Romanov Ascendant: What if the Soviet Union survived?

[Justinian]

The Concert of Europe: Part Two
Feburary 5th 1994. Evening. Zurich.
The view from the balcony of Romanov's ostentatious and luxurious hotel room was extraordinary beautiful. You could see where the Limmel river met the lake by the city, and despite the light flurry of blowing snow it was a comfortable -5 degrees celsius outside (at least for Russians). The world's two most powerful men were in the city, but they and their diplomats hadn't officially met yet. The rest of the day was set aside for rest and for preparation, a good night's rest and a cordial breakfast at 10AM. Romanov, the taller broad shouldered man stood, looking out the window at the view, while the foreign minister spoke. He was of course abstaining from his usual indulgences, which was probably why he began to feel irritated and spaced out. He enjoyed the view for just a few more precious moments before turning to look at his foreign minister Eduard Shevardnadze, who had been speaking the entire time and replied "What?" Romanov was of course aware of the situation unfolding in Iraq, he knew he was talking about it, but he didn't enjoy this conversation. "We've already condemned it of course, but we know how suspicious the Americans can be, they may believe we're behind this entire thing. Coming to a peace summit and bold facedly lying to them." Romanov turned to him, his characteristically stoic expression somewhat more sadly dour. "They will have to take our evacuation of military personnel at face value, other than that, I'm hoping that Perot is reasonable and we can put this behind us. We are the leaders of the strongest countries in the world, and we're going to let the actions of one up jumped petty tyrant throw everything away?" Eduard retorted "The thing is comrade, we created him, we allowed for this to happen. Without our arms it's doubtful he could have won in Kuwait, nor do what he is doing now in Iran. Of course, letting the situation play out would have only benefited the Americans at the time, so that wasn't an option either. Interesting how being powerful works?" Romanov thought, what would Eduard know of it.

He loosened his necktie and pulled up a chair, lighting up a cigarette. He looked at his foreign minister and spoke in a serious tone. "We do actually have options when it comes to Saddam, but originally we had hopes. At one point an ambitious man like that would prove to be a great foil, now he is a liability. We have people in their military, intelligence services and security forces, people more sympathic to a closer relationship with us, with Syria. With a slight but brisk motion, we can remove the obstacle to our influence and stability in the region." Eduard was a little shocked, but he wasn't naive or sentimental. If anything his curiosity was piqued by the notion that this was an option considered that he was kept out of the loop of, making him pick his next words carefully. "Well... It's not that the logic in such an action isn't obvious? But can the result be guaranteed? Do we have the ability to control who will come out on top in the ensuing power struggle? And removing the head of the country while it's in the middle of invading another could have intangible results?" Romanov was at least reassured that his foreign minister wasn't an idiot "Don't worry about any of that, and I apologize for not making you aware of this option sooner comrade, we just didn't want to have to consider it unless things became desperate enough. We have a very detailed plan in place. They're waiting for our signal, we're just allowing them to seize the province. Once the frontline is stabilized, and they have the region, ample opportunities will present themselves when he most likely bombastically visits the front or what not. What I and the KGB figured is that if they already started the war for this resource rich province, let them take it, and then let the infamy and blame follow him into the grave. Then they can throw a 'referendum' or something."

The Satrap's Hubris: Part Two
Feburary 5th 1994. 5:48PM. Outskirts of Ahvaz
After the conclusion of the original war with Iraq in 1988, Iran's conventional military forces were in even worse shape than after the post revolutionary purges. They had lost half of their pre war armour, a significant element of their air force and their navy. They managed to make an illict arms deal with the Chinese for 200 Type 69 tanks that had been delivered a year earlier, along with some APCs and artillery, due to the pure conventional superiority their biggest threat now had, but these arms deals were drops in the bucket. As the war approached its third week, Iraq had obliterated entire regiments which either abandoned their equipment or fled and were destroyed. What few F-4s and F-14s it had were purposefully kept from the skies after losing many in the first few days of the war to Iraqi surface to air missiles or MiG-25 and MiG-29 raids. The Iranians mobilized as much of the Basji militia, Revolutionary Guard and what remained of it's conventional army that it could and reorganized it, ceding ground to the Iraqis. While some fanatical revolutionary guards or commando forces continued to harass the Iraqis behind the lines, their effect was negligible.

