Kalistan

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Dana Ananto is Married to Christopher Bjorksdattir
Firing was "Not a Punishment, but a Promotion" says Bjorksdattir
Eveari, Grand Duchy of Ananto
January 14, 5595


Sir Bjorksdattir makes his promises to Lady Dana Ananto

It turns out that the rumor mill spinning up around the sacking of Sir Christopher Bjorksdattir was entirely wrong.  Many people believed that Bjorksdattir had been fired from his position because the Empress disapproved of his handling of Kalistan's foreign affairs.  But in fact the real reason appears that he was "fired" so that he could be married.  "Being allowed to resign was not a punishment," said the former Foreign Minister.  "I was promoted to member of the Royal Family.  I couldn't be happier!"

"Christopher and I requested that he be released from his duties as Foreign Minister in November," said Lady Dana Ananto at her wedding celebration in Eveari at the Eveari Monthly Meeting.  "The papers were saying that he had been fired, but in fact, it was always his intention to start a family, and he felt that now was the right time."  According to Lady Ananto, the couple revealed their longstanding relationship to the Empress in mid November, and the former Foreign Minister said he couldn't focus on his job and start a family with Lady Ananto, so he offered to resign and take another post instead.  The Empress granted the request to allow Bjorksdattir a leave of absence while she figured out another job for him.

The secret was kept for these last two months, and the wedding day finally arrived.  In a ceremony that has been repeated numerous times in Eveari, the two Brethrenists were married at the Meeting House.  The event was small, primarily attended by family and close friends.  Her Imperial Majesty, the Empress Carolina I Ananto was in attendance, along with His Highness, the Prince Consort William Ananto-Sandoval, as well as His Highness, the Minor Crown Prince Fredrick Ananto-Sandoval, and the Minor Princess Michelle Ananto-Sandoval.  Several members of the National Government were in attendance to wish their old friend well, including Dame Diane Bolton, the Chancellor of the Empire.  And Sir Bjorksdattir's sister Monica and mother Jacqueline were also in attendance.  Many of the Eveari Brethren stayed home, but several Sulari Brethren attended the wedding, as the Sulari Monthly Meeting is where Lady Dana and Sir Christopher attend when she is in the country.


The Groom and Bride cut the Cake at their Wedding in Eveari

Following the ceremony, including the signing of the Brethrenist Wedding Certificate, the Wedding Party moved to the Club House on the Grounds of the Ananto Estate.  There was a great cake made by the Imperial Bakery staff in Eveari, and lots of food and drinks.  The Wedding Reception was held, pictures were taken, and a fantastic dinner was had by all guests.  In the evening, the gates to the estate were opened and the townsfolk were invited to come and celebrate at the Estate, as is the custom, and more than a hundred people showed up to welcome Sir Christopher to the Ananto family.

"Few people remember," said Lady Dana, speaking Vrassan with her characteristic Gaduri accent, "that Sir Christopher is descended from a much more ancient line than even I or Carolina are.  His ancestor was the martyr, Elga Bjorksdattir, who was President when Kalistan began the great conversion to Brethrenism.  She was the first Brethrenist President, and he aircraft was actually shot down while she was returning home from a diplomatic mission to Trigunia.  She created GanJam, believe it or not.  The great port in Sulari is named after his grandmother.  My family has been in politics for 15 generations.  He has been in politics for 1600 years."


Her Imperial Majesty and Lady Dana Ananto at the Reception

At around 9pm, both the Bride and Groom said their good nights, and retired to the Main House along with Her Imperial Majesty, the Prince Consort and the two children, but the Party continued late into the evening.  The Eveari Bar Rock band Three Shots Two Many took the stage shortly after 8 and played several sets for all the guests.  At around 10pm, Lady Dana and Sir Christopher returned to the reception to hear the band, who serenaded them with a slow dance original tune called "For You Alone."  The newlyweds stayed another hour listening to the music and greeting friends and well wishers before returning to the house for the evening.

The wedding in the books, Lady Dana Ananto and Sir Christopher Bjorksdattir returned this morning to Lady Dana's home in Vespiano, Gaduridos, where she is spending the winter.  Sir Christopher, now that he is retired (probably temporarily at any rate) and on a pension, said he looks forward to warmer winters and sailing, and both agreed that it is better that their relationship is finally public, so they don't have to keep avoiding the press. 

The Couple is expected to return to Kalistan in February, to don their AOotGS Regalia for the first Order Function and Procedure of the Year, an event which is to be held annually to celebrate the birthday of both the Empire of Ananto and Kalistan and the Ancient Order of the Gray Smoke.  Lady Dana is a Royal Lady Companion and Sir Christopher is a Knight Companion--Usually, he would take the Class of Stranger Knight Companion because he is now the Spouse of a Royal Lady Companion, but as he was already a member of the Order, he keeps his Seniority as a Knight Companion.

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Kalistani News in Brief:  Empress welcomed New Garcia Administration
George Bennots is named new FM; Beiteynese Gov. statement on Kundrati is "welcomed"
Eveari, Grand Duchy of Ananto
May 5, 5595


Her Imperial Majesty speaks in Eveari

Empress Welcomes new Garcia Administration
The royal family was in Eveari this week, but Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina I Ananto took time out to announce her support for the incoming Gaduri Administration.  "We have asked Sra. Garcia to form our Government there, in accord with the demands of the Gaduri People," said Her Imperial Majesty.  "The Social Democrats have won the clear mandate to govern, and Garcia is their clear choice.  We have great hope and complete confidence that our Government in Gaduridos will build effective, efficient and beneficial policy for our brothers and sisters in Gaduridos." 

The Empress also expressed a cautious endorsement for the program of the socialists in Gaduridos.  "While socialism has had its time in Kalistan, it represents a promising path to both economic and social development in Gaduridos.  Though Sra. Garcia is a socialist, we have faith that she will remain moderate in her approach and pursue changes that the society can keep up with, for the benefit of the people without the corresponding dislocations associated with rapid change."  To underscore her support for the new Prime Minister, Her Imperial Majesty added, "We has asked Lady Sarmiento, our Viceroy, to convey our best and most fraternal wishes, and to offer the Gaduri Government any and all assistance it needs to carry forward its anti-poverty and clean government platform planks.  We are especially encouraged by Sra. Garcia's commitment to expanding civil liberties in Gaduridos and we too are committed to the real and absolute equality before the law of all Gaduri Nationals."

