Return of the Reds: A new Soviet Empire

Soon after the fall of the Soviet Union, the weakness of the Russian state became apparent as democracy failed to flourish and power fell into the hands of an oligarchy of ex-KGB officials and plutocrats. Sour relations with the West and several fruitless incursions into former nations of the Soviet Empire brought on the fall of this regime. The eastern provinces of Russia declared independence, a move the central government in Moscow was powerless to prevent.

Against this backdrop of chaos and pessimism, a movement began to emerge which promised a return to the security and power which Russia had but lately enjoyed. The Neo-Communist Party, under the leadership of General Vladimir Taftikov, former KGB agent and protege of Putin, began to seize control of Moscow and the government. Soon their appeal as bringers of security and offers to protect the economic well-being of all Russians had their effect. The Communist Party was voted into power once more by a large majority. In a triumphal rally in Moscow's Red Square, Russia's new premier, Taftikov, proclaimed the "restoration of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics" and promised "freedom from want and fear to all Russia's people and to any others who wish to join our glorious Union".

Though the new regime professed non-expansionist intentions, relations with the European Union reached an all time low. Though neither the United States nor NATO remained to challenge Soviet power, the EU anxiously sought allies across the Atlantic. To better protect its borders, the USSR quickly occupied the former satellites of Bellorussia and the Baltic states. The newly robust Red Army was soon forced to also occupy the Caucasus and Ukraine in order to protect Russian citizens from political persecution. In this way, the original western border of the USSR was restored against western agression.

Soon Soviet satellite intelligence detected European and Quebeqoi naval vessels putting out to sea in unusually large numbers and EU forces advancing into Central Europe. In response to this threat, the Premier himself made the following statement on State Television."In order to maintain the sanctity and security of our beloved Motherland from Capitalist incursions, I have ordered a general mobilization of the Red Army and Navy and demand that European forces halt their eastward advance immediately or they shall be considered enemies of the people and treated as such."

1/10/09
by Count Belisarius