The Blue Danube Picnic

Along the Danube, 2044

## Quote

*"Quite a lovely day it is for a picnic, isn't it brother? The sky is blue, the river is blue, and it seems even the world is blue. Nothing more relaxing than to enjoy a cold sandwich, dressed elegantly with salami and cheese, while opening up a bottle of 1987 Prosecco straight from France. The only thing that could possibly spoil the whole ordeal is if we'd have to deal with some scheming Communist-Fascist sympathizer like Henry Dong...oh wait..."* - Zsofia Szocs to Rozsi Szocs, before their Danubian Picnic, 2044.

## Background

The Blue Danubian Picnic consists of essentially a Diplomatic negotiation between Hungarian Twin Monarchs Zsofia and Rozsi Szocs, with Revolutionary Henry Dong from Russia. Henry, having consolidated great power in Russia by appeasing all sides of the Political Spectrum and promising them essentially "enclaves to practice their beliefs" upon his victory, still has yet to fight his decisive Civil War against the Authoritarian Russian Government, still holding everything to the west of the Urals. Military build up in the Urals from both sides is clear, and it is inevitable that conflict will soon erupt. Henry, with his control over the vast land of Siberia, still is at a major disadvantage to the larger and more industrial Russian Nationalist Forces, Essentially seeking help from the West, Henry has arranged a simple meeting with Zsofia and Rozsi Szocs in order to negotiate recognition from Hungary, which he then hoped would lead other western nations to also recognize his state. Not wanting to deal with the formalities of politics and newsreporters, Henry opted for a picnic along the Danubian River, to discuss terms. As for Rozsi and Zsofia, who already by default disliked Henry's regime, more so wanted to figure out exactly what type of person he was, and agreed to a more casual meeting for this reason.

## Overview

Henry made the journey secretly through a boat to Alaska, from which then he took a plane covertly from the States to Hungary. Rozsi and Zsofia Szocs had provided exact coordinates of their meeting place, and by August 23, 2044, the meeting was ready. Henry, after trekking some odd miles along a hiking path after getting off a bus, encountered Zsofia and Rozsi settled on a picnic mat along the shores of the Danubian river, gesturing him over. After some mixed appraisals of each other they greeted each other with a firm handshake, as this is the first time they had met in person. After taking a quick minute to enjoy some bites of their sandwich, Henry casually discussed his current situation in Russia, outlining his decade long of struggle, and his end goals of creating a truly Democratic society, Rozsi, not wanting to sour the talks already, commended Henry for his commitment to Democracy, and Henry likewise commended the twins for their efforts in improving the lives of the people in Hungary. Henry then, building upon this agreed upon agreement in the principles of Democracy, requested that Hungary uphold their beliefs in Democracy to protect the flowering democracy in Russia, He simply requested recognition of his Rebel State, which at the time had been recognized by no major political entity, and to voice support for his regime.

Rozsi and Zsofia, already knowing their answer to this, suggested that this move would be dangerous for Hungary, due to their proximity with The Russian Nationalist Forces. Henry agreed, but cited that as part of the western system, Hungary need not worry about Russian threats, citing the Ukrainian-Russian war from early in 2022, which saw massive support towards the cause. Zsofia cited not necessarily Hungary falling, but more so the potential for Hungarian lives to be lost should they provoke Russia. Henry countered by suggesting that Russia is extremely unlikely to attack, due to the strength of his rebel forces. He also suggested that recognition was not something that Russia can by itself act on. Rozsi simply closed the topic by stating that the issue was not a risk he was willing to take, especially considering the balance of power between the Russians and the Rebels. Wanting to still maintain relations, Rozsi suggested plainly that if the Rebels began to achieve a significant chance at victory, that they may reconsider recognition, despite the twins not truly intending to recognize the state in either case. At the moment, Henry was not aware of the private opinions of the twins towards his regime, which they disliked heavily for its support of fascist and communist elements. Henry, not wanting to ruin any chance he had at recognition, but also understanding that there was more to the twin's refusal than what they were saying, changed the topic to the Russian Nationalists, which just transitioned into a general conversation about the state of political uncertainty around the world, from America, to Russia, to even the elements of former Yugoslavia and Africa. After another hour of what Zsofia described as small talk for politicians, the meeting was concluded, and Henry began his way back to Russia, unsatisfied with the result.

## Aftermath

Although Rozsi and Zsofia did not gain too much from the meeting, besides knowing more clearly what type of person Henry is, Henry himself began to be aware of a potential stigma against his regime, which would eventually compound into growing hatred of the west. Inadvertently, the Danubian picnic may have been the potential spark for Henry's future hostility against the west just a few years later, seeing their refusal to assist a nation in dire need of aid. This hatred would eventually cause Henry to expand his influence abroad, in Africa and Germany, which would eventually cause a Third World War as western powers decide to intervene and stamp his growing power. For Rozsi and Zsofia, they saw Henry as a genuine person who believed in what he believed in truly, and thought that what he was doing was truly the best path of the nation. He wanted the genuine good of his people, as opposed to rich oligarchs of transnational corporations. The Blue Danubian Picnic, for being as minuscule of an event as it is, may have been the first spark for the Third Great War just several years later.