George Bennots is named to replace Bjorksdattir at FM
Long serving analyst at Her Imperial Majesty's Foreign Ministry and Deputy from Lolla in Kaliburg, George Bennots, has been appointed to Head the Ministry.  Bennots, 49, took a job in the Foreign Ministry at age 26 and has worked primarily in the Seleyan Department.  He has represented the primarily working class Lolla neighborhood in Kaliburg for 10 of those 23 years, and is believed to be a moderate nationalist.  "Mr. Bennots has extensive policy experience in the Seleyan sphere, which Her Imperial Majesty believes will be helpful in improving relations with several Nations that Kalistan would like to reach out to," said Dame Diane Bolton, Chancellor of the Empire.  "We expect that Mr. Bennots will take a somewhat different tact that Sir Bjorksdattir has in terms of expression of Kalistani Foreign Policy, and it is our hope that his experience with Seleya and his understanding of the different political contexts on the continent will be an asset to Her Imperial Majesty's Government."  Bennots has already begun service at the Foreign Ministry, and has said that his first job is to begin reaching out to other nations in Terra to begin to improve cooperation.  "Kalistan feels like we have somehow ended up on the pariah list along with actual pariahs, because we accidentally stood up for what was right rather than what was easy.  So we need to have Mr. Bennots start listening to what other nations are saying, and Her Imperial Majesty thinks he is just a person to do this."

Beiteynese Government Statement on Kundrati "Welcomed" in Kaliburg
While the Foreign Ministry understands that there is frequently almost no daylight whatsoever between the policies of the Government in Yishelem and its different institutes, nonetheless, one of the first thing that Mr Bennots did was to issue a comment saying that the words of the Beiteynese Prime Minister were "welcomed" in Kaliburg.  "The disagreement noted in the Sholemburg Press, while not coming close to aligning with Ananto's position on human rights in Kundrati, nevertheless demonstrates that the question about keeping pressure on the Government in Kundrati, at least as far as Beiteynese Analysts and policy makers are concerned, is not fully resolved," said the new FM, George Bennots.  "The tiniest win for Kalistan-Beiteynese relations, but a win nonetheless.  Her Imperial Majesty was looking for literally any sliver of hope that Kalistan wouldn't have to break relations completely off with Yishelem, and this provided the sliver.  Our relations with them remain tenuous after Beiteynu unilaterally left two major treaty agreements with Kalistan five years ago without informing us that they were leaving or even giving us a chance to address their grievances.  And at this point, I am not even sure there is an officially credentialed Beiteynese Ambassador in Kaliburg any longer.  But it is Her Imperial Majesty's hope that this tiny ray of light in an otherwise rapidly darkening relationship might be the sign of a new dawn in relations rather than the last glimmer of twilight before a very long and very dark night."

Poetics aside, FM Bennots has sent an official letter to the Government of Beiteynu asking for an official clarification of relations between Kalistan and Beiteynu.  "We expect the official policy to remain set at 'cordial'," said FM Bennots.  "There's not a lot of evidence that it is actually cordial given their inexplicable withdraw from the several treaty regimes that we had painstakingly hammered out over several decades.  But despite the instrumentalist tone of the YBI's report, which clearly aims at providing political cover for improved economic relations with fascists, regardless of the truth of the matter, Her Imperial Majesty is hopeful that we will be able to repair relations with the Government in Beiteynu, even if we cannot with all institutions within the Nesset system."  Minister Bennots noted that the chances were slim, but it is encouraging that they are "greater than zero," which is significantly better odds than he gives Kalistan of ever improving relations with Kundrati as long as fascists govern the country and murder their enslaved workforce in mines.

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Anantonese Foreign Minister Declares support for Lodamese Mission
"We support the cause of Humanitarian Aid in Solentia", says Bennots
Addisjah, Duchy of Vrassa
October 8, 5595


Foreign Minister Bennots speaks to Press during a transfer in Addisjah

The incoming Foreign Minister, George Bennots, was in Addisjah today after returning from meetings with Lodamese Colleagues in Kensington Lodamun.  Her Imperial Majesty's Foreign Minister said he was there in Lodamun only for a short while to confer with the Lodamese about their recently announced mission to Solentia.

"It was a pleasure to meet my Lodamese Counterparts," said Minister Bennots, in his first visit outside of Kalistan.  "I have a feeling I will be working with the Lodamese Foreign Secretary quite closely in the coming weeks and months.  While in Lodamun, I enunciated Her Imperial Majesty's position on the Solentia matter, and pledged that Kalistan will offer whatever support Lodamun requires in the humanitarian aid mission they are beginning.  The Empire is not officially taking a side in the conflict as Kalistan has no interests at all in southern Majatra that require defense, but we also understand that Lodamun has interests there which predate their accession to the Empire, and we want to make it clear that we stand by our Imperial Partner in its affairs and will offer whatever resources Lodamun needs to pursue peace and humanitarian relief."

This middle ground adopted by Her Imperial Majesty's Foreign Ministry reinforces the growing attitude that the Anantonese Empire has adopted a different tack with regard to foreign affairs.  "In the past, we have been perhaps too overzealous in extending our influence from Kaliburg," said Minister Bennots.  "It is our understanding that any statement from Kaliburg that appears to be taking a side in any affair instantly terrorizes several nations immediately upon its utterance, nations who would prefer Kalistan stay in a box, happily out of their awareness.  While every other nation on the face of the globe feels at complete liberty to intervene as it pleases, Kalistan is indeed, as we have always maintained, a special case.  As we saw in the Kundrati disaster for example, Kalistan doing what any other nation on Terra does as regular course, apparently only earns us enemies.  So, Her Imperial Majesty instituted a new posture several years ago under Minister Bjorksdattir and we are carrying that forward."

Kalistan's declaration of strict neutrality in the Solentian situation does not, however constrain Lodamun, who is utilizing its assets stationed in central Seleya, to promote the cause of humanitarian relief.  "As I said, we stand ready to support Lodamun in this effort," said Minister Bennots.  "The cause of humanitarian aid is a noble cause, and while Her Imperial Majesty works to help Lodamun help the people of Solentia, she also encourages other nations of the world to support Lodamun's humanitarian efforts as well.  The people in the country are faced with starvation, but thanks to the efforts of Lodamun, help is on the way, and we are happy to be a partner in that effort."

Minister Bennots answered several questions regarding the efforts.  Most importantly, he reiterated, "No Kalistanis naval vessels will be deployed into the region.  Our navy remains safely in the Anantonese Ocean and in the Eastern Mad Dog Ocean, and we have no interest whatsoever in their redeployment.  Nor will Kalistani sailors sail on Lodamese ships during this mission.  The task force referenced by the Lodamese Government is 110% Lodamese.  Kalistan stands ready to partner with Lodamun in providing support, primarily monetary and logistical support, directly to Lodamun to deploy in the Majatran theater."  When asked if Lodamun asked for any support, the Minister laughed, "Well, I just got back from Kensington ten minutes ago, so, I don't think there are any messages waiting for me in Kaliburg yet.  If I get any calls, you folks in the press will be the first...  maybe the 10th, to know, behind the Empress, the Chancellor, and etc..."  With that, The Minister re-boarded the train to Eshar where he will catch the strait ferry to Kaliburg.

