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The Bright Minds of Oslad
Electronic and Mechanical Engineer Vladan Nešić, circa 1896
The dawn of the 20th century was an era of technological industrial innovation within the Osladian Empire. Bright minds from across the Tsardom and her subject-states began meeting in Oslograd and Toboskoy to discuss all matters of scientific and philosophical ponderings. The poster-boy for these 'bright minds' was one Vladan Nešić, a electronics and mechanical engineer with multiple accolades from the Osladian Imperial Army. The Boletarian-national was a key figure in the development of the Oslo.98 rifle, and due to his involvement was sought after by foreign governments and private companies alike for his opinion on a multitude of weapon designs and schematics.
While known for his weapons research and development, Nešić had a secretive secondary interest, specifically in the research of wireless electronic lighting. The concept of non-fire based lighting was not one founded by Nešić, in fact wireless electronic lighting had been invented a decade prior by a Taran inventor, but Nešić intended to master the concept. By 1899 the Boletarian scientist had began giving demonstrations of stronger and brighter lightbulbs in the hope of securing investors in his project. Luckily, Nešić found just the buyers; Zagadka Industrial immediately offered the inventor a deal on his project, so long as the patent fell to Zagadka. Nešić agreed to the deal, and by the end of 1899 Zagdka brand 'Nešić lighting' entered the marketplace across the Empire, saving the failing company for another year.
However, after the release of the Nešić lightbulb, the young scientist was again sought after by the Osladian government with requests for assistance, their exact demands unknown to the public at large...
A Union Divided
Though the general election was nearly a year away, the Liberal-Democrats and Union had already begun their campaigns. While Selidov made promises of infrastructural projects and investment into the civilian economy via support for faltering companies like Zagadka Industries, Union attempted to rally her supporters under a united front against the 'foreign loving liberals' and 'republican conspirators'. However, Union was far from united behind closed doors. Over the 12 year long regime of the Liberal-Democrats, a divide grew in the Union camp; the moderate conservatives and the revaunchist traditionalists. While the moderate unionists simply called for stronger economic protections and moderate increase in defense spending, etc. The Traditionalist camp called for nothing less than a full reversal to the policies of 'the dark decade' under Selidov. The traditionalists were quick to rally under the banner of Vasilyev Yegorov and his fiery rhetoric, while the moderates clung to veteran politician Leonard Palkowski.
Leonard Palkowski, leader of the moderate Unionists. Photo circa 1898.
Palkowski was a Boletarian lawyer-turned-politician and long time veteran of the Union party. Born into a minor noble house in Dukovsta, Palkowski was a model student and graduated top of his class in a Oslograd university, which at the time was a luxury reserved only for the elite of Osladian society. Spending over a decade as an expert in international tax and trade laws, Palkowski felt a calling to politics and found his place in the Union movement, soon becoming a major voice in the protectionist camp. As the election drew nearer, Palkowski and Yegorov grew to become fierce rivals within their party. In letters uncovered after their deaths, Palkowski had repeatedly called for Yegorov to be removed from the party and proclaimed the Count as a threat to the stability of the Empire if he remained uncontested, though many view these statements to have fallen on deaf ears. For political analysts, the cracks in the Union party's 'big tent policy' were quickly beginning to show as the party moved closer and closer to outright schism...
