October 26, 1936.
Berlin
Rain swept down Wilhelmstrasse.
Inside the Reich Chancellery annex, under dim chandeliers and thick velvet drapes, Germany and Japan ca together for sothing that will change many things or rather align it as the original future.
Joachim von Ribbentrop sat at the long oval table, legs crossed.
On the wall behind him, a large map of Eurasia bore lines drawn in red and black.
Across from him sat Ambassador Hiroshi Oshima, erect, unreadable, and dressed in a sharply pressed military uniform with no insignia to betray Tokyo's ambiguity.
"I trust the latest language satisfies your General Staff?"
Ribbentrop asked, sliding a sheat of German-scripted clauses across the polished wood.
Oshima adjusted his gloves before replying.
"In principle, yes. Clause Three, however, still requires clarification."
Ribbentrop gave a nod to the aide behind him, who stepped forward with the Japanese draft.
"Clause Three refers to mutual consultation, should either signatory be attacked by a third power connected to the Comintern. There is, of course, no binding military commitnt."
Oshima's eyes narrowed. "Yet intelligence-sharing protocols remain active. We do not intend to share our Manchurian deploynts with Berlin, not yet."
"Understood. But shared doctrine requires a foundation. One built on honesty."
Oshima leaned forward. "We are honest. But not foolish. This pact must remain flexible. We are not ready to be drawn into European rivalries."
Ribbentrop smiled. "Nor are we."
Behind the civility, both n knew otherwise.
(Flashback Start)
Two weeks ago in side the War Ministry, General Kanji Ishiwara paced before a table littered with European dispatches.
"The Germans are moving quickly," he muttered.
"And the Foreign Ministry?" asked a junior officer.
"Hesitant. Cautious. Timid," Ishiwara snapped.
"They fear it will anger Moscow."
"Will it?"
Ishiwara turned. "Moscow already considers us enemies. Better we act like it than pretend to be diplomats."
Another aide entered, handing him a telegram.
"Oshima confirms Berlin accepts the 'defensive pact' framing."
Ishiwara nodded. "Then we proceed. The Comintern spreads like mold. Ti to bleach it out."
20th October in Berlin.
The private study of Adolf Hitler was silent except for the turning of pages.
Ribbentrop stood across the desk.
"The Japanese have agreed to every major clause. Publicly, it targets the Comintern. Privately, it opens consultation protocols."
Hitler looked up. "And no military obligation?"
"None. But the ssage is unmistakable. East and West. Both ends of Bolshevism squeezed."
Hitler tapped a pencil on the desk.
"Good. Let the world see. The liberal fools in Paris and London will call it defensive. And when we march, they will still be blinking."
"Mussolini is pleased. The Ro-Berlin Axis becos clearer."
Hitler stood, pacing to the map.
"With Italy, Japan, and Germany in alignnt, the Soviets will be surrounded. We play our hand cautiously now. No sudden moves."
Ribbentrop added, "The Japanese will want formal recognition of Manchukuo."
Hitler waved a hand. "Give it to them. It ans little, and it costs us nothing."
Paris.
October 22
At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Laval read the leaked German communique.
"Anti-Comintern agreent in final review," it said. "Pact to be signed by end of November."
He exhaled.
"So the farce is ending," he said aloud. "The Germans no longer intend to hide this."
A diplomat beside him scoffed.
"It's a paper tiger. Two nations rattling the sabre at communism."
"Then explain why Berlin keeps reinforcing Franco, and Tokyo is preparing to push into Suiyuan," Fournier replied.
"This isn't just about ideology. This is geopolitics with a swastika and a rising sun."
He folded the paper. "I want this sent to Beauchamp and Moreau. Imdiately."
Paris.
Rue de Varenne, late night
Moreau leaned over the docunt.
Sothing he knew would happen because that is how history originall progressed.
Beauchamp poured him coffee.
"They pretend it's about the Comintern," Moreau muttered. "But it's about carving up the map before anyone else notices."
"You think this is more than just a declaration?"
"Absolutely. I've fought Germans who claid neutrality. I've seen Japanese in disguise funding puppet warlords. This pact gives their actions legitimacy. It turns covert sabotage into declared intent."
Beauchamp sat.
"We have no official response. Paris doesn't want to antagonize Berlin."
"Then Paris will wait until they're at the gates."
Beauchamp offered a weary smile. "You're not in Spain anymore, Moreau."
Moreau looked up.
"I never left. I just brought Spain with ."
Tokyo
25 October.
Pri Minister Hirota Kōki reviewed the final draft with two advisors.
Nearby, General Hisaichi Terauchi stood silent, arms folded.
"The Army supports the pact," Hirota said, "but the Foreign Ministry remains cautious."
Terauchi replied coldly. "Because diplomats see danger in every shadow. Soldiers know where the real threat lies."
An aide entered.
"Oshima has confird the final version is acceptable to Berlin. Ribbentrop is preparing the press statent."
"And the Aricans?"
"They remain officially neutral."
Terauchi nodded. "Then let the Germans speak. We'll move our pieces soon enough."
On the sa day in Ro.
At Palazzo Venezia, Mussolini scribbled across a map while Count Galeazzo Ciano read dispatches.
"Berlin and Tokyo, united," Ciano said. "And yet they still exclude us."
Mussolini laughed. "We are not excluded. We are inevitable. Let them court each other. Italy will stand when the ti cos."
He jabbed a finger at Vienna.
"The next move is here. And they will want us for it."
Ciano folded the dispatch. "So we wait?"
"We posture. Let the world think we are undecided."
(Flashback Ends)
Oshima and Ribbentrop t one final ti in a quiet chamber in evening.
"We will call it the Agreent Against the Communist International," Ribbentrop said.
Oshima bowed slightly.
"Japan will issue a concurrent statent. We seek peace. But we will not tolerate Bolshevik subversion in Asia."
"And Germany in Europe," Ribbentrop added.
They raised glasses.
"To mutual understanding," Oshima said.
"To shared vigilance," Ribbentrop replied.
In Paris, Moreau read the final cable.
He circled two words in pencil.
Mutual consultation.
Then he underlined one more.
Recognition.
He stood, looking out the window.
"We are heading closer to World War 2.
I have co a long way from being a nobody to soone with good influence over army and politics. But the real test is yet to co.".
Moreau sighed.
"After creating a farce at League of Nations few days later, I will start focusing on weapons and prepare because the Republic in Spain will soon fall but this one should not."
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