Kalistan

[GreekIdiot]

Beiteynu
Amshinov Technology Institute welcomes Kalistani rocket engineers on 2-year joint study and research program
August 5563
https://forum.prtcy.com/thread-3-post-1323.html#pid1323

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New Dawn Liquid Fuel Rocket produces 4.5 tons of thrust



ISCA builds first protoype Liquid fuel Rocket engine
"New Dawn" Engine uses alcohol/LOX fuel mixture to produce thrust
Spencer Space and Test Center, Duchy of Suldanor
January 31, 5564

The Imperial Space and Communications Agency (ISCA) has announced the first successful tests of a liquid fuel rocket engine capable of producing 9000 pounds of thrust.  "This engine is the largest rocket engine produced to date in the Empire," said Propulsions Division lead Dr. Pierre Chang.  "This engine is quite a bit larger than anything else we have produced anywhere in the Empire, and utilizes some of the initial designs returned from Beiteynu, combined with technology we already possessed for rocket artillery.  The engine uses a combination of fuel alcohol and liquid oxygen injected into a combustion chamber and then ignited.  The hot gas escapes out the nozzle to produce the thrust."

The prototype engine is not strong enough yet to lift a rocket capable of reaching even the edge of space.  "But this successful test is a significant step forward," said Dr. Chang.  "We have successfully demonstrated the correct fuel to oxygen mixture to prevent spontaneous combustion of the fuel tank, and have developed a successful vacuum insulation to create a cryogenic tank to keep the Oxygen in liquid form.  This takes us several steps toward the fabrication of our first actual rockets."

Liquid fuel rockets have significant advantages over solid fuel rockets.  "Though liquid fuel rockets won't provide as great a thrust as the solid fuel counterparts, one of the best advantages of them are that we can start and stop a liquid fuel rocket," said Dr. Chang.  "Once you ignite solid rocket fuel it goes until it burns itself out.  But the you can shut off a liquid rocket with the flip of a switch.  This will not only allow us to address matters if things don't go as planned, but it will also allow us to reuse rocket bodies.  You can also throttle thrust in a liquid fuel rocket to help lift heavier payloads.  They do require additional systems but, this tradeoff doesn't offset the advantages provided by the liquid fuel design."

The first prototype burned on Spencer Space and Test Center for about 10 seconds and produced the equivalent of 9,043 pounds of thrust.  "This is about half of what we will need to produce a rocket capable of making it to the very edges of space," said Dr. Chang.  "Obviously more testing is needed, but after a series of failures over the past few months, it is nice to finally get a win."  Chang says that new variations on this design will be augmented by additional practical information and schematics supplied by Kalistani scientists who are currently studying in Beiteynu.  "At our current rate, we are still several years away from a working prototype rocket.  But today we are closer than we were yesterday."

Below is a video of the test firing of the rocket engine prototype called New Dawn. this week on Spencer Space and Test Center.

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ8lm6LtN8I]

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Resupply vessel brings out fresh produce to Kaliburg-C Class KRS 814 in Mad Dog Ocean



4th Navy finds a home in Newport Lodamun
Port overlooking Mad Dog significantly extends Kalistan's area of operations
Newport, Berkwaki, Lodamun
May 12, 5564

Kalistan has concluded a new base leasing agreement with Lodamun to allow Kalistan to extend its naval operations theater across the entire Mad Dog Ocean and up to the Artanian Sea.  The deal, signed between the Government of Kalistan and the Government of Lodamun permits refitting and resupply from the Coast Guard Station at Newport in the western State of Berkwaki near the Likatonian frontier.

"The operational range permitted by the basing agreement provides Kalistan the opportunity to conduct regular patrols in the Mad Dog from the Karzon Strait to the outer limits of the Artanian Sea north of Keymon," said Regular Navy spokesperson Lt. Commander Maggie Kinnear.  "This will give Kalistan unprecedented surface, air and subsurface early warning capabilities that will allow us to detect, identify and track military transit from the South Ocean region as well as from Artania and Macon.  It will also dramatically enhance our defense in depth strategy that will protect Kalistan at the choke point of the Anantonese and increase our opportunities to cooperate with Lodamun, who themselves also take continental security very seriously."

The details of the deal include a direct transfer of ₭200 million annually to Lodamun for leasing costs and other matters.  "We'd also like to pursue a more formal arrangement around sharing intelligence and surveillance data with Lodamun.  We are attentive to their pursuit of OTH radar systems and what the Government of Kalistan envisions is a network of eyes and ears on all parts of the Mad Dog, so that nothing will move through that area without Kalistan and Lodamun knowing about it.  This includes Kalistan's radar sites on Ananto and in Likatonia, as well as target tracking missions in the Mad Dog conducted by the 4th Fleet, and the additions that Lodamun will hopefully contribute from their own radar and sonar assets.  We would ideally like to begin flying AWACS from an airstrip in Lodamun over the western Mad Dog, and regularly patrolling the Green Waters north of Seleya with our NH-20 helicopters." 

