The red regime

Akkado, are you really going to the Soviet Union? And from there, traveling through Siberia to China?" Seeker asked, fixing his gaze intently on Akkado. With a resigned sigh, Akkado responded, "General, the French will undoubtedly exploit this incident to create a stir. The coalition committee will intensify their efforts, and some of our domestic operations and plans will inevitably be halted."

Seeker pondered this for a moment before attempting to persuade him once more. "But that's exactly why you are needed here, Akkado! There's too much work to be done. If you leave, won't that just play into the French's hands?"

Akkado, while organizing documents on his desk, retorted, "So, I should just leave these matters for the army to handle? I need to go to the Soviet Union to personally oversee the second phase of our tactical plan there, and then get the Bolsheviks to assist us in building the air force and armored divisions we've never dared to have!"

"Are you asking me to clean up your mess? Akkado, you're leaving all this chaos for your boss to sort out? That's quite impolite," Seeker raised his eyebrows in disapproval.

"I won't do this for you! Handle it yourself!" he added firmly.

Akkado glanced at Seeker, locked the organized documents into the safe, and then secured the outer wall of the safe. If one hadn't seen it with their own eyes, who would have guessed that behind the door, concealed by a shoe rack, was his safe? Then he straightened up and faced Seeker, "Despite our disagreements on some issues, our goals for the Wehrmacht and Germany align perfectly! Helping me is helping yourself. You know this."

"But the trouble you cause me is immense! To avoid these complications, I'd rather manage alone in the future," Seeker smirked, half-joking, "Maybe I'll even throw you to the French as a scapegoat!"

"And what then? Abandon the 'Pluto Project'? The issues I bring are far outweighed by the benefits to the National Defense Force. You know this well. If I hadn't met your expectations, you would have dismissed me from command long ago, right?" Akkado stretched, his tone mixing confidence with a hint of laziness.

"How long will you be gone?" Seeker finally sighed, conceding, "I suppose the IDF still needs you."

Relieved, Akkado knew he had managed to navigate past Seeker's objections for now. "I'll be back in about 40 days, 45 at most. We have much to do and can't afford any delays."

"Russians can be tough negotiators now, Akkado. They're busy fighting landlords and dealing with capitalists, and they aren't too fond of Western civilization as a whole," Seeker warned.

Akkado spread his hands and chuckled, "They haven't been friendly to Western civilization since the days of the Mongolian cavalry, right?"

Seeker laughed briefly, then grew serious again, "Since you're aware, what's your plan to get them to cooperate with us?"

"The situation is simple. Right now, the whole of Europe isn't very friendly towards us either! They're more likely to embrace a Germany that Europe rejects," Akkado explained, his smile fading.

"What else? I need to hear all your plans," Seeker demanded, his eyes narrowing. "We can't afford to lose at the Russian negotiation table! If we do, the entire Defense Force's 'Pluto Plan' will be compromised."

"Firstly, the Russians share our views on Poland. Neither of our countries wants to see Poland continue to exist," Akkado stated matter-of-factly. "You know this; we have a common interest."

Seeker, who harbored a secret disdain for Poland, had once bluntly stated in a personal letter, "The existence of Poland is incompatible with the survival of Germany, and I find it intolerable." The Soviet Union also disliked its new Western neighbor. The Soviet Red Army had launched an attack on the Polish capital in the summer of 1920, only to be humiliatingly repelled by the Polish forces and forced to retreat.

"That can't be all you're banking on. Let's hear more," Sikter urged, leaning back on the sofa and accepting a cup of coffee from Grace.

Akkado knew he could be open with Seeker. His trump card lay in the knowledge that the Soviet Union, currently ostracized by the Western powers, was desperate for allies: "Another leverage is that the Soviets need our advanced technology to boost their productivity," he explained, pointing to the 'Treaty of Versailles' displayed decoratively on the table. "Moreover, they aren't signatories to the 'Treaty of Versailles,' which means they aren't obligated to adhere to its terms. Plus, the vast expanse of the Soviet Union provides an ideal training ground for our pilots and tank drivers."

He didn't mention that he was also eyeing China in the Far East, having already initiated some cooperative endeavors there. His plan was to draw China into his sphere of influence and let the less stable Japan sink into the mire of future conflicts with China.