The city of Ahvaz, February 5th 1994

The best Iranian Army units, the 2nd and 5th Armoured Brigades, which had the benefit of Hawk SAMs, and most of Iran's serviceable tanks were charged with protecting Ahvaz. They had fought a hard and intense fight against the Iraqi Republican Guard Divisions, but their M-60s and Centurions were overmatched by T-72s and upgraded T-55s. They were spotted and destroyed by constant recon flights or picked apart by Iraq's Mi-28s. Bombarded with 500 pound bombs and some air to surface missiles. By the 3rd of February, the result was the total collapse of the flanks around the city of Ahvaz, leaving almost hundreds of thousands of civilians and 56'000 soldiers (many just militia) trapped in an Iraqi encirclement; which created almost instantaneous anarchy as the city descended into madness as hordes of people fled. What was left of the Iranian armoured brigades rallied with reinforcements in the north, followed by a tide of refugees. But despite the orders of the Supreme leader, were unable to mount an attack to lift the siege; and instead focused on helping the refugees and preparing defences.

Saddam was said to be highly elated by the news, these were the victories he dreamed of in 1980, decisive, fast and historically momentous. Orders were given to infantry assault units, many led or trained by veterans of the fight in Kuwait City, some of whom even faced Americans and held their ground. Despite their experience or good training these hardened formations were decimated during their first attempts to storm the large city, as fighting raged on the tops of buildings, in blown out houses and inside of sewers. Iraqi artillery had turned the city into a collection of dense urban rubble, also resulting in a massive loss of life of both civilian and soldier. Entire residential buildings crumbled onto themselves as slavo after slavo hit into the city. The only international press presence reported behind the Iranian lines, but communicated with trapped Iranian journalists in the city itself. Soon enough the entire world would hear of the siege of Ahvaz.

 

[dunHozzie]

I hope Saddam gets his due. He's a evil man anyway and he's threatening the detente the USSR needs. Go Soviet plot!

 

[Alpha-King98760]

I hope Saddam gets his due. He's a evil man anyway and he's threatening the detente the USSR needs. Go Soviet plot!

But who would replace the bastard?

 

[Dan]

But who would replace the bastard?

This is the problem with having a strong man in charge and it was seen in the Post Stalin Soviet Union too.
Neither of his sons are appropriate, (and I think the utter paycho one is dead ITTL isn't he?), so you're into military officers territory and the giant nest of vipers that is intra-service politics. Then the inter-service politics start.
And that's without civilian authorities getting involved.

 

[Rajveer Naha]

Saddam can no longer be trusted and the plan to have him gone should proceed and Iraq should better secure it's eastern border against mountains.

Syria and Iraq shouldn't be united as then all the US allied states surrounding it would gang up against it. Iran, I believe would become an US ally again soon. Having them focus on two at least nominally different states is better.

Ask someone to tell Saddam that instead of making his best men charge towards Ahvaz he should make them defeat the Iranian Army an secure the border even more.

We have four military branches to consider the Army, the Air Force, the Republican Guard and finally the Special Republican Guard. The last one is rejected outright as they are the hardcore Saddam loyalists, the Republican Guard must have some sane men but infiltration should have been the most in the army so on army men can be found too. And the Air Force is a potential compromise candidate and maybe a successful fighter pilot is acceptable to all. The best pilot available may have reached double digit kills and must be a national hero.

 

[ChadMachine999]

I hope Saddam gets his due. He's a evil man anyway and he's threatening the detente the USSR needs. Go Soviet plot!

