Kalistan

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Defense Minister Evaluates Northern Lights Exercise
"We are ready for most threats" says Admiral
Bozo River Combined Arms Training Center, Grand Duchy of Ananto
October 15, 5629


Admiral Henry Reals debriefs Anantonese Naval Chiefs on recent exercises

His Imperial Majesty's Defense Minister debriefed the Command Staff of the four nations participating in the Northern Lights Exercises in August and September.  The Defense Minister gave a sober analysis of the exercises which revealed a lot of strengths in the tactical operations of all four navies, but also offered a number of targets for improvement.  "Most of the exercises were to test our current tactical OPs and find where we excel and where we could use more work," said Admiral Reals, who was promoted following the Exercises to full Admiral.  "In this, we have a lot of really good news, and maybe more bad news than we would like."

Strengths are mostly in the organizational and command and control categories.  "We tested everything from EC interception to logistics for our units in the field," said the Admiral.  "All four navies excel in these areas and received high marks, especially with regard to information security, radar and sonar detection of conventional forces, including air, and supply and reinforcement.  These are a good solid foundation for the modern operations of the regional navies that participated, and points to a high degree of professionalism and organization in our units."  Other strengths the Admiral noted was in deployment procedures and aerial surveillance.

"One particular highlight I want to bring out was that all four navies excel in tactical innovation," said Reals.  "In the military, we pride ourselves on routine, tradition, and procedure.  But when you are fighting in modern warfare, especially against the sort of adversaries we could see in future wars, it is more important that we think, move and fight like irregulars.  The old, predictable, 'by the book' tactical formations belong to another time, and each of us demonstrated, time and again, that we are willing to try to step outside of those models and paradigms and innovate with our tactics to accomplish our missions.  Its not so much that we overcome obstacles, as that we find a way to side step them.  And the thinking man and woman's armed forces are ones we are aimed at.  Not too much thinking, obviously, but we have a good group, especially at our Staff NCO and Field Grade Officer ranks, who show an inclination toward creativity on the battlefield, and that flexibility I think will help us win wars in the future."

The Admiral gave several cases to illustrate this point.  However, not all was praise.  "We are ready for most threat, but not all of them," said the Admiral as he switched gears to cover the areas that need work and attention.  ""I'd say 94% of the time we performed at or exceeding expectations... but its the 6% that keeps me up at night."  The Admiral laid out that submarine detection and neutralization is still difficult.

"We can say to our submariners that you all did a phenomenal job, and this is where a lot of that flexibility comes into play," said Admiral Reals.  "The submariners conducted simulated attacks on all five Kalistani targets , the last one just seconds before a simulated torpedo took out the last sub in the group, so the subs won the war games 5-0.  However, this means that the massive surface fleet we had that would cover the entrances to the Ocean and were actively patrolling throughout the entire ocean almost completely evaded the surface fleet until it was too late."

This points to a need for continued improvements in submarine detection.  "For instance, our Magnetic Anomaly Detections could find a submarine in the Strait, but in some of the Ocean deeps, there was no chance of seeing them a lot of the time.  And the Chemical Detection and Radioactive detection systems we were using were good for tracking movement if the ship happened to be following the ship, but chemical anomalies dissipated too fast for it to be useful for general submarine hunting.  Meanwhile, the subs being tracked have well moved on.  The nuclear submarines that participated were as difficult to locate as the hydrogen cell electric subs that Kalistan operates.  This is good in that nuclear subs offer no advantages, but a challenge in that we aren't even capable of detecting our own subs to the level that our tactical doctrine requires, so foreign subs will be just as difficult unless they are operating on diesel, at which point they light up several of our detection devices."

There was a silver lining, however.  "We have found that we still have the greatest success from simple bottom mounted hydrophone systems that relay sounds to listening stations in Dolgava, Lodamun and Kalistan which grew out of the Karzon Strait sonar buoy network.  Those are capable of detecting movement and noise over very large areas, and submarines, I don't care what their propulsion method is, generate noise as they travel through the water.  A comprehensive network of both hydrophones and passive sonar buoys, coupled with magnetic anomaly detections and backed up with strong satellite and aerial surveillance all combined tended to produce the highest rate of sub detection and more often than not provided success where more experimental methods fail.  This exercise points the way forward to a much more comprehensive network for sub detection in the Anantonese Ocean, to make even the deepest waters inhospitable places for foreign adversaries."

Over all, all participating navies really showed up to the exercises and worked together reliably and consistently.  His Imperial Majesty authorized an Imperial campaign ribbon to all Anantonese Sailors who participated in the exercise, and made it available to the Dolgavan and Egelian Navies as well.  In addition, His Imperial Majesty singled out for Meritorious Mast the crew of KRS-1a156 for their successful evasion of the pursuing fleet and their "launch" of their weapon against Kaliburg, signaling the final defeat of the Surface fleet during the final Wargames.  Admiral Reals said Kalistan looks forward to taking part in more combined fleet exercises in the future.

@TheRepublic

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Kalistani Regular Navy Begins updating Sonar Network
New tactics in integration aim to provide multi platform system
Port Swedes, Duchy of Vrassa
February 12, 5630


Passive sonar buoys are loaded into NH-64 Helo on deck of the KRS 1364 AAS

The Kalistani Regular Navy has begun working to improve the Kalistani Sonar network in the Northern Anantonese following the Northern Lights Exercises this summer.  The mission is to create a multi-platform static subsurface surveillance network that leverages new onshore technology to create a more complete picture of what happens beneath the waves.

"The goal is to create a triangulation on every nautical mile from the Karzon Strait to the coasts of Dovani and Keris," said Regular Navy Spokesperson Lt. Helena Brevard. "With a combination of active and passive sonar, hydrophones, and high resolution imagry from air and satallite assets, we plan to create a full data picture that we can then feed both to in-theater assets and to a new war computing platform that the Ministry of Defense is developing with KMD that uses machine learning and new probability algorithms to enhance our anti-submarine warfighting capabilities."

According to Brevard, the goal is to lock down the access points in the approaches to Ananto and Kalistan. "Kalistan has long practiced defense in depth that leans heavily on the navy," said Lt. Brevard. "Part of that strategic doctrine involves knowing where potential enemies are, and being able to predict where they are going and how soon they get there, even if our sub hunters do not cross our paths. Having immediate information that also allows for forecasting will help us put our own assets where they need to be to intercept incoming targets with greater accuracy before they can pose a threat to Kalistani ports."

