Brief Notes:

I know that it is a stretch for Nicholas II to do large reforms over like ten years, but I believe that given a strong enough incentive, he could have done something to boost Russia's potential in this alternate timeline.

I focus mainly on the politics and characters, and unfortunately, military logistics are not my strong point. I'll keep details of the alternate Great War generalized when the war arc arrives.

October 11, 1922

(34 kilometers overseas from North Denmark)

"Lord Mountbatten! We have a Russian destroyer at 10 o'clock. It is approaching our waters."

"Follow the standard protocol. We do not want them in our waters," Louis ordered, sneering at the distant Russian ship.

"Yes, milord!"

The high officer then spoke into the radio to inform the nearest escort destroyer. And at once, the gunnery crew there hurried to action. Some of the seamen in their rugged pants and short sleeved shirts carried smaller shell rounds, grunting with strain. They loaded the rounds. The large turrets began to turn towards the Russian ship...

Soon after, the gun officers shouted orders to fire.

And the thunderous booms of firing cannons resounded across the waters, as two shells flew to a place beside the intruding vessel. They slammed into the waves with another two separate explosions, sending sea foam and debris into the air. And at once, the trespassing Russian destroyer began to turn around...

Louis nodded in approval. He got up from his chair, gazing at the marine horizon to the east. Where Russia was. Where one he once knew and cared about still lived-

No.

He shut his eyes, pretending to clear his throat. He had better things to think of his estranged cousin. Especially when she was aligned with the enemy alliance. She was an enemy.

"I must use the lavatory. Watch the bridge, Captain."

"Yes, milord!" the captain de aide said, saluting the English Lord.

Louis headed out of the bridge, and he paced around the decks. He smiled when watching the Russian destroyer flee further and further. The traitors. He scoffed. The war, whenever it arrived, would be his chance to strike back.

England and France had entered a moderate recession. America, out of fear of making enemies with a vast, populous country and industrial Germany, declared itself neutral. This, of course, caused the anti-patriotic and anti-monarchists to double or so in England. To them, the King had put England at risk! Neither would this terrible effect by the Russian withdrawal from the Entente be forgiven so easily. A possible revolutionary on English soil was an enemy as much!

"It is Uncle Willy and Nicky's fault. The whole damned lot of them," he thought, sneering.

Deep down inside of him, he knew that the kind Grand Duchesses and Tsarevitch boy were innocent of the questionable withdrawal. But they had chosen their allegiances.

He went below the decks, treading down a staircase. He nodded at the occasional seaman or officer who saluted him. At least one glimmering benefit came out of the blasted rubbish... every Englishman and Englishwoman got along.

For God, King, and Empire!

He went into his private study room, and he stopped before a leather book titled News. With a sigh, he flipped to the most recent page... Nothing else was there except for a black and white photograph copy of her in an honorary uniform for her regiment.

A twinge of uneasiness came through him at the thought of fighting her on the battlefields, whether by sea or land. Louis clenched his fist, panting. He slammed the book shut.

In the instant, an idea hatched in his head. If one of the Grand Duchesses just so happened to venture into the wrong battlefield, the British could capture one or more as a bargaining chip against the Russians. Their father, his former Uncle Nicky, would not stand with much resolve.

This was brilliant! Certainly this idea was mentioned by the King and Queen Mary of Teck in private, but the drastic wartime plan had not been drafted yet. With a chuckle, he scrawled a note on his journal before returning to the bridge...

(Line Break)

Petrograd Military Field One

"Excellent... Very excellent!" the Tsar said, watching the steel-plated, barrelled vehicles rumble across the hardened dirt field.

"Peculiar but powerful indeed," the Tsarina remarked, holding hands with her husband.

"Indeed, your Imperial Majesties These T-22s will be the future of Russian arms," Sikorsky said.

The Tsar smiled, resting his chin onto his hands...

"I can see so. What of our fighter planes?"

"As a result of increased education in the engineering and sciences, we have more staff and workers improving the previous Sikorsky 20 planes. I shall introduce... the Sikorsky 22 Series- Erm, prototypes."

Moments passed, and the Tsar and Tsarina frowned while glancing up every so often... Until a distant drone of engines could be heard. They looked towards the skies, and they gasped at the alluring, stunning sight of ten gleaming biplanes flying overhead. Like the colorful birds of faraway lands, the metal winged vehicles soared high and proud in homage to Russia. On their fuselages, the black, yellow, and white of the Imperial Russian flag shone.

