Kalistan

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Emperor Stresses need to Stand Strong Against Fascism
Televised Speech dubbed "Why we Fight"
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
June 1, 5612


Emperor in first Televised Address to the Nation, on KRTVN-1

Programming was pre-empted last night at 7pm as His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Fredrick III Ananto addressed the nation.  It is a rare occurrence for Kalistanis who are not close to the Anantos to ever hear the voice of their Sovereign, but His Imperial Majesty believed that it was important for him to address a national audience who is justifiably suffering a malaise over the war, and the seeming senseless waste of life in the Artanian Sea last year.  Below is the transcript of his short, 15 minute address.  His Imperial Majesty spoke and was accompanied by his official sign language interpreter, Allison Stuart.

Fellow Kalistani Citizens.  We thank you for allowing us to preempt your evening for a few moments to address you here.  We feel that it is important for you to not only see the face of your Emperor but also to hear our voice.  Because it is our opinion that we have allowed ourselves to become far too distant from our people.  And this is something we wish to remedy.

When we were young, our Mother told us about her father, the man who adopted her and raised her in her home as his own child.  She told us how highly she thought of him, how great a man she thought he was.  Her father, she said was kind, and gentle, and had a wonderful sense of humor, and loved her mother very dearly.  This man was of course, our namesake, Emperor Fredrick II, and he brought these two Kundrati Nationals to live here in Kalistan, to make it their home.  Yes, Kundrati:  Both Empress Pavlina and Empress Carolina were born in Kundrati.  Our grandmother did not speak Vrassan fluently when she arrived, and according to our mother, her accent embarrassed her for her entire life, because it set her apart.

When they arrived, most Kalistanis welcomed them very warmly.  This warmth and kindness is a Kalistani trait, as much as is our commitment to peace and happiness of our citizens.  And our mother and her mother both found it here in abundance.  Here our Mother said she was happy, grew up healthy, and was sheltered from the world.  She was welcomed by the Anantos as if she were their flesh and blood.  She was welcomed by the people of Eveari, and cared for by the people of Kaliburg.  She wanted for nothing.  She was sheltered from much of the struggle and strife, both here and in the world.

But there were some, here among our own people, who were not satisfied that Fredrick married an intelligent, confident and successful woman from Kundrati.  One cannot choose where they are from:  Our parents choose that for us.  But Pavlina did choose to move to Kalistan, to become Kalistani, to learn Kalistani ways, and to learn Vrassan.  And to accommodate to the norms and mores of her adopted home.  It was easier for our own mother, but nonetheless she made that choice early on too.  Both women fully assimilated into this culture, to the point that our mother had lost her own native language completely and spoke Vrassan without any accent whatsoever by the time she was 15 years old.  In fact, she was in everyway a Kalistani woman, except her heritage.

Our Grandmother was not so fortunate, however.  And fascists who were opposed to the mixing of a foreign born woman and a locally born man murdered our grandfather, Pavlina's husband, because of their hatred of the outsider.  Immigrants who have made our nation great, that gave us the reason to stand up tall and walk globally with pride.  We take in those who flee from other nations:  when they flee war, we are a safe refuge.  When they flee oppression, we are a land of rights and freedom.  When they flee famine, we are a land of abundance.  Kalistan has welcomed countless millions over the millenia, so that we are proudly a nation of migrants.  And yet these few individuals, pretending to support democracy, attempted a coup and then a civil war, because they could not bear the thought of a Kalistani loving and marrying a Kundrati.  So they killed him.

This is the story of our family.  It is an historical fact.  But since then, our grandmother declared that she would oppose fascism whenever and wherever it appears.  If they can murder an emperor, they can murder anyone.  And any who oppose the fascists in Kundrati is in fact murdered.  We have known for years that Kundratis enslave people by the thousands and force them to labor to death on projects that seem to have no purpose, except to kill those who work on them.  Countless mines are opened with slave labor, while thousands of fascists sit in Kundrati's Cities and reap the benefit of slavery.  To pretend that the people in that nation do not know what is going on there, is equivalent to believing that there is a magical man who brings you presents for Eliyahu's birthday.  If they turely do not know, it is because they do not wish to know, they wish to shut it out.

That nation was over run by fascists, the people with the same mentality as those who murdered our grandfather, YOUR Emperor.  Many watching this program are old enough to remember Fredrick II Ananto.  Many of you recall your shock at his death, and your revulsion as Kalistan, of all places, spasmed in insurgency and civil war.  Those are the same people who have completely captured Kundrati.  And those are the same people now who have killed more than 12,000 of your fellow country men and women who were fighting to roll back that sort of darkness.

Kundrati, under fascism, is not the modern nation it once was.  It is now a slave state, with no forests, honeycombed with slave built and operated mines, and monstrosities that pass for cities built with the blood and bones of thousands of slaves for the glorification of one man, and that man's ideology.  The people are not free in the original homeland of our mother and grandmother.  The environment is destroyed, the people starve, and they want to spread that ideology abroad.  They have already captured the mind of the leaders in Likatonia who will no doubt be copying their example.

Containing that is something we must be willing to fight for.  As of this date, nobody else is.  As of this date, Kalistan stands alone in the fight against Fascism.  At the moment we broadcast, no other nation, except Kundrati itself, has shed a drop of blood to roll back fascism in Artania.  Not a single one.  And yet this is the calling of a life time that Kalistanis have bravely stood up and accepted:  the Calling to try to make the world better not only for the slaves in the Kundrati Concentration Camps and punitive mines, but also for all people who struggle against fascism.  

The same dark force that reached its crooked claw into Kalistan and murdered your Emperor, and we say Your Emperor because we were not yet even born when Fredrick II was assassinated, that force is still on the move on Terra.  This is the same force that launched multiple attacks against the peaceful nation of Xsampa, because that nation decided that they wanted to leave an alliance.  That is the force that we, as a nation, have always stood up against, and it is one we will always stand against.  Even if we are the only ones doing it.  So be it.  Even if we lose a whole fleet doing it.  If it pushes the shadow back one single inch, it is worth it.