The approach, according to Lt. Brevard, is that the Empire will deploy active sonar buoys that will send out a regular electronic ping at specific frequencies. The ping will contain information about the location and depth of each sonar buoy. That ping will be recorded by multiple passive sonar devices that will also be able to note what Brevard referred to as "shadows" in the water. The shadow data will also be compared to echo location from the pings to be able to differentiate between subs and biologicals. Underwater hydrophones will also capture information from faint mechanical sources under the waves.

"All this data will be transmitted electronically to computers on board submarines in the First Fleet, as well as computing centers in Vrassa and Ananto, which will process the data using AI machine learning and probability algorithms to give us a complete picture of what is happening under the surface. As the approach to Kalistan from the Karzon Strait is about 15 hours at cruising speed for most subs, we will have plenty of time to analyze and key in on data that show anomalies under the water. Not only will the targeting centers on land get the data, but they will be able to get it to ships in the fleet quickly, in a sort of naval dispatch process."

The network builds on existing sonar networks that exist in the region. The aim is to address some of the deficiencies noted during the "Northern Lights" naval exercises last summer. The active sonar buoys will take about 6 months to fully deploy, and the passive sonar and hydrophone net will take a bit longer to deploy, given the need to mount the listening devices to the floor of the ocean. "We plan on using submersibles and atmospheric pressure suits to allow naval engineers to work at the depths of the ocean floor, but establishing this permanent network, along with laying the cable for comms from the hydrophones will take a couple years in total." The Navy did not disclose a cost for the program.

@TheRepublic

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Wanderlust releases First Band in Spencr
Sophistipop Quintet Moves closer to Alternative
Sulari, Duchy of Suldanor
Februray 20, 5630


Wanderlust shows off Kalistani Influences on new Album

The Davostag Expat Quintet Wanderlust, who made their mark in Kalistan's recent music scene, have released their third studio album that they have called The First Band in Spencer on ARC-Sulari.  This record shows far more of a lean into alternative, a direction begun on their previous record. 

"Its weird to say that we wanted to try something new by making alternative rock in Kalistan," said Elga Nilsson, Wanderlust's front woman.  "Just different for us.  After we released Exile [in Paradise] we were doing a lot with the local Sulari musicians, going on tour and just really writing.  Their music influenced the sound of this album, certainly."

Most of the instrumentation is standard guitars and drums that one would hear in most Kalistani bands.  There was some orchestral arrangements, but the album showed a clear evolution for the band.  "It's not so much that we have abandoned the sophistipop," said Nilsson.  "But more like it really took a lot of work to get into the studio and record that kind of music, when what we really wanted to do was to record more of a straightforward rock album."

There are a couple sophistipop entries on the record, which maintain some of the lounge feelings of the earlier records.  But they are more like echoes.  "We do not want to be known to do just one style of music:  The first two albums, we are quite proud of them, certainly, but we have also come to enjoy a lot of the more local music scenes we have been exposed to as well."  Many of the tracks adopt lite psychedelic production effects as well, which Nilsson attributed to Peer Markinsson and Thomas Lingholm's "discovery" of psychedelic chemicals.

"I think at least some of that went into our direction with this record.  This is a recent development, but who plays music in Kalistan and completely abstains?  It has definitely given us a new perspective, and I would say Peer and Lindy most of all."  Nilsson added with a giggle, "I don't think we were straight when we did the original video [for the first single "Who Could Ask Me For More"].  The label actually rejected the video, and we had to re-record the video, but since we wasted the whole budget on the first version, we had to more or less record live in M7 Studios during their afternoon call-in show--We had to do two takes and one outfit change to make it look dynamic, but the kids were really tolerant and went along with it.  Then that was the version the label released.  Thank god for M7."

The band once again teamed up with ARC producer Peter Zellig, who produced the first two albums by the band.  "But we also produced much of this record ourselves," said Nilsson who, along with the rest of the band, also received production credits for the record.  "I think Pete has an idea of what he wants to do, but sometimes it is difficult for us to communicate to him what we want to do, and so we had to occasionally push him out of the booth and make these decisions ourselves."  The result is a grittier, more fundamental, and much less poppy than their earlier albums.

"Who knows what the next album will sound like?" asked Nilsson rhetorically.  "We could do thrash:  I know several of the guys would like that, but I cannot say that I can sing that.  Or we could do an electronic record.  I think this is the one I would choose.  What I know is this record is Peer's and it really feels like we went back to basics."

You can check out the entire album The First Band in Spencer produced at ARC Studios in Sulari, right here, and see the album's first single "Who could ask for More" below.

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTLjfV0HMwg]

@KalistaniRawkMonthly

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At home with the Minor Princess Margaret
Her Highness speaks on faith, service, and being the "Second Kid"
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
April 6, 5630


Minor Princess Margret Nicolette Ananto-DeLaurentis at Cliff House

La Moda was given the opportunity to speak with Her Highness, the Minor Princess Margret-Carolina Nicolette Ananto-DeLaurentis at Cliff House in Wilson Hill.  The invitation comes as the Minor Princess, 16, prepares to enter her final year of secondary education.  During the wide ranging interview, the Minor Princess talked about everything from her plans for the future to the central role that faith plays in the life of her family.  Coming away from the interview, we got the impression of a young woman who may just be the freest person on the planet.

(La Moda's) J(aqueline) A(lonso-Martinez):  Thank for speaking with me today, Your Highness.

(Her Highness, the Minor Princess) M(argaret-Carolina Nicolette) A(nanto-DeLaurentis):  Welcome to my home.  This is pretty exciting for me.  Forgive me if I am a bit nervous.

JA:  I believe you will do great.

MA:  We'll see, I suppose.

JA:  How about this view?!  The Wilson Bridge in the background looking out over Kaliburg.  What a phenomenal panorama.

MA:  We are indeed fortunate to have this house.  I've visited the place where my parents used to live on the other side of the point, and I have to say, the views from here are far better.  You get a lot of the City on that side, but the west side of the Hill is certainly less developed.  Before my family purchased the Hill and turned it into a park, only rich people lived over here and there weren't many houses on this side.

JA:  Well, if I am not being too forward, I would say the Ananto Family is pretty wealthy.

MA:  True-- let's just leave it at I feel very fortunate.  My bedroom upstairs has an even more panoramic view.  