"That sounds like a solid plan. I'll find you a reliable interpreter. I hope your journey to Russia and China goes smoothly," Seeker said, taking a sip of his coffee.

As the first officer to arrive on the scene, Akkado had been repeatedly summoned by the diplomats of the French embassy and the officers of the Coalition Commission, which delayed his departure. However, during the two weeks he was summoned, Akkado was not idle. In the autumn of 1921, he had arranged for his friend and follower, Goodrian, to intern in Munich, a move that allowed him to make numerous connections in the logistics department of the National Defense Forces. For this period of social engagements, Akkado even hired a former court etiquette officer to teach him aristocratic manners during evening sessions.

With the onset of winter, Akkado finally boarded the train to the Soviet Union. For security reasons, his entourage consisted of only three people: Akkado, his deputy officer and guard Geer, and a Defense Forces Logistics Department interpreter named Brock.

Geer, who had been assigned to Akkado as a personal guard and adjutant from the moment he picked Akkado up at the train station to the headquarters of the National Defense Force, had seen his status rise alongside that of Seeker's secretary Grace.

Brock was a linguistic prodigy, fluent in six languages and capable of writing beautifully in French, German, and English. He spoke German, French, English, Italian, Chinese, and even Arabic. During the First World War, he had served in the German Army Corps in Turkey.

Yet, the proudest individual on the train was Akkado Rudolph, who sat by the window gazing out at the vast wilderness. In late 1918, he had been a mere second lieutenant, scarcely more than a sergeant and not even an officer. But in just three years, he had risen to become a prominent lieutenant colonel in the National Defense Forces. Unlike other lieutenant colonels, Akkado headed the newly established German spy agency, the Gestapo, and could influence decisions within the 15th Division of the main force. He was also responsible for establishing the third division's temporary vacancy and had created almost all of Germany's motorized troops. His friendships extended to more than half of the German generals, and he had used the Gestapo to spread rumors, making him one of the most renowned chiefs among the officers.

Now, he was on a covert mission to the Soviet Union to secretly build up the airpower for the entire National Defense Force. He was also set to travel to distant China as a secret envoy to secure funding for the German Defense Forces. It could be said that he now held the purse strings of the Defense Force and wielded significant influence.

However, Akkado was aware that time was not on his side. He knew that in 1923, Hitler would instigate the infamous Munich Beer Hall Putsch. This event would lead to Hitler's imprisonment, but his influence would grow exponentially. Rather than being a setback, Hitler's incarceration would serve as a means to capitalize on media attention.

Reflecting on this, Akkado massaged his forehead with his right hand. Hitler's rise wasn't merely due to cunning; he possessed a formidable drive and the audacity to face challenges head-on. If not managed carefully, the National Defense Forces, which they had painstakingly built, could transform into a private Nazi army and become Hitler's personal powerful war machine within a few years. And Akkado's fate in such a scenario was clear—arrest, death, or becoming a mere puppet under Hitler's control.

The IDF lacked a unifying belief, which allowed it to transcend politics and become a pillar of Germany. However, this ideological void made it susceptible to being overtaken by a more dominant ideology. Akkado's insight was that the IDF could fall under the sway of Nazi ideology, and he was determined to prevent this from happening. His motivation wasn't for the sake of world peace or personal survival; Akkado simply refused to relinquish his power or be subjugated by others.

Contemplating this daunting challenge, Akkado was deep in thought when Brock, having stepped out for a moment, returned and leaned down to inform him gently, "Mr. Lieutenant Colonel, we've arrived at Moscow Railway Station."

As Akkado and his team disembarked from the train with their luggage, they were taken aback by the spectacle that greeted them. A full military band played the newly adopted national anthem of the Soviet Union, while young women in short skirts stood on the snowy platform, smiling as they handed flowers to Akkado and his companions.

"Wasn't this supposed to be confidential? What's going on?" Gore whispered to Brock, puzzled by the unexpected fanfare.

With a resigned expression, Akkado accepted the flowers, shook hands with the approaching officers, glanced back at his men, and then offered a wry smile, "It seems this is just how things are done in red regimes."