But, We will make this promise to you, our People, our Countrymen and women, and our friends and Brethren.  We will never sacrifice Kalistani lives in vain.  Not every cause is noble and not every battle is well planned.  But if you continue to put your faith in us, we will not fight in vain.  We will not sacrifice a single sailor, soldier, airman or marine in vain.  The lost of the IV Fleet, while tragic and possibly unavoidable, was nonetheless a noble fight.  The Kundrati sailors gave our sailors the same chances we gave them.  The Fascist Navy simply out matched us up until they stopped existing.  And we paid blood for blood.

But this loss does not absolve us of our responsibilities to our nation.  We will continue to look for new opportunities to help others push back fascism on as many fronts as we can.  In the meanwhile, we ask that you, our People, join together to support this empire in its fight.  You can make the difference.  We are organizing volunteer units to help protect the homefront.  There are many jobs in this Empire that need being done and it will take all of us as one to do this.  If we work together, not only can we ensure that Kalistan stays strong in this time of challenge, but also that we come out stronger than ever.

We are authorizing the creation of monthly Volunteer Days, where you can join with others in your community to donate your time and energy one day a week to the NSP.  All adults in Kalistan are familiar with the NSP and the things they do.  You might find yourself building a submarine one week, then the next week cutting cane in Yoshimi, and then the next week, boxing medical supplies for shipment to Lodamun.  Your Empire asks you for one day, one weekend a month, and that you contribute this extra day of labor to the cause of fighting fascism.  Only by working together will we be able to finish what the Fourth Fleet started, and ensure that the Fascists can never threaten any nation again.

Participation is not mandatory:  These are volunteer opportunities.  But there is plenty of work that needs to be done across Kalistan.  We can assure you, the NSP will welcome you and be grateful for your contribution, your nation will be grateful, and We will be grateful.

We will never forget the sacrifices and the contributions of the people of this Nation.  We will also not forget the personal debt we owe to the people of Kalistan, especially those who welcomed our Grandmother and our Mother when they were foreigners in a land that they did not understand, had never been to, and were not well liked in by some.  We are lucky to have been born here.  But without the generosity of the people of Kalistan, and the openness to foreigners--traits that the Fascist government of Kundrati does not possess--We would not be sitting here addressing you now.  So we shall strive, for the rest of our life, to repay at least some of that debt that our family owes you.  And in exchange, we ask for you to step up for this nation as well.

And if you happen to be in Eveari, we will invite you to come out to thin underbrush in the Green Mountains with Ananto NSP this weekend.  We will be there with Empress Consort Monica, and will dedicate two days of volunteer service each month until this war is resolved.  We will be there working right next to you, with you, shoulder to shoulder, until we push Kundrati Fascism into the grave, or die trying.  We are ineligible for military service, so civilian service will need to suffice.

This is why we fight, and this is why we will win.  We thank you for your attention, and we hope you too will step up and do your part for our Empire.

Please hold those families and friends of the members of the Fourth Fleet in the Light this week, as well as all of those wounded in the First Fleet, and we should also say, please spare a kind word for the families and friends of the lost Kundrati Sailors as well, as they know human suffering and grief the same way we as Kalistanis do, and no doubt feel the same feelings Kalistanis feel with the loss or convalescence of their loved ones.  Thank you for your time and attention, and we wish you a good evening.

@TheRepublic

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Archive:  War Dispatches:  Kalistan hit with Rocket Attacks
Chemical Attacks in Kaliburg, Port Swedes and Eshar; Kalistan remains at War
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
August 11, 5612


Early morning poison fires ignite around Lolla and Davon as White phosphorous and chlorine gas break out in Downtown Kaliburg

At approximately 4:17 am yesterday morning, as Kaliburg slept, explosions were heard above the city followed by a fire storm breaking out over downtown Kaliburg.  The attack, which has been to be a chemical attack was part of a coordinated attack which targeted the mostly residential Lolla neighborhood in downtown Kaliburg, along with Port Swedes in Vrassa and Eshar in Odufaray.  The casualties are unknown, but according to authorities, hospitals in all three cities are currently overwhelmed with casualties who are exhibiting severe burns and respiratory distress.  Preliminary estimates suggest that as many as 20,000 people in the Nation's capital, 15,000 in Eshar and perhaps 7500 in Port Swedes may be dead in the attacks, in the largest and most destructive attacks on Kalistan in history.

Reports are preliminary at the moment, as fires continue to burn out of control in all three locations.  It is difficult to attempt to put the fires out, because of the poisonous smoke, which is some mixture of white phosphorus and deadly chlorine gas, as well as the extremely hot and widespread fires associated with the attack.  The attack in Kaliburg was the most widespread as the chemical rained into neighborhoods from air bursts, while reports from both Eshar and Port Swedes suggest that infrastructure related to Kalistan's northern ports was targeted.  The air bursts created a wider spread pattern in the Capital, which has so far created at least six major centers of fire and poison.  Much of the downtown was still completely inaccessible to firefighters as of noon today.

The Local Free City Government has begun widescale triage of Lolla residents, many of whom were still asleep as the overnight attacks rained poisonous death from above.  Evacuation of the affected zones took place throughout most of the day yesterday, as most people have relocated to either other parts of the capital, if they had relatives locally, or headed to the train station to go to other parts of Ananto.  The Empire is on high alert for additional attacks.  

Declassified satellite intelligence released from the Imperial Government suggests that the attacks emanated from Likatonia, who is not known to possess either missile technology, nor a chemical weapons program, which points the finger squarely at Kundrati who has no doubt armed their Seleyan Satellite with the systems needed to fire on Kalistan, likely in revenge for the Artanian Campaign of last summer.  The use of chemical weaponry against Kalistan all but confirms Kundrati's long rumored Chemical Weapons program.