JA:  So-- let's talk about you.  Our readers are very interested in getting to know you.  You are obviously a Princess, but you aren't tapped to run the Empire like your older sister is.  Will you talk a little bit about what that's like?

MA:  Well, I'm still working on getting through school.  So, I'd say I'm probably like any other kid.  I have teen drama, of course.  My parents do a pretty good job of trying to keep the two parts of my life separate from one another, so I can live as close to a normal life as someone in my situation can live.  They did that with (Her Highness, the Crown Princess) Mary (Natalia Ananto-DeLaurentis) too when she was a kid, but obviously, now they can't, because she's out of the house doing National Service.  But I have another year or so of it, so it's pretty good I guess.

JA:  What are you studying this year?

MA:  Well, I have calculus this year.  That's kind of scary.  Lots of history, government and philosophy.  Conversational Egelian, Literature...  its a pretty full schedule, I would say.

JA:  Would you say you are fairly studious?

MA:  I mean...  Maybe not?  I like playing sports, really.  I like football, I think they should have a girl's league.  It's not really fair that they make girls do field hockey instead.  I just got to make it through this year, and then I have a few years to think about if I want to go to college or not.

JA:  Your sister felt the same way about college.  She was pretty ambivalent.

MA:  Yeah, Mary's kind of a free spirit.  I think she would rather be out in nature than stuck in school.  I personally would rather be on a football field.

JA:  Luckily for you, you can make choices like that.

MA:  I am lucky like this.  I will likely get the County of Luxon, but other than that, right now, I have no other official expectations of me or my time or anything.  Once I finish National Service I can do anything.  I can become a philosopher if I want.

JA:  Do you enjoy philosophy?

MA:  I do, its the one subject in school that really speaks to me.  Big ideas like what is love and beauty and justice?  They really resonate with me.  I spend a lot of time in Meeting pondering these questions.

JA:  Would you say religion is very important to you?

MA:  Well, not so much religion as faith, perhaps.  You might call it a connection with a higher power or larger purpose or the Light, whatever you want to say.  My mother believes specifically in God.  I've spent a lot of time in Church with her over my life, and there's something in that too.  It's very comforting to her to know that she will go to heaven.  But I think it kind of stresses her to think that maybe Mary and I won't be there with her.  Or my dad.  Because her church teaches, in their religion that you have to believe in Eliyahu to go to heaven.  I don't think I believe in all that:  The way they talk about him, he was a great magician, but I'd say he had as much of the Truth as I do.  My mom puts a lot more stock in that part of her faith, and if that works for her, at least she shouldn't get down on others for believing something different, or not believing fully what she believes.

JA:  Does the differences in beliefs lead to conflict between you and Her Highness, the Empress Consort?

MA:  No, maybe more like there's just things we kind of don't talk about a lot, which is kind of sad in a way.  Mary was a lot worse, I think she's an atheist.  She likes nature.  She's like, a hippy.  They would argue all the time and Mary would say she didn't believe in God at all.  I'm a little more mid way between them two.  It's very important to me that I believe in something.  I am a Brethrenist, after all.  There is something that whispers in my ear to tell me right from wrong and there is something that motivates me to to pick the right.  My mom is full Hosian, and so she told us that thank God I am at least something.  She's convinced my sister is probably going to go to hell and that kind of scares her.  My mother will also attend Meeting with my father and me, but she's always a little bit guarded, like she's not sure.  So we just don't really get into it.

JA:  How would you say your Brethrenism has affected your life?

MA:  I'm not going to say that, you know, Brethrenism is really the only way to believe, or that we are somehow better than others, or we have the answers.  I will say for myself, though it has taught me about the importance of being honest, and it has taught me the importance of human dignity and equality.  I know:  there is this big thing about how my family in particular is this and that, and it is a critique that we are Brethrenists, but at the same time, news papers are publishing photos of the Gem Vault.  But I will say this:  it is a conflict within the family as well.  Each one of the Anantos, unless you married in, were born into this situation.  My dad, my sister, my aunt, even my grandma to some extent, were all born into this family.  And we have a duty to serve to repay the amazing blessings that we have been given by this world.  That is our role in the world.  

I mean, the universe balances things:  To those who much is given, much is expected.  We, and I mean my whole family, have a duty to fulfill the role that our history, our culture, and our society has assigned to us.  And so, far more than the average Kalistani who doesn't own a bunch of houses or a treasure vault, the Brethren have also made it very clear to us, that our family owes a debt we can never repay to the people of Kalistan.  As it balances for us, we find ourselves made the equals of those who owe nothing to their society, because they have nothing.  We try to keep this in mind to stay grounded and especially my family, we try to live as austerely as we can, so we don't incur more debt to the universe and to the society.

JA:  Do you feel any less of a burden being the "second kid"?

MA:  Absolutely I do.  Mary is so amazing.  You know, she is out doing forest replanting in Neveras right now?  She just loves it.  She writes me letters and even names the tress she plants.  She's planted more than 3500 trees so far, just herself.  She totally loves being in nature and being able to look out over a tract of land and know that by the time she is Empress, the tree she plants today will be providing shade and reducing erosion and everything.  But when she comes back, she has to start getting ready for the rest of her life.  She knows what she will be doing for the rest of her life, and it isn't planting trees for a living.  

I, on the other hand, am totally free to do what I want with my life.  I have no idea what I will be doing, but if I want to play football, I can.  If I want to go surfing, I can.  If I want to go to Hutori for a week, I don't have to have a whole office plan every step of my trip, I can go out and explore the world.  She may be the Empress, but I will be far freer than she will be.  Like all things, its a trade off.  She'll have the power, but Mary I think would rather be in the forest, convening with nature.  Instead she'll have to stay in Kaliburg and work all the time.  I, on the other hand, need to convene the County Government once a year and appoint some judges, or go to some banquets for my Dad's smoke thing from time to time, and otherwise, I can dedicate my life to making myself happy.

I may truly be the freest person in the whole world, because the only thing that holds me down is gravity.  I can literally do anything I want, and its because nobody expects me to do anything at all.  So everything I accomplish, or anything I do that helps anyone anywhere, I can do that because I want to do that, and I don't have to do anything I don't want to do at all.  Being the "second kid" is great.  

JA:  Do you feel like you will be living in your sister's shadow though?

