End of Empire
Russ Crossley
Published by 53rd Street Publishing at Smashwords
Copyright 2011 Russ Crossley
Cover image © Dimitry Pichugin/Dreamstime.com
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
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Table of Contents
Bonus story, Until We Meet Again
“Majesty, they are at the gates.”
Tsar Nicholas the Fifteenth looked away from the laptop screen where he’d been composing a blog entry about recent events. His bloodshot eyes betrayed the fear that had been growing in his belly since the financial collapse two years ago.
His faithful defense minister, Marshall Vladimir Lenin had been at his side since they were together at the Russian military academy when he was a young Tsarevich in training. His father expected, and in fact demanded, he go through the rigorous academy officer training school.
“How long, Vlad?”
Vlad shook his head. Nicky saw the sadness in his eyes. It was a sad day for them all, and most of all for Mother Russia.
“Not more than fifteen minutes my —” His words were cut off by the sound of an explosion in the distance. His forehead wrinkled as if he were in pain. “We’re running out of time, sire.”
Nicky sighed wearily and nodded. “Ok, my old friend. Is the Tsarina and my son aboard the helicopter?”
“Yes, sire.” A muffled explosion followed by a roar of gun fire closer now punctuated his words.
“Thank you. I have one more e-mail to send before the lines are cut. Then I’ll head for the roof. You go ahead.”
Marshall Lenin opened his mouth to speak but Nicky silenced him with a gesture. The Tsar still ruled and his every move would be obeyed by those who still respected the four hundred year old Romanov dynasty. Marshall Lenin was such a man.
Lenin disappeared from the doorway. Nicky heard the slap of his friends leather boots echoing on the marble floor until they gradually receded into the distance then disappeared into silence.
The crackle of the wood in the floor to ceiling stone fireplace in his study was all that remained. For the moment at least the sounds of battle had finally ended.
Nicky turned his attention back to his lap top screen and clicked on the internet connection. It opened then he clicked on the bookmark list. He scanned the list until he located the name of his e-mail program. He clicked on the name and the password screen appeared.
Once he was in the program he saw he had a list of e-mails from the every major, and some minor, royal heads of state around the planet no doubt promising undying support for Imperial Russia.
Truth was his cousins in Germany, England, France and the Americas were impotent and had been toothless monarchs for decades. They couldn’t support anyone never mind Imperial Russia.
In that time the Russian Empire had thrived. Since the victory over Japan in 1904 the empire had steadily expanded its borders and its influence. The defeat of Japan and the occupation of the Asian countries had solidified the Romanov dynasty’s future for decades.
His cousins were jealous of his continued unimpeded rule. They had become puppets of their democratic governments that controlled their old empires.
Russia, and by extension he and his family, were targets. His Secret Police had gathered evidence those same democratic governments were behind the food riots that had thrown Russia into turmoil.
Now he had to do something he never thought he would have to do. He had to run in order to survive. He’d never run from anything or anyone in his life.
Today was turning out to be an ocean of new experiences.
Nicky keyed in the e-mail addresses of his American cousin, King George the Tenth, and copied King William the Fifth of England. he began to type the message.
Dear, Georgie and Willie, I am about to abandon the palace in St. Petersburg for the last time. It is with a heavy heart I must take an unspeakable action to preserve my empire.
My actions today will have dire consequences for the future of the Russian throne. Consequently I implore you, my beloved cousins to reassure your respective governments they must use restraint in these difficult times, and not to take sides in this rebellion against order if lives are to be saved.
I know you are wondering what I mean by these words but by the time you receive this message it will become very clear what I have done.
Remember, cousins I love you as brothers and that my actions are to preserve Russian autonomy not to destroy it. Please urge the politicians to react with caution.
I am your humble servant,
Nicolas, Tsar of Imperial Russia
June 15, 2017
Nicky closed the lap top without exiting the program and hung his head with his eyes closed. He let a single sob escape between his dry his lips.
“Still sending e-mails, Nicolas?” said a throaty woman’s voice to his left. He opened his eyes and he looked in the direction of the voice.