The Royal Family, who resides on the opposite side of Davon Bay at Wilson Hill, was not injured in the attack.  His Imperial Majesty was woke up five minutes before the explosions in Kaliburg to be informed of the first attack in Port Swedes.  He and the Empress Consort and the Minor Princess Mary were rushed to a waiting car and then took a helicopter to an undisclosed location where they are reportedly safe.  An all stations alert was sent out over emergency channels, as well as the cellular phone network warning of additional attacks across the Empire, but the warning did not reach most of the people who were asleep in their homes when the explosions occured in the air over Kaliburg.  

It will be some time before the fires burning in Kaliburg can be extinguished and victims can be located.  Triage reports that those with respiratory distress are the most critical victims, and hundreds who made it to the hospital have already died as doctors have attempted to save them.  The Naval Yards and Logistics Center in Port Swede has been heavily damaged, and there Eshar has experienced casualty rates similar to Kaliburg.

This story is rapidly unfolding.  As more details come in, we will continue to report.

@WarDispatches

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ARCHIVE:  War Dispatches- Emperor Addresses the Nation following Deadly Attacks
"A Fascist is a Fascist," says His Imperial Majesty
Sulari, Duchy of Suldanor
August 15, 5612

Below is the transcript of the audio only address made by His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Fredrick III Ananto on the night of August 14, 5612, three days after the deadly chemical weapons attacks on Kaliburg, Eshar and Port Swedes.  The audio was pre-recorded and was delivered to KRTVN studios in Sulari because the radio studios in Imperial Hill was destroyed in the fire, for broadcast over all national channels.  The television feed was accompanied by a photo montage of the devastation in the three northern cities, as well as video footage of police, firefighters and everyday citizens all attempting to deal with the absolutely unnecessary and unforgivable destruction.  The KRTVN Feed was also broadcasted internationally on the National Satellite Network to the entire globe.  The speech was also replayed several times on Radio Kaliburg.

Here is His Imperial Majesty.

**Beginning of Transmission**

Ladies and Gentlemen, You are hearing the voice of Emperor Fredrick Ananto.

We have decided to address the nation tonight to let you, the people of Kalistan, know that we are safe.  Ourself, the Empress Consort, the Minor Princess Mary, as well as Princess Michelle and her husband, as well as the Princess of the Empire, our mother Carolina, as all safe and secure.  We were thankfully unharmed by the destruction that was visited upon our nation as we slept, and have been moved to a secure location, as have the Chancellor of the Empire, the Foreign Minister, and the Defense Minister.  All other members of our Government were either not in Kaliburg, Port Swedes or Eshar, or were not affected by the blast.  We have regrettable lost 8 Institutionalist Deputies, one from Port Swedes, 2 from Eshar and five from around the Empire who were at their homes in Kaliburg, and in the interest of privacy, will not announce their names on this recording without permission from their families.

We want you, the people of our Nation to know, that we will do everything to continue to care for the wounded and injured.  The firefighters have begun to tackle the blaze in Eshar at the moment, and report that the damage at Port Swedes is extensive, but the fires are still too hot and the air still too toxic for them to begin to address the fires.  In Kaliburg, most of the smaller fires have been put out, but the largest one, downtown still burns and the city governments are considering possibly demolishing near by buildings around the blaze to act as a firebreak.  It is a slow burning fire, thankfully, but these attacks hit during the dry months, and so the first responders do not have the weather on their side.  

Further hampering efforts to fight the fires are the chemical makeups of the weapons:  chemists testing the air have identified high levels of phosphorus and chlorine in the smoke, along with several other deadly chemicals.  The prevailing breezes this time of year are east to west, so much of it is blowing out to sea, but significant portions of north western Kaliburg have had to be evacuated, and will likely remain uninhabitable for a considerable length of time.  The thick, poisonous smoke, however, makes dousing the fire from above virtually impossible, without heavy protective gas masks and MOPP suits, and that make flying through the smoke much more hazardous for pilots that we are willing to accept.  So all firefighting efforts are occuring at street level. 

We are currently working with both AeroKal and AnantoRail to get affected individuals who are healthy enough to travel to shelter.   So if you are listening to this message, and are in need of shelter, please head to either Republican Station or the Kaliburg International Airport, and AeroKal will put you a flight to your destination without any cost to you.  Do not attempt to bring excess baggage for this flight, and do not attempt to return to your homes.  The area is still not safe and there is no telling how many homes, businesses or other establishments have been affected by the gas.  We repeat, it is not safe for you to return to your homes if your neighborhoods is under mandatory evacuation orders.  The Gas is still very prevalent in the area, and will kill you within minutes, and even if it appears to be clear outside, those homes have become traps for moving air and the gas has seeped through doorways, opened windows and air vents, and is likely trapped inside.  Just head to the Airport or Republican Station and you can get out of town, without any cost to you.

We still have no ideas how extensive the casualties are.  Doctors at Kaliburg National report that of those who come in complaining of respiratory distress from the smoke, there is a troublingly high mortality rate.  At some point directly after the attacks, when mortality rates appeared to be approaching 98%, doctors stopped triaging and simply placed patients with palliative care professionals, who had the very difficult task of explaining what had happened, and what was inevitably going to happen.  At hospitals around Kaliburg, doctors have reported, to date, 4,354 deaths, most from chemical inhalation or severe burns.  They tell us those numbers will rise in the coming days and weeks.  In Eshar, the numbers are much higher, with 8,456 reported deaths.  Much of Eshar has needed to be evacuated, and it will be days before authorities can determine who is missing.  Casualty rates in Port Swedes are somewhat lower, at 2,783 to date who have been reported as having died at the hospital due to inability to treat the horrific situation.  These numbers are also fairly certain to climb before we see the end of this.