LtCmdr O'Donnell said Kalistan will inquire about the purchase of 3 of its Portswood-Class Amphibious Landing Platform ships to augment the 4th Fleet.  "Currently, there are no more than 5 NH-20 helicopters attached to the 4th Fleet, stationed on frigates and destroyers.  Adding several landing platform ships will greatly enhance the 4th Fleet's ability to counter submarine threats coming through the Mad Dog.  With procurement completed, and the 4th Fleet assembled, but without adjustment to the Defense Budget, we now have some additional funding secured to procure those landing platforms, if possible.  If Lodamun won't be able to either sell us three or build us three, we will begin to search for an equivalent on the open market."

The 4th Fleet is currently in the process of locating its HQ unit to Newport.  The Kalistani section will consist of permanent BEQ and BOQ for about 650 enlisted and officers, as well as a training barracks that will house 4th fleet sailors while in port.  Kalistan is renovating four barracks buildings to permit two-three enlisted BEQ rooms and two-officer BOQ rooms.  Duty to the 4th Fleet will be considered a hardship tour, and spouses will not be permitted to join members of the 4th Fleet.  Kalistan has also requisitioned space to serve as a PX, as well as other services such as a barbershop, a Mess Hall, a HQ office building, a supply warehouse and fuel depot, a BAS, and both E- and O-Clubs.  The Kalistani section will be fully within the Newport facility, and all transit in and out of port and into maintenance docks will be monitored and controlled by Lodamese Naval Authority.  Members of the 4th Fleet will be governed by Lodamese law while on base, however a SOFA will likely be signed to give Kalistani servicemembers legal rights to travel off base into town.  The use of the Newport facility will likely have a positive economic affect on the town and the State through increased demand for services.

"Lodamun is the ideal location for the 4th Fleet's HQ," said LtCmdr O'Donnell.  "If we had got basing in some other nation, we would likely not be connected to Seleyan infrastructure, meaning we wouldn't have as easy a time shipping things from Kalistan to the base, or just outright buying those things the fleet needs locally.  Plus there are a lot of follow on benefits to this arrangement which to be completely honest, we wouldn't feel comfortable offering to another country bordering the Mad Dog.  Especially any in Artania.  Lodamun was enthusiastic about the potential of working with Kalistan, and if we can support their tactical and strategic mission in the region as well as carry out our own, that is a win for everyone in this part of the world."

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Her Highness Crown Princess Carolina joins the NSP- Ananto Brigade in Eveari



Her Highness, Crown Princess Carolina Ananto-Hulanevek joins NSP
Majority brings new responsibilities for enthusiastic Princess
Eveari, Grand Duchy of Ananto
June 25, 5564

Her Highness, Crown Princess Carolina Ananto-Hulanevek has joined the National Service Program in Ananto.  She has been assigned to the Ananto Brigade of the NSP, where she will work on a bridge crew, and will eventually become a civil engineer for the Service.  Her service will be 4 years.  The Crown Princess, currently a Conscript Second Class is progressing through her basic training and is in the second month of her field training, where she learns basic safety, crew operations, power tools, and is introduced to a variety of different jobs in the field.  Conscripts in basic training live in quanset huts, which house whole platoons of conscripts, along with their respective Commissioners, or Conscripts who have chosen to re-enlist and make National Service their career.

"This is the first time I have actually lived with so many different people," said Crown Princess Carolina.  "It is a real experience.  My best friend in our squad is from High Bong.  The way she talks about that place, it sounds like magic.  When we get leave, I will ask my mother if I can take a trip there with her to see her home."  When the future sovereign finishes recruit training, she will go to her specialty school where she will learn more advanced topics related specifically to her eventual job.

"It's all very exciting," said the Crown Princess.  "I'm tired from work every single day.  But this is teaching me so much about being independent and disciplined and also about the importance of my team.  We have about a half hour each evening for individual time, and we can attend Meeting on Sunday by ourselves if we want to, but other than that, we are always with the Platoon, marching, standing inspection, doing PT.  Its very similar training that the Regular Force goes through, except we don't carry rifles-- We carry shovels.  There's lots of physical labor involved in recruit training, but I get it:  its so that no matter where we came from in the Empire, whether you are a worker's daughter, or like me, the daughter of the Empress, you get to learn what it feels like to do work, and then do more of it, and then more of it.  Until you appreciate those who have to do it all day every day."

The recruit conscripts often work alongside active duty crews while in training.  "We will go out to work with the Active Duty Crews maybe 2 days a week," said Crown Princess Carolina.  "And they work right along side us:  When they take a break, we take a break.  When they get back to work, so do we.  Our Commissioners are there making sure we are putting in 'max effort'  and we try to give it our best, because there are often other platoons there too, and if we have to clear a ditch on one side of a road while they are on the other side of the road, we are often in a contest to see who can get the work done the fastest and the best.  The Commissioners keep track of that, and at the end of the training cycle, they always pick one platoon who is the best, etc.  Its very prestigious to win I'm told.  We're going to try to win it, but there are a lot of platoons out here that seem to know what they are doing."

Her Highness will remain in the field one more week before returning to her platoon's base camp in Bluegrass Valley along the Eveari River.  "Then its all inspections and finals and the last polishing before we will head out to School.  I'll probably been in math and physics class for another 4-6 months before I am assigned to a bridge crew, but they have already informed me that I will be working on a new bridge and road project that will connect Eveari and Bozo River to the new settlements in the Six Sisters region.  I'll be part of building at least two complete bridges before I get out in 5568.  That will be very exciting.  This is the most awesome thing I think I have ever done, and then when I am done I can hold my head high like all other Kalistanis and feel a sense of pride in my Empire and my place in it."  

