A Shift in Priorities

[Monty Burns]

Originally Posted by rast

“Well, they are – shall we say – your clients? Created by you after the Great War from the substance of the Russian Empire. Prime Minister Savinkov does not want to perpetuate the misconception that all these post-war creations are sovereign states. He would rather prefer to discuss important matters directly with you, not with your vassals.”

Now that statement should go to the public, the Germans should assue that they recognize each new state as sovereign and should immediately call an emergency meeting of COMECON to discuss the Ukrainian problems and the Russian viewpoint.

After all, if these states are merely vassals, the hegemon might change. I guess all these eastern European states prefer Germany to Russia, even "new" Russia.

[wietze]

Originally Posted by Monty Burns

Now that statement should go to the public, the Germans should assue that they recognize each new state as sovereign and should immediately call an emergency meeting of COMECON to discuss the Ukrainian problems and the Russian viewpoint.

After all, if these states are merely vassals, the hegemon might change. I guess all these eastern European states prefer Germany to Russia, even "new" Russia.

you got a point there, is this russia saying that they never will see these areas as independent countries and that they will try to regain hegemony over them one day?

[Peabody-Martini]

The Germans can hardly afford to alienate the Russians. The head of German Ministry of War(?) is aware of the possibilities and consequences of an Russian/American alliance (basically OTL) and by extension the rest of the government as well. Its beginning to look like it might be in the interest of Europe as a whole for the Russian focus to be in the east with China. With or without the whole UK situation boiling over.

[Bmao]

The fact is if the Germans tell the Ukrainians to stop their witch hunt against ethnic Russians, and the Ukrainians are unwilling and unable to stop it, then the Russians are going to invade, and they'd have every right to do so.

If the Ukrainians explicitly want to be completely free of the Russian population, they might attempt to arrange an Ottoman solution, that is a population transfer of those Russians back to Russia, but I'd sooner think that the Russians would invade first than to allow this sort of ethnic cleansing.

[Jotun]

Wanna bet that as always, the truth is somewhere in the middle? There are atrocities taking place against ethnic Russians. The Russian government takes the opportunity to blow it all out of proportion in order to maybe create a pretext for invading the country.

Germany should not let itself and the COMECON be bullied, as some here seem to think should be practised.

[Bmao]

That's probably most likely the case. It does seem like I'm taking a stance the most alarming and conspiratorial possibility more often than not lately.

[wietze]

Originally Posted by Jotun

Wanna bet that as always, the truth is somewhere in the middle? There are atrocities taking place against ethnic Russians. The Russian government takes the opportunity to blow it all out of proportion in order to maybe create a pretext for invading the country.

Germany should not let itself and the COMECON be bullied, as some here seem to think should be practised.

thats the usual thing with politics, i think the russian statement was as much a political statement as much as about what is happening in the ukraine.

Its just as much about russia trying to get hegemony back over those areas as about the events. Wouldn't it be interesting to see what would happen if it turns out that the 2 assassins in the ukraine were actually okhrana operatives?

[rast]

Commerce is a game of skill which everyone cannot play and few can play well.
(Ralph Waldo Emerson)

When her former boss, Herr Gregor Strasser, had changed to Deygbo, the capital of the West African Protectorate, in order to work for General Max von Bauer, Charkaz Lomidze had succeeded him. She was now responsible for EVEG Security in the whole Caucasian District, i.e.: Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and the Republic of the Northern Caucasus. Eliso Tsiklauri, her assistant of old had been promoted to Charkaz’ former position.

The new position had provided Charkaz with tremendous insights into the security environment. She had already known a lot of details, but now she was able to make the connections and see the great coherencies. Relations with the Ottoman Ishtibarat were collegial and friendly – and, of course, guided by the EVEG Security Department for the Ottoman Emirates, with which one worked closely together.

The same applied for the EVEG Security Department for the Pan-Turan States of Central Asia. Co-operation with the Ukrainian Dershavnoy Bespekywas rather close as well, but much more guarded, as they were known to be infested by moles of the Heymshtot’s Seichl and the Russian Okhrana. One usually took advantage of them for launching disinformation campaigns.

That set about the intelligence scene: There were many enemies, but only one big foe – Rosneft. The leading Russian oil company, of which the Russian Empire held forty-nine percent of the shares, while refusing all EVEG assistance in exploiting their huge oil fields between Kainsk and Ufa, were keen on learning as many EVEG company secrets as possible. And because the Russian state was heavily involved, one also had to reckon with Okhrana operations in favour of Rosneft.

The combination of Rosneft and Okhrana had turned out to be extremely dangerous – and ruthless... Their proficiency to buy people equalled that of EVEG, and the Okhrana participation had added quite some cold-blooded practises to the packet.

But Charkaz had soon discovered that she liked the challenge. Herr Strasser had been far too overbearing, too arrogant to recognise the real danger posed by the Russians. While his perfunctory precautions had been quite adequate, he had failed to appreciate to full scope of the attack.