While we attempt to deal with the still ongoing disaster in our three cities, we have also given the order for 250,000 men and women of the Regular Army North and Central to begin mobilizing, and we have asked the Institutional Party to mobilize the Militia for home guard defense.  As we are certain that these attacks came from Likatonia, it is important that they shall not escape responsibility.  We do not believe that Likatonia has the capability to develop these kinds of weapons on their own, and IBSI believes that they were supplied by Kundrati.  We have also ordered the 1st Fleet to return to the Artanian Sea to interrupt commerce and military transport between Kundrati and Likatonia.  We expect that this time around a coalition will form:  Hopefully, the world has had enough of seeing Kalistanis die for them, and join us in the fight, but at any rate, the Fascists have taken this war to an extreme, and our response will unfortunately be just as extreme.  We anticipate that Lodamun will at least join us.  Likatonia is a threat to our Constituent Nations just as much as they are to us, as that nation is in the thrall of the fascist murderers in Kasaema.

Our thoughts are with those families who have lost loved ones in this attack.  But thoughts are not all our Government is prepared to offer.  Our goal is to see to it that Kalistan is never attacked like this again, by anyone, ever, and that those who did attack us are held not only accountable, but responsible for the attacks.  There will be justice for them in the grave.  And we will not discriminate between two different kinds of fascist, or between fascists who are under arms, and civilians who merely support fascist governments.  They are all the same now, and will pay all the same.  Our cause is righteous, our fight is just, and if you have lost your home or your loved ones, and feel like taking up arms against the people who took those people and things away from you, the Regular Forces will happily enlist you.  We are all in this together.  We stand as one or we die as one, but our Empire is now in total war.

May you hold the people of our nation who are suffering tonight in the Light.  But then, tomorrow, its time to do something about it.

**end of transmission**

@WarDispatches

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ARCHIVE-  War Dispatches:  Army Deployment to Lodamun "Nearly Completed"
North and Central Armies placed under Lodamun Command
Newport, Lodamun
October 30, 5612


M10 Light Tanks of the Regular Army North staged in Newport as the Kalistani Army assembles in Western Lodamun

The Logistics Base at New Port has become the rallying point for a massive deployment of the Kalistani Regular Army. More than 250,000 troops of the Kalistani Regular Army have assembled in Western Lodamun along with Lodamese forces to prepare what is anticipated to be one of the largest invasions in Seleyan History since the Plateau Wars if the 19th Century.

The Kalistani Army is in Lodamun for one purpose: to hold those responsible for the destruction in Mainland Kalistan and the loss of just over 30,000 Kalistanis responsible for their destruction. "We have ordered No Quarter," said Kalistani Commander Brigadier General Martin Guerra. "And we will accept none. There will be no prisoners. Over the last three months in preparation for this deployment, we have been involved primarily in irregular training with the Militia. Some of the work we have done have been in civilian depopulation tactics for clearing towns, destruction of civilian infrastructure as the line advances forward, and various other sorts of scorched earth tactics, which may come in handy if our opponents decide to put up resistance. The militia will also be here with us, operating independently." The BGen also said new Guidons were issued for each unit which are black in color, with white letters for unit designations. "As we advance, our mission is to leave a swath of wasteland stretching front line back to the Lodamun Border," said the General.

When asked about whether any of this is a violation of the Laws of War, the General, who incidentally is not a Brethrenist, answered simply, "Kalistan does not observe anything like the Laws of War. But I'd ask Likatonia about the Laws of War when they launched weapons of mass destruction against sleeping civilian targets. I'd ask Kundrati about the Laws of War when they launched missiles against a sleeping Xsampa. These people only understand violence, and so the Regulars will speak in a language they understand. Our warning is for civilians to vacate the areas we are going to be operating in, because if they are found and they are not under Kalistani or Lodamese Colors, they will be treated as an enemy combatant. Kalistanis have been ordered not to discriminate."

Even though General Guerra said that Kalistani Troops will be under the command of Lodamese Generals during the conflict, he noted that this is for efficiency and unity of Command. "I suspect that Lodamun and Kalistan will have differing missions in Likatonia, and each will take care of business. Kalistan is putting more troops into the fight, but we don't seek to accomplish anything other than destruction in Likatonia, to ensure that they understand that there is a cost for making the choices they have made in this long standing conflict, but also that they don't ever contribute anything to the support and succor of the fascist cause ever again. If Likatonia seeks to avoid that fate, they could indeed abandon Kundrati now. But something tells me they won't. And even if they did, I don't think Kalistanis could hear them at the moment."

The comments from the generals drew backlash in Kalistan from some Brethrenists. "This is not what Kalistan is," said Diane Forester of Sulari. "What the General described is more or less warcrimes. The Regular Forces are talking about revenge killings and depredations in Likatonia, and there will be a price to pay." Polls report that Ms. Foresters' sentiment is in the minority as more than 70% of Kalistanis support not only an invasion of Likatonia in response to the chemical attacks from last summer, but more telling, a full 40% support "unlimited war against the people, to include the civilians, of Likatonia."

"Likatonia fired weapons of mass destruction at Kalistan," said Brad Wilkins of Addisjah. "We still smell chlorine here. Its a daily reminder at the disregard that nation and their fascist puppet masters have for human life. So if they don't care at all about human life, they certainly won't mind it if our troops waste it in their nation the way they wasted it in ours."

Morale in the Regular Force is reportedly very high. The 1st Fleet, which has been stationed in Newport Lodamun for more than a year as it has been repaired and reinforced, took up new positions at the edge of the Artanian Sea in an effort to interrupt Likatonian naval traffic ahead of the invasion. The 2nd Fleet most west to reinforce the 1st Fleet at sea, and combined, the two fleets intend to sink Likatonian shipping and naval traffic at sea.

"We are finishing our staging along the border with Likatonia in Lodamun this month," said General Guerra. "We move as soon as Lodamun is ready."