MA:  No.  Mary will cast no shadow.  The sun will stay directly over her head 24 hours a day, like a big bright spotlight.  You can't compare anyone, even me, to Her Imperial Majesty, the Empress of Ananto and Kalistan.  We aren't even in the same stadium.  We aren't even playing the same game.  She is, well, she is the world, the entire world.  And I just get to be me.  At the end of the day, I feel like I would never want to trade places.  I would be miserable under that kind of pressure.

JA:  Well, that's pretty definite.

MA:  I've given it a lot of thought in my life.

JA:  I imagine.  I think that about covers it.  Would you like to add any concluding thoughts?

MA:  Just that, a couple years ago, when the Black Bears won the national championship it was such an exciting season.  Last year, Sulari won it, but I am hoping the Black Bears come back this year, Go Black Bears!  Oh and, Wanderlust, I love you guys!

Ja:  Haha, alright.  Thank you for the interview, Your Highness.

MA:  As always, La Moda is welcomed here any time.

@LaModa

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Spotlight on: Port Swedes
Northern Port is Home to Grit-Alternative and the 4th Regular Fleet
Port Swedes, Duchy of Vrassa
April 15, 5630


Port Swedes sits at the Southern most branch of the Jah River Delta in northern Vrassa

Port Swedes is an interesting town.  While most of the Empire boasts major cosmopolitan cities like Kaliburg and Sulari, Port Swedes stands on its own as a dominant working class city.  Most of the people who live and work in Port Swedes hold jobs at the Port Swedes Naval Logistics Center, which is the largest Naval port on the Kalistani Mainland, and is home to the 4th Regular Fleet.  The close second is Port Swedes itself, which acts as a hub between maritime and rail commerce of goods.  Between both of these installations, more than 45% of the town's working age population is employed, with the remainder involved in service work that provides for the workers and their families of the NLS and Port Swedes.  

Throughout the centuries, the town has maintained its character as a solid working class city.  It is not necessarily that the Port Swedes would not like to attract more money to the town, but of all the places in Kalistan that are considered "pleasant" to live in, Port Swedes is consistently at the bottom of the list.  A lot of this is due to the weather:  It is almost always cloudy, and frequently rainy in Port Swedes given the on shore strong ocean currents that sweep storms and precipitation in from the North East.  There is about 165 days in a given year where precipitation is measured, and 2/3rds of the year the sky is overcast.  It can rain at any time of year, though most precipitation comes between October and April, and most of the days of less than overcast skies happen in May through September.  Given the hard scrabble working class character of the town's inhabitants, the weather, and the functional purpose of the town, cost of living is low, but so are home values, and there is little private investment in the city, beyond the commercial services and the installations found there.

But:  That said, the people of Port Swedes are proud of their city, and we also feel it is time to Spotlight Port Swedes.

History
The town of Port Swedes is almost as ancient as Kalistan itself.  In Prehistoric times, the kings of an ancient Federation called "The Vrassan States" which controlled much of modern day Vrassa and parts of Andalay in Lodamun, used the area around Port Swedes as one of their primary commerce depots, primarily with other Northern Seleyan ports, as well as ports in Keris and Artania.  Following Ananatan conquest of the Vrassan States and the consolidation of the Anantan Empire in the early middle ages, Port Swedes remained a vital sea port for the mainland, though it eventually became eclipsed by Eshar in northern Odufaray, especially as trade with Ananto became more important.  From then until right around 4000 CE, Port Swedes served primarily as a local and regional trading port, but mostly served to as a port of entry for Kerisian shipping.

The Port got a major boost as infrastructure improved between Kalistan and Lodamun.  Following the designation of Port Swedes as a distribution point for KALNAPECO and the subsequent building of the Port Swedes Naval Logistics Center, Port Swedes became a major refueling spot for the Kalistani Regular Navy.  As the nation became concerned about maintaining high readiness along the northern Limit of the Ananto Strait, Port Swedes was further elevated to a naval base, and became home initially to the Kalistani Second Navy.  Meanwhile, Port Swedes also had a cultural renaissance of a sort, as Alt-Folk and Grit found not only a home, but major talent in Port Swedes, before much of the scene fell victim to a heroin epidemic, and musical attention began shifting elsewhere.  Since then Port Swedes has continued to focus on its strengths, which deal primarily with Naval refitting and servicing, serving as the main northern Port in Mainland Kalistan for both overland and maritime trade, and acting as the new home of the Kalistani 4th Navy which patrols north of Lodamun.

Climate
Port Swedes isn't what one would call "a vacation destination."  While it does receive a significantly higher amount of precipitation than even Kaliburg or Dulnerstaad, it also has fairly cool temperatures, but never gets cold.  A lot of this is the influence of the Northern Seleyan Cold Current that sweeps down along the east coast of Keris and slams into the Seleyan Continent just north of Port Swedes.  With it comes tons of precipitation.  It can rain every single day in Port Swedes, with the average annual rain being about 56 inches.  The amount of rain that falls in the area tends to make this corner of Vrassa Duchy quite soggy, and is actually responsible for the creation of the Jah River Delta, which is one of the main geographical features of the area.  As the Jah is constantly replenished by both rainfall and snow melt from the higher peaks of Vrassa, its arrival in the Jah Lowlands, which are relatively flat and low, causes it to move and create channel after channel each year.  Port Swedes sits across from the south Arm of that delta on bedrock, which the water rarely affects, thus protecting the port from flooding as well as erosion.  Addisjah, which sits at the head of the delta, also has that same effect, but the rivers themselves are not only very vibrant, but also teeming with life.

The deep estuaries created in the area by centuries of carving of the river into the solid bedrock near Port Swedes, along with the temperate, moderate maritime climate, create great opportunities for fishing, and Kalistan's fishing industry is centered in Port Swedes.  Snow in Port Swedes is rare, as the temperature rarely drops below 50 in the dead of winter.  But it also ensures that the temperature never gets too far above 65 in the Summer.  The record high temperature in Port Swedes was 81 degrees and that record was set 354 years ago.  Most days there is sky cover, and the sky is so very rarely clear that many people will take vacations in Sulari just to see the sun.


Naval Engineers at the Port Swedes Naval Logistics Center inspect the screws of a ship in dry dock

Economy
The Port Swedes economy  is fixated on the Sea.  The Northern Limit of the Ananto Strait starts at Port Swedes.  There are several main industries in Port Swedes, and the largest employers in the town all work with maritime related industries.  The Port Swedes Naval Logistics Center is the largest employer in the town.  It employs roughly 1 in 3 workers to service ships, restock and refuel, and maintain the port facility.  The Coast Guard which is based at the NLC acts as a local auxiliary on the high seas, to help fishermen and women who are in trouble, to ensure that traffic makes it into port without much trouble, and to make sure that the Port stays humming and the life blood of the Northern Economy keeps humming.

The Port Swedes Authority is another large employer, as they employ the Longshoremen and manage port traffic.  Hundreds of tons of shipping comes in and goes out of Port Swedes every day, and all of that requires the employment of thousands of workers to load and unload cargo ships, move cargo to waiting cargo trains for transport inland, and maintain the facilities.  Almost 1 in 5, including all of the town's fishing industry, operates out of Port Swedes.

Other types of services include all of those you will see in most major cities, though these services cater to the men and women who work in the first two areas.  Restaurants, bars, brothels, entertainment, including music clubs, which proliferate in the home of Grit, and grocery stores fairly cover the landscape of the town's commercial center.  ODEN maintains a warehouse here, which is the northern warehouse for the Mainland.  Plus there are roofers, plumbers, HVAC firms, law firms, etc etc.  Essentially, if you can find it in a town larger than 1000 people, it can be found in Port Swedes.  None of the professions here, however, tend to be considered upper class, and nearly everyone in Port Swedes is considered working class.  Consequently, the houses themselves tend to be single story bungalows that house single families, and closer to the port, large apartment building, and multi family dwellings, designed for people who don't spend a lot of time at home when they don't have to.


Grit musicians still play live all over the city, including historic Venues like the Swedeport Ballroom

Culture
In a word, the culture of Port Swedes is gritty.  The word is apropos, given the hard working class lifestyle of most of the residents, the constant rain, and the location on the frontier of Vrassa.  But that culture is also reflected in the town's music.  At one point, Grit was a national genre, but it has since been reduced to holding on more or less in Port Swedes alone.  The song lyrics are definitely not poppy.  The genre is a mixture between the alt-folk of Vrassa, the metal of the Capital, and the punk rock attitude of Suldanor.  There is common cause between the grit scene in Port Swedes and the hip hop scene of Addisjah, as bands that are from these cities frequently open for one another, and often appear on each other's music.

But, just because the Empire has more or less passed this area by musically, that doesn't mean that bands do not take a lot of pride in where they are from and what kind of music they play.  Often, the grit musicians from Port Swedes will call the City "Swedeport" which is considered to be the local name for the town, used primarily by people who are from there, and people will brag about Swedeport, and the authentic music it makes.  But there is also still a problem with drug use in the scene, and one of the reasons the nation moved on is because many of the members of the original grit music movement died from heroin overdose.  But Port Swedes continues to churn out excellent music, and have, for the most part kept their scene insular and independent, rejecting most major label offers to record their music.  And most Grit Clubs unironically have a picture of Alt-Pop Musician Jennifer Stepanov in their club:  Unofficially she is viewed as the patron saint of the uncompromising musician, who died rather than giving her music to some corporation to exploit, and Port Swedes have adopted her as their own, though she was from Ananto.


Marina at Swedepoint, Port Swedes, caters to sailors, pleasure cruises and fishing expeditions

The Naval Logistics Station
Around the year 4000, KALNAPECO decided to expand its operations in Port Swedes and began expanding the ancient and neglected port  to allow for refueling of Kalistan's expanding navy.  This led to the founding of a permanent naval base in Port Swedes several decades later.  The Port Swedes Naval Logistics Center was not originally meant to serve as a home port for a fleet, but merely the equivalent of a gas station.  But as the mission of the Regular Navy increased going into the 5th Millennium, the Regular Fleet got permission to build naval berths and dry dock facilities at the port to facilitate repairs, refitting and eventually basing.  

Now, the NLS is both home to the Kalistani 4th Regular Fleet, which is Kalistan's premier frontline fleet, as well as a spot for visiting fleets.  Daily, logistics ships embark from the Port carrying supplies to the 4th Fleet during exercises and deployment.  Much of this went overland while the 4th Fleet was stationed at New Port Lodamun, but since the end of the war, the Port has a renewed mission to keep the 4th Fleet supplied.  While the fleet is at sea, the Port can host visiting navies as well, one of which recently added to the Port's civic culture.  For several decades, the fleet of the Kingdom of Vanuku was stationed in Port Swedes.  The people of the town got to know the foreign sailors well, and more or less catered to their tastes in an effort to show hospitailty.  They even established an annual tradition which continues to this day:  the running of the Horses, which includes a foot race between the citizens of the town and dozens of horses that otherwise spend their days grazing on ranches in the Jah Lowlands.  Included in the annual celebration is the Parade, which includes a riderless horse that symbolizes the lost Emperor Bunje of Vrnuke.  Though he has been dead for a very long time, the citizens still recount the legend of the Emperor during the parade.

The town also hosts a world marina, which is the one tourist draw, as both residents and visitors can charter a boat to go deep sea fishing in the Ananto Strait.  Interestingly enough, the marina now sits at Swedepoint, where the original, ancient port facilities were located, and ruins of which can still be seen in the deeps on a clear day from inside the marina.  This was converted to a private marina for sail and motor boats when KALNAPECO established the Naval Logistics Center.  The main jetty shares the foundations of the ancient port.

Conclusions
Port Swedes is not the prettiest Kalistani Cities, but it is one of the most vitally important in the entire Empire. It is the main Northern Port of entry for Kerisian shipping as well as overland commerce to and from Lodamun and Western Seleya. It is the home of Kalistani Coffee Culture, and the Alt-Folk subgenre known as Grit. It is a main fishing town, which supplies fresh and frozen fish to much of Northern Kalistan and Ananto. It is a solid stable and vibrant working class city on the northern Point of Kalistan Proper, and as such should be appreciated for the important town it is.

@LaModa

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Princess Mary is in here Element
Crown Princess expounds on importance of Conservation
Gran City, Duchy of Nevaras
September 1, 5630


Her Highness, Crown Princess Mary Natalia Ananto-DeLaurentis in the Nevaran Old Growth Forest

The slopes of Kaistan's mountain ranges are covered by dense, ancient forests, dating since the beginning of Kalistan's Conservation movement more than 1000 years ago.  The National Service Program has spent those centuries carefully tending Kalistan's old growth forests, clearing underbrush, and conducting planned burns that help keep the forests healthy, maintaining wildlife populations, and protecting property in the forests of Kalistan and Ananto.  The goal is to ensure that Kalistan has indefinite access to renewable resources and maintains natural beauty for its citizens to enjoy.

