. "And lady." Nearly snarling in Zhana's direction. "We have crossed the barrier between localized armies and militias to once again formulate a modern and powerful Vaulian military. With the blessings of His Highness the Prince, the Premier and the entire Council of Governors, the military has much room to improve upon, much room. Our budget has allowed us to produce such weapons as the T-90 and we have no plans to stop there......."

Though it was not because of Glimko's idiocy as a military administrator that this had happened or at least Zhana would never give him the credit of advancing the arm of the Vaulian military to where it was today. Yes it was true, with the beginning of reconstruction efforts passed by the Council and the Royal Family, the life of industry and production was given breath again and through this, weapons production was top on the list. It of course would take a great deal of time to truly get to the point to where Zhana's recommendations had been stated, but she was much more intense with military production than her colleagues. The Vaulian army, armored divisions and air force during the regional period was nothing more than urban guards to keep their individual regions protected from their neighbors and the rumors that possibly the Dragon Empire could come to the door knocking. An Urban militia could not do the grandiose plans that she had for Vaule and in Asia and the world in general, without a large and properly trained military your country meant nothing. The idea of a Tintagylian society, based on words and actions alone was idiotic, it was the reason it had failed, if people were going to listen to you, they listened from the end of the barrel of your gun.

The general's goals were intense, but on a whole realistic. A Vaulian infantry of at least thirty-five hundred thousand troops for phase one. Armored divisions comprising of both tanks and artillery as well as her prized possession of rockets of at least four thousand pieces, most likely over three thousand models of the T-90 which could be varied from time to time and some thousand pieces of artillery and Katyusha rockets. The center piece of Zhana's reforms however was a new air force, comprising of at least fifty squadrons of planes of the most advance that Vaulian engineers could design, with fighters taking the priority of production and perhaps out of that some ten squadrons of bombers. General Akhatova after was commander of the air force and its performance weighed heavily on her record as a general. But Glimko and Tolitev didn't know how to run infantry and armor properly, so she of course, in love of the Motherland, offered her assistance.

"...But as I was saying, the total strength of the Vaulian should by the end of reconstruction total some two hundred thousand men and possibly over two thousand tanks. However I want to turn our attention to the developments of a few artillery pieces that I am anxious to see used in the field. If you all please follow me for a moment." Glimko said jovially as he lead the congregation of military leaders towards the back of the bunker to look out at another section of the field. As they filed out of the room, Zhana stopped for a moment and grabbed the back of the coat of one of the Junior Officers who functioned as a military administrator in Sygh-Varthys.

"My proposal did go through did it not Comrade?"

The officer stared at Zhana's eyes as they narrowed, a horrific grin crossing her face made the officer's blood nearly spill out from his insides, General Akhatova's anger was legendary along with her quips with men of the officer's corps and men in government, but it was a case of don't ask, don't die, but her glare and her figure still set him off balance, especially with the answer that he had to relay. "The Council thought that they were a bit extreme for our intentions as a rising state. They believe that going through with military reforms as vast as you have proposed General that we may upset our neighbors."

"Oh of course, everyone around us gets to flaunt a large military of hundreds of thousands of troops, but our glorious leaders want to respect them" She laughed. "Allies barely respect each other, what makes the Council think that a new nation such as ours will have any such respect. We need to make sure that we are a voice and a force not to be crossed in the future and a silve cannon shell does much more than a silver tongue."

"I'm sure that your recommendations will be processed eventually General, but at the moment they are just too radical."

"Glimko has the final word on approval doesn't he?"

"Da." The officer shuddered. "He doesn't particularly like you General."

"Yes I know, a blind man can see that." Zhana sighed, but a smile remained on her face. "Well I'll just have to keep at it I guess, eh Comrade."

"Of course, I apologize for the inconvenience. Perhaps it is for the best." Said the officer as he turned his head and exited through the hallway of the bunker. Zhana leaned back on a steel table, crossing her arms, and shaking her head.

"Or just find a different way to do my convincing."

But that would have to wait, even if the parameters of the military were not up to her standards, it was imperative that they were trained and that the drafting numbers went up. But recruitment, production, and training were the most important actions right now and if she had to hound the Council and the General Staff to get it done, then so be it.

[Justinian the Mighty]

Vaule hopes that in the future our relations with Slavorussia will improve, we know full well of the sins during the Nordic-Slavorussian War and the government and the people of the Union will not let such a travesty happen again. We hope to work with you in the future and look forward to a new healthy relation with the Slavorussian People, our distant cousins from across the Urals.

It'll take a lot of time and hard work to even begin moving forward from the past. Ultimately it's the people's decision whether or not we can put away our recent past together and move on, since they were the ones who were hurt the most.

The Citadel recognizes this state, and wishes them luck.

"And the slavorussians are classy as always." - Anonymous Local Baron

“I didn't know they had any such concept down there in the south Pacific. I’m learning new things everyday." -Same MP

[Sarah Tintagyl]

It'll take a lot of time and hard work to even begin moving forward from the past. Ultimately it's the people's decision whether or not we can put away our recent past together and move on, since they were the ones who were hurt the most.

Just know that while there were differences in the past, you do have brothers and friends beyond the Urals.

[iamthey]

“I didn't know they had any such concept down there in the south Pacific. I’m learning new things everyday." -Same MP

Ryn looked at the correspondence between the two individuals and simply said. "Touché."

Edited September 18, 2009 by iamthey

[Subtleknifewielder]

"Promised Land is interested in a possible exchange of embassies, once the dust from your formation and organization has settled."

[Sarah Tintagyl]

"Promised Land is interested in a possible exchange of embassies, once the dust from your formation and organization has settled."

"Of course we would be delighted in exchanging words with our Oceania neighbors from quite far away. You send your people or we'll send ours, what ever you wish and we'll get the ball rolling. Very nice talking with you Comrade."

[Subtleknifewielder]

"Of course we would be delighted in exchanging words with our Oceania neighbors from quite far away. You send your people or we'll send ours, what ever you wish and we'll get the ball rolling. Very nice talking with you Comrade."

"And with you...Comrade. Just tell us when it would be most convenient to send someone, and they will be on a plane within thirty minutes."