I hope he marches to Tehran, then to Riyadh and Damascus. The Arab nation has been divided to long, the Arab people cry out for a Bismark of their own, and an end to the subjugation by the west and east.

 

[boredviewer1234]

Well Saddam has done a gamble ironically it could work in reigniting the fire of Pan Arabism, it definitely however has signed his death warrant and those of his sons as their is no way either the USSR or NATO would let them lead it.

However I wonder what will happen next, Iran is still after all both large enough, mountainous enough and populated enough the Islamic government can afford to send militias into Khuzestan to harass and sabotage to relive pressure from Ahvaz, even if they don't last long, plus their are the Iraqi exiles, Afghan Hazera refuges to act as cannon fodder.

My guess is Iran will try to use Dawa and Badr to trigger some uprisings in Iraq or at least prevent a ''status quo'' of the world accepting Iraq's move by attacking the oil fields, thus reducing Iraqi leverage on the world economy.

I would also expect ironically the Saudis and the US, to try and prop up Iran selling weapons to avoid the USSR ally from achieving a win before international pressure forces Iraq to stop aggression.

 

[jparker77]

I hope he marches to Tehran, then to Riyadh and Damascus. The Arab nation has been divided to long, the Arab people cry out for a Bismark of their own, and an end to the subjugation by the west and east.

The odds of Saddam taking Tehran are slim to none. The odds of him taking Damascus are pretty much zero. The odds of him taking Riyadh are.....well, let’s just say Iraq could only hope the US decides that’s a joke.

 

[dunHozzie]

Plus the Persians aren't Arabs

 

[ChadMachine999]

My guess is Iran will try to use Dawa and Badr to trigger some uprisings in Iraq or at least prevent a ''status quo'' of the world accepting Iraq's move by attacking the oil fields, thus reducing Iraqi leverage on the world economy.

Iran has no weapons to attack except Infantry that can be bombed and shelled. Without a direct intervention of the US or USSR I don't see Iran winning.

 

[boredviewer1234]

Iran has no weapons to attack except Infantry that can be bombed and shelled. Without a direct intervention of the US or USSR I don't see Iran winning.

That I agree, except if maybe, just maybe Dawa and Badr, plus maybe some pro Iran or at least Iraq Kurds , could launch a massive rebellion forcing Iraq to withdraw a majority of their forces to with to buy time for intervention.

Plus at least with the oil fields damaged Iraq losses it's ability to influence other nations to so no on the UN.

Iran however can at least try to make it sunk cost to the point where Iraq ''merely'' settles for parts of Khuzestan or a intervention arrives.

 

[Dan]

Iran has no weapons to attack except Infantry that can be bombed and shelled. Without a direct intervention of the US or USSR I don't see Iran winning.

No just infantry, but ideologically motivated irregular forces who in one's, two or threes could probably travel unnoticed until it was too late, then everyone would notice them.

 

[Justinian]

The Concert of Europe: Part Three
Feburary 6th 1994. Zurich.
After the customary greetings of diplomats, handshake photos and brief approved questions by the press, the delegations including Romanov and President Perot sat at large conference table, but in the spirit of diplomacy ate breakfast next to each other. For the first day the two leaders of the world's dominant superpowers would sit next to each other. Despite President Perot's convivial and friendly approach to Romanov, having initially shaken hands and even embraced each other, making for pictures that would later be lampooned due to Romanov's larger stature; Perot could not stand the man. Both of the men had access to ample psychological dossiers about each other, but both were men who were often more interested in general character and first impressions. It wouldn't take someone with a deep appreciation of character to see Romanov as an arrogant man. His stance, his gazes, the language that Perot could easily tell had to be toned down by his interpreters. But it wasn't just that, Perot was an all American businessman, he could tolerate drinking, even drunks, but a drunken, murderous, lustful tyrant? But it wasn't even that, Perot became a billionaire and later president from his investment in the American computer industry. He actually understood what exactly Romanov did in implementing EGSVT, and it irritated him that, as he had said in private "The man thinks he is a genius, because he stole our technology we were already using in business in the goddamn 1970s and managed to make his trains run on time. He orders death and destruction like I order a meal at a restaurant. The most despicable part about Romanov is that he really does believe he is a great man, and you can tell." But Perot could also put aside his personal prejudices for a greater objective, something many naive or ideologue politicians could never do, but was expected of one within the realm of business.