Part of that effort is the unit that Her Highness, Crown Princess Mary Natalia Ananto-DeLaurentis is assigned to as she does her National Service.  The Nevaras Corps have long played a significant role in maintaining the Oldest growth forests in the high plateaus of Nevaras.  Much of the forest along the Baltusian Frontier is thickly forested with giant Redwood trees that are often more than 1000 years old.  And the Crown Princess couldn't be happier in her work.

"It so happens that my interests were in demand at the time I came into the service," said Her Highness, the Crown Princess.  "I picked forestry, land reclamation, and trail maintenance for my preferences, and I was lucky to end up with my first choice.  Now I spend all day every day in the woods, doing forest maintenence, or go to depleted farm land in the Central Valley and plant new trees.  It's very hard work, and I absolutely love it.  I really enjoy the people I serve with too:  they are all very enthusiastic about this work, and it really makes me feel very positive and optimistic."

Her Highness has now completed half of her national service, and said she is considering re-enlisting.  "If I am not needed back in Kaliburg, I might just do a second tour.  I honestly can't imagine being trapped in some classroom in a college in a city somewhere.  It's really not my scene.  But when you wake up early in the morning, crawl out of your bivouac and get that first breath of camphor from these trees, it just activates all the senses.  Who would ever trade this for the city life?"  There is nothing that specifically precludes the Crown Princess from re-enlisting, but eventually, she will need to take classes too.  She will need to leave the forest eventually, to sit on the throne of Ananto and Kalistan.

Her Highness said she intends to take a week of leave in a couple weeks so she can go camping.  "Yes, we spend a lot of time in the field, but we do work all day.  I know how to backpack, I know how to orienteer, I know where the best camping spots in the Nevaran Forest are, and where the water is and where the waterfalls are.  So I am just gonna take a week before it gets too cold out here, and go out and hike and pick a spot and just meditate in nature.  And not do any work at all."

The future Empress of Kalistan had to get back to work with her unit in the Nevaras Corps, but in closing, she put a pitch in for future foresters.  "If you really want an experience where you get away from the hustle and bustle of the modern world, and just get back to nature, put in for work in Nevaras.  It is an experience I will never forget!"

@LaModa

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His Imperial Majesty Emperor Fredrick III Ananto has died
Plane Crash over Odufaray also claims Chancellor of the Empire
Santa Elga, Duchy of Odufaray
November 17, 5630


Her Highness, Empress Consort Monica Ananto-DeLaurentis and Lady Allison Stuart announce deaf of Emperor in Kaliburg

His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Fredrick III Ananto has been determined to have died in a plane crash west of Santa Elga, Duchy of Odufaray.  Also lost in the accident was Chancellor of the Emperor, Sir David Levine, who was travelling with the Emperor, and four members of Sir Levine's staff.  The pilot of the small single engine jet was also killed.  His Imperial Majesty was travelling to Lhasa to review the units of the Northern Regular Army who were beginning a winter training evolution at the Lhasa Mountain Warfare Training Center.

The plane was reported missing three days ago, after passing Santa Elga Tower in Odufaray.  It was flying a normal route and was expected at Lhasa Air Strip on Tuesday Evening.  The review was supposed to have taken place Wednesday through this Friday after which time, the Emperor was to return to the Capital.  But the plane never made it to Lhasa and a search was begun early Wednesday Morning.  Due to an early season winter storm in the mountains, search was slowed for two days until the still smoldering wreckage was discovered yesterday afternoon high in Odufaray Range.  The wreckage was confirmed to the the Emperor's plane, and all aboard were confirmed dead in the crash.

Preliminary cause of the crash was believed to be the weather.  The flight recorder shows that the pilot got turned around and ended up in crashing into a mountainside deep in the wilderness.  The pilot was calling for guidance over the mountains and Santa Elga Airstrip had the plane on its radar.  The tower was trying to talk the pilot out of the mountains, but it lost contact at about the time that the plane is believed to have crashed.  Further investigation is warranted to determine whether the crash was due to instrument failure or pilot error.

Site of the tragic plane crash in the Odufaray Range, just inside of Nevaras

Lady Allison Stuart, Official Interpreter and Spokeswoman for the Emperor made the announcement along with the Empress Consort Monica Ananto-DeLaurentis.  Stuart was not on the flight because she had the flu on Monday and Tuesday and the Office of the Chancellor had volunteered another sign language interpreter for the trip.  "The Royal Family asks for your condolences and to pray for them in this time of grief and loss for His Imperial Majesty, the Chancellor, his Staff, and the pilot's families, and hopes that the people of this nation will respect the privacy of those who have suffered this overwhelming loss."  At one point during the announcement, Lady Stuart broke into tears, and was consoled by the Empress Consort.

The Emperor's remains will be returned to Eveari for the funeral, which will take place next Thursday.  Due to the condition of the Emperor's Body, there will not be a public viewing, but there will be a public memorial service possibly next month.  Sir Levine's wishes are to be cremated, and his wife Sandra Levine will ensure that his wishes are carried out.

Her Highness The Crown Princess Mary Natalia Ananto-DeLaurentis, who is still doing National Service, has formally requested that the Government name Princess Michelle Ananto-Sandoval as Princess Regent until the Crown Princess can complete her National Service.  The National Assembly has agreed to the request and has formally named Princess Michelle Her Highness, Princess Regent Michelle Ananto.  The Crown Princess will attend the funeral, where she will receive the titles to Davon and the Grand Duchy of Ananto, but Acting Chancellor Chris Carlton has agreed with the Crown Princess that she has none of the formal training necessary to take up the Throne, and allowing her to complete her National Service reflects the will of the Crown Princess.  Once her term is completed, she will potentially serve in an apprentice role with the Princess Regent before being formally crowned Empress of Ananto and Kalistan.

Her Highness, the Princess Regent is expected to meet with the Empress Consort and the acting Chancellor of the Empire to make arrangements for transfer of power early next week.  The Princess of the Empire, Carolina Ananto, 84, did not respond to requests for comment, but is said to be in deep grief over the loss of her son.  

@TheRepublic

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Memorial for Late Emperor held at Kaliburg Yearly Meeting House
International Dignitaries join Royal Family in Saying Goodbye
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
January 5, 5631


Princess Monica Ananto-DeLaurentis, Grand Duchess Mary Natalia Ananto-DeLaurentis and Princess Margaret-Carolina Nicolette Ananto-DeLaurentis join the world in grief

A public memorial ceremony was held in Kaliburg at the Yearly Brethrenist Meeting House to memorialize the late Emperor Fredrick III Ananto who was killed in a plane crash in late November.  The late Chancellor of the Empire, Sir David Levine, the four members of his staff and the plane's pilot, all of whom also perished in the crash, were given state memorials last month.  This memorial service, however was delayed to allow foreign dignitaries an opportunity to also attend and say good bye.

The Memorial Ceremony was called to silence by the Clerk of the Kalistani Yearly Meeting, Sister Tamara Carrangus of Kaliburg, who spent a moment going over what visitors not familiar with silent worship of the Brethrenists can expect.  The Meeting then descended into a deep and reverent silence, and guests were invited to speak out of the silence as they were so moved.  The silence lasted for more than 40 minutes, and at several points, the Emperor's widow, Her Highness, the Princess Monica Ananto-DeLaurentis, broke into tears and was comforted by her daughter, Her Highness the Grand Duchess of Ananto and Crown Princess Mary Ananto-DeLaurentis.  

After about 40 minutes, the former Emperor's primary sign language interpreter and spokeswoman Lady Allison Stuart stood up to speak out of the silence.  Speaking in both sign and voice, she said,  "I have had the opportunity over the years to be welcomed and loved by this family on a very personal level.  The Emperor was one of the kindest, gentlest, and warm human beings I have ever known.  He told jokes all the time, he was never cross or depressed.  He was full of light and joy, and he shared that with everyone he ever knew, even when the rest of the world was at its darkest.  It's kind of strange to call this a memorial, because those who knew him will never forget him.  I have been treated by the Empress as a sister and a friend, and it is my hope that our friendship will continue as we remember our mutual friendship for the rest of my life, and I am ever at your service, Lady, as I was at your Husband's, both you and your daughters'."  With tears rolling down her face, the former Empress Consort nodded and said "of course...", and Lady Stuart began weeping as she sat back down.

The Crown Princess stood a few minutes later and with a shaky voice, she said  "I know I should say something dignified about my father as a leader and a person, but I don't know that I have the strength to do that right now.  I want to say thank you to my father, and to my mother, and to everyone here, and thank you all for coming to remember my father.  He was always there for my sister and I, whenever we needed him.  He made sure our childhood was free of care, even as he took on the burdens of his job.  Someday that will be my job.  I only hope I can do it as well as he did, and be as good a person as him.  I miss you, Dad.  Its not fair..."  She then returned to her seat and gave her mother a hug.  Princess Margaret remained silent and wiped her eyes throughout the service:  the grief for the entire family was palpable.

After an hour, the Clerk broke the silence and thanked everyone for attending the memorial, and then invited everyone to a reception to be held two blocks away at the Imperial Seat.  Most of the guests immediately relocated to the Imperial Seat and enjoyed hors d'oeuvres and conversation with old friends.   There, the Royal Family, along with the Emperor's mother, the elderly Princess of the Empire, Lady Carolina Ananto-Hulanevek, and Her Highness, the Princess Regent Michelle Ananto-Sandoval greeted well-wishers from across the Empire and the world. 

Besides the Royals in attendance were Emperor Richard II of Luthori, who also represented Mordusia, who expressed warm greetings to the Grand Duchess and noted that he hoped that the two will speak again when she takes the Throne; Namgyal Wangmo, the Custodian of the Xsampan Democratic Republic, who thanked the Family for their assistance during the reconstruction of the Xsampan capital during the war; King Charless III and Prime Minister Michael Kensington, of the Kingdom of Hutori who expressed their deep condolences to the Royal Family, and spoke with the Crown Princess to assure her of Hutori's continued friendship and affinity; Crown princess Baek Chaewon, the future Sovereign of Baeguk, who expressed a desire for a more formal opening of relations between the two Nations in the near future; and King Romulo I, Queen Nicole, Royal Councillor Mondragon of Egelion and Her Excellency Ambassador to Kalistan Yolanda Montalivet-Tarazón, who expressed deep condolences to the Empress Consort and the Crown Princess, and assured them of Egelion's continued friendship.  All took the opportunity to greet the Matron of the entire Dynasty, The Princess Carolina and the Princess-Regent Michelle Ananto-Sandoval along with the family.

Incidental music was provided gratis by the band Wanderlust, who played mostly chamber pieces of a classical nature, including a lot of classical music from Davostag, Artania and Seleya.  The Grand Duchess Mary and the Minor Princess Margaret both took the opportunity during the break to meet the band and thank them personally for agreeing to play at the memorial, and Her Highness the Grand Duchess asked them if they would be willing to play during the reception for her Coronation in about three years, so they can meet again under happier circumstances.  Elga Nilsson reportedly agreed and thanked the Grand Duchess for inviting the band to help her family celebrate the life and memory of the late Emperor.

The reception lasted about 90 minutes and then the royal family left the Meeting House and took the train to Eveari so they could hold their own private remembrance, while in Kaliburg, departure of the royals was the signal to open the bar, and all were invited to drink a toast to the Emperor and to the health and long life of the Crown Princess, while Wanderlust once again took the stage to play their more familiar music.  They also previewed new material at the reception.

May the Emperor Rest in Peace.  Long Live Her Highness, Grand Duchess Mary-Elizabeth Natalia Ananto-DeLaurentis, our Future Empress Mary I Ananto.

@TheRepublic

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Her Highness, Princess Regent Michelle Ananto-Sandoval Addresses the National Assembly
Names new Chancellor; Promises Caretaker Government
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
February 4th, 5631


Princess-Regent Michelle Ananto-Sandoval Speaks in Kaliburg

In her first major address to the National Assembly, Her Highness the new Princess-Regent Michelle Ananto-Sandoval named a new Chancellor of the Empire, and promised to continue the work of her brother.  Below is the transcript of her address at the National Assembly:

"My Friends and colleagues.  I come before you as the representative of the Grand Duchess of Ananto and future Empress of Ananto and Kalistan.  I neither sought this obligation, nor will I strive to keep it once my service to our Sovereign and my nation has been completed.  As it is now, due to very tragic circumstances, I have been asked to serve the nation once again, and out of respect for the wishes of our future sovereign, who has commanded the National Legislature to place this burden on my shoulders for a little while, I have accepted the role of Regent in Her Stead, and will govern the Nation as I think she would prefer until such day as she sees fit to lift this burden once more from me.

