Kalistan

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Kalistan welcomes last Militia members home
Kalistan's Military Mission to Artania "is finally at an end," says Empress
Port Swedes, Duchy of Vrassa
November 1, 5639


Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Mary I Ananto, with Princess Michelle Ananto-Sandoval and Princess Margaret Ananto-DeLaurentis in Port Swedes

The last elements of Kalistan's Institutional Militia have returned home following the end of the Kundrati War in early 5938. Many of the troops that returned have been convalescing from war injuries in rear hospital facilities in Etxea, Luthori and Lodamun since receiving their injuries in the War of Kundrati Liberation. Troops began returning last summer, but several units stayed behind in Kundrati while their comrades healed and assisted with the Transition authority throughout various parts of the country until they could return to Kalistan as a unit and be demobilized.

Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Mary I Ananto, Princess Margaret Ananto-DeLaurentis, and Princess Michelle Ananto-Sandoval, sister of the late Emperor Fredrick III Ananto were on hand to review the last returning units. She has greeted each returning Unit, and was welcomed to address the forces for this final Homecoming following the Review Parade.

"Kalistan has lost so much life in the quest to rid Kundrati of Fascism. After a generational struggle, that was begun under our Grandmother, it appears that for the people of Kundrati, a new dawn is arising. Kalistan did not ask for anything for our sacrifices, which include your families, your friends and your loved ones, your comrades in arms, and those who came before you. We shed our blood because it was the right thing to do. Those who sat on the sidelines while we assisted in the rooting out and burning of the fascist regime in Kundrati will need to square themselves with the fact that when it came time to step up and answer the call, they did nothing. We on the other hand, who have contributed so much to this cause, we will be able to stand up and hold our heads high, and say, we were there, from start to finish.

Kalistanis saw the fight through: We were first to stand with our kinsmen in Kundrati whether it be through attempting to contribute arms and ammunition to the Battle, or first to place crippling economic sanctions on the fascists, or first to lead the way to clearing the sea so that Etxea could be liberated, or first to return privateers to the Waters around Etxea to ensure that the final invasion of the country could be carried through to the end. We have always stood against fascists, even when we attempted to lift the sanctions in exchange for promises which were not kept--indeed, we did make mistakes, but even that turned into a global coalition of states who contributed or now will contribute to the liberation and reconstruction of Kundrati as a united nation once more that has no room for fascism. The truth shall be known about the evils of the Legion's regime, and that is thanks in no small part, to you, the Citizens of the Empire of Ananto and Kalistan!"

The Empress acknowledged that the struggle was hard, and was riddled with missteps. She acknowledged her own errors in trusting the Legion to keep their word, and said she could understand how the people of Kundrati were duped so easily in the beginning, when the Legion was pretending to be just another political Party, though one with a monstrous and evil agenda, and how, though constant propaganda, the nation stayed brainwashed for almost a hundred years, by the least charismatic individuals that have been in power for the last century. "It happens," she said. "We are human and we make mistakes."

But at some point, there needs to be a full reconning of the role the people who benefitted from the Legion Government played in maintaining that sociopathic system against any efforts or calls for reform.

"The Legion itself was quite small: One does not create a cadre party, as the Legion certainly was, without the willing complicity of millions of citizens who either actively participate in the degradation of their own nation, or passively look the other way as it is happening around them, without standing up and fighting for what is right. The fact that so many people let so much of that happen as they watched is horrifying. If it can happen there, it could happen here, and someone needs to be held accountable for that. Unfortunately, its main authors took the easy way out, the coward's way out. Sladek was a coward. Lazar an even bigger one. But: millions of others are complicit in the nightmare, and like our own war criminals who were held accountable for their discrete actions during the Likatonian War, those who were complicit should be brought to justice and made to account for their actions. Those monsters held that state hostage for nearly a century of misery and punishment. How many of their fellow countrymen did they sacrifice in the process? We may never know, but this is more reason that there should be some accountability."

But Kalistan's role in the affair is over, now that the process of reconstruction is beginning. "We'll let those nations who didn't contribute their blood to the cause contribute their money instead," said Her Imperial Majesty. "Our heroes here have redeemed Kalistan with their blood. And for that unimaginably heavy price, they have bought us peace. For which they have our undying gratitude, our absolute admiration, and our total loyalty." The Empress read the final casualty numbers from the war: 68,325 casualties. 28,935 killed on the battle field (just about 24%) in heavy street to street combat across Southern Kundrati, 36,989 wounded and 2,791 listed as missing in action, though given the Legion's moral character, it is safe to say that many of them were tortured to death, and possibly eaten by Legionary soldiers.

She then declared that all members of the Kalistani Expeditionary Legion, besides being authorized the Foreign Service Medal, which is usually reserved for the Regular Forces, shall be authorized a new Kundrati Campaign ribbon and tax exempt status for the remainder of their lives. "They served our nation. Our Nation will now return the favor. It is the least this Empire can do to honor your sacrifice and your valor." Members of the KEF have also been grandfathered into the military hospital system where they can received specialized physical, emotional and mental health treatment for wounds endured specifically by servicemembers.

The return of the final troops from the Kundrati war finally marks the end of an international conflict that has consumed two full generations of Anantos and continued well into the Reign of the third. Kalistan can finally be said to be at peace for the first time since the early 5580s.

@TheRepublic