As the day progressed and the sides began to speak of detente, arms limitations and mutual de escalation in South America; concessions had to be agreed to, Romanov said that he would reign in the Venezuelans if Perot could do the same to the Colombians, and leave the situation as it was, with FARC controlling some areas of the countryside, but the direct and constant aid as well as offensives halted. In exchange, the US would halt it's hostile operations in Venezuela, look to easing economic sanctions against the Soviets and Warsaw Pact/Comecon states, and overall seek to improve bilateral relations from their low point in the 1980s, as well as a mutual arms limitation committee, as well as a convention on armed forces in Europe. Overall by the end of the day, both sides had made a bilateral statement stating "That both the United States and Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, as well as their allies, are committed to improving relations as well global peace and development." Generally observers, journalists and writers had taken this to mean that 'detente' as a policy appeared to be the line from both Washington and Moscow.

By the next day, the main topic became more the job of the trade delegations, diplomats and other statesmen, although Romanov did take the opportunity to meet the European leaders, but despite greeting the chancellor of West Germany, did not allow himself to get engaged in a discussion of the terrorism in his country, before skillfully escaping behind his horde of diplomats. The Italian Prime Minister Achille Occhetto was seen talking to Romanov, to the consternation of conservatives and liberals in Western Europe and North America. As the Zurich conference came to a close, the world took a collective sigh of relief as it appeared that the threat of world war three and nuclear annihilation was declining. But new events would soon capture the attention of the world, in both Africa and the Middle East.

 

[Justinian]

After these events I will probably focus less on personal narratives to accelerate the TL, because of the scale. But of course the overall TL offers you (or myself later) to come back and create more personal or regional stories based on or in it.

 

[Marco Rivignani]

After these events I will probably focus less on personal narratives to accelerate the TL, because of the scale. But of course the overall TL offers you (or myself later) to come back and create more personal or regional stories based on or in it.

Just one question in regards to Italy: when will Berlusconi return with a reformed Democrazia Cristiana allied with the Lega Nord and the MSI/AN? I don't really see how he can stay out of politics...

 

[Justinian]

Just one question in regards to Italy: when will Berlusconi return with a reformed Democrazia Cristiana allied with the Lega Nord and the MSI/AN? I don't really see how he can stay out of politics...

I think they're going to end up the most potent right wing political force, Berlusconi, but the MSI/AN will probably drift further towards pseudo-fascism especially as the communists began to disregard the law.

 

[Justinian]

After rereading I decided to retcon the events of 1992, the uprising doesn't just occur in Azerbaijan, but other full scale ones occur in Kiev, Vilnus and more smaller scale, riot/fighting between pro nationalists and communist style events (ill elaborate more on this) occur in Minsk, Riga, Odessa and the biggest being in Leningrad. They're all dealt with in a similar way but I'll go more into detail on how exactly that happens and what happens with the fighting between opposing factions. So I'll repost that part of chapter three.

But other than that, I also want to pose the question to you, the readers or people interested in the TL, perhaps to spur discussion or if you have ideas, what exactly does detente mean for the the 1990s? It would seem to me unlikely Perot will be able to avoid a Republican victory in the midterms, but he may be able to get a few of his candidates elected to a few congressional seats. A republican congress will be absolutely aggravated towards ending detente, the perceived betrayal of Perot to Reagan's values, but with an uncooperative President could they completely sabotage detente other than increasing military spending and refusing to ratify arms limitation treaties?

I also noticed that I gave the Soviets a little too much of a boost with the computerization of an economy, while I do think it would have corrected the grievous inefficiencies for reasonings I argued earlier; people would still want luxury goods they believe are (or were) common in the west. A black market would still exist and by the mid 1990s the 'komputer nomenklatura' while still under KGB supervision, probably begin to become somewhat corrupt especially as the benefits of their party membership, authority in industrial management and increasing political influence would lead to their inevitable leveraging of their positions for benefits. The Soviet economy's rapid growth will probably begin to slow down by 1996 or 1997 as the economy begins to become 'rationalized' and development and growth begin to occur only at a natural pace. So by 1997-1998 GDP (or whatever the closest equivalent in a socialist state is) would become 2.0% at most, other than direct hard currency injections from natural resource sales and increasing ventures in the international market that pay dividends to the state. General Secretary Romanov would be turning 75 by 1998 and would gradually begin to personally decline, probably suffering a plethora of health issues aggravated by his style of living. So the combination of stagnation, the whispers of succession and the west beginning to bounce back would change the dynamic also.

 

[King Nazar]

I'm guessing Detente would mostly entail strategic and conventional arms reduction. Maybe some cooperation on dealing with Iraq as well as some joint space ventures like having the Buran visit Station Freedom and having the shuttle visit Mir. Perot would want to reduce military spending regardless because he wants to rein in the debt so some kind of agreement with the Soviets is going to be a high priority for him. He doesn't technically need Republican support to reduce conventional forces in Europe since as Commander-in-chief he can just order them to be redeployed elsewhere (maybe the Gulf?). Getting something comperable to START I ratified by Congress would be tough if the GOP takes the Senate.

I actually don't think the Republican Revolution of 94 is inevitable here since a lot of that was because of Perot voters going Republican due to NAFTA and because of Clinton's poor handling of healthcare and social issues. Also Newt Gingrich might not become speaker since IOTL he barely go reelected in his district in 1990 and assuming Bush I has a slightly rougher Presidency, Gingrich might not get elected ITTL. That could mean that someone like Tom Delay or Dick Armey might end up as Speaker of the House. I do still think that the Republicans will make gains in 94 but the whole "Republican Revolution" narrative around it might be avoided and Congressional leadership would maybe be more willing to compromise without Gingrich.

Back to START I! It will be hard getting that through the Senate but maybe Perot could convince enough Republicans that he pressed the Soviets on human rights and got major concessions from them (perhaps convince Romanov to allow the refusniks to emigrate as a gesture to the Americans?) I think he could just about get it through Congress.

 

[dunHozzie]

In terms of the economy, things like computerised planning tools / constraint solvers like the way more modern https://www.optaplanner.org/ actually would potentially give a greater boost and more easily expose corruption. Obviously the tech isn't quite on that level, but you could argue within the Union this area of research would get a much bigger investment. Then the growth of the economy might be more sustainable. It also could assist in making other parts of the economy more efficient, so the diversity of the Unions economy could have been increased as well, making it less sensitive compared to the resource based economy.

Edit: I'd argue that you might even get the union to adopt of what propelled the Japanese to greatness like Kanban, Lean etc. If applied right, cause you could alternatively use the same thing and make it crash and burn by basing it on OTL BPEL/BPM hype.

As for detente: I'd expect something on the lines of what @King Nazar stated, strategic and conventional arms reductions. But I also am looking at exchange programs, pr events, law enforcement collaboration, anti terrorism, and indeed some tentative things around headache dossiers like Saddam, but for the latter you'd need smaller successes. Finally I'd love to see some joint operations, but that only works with a decade or so of success.

 

[Justinian]

The Lubyanka: Headquarters of the Committee of State Security

Operation Chesma:
March 23rd 1992. Moscow, Kremlin.
The KGB had always known that the foreign intelligence services had operated on Soviet soil. The reason this was tolerated, was because there was no alternative, in the sense that a highly motivated, well trained and quality intelligence force could and would create cover identities and would try to infiltrate the largest country in the world; at least temporarily. They were also aware from the agents that the first directorate had recruited in America, including Aldrich Ames (who was later exfiltrated). Only the best enemy agents could avoid detection and monitoring, but even if they were found, it didn't necessarily mean they should be arrested, but rather tracked, fed disinformation, kept in mind, and if a hostage was needed, one could always be conveniently grabbed, which was actually one of the higher priorities. This resulted in a dynamic where the KGB actually attempted to keep foreign agents inside the country with deliberate and elaborate set ups of disinformation and fake traitors. The second directorate of the KGB, that which primarily dealt with counter-intelligence, knew there was an overall ‘intelligence offensive’ launched fairly sloppily by the ISI in Central Asia, along with the CIA, MI6. However, due to the actions of one ambitious member of the KGB, what was once a systemic issue that could have been dealt with institutionally and piecemeal, instead was turned into a political issue.

Once the scale of the subversive networks was discussed in the Politburo in the Kremlin, the ‘evidence’ created from capturing and torturing of the individual members of a few cells present in Almaty in the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic, set up by an incompetent CIA agent and some of the ISI. But this was also in addition to some groups in the Ukraine and the Baltics that were double dealing their western handlers and passing along information to the KGB. The damning original report stated that not only were religious extremist groups forming, but they were forming at the same time, and even colluding with a different network of nationalist and often secular groups. Financed lavishly by western intelligence agencies (for what really was paltry sums for a western establishment used to throwing billions at the military industrial complex). While in reality, at least half of these groups were simply bible study groups, liberal or democratic socialist discussion groups and were for the most part moderate, in fact really just the symptom of a society that was increasingly educated, well off and politically consciousness.

Yet, the inherent paranoia and foreign support that had become a composite layer in the existence of this opposition was taken as a personal affront by the leader of the Soviet Union. By 3:48 AM, Monday, March 22nd, many empty bottles dotted the conference table in the middle of the meeting room in the Kremlin. Both Lugo and Romanov had agreed that this sedition had to be punished, they decided what this was and what had to be done to deal with it. Both men were visibly drunk, but nothing stirs the passions like the notion of treason and betrayal. Lugo himself was a Latvian, and felt like he had something to prove when it came to his commitment to the Union and to Marxist Leninism; he never had such a personal moment with the General Secretary. In his mind how could he be a simple sycophant, when he honestly agreed with everything Romanov was saying, these were traitors, they had broke the law, they were working with their enemies. By 4AM Romanov had started mumbling about traitors and the great patriotic war, but before that they also agreed that a few troublesome figures, who haven't been directly linked to the networks, should also be arrested, because as the saying goes, 'an old friend is better than two new'.

They finally made it to bed by around 4:30 AM, but the orders were already sent out to be formulated into operations by the respective authorities. Directorate "SCh", and the Spetsnaz Alfa Group, as well as OMON, Select Soviet Army Units and Military Police were to be involved, as well as general KGB and Militisa members. The targets were to be select cities in the RSFSR, Dagestan, Chechnya, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, the Central Asia Republics, the Baltic Republics, Moldavia, Azerbaijan and Armenia. For the first week, surveillance and the investigative power of the KGB was to be used to map out and mark out individuals for arrest, and cells for elimination. Once the first phase was finished, the second would begin, with the aforementioned security forces, arresting, detaining, extracting information and dismantling any and all subversive networks and organizations. The highest priority was to get arrest those who had worked with foreign intelligence agents, to arrest those agents and to show the west that there was not weakness for them to exploit, that in the world's foremost workers state, false consciousness would never be allowed to be spread, and that the west's dealership of the opiate of the masses wouldn't be tolerated in the motherland.