When asked if she has experienced any difficulty transitioning from her life in Kaliburg to life in the NSP, the young Royal said "I mean, at first it was difficult.  Nobody was really sure how to treat me, because of, you know, who my mother is and everything.  So I was called in to the Senior Commissioner's office one day about 2 weeks in and she said 'Your Highness, I know you joined voluntarily, and I also know you didn't have to.  What I mean to say is, Are you sure that, with our focus on the team and everything, are you sure you feel comfortable in this environment?'  And I told the Senior Commissioner that I have waited to join the NSP since I first heard about it as a little girl, and nobody, not her, not the other recruits, and not even my mom was going to keep me from doing this.  As a person who wasn't born here, this is something I know all Kalistani kids do, and if I was denied the chance to show that I can do it too, Kalistan would never fully accept me.   They have to accept my mom, but I have lived here twice as long as I lived in Kundrati, and I feel it in my soul that this is the right thing to do, as a Kalistani.  There weren't any more conversations after that.  Its been really hard, but I've been in for almost two months, and so I am used to it by now.  I get to do something my dad did, and his mom and her mom and every other Ananto.  I am one of you now."

The Recruits still call the Crown Princess Your Grace, but she insists that her commissioners call her Recruit Conscript like everyone else.  "Recruit Conscript Ananto:  And put some pride on that Name!" said The Crown Princess, mimicking the cadence and inflection of a Commissioner in charge of recruits.  "Recruit Conscript Ananto" continued by saying that she is very proud to be a member of her Platoon, and looks forward to showing her mother how strong and disciplined she has become in the NSP when she takes leave before school.  

Before joining, Her Highness the Crown Princess attained her majority, and was officially named Crown Princess of Ananto and Kalistan by act of the National Assembly, upon orders from Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Pavlina I Ananto.  She was also created Countess of Dulnerstaad, and was formally inducted into the Ancient Order of the Grey Smoke as a Dame Protector of the Crown.  While she is in National Service, she is forbidden to wear any other insignia of her office besides her official rank insignia, which is none.  "I have all these titles already," said Her Highness, "but no power to disagree with an order from my commissioners.  They have earned my trust and my compliance.  That's as it should be."

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Smoke Releases their First LP, "The Luxon Swell" on ARC



The Luxon Swell is released on ARC
Smoke produces a more melodic, radio friendly Noise in Sulari
Sulari, Duchy of Suldanor
July 7, 5564

The Sulari Noise Alternative band Smoke has released the new full length LP The Luxon Swell on ARC. The LP's release happened almost 2 years to the date from their EP Nihilism. "ARC decided that the development deal paid off," said singer George Cacophonous. "They called us back to the studio last November and we've been recording and mixing and writing ever since."

The album's title refers to a large standing wave pattern that creates great surfing during the summer months in southern Ananto. "We did a lot of writing and a lot of surfing in Luxon last summer, and that's pretty much where a lot of these songs came about," said Black Michaelson, the band's bassist and co-song writer. "Sometimes, you know when you start to get that feeling, and you are seeing a lot of the same people you saw when you were using, and they think you have all this money and they start trying to get you to go back to that life, you just gotta kinda go where nobody really knows you. Turns out that was Luxon for us. We decided to dedicate this album to that place: It kept us safe last summer, you know?"

Cacophonous said "Surfing really kind of clears the mind. There is something so healing and peaceful about the waves: You are out there, past the reef on this piece of wood, and the whole ocean is pushing in on you, and you kind of feel the massive force, swelling up below you. On the board you can choose to paddle out, you can try to stay with that swell and when it kind of crests and loops around, you can really push your speed and blast out of the curl, or you can stay in there forever, you can wash out, you can wipe out, you can die on the reef... it's all very real, very peaceful. And you start to think that everything, and I mean, everything is a choice. Do I die today, or do I just let the swell wash over me and wait for the next one?"

The calmer attitude of the band has led the band more away from the raw sound of their EP to a more alternative radio friendly, and interestingly, punk adjacent sound in their 14-track LP. "We have a lot of songs about the various stages of dealing with a broken life, and trying to put it back together," said Michaelson. "Both George and I came from really kind of messed up childhoods. My parents always fought because both my parents were drunks and my home life wasn't really that peaceful. We were working through a lot of that last summer when we were writing this record."

The sound isn't nearly as noisy as their EP either. "No, I thought Noise is really a good way to get a lot of rage out," said Cacophonous. "There's still a lot of really loud guitars on this record, but there is also some really kind of melodic stuff here too. There's a lot of anger, but there is also a lot of forgiveness, and a lot of asking for forgiveness. We really f--ked a lot of people over when we were using all the time. We met a lot of great people, many of whom are gone now. You can hear their ghosts on the record... We sang a lot of songs for and about them."

There were several very personal songs on the record as well. One was about a boy who had terrifying dreams about a beautiful woman who he saw jumping off a bridge. It is later revealed that she was his mother, and his adopted parents had told him his entire life that she was really his aunt. "No, that song was not a true story," said Cacophonous. "Like when I demoed it, [Smoke's drummer] Heavy Dee was all like 'Man, that's rough, man, I had no idea you saw your mom kill herself! I'm sorry, bro,' and I was like 'The f--k you talking about? My mom lives in Dana. You were over there for supper last month!' But I write songs about things I went through as often as I write songs about some idea I had when watching a movie. And if my own drummer don't know which is which, I am doing my job."