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A Brief Glint of Hope in Kaliburg
FM Bennots Commits Empire to sit down with Likatonians
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
November 14, 5595


FM Bennots makes a stunning turnaround on Likatonia on heels of Court Finding

Following the entirely unexpected revelations from the Hight Court in Likatonia that the former President of Likatonia, Freya Elliot, among other members of the Government have been found to be accepting bribes from the Kundrati Government in exchange for complicity in covering up Human Rights abuses in the Artanian tyrannical state, Her Imperial Majesty's Foreign Minister quickly called a press Conference where he issued a brief statement:

Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina I Ananto, greets the news of justice coming from Likatonia.  We eagerly await the final disposition of the cases, and hope Likatonia can bring those responsible for dragging their nation into the camp of the Kundrati Fascists to final justice in accord with their Nation's laws.

We would also like to renew our invitation to Likatonia to send a delegation from their Nation to Kaliburg to begin to discuss resolving our long standing differences.  The process of reconciliation will be fraught, but we would specifically like to invite the nation's elected Head of State, President of Likatonia Bertram Mendelev, to come to Kalistan. Her Imperial Majesty has said it would be an honor to meet a Likatonian with a spine who is not afraid to stand up for what is good and right in his Nation, and would consider it a very kind gesture on the part of the President to meet with her in Kaliburg.

If the Likatonian President is interested in accepting our invitation, we will ensure that the President receives passage safely to Kaliburg, and will meet with Her Imperial Majesty in Formal Audience at the Imperial Seat in Downtown Kaliburg. Chancellor Bolton will be there, as will I, and we hope to hear from the Likatonian President if there is any possibility that the relationship between Kalistan and Likatonia could ever be repaired.

Her Imperial Majesty has reportedly said that of all the lost friendships that Kalistan has suffered in recent decades, Likatonia's has been the bitterest, and she would be happy to meet with the President of Likatonia to see if it is possible that bridges can be rebuilt and fences mended. It won't happen in one audience at any rate. But a positive response on the part of Likatonia will at least start the process of healing, which the Empress said she would like more than anything.

We shall eagerly await the response of the Likatonian President, and shall make preparations at any rate. Regrettably, I will not be taking any questions at this time, though my office will be available for follow up at a later point this week. Thank you.

@TheRepublic

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Her Imperial Majesty Welcomes President Mendelev
Two Heads of State discuss rebuilding relations between two Northern Seleyan Nations
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
November 28, 5595


Likatonian President poses for a Portrait next to Her Imperial Majesty at Imperial Seat

The President of Likatonia was welcomed warmly in Kaliburg in a stunning turn of events which even 5 short months ago was thought to be impossible.  Bertram Mendelev, President of the United Republic of Likatonia, arrived in Kaliburg and was warmly greeted by Her Imperial Majesty's Foreign Minister, George Bennots and Chancellor of the Empire Dame Diane Bolton.  The trio of dignitaries posed briefly for photographs of this historic meeting, before escorting the President to the Imperial Seat for a formal audience with Her Imperial Majesty.

The dramatic face to face was only recently organized as Kalistan learned of the Likatonian High Court's conviction of former the former President and Prime Minister of Likatonia for corruption and accepting payouts in exchange for providing diplomatic cover for Kundrati Human Rights abuses.  Her Imperial Majesty's Government cheered the news publicly, and invited the sitting Likatonian President to Kaliburg in an effort to begin talks concerning repairs to the long estranged relationship between the two Northern Seleyan Nations.

The Formal Audience was held in private, and lasted for more than two hours, after which time, The Likatonian President and the Empress posed for photos.  Following the formal Audience, the Chancellor invited the President to Her Imperial Majesty's personal home at Wilson Point for an informal dinner with the Royal Family, where she hoped to discuss logistics about starting to repair relations between the two nations in a more informal setting.  Her Imperial Majesty also thought it would be a good idea to introduce President Mendelev to His Highness, the Minor Crown Prince Fredrick Ananto-Sandoval, who is almost 16 and is about to begin his first lessons on training to become the next Emperor with Her Imperial Majesty.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Minister was charged with briefing the press about the things that the two Heads of State discussed.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, thank you for agreeing to cover this historic summit between Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina I Ananto and President of Likatonia, His Excellency Bertram Mendelev.  We want to first thank President Mendelev for answering our invitation so enthusiastically.  Whether anything else comes from this meeting or not, this is a very encouraging step toward repairing our long strained relations between our two countries.

I have been instructed to brief the Press on the topics covered.  After the diplomatic formalities were out of the way, Her Imperial Majesty asked the President to describe the process that led to the convictions in the Likatonian High Court, so she could have a better understanding of the implications of the rulings.  She listened closely as the President listed the charges, and laid out the State's case against the former leaders.  Then she stated formally that there are no sanctions from Kalistan or from the Anantonese Empire in place against Likatonia, and the only thing left is to repair our relationship diplomatically.  Though that would take time, she is nonetheless committed to the project and will remain committed so long as Likatonia remains committed to.

To this end, she suggested the possibility within the next year of opening a consulate in Clovisport.  She also asked what the Likatonians would need from the Anantonese Empire for restoration of relations.  The President repeated Likatonia's several long standing grievances against Anantonese treatment of the Government in Clovisport, and Her Imperial Majesty listened, and finally acknowledged that she understood why Likatonia has a problem with Ananto's attitude concerning Likatonia, and answered that if Kalistan and Likatonia both made significant effort to restore relations between our two states, there is absolutely no reason that a formal Ambassador could not be dispatched to treat directly with the Likatonian state.

The President mentioned Athosia.  Her Imperial Majesty listened to the President's issues with Athosia, and attempted to reassure the President that Kalistan has not in fact ever annexed Athosia, and she is not sure where the President got the impression that we had annexed Athosia, but the source was wrong.  She said that she regrets that Kalistan ends at the Lucid River, which has been the Kalistani frontier since the early 20th Century, when Athosia was taken from Kalistan, but attempted to re-assure the President that Kalistan has never taken possession of Athosia.  She explained that if Ananto were to ever take possession of Athosia again, it would come about through the action of the people in Baltisia who opted to rejoin the Empire, as opposed to any sort of military aggression on Kalistan's part.

The President asked about the Title Duchess of Athosia, and the Chancellor restated the Empress' previous statements to say that Duchess is a Title, not a deed.  Her Imperial Majesty also claims the Kingdom of Karzon, a kingdom which has never in fact ever existed on any map ever, because it is the historical name for Kalistan's ancient colony in southern Dolgava.  This does not mean that the Queen's fiat extends to Dolgava, who themselves have a government of their own, currently nor would the Empress wage war or make any independent effort to take Karzon from Dolgava.  In fact, the Chancellor pointed out, doing anything to reacquire historic Kalistani territories unilaterally is forbidden by Kalistani Law.