Fortunately, Herr Heß, Chief of Security at the EVEG Schöneberg headquarters, had experience with Caucasus affairs – and had provided her extra funds, when she had explained the situation to him. Thus, she had been able to acquire the personnel and equipment she thought essential for battling the foe.

Her opposite number was a certain Vasily Zakharovich Korzh, a former Okhrana operative, who had transferred to Rosneft three years ago. The chap was an able organiser and a dedicated underground fighter. This was going to become a very interesting match...

[Rooster Cogburn]

It looks like all the hints are moving towards a rebuilt and EXTREMELY powerful and influential Russia by the time of the 1940s.

[Whumbly]

So we have a Germanic Mega-Corp who pulls the strings in the Cascus region up against what can only be described as a insanely rich 'Putinist' Russia (big business with the state's hand firmly on the shoulder, shadowy and ruthless spy organisation and double meaning diplomats).

The only way this could be cooler is if Hitler, through his contacts on both sides, manages to get them to sit down at one of his restaurants to hammer out a deal for peace.

[paulo]

Originally Posted by Whumbly

So we have a Germanic Mega-Corp who pulls the strings in the Cascus region up against what can only be described as a insanely rich 'Putinist' Russia (big business with the state's hand firmly on the shoulder, shadowy and ruthless spy organisation and double meaning diplomats).

The only way this could be cooler is if Hitler, through his contacts on both sides, manages to get them to sit down at one of his restaurants to hammer out a deal for peace.

Don't give Rast that kind of ideas !

[Kelenas]

Originally Posted by Whumbly

So we have a Germanic Mega-Corp who pulls the strings in the Cascus region up against what can only be described as a insanely rich 'Putinist' Russia (big business with the state's hand firmly on the shoulder, shadowy and ruthless spy organisation and double meaning diplomats).

The only way this could be cooler is if Hitler, through his contacts on both sides, manages to get them to sit down at one of his restaurants to hammer out a deal for peace.

Wrong. The only way this could be cooler is if both sides started hiring shady, easy-to-deny freelance-operatives, who'd use the money the Megacorps pay them with to buy ever-better equipment and physical augmentations - such as Dieselmotor-powered arm or leg prosthetics and whatnot.

- Kelenas

[Bmao]

Originally Posted by Kelenas

Wrong. The only way this could be cooler is if both sides started hiring shady, easy-to-deny freelance-operatives, who'd use the money the Megacorps pay them with to buy ever-better equipment and physical augmentations - such as Dieselmotor-powered arm or leg prosthetics and whatnot.

- Kelenas

You mean they haven't already? Aside from the agents actually having gun arms... Maybe that's not so far fetched though. For instance, ever since the Muharip and the Ottomans caught Nubar Gulbenkian after he'd gone crazy off the Aegean Sea in the aftermath of the whole Greek affair, we'd never heard of what had happened to him since then. Wouldn't be surprised to find that he's been turned into some kind of 'Manchurian Candidate' after having been augmented by a series of Bioshock-esque steroids and brainwashed Call of Duty Black Ops style.

Besides, why can't we just have the best of both worlds? Why not have these enhanced free lance operatives meet at one of Hitler's restaurants and then duke it out DBZ style?

As for more serious matters, I find it particularly ironic and also potentially dangerous that Socialist Germany owes much of its influence in Eastern Europe to the corporate power of EVEG. One disadvantage I see is that while Rosneft is firmly in control under the Russian government, EVEG's activities are far more difficult for the German government to feasibly control and regulate whose interests may not necessarily align with that of Germany itself. They're still a company after all, in which earning a profit is the first priority and fealty to a particular nation is a distant second.

[Monty Burns]

Originally Posted by Bmao

As for more serious matters, I find it particularly ironic and also potentially dangerous that Socialist Germany owes much of its influence in Eastern Europe to the corporate power of EVEG.

Is that really the case?

For once, the question is how much influence Socialist Germany still has on EVEG. I guess at the very moment the Socialists try to act, EVEG will relocate to Switzerland - where by all likelihood they already have a splendid bureau. German influence on EVEG is minimal - in fact the German side is as much dependent on EVEG as the Ottoman side, as EVEG in large parts monopolized trade in raw materials: Germany (and probably many other european countries) are importers from EVEG, Ottomans etc. are exporters to EVEG.

Second question is how you define Eastern Europe. EVEG certainly has great influence in the Ottoman Empire, the Caucasian republics and the pan-Turan republics. But in the west of these countries?

The best chance right now to get rid of EVEG IMHO is if both suppliers and consumers of raw materials act together and partition EVEG.

At the moment, though, it might be beneficial for them all if EVEG uses its funds - and its recklessness - against the Russians.

[J. de Vos]

Herr Heß, Chief of Security at the EVEG Schöneberg headquarters

Rudolf Heß?

[Josephus]

The same. And he will probably be the one to open Britain to EVEG trade.