There are also a lot of songs on the record that talk about getting clean and trying to stay clean. "Kalistan is a drug user's paradise," said Michaelson. "If I want something, I just have to walk down the street and slap a few rubles on the counter in the ODEN shop and voila. There's no trying to score, there's no need to steal or anything for money to buy a fix... none of that. It's all right there. So a lot of times, people who are kinda in the depths of it, you know they kind of imagine a place where they can go and the place itself is kinda magical and it just heals them. Its a common fantasy: like you can get clean without doing the work. There's lots of songs like that on the record too, that talk about that. Some fantasy land where you just can go and live out the rest of your life happy. Luxon is kinda like that, but just like that swell, its still real here too, and there's a hundred ways to die."

"I think this record is us kind of putting the work in. We are following through on what we promised our manager," said Cacophonous. "We are still straight, no drugs. And they still opened the door for us, welcomed us back, and let us work. It's like that thing: Rewire your brain so you get that dopamine response from things that are good for you instead of all the stuff you were doing that hurt you. Rinse, repeat. ARC has been great to work with, they gave us our wonderful producer, Miki Wold, back and we made a great record. It gets easier every day."

Check out all of The Luxon Swell here, and check out Smoke's first video from the Album, the punk adjacent track "Just another Overdose" right here.

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

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Her Imperial Majesty's Foreign Minister, Dame Jacqueline DuMont announces visit in National Assembly



FM DuMont announces Lourennais State Visit
Goal of visit is to "Restore Cordial Relations between Empires" says Dame DuMont
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
November 13, 5564

Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Pavlina I Ananto's Foreign Minister, Dame Jacqueline DuMont announced that an official state visit by the Canrille Emperor, Maximilien V,, will take place next month.  Emperor Maximilien V, will visit from the United Kingdom of Lourenne, along with High Chancellor Vivaldi-Vandam, Royal Minister Arnault, and Royal Minister De la Bedoyère.

"The Visit by His Majesty the Emperor of Lourenne is intended to restore cordial relations between the Lourennais Government and Her Imperial Majesty," said Foreign Minister DuMont.  "There has been some strain over the years between Kalistan and Lourenne over Lourenne's influence in Gaduridos, but as Kalistan's focus turns west, Her Imperial Majesty is looking for the opportunity to reaffirm a commitment in the Anantonese to the Status Quo, and find new ways to work with our old friends on the other side of the Meridian Strait."  Dame DuMont said Her Imperial Majesty looks forward to the opportunity to restore cordial relations between the two Anantonese Empires.

"Her Imperial Majesty has, through her privy Secretary, released an itinerary for the discussions," said Dame DuMont.  "The visiting Emperor will be granted a formal audience with Her Imperial Majesty at the Imperial Seat in Kaliburg, where the two monarchs will have the opportunity to meet and speak with one another about matters that concern both.  Following the Audience, Her Imperial Majesty will briefly take photos with the Emperor to solemnize the visit.  Then His Majesty, the High Chancellor and the royal ministers will have the opportunity to sit down with Chancellor of the Empire Sir Bertram Ames-Ananto and myself, and we will discuss several items pertaining to Anantonese Security, and Kalistani research."

The Foreign Minister said the most pressing agenda items include the purchase of one or more Thiers-class Platform ships from Lourenne, a renewal of the Kalistani-Lourennais scientific and research partnership that helped develop biopolymers and fuels at the turn of the century, and a bilateral Anantonese Security Partnership.  "The Lourennais Government was particularly supportive of cooperation in the Anantonese, with a mutual recognition of the unique security environment in the Anantonese Ocean and a mutual commitment towards security in the region, especially from Artanians," said Dame DuMont.  "Kalistan is cooperating more frequently with Wrnuke and Lodamun in the Anantonese Ocean, and Lourenne was interested in reaching a similar agreement that will keep them at the table in our region as well.  Kalistan is very interested in continuing our partnership with all nations who have the correct orientation toward the oceans adjacent to Seleya."

It appears that a topic for discussion is the Thiers Class Platform ships.  "Kalistan is interested in acquiring at least three of these vessels to augment the 4th Fleet," said FM DuMont.  "If Lourenne is interested in accepting a contract to build the vessels, Kalistan would jump at the opportunity to acquire them.  With them, we can station ASW assets like rotary wing NH-20s with the surface units of the 4th Fleet to improve our subsurface target acquisition and monitoring mission, further enhancing our ability to locate enemy subs that try to sneak by our active and passive sonar systems.  Acquiring these systems will make the 4th Fleet a truly formidable reconnaissance in force unit and will virtually guarantee eyes and ears on all that moves in the Mad Dog Ocean."  The Foreign Minister noted that the Thiers system is highly proprietary for Lourenne.  "The Empress has signaled that she is willing to trade some modest political concessions in our sphere of influence for access to the systems."  This could include an explicit guarantee of the status quo in the Anantonese Ocean on Kalistan's part.

