Deep-Trade: The Lotumna Maritime State
Not much, even presently, is known about the Lotumna Democratic Maritime State. However, it has been recorded that the entity was established, initially as House Lotumna, in May 1106 and was governed as an incumbent-appointed leadership council. In May 1387, the old government of House Lotumna was overthrown as the Lotumna Democratic Maritime State was established in its place.
The Lotumna Democratic Maritime State, in a quest to continue its ongoing economic agendas, initiated deep-trade transactions with the Independent Commonwealth State of Retun on 24 December 1452, leading to a series of special popular referendums to be held in the Commonwealth in order to form a Deep-Trade Administration and Council to initiate the official Motions. This proved a controversy, as this had been the first act of deep-trade negotiations since the end of the deep-trade arrangement with the Ancondrian State of Doriem in 1372 while there were still lingering fears stemming from the Esurchian Occupation, which occurred over eighty years previously. There was, however, a growing demographic of Retunians supporting future deep-trade arrangements, citing the the potentially good macro-economic benefits and the notion that the situation with the Esurchian State of the past had been a rare occurrence.
The Retunian Commonwealth and Lotumna State hosted an official deep-trade forum between 16 and 28 May, 1453. Plans were put in place for further transactions, but sudden political instability within the Lotumna State caused them to withdraw from the world stage. Over the two years that followed, Lotumna State figures would send occasional communication to the Commonwealth. And eventually, a conference was held between the two nations on 8 October 1454. However, with the turn of political events giving rise to a strong non-interventionist policy enacted by the Lotumnans, the Retunian Commonwealth Deep-Trade Administration, after a lengthy inquiry into the matter, voted, on 12 March 1457, to approve a measure of emancipation, which would end further official deep-trade arrangements with the Lotumna State.
Library of Circlaria: Dr. Eddard Teal
Before the beginning of his tenure as Prime Minister of the Retunian Commonwealth, James Lawrence Kontacet served as the Head Librarian of Library of Circlaria until 24 December 1398. Kontacet, as Head Librarian, would be followed by Timothy Korren, who served until 1405, and Cary Fasem, who served until 1414. During Fasem's tenure, the membership body of Library of Circlaria dismantled a lot of the policies begun by Kontacet, seen as capitalist in nature. They also voted, in 1406, to split the Head Librarian role into three Head Librarian roles, with the Second Head Librarian tenure to begin in 1409 and the Third Head Librarian tenure to begin in 1412.
Kontacet would lose re-election as Commonwealth Prime Minister to Vet Silonk of the Realist Party in 1404. Upon the beginning of Silonk's tenure in 1405, efforts were made to divert increasing amounts of federal funding toward the scriptfire industry. As a result, Library of Circlaria would lose priority federal funding in 1410, and would not begin receiving it again until 1436. Library of Circlaria leadership, as a result, aimed to work more closely with the scriptfire industry, an agenda that had relative success marked most notably by the establishment of the first dymensional plane owned by Library of Circlaria on Planet Nephina in 1419.
Steven Mauter was elected as one of the Head Librarians, beginning his tenure in 1436 and regaining priority federal funding that same year. In September 1439, the membership body voted and approved the official logo of Library of Circlaria. Alongside these successes, Mauter led an effort to carry out a "free advertising" platform agenda. Marshall Corbin, who began his tenure as another of the three Head Librarian roles in 1442, led an effort against this agenda, having it successfully discontinued by the voting membership body in 1443. Mauter, however, succeeded in getting approved in 1444 the International Recruiting Platform, which sought reach out to dymensional plane firms abroad to become chapters of the Library. This Platform drew yet more controversy, as critics claimed that this was a repetition of Kontacet's agenda.
Despite concerns voiced from said opponents, a majority of both members and clients of the Library of Circlaria supported this while a push came from growing numbers to expand upon the agenda. Such a call to expansion was championed by Dr. Eddard Teal, a psychologist from the Province of Ereautea who had a reputation, up to that point, for having a "fair and level-headed personality." Teal was the author of what would become the Banner Agenda, which sought to accelerate the achievements of the International Recruitment Platform. Teal would win the organizational elections for one of the Head Librarian roles on 16 September 1453.
After one year of preparations, the Banner Agenda was officially deployed on 3 March 1455. Surprisingly, this turned out to be a dismal failure due to international anger regarding a paywall that had been established in the process. Teal acted quickly by resolving to remove said paywall for some parts of the Library of Circlaria dymensional plane, a move that would be highly praised and would secure Teal's re-election to his Head Librarian role during the 1462 cycle.
The 1462 Library of Circlaria Head Librarian election cycle drew a great deal of controversy due to Teal being the first Head Librarian since Kontacet's tenure to be re-elected; though it is important to note that there was no written principle, officially, against this occasion at the time.
The Lakema Maritime State
A conventional trade forum was held between the Retunian Commonwealth and the Lakema Democratic Maritime State between 6 and 8 January 1456. Though there were no deep-trade transactions involved, Retunian economic figures speculated that such an arrangement would prove beneficial for both entities and that there would even be a beneficial open-market deep-trade arrangement between the Commonwealth, Lakema State, and Lotumna State.
The 1458 Elections
The agenda of the Library of Circlaria, by the year 1458, drew support from both the RAD Party and Commonwealth Democrats. However, the two parties differed in that the RAD Party upheld the concept of "genuine development," or dymensional plane development generated by member-contributors without external financial incentive; while the Commonwealth Democrats believed that such "genuine development" was best fostered by an already-existing network of trade.
The Independent Commonwealth State of Retun had, up to this point, been in decline as a world power since the end of the Esurchian War. There was, however, growing speculation on whether or not the Retunian Commonwealth had potential to regain said influences. The RAD Party believed that "only luck" would lead to such a thing and that it was more important to focused on keeping domestic markets balanced while retaining the Commonwealth's standing as an equal member to other Circlarian nations. The Commonwealth Democrats, in contrast, aimed to have the Retunian economy invest more in restoring the Commonwealth's previous influences.
Tungsten Ronald ran as a challenger to Prime Minister Kara Mackwell for the Retunian Prime Minister role that year, with Ronald championing the agenda of the Commonwealth Democrats, while Mackwell ran for re-election on behalf of the RAD Party like before. The outcome of the 1458 Election, carried out on 24 September 1458, was very close, with the RAD Party having only a one-seat majority in High Council and fifty-one-percent majority in the House of Representatives. Regardless, the RAD Party still maintained its majorities while Mackwell was re-elected.
1459: The Suljak Federation Uprising
The Suