The Tsarina Watches the Rocket
Her Majesty the Tsarina was going to watch the rocket.
“Hmm. Is that so? Your home country has no objections?”
“Yes. You need not worry on that point!”
No, you’re an American. Worry or no worry, shouldn’t you be heading back to the United States? Are they still telling you not to return? It’s been years since the civil war. Maybe I should just let it slide and pretend I never noticed. America never said anything in particular, after all. It might have been forgotten once Wilson was left half-paralyzed, but still.
“Then the Foreign Ministry can handle the Ethiopian side, I presume?”
“Shall we make immediate contact?”
“Hmm.”
If this were exactly the same future, the Second Italo-Ethiopian War would erupt in ’35, so I would have prepared the ground a few years in advance. But I have no idea when it will break out now. Shouldn’t I focus on building Ethiopia up aggressively from this moment on? Looking at communist Italy these days, the Stresa Front—the British, French, and Italian alliance meant to contain Germany—doesn’t look like it will ever form.
“For now, let us use the Ohrana to observe the situation inside Italy and approach them little by little.”
In effect the Ohrana is already functioning as our secret intelligence service, so sending them straight into Italy would be wise. History may have changed, but I have no intention of letting my guard down and getting caught off-balance.
“Should we not provide weapons to Poland as well?”
“Indeed. They dislike the idea of our troops entering their territory so intensely. Let us supply them with arms, just as I said before.”
Poland has joined the Anti-Comintern Pact and is busily arming itself with Russian-made weapons. Communist Germany will treat Poland like Russia’s second-string squad. That alone will provoke them. From now on Poland has no choice but to become our hunting dog. Of course its weight class is far lighter than in the original timeline, but if Russia supports it, the Poles will fight with everything they have simply to avoid dying. Those fools have already stamped their “I’m on Russia’s side, hehe” certification for the entire world to see. Rather than trying to undo it, they might as well stay idiots and gratefully eat the scraps their master throws them. Perhaps they still dream of rebuilding the Politburo. In any case, since Britain and Russia are both confronting the communists, wouldn’t it be convenient if Poland diligently tore at communist Germany’s scalp from one side while we tossed Lithuania to them as pocket change?
It could play out that way. The Soviet–Polish war never happened, so their bodies are itching for a fight; if anyone attacks them they will latch on like rabid dogs.
“Your Majesty. I have something to say regarding the Jewish matter.”
Grigory Vyacheslavovich, Minister of Agricultural Land Management, spoke.
“What seems to be the problem?”
“Jews are crossing over from Poland and settling in Russia.”
Jews coming from Poland? Oh, that’s new. All right, let’s hear the story.
“Why from Poland?”
“It appears Poland is also persecuting Jews with anti-Semitic policies. They seem to be fleeing to Russia or communist Germany.”
Around this time Poland is not only anti-Russian and anti-German but anti-Jewish as well. Anti-Russian is now impossible, anti-German has become reality, but since they cannot wage war, they are turning on the convenient target inside their borders.
“But Józef Piłsudski would not have permitted that, would he?”
Even if it is an anti-Semitic state, Piłsudski always dealt with Jews in a conciliatory manner. That means such things would have been difficult while he lived. Something feels off.
“It seems there was an exchange with the nationalists. According to the Interior Ministry, he appears to have coordinated with Dmowski of the Polish National Democratic Party—Endecja.”
In exchange for siding with Russia, the Jews must be crushed. So that’s how it is. Yet when I visited, I never met that Dmowski. I’m not deeply versed in Polish history, so I don’t know exactly what kind of man he is. If he belongs to the National Democratic faction, was he one of those who targeted me? Or was he the one who had been restraining the nationalists and, failing to do so, struck this bargain?
“What manner of man is he?”
“He is said to be a political rival of Józef Piłsudski.”
“Is he the leader of the faction that threw the bomb at me?”
“No. When Your Majesty visited Poland, Dmowski had gone to Britain to seek support against communist Germany.”
To obtain aid. If Britain were fully committed to helping Poland it might be different, but with the Politburo issue and the fact that a terror attack against the Tsarina occurred in that country, it would be awkward for them to assist. So while he was away the nationalists ran wild. Upon his return, Dmowski suppressed them and, in exchange, carried out the anti-Jewish campaign for the anti-Semite Dmowski. That must be it. And because we are pursuing a pro-Jewish policy here, the refugees have come to us.
“Hmm. It seems our pro-Jewish policy is the reason.”
“Yes. However, aside from those Jews who fought alongside or supported the White Army during the civil war, the influx of outside Jews appears somewhat problematic.”
That makes sense. We practiced anti-Jewish policies for a long time. Even though we are now pro-Jewish, ordinary Russians are unlikely to welcome Jews suddenly arriving from Poland and trying to settle among them.
“What if we settle them in North Manchuria?”
There are Han Chinese and Manchus in North Manchuria, but I heard many have left. The Beiyang government seems to be accepting large numbers of Manchurian people to secure population. Sending the Jews there might work.
“Hmm. In that region conflicts would likely be minimal.”
“In any case, developing Manchuria requires people. It will be cold, of course, but if there is a place where only they can live comfortably, wouldn’t that be ideal?”
After all, I am not persecuting them; I am giving them land. Isn’t that enough?
“Yes. The department has already been considering North Manchuria for the Jewish issue.”
Unlike the “states” of the United States, the Russian United States contains various republics within it. A Republic of Israel could exist—or be created—inside the Russian United States. After all, our mad dog Hitler might suddenly lose his mind and start slaughtering Jews. Solving everything on our own is one solution. So we give the Jews land to cultivate and send them to North Manchuria. The Jews gain territory of their own, we gain development of North Manchuria, and once settled there the Jews will have no choice but to rely on Russia. Later, after we seize Poland, establishing Israel on Polish soil remains an option. North Manchuria, North Manchuria… Right. What is the current ethnic makeup?
“What is the present ethnic composition of that region?”
“It is multi-ethnic. There are considerable numbers of Chinese groups—Han and Manchu—but also Russians who migrated because of the civil war, along with Jewish and Korean communities.”
I had heard that White Russians and Red Russians clashed in Harbin, so I assumed the Russian population was large. Koreans as well?
“Koreans?”
“Quite a few have come from the North Manchuria area. Recently a Japanese officer named Mutaguchi Renya, attached to the South Manchurian Railway Army, has already sent several thousand men, claiming he would help fill the ranks of the Russian North Manchurian Army’s Asiatic Cavalry Division.”
As expected of the shadow independence army. All of them may one day strike Japan in the back of the head. At this rate, I wonder if he really was Korean in a previous life. Or perhaps, like me, a Korean who possessed him. It’s not impossible. He was already an unusual figure in original history; I’m starting to suspect he truly was Korean. Well, if he keeps supplying population to North Manchuria, all the better. The Koreans who have come will develop the region too.
“Then let us propose North Manchuria to the Jews arriving from Poland. Tell them that if they accept, we will support their settlement.”
“Understood.”
North Manchuria, North Manchuria. Now that I think about it, I only heard that the Asiatic Cavalry Division had occupied it and paid the matter little attention. North Manchuria. Eventually we must stab Japan in the back there. I will need to give that region serious consideration.
“The main city of North Manchuria was Harbin, correct?”
“Yes.”
“It might be good for me to visit Harbin myself. After the civil war I focused on Europe, but I seem to have neglected the Far East.”
I rose from my seat with confidence. The Far East was originally the birthplace of entities like the Far Eastern Republic; I ought to go. Now that the White Army has won the civil war, many communists have fled the area. Personally, it is the closest part of Russia to the Korean Peninsula, so I want to see it. I also want to meet the Koreans living in Russia in this era.
“Your Majesty traveling personally to Harbin is somewhat…”
“Security has been secured, but is there anything of substance there yet?”
“Yes. It would be better to visit after Jewish settlement has begun.”
The ministers are trying to dissuade me. Of course the more they say not to do something, the more I want to do it. Is now really not good? It would be wiser to go later once the Jews have settled a little. I sat back down with a deflated expression.
“Separately from that, a man named Robert Goddard has asked most earnestly to meet Your Majesty.”
The Black Baron, who had been watching my gloomy face, spoke up. I never expected Goddard’s name to come from Wrangel’s lips. It seems Wrangel has been managing him since weaponization is on the schedule.
“For what purpose?”
“He wishes to demonstrate a liquid-fueled rocket launch experiment before Your Majesty.”
“Then I suppose I should at least go see that.”
Yes. Let’s see what our Goddard has created.
It seemed the White Army’s technical department had been assisting Goddard with the rocket work. On a military site on the outskirts of Moscow, our Mr. Goddard was busily preparing a rocket model.
“Your Majesty. I hope you have been well.”
“Ah, enough with the small talk. I want to see it right now.”
“Hahaha. Of course! I will not disappoint Your Majesty!”
As if he had been ready to launch at any moment, Goddard immediately prepared to fire one rocket in front of me.
Fwoooooosh!
“Oh. That’s impressive.”
The thought lasted only a second. Like a bottle of flat cola it simply plopped straight down and buried its nose in the dirt. It wasn’t as if it would succeed immediately just because we were helping, but seeing the failure in person made the disappointment a hundred times worse. Still, this experiment was not supposed to appear for another two years. That meant it had emerged here two years early. This man had spent a great deal of time trying to solve the problem. What if I solved it for him in advance? He would normally receive advice from someone later, but since he has come to Russia that same sequence probably won’t occur. Then perhaps I should give him a few hints.
Even during the Second World War rocket technology had many problems in various respects.
I had glanced at some rocket knowledge while thinking about blowing up those biker thugs’ shelter, but I wasn’t sure it would be useful. Still, I decided to slip my knowledge in subtly.
“Is that what you call a rocket?”
“It is certainly fascinating, but how long would it take to weaponize something like that?”
The ministers who had come to watch also wore less-than-pleased expressions. That was understandable. After all, it was the Tsarina herself who had ordered the project; such a result would be embarrassing. Still, we had only just taken the first step.
“But doesn’t it seem to fall rather close?”
I asked carefully, watching Goddard sweat profusely. He himself seemed aware of the failure and was glancing at me with extreme caution.
“I am sorry. The experimental result is terribly inadequate.”
No. I am not angry about that. On the contrary, he conducted an experiment that was not supposed to happen until 1926—two years early. I rate this very highly. Here, I will gently drop a hint for the solution.
I looked at Goddard and smiled faintly.
“Hmm. Isn’t the problem that the nozzle is on top?”
“Pardon?”
I pointed at what appeared to be a blueprint Goddard was holding. I was only pretending to know and tossing out an idea. Rather than barking orders before putting a knife to someone’s throat, it was more natural to suggest possibilities casually. I indicated the rocket lying on the ground.
“That fuel tank seems to be acting as a weight, yet the thrust coming from the nozzle appears to be interfering with the fuel tank.”
“Ah.”
I had only spoken what little I knew, yet he reacted instantly. A genius truly is a genius. Shall I add a little more?
“It seems to be causing a sharp drop in propulsion. How about arranging it in the order of liquid fuel, liquid oxygen, then nozzle?”
“Ah.”
“Using a gyroscope to adjust direction would also be good.”
At my words Goddard’s eyes spun, then he clapped his hands.
“Indeed, that must be it. Thank you, Your Majesty!”
“Still, since we have confirmed the potential, I look forward to seeing something better next time.”
“Yes! I will definitely show Your Majesty results!”
Goddard bowed deeply and began gathering the fallen rocket pieces. If he felt any shift from my words, that was enough. The next test would surely yield better outcomes. Two years early plus my advice—Russian military weapons in the Second World War might advance far beyond expectations.
“Your Majesty.”
Suddenly an old man appeared nearby. I had never seen him before.
“Who are you, sir?”
What is this? A vagrant? How does the military manage its grounds?
“I am Konstantin Tsiolkovsky. May I conduct rocket research together with this friend?”
This strange old man spoke only what he wished and thrust a stack of documents at me. It was rather rude. I sighed and glanced at them. They contained theories about space travel. Huh? For a moment I wondered if this gentleman had come from the future—had he already produced something like this?