Besides restoring relations and Athosia, however, most of the topics of discussion were more mundane.  The President talked about restoring rail service in the TransSeleyan Rail system, and some possibilities for Trade.  It was decided that this meeting was a first step in a long, possibly painful process, but it is one step more than the Empire and the Republic had made in years, and she was very encouraged by the meeting.  But this meeting also cleared out an important roadblock to other Constituent Nations' cooperation with Likatonia should they be so inclined, including Gaduridos' efforts to restart the SEC and Lodamun's efforts to coordinate Humanitarian Aid in Solentia, both of which Likatonia have expressed interest in in the recent past.

Overall, the President has been a very polite guest and is well studied on the protocol, which impressed Her Imperial Majesty greatly.  In turn, the Empress acknowledged the bravery of the President in taking the steps he had taken to bring the truth of the Kundrati situation to light, and his efforts to make the trip to Kaliburg.  She promised that Kalistan would reciprocate with a diplomatic mission, should the Empire be welcomed to do so, and someday, she hoped that relations between the two nations would be good enough for her to be invited to visit the Republic in person.  Both leaders seemed to be interested in this possibility.

Over all it was a good meeting, and I think one that is long overdue.  The may be the first step in a long path that lies ahead, and will require a lot of work, but it is one that was very necessary to move us away from the previous status quo ex ante that was more of a death spiral, and one that allows us at least to take a breath and listen to one another.

The statement was well received by the press, and the Foreign Minister took questions for about 20 minutes that elaborated on a number of the points that he had made.  The Likatonian President was providing with excellent lodging on the Grounds nearby Wilson House and he returned to Likatonia the next morning.  The Foreign Minister and the Chancellor of the Empire were at Kaliburg International Airport to see President Mendelev off, and both were optimistic about the visit and the potential for restoration of relations between the Anantonese Empire and its next door neighbor.

@TheRepublic

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Catching up with the Crown Prince
His Highness talks Comedy, Ladies and National Service
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
July 18, 5596


His Highness, the Minor Crown Prince Fredrick William Ananto-Sandoval, age 16, at Wilson House

We caught back up with His Highness, the Minor Crown Prince Fredrick Ananto-Sandoval at his family's home in the Wilson Hill Neighborhood of Southern Kaliburg.  His Highness was kind enough to sit with us for another interview, where we checked in with him to see how he was doing as he began the long arduous process of becoming Emperor.

Below is the Transcript.  His Highness communicates almost exclusively through sign language now, because his hearing is almost entirely gone, but he can still speak quite well, and has learned to read lips expertly during his training, and so there was very little difficulty communicating during the interview.

(La Moda's) T(heresa) M(artinez):  Hello again Your Highness.  Thank you for speaking to me again.

(His Highness, the Minor Crown Prince) F(redrick) A(nanto-Sandoval):  Hello again Ms. Martinez.  It is wonderful to see you again.  I see you haven't aged a day since we last spoke.

TM:  I'm really quite surprised that you remember me to be honest.

FA:  A pretty lady like you would be difficult to forget.  I'm glad they sent you back.

TM:  I'm flattered, but also, Your Highness, I am married.

FA:  Compliments are freely given, Ms. Martinez.  They cost you nothing to receive them.

TM:  Well, Your Highness.  That is very charming.  I notice your interpreter is not here.

FA:  I gave Ms. Miller the day off.  To be honest, she is almost done with her work, and we spend most of our time talking these days, but I am quite competent to read your lips and if I don't understand something I hope you will repeat it for me, faster.

TM:  Faster, Your Highness?

FA:  Yes, you see I can read lips well when people speak to me at a normal natural pace.  When they slow down because they think I am hard of hearing rather than completely deaf, that throws me off, so I get a little confused.  If I need you to repeat something, just say it to me as you would say anything.  It's not your fault really, but I am totally deaf now, so if you say it slower and louder, it doesn't help me at all to hear it any better.

TM:  Your speech is very good for someone who is completely deaf.

FA:  Thank you.  I have had the benefit of speaking Vrassan all my life, and hearing how the words sound, so I can still hear, or I guess, feel the vibrations that my vocal chords make.  I suppose that's "hearing" in a way.  My ears just don't work any more.  And I suppose, as I get older I will get lazy with my speech and will gradually also lose the ability to "hear" myself, such as it is.  Habits change over time, you know.  And then I will need the people I am speaking with to have an interpreter present.  But for now, I have only been without hearing at all for a few months.  So, I am still practiced in the Empress' Vrassan, if you want to say that.

TM:  Very well, Your Highness.  I will speak as if you can still hear me.

FA:  Thank you.

TM:  So how is your comedy career coming along?

FA:  Excuse me?  Comedy career?

TM:  Yes, last time, you were full of jokes.

FA:  Oh haha.  My humor has grown more subtle over the last few years.  Miss Miller beat the ability to laugh out of me.

TM:  Your Highness?  She..  beat... you?

FA:  Oh yes, she is a real brute, that lady.  Hahaha  Five foot three, and pure evil.

TM:  Are you joking, Your Highness?

FA:  (suddenly growing very stone faced serious.)  Do I look like I am joking?  She said You will be the Emperor some day.  There is no laughing as Emperor.

TM:  Your Highness...  I.  uh...

FA:  (Laughing)  No  hahahaha.  You should see your face.  White as a sheet.  How long do you think she would last if she ever laid a hand on me?  Do you know who my mother is?

TM:  (uncomfortably)  Oh eeek.  That scared me for a moment...  I... couldn't tell if you were being serious...

FA:  See, this is the mark of the true comedian.  You can't tell when they are telling the truth and when they are telling a joke.  Hahaha.  No, of course, Miss Miller is not as strict as all that.  She is paid to teach me how to communicate.  She is a real professional, that one.  She is more or less like an aunt to me, and I wouldn't joke about her if I didn't care very much for her. 

TM:  I am relieved to hear that.

FA:  Did you know that she is to be married?

TM:  Regrettably Your Highness, I had not heard that piece of information.

FA:  Yeah, but she will still live on Wilson Hill.  My mother made a gift of her House that she has lived in all these years to her as a wedding present.  She has been a wonderful friend to my mother, and I think she has grown quite accustomed to my parents' company, and so when she stops working for my mother helping me and my sister learn languages, she will be able to live free here as our neighbor.  That's pretty neat.

TM:  That is very kind of Her Imperial Majesty.

FA:  Who did you say?

TM:  Her Imperial Majesty.  I said that is very kind of Her Imperial Majesty.

FA:  Who?  HAHAHA

TM:  Your Highness, I had quite forgotten your mode of interaction. 

FA:  HAHA.  Don't mind me.  I will be here all week.

TM:  So, Your Highness, do you ever go out to see any comedians at any local clubs?

