Chapter 17: The World’s Stage
The snows of St. Petersburg glistened beneath banners of crimson and gold.
Across the frozen city, engineers and craftsmen labored without rest, erecting pavilions and exhibits showcasing the might and sophistication of the new Russian Empire.
Steam engines roared. Clockwork automatons danced. Colossal steel statues of past Tsars loomed over plazas, now dwarfed by mechanical marvels bearing Mikhail’s seal.
The Great St. Petersburg Exposition was underway.
[Event: Imperial World’s Fair – Status: Open]
Nations came, lured by curiosity, arrogance, and hidden agendas.
The British delegation, led by Lord Pembroke, arrived with their newest repeating rifles and a silent battalion of intelligence officers.
The Ottomans presented exotic spices, textiles, and experimental armored cavalry units.
The French displayed elegant airship prototypes, sleek but fragile compared to Russia’s monstrous armored trains.