Only Heß could fly to London.

[nerdknight01]

¡ Hi !: ¡ BRAVO !, ¡ WELL DONE !.

So many ideas, for start.

-Edith " The Whip " Rowley, she is very smart, and she knows how do her job in correct way, but she realy bellived in in socialists ideas, and sooner or latter she will it be to discover that one thing is their beliver´s faith, and another thing totally diferent is the reality of the world.

-The good news is that brithish people don´t going to suffer hungry, but the really bad news is that the price to pay for that magnificent advance is the end of their democratic´s system, or maybe the brithish people will vote in the next brithish´s elections for liberal parties, will see..

-The Chinese navy maybe will it be not to big, but maybe will evolved to became more deathly thanks to machine guns, or suicide attacks, or because the use of advanced small submarines.

-Germany and Russia are becoming friends, or at least to respect one to other, and in cetain situations, i supose that Germany will suport and acept for good relations, what Russia wish or want.

-Charkaz Lomize, what a woman, in some years maybe she will it be the CEO of EVEG, or at least will it be remember as one example for a powerfull liberated woman for the feminists around the world.

-¡ heck ! i was having scary nightmares about the evil EVEG corporation, and now show something new evil russian´s corporation called ROSNEFT, poor caucasus people.

[nerdknight01]

To Expat: ¡ EXCELLENT SECOND PART OF THE UPDATE OF AMERICAN´S PARTIES !.

The Texan First Party are creating and training militias, and that class of example are doing some southern american states, and when ocurr the american economic meltdown and epic dust bowl, i wonder if the american´s goverment maybe will it be having troops, resoucres or the will for try to avoid, to prevent the autonomy or independence of Texas and the southern states, will see...

The Tea Party, that party has the seeds for salving and protecting one free and democratic América, but for the moment are enjoy the moment, increase their number of followers, and becoming some kind of primitive hippies.

Is late, i going to sleep some hours.

Good night, peace and good luck.

[Peabody-Martini]

It looks as if "The Great Game" is starting up again. German corporate interests (EVEG) and Russian interests in a shadow war for control of the resources of South Asia. Also there is nothing very surprising about Nazis and SS types from OTL turning up in the middle management and "security" of EVEG. It seems like it would be the natural home for that sort of trash.

[rast]

The Lord is a man of war.
(Bible – Exodus 15:3)

Alvin York felt weak, and although he could stand and walk – if need be – he rather preferred resting in a wheel chair and being moved around. He still couldn’t decide what had more stricken him down – the treacherous bullet in his abdomen or the meeting with the Lord. Unfortunately, he couldn’t remember what the Lord had looked like – but he vividly recalled what He had told him.

The projectile had been removed in a surgical operation lasting three hours. The damage to his spleen had been so heavy that it had had to be taken out. The physicians thought he was extremely lucky not to have died from internal bleeding. But York knew that the Lord hadn’t wanted him to die – because He had a mission for him to accomplish.

With narrow eyes, York was watching a couple of FSS agents vagrating and harassing folks. These doggone spooks were not here to find out who had tried to kill him. They were attempting to fathom how his angry congregation had so easily and accurately identified so many Klan dudes. – Yeah, that must have caused spasms of panic with a lot of people, who had believed they could pursue their dark deeds in utter secrecy...

York knew the secret by now, but he would never betray it to the FSS skunks. The Black Boy Scouts had confessed to him. They were the ones who had mapped the KKK structures in Northern Georgia and Northern Alabama. They claimed it had been rather easy. White people were so careless, and there always were some black people around to take note of everything.

It had just been a game of diligence and deduction. And, well, yes, it had taken them some time – almost four years. But after Saint Alvin had been shot, when his flock had been raging, they had quickly whispered some names and addresses into the ears of the leading people.

This was a blessed feat, Saint Alvin had told them. An achievement they should try to repeat in other parts of the country. – The FSS goons would not find them; they were looking for adults, some weird mixture between Middle African commandos and Jack Reed’s Ghosts. A bunch of well behaving and obviously adjusted black kids and juveniles playing boy scouts hardly was going to incite their professional attention.

Nobody from York’s congregation would help these FSS ninnies; this he had assured. The FSS was as evil as the KKK and the McAdoo Administration. One must not deal with the emissaries of the Fiend. – The miserable bloodhounds were also trying to identify those who had hanged the Klan muppets. This was more critical; there was an uncontrollable number of witnesses.

Thus, quite some folks had been told to go into hiding. York not only was a persuasive preacher, he also profited greatly from his experiences in the military and with the Disgruntled Grunts. The inner core of his flock more resembled a shock troop than a pious parish. – So far, J. Edgar Hoover’s hoodlums had found nothing, hopefully...

However, Saint Alvin had detailed several of his acolytes to take care of the snoopers. If necessary, one or two of them had to go missing – without that York had to know all ugly details. – He had to plan how to fulfil His will. He had to schedule the march on Washington, D.C.