@WarDispatches

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Archive-  War Dispatches:  Lodamun and Kalistan Overrun Likatonian Border
North Bend, Norwalk falls to Imperial Forces
Norwalk Likatonia
January 15, 5613

Early reports from the front lines confirm that Anantonese Forces have captured the border town North Bend in the first significant fighting in the war.  Combined Forces crossed the border on the night of January 12, following a sustained heavy bombing campaign by Lodamese Air Forces.  Following the invasion, Lodamese ground stuck mainly to the coast following the start of the invasion, and were joined by Kalistani Armor and Artillery, while Lodamese Commandos and Kalistani Mech Infantry crossed along the north face of the mountain ranges.  Rangers were inserted by air further into the country to begin menacing enemy command and control behind the front lines.  The two advancing forces converged on the town of North Bend, just twenty miles inside of Likatonia, and were met with a determined defense made primarily of Kundrati Partisans who were encircled and destroyed.

"The Battle, which lasted two and a half days before it was finally over, wasn't the main body of Kundratis," said Kalistani Captain Kristin Collins.  "The fighting was pretty fierce, but the combined forces acting in a pincer formation hit Kundrati positions held the Kundratis in place, and they were ultimately defeated by close air support which was flying from bases over the border.  Our commanders expect fiercer fighting as we get further into Likatonia."

This first battle was a morale boost for the as of yet untried Anantonese Ground and Air Forces.  "Our morale is very high, but the forces themselves haven't been tested yet in actual combat.  Ultimately, the Kundratis may have more experience in Combat, but they have been living fairly rough for a long time too.  This first battle shows the troops that they can not only fight a determined opponent, but can work together, coordinate fire, and adapt from training to actual combat.  We're quite proud of the Anantonese Forces, and we are ready to continue the fight into Likatonia."

Tactically, the battle will continue in two main thrusts, with the main body going north along the coast, and the smaller, more mobile and more agile forces will continue through the mountains, to prevent either Likatonians or Kundratis from escaping into the hills and across into Valruzia.  The two thrusts will be constantly reinforced and supplied from Lodamun, and as they get further into Likatonia, they will be supplied from the air.

@WarDispatches

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Archive- War Dispatches:  Imperial Forces push on toward St. Jackson
IBSI joins with MoD for recruitment Drive, as Government is questioned about depredations
North Bend, Occupied Likatonia
January 31, 5613


Ministry of Defense has plastered Propaganda Posters across 15 major Cities in Kalistan

As the joint Lodamese/Kalistani pushes west, deeper into the fascist-allied state of Likatonia, His Imperial Majesty's Minister of Defense has called for a new Recruitment Drive.  "The Kalistani Regular Force is one of the premier fighting forces in Seleya," said acting Defense Minister Lt. Commander Henry Reals, "But this war will be long.  And we will likely lose our share of troops.  It is imperative that we therefore have forces that are trained, armed and specialized to replace them as we move further into the war."  With this, the Defense Minister called for another 250,000 troops to be recruited over the next year.  Meanwhile, almost all non critical NSP operations have been redirected to KalMilInCo to begin building more tanks, more artillery, more rifles and more aircraft to supply the war effort.

While the battle of North Bend was fairly brutal, early reports of depredations committed by allied forces have been leaked to the Kalistani Press.  There are unconfirmed reports of poor treatment of captured Likatonian Prisoners.  "We aren't sure what those reports are referring to," said the Minister of Defense.  "Kalistani Law says that all prisoners of war captured within Kalistan shall be returned to their enemy.  We don't have any prisoners of war in Kalistan.  Any prisoners taken in Likatonia are outside of the jurisdiction of Kalistani Law.  So saying that Kalistani forces have violated the Law doesn't make any sense."  

When pressed about the Laws of War, the Defense Minister said "Kalistan does not, and never has observed international law, or acknowledged any norms that limit our ability to effectively defend our nation from foreigners.  And let's not forget, if these reports have any merit to them, should we criticize how Kalistanis kill Likatonians?  Have we forgotten the way Likatonians kill Kalistanis while we sleep?  We have instructed Kalistani Soldiers to offer no quarter to the Likatonians.  The only option that the Likatonians have is to either die or surrender.  There is not going to be quarter offered or accepted."

Following the Minister of Defense's statements, reporters sought additional comment from the Kalistani Government, who referred them back to the Minister of Defense's statement.  The Office of His Imperial Majesty only issued a brief statement:  "His Imperial Majesty Emperor Fredrick III Ananto, retains full Confidence in His Government and all of its ministers including the Minister of Defense, who is overseeing Kalistan's war effort with dignity and integrity."

Kalistani and Lodamese Forces now push on to St. Jackson in eastern Likatonia.  It is anticipated that the town is heavily defended, and will likely slow the allied advance.

@WarDispatches.

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Archive-  War Dispatches:  Kalistanis finally break Kundrati defenses in St. Jackson
More than 17,000 Kundrati soldiers killed, 2,300 captured in battle
St. Jackson, Norwalk Occupied Likatonia
March 21, 5613


Kalistani Infantry from I Corps launch mortars vs. Kundrati Positions during battle

The monthlong battle of St. Jackson ended this week with a final surrender of about 2,300 Kundrati Defenders, whose positions were over run after several weeks of fierce block to block fighting in the Central Norwalk town of St. Jackson.  Of the estimated 20,000 Kundrati partisans who were ordered to defend the town, Kalistanis killed more than 17,000 soldiers in the brutal battle.  Frontline commanders also report than about 650 Likatonian and 2,300 Kundrati prisoners were taken alive.  The Kundratis have been sent to field detention units where they are expected to be debriefed before being summarily tried for their crimes against the Empire.  Kalistanis lost more than 8,000 infantry taking the key town which was an important supply and communications hub for the Norwalk front.

Kalistani and Lodamese reconnaissance, which has been occurring mostly at ground level through the mountains due to the difficulty of air recon through heavy coniferous forest, first made contact with forward units of the Kundrati Partisans in Mid February.  The Recon units were running well ahead of the main body, who had advanced from North Bend earlier in the month, and reported the enemy contact.  At this point, the main body of mechanized infantry halted, and attempted to probe the Kundratis at several points.  It soon became clear that the Kundrati units were mere pickets for a much larger body of forces which were dug in in St. Jackson.  At this point, the Southern Branch of the offensive called light and medium armor in from the Northern Branch, as well as Kalistani Artillery.  Shelling of the town began in earnest on March 3.