The Foreign Minister said that the Lourennais Delegation will be offered the Ananto Estate in Eveari, a mere 35 minutes by maglev, as accommodations, and will be provided all travel and recreation services by Kalistan.  "We will also offer to augment their security while in country, and the Lourennais may feel at liberty within Kalistan for as long as they remain in country."  The Foreign Minister also said that a reception for the visiting delegation will be planned for the evening at Wilson House, where the Empress can speak with the Emperor in a less formal setting over tea.  The Foreign Minister has also offered to arrange a visit to Dulnerstaad for the Lourennais visitors, to check in on the Lourennaise Diaspora, and see the cultural contributions it has made over the centuries to the Island.  "We have about 75,000 little Lourennais flags that we will pass out to the people of Dulnerstad who would like to take the opportunity to welcome the Emperor to their town with a parade and a cultural festival," said Dame DuMont.  "Weather and schedule permitting of course."

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Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Pavlina I Ananto meets His Majesty, Emperor Maximilien V



Lourenne State Visit Well received in Kaliburg
Emperor Maximilien and Her Imperial Majesty discuss Anantonese Affairs
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
December 5564

Kalistan was visited by Canrille Royalty this week for an official state visit.  The new Emperor of Canrille, His Majesty Emperor Maximilien V, who has governed for more than 5 years, was welcomed at the Imperial Seat in Kaliburg, where he met with Her Imperial Majesty Empress Pavlina I Ananto for more than two hours.  The official Audience was attended by Chancellor of the Empire, Sir Bertram Ames-Ananto, who served as mediator between the two monarchs, according to Kalistani Imperial Protocol.

The closed door audience was reported to consist of the two monarchs getting to know one another.  The official audience was conducted in Canrillaise, which the Empress speaks fluently.  Once formalities were out of the way, Chancellor Ames reported that the two spoke primarily about Anantonese Oceanic security.  "The Empress and Emperor concluded joint concern about security in the Northern Anantonese.  Kalistan expressed that it mission in the Mad Dog Ocean could be greatly enhanced with the addition of ASW helicopters, and the Emperor, who was open to cooperating with Kalistan, offered three Thiers-Clsss AAS platform craft that would compliment the 4th Fleet.  In exchange, the Empress has offered an acknowledgement of the status quo in the Central Anantonese, a major political concession on the part of the Kalistani Empire, which will ensure that Canrille shall maintain connection with its Southern Seleyan territories unmolested."

Following the Audience, Her Imperial Majesty took a brief photo with His Majesty in the Imperial Seat, and then the Empress excused herself and Sir Bertram Ames-Ananto continued with the Emperor  and several ministers of State, including the High Chancellor Vivaldi-Vandam to discuss additional matters of state along with the Foreign Minister, Dame Jacqueline DuMont.  "During the discussion we talked about continuing the scientific and production partnership between Kalistan and Lourenne that brought us biofuels and bio-polymers," said Sir Ames.  "Kalistan will benefit from more advanced discussions on rocketry and satellite technology.  Lourenne has been more than generous in their willingness to work with Kalistani astrophysicists and rocket engineers."  Ames said that Kalistan and Lourenne also discussed Anantonese Ocean security, and Kalistan said it would schedule multilateral exercises in the Northern Anantonese Ocean that would include Lourenne.  "Wrnuke and Lodamun will also be invited to participate," said Chancellor Ames.

Following the visits, The Emperor and his Ministers were taken on a short sight seeing tour around Kaliburg before repairing the Royal Party to Eveari, where they were lodged in Ananto Estate in Eveari.  The following day, the Lourennais Dignitaries were taken to Dulnerstaad where they met with the Canrillaise diaspora, who have made Kalistan their home since the late 5080s.  "The people of Dulnerstaad were thrilled to meet the Emperor," said Chancellor Ames.  His Majesty Maximilien V was given the opportunity to speak with the Lord Mayor of the Free City, Lord Michele Luc Normandie, who introduced the Emperor to an assembled crowd of 250 of the Diaspora's leading members.  "Dulnerstaad is home to the Kalistani-Lourenne Institute, which advocates for descendants of the original Lourennais refugees, and works to promote Lourennais culture in the broader Kalistani Culture."  The meeting was followed by a parade in the town where people lined the streets waving Lourennais Flags to greet the Emperor and welcome him to Ananto.

After the events in Dulnerstaad, The Emperor reboarded the Maglev and returned to Kalistan, where he was welcomed to an informal tea with Her Imperial Majesty during a reception at Wilson House.  The informal tea allowed the Empress and the Emperor to talk in an informal setting.  The Empress was able to introduce the visiting Monarch to several members of the Kalistani Nobility and higher order of the Gentry.  Grand Duke Mark Ananto was in attendance, along with his wife Duchess Margaret Ananto-Alvarez, and his elderly mother, the Duchess Dowager Carlota Ananto-Orleans, who is related to Emperor Maximilien V.  The Dowager Duchess was married to Grand Duke Mark Ananto's father Duke Victor, who was brother of the Later Emperor Fredrick II Ananto's mother Empress Nicolette II Ananto.  The Empress expressed her regrets that Her Highness, the Crown Princess Carolina Ananto-Hulanevek couldn't be in attendance, but she was just finishing up with her service school and was going to be joining her permanent Service Corps unit soon.