FA:  Yes, I do enjoy that.  My father will take me maybe three or four times a month to this one club near the campus.  We have our own table just off to the side of the stage, where I can see the comedian's mouths, and if I miss a joke, my father can sign it to me.  I always have a great time.  I am learning a lot from the Comedians, about things like timing of the joke, what makes a story funny, how to work a room.  I get a lot of information about the joke also from seeing the audiences' reactions.  I like the comedians that shock people, like when they say shocking things.  Finally when people realize that the guy was telling a joke, he may come out with some really filthy punch line or something and the people realize it was all a joke, and they laugh, I really enjoy that response.

TM:  Have you ever tried to do stand up comedy yourself?

FA:  Me?  No.  I don't think people would appreciate that all that much.  I'm just a kid after all.

TM:  Well, if you ever decide to try it, invite me to come cover your set, and I will give you an honest review.

FA:  I sure will.

TM:  How is school going for you Your Highness?

FA:  Ah, well you know.  Same old same old.  I am captain of the football team and am dating all the cheerleaders.

TM:  Really?

FA:  Hahaha, no, not really. 

TM:  Oh.  Again...

FA:  Seriously Ms. Martinez.  I love playing football but the problem is, they had to ask me to quit the team, because apparently it is a serious crime to injure me.  Even if I wanted to play, the coach very carefully came up to me at try outs my freshman year and explained to me that if I were to be allowed to be on the team, other parents wouldn't let their kids play against me, because they didn't want to be the one whose son tore my ACL...  It was very frustrating to me.

TM:  Oh, I see.  Can you do any extracurricular activities?

FA:  I have taken up the theater.

TM:  You've become an actor.

FA:  Indeed.  I tend to get cast in small roles, but this is fine, because I get to be in the play, but not have to do a lot of work.  Hahaha.

TM:  What kind of plays do you prefer?

FA:  Musicals, obviously...  HAHAHA...

TM:  (sighs) I see, Your Highness...  Do you sing well?

FA:  (smiles politely)  Thank you for indulging me, Ms. Martinez.  Actually I enjoy the tragedies, the ones where the kings get killed, or someone's hubris leads them to a bad end.  Those plays are enjoyable.  I like Kalopian and Luthorian Classics, to be honest.

TM:  I knew you were joking about the musicals.

FA:  You sighed so loud, I thought I almost heard it.  Hahaha.

TM:  How about romance?  Are there any special someone's in your life?

FA:  Oh, you know, I have had the chance to date a few of the girls in my class, but unfortunately, being hard core Brethrenists like my parents are, and having these security guys all around and no privacy, its kind of hard to be smooth like a guy has to and be me.  So.  I have a lot of friends who are girls, you know, but getting a girlfriend is surprisingly difficult.

TM:  You'd think it would be otherwise.

FA:  Yeah, you'd think.

TM:  How about classes?  Are there any classes you enjoy?

FA:  You will remember, Ms. Martinez.  I am a fan of history and politics.  I am especially learning to appreciate the philosophical texts we are being exposed to-- they have this kind of philosophy called moral philosophy, that I am particularly interested in.

TM:  Ah moral philosophy will definitely help you get girls.

FA:  Hahaha.  Well, in my defense, the more of it I read, the less I am sure that that is what I should be doing with my life.  HAHAHA...

TM:  Indeed.  Have you begun your State education yet?

FA:  Yes, we started as soon as I turned 16.  My mother has me in her office once a week to kind of show me what she does.  She is currently going over the protocol, because they are codifying it in the Assembly.  And she noticed some typos, so she ordered a new election to table the bill.  The Assembly is slow walking her request.

TM:  Have you met the members of the Government? 

FA:  Of course, years ago.  But now I get to shadow them, one each for about three months, to see how they work and meet their staffs.  Its really a whole other education in and of itself.

TM:  How soon do you think you will be finished?

FA:  Oh when I am crowned of course.

TM:  Ah, I see.

FA:  Yeah, then we do it all for real.

TM:  Does Your Highness intend to go into National Service?

FA:  Of course.  Both me and my sister will go into National Service:  that is expected of us.

TM:  What do you hope to do in National Service?

FA:  I have always wanted to dig ditches.  So I think ditch digging.  Is that a thing?

TM:  Yes, it is, well... its part of a larger corps, I suppose.  I don't know that there is a specific job of digging ditches in the National Service Program, but I am sure if you really wanted to...

FA:  HAHAHA  No of course I don't want to dig ditches!  Who wants to do that?  I want something romantic, like airplane mechanic, or dam maintenance or something like that.  Not ditch digging.  Hahaha...

TM:  Oh, you got me again, Your Highness!

FA:  I suppose that I will go where they need me, like everyone.  I don't know where they put guys who are interested in philosophy, but if I can read at night, I suppose I will have the best of both worlds.

TM:  Final question, Your Highness.  How is your sister?

FA:  Little Shelly?

TM:  You call her Little Shelly?

FA:  Not to her face.  Hahaha.  She hates that.

TM:  Her Highness, the Minor Princess Michelle.

FA:  Oh yes, the Highness is well.  She like math you know.  She is always talking about rockets, and we're going to go visit Spencer Space and Test Center in August just for her.  You'd like her.  She's a real nerd.

TM:  Does she always tell jokes like you?

FA:  No, she hates comedy.  She thinks it is a waste of time.  She's a lot like my mom.

TM:  How so Your Highness?

FA:  My mom is very smart, and she works a lot.  Whenever I tell her a joke, she tells me I should take life more seriously.  My sister has started telling me that too, and I figure that I will have a lot of time to take things very seriously.  But my sister seems to think that she can just say stuff like that to me and I'll just start doing math like her.  She's on the quiz bowl team, you know?

TM:  Quiz Bowl?

FA:  Yeah, the academic competition team.  She's on the 8th grade quiz bowl team.  She's pretty good, I guess.  She does really good at trivia.

TM:  Sounds like you are both bright kids.

FA:  Of course we are!  We're Anantos.  They don't make dumb Anantos.

TM:  And so humble, Your Highness.

FA:  (smiling, knowingly and obviously playing along)  ...The Humblest.

TM:  Thank you for sitting down with me today, Your Highness.

FA:  It was very nice to speak with you again, Ms. Martinez.  I'm sure we will meet again someday.

TM:  I hope so, Your Highness.

[Doc]

The Spencer Ska Rockets bring TradSka to the Airwaves
Encouraged by Sophistipop, Dana Ska band avoids Punk Rock
Sulari, Duchy of Suldanor
January 19, 5597


New Album from The Spencer Ska Rockets, Athosian Dance Party, on ARC

One would have to make some major leaps in your thinking to connect Luthorian-Kalistani soulful sophistipop musicians The Republic with the underground ska scene in Dana.  And yet, a new record that has just been released by ARC Records in Sulari has indeed done just that.  The band calls them The Spencer Ska Rockets, and the record is Athosian Dance Party.  The Dana-based septet in fact claims that they took a lot of inspiration from The Republic, and their excellent production values, that turned pop music into lush art.

