The Red Empire

Karakum,

after seeing the nuke explosion above the Ashenveil Lake, Aric almost went crazy, he thought that one of the most important areas of the Kingdom had been destroyed, and the Soviets did want to invade them.

Until one of his guards passes a message to him,

"My lord, from the remains of the enemy weapons, we found something. It seems like a message to us."

Then he passed a wreckage to Aric, and a sentence was written on it with neat Karak words.

"Stop playing tricks to the Soviet Union!"

Aric immediately understood what is the objective of the Soviets, not to invade, just a simple warning.

"Everyone stop doing anything that may harm the relationship between us and the USSR, this is an order, anyone who does not obey it will be issued with a death penalty."

---

New Port, on a hill that can have a clear look at the whole area.

Aria looked madly at those who were sitting here doing nothing watching the Soviet navy doing what they wanted.

"Why aren't you all doing something, prepare for battle, didn't the Marshal send the orders?"

"Nah, didn't you hear what the Soviets said, it is just a normal military exercise, I don't understand why Marshals are so nervous about it." General Crimson said while holding a Lake Baikal drink, a Soviet version of Pepsi.

He is the one in charge of the port army, he is also the one who first welcomes the first group of Soviets who came here, Chernov and the other.

Besides him, are other officers and soldiers who do the same as him, some even started to have a barbeque. If someone did not know what had happened and who they were, would think this was a picnic.

"Do you want a drink? Choose one, Vodka or Baikal, maybe just Baikal, Vodka is very strong, and you all will just be drunk." Crimson took out a box, that was full of drink, and gave Aria and Serina each a Baikal.

Serina took it without hesitation, she drunk this before and it was nice. 

"Stop drinking what the Soviets give you, what if they put some poison on it? They can march into our kingdom freely without any resistance. Why did you join the army if you were here to enjoy?"

However, Aria refuses and pushes it aside.

"Hey, do you know what you are talking about? They can march into our kingdom without putting poison in it, they can still march freely in our kingdom even if there is resistance. Didn't you see all their weapon on the ship, any single ship can easily wipe out the whole army in the port." Seeing that she refused the soda he offered her and pushed it aside, Crimson said with some displeasure.

"How can you say something like this? The Soviets might be the invaders in the future, if you don't even have such caution, or are prepared to fight with the Soviets, are you worthy of your country and the king?"

"Invaders? No, they will be liberators. I am worthy to my country and king, but did they do the same to me and all the soldiers here? We will be wiped out if the Soviets want to invade us. We are just cannon folders. I used to think as the kingdom had told me, but now, not only me but all our soldiers found that the Soviets are good people. Did the kingdom provide us with such good food and drinks?"

Crimson then pointed at those new buildings, their new base and camp.

"Did you see that, those were what the Soviet workers built for us, how will people that are so good want to kill us? Why should we fight against the Soviets, just join them. Everyone can benefit, no one will die, everyone can go back and see their family."

"Ridiculos. You are letting the Soviets dictate our future? They don't respect our ways, Crimson. Have you seen how they look at us? And their 'orthodoxy'? It's just a cover for controlling the people. They don't want to help us, they want to control us." said coldly by Aria.

"Then let it be! Look around, Aria. Whenever there is war, half of our villages in the country are ashes, and the other half are barely surviving. If the Soviets can give us the strength to fight back, why not take it? Or would you rather watch more of our people die because we're too proud to accept help?"

"Strength without freedom is no strength at all. You'd trade one master for another. And mark my words, when the Soviets are done with us, Karak will be unrecognizable. They don't just conquer with weapons, they conquer minds. You think you are benefiting from their help, but you're already playing their game."

"At least they have a game! All we do is bleed and pray. Maybe it's time for something different. You can keep your mistrust, we will see the results at the end."

"You're selling Karak's soul. And when the Soviets finally show their true face, don't come crying to me when you realize you've handed them the keys to our kingdom." Aria steps closer, with her fierce eyes.

"Better a key to a graveyard." Crimson spread his hands and said nonchalantly.

The next moment, Aria suddenly rushed to Crimson, with a knife in her hand. She wants to kill this general who is already not loyal to the Kingdom. But before his hand even raised, she has been stopped, frozen in where she originally was. The guards around have controlled her instantaneously.

"You see, what I said was right. You are the first to attack me since I was here. The first ones to attack me are someone from Karak, not the Soviets."

"Traitors! you will be abandoned by all people. I can already see your ending, you will get hung up before the Karak has been destroyed."

"Shut up! Why am I wasting my time with this woman? Throw her out, I don't ever want to see her again."

Then, a black hole appeared beside it, a few soldiers threw Aria into it. Serina made a simple apology to the people present with a slightly apologetic look, then followed Aria step and walk into the black hole. After she was in, the black hole closed, like nothing has appear.