As the barrage continued, Kalistani Infantry moved forward to emplace mortars that ranged key targets in the city, and could be adjusted according to calls from forward observers who began inching their way toward the city.  When Kalistani and Lodamese Infantry were ready to attack, they began storming the city, quickly capturing several points on the outskirts of town including the power station and the water supply facilities, which were cut off.  Many of the residential area on the edges of the city had been evacuated, but several key positions were heavily defended by Kundratis, and required additional indirect fires, as well as the use of incendiary devices, to clear.  Allied casualties were light while the outlying areas were cleared of their defenders. 

The urban battle, which turned out to be through very well defended territory, lasted for more than 2 weeks.  The primary tactic was to encircle the city, and close the noose over its defenders with artillery and tank fires.  Another tactic Infantry used was to burn buildings ahead of them to start fires to flush troops out.  Several ammo dumps were located this way.  Casualties on both sides of the battle were high as Kundrati and Likatonian forces fiercely defended the city, but the combination of deadly accurate indirect fire and the Infantry's scorched earth tactics in the city center eventually proved to be too overwhelming for the defenders, who surrendered on the evening March 20.  

The Kundratis had been without running water for more than 3 weeks by this point, and most of those interviewed after the battle simply asked for water.  Likatonian forces were separated from Kundrati forces at various impromptu field detention facilities, because in some cases, Kundrati forces surrendered, only to throw grenades at those who were attempting to disarm them.  The Likatonian forces were provided with water, and in what is becoming a Kalistani calling card, one shoe was removed and tossed into a fire, so Likatonians would be disinclined to run away.

Kalistani commanders of I Corps, the main unit of Kalistani Infantry that was involved in the assault on St. Jackson, reported upwards of 6500 battlefield casualties, of which 4,367 died in the battle.  Another 3,500 reported respiratory distress from fighting for a prolonged period of time in a city that was burning around them, and nearly all are expected to make a return to the battlefield after some recovery.  There was an additional 2,600 wounded in the fighting.  The intense battle at St. Jackson has slowed the advance of the Northern Flank, being most of Kalistan's tanks and artillery, along with much of the Lodamese Component of the invasion--support requirements meant that a significant number of tanks and artillery were required to advance up the Jackson River valley to join the infantry in the encirclement.

The Infantry is expected to remain in St. Jackson for as much as a week to bury dead, handle the prisoners, and resupply before continuing the advance into Western Norwalk by the beginning of April.  Armored Reconnaissance with working with Lodamese Air to located the enemy ahead of the main body once more, and warn of any pending counter offensives into the valley.  So far the battle has not been an unmitigated success but a success so far.  There were estimated to be 30,000 Kundrati Partisans in Likatonia.  Following this battle, 2/3rd of those forces have been accounted for.

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Archive-  War Dispatches  Kalistani Troops push into Delores and East Bolton
Massive Firefight at Edisville, EB halts Southern Advance
Outside Edisville, East Bolton, Occupied Likatonia
May 3, 5613


I Corp, working without Armor or Artillery Support, will likely hold outside of Edisville, just inside the East Bolton Frontier

Over the course of the last month and a half, I Corps, the operational name for the Southern Flank of the two pronged invasion of Likatonia, has accomplished several major things, but word is now coming from the military spokespeople that the Overall Command in Lodamun will call a strategic halt to assess the situation following major victories in North, Central and Southern Likatonia.

The Province of Norwalk has been completely overrun by allied troops, and I Corps has advanced into the eastern frontiers of East Bolton to the town of Edisville.  Reconnaissance reports strong Likatonian troop concentration in the town, and I Corps, who is now operating without Armor and Artillery due to terrain, has begun digging in on the outskirts of the town to prepare for a possible Likatonian counter offensive.  The road from St. Jackson to Edisville ran through the town of Delores, which Kalistani and Lodamese mechanized infantry captured following an eight day battle, that saw the death of the believed last elements of the Kundrati partisan contingent, as well as more than 5,000 Likatonian defenders.  Imperial Forces lost an additional 4,523 troops in the battle that once more saw the near total destruction of the town to defeat the defenders.

Lodamese Troops have also had success in the North, and have advanced to the Norwalk-Madison border as well, ending their drive with a major battle at the coastal town of Saultello.  The heavy armor and artillery also received an assist from Lodamese Air, and a combined Kalistani/Lodamese Naval Bombardment that forced the strongly defended town to surrender on May 2nd.  The assault on Saultello was accomplished with moderate casualties on both sides, but more importantly, more than 6,500 Likatonian fighters are now in the custody of the Lodamese.  Like the Southern Army, The Northern Army has halted its advance for regroupment and analysis.

Some of the reason for the halt may be a behind the scenes negotiation between Lodamese and Likatonian Governments, but at the moment, any rumors of cease fire talks are strictly unconfirmed.  Lodamun has full operational control over the invasion, and will be responsible for any discussions on peace that will be made.  The Kalistani diplomatic apparatus has opted to not participate because their mission in Likatonia, besides supporting Lodamun, is to both kill Kundrati soldiers in Seleya and to pay Likatonia back for their chemical attacks in Kalistan last summer.  Kalistani commanders have stated that their mission objectives in these two arenas are complete, and so Kalistani soldiers will now work specifically to support any remaining Lodamese objectives in the war.

"We have no desire to leave anything in these cities standing," said Colonel Doris Yellen, who commands an infantry battalion in the Southern Army.  "We may have to spare Edisville, unfortunately, because without arty and tanks, going in there would be a meat grinder, but Delores and St. Jackson won't be habitable for a long time."  Colonel Yellen acknowledged significant damage to both civilian infrastructure as well as deliberate depopulation tactics in both cities.  "Our task was to make those towns uninhabitable for a significant length of time.  If we could have depopulated the entire state of Norwalk, we would have.  Unfortunately, there was a lot of places in this territory that we couldn't quite get to."  Details included large scale public executions of any civilians thought to be working with either the Likatonian or Kundrati forces in St. Jackson or Delores, systematic burning and demolition of civilian buildings like homes, schools, churches, grocery stores, government buildings, economic establishments and property, and hospitals, as well as fouling the water supply for both towns and burning surrounding forests to deny the enemy the opportunity to hide nearby, and forcing civilians to relocate west into other parts of Likatonia.

