A Battle Unseen

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The Cabinet Room at the Imperial Seat
Kaliburg, Monday 9:30ish.

The Chancellor entered the room followed by two close staffers. The rest of the government was already assembled.

"Alright, give me the news," she said as the other ministers took their seats. "I want to be able to fully brief the Emperor by this afternoon."

IBSI Director Mel Blackwell responded, "The capital is in the hands of the Egelians and the fighting has, for the most part fallen silent across the country. The South Coast occupied zone has not had an incident in months, and Regular units continue to maintain the security cordon there. We are expecting a political transition to happen soon, but we are not sure what has become of the Junta in Kizenia."

"How are we doing on ensuring that Kalistan keeps a seat at the table with regard to whatever the final settlement is?" asked the Chancellor.

"Madame Chancellor," answered Foreign Minister Henry Greene, "We are working through diplomatic channels in Altea to ensure that Kalistan's interests are represented in any settlement going forward."

"What are they offering?" asked the Chancellor.

"Well," hesitated the Foreign Minister. "At this point, nothing."

"Nothing, Mr. Greene?" asked the Chancellor.

"Nothing is on the table yet," said the Foreign Minister. "We maintain effective military control of a port within the City of Luncasi, a strip of land along the southern coastline, and about a five mile territory north of both Luncasi and Deltabor. Those two points were grabbed for logistics purposes, to allow us to provide logistical support to Egelion's war effort."

"And what of the Kalistanis living there?" asked the Cultural Minister, Dr. Janet Simmons.

"Yes, they are fine," answered the Foreign Minister. "We arrived early, and maintained those two cities in peace and security throughout the entire war. They live as they did before the war."

"Ok, so what is Egelion offering as part of the settlement?"

"Well," said Minister Greene. "At the moment, nothing. They haven't offered and we haven't asked for anything. We supported our allies in getting rid of an illegitimate junta and to protect Kalistani lives and property. That's what we set out to do. Mission accomplished."

The Ministers looked at one another. "Mission accomplished?" asked the Defense Minister, Col Morris Grant, incredulously. "Billions of Imperial Rubles over several years and we get nothing in return?"

The Foreign Minister looked at his papers, straightened them as if he was thinking of a response and then answered, "At the moment, that's correct. As I said, Egelion hasn't offered anything and we haven't asked for anything. We did what we went there to do, and as soon as legitimate government is restored, we'll leave."

The Ministers paused and then peppered both the Foreign Minister and the Chancellor with questions. Was this always the strategy? Has Egelion doublecrossed us? Why would we have supported a foreign war where we get nothing from it? Why should a country like Trigunia get to annex a third of the country while Kalistan gets nothing from it.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," responded the Foreign Minister. "Listen: I don't know, or particularly care what arrangement that the Kerisians had to divide that country between them. Our goal there, our stated goal there, was to 1) remove the Junta from power, 2) support Egelion, and 3) Protect Kalistani expatriates and their property. We also would have liked to restore the legitimate government to the Country, though judging by Trigunia's greed, that looks less and less likely by the day, but that was not something we really ever had control over. We, however, did accomplish our explicit war aims. This is a win for Kalistan and we can now look to returning troops to Kalistan."

"That's preposterous!" said Colonel Grant. "We have the troops there, we have the supplies. We can and should take the territory we possess." Just then, the Colonel glanced to the door, and immediately stood. Others, following his gaze, also stood as well. As a body they lowered their heads as the Emperor entered the room.

The Chancellor spoke first. "Your Imperial Majesty, to what do we owe the pleasure of your company?"

The Emperor smiled, and moved to his own seat along the wall, and then invited his cabinet to be seated. "Madame Chancellor, We do enjoy listening in on the deliberations of our Government. Your passion and zeal for our policies is commendable. To our Defense Minister, we would answer for our Foreign Minister that Kalistan has no title to the Southern Coast of Kizenia, and much less one which we may pursue with the force of arms. Kizenia was never part of our Crown Lands, nor are they now, nor shall we ever find ourselves in a position to govern a foreign land, belonging to a foreign sovereign, and filled with foreigners. Our Foreign Minister is correct: We have, with the blood of our military and the treasure of our people, accomplished each and every one of our war aims. It is not in our interest to act like a rogue state and annex territory which is clearly not ours by right."

The Ministers looked at each other silently, before the Defense Minister spoke again. "Madame Chancellor, surely His Imperial Majesty has a care and concern for the Kalistani emigres and their property in southern Kizenia. Wouldn't it be better for them if we raised the Anantonese Standard over the territory we have already secured to ensure that our co-nationals can continue to live under a proper regime, governed from Kaliburg, rather than whatever the Kerisians intend to turn that nation into?"

"Colonel Morris," said the Emperor. "We are indeed concerned for our co-Nationals. But we wish to turn the territory back to its rightful government as soon as we are able. We need to be the example that others strive to follow, the standard that others fail to meet, rather than debasing ourselves to act as other nations do. We are certain that our Cousin in Altea will do the correct thing, but as long as order is restored in Kizenia, we have accomplished what we set out to do. Kalistan is, for better or worse, not a lawless nation- We aren't like other nations who get to ignore the laws we set for ourselves when it is convenient, or when we stand to gain from it. Especially when we stand to gain from it. We have asked our Foreign Minister to continue to represent ourselves to the Egelian Crown, to ensure that our interests in southern Kizenia are upheld, but thankfully we have accomplished what we went to accomplish there, we did it with few casualties of our own, and we have determined that it will soon be time for the Kalistani Regular Force to return home to family, and friends, victorious and covered in valour. This is not something our own mother or Grandfather could say for their wars. It is something we desperately want for ourselves."

The Chancellor spoke, "Well, ladies and gentlemen, there you have it. Mr. Greene, your work has been commendable so far and it is clear that His Imperial Majesty intends for you to continue to do it. Colonel, His Imperial Majesty's Government also thanks you and your generals, officers, and NCOs for conducting an honorable war and accomplishing Their Imperial Majesties' goals for the conflict. We played a valuable and important support role here, limited both our engagements and our casualties and accomplished what we set out to do. Nothing more need be done."

"Madame Chancellor," asked the Colonel. "Or I suppose, Minister Greene: How much longer do you anticipate Kalistani regulars will remain in Southern Kizenia?"

The Chancellor shot a glance to Mr. Greene, who looked back at her. "Its unclear at the moment," answered the Foreign Minister. "We will need to speak with Egelion pending the return to legitimate order within the State, but I believe Their Imperial Majesties' goals for the peace is at least a completely demilitarized southern Coast, and perhaps naming both Luncasi and Deltabor free and international cities, where Kalistanis can continue to live without concern for their safety or the safety of their property. It is unclear if that will even be on the table. So we will need to wait until Egelion begins standing up a legitimate civilian government in the country and we open talks with the restored Kizenian Government."

The Cabinet then went on to less contentious affairs, as the Emperor listened in on the discussions.