[COLONISATION]The Great Game begins

Emperor Nicholas stared at his globe. His Empire stretched from the Polish Plains to the Finnish Marshes. It stretched from the Great Steppes to the Mighty Caucasus and Urals. From the stormy Arctic Seas to the calm waters of the Orient, Russia ruled.

But even though Russia extended across the known world, Moscow still had to burn to defeat the imperious French. Such an indignity would never happen under Nicholas's rule, unlike his foolish brother Alexander. The might of the Russian army defeated Napoleon, despite his brother's unwillingness to lead. His effeminate liberalism would never be tolerated in Russia, not while Nicholas ruled.

While Russia bled to defeat the Raving Madman, the spoils of victory went to a tiny island off the coast of Europe. The rich effeminate bankers of England grew rich, despite never winning any glories or doing a hard day's work. England would have to learn to fear the Bear.

Nicholas gathered his advisors and ordered them to begin expansion into the frontier of Central Asia. Over the coming months Russians would flood into these provinces, while Imperial regiments and Cossacks warded off aggression from the native peoples. This would strengthen Russian dominance of Central Asia, and perhaps scare the Lion into retreat. Time would tell.