"What do you want us to do?" asked Colonel Yellen, rhetorically.  "In Delores, where the remnant of the Kundrati Partisan Militia was holed up, you had guys running at our forces with live grenades and C4, civilians driving explosive vehicles, people sniping at us from their kids' bedroom windows and from preschools.  We lose good Kalistani and Lodamese Soldiers trying to pussyfoot around and be sensitive to the fact that many of these areas are civilian areas, when the people who live there are shooting at us.  When every window is cover and concealment for a totally hostile and utterly mindless population of drones, the only way to handle that situation is to burn the buildings down around them.  In that situation we're going to burn those cities to the ground every single time, so the enemy can't use them any more.  For anything."

Much of the officially sanctioned actions taken in the cities of St. Jackson, Delores and North Bend could be considered "warcrimes" under international law.  The Colonel herself admitted that.  "  But what's a war crime, really?  If burning a church a war crime?  Is gassing a capital city a war crime?  I suppose it depends on what side of the white phosphorus you are on, doesn't it?  It's better that we fully pacify these areas, for a long time, than to just hand them back to people who still hate Kalistan, and are just waiting for the opportunity to shoot chemical weapons at our cities while we sleep.  We know they have them.  The stocks of chemical weapons that we uncovered in Delores show that the rest of the country is probably completely armed to the teeth with these things, and they have already demonstrated a desire and a capability to use them against us.  So:  try us all if you like.  Point at us and tell us how immoral it is to burn a church where a Kundrati Militia is sniping at our church from the bell tower.  That's totally fine with me, and pretty much every Kalistani Regular I am serving with out here right now.  I'd rather take my chances in front of a jury of my peers than allow Likatonia to ever launch another attack from anywhere in this region ever again."

When asked if the actions of the Kalistanis in Likatonia would hurt the potential for peace, the Colonel echoed a very common sentiment that we heard across the entire front line:  "What potential for Peace?  Likatonia doesn't want peace-  They never have.  The only thing this country understands is violence and slavery, and the only thing that keeps them from attacking us right now is the fact that we are currently in defensive positions and out number them four or five to one, and it would be a complete slaughter.  Let's see if the Lodamese can get a cease fire.  It won't come from us."

So far the number of Kalistani casualties in campaign is over 17,000 in the three major battles that I Corps has fought in, and another 1000-2000 in the Northern Campaign, while Lodamese casualties are over 10,000.  The Kundratis have lost an estimated 28,600 in several battles, including a number of executed prisoners and suicide troops who ended up blowing themselves up while running into Kalistani formations in Delores, and more than 7,800 Likatonians dead and another 9,000 in custody of the Lodamese Military.

When asked how many prisoners Kalistani's have in custody, the Colonel said, without a pause, "Zero."

@WarDispatches

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4th Fleet Begins Reconstruction
Last 1st Fleet replacement rolls off Lines
Port Davon, Grand Duchy of Ananto
May 17th, 5613


The Ontiveros Class Frigate in June of 5612, destined to be designated KRS-196 in 1st Fleet

The naval shipyards in Kaliburg and the shipyards at Puerto Gaduri have been working overtime to replace the ships lost during the Artanian Sea Campaign.  The first phase of refitting and reconstruction is now completed, nearly two years after the series of battles which led to the complete decimation of the Kalistani IV Fleet and the loss of components of the 1st Fleet.  The last ship, the KRS-196 was launched last week and will soon take its place among the 1st fleet in the eastern Mad Dog ocean, bringing the Fleet back to its pre-war strength.

The revitalization of the 1st Fleet completed, Naval procurement officers have now set about to rebuild the 4th Fleet.  "We will be building it from scratch, unfortunately," said procurement officer Commander Maria Buenasuerte.  "And it will take us quite some time.  The Puerto Gaduri facility and the Kaliburg National Shipyards have already begun working on the submarine components for the fleet, but it will still take a long time to put together the surface portion of the ship yard, which are also remarkably expensive."  As the submarines are completed, they will slowly make their way to the 1st Fleet, to whom they will be attached until the fleet is reorganized.  "At our current capacity, we can produce four submarines  in Kaliburg and seven submarines in Gaduridos every 14 months, which will allow us to complete the submarine component of the fleet in under 4 years.  At this point, the Gaduridos facility can switch to production of cruisers and corvettes, while Kaliburg will focus on destroyers and Cruisers.  It will take over two years to rebuild the destroyer complement and another 18-20 months to build the corvettes.  The schedule for complete recommissioning is just under nine years."

Meanwhile, Commander Buenasuerte said, crews will be trained for the ships.  "When we originally commissioned the 4th Fleet, it involved selection of veterans to command the new ships.  I believe this is what the regular navy intends to do this time around as well.  Over the last year, we have seen decent recruitment numbers as people legitimately want to take the fight back to Kundrati, but given Artanian refusal to join the battle, and Kalistan's reluctance to ever go in alone again, it is unlikely that anyone now joining the Navy will see combat anytime during the first, or second, enlistment.  Or probably third.  But the procurement still needs to go forward regardless, because Kalistan has switched back to defensive naval doctrine following its defeat in the Artanian conflict, and the 4th Fleet is key to that doctrine."

Many of the new recruits have been assigned to shadow duties in the remaining three fleets.  "I think our sailors know what is at stake here," said the Commander.  "Kalistan requires a robust and active defense, and assignment to the 4th Fleet has long been considered a veteran assignment, due to the possibility to interaction with the navies of other nations.  The individuals who are being trained now in the First, Second and Third Fleets, some of them will do one tour and then leave the Service, but overall, when the Fourth Fleet is finally ready, we will have the manpower to staff those ships, even if we cannibalize the other fleets to achieve those levels."