"Dana has clearly been the center of the Kalistani ska scene for so long," said lead singer Nigel Keith, from Dana.  "Everyone who comes from Dana usually plays ska.  But they are more playing skapunk, and we really thought, you know, ska has such a rich history, both in Suldanor as a whole and much longer ago in Gaduridos.  It's doesn't have to be punk rock."

Mr. Keith said the band wanted to bring some of the R&B and Jazz elements back into the genre, and replace the faced pace and middle class bent that is typically associated with the Dana skapunk scene.  "Ska is working class music, you know," said Keith.  "Rude boys and skinheads, hanging out and getting to know each other.  Those are working class kids.  They don't live in the suburbs.  The clothes we wear out are nice clothes, they aren't ripped up clothes that say 'We don't care about how we look.'  And also, this is music for everyone:  so it should have elements of R&B, and call back to mento, rocksteady and even some calypso, you know from down in Gaduridos, and even maybe a little jazz.  All of these things influenced the sound, and so we wanted to try to get back to the roots."

The album Athosian Dance Party is an album of what some are calling TradSka:  The music relies mostly on analog instrumentation, and guitars feature less prominently than brass instruments like trumpets, trombones and saxophones.  Electric Organs make up the main rhythm instruments, and the tempo is much slower.  "Much more danceable," said Keith.  "This is music for kids to dance to and have fun with, and forget their troubles while drinking and having some fun."  A lot of the music is bass driven as well, and the singers are far more melodic than many of the Skapunk bands, though musicality was certainly a feature of a lot of the skapunk and Two Tone bands that came out of Dana and other scenes.

Also missing in the TradSka "scene" which consists of The Ska Rockets and a handful of other bands in Dana at the moment are the politics of Skapunk.  "We sing more about love.  I mean:  there is some class in there:  that is inherent when you have subcultures and that sort of thing.  But its not the primary feature.  We sing a lot about girls in our music, because that's what we are interested in.  Its like a lot of the guys in the scene make ladies kind of uncomfortable, because they are pretty aggressive.  We're more interested in getting the ladies to our parties, not scaring them away.  Because who wants to dance with a bunch of guys?"

The music certainly does progress the Dana Ska sound beyond where it has kind of been stuck since the days of Red Tone and bands that formed the scene initially.  "Several of us grew up with The Republic on the Radio" said Kieth.  "It really wasn't my kind of music, to be honest, but the thing that kept me listening, and I actually bought all six of their records, just because I really liked how they sounded, you know, the aesthetic of the music, like how they produced their music.  When we got into the studio, I wanted to make stuff that just sounded that well-made.  We wanted to make Sophistiska, way different than the snotty kind of music the punks make."

Keith added, "I want to say though, I don't have any problem with the punks in Dana.  Several members of the Ska Rockets were picked up from some other punk bands.  You might say, we're the ones that really wanted to play this kind of older kind of ska music that lets us show off our musical ability better, rather than doing what everyone else is doing.  There is a time for pogoing and moonstomping, and then there is a time for skankin and you know, just dancing."

The group does keep the two-tone aesthetic that earlier bands used.  "You know:  for some difference is important," said Keith.  "I think of some nations where there's people who are being erased because of who their parents are.  But, I think in our scene, in Kalistan, it's important that we just keep to the theme that all are invited.  Black, white, gay straight, man woman, whatever.  That's kind of what was always behind the two tone thing anyway.  It got associated with a specific kind of music, I think, but even that traditionally goes further back than say Red Tone.  We're all invited.  This is our scene, and in this scene, we can hang out, get to know one another, and not have to pretend that we're something else."

The band has already released their first single, a bass driven rocksteady jam called "Athosia", along with the LP, and the band is already working with notable dub producer Dave "Doctor M" Collins to produce a dub version of the record.  Athosian Dance Party already enjoys modest sales in Suldanor, and the deal with ARC, which is heavier on the distribution end, will now guarantee the band nation-wide exposure.  "At the end of the day," said Keith, "We put the record out, first to make money, but there's seven of us, you know, so it might pay a few months on our car notes.  More so we wanted to get the sound out there, to remind people that, you know, if you want to chill or if you want to party, don't sell ska short."

You can listen to the Single "Athosia" from The Spencer Ska Rockets' new LP Athosian Dance Party recorded at ARC studios in Sulari and now out across Kalistan and Ananto.

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxyRpILhj9A]

And check out the full album right here!

@LaModa

[Doc]

Empress Formally Calls for Institution of Imperial Assembly
Aims for "more Autonomy within Empire Framework"
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
May 12, 5597


Her Imperial Majesty calls administrative reform "Long Overdue"

Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina I Ananto was before the National Assembly to describe a new system for imperial governance which she said would "provide more autonomy for Constituent Nations within the Empire's framework."  Described as the Imperial Assembly, this thirty-member body aims to insulate the Empire as a whole from the actions of any one of the Constituent Nations, and provide each Constituent Nation with a mechanism to build imperial action.

"The Articles of Empire have a clause in it which requires an Imperial Assembly to be formed," said Her Imperial Majesty, on the floor of the National Assembly.  "This clause was added with Gaduri autonomy in mind, but it is also applicable in the case of Lodamun, who seeks a larger role for itself globally, but whose actions may otherwise drag the entire Empire into a situation that only Lodamun should be in.  We want to support Lodamun's in their developing global role, of course, but we don't think that concern for how the Empire will react should govern Lodamun's decisions, nor do we want to put Kalistan or Gaduridos at risk if Lodamun creates an enemy, beyond terms that we are bound to in other treaties."

Her Imperial Majesty described the Imperial Assembly as a method to build Imperial Consensus for actions of Constituent Nations.  "As we envision it, Lodamun, Kalistan and Gaduridos respectively will want to keep certain friends, while each will also have a different set of concerns that we are dealing with.  But Lodamun's foreign policy doesn't necessarily have to be Kalistan's foreign policy.  We have already seen this cause some friction at the beginning of Lodamun's time with us.  Nor should Lodamun need to always clear everything with us.  But if they wish for Imperial support, they would simply bring the matter to the Imperial Assembly, our Delegations would each have a vote, and if it passes, it becomes a policy we shall endorse."

A lot of this has to do with the fact that there are variations of governance across the Empire which are incompatible with one another.  "The methods we use at home to exercise power are not acceptable in Gaduridos and Lodamun:  And similarly, the notion of elections that allow the people to exert any sort of control over our government is a fiction we have long since dispensed with here, but they are essential in the other Constituent Nations.  It was never our Mother's intention, nor our's to institute the Kalistani system of Government on a macro level over the entire Empire.  The Constituent Nations SHOULD have more of a voice in Imperial Policy, and each of the Constituent Nations should also be able to expect some insulation from the decisions made by one part of the Empire without agreement from the others, or even needing to seek the agreement of the others."