And in almost perfect synchronization, they did a barrel roll. This left the Imperial Couple speechless for a moment... The Tsar looked back at the young engineer, and he patted Sikorsky on the back.

"Mister Sikorsky... I promise you and the Imperial Aerospace Organization that your funding and our American supplies will be increased."

The engineer could not resist grinning. And so did the Grand Duchesses and Tsarevitch too. Olga, who stood nearby with Grand Duke Oleg, held hands with her fiance. Tatiana glanced at her sister, frowning. She felt the slight jealousy simmer before fizzling away into guilt. It was wrong, immoral, to covet something she did not have yet. Her mother would be appalled! She frowned, pretending to brush her forehead.

"Are you well, Tatiana dear?" her mother asked.

Tatiana almost flinched. "Oh- It is only an itch, Mama."

Alexandra knew her daughter was still bothered. But it would do no good for her to push the subject forward. She felt a bit sadder upon thinking of how old her daughters had become. Her eldest had begun to court Grand Duke Oleg, a kind and poetic relative of hers. Better than the playboyish Dmitri Pavlovich, the unruly adopted son to her!

"Very well. We will return home this afternoon, my dear."

Tatiana feigned a smile at Olga, who spoke in soft tones with her fiance.

"Oh, Oleg, we should visit Ella together someday. I believe you would find her quite pleasant to encounter..."

And her youngest had written a comedic story that had sold thousands of copies in Petrograd! Although she thought that Anastasia was better off settling down and finding love, Anastasia seemed not in a hurry to do so.

Nicholas, on the other hand, felt content despite the growing tensions between the Entente and his side. He had realized soon after the 1912 spring meeting with the Russian intelligence that his domestic policies were ineffective in both economic and social areas. Especially shocking were how the factory workers were treated. And the military still had outdated equipment and inconsistent training.

So he reinstated his liberal advisor Sergei Witte again in the summer of 1912. The humbling revelations had made the Tsar aware of his previous shortcomings after some time. It was difficult to accept, but Nicholas II had to make amends. The worst for Russia and his family would never be. He had promised as Tsar to take care of his people, and he had found the way: "The Better Empire" reforms of the 1910s.

Taking advice from Witte, he reinstated the Duma in 1913, promising to not suspend it. He had learned that he must heed what his people said, like himself as a father listening to his children...

Taxation reforms were placed throughout a five year period, with large domestic companies receiving more taxes and the peasants less. The surplus income was often used to fund a new healthcare system and education system. Peasants and lower income Russians would have cheaper access to medicine, hospital services, and basic education. Still, he refused to take action for the revolutionary exiles. They were still dangerous. Some of them had even sworn to kill his family, even his beloved children!

Finally, he had made a deal with the Americans to import some steel annually in 1918, returning some oil back to the United States. The American president Woodrow Wilson had been surprised at first. How could an autocrat even change his mind? But the president could not deny the reality and its benefits. For Russia, the deal would supply the railroad system construction in order to transport troops in case of a war. After all, the British and French had been growing in power.

It pained Nicholas to see his Cousin George at odds with him. Yet the Tsar knew it could not be helped. He could fix his Russia, but not the broken relations with England.

Eventually, the Tsar returned to his home with his family. The trip and the return into the royal quarters passed as quick as a blur. As the Tsar reclined in his study chair, he spoke with his dear Alix. Their two younger daughters remained in their quarters, listening to jazz records. Their son and other two elder daughters lounged in a dining room, playing checkers for leisure. But the Little Pair, however, did not have as much enjoyment.

Anastasia rolled her eyes at Maria, who gazed at her only recent photo of Louis Mountbatten. Although she knew that her sister was quite a romantic and heartfelt person, she felt uneasy about Maria's infatuation with an enemy Lord of all possible matches!

"He'll treat you poorly whenever he sees you again, Mashka... We are on opposing sides."

"I doubt so. He must have some goodness in him."

"And you have not heard from him for ages. What proves that he is as good as you think he is?"

Maria did not respond, instead huffing. She waved off her sister, walking away with the photo to her desk.

"It cannot be!", she thought.