"I do not wish to make any significant changes to the structure or function of the Anantonese System.  My job is simply to keep the ship of state afloat and on the straight and narrow.  As a result, it falls upon me as my first official duty to name a new Chancellor of the Empire to serve the Sovereign as Chief Minister and Councilor.  After consultation with Institutional Party Leaders and Grand Duchess Ananto, I have named Deputy Carlos Alvarez- la Serna, who currently represents the constituency of Lucid to be the next Chancellor of the Empire.  Mr. Alvarez is the first cousin of Grand Duchess Emily Suldanor-Alvarez, the Grand Duchess of Kalistan.  Mr. Alvarez is a public policy specialist who worked as Assistant City Manager of Sulari before entering the National Assembly, and has agreed to serve as Chancellor at the pleasure of the Crown.

"During my tenure, my most important task to to prepare the Grand Duchess to accept the Crown and rule Her Empire.  It is therefore important that this government adopt a conservative approach to all policy, both domestic and foreign.  It is the wish of this Administration to hold onto existing policy, and only make changes following the advise of the Institutional Party Leadership, as well as, to the extent possibly, with the guidance of my mother, Princess of the Empire Carolina Ananto, who has more experience in this job than any other living person.  I will keep council with my mother on matters of state, and will remain in contact with the Grand Duchesses of both Ananto and Kalistan to look for guidance as to the preferences of the legitimate Sovereign."

"Her Highness the Grand Duchess will complete her service in August of 5632.  After that point, she will continue to work with me directly with this Regency to prepare herself for assuming her born birthright as Empress of Ananto and Kalistan.  When she believes herself to be prepared, she will order the National Assembly to Crown her.  Until that time, I will continue to serve as Princess-Regent in Her Stead, and will affirm that I shall govern in good faith and to the best of my ability."

Her Highness, The Princess Regent made some additional comments concerning the placing of House Ananto and Miramar operations under her Chief Financial Officer, Tim Martinez, who will continue to manage both operations in trust.  She also announced that she intends to visit with each of the Dukes and Duchesses of Kalistan in the coming months to discuss the next few years, and see if there are any things that the Ducal Governments need.  She also thanked the representatives of foreign Governments who came to the Memorial Service for her late brother in Kaliburg, and added a word of thanks to the The Gran Prince of the Crown Tommaso of Istalia, who sent a letter of condolence to the family, but regretted that he had been unable to make the trip.

Following Her Highness, The Princess-Regent's speech, the New Chancellor of the Empire Carlos Alvarez addressed the National Assembly to reiterate the Princess's Comments with regard to continuity in policy.

@TheRepublic

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New Chancellor releases report on fatal Plane Crash
Ruled "Accident due to weather"; Pilot absolved of any suspicion
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
April 4, 5631


Chancellor of the Empire, Carlos Alvarez releases report of Crash Investigation

The new Chancellor of the Empire, Carlos Alvarez has released the official final report covering the investigation into what caused the fatal plane crash that killed Emperor Fredrick III Ananto, former Chancellor David Levine, the pilot, and members of the Chancellor's Staff last November.  He made the announcements at the National Assembly this week.

"The investigation into the causes of the plane crash indicate that not only were all instruments functioning correctly, but the pilot was in communication until he crashed with local towers, and was following normal procedures immediately before the crash," said Chancellor Alvarez.  "This fatal accident was ruled to be caused by weather, which obscured vision and interrupted flight control, as well as the terrain which obscured electronic altitude signaling from both the Santa Elga tower and the Lhasa tower which ultimately led to the crash that killed everybody aboard.  This was an unfortunate and tragic accident, but there is no suggestion that, under the circumstances, it could have been avoidable, given all the efforts taken on the part of the pilot and the ground crew to try to get the plan out safely."

The Chancellor said the investigation was able to immediately rule out any suggestion of conspiracy or espionage in the matter.  The Pilot the Chancellor's personal aircraft, in which the group was flying, and had served in that capacity for over a decade.  His loyalty to the Government was beyond reproach, and he had been given the opportunity to fly the Emperor on several occasions in the past all without incident of any kind.  He was also very experienced at his job, and had more than 25 years of flying experience under his belt with the plane lifted off at Eshar.

"There is no indication of any foul play involved," said the Chancellor.  "Nor was there any indication of any intoxication that could have otherwise been a factor.  The ground crew in Santa Elga said they found him to be lucid, completely responsive, and in constant communication with regard to the situation of the flight up until they lost communication at the time of the accident.  Nor did the flight recorder suggest any sort of erratic activities in the air that would indicate intoxication of any kind.  Therefore we have been able to completely rule out pilot error."

The investigation gave a report of a plane that flew into heavy fog over the mountains, along with strong downdrafts.  The light plane, which was designed for only six passengers, was reportedly forced downward at several points during the attempt to fly over the mountains.  "What became clear was that the ground was not visible during the flight, and due to obscuring of the landscape, electronic elevation signaling was not available," said the Chancellor.  "The plane was, however still sending transponder signals, and the pilot had radioed the Santa Elga tower for help in navigating over the mountains and to safety.  Santa Elga reported that the plane had gone off course, and that they should make an attempt to gain altitude and possibly fly out of the fog, but the pilot reported that he could feel the down drafts of the storm pushing his plane down and making it unsafe to attempt to gain altitude.  At this point, the tower lost radio contact with the plane and it was later confirmed that at this point, the plane had hit the side of a mountain, killing everyone on board."  The emergency, between the time when the pilot lost sight of the ground and when the plane crashed lasted just under 10 minutes, said the Chancellor.

Flights have been resumed to Lhasa Airport, and the Duchy of Nevaras has reportedly begun investing money in a signal network that can radio altitude information to planes flying over the mountains in a situation like this.  "The Duchy's goal is to improve safety through the Odufaray Range and other mountains bordering the Duchy," said the Chancellor, and added that a system like this already exists in Vrassa, but likely may become nation wide, especially to benefit small craft like the plane the the former Chancellor's.  "Had that system been in place, they might have been saved," said Chancellor of the Empire Alvarez.  He then took questions from reporters for about a half hour, mostly on the report.

@TheRepublic