At the end of the day, Her Imperial Majesty enunciated an idea of Empire that few had dared speak in public.  "Our Empire is meant to provide reliable security for its constituent nations," said Her Imperial Majesty.  "It is a family who watches each other's back more than a patriarchal, top down structure.  Kalistan seeks to provide Lodamun the security that it will not have to ever fight a two front war that it does not choose to fight, and Kalistan seeks to provide Gaduridos the security that it can develop its culture and economy in peace, as it wants to without needing to focus too heavily or put too many of its resources into National Security.  

"And in exchange," continued Her Imperial Majesty, "Lodamun and Gaduridos make it possible for us to move out of the Strait and guard our gates properly.  We all gain the benefit of reliable and regular trade and security in our region, and can focus on our priorities rather than having to worry about whether our next door neighbor is going to have an election that for some reason switches their government from pro-us to anti-us.  The idea of putting the ancient Empire back together was the motive narrative, but underneath that, the idea has always been security for Northern Seleya and prestige."

That said, the reform of an Imperial Assembly is "long overdue," according to The Empress.  "We have our representatives to both Gaduridos and Lodamun.  Those viceroys have been provided to ensure a regular conduit of information and cooperation.  Information typically flows through the Viceroy upward, not the other way.  The Empire does do pro forma things, like invite the elected representative to form the government they were going to form anyway as a result of an election, rather than anything we have to say on the matter, but this has never been any other way within the Empire.  As we have said:  the way things work within Kalistan are not the way things work in the Constituent Nations.  So allowing those Constituent Nations to participate in a meaningful way in the government of their Empire--and we should be clear that we see the Anantonese Empire as an empire of three co-equal constituent nations--is a very necessary reform as we prepare to bring the Empire into the next generation."

Her Imperial Majesty reiterated her interest in centering the Imperial Assembly in Gaduridos.  "The reason is two fold.  First, We hope that it provides Gaduridos the prestige of hosting the Assembly, in honor of their status as first adopters of the Articles of Empire, and second, to physically separate the Assembly from us here in Kalistan and send a signal to Terra that the Empire is indeed three constituent nations, with three separate policy apparatuses, each of which make their own decisions about things, and each of which can be approached and dealt with as individuals.  In such a body, Kalistan would have as many votes as Gaduridos, who would have as many votes as Lodamun.  So Imperial action will always require a majority of the delegation, which means buy in from at least two of the three Constituent nations before any policy is promulgated as an Imperial Policy, rather than a policy of one or more of the individual Constituent Nations.  This will preserve Lodamun's, Kalistan's and Gaduridos' unique individual roles, while giving each nation the ability to pitch any idea of theirs to the Empire as a whole.  Kalistani Policy won't automatically be Imperial Policy, nor should it be.  This is how we can respect the autonomy of each of our Constituent Nations while also providing a vehicle for collective action."

Her Imperial Majesty described her role as "... largely the Executive Officer. As we see ourselves in this body, we will certainly retain the power of breaking all ties, in the interest of the Empire as a whole, and we will hold for ourselves the right to veto policy adopted, but will grant the body the ability to overturn the veto, as they do in republican countries  We would likely set the threshold at 2/3rds plus 1.  But if we opt not to veto a policy adopted by the Assembly, it should be our job therefore to enforce that policy as enthusiastically and strenuously as if it were our own."  Otherwise, the Empress stated she would serve as Convenor of the Assembly, but that they should elect their own officers, speakers and etc from among themselves, and let the Empress reign in Kalistan, as is correct, while the Imperial Assembly conducts its business in Ciudad Gaduri.  "Or Ciudad del Oriente, to ensure that those taking the Trans Seleyan Railway can make it to the meeting without needing to fly."

If the Constituent Nations agree to these terms, a suitable temporary building will be selected in Gaduridos while a new Assembly building is being constructed.

[Doc]

Ananto Looks to the South
Another Glimmer of Light in Aldegar
Sulari, Duchy of Suldanor
July 8, 5597


Foreign Minister George Bennots becomes First Kalistani Official to visit Aldegar since Nicolette II

It's been 86 years since any public official from Kalistan visited Aldegar, the mythical isthmus nation in central Selaya.  There have been numerous interactions between Kalistan and Aldegar since then, but many of them have been fairly negative.  Her Imperial Majesty Empress Carolina I Ananto aims to change by dispatching Her Foreign Minister, George Bennots to Aldegar.  Her hope is that Kalistan and its southern neighbor can begin repairing their relationship along similar lines that Kalsitan and Luthori did earlier in her reign.

"Her Imperial Majesty instructed me to meet with the Government of Aldegar, whom we have had very little official contact with over the past four generations," said Her Imperial Majesty's Foreign Minister, George Bennots.  "Following The Empress Nicolette II Ananto and Prince Consort Bjorn's honeymoon visit to the Kingdom, Aldegar and Kalistan had a brief, but very good relations, as Aldegar not only sent more than a half dozen of its bands to Kalistan at the last GanJam to be held in Kalistan, which inspired a short Aldegarian Music phenomenon in Kalistan, but also hosted the Olympic Games 20 years later that Kalistan was an enthusiastic participant in. We hope to potentially rekindle good relations again between our two nations as her Imperial Majesty's focus shifts back to Seleya."

Once in Aldegar and presenting his diplomatic credentials, following required security checks, a delay of a few days, and polite and correct treatment by Minister Bennots' government escorts, Foreign Minister Bennots was introduced to the current Aldegarian President, Fatima Muradova, who graciously received him in the Capital Ramsāhreza.  The President spoke first, welcoming Mr. Bennots to Aldegar, and asking him how his stay was so far.  Through his interpreter, Foreign Minister Bennots conveyed Her Imperial Majesty's greetings and wishes for improved relations between the two countries.  The President nodded her head and reiterated that Aldegar is friendly toward those who are friendly to Aldegar, and noted that Aldegar maintains excellent relations with both Gaduridos and Lodamun.

The next hour was spent in conversation between the two, as they both tried to nail down a firm impression of one another.  Mr. Bennots came away from the meeting optimistic.  "I was sent by Her Imperial Majesty to more or less say hello to our neighbors, who we haven't really spoken much with for a half a century.  I discharged that duty soon into the conversation.  The rest of the meeting, we were sizing each other up."

When asked for his thoughts on President Muradova, Foreign Minister Bennots said, "I think she is someone Kalistan can do business with.  She is intelligent, witty, and very polite.  She explained Aldegar's interests to me, and some of her viewpoints were ones I had not had the opportunity to hear before.  She is interested in trade, and she is I think as interested in regional security as we are.  She is obviously concerned about situation between Xsampa and Beiteynu, and is watching the Solentian situation closely.  We spoke about the recent visit by Kundrati's diplomats, and I had to explain Her Imperial Majesty's position on that situation.  She listened, but I don't know if Her Imperial Majesty's arguments influenced her much.  I wouldn't expect so.  Aldegar pursues its own interests, as Kalistan does, and I wanted to try to stress where we might have overlapping, and therefore mutual interests."

