Dead Man's Pennant 2: Baltic Schemers

Konstantin Bulanov is a modern science fiction author who writes both fantasy and alternate history, where people from our time are sent back into the past and influence the course of events.

The Russo-Japanese War and World War I for the Russian Empire were practically a foregone conclusion: too many influential forces sought to weaken Russia. However, intervention by a person from the future and years of tireless work by patriots shifted the historical trajectory—now the country is preparing not for a “quick victory,” but for an exhausting clash with opponents of comparable strength. Will the emperor be able not only to defeat the obvious enemies, but also to outplay the “allies” by their own rules?

Both the Russo-Japanese War and World War I became an inevitable test for the empire: the interests of many powerful figures were aimed at pulling Russia into conflicts and weakening it as much as possible. Even changes caused by the intervention of an outsider from the future—within the country and beyond its borders—could not fully avert the approaching blow. But history has already turned in a different direction: the result of many years of effort by people devoted to their homeland has been a new balance of power and a different understanding of the goals. Now the All-Russian emperor clearly understands what this preparation is for—for himself and for the people. This time, Russia was not going on a “light walk,” but into a hard-fought duel with worthy opponents. What remains is the most difficult part: to defeat those who have been declared enemies, and at the same time to outmaneuver those who are merely pretending to be allies, on their own ground. And the fleet… it will also make its contribution to the common cause—especially since there is plenty of both what to strike and whom to strike.