The evening ended with the Emperor and the Lourennais team returning to Eveari, and returning to Lourenne the next day from Kaliburg.  "It was a pleasure to host the Emperor on his visit to Ananto," said Chancellor Ames.  "Her Imperial Majesty was reportedly charmed by the young Emperor, and said she thinks that Kalistan and Lourenne can easily reignite its long standing friendship and partnership, both in science and trade, as well as security in the Northern and Central Anantonese.  Kalistan and Lourenne have a lot of shared interests, and getting the opportunity to meet in Kalistan is an excellent first step toward closer relations with Kalistan's long time friend."  The Emperor and his royal ministers made it safely back to Eroncourt, and the visit was deemed a success.

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"Luthori 1" Rocket was first design using new application of Beiteynese Engine



ISCA attempts to launch first Rocket
"Luthori 1" fails on Launchpad, issue is believed to be engine
Spencer, Duchy of Suldanor
October 1, 5566

ISCA has built, fired, and will now need to replace the first Kalistani rocket in its nascent space program. Dubbed "Luthori 1", scientists at Spencer Space and Test Center in Spencer Suldanor had originally intended the rocket as a test of a new Beiteynese engine technology returned from Beiteynu by scientists studying propulsion and engine design in Majatra.

"As these designs and concepts are being communicated to Kalistan second hand, we're probably going to fail several times before we can get it right," said Dr. Lawrence Winger, of ISCA's Propulsion Design team at Spencer Center. "Watching the tests of the Luthori 1 Rocket were kind of disheartening, but we were able to gain valuable information from the failure that will allow us to take the next step toward actually launching a satellite into Terran orbit."

The Luthori 1 Rocket, which failed to gain any height after ignition was underpowered, said Winger. "We had been working on designs for the engine based on the schematics that we received from our away team, and it seems that the engine design we had chosen didn't appear to have enough thrust to lift the rocket into the sky. By our calculations we needed approximately 19,000 pounds of thrust, and the engine we used was capable of producing that, and yet the engine clearly was out matched by the force of gravity, leading to a spectacular explosion, if nothing else."

Winger worked really hard to fight off the disappointment he felt. "Yes, the Luthori was quite disappointing," said Winger. "There were a lot of issues and unforeseen outcomes, and it just never really lived up to its potential. But this is one of those things: We will learn from Luthori's implosion, and sooner rather than later, we will succeed where Luthori 1 failed. This time around, we see that the engine just didn't have enough juice to get it off the launch pad. So we will do the things we need to do, improve our engine design and sooner or later the Empire will produce a rocket capable of lifting off, entering the upper levels of the atmosphere and descending back to the surface. From there, we start thinking about satellites."

The Luthori 1 cost the ISCA more than ₭18 Million to build. "In addition the the loss of the rocket," said Winger, "Its explosion damaged the test launch facility, so we will have to rebuild that. But this is the cost of innovation, and I anticipate that we will spend millions more before we get a working design, and especially one that is capable of lifting a payload into orbit around Terra. We are still several years away from that goal, I suspect, based on today's test. But Kalistan will build a new rocket and we should have our next test in the Spring. Failure is part of learning, and we will continue to learn until we get it right."

Though Luthori 1 is no more, you can watch the test footage of the catastrophic failure of the first ISCA rocket here.

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4b7KCjh7eo]

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Dame DuMont before the National Convention Hall in Kaliburg



Kalistani FM Dame Jacqueline DuMont declares Northern Seleyan Conference "Moribund"
Cites lack of interest in moving forward, continued external influence in Seleya
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
November 1, 5566

In a brief statement before the National Convention Hall in downtown Kaliburg, where the Northern Seleyan Conference had been taking place, Her Imperial Majesty's Foreign Minister, Dame Jacqueline DuMont declared the Northern Seleyan Confederation Conference to be "moribund" and therefore dissolved.

"We noted a sharp downtick in activity within the last few years," said Dame DuMont, "and have noticed that delegations from other Northern Seleyan Nations have stopped meeting all together, or attending any meetings with Kalistanis, in any fashion.  Therefore Her Imperial Majesty, the Empress has ordered me to close proceedings, dismiss the staff and archive the work.  The Northern Seleyan Confederation Conference is officially ended, with nothing accomplished except the expression of some future cooperation by some of the nations who were present, and Kalistan will return to bilateral diplomacy as a standard MO."

The Foreign Minister expressed her deep disappointment at the failure of the Conference.  "Despite strenuous exclamations in support of more unity, at the end of the conference, we couldn't even get a phone call returned," said the Foreign Minister.  "This is probably more a reflection of internal issues within our partner nations than it is with the idea--there is a strange silence over Northern Seleya, which is an environment quite opposite to what existed when the Conference was called.  Toward the end, there was a lack of any kind of urgency on the part of any nation not named Kalistan for any sort of integration or cooperation, and Her Imperial Majesty the Empress has since met with other of our international partners and will be exploring new avenues for cooperation on a bilateral basis."