The cost of rebuilding the 4th Fleet alone is expected to be more than ₭100 Billion.  "This will put a dent in the national reserves, which have been running in the tens of billions of Imperials in surplus every year for decades.  But the Navy was able to acquire the funds without the Government needing to impose additional costs on the Kalistani people, and the construction is helped by the swelling of the ranks of the NSP with the so-called 'weekenders' who donate time and sweat equity in response to the Emperor's call last year.  Its remarkable that the rebuilding of the 4th Fleet has been viewed as a source of National Pride, and a symbol of Kalistani resilience.  We therefore owe it to the people who return to the NSP on the weekends to help us to get started immediately, now that the 1st fleet is completed."

As the last Ontiveros was launched in Kaliburg, hundreds of citizens who helped build the ship over time turned out to the National Shipyard to watch their ship set sail.  A huge cheer arose as the Captain of the KRS-196 and crew turned out on Deck to salute the workers of the Shipyard and the NSPers who lent a hand in the construction of the vessel.  It roared out of the Harbor and turned Northwest to take its place on the line with the remainder of the 1st Fleet.  Both His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Fredrick III Ananto, and a noticeably pregnant Empress Consort Monica Ananto-DeLaurentis, along with the Minor Princess Mary Ananto-DeLaurentis were present as well, as both The Emperor and Empress-Consort spent several weekends over the winter working on this particular ship along with other volunteers.

@TheRepublic

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Incoming Trade and Culture Ministers dispatched to Xsampa
"Things are different now," said Cultural Minister
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
October 2, 5613


Ministers O'Connell and Brandeis fly to Xsampa to formalize agreements

In the summer of 5612, as the country was busy working away on volunteer service projects across the Empire, delegates from Xsampa quietly visited Kaliburg.  His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Fredrick III Ananto held a formal audience with the envoys and Chancellor of the Empire, Dame Diane Bolton, where they discussed improving relations.  Following their brief stay in the Empire, the Xsampans travelled on to Artania.  But a more permanent mission from the nominally communist Xsampan Democratic Republic arrived in Kaliburg in October of 5612, and began working with their Kalistani counterparts on a comprehensive set of bilateral agreements meant to bring the new nations closer.

This week, His Imperial Majesty's Minister for Trade Catherine O'Connell and Minister for Culture Duane Brandeis both flew to the Xsampan capital in Metz-Leonid with the finalized work between the two teams.  The bilateral agreements commit both nations to increasing trade cultural exchange.  There is still a sizeable Xsampan diaspora in Kalistan, as several hundred families who arrived in Kalistan after the nuclear explosion in Metz Leonid and the subsequent attacks by Kundrati against the nation have yet to return, and the more than one hundred and fifty more families have announced their intention to remain permanently in Kalistan.  "Increasing cultural exchange between our two countries makes more sense with each passing day," said Incoming Culture Minister Brandeis.  "Xsampan culture is being added to the mosaic of Kalistani Culture, and there are many thousands in our nation who would like to know more about our new neighbors, and share with thier relatives in their old homes the kinds of things we do in Kalistan.  It is a fantastic opportunity to learn more about a part of the world that we know very little about."

The Trade Agreements will increase trade between Xsampa and Kalistan through Lourenne, which is one of Xsampa's major trading partners.  "There are a number of raw materials and finished consumer goods which we can begin purchasing through Xsampa that can work to replace a lot of the goods we had been purchasing from Artania and Majatra, which are now gone because of the ongoing war," said Incoming Trade Minister O'Connell.  "Kalistani consumers are always open to new goods imported from other places.  We don't suffer from brand loyalty the way they do in capitalist countries.  Kalistanis look for quality in the market:  they tend to like things that aren't cheaply built.  If Xsampa can provide those sorts of things, there is no doubt that Imperial Rubles would start flowing that way, rather than to nations that hate us and want to kill us in Artania."  The Trade Minister also noted that Xsampa still retains more than ₭100 billion Imperial Rubles in credit with the Empire which, as part of the agreement, they can freely convert into consumer goods credits if they don't need it for additional reconstruction aid.

The Cultural exchanges will be a bit different.  "We certainly want to make sure our new Xsampan Neighbors feel welcomed here and integrate into Kalistani society," said Minister Brandeis.  "We want to make it easy for families and friends of the members of the Diaspora to visit Kalistan, and for the diaspora to travel back and forth.  As a result, KaliAir has said that they will be opening two round trip flights a week to Metz-Leonid.  Additionally, we have worked out exchange student and sister city programs between our two nations that will facilitate mutual exposure to one another's culture.  And this is just the foundation of a deeper relationship between our two nations.  The Xsampans said they wish to begin exploring a green economy, and we said, in no uncertain terms that Kalistan stands willing to help to make our world a better place to live."

The agreements will go into effect as soon as they are countersigned by the Xsampan Government.  "The Emperor has said that a state visit to Xsampa is possible in the near future," said Minister O'Connell.  "This would be a significant step toward much warmer relations between Xsampa and Kalistan, despite the ideological differences between the two nations.  In proposing a visit, His Imperial Majesty continues his mother's policy of expanding Kalistan's relationships in new and unexpected places to make up for lost allies of the past.  The move is welcomed in Kalistani governing circles and the proposal is popular among His Imperial Majesty's Government."

In other, unrelated news, on September 26, Her Highness, Empress-Consort Monica Ananto-DeLaurentis gave birth to her second Child.  The growing Royal Family welcomed Her Highness, the Minor Princess Margaret-Carolina Nicolette Ananto-DeLaurentis.  She joins her older sister, Her Highness the Minor Princess Mary-Elizabeth Natalia Ananto-DeLaurentis, now 3 year old at Wilson House.  The Empress-Consort said she worked through much of her pregnancy on volunteer service projects, and that labor was much easier the second time around.

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