Palace Intrigue in Saint Petersburg

The "overseer" holding a pipe shook his head.

"Those from the Dignity Movement have received military training, but all they care about is pushing for a ban on the transatlantic slave trade. They would never cooperate with Blacks."

Major Auriol said,

"If they have a loftier goal, they will be willing to unite with every force they can work with."

Several "overseers" looked at him in confusion. "A loftier goal?"

"Yes." Auriol nodded. "For example, pushing for Jamaica's independence."

"H-how could that be possible? The British could dispatch an Expeditionary Force at any moment. Even the Dignity Movement would be no match for them!"

Yet Auriol appeared utterly confident.

"If Jamaica stands alone, then of course it would be impossible. But if we can gain the support of Saint-Domingue, and even every island in the Caribbean Sea, we can defeat anyone."

The white "overseer" sighed.

"I still think we should not act in such haste. Those soldiers need at least another three months of training..."

"No, Mr. Brian, please believe me. We will certainly win. The uprising must begin on the fifteenth."

Seeing how certain he was, the others said nothing further.

At present, Saint-Domingue was the beacon of abolition in the Caribbean Sea. As Saint-Domingue's representative, Auriol's words carried absolute authority.

At worst, they would fail once more. After all, a slave uprising broke out every few years anyway. That was what everyone thought. For the Black slaves on the island, perhaps dying in battle was better than suffering day after day on the plantations.

Yet only Auriol knew that on the fourth of this month—three days from now—the French Expeditionary Force would land in Saint-Domingue and be "defeated" by Auge's troops on the ninth.

Then, inspired by that great victory, Black slave uprisings would erupt simultaneously in Jamaica,