As for whether Kalistan had seen the news coming from Dorvik regarding ship building and specifically access to ships that Kalistan had requested from Lodamun, the Foreign Minister noted that the Empress had read the news and is somewhat disappointed.  "It's Lodamun's right to work with whoever they like on whatever they like," said the Foreign Minister.  "Selecting to work with an Artanian nation on a project they had explicitly denied Kalistan the opportunity to participate in is somewhat irritating, and played more than a little role in Kalistan's closing of this conference, but it was not all of the reason, nor even most of the reason."  When asked if Kalistan will continue basing in Lodamun, the Foreign Minister said "You are absolutely right we will.  As long as they keep cashing our checks, we will remain in Newport.  The Logistics port there is very valuable to the 4th Fleet, and this other little thing doesn't negate that fact."

The Foreign Minister noted that follow on discussions with Lourenne, after the visit of the Emperor could possibly yield some fruit.  "We are beginning a conversation about Anantonese Security between the two of us," said Dame DuMont.  When asked if Lodamun is part of that discussion, DuMont said "no.  They have not expressed any desire along those lines yet.  So at the moment, no."

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Dr. Emmet Walters presents his paper on Imperialism in Kalistan during a panel on Imperial Theory



Kalistan Political Theorists gather for National Conference
"Kalistan's Strange Imperialism" is theme of Event
Eshar, Duchy of Odufaray
January 19, 5567

Political theorists from around the Empire gathered at Eshar Duchy University in Eshar this week to present papers, network, and critique each other's research at the annual Conference of the Kalistani State Political Science Association.  The overall topic of the Conference was "Kalistan's Strange Imperialism."  The Kalistani State Political Science Association has recently become the most prestigious political science Association in Kalistan.  KSPSA's conference annually attracts more than 125 scholars to present on numerous panels, hold discussions and encourage professionalization and comradery in the field.

Several of the panels dealt with Kalistan's political development, historically and more recently.  The panels that discussed the Republican history of Kalistan were particularly well attended, and some of the discussion over the proper legacy of the Republic was heated at times.  "To suggest that the Republic was a good thing because it allowed for plurality of viewpoint on the very purpose of the state," said Dr Joanna Caruthers of Vrassa Duchy Univeristy in Vrassa City, "seems to be asking the wrong question.  The Republican Parties would frequently ask about the nature of the state and its relationship to the society, when we are accustomed to thinking of the state in less political, and therefore less contentious terms of being there to do things that the people can't or simply won't do for themselves, but which must be done because, even despite majority votes to the contrary, are still good for the people.  The Republican state was about competition among elites masquerading as populists.  The Imperial State is about cooperation of populists masquerading as the nobility." 

Other panelists talked about the roots of Kalistan's empire in the distant past, also known as Pre-History.  "For us," said Dr Conrad Benton, of Kalistan National in Kaliburg, "our current empire is not very close to the ancient Anantan Empire, due to the fact that there was far more democracy in the ancient empire, for the aristocratic class at least, than there is in Kalistan.  The Institutionalists, and more so the imperious Sovereign, have been very successful in resisting the urge to share power with the mass.  When popular protests broke out, and the Empire crushed them, democratic reforms were not in the offing.  Instead, the Empress used those protests as an excuse to remove the last vestiges of control by the People.  What we have now is a legislature that exists to rubberstamp the dictates of the Empress, and a court system which is rendered inert by the sheer fact of lack of a docket.  Our modern Empress possess power in her every utterance that the ancients could only have dreamed of."

One panel discussed how strange Kalistan's socio economic system is compared with what one would expect under an imperial government.  Dr. Corrine Donaldson of Lucid Duchy University discussed her paper on the legacy of the Socialist Party in Kalistan.  "Kalistan's economy can be very much described as socialism.  The legacy of the Socialist Party is still very powerful in Kalistan's economy.  Which is rather strange, given the absolute amassing of political power at the top of Kalistan's political pyramid.  The Monarchs are the most astute protectors of the concept of workers' power in the economy, and regularly speak up for workers against employers.  You would think that the Anantos would work to strengthen the power of those who are economically closer to them, but instead you consistently see Ananto economic power and policy favoring workers, favoring nationalism, favoring public health, infrastructure, and ownership of the productive segments of the society.  It is clear that the Anantos are enthusiastically carrying on the socio-economic program, and in fact the very essential libertarianism of the old Socialist Party, and trading off general prosperity and socal security for the people's acquiescence in the political realm.  The Anantos are wealthier than anyone else, and yet, they consistently champion redistribution of wealth for everyone else.  It's bizarre, quite frankly."

The Keynote speech, delivered by Dr Henry Hughes of Eshar Duchy, the host institution, was titled "Is Kalistan an Empire?"  In this paper, he discussed the different definitions of imperialism in Terra.  "Very few empires you will find are political empires.  The Jelbic Empire comes to mind.  Of these, Kalistan could be described as a political Empire as well, which is likely why Kalistan finds common ground with Jelbistan."  Other types of empires Dr. Hughes described were economic and military empires.  "I think Kalistan has a pretense, at least in part, of becomming a military empire, with bases that allow some degree of hemispheric, if not global projection.  This is the kind of Empire that several other nations are pursuing, with more or less success.  Canrille fits this description to some degree, though it can be argued that they are more economic, with their LFR regime, than a strictly military one."

Hughes' summary then led to the a discussion of the stability, from an historical perspective, of the different kinds of Empires.  "The Political type is certainly the most difficult type of Empire to accomplish and the hardest to maintain.  Canrille has it to some degree, and Kalistan wants this more than anything, but it relies on the will of the peripheral nations that the Center nation wishes to incorporate."  Military empires are somewhat easy to accomplish.  "We could say that Dorvik seeks forward projection, more than any other goal, and they will, if they haven't already done so, seek to establish bases on the shorelines of several continents.  They will also tie their empire together through arms arrangements, training opportunities, and other sort of security related actions.  And quite frankly, the third ingredient is a measure of ruthless impunity:  At least historically, many military empires have used their extensive military network to simply go where they wanted, and then dared the countries they encountered to do something about it or stand down.  It often has not gone well, and at the very least, escalated tensions unnecessarily."  Economic empires have been easiest to accomplish and have also been the longest lasting form.  "We see this in nations like Luthori, which, despite its relative inertness in terms of policy and irrelevance in foreign affairs, seems to nonetheless have significant dumb, one might say, accidental luck in attracting nations to its commonwealth, though the lion's share of all benefits always go to the Home country at the expenses of the neo-colonies.  Economic empires tie the imperialized nation to the mother country in ways which are both exploitative, and irresistible, so that commonwealth nations, for example, couldn't escape even if they wanted to."

On whether Kalistan would be considered an Empire, in its current state, Dr. Hughes answered in the affirmative.  "Kalistan would be considered a political Empire for a number of important reasons."  Kalistan, according to Dr. Hughes, has historically been considered an economic and cultural hinterland of Ananto.  "Even during the Republican era, when both entities were held, in a de jure sense, to be equal, Kalistan was always the junior partner to Ananto.  The greatest city in the Empire currently is Sulari, which, in terms of economy, size and population, as well as key infrastructure and industry is second to none in all of Kalistan and Ananto, as well as all of Northern Seleya, is still called the Empire's 'Second City', behind Kaliburg, which has been the nation's political, financial and cultural capitol since before the Republican Era.  Everyone knows what Kalistan Proper's political relationship to Ananto is:  Kalistan, all four Duchies, are governed by the Viceroy in the Grand Duke, while the Empress sits in Kaliburg.  Ananto is a paradise that many think of as belonging to and existing for the Empress herself, while Kalistan needs new housing stock.  The Nobility keeps townhomes in Kaliburg, and summer homes in Kalistan.  Internally, Kalistan is very much an empire."

But Hughes also noted that Kalistan has external pretenses to political domination of Seleya.  "The Anantos have claimed for themselves much of the land washed by the Anantonese Ocean," said Dr. Hughes.  "They have revived old titles, so much so that the old-new Kingdoms and Duchies are collectively called the supernational 'Crown Lands'.  Whether anyone else recognizes those claims is ultimately unimportant to the question of whether Kalistan is an Empire.  The claim alone is enough to suggest that Kalistan will take the lands if it ever gets a chance, that the Anantos view those lands, as an article of faith almost as strong as their Brethrenism, to be their's personally, and if they ever actually possess them, they will fight to protect them as viciously as they will fight to defend their Island and its imperial hinterland on the mainland.  Kalistan sees itself as an Empire, it calls itself an Empire, it takes steps to aggrandize its empire.  I would say that Kalistani Imperialists are the world's truest Imperialists, because they are honest about what they are, what they want and what they intend to take if they can."

Dr. Hughes concluded with a discussion on some possible reforms that the Empire could institute to further its imperialistic goals.  "Exporting your economic system is a good way to do so.  Making allies with socialist nations, though politically reprehensible, is a good idea to increase Kalistani influence in the world markets.  Continuing to reach out to other nations to create infrastructure for Kalistan's military in a forward posture will help Kalistan increase her influence both in the countries where it bases its forces and also in the surrounding area.  And for crying out loud Kalistan, it is time for you to begin acting unilaterally, like some of the other imperial powers do, the ones I described above who are empires but put on the pretense that they are just countries with no imperialist pretenses.  Kalistan is an Empire which embraces that label, and with the possible exception of the Jelbic Empire, is really the only nation in Terra that enthusiastically embraces the label.  Act like the Empire you are, instead of an isolationist republic.  It is the way Kalistan will be great and will respected in the world."

Dr. Hughes says that he believes Her Imperial Majesty Empress Pavlina I Ananto understands this, and while she may be blocked in a number of ways, she will continue working to remove those blocks and will leave an even more absolutist state for her daughter when she steps down from the throne.  "Under Empress Pavlina's tutelage, I feel Crown Princess Carolina and whoever she selects as co-sovereign, if she opts for one, will possess a singularity of power unique in Seleya and in Terra.  The world will see the former Gaduri Dynasty as a peaceful one, but the Kundrati Dynasty, as it is already being described under Pavlina could very possibly turn nationalistic and expansionistic very quickly.  The attitudes of the current Empress will most likely be magnified when she begins instructing her daughter, and now that her National Assembly is entirely supine, there is little to stand in her way.  Carolina is a bright light standing next to the Black Empress, but could you imagine Pavlina's will to power in a smiley, happy young woman with supermodel good looks and max charisma?  It seems a terrifyingly appealing prospect for the Anantos."

The conference ended after 5 days, and the scholars returned to their home institutions.  The proceedings of the Conference, along with the text and notes of each of the panelists' papers will be published in the single Annual Journal of the Proceedings of the Conference of the Kalistani State Political Science Association.