When asked if he got anything for the Empire out of the discussion, Foreign Minister Bennots laughed and shook his head.  "No, it wasn't that kind of meeting.  I wasn't dispatched here to try to make any deals.  This was more like the first part of a phone conversation, the 'Hello you, this is me' part.  My mission here was to pass one simple message from Her Imperial Majesty:  We want to try to get to know Aldegar better.  They are our neighbors, they obviously play a key role in both the economy and the security of the Continent.  Our relations have decayed for decades until there was nothing left.  Her Imperial Majesty would like that to be different, and it is our hope that after meeting several more times, we can finally come to a place where we could be friends with Aldegar someday too.  It will take a while, of course, but Her Imperial Majesty is committed to working together with our neighbors, and she would like to repair the relationships in Seleya that the Empire's focus on Artania have distracted us from."

When asked if the Foreign Minister invited the President to send a representative to Kalistan for the next visit, he responded in the affirmative.  "I think Her Imperial Majesty is quite curious about Aldegar.  It is kind outside of her world, but only just.  She spends so much time focused on Ananto and the lands surrounding it that Aldegar holds a fascination for her.  I think she would like to meet Aldegarians, and learn about them and their culture, and outside of that bit of personal fascination, there are a number of very important issues of trade in the Aldegarian Gulf and Canal, and security that we really do need to put some time into.  The Third Fleet regularly cruises into the Schismatic Sea out of Bentasur, and besides ensuring that we don't run into Aldegarian fleets, there may also be some joint patrol opportunities there which we miss out on because we just haven't been talking."

The Foreign Minister didn't say whether Aldegar would visit Kalistan next.  "It's an open invitation," said Bennots.  Following the stay in Aldegar, Foreign Minister Bennots returned to Sulari where he was interviewed, before boarding a flight to Kaliburg, to make his report.  It was widely believed that Bennots might travel instead into Mordusia, but that portion of the trip was indefinitely postponed because of scheduling conflicts in Mordusia.  "A visit in Mordusia may still be on the table," said Bennots, "but not this month.  We just couldn't find a mutually convenient time to put the trip together, that's all."

@TheRepublic

[Doc]

Kalistani News in Brief:  Empire says Goodbye to Dame Ontiveros
Kalistan welcomes Aldegarian President; Prince Consort enters National Service
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
July 1, 5598


Dame Lindsey Ontiveros-Maxwell with Her Imperial Majesty in February

Empire says Goodbye to Dame Ontiveros
Dame Lindsey Ontiveros-Maxwell, LC, who served as Chancellor of the Empire under Nicolette II and then Fredrick II Ananto has died.  In the same incident that led to the untimely death of the late Emperor, Dame Ontiveros was critically wounded and in the attack lost her ability to speak or walk.  She eventually rejoined society in Eveari and remained a close friend both former Empress Pavlina I Ananto and Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina I Ananto and her family.  Dame Ontiveros was later selected to serve as executive director of the Lucid City Refugee fund that sought to connect newly arrived Athosian refugees with homes and jobs in Suldanor and Odufaray and to give aid to those seeking to return.

In retirement, Dame Ontiveros returned to Eveari to live at home.  Her Husband died, Sir Bradley Wicker died in 5572, and she has been an Eveari socialite ever since.  Dame Ontiveros attended the wedding of Lady Dana Ananto-Alvarez and Sir Christopher Bjorksdattir.  Much of Dame Ontiveros' time was spent visiting with Her Imperial Majesty's family, and she became known as a great grandmother to the Empress and Prince Consort's children.  Dame Ontiveros died peacefully in Eveari, under the care of her doctors, who listed her cause of death as complications due to congestive heart failure.  Dame Ontiveros will lay in State at the Imperial Seat in Kaliburg and then will rest next to the mortal remains of her husband in Eveari.

Kalistan welcomes Aldegarian President
Her Imperial Majesty welcomed President Fatima Muradova from Aldegar to Kaliburg in March.  President Muradova had previously met with Her Imperial Majesty's Foreign Minister, George Bennots, who greeted her and her team in Kaliburg.  The Foreign Minister escorted the President to the Imperial Seat, where she was received in Formal Audience by Chancellor of the Empire Dame Dianne Bolton and Her Imperial Majesty Empress Carolina I Ananto.  The Formal Audience lasted for more than two hours and was closed off to the General Public, but following the audience, the two Heads of State took official photographs and then proceeded to go on a tour of Kaliburg with the Chancellor and get to know one another .

The Foreign Minister remained behind to answer questions.  "Her Imperial Majesty warmly greeted the President of Aldegar.  This historic meeting officially breaks the ice between our two nations, and opens up both new trade and security possibilities.  Both of our Imperial Partners in Gaduridos and Lodamun have positive relations with Aldegar, and Her Imperial Majesty has been looking for an opportunity to put our past behind us and restart good relations.  The subjects of security and trade cooperation were discussed, especially with Kalistan's increasing role in the Schismatic Sea.  We talked about Miramar possibly acquiring shares in the Canal Corporation, but nothing conclusive was resolved on that particular issue this visit.  However, the Chancellor underscored Her Imperial Majesty's interest in naval exercise cooperation in relatively calm Schismatic Sea and an expanding joint role in the Central Anantonese Ocean.  The chat covered many points and both Sovereigns spoke warmly to one another during the Audience."

The President was welcomed at the Ananto Estate in Eveari during her four day stay.  The Foreign Ministry reported that it is now considering candidates for a formal Ambassador to Aldegar to maintain a permanent Diplomatic Mission to Ramsāhreza.

Prince Consort Enters National Service
In the Summer of his 18th year, His Highness the Prince Consort Fredrick Ananto-Sandoval has turned out for Muster into the National Service Program.  The Prince Consort is currently in Conscript Recruit Training in Gendaris.  While it is not sure what sort of work His Highness will do in National Service, he stated his intent to join either the forestry service or KALMILINCO as a mechanic.  During recruit training, Conscripts are given several aptitude batteries to determine the skills each conscript possesses, and they are then placed according to their aptitudes and the needs of the Service. 

"His Highness' difficulty with hearing will not present too many difficulties," said Corps spokesman Sergeant Walter Hughes.  "There will be some jobs that he is disqualified for, especially those which will be very dangerous and require hearing.  But there are plenty of jobs in the Service that don't require a lot of quick attention to immediate instructions."  Sgt. Hughes stated that His Imperial Majesty will be paired with a Language Service Specialist whose job will be sign interpreting throughout his term of service. 

With his enlistment, Conscript Recruit Ananto-Sandoval begins his four year service Commitment to the Empire.

@TheRepublic