Kings Gambit:
In the game of chess, the first opening moves among the opponents have the tendency to shape the entire game. An entire score of choregraphed movements, called openings and their responses, it is almost a discipline among those enthusiasts of the game. It is considered a rare move among the modern grandmasters to use the King's Gambit; it can go wrong very quickly if not well managed, or if done recklessly by someone who believes they possess more skill or knowledge of the game than they have. If done right, or against an untalented or skilled opponent, it can lead to an intrepid offensive or an early victory for its user. Grigory Romanov was not an insane drunk, but he was a man, capable of excesses in his vices, his pride especially, it is a common theme in history of what starts to happen when one starts to believe in the personality cult and propaganda surrounding oneself. Romanov was not there yet, completely, but those influences were beginning to shape his actions. The question becomes, who was playing the King’s Gambit against who in this series of events, the United States, or Romanov?

Despite his increasing hubris, it is important to keep in mind there was no indication at the time of his succession that the Soviet Union was even close to total collapse, he had no notion that his leadership had caused this much of a difference, yet he still believed he was clearly a good leader, he achieved results, forcing Yugoslavia into the Warsaw Pact, was a historical victory. Managing to crush the first wave of liberal revolutionary opposition in the 80's was too. Of course, he personally did not do these things, rather his policy decisions and directions to institutions made up of hundreds of thousands of individuals. He represented something, the will of a minority of the population, but a strong political force, the hardline Marxist Leninist element of the CPSU. Romanov was a veteran of the second world war, he personally felt war, the presence of totalitarianism and its subsequent upheaval and his own personal relief at the hands of Khrushchev. He had no desire to be a tyrant, he did not personally enjoy killing, nor did he disregard it completely, but total power and the feeling of winning victories have the tendency to create the kind of mindset, where one's great, glorious and perhaps worthwhile objectives are worth the cost, any cost. He wanted to put the Soviet flag on the Moon, he wanted to outcompete the Americans and demonstrate to the world that there was in fact an alternative to capitalism. Yet these idiots and traitors, wanted to sabotage these goals. On that day, we experienced history at it's personal. While of course it was inevitable that these subversive networks would be noticed, and something would have to be done about them, the way in which it happened dictated the way in which it will occur, the haste. Ideally a secretary would have read this, created recommendations or a more measured reasonable response to curb the extremists. Instead, the most powerful man in the Soviet Union read a report about how people, were colluding with foreign enemies, enemies who he knew conspired to not only destroy their country, but had the most destructive force in the world constantly aimed at them. He had fought for his country, and to in his mind traitors who either knew nothing of the struggles and sacrifices it took to fight for it, or even to rebuild it, or did and still chose betrayal (even worse) incensed him. In a perverse way, it interested him, a challenge.

Langley, Virginia: Headquarters of the CIA

Central Intelligence Agency, Soviet Division - Langley, Virginia
Thomas Twetten looked spiffy in his fine suit, he was a confident man. He knew that his career prospects didn't look so good with the new president, but he had a great tenure with the last and looked forward to his retirement. But he remembered the frustration during the height of the eighties, having to watch the communists act with impunity, to get away with using heinous weapons and then costing American lives in the Gulf War. He wanted the one last move of his career to be a big one. He addressed the conference room of department heads, analysts and many of the best the CIA had to offer.

"We have it on good authority that they're going to act soon, both sources three and eight in the KGB have confirmed that there is talk of a massive operation, source two, our highest asset, has said he hasn't been told anything. Our analysts think this is major, clearly they're getting something ready but they haven't told middle management about it. Now some of our resources have been poached for South Africa, but I don't need to tell anyone in this room that we are still operationally capable. We also have it on good authority that there have been arrests, snatch and grabs and disappearances in Kazakhstan. We knew Kazakhstan was the weakest link, and by far the most porous, it offered us a tripwire. Operation Tsar's Folly has been authorized, the president has been hesitant, but we managed to present this in the most delicate way, that regardless of whatever foreign policy he wishes to take, we have to remove any and all American assets, and of course 'destroy the evidence'; to do this we will have to alert the networks and organizations of what is coming, allowing them to put their own contingencies into place, which of course could mean mass demonstrations."