Deus Nos Ducit Ad Astra Per Aspera

-A few days later-

Days have passed since Tatiana's talk with Anastasia. She decided to join her sister by helping her with her duties. This made their parents proud of her.

During that dinner Alexandra asked why Anastasia has yet to have a fiance.

Nicolas, being the overprotective father who cherishes his daughters said that she can choose it herself and that Anastasia will become Empress in the future.

Alexandra gave up her pursuit to have her daughter's marry, but she hopes to be able to see her future grandchildren one day.

Right now Anastasia is in her office in St.Petersburg. This office is not that of her company but her actual office were she does her duties as Crown Princess from.

"Hmm, this report about suspicious activity in Finland."

Constantine looked at Anastasia and spoke up.

"If I may ask your Highness, what suspicious activity?"

Anastasia put her hand on her chin.

"It says that some resistance group is created and is doing their illegal activities."

Constantine head tilt in confusion

"You mean, a resistance against the Empire? Those who wish for independence?"

Anastasia nodded. This resistance group is suspicious as the Finns are a loyal people to the Empire after their life's got better after her reforms. If the Grand Duchy gained independence right now it would immediately shatter in civil war as loyalist and the pro independence groups would be at their throats.

She highly doubts that this group really fights for independence. No, what she thinks is that they are just corrupt men who want to exploit the people of Finland for their own gain.

She won't let this group succeed in any of their operations. She can't have her people suffer and see a large and important part of the Empire be cut of.

"Constantine, sent a letter to the Director of the Spy Agency. We need his men and tell them that I approve of a operation to wipe out the traitors. While your at it, I will gather my Army to support if anything goes wrong."

Constantine bowed to Anastasia as she gave a letter to him as he left for the Agency HQ.

The reason for a letter is because Anastasia can't be cautious enough and opted for a letter. A radio can be picked up and listened in from the traitors and if she went personally it would be suspicious.

"I suspect that some in the Government are in this as well."

This group needs funding from somewhere, and the Government could be one of the potential funders. The Nobles who lost their power might be behind this or it could be a foreign power.

This being another Nation is not that likely as this could spark war.

Traitors within the Government is more likely.

Anastasia decided, she will inform her father first and then gather her troops to finish them off.

-Later at the Emporors office-

Nicolas is seen doing paperwork as he stamps a paper and moves on to the next.

As he picked another one up he heard a knock at his door.

"Enter."

As the door opened he saw his daughter Anastasia enter.

"Anastasia! How are you, for what reason did you come."

Nicolas gave his daughter a smile as

Anastasia smiled back.

"Father, I came to deliver a report."

Nicolas took the paper as he put on his glasses and read it.

"Ah, this I know about. It seems you got it too."

Anastasia was surprised but then calmed down. Of course the Emporor would know about such an important matter.

"Then, father. I made a plan to rid of them and ask for your approval to commence this operation."

Nicolas looked at his daughter. She really is grown up now. She has already made up plans and all. She will be a great ruler after he gives the Throne to her.

"I approve of you request, wipe those traitors from the surface of this world."

Nicolas nodded as he gave his approval.

Anastasia gave a grateful smile as she nodded and exited the office.

Nicolas looked as the door closed and sighed. "She really will be a better Monarch than me. I'd give the Crown now but she need to grow up more."

-Later-

With the Emporors approval, Anastasia gathered the Agents from the Agency and her men from her own created Army that belongs to her.

The Spys will gather information and abduct members of the group and interrogate them and her men will do the clean up of their bases and cells.

Currently a Spy is sent into Helsinki as he and multiple of his colleagues spread out in the City and find any clues of the traitors hideout.

"We got a lead on this guy."

Agent 1 said to Agent 2.

"Hmm, follow him and wrap him up."

The Leader of the team said as he took the foto of their suspect.

As the Agents followed the man they saw him go into an alley.

They followed him into the alley and hid as they heard the man talking with someone.

"The plans are under way, they won't know what's coming."

"Kekeke, yes those Russians will see the might of our resolve."

The Agents listened in their conversation as one Agent shook his head.

That Agent is Finnish himself and he knows the stupidity of those men and their group.

Their Saint saved them from poverty and ended the Russification of their people, saving their identity and culture. This made many in Finland loyal to Anastasia as she is their Savior. And here come these idiots and try to spit on her work and lead their people back to poverty.

As the Agents waited, the leader gave the signal to capture. And so they sprang out and ran towards the men.

"W-Wha-"

Bam!

Before the men could register what happened their lay on the floor as their head bleeds due to the impact on the ground.

The Agents took them to a savehouse and did the dirty work.

This happened across the city as traitors got captured and interrogated.

With the information they gathered, they found out that the HQ of their organization is in Lapland, Northern Finland.

Anastasia quick to act orders her Army towards Lapland.

Lapland is like Siberia but smaller and in Finland. It has few cities and the population is low.

Perfect for a organization to hide from the government.

As the Army made to they towards their targets Anastasia got more information.

She keeps some Spys in the city's as they gather information and relay it back to her.

The information is that the main HQ is in the center of Lapland with multiple decoy and small bases scattered around Finland.

It seems this organization is still small in numbers and they don't have enough power to be threatening at a national level.

Anastasia thanked in her heart that the Spys managed to find out about this organization before they could grow any larger.

As Anastasias Army approached closer towards the location of the HQ, Anastasia split her Army. The split groups will attack the smaller bases and leave no stone unturned.

They got closer to the point were they can see the base. The men that didn't split up and stayed with Anastasia silently surrounded the base without being spotted as they put their Artillery systems in place ready to fire at her comand.

As Anastasia looked at the base she could feel something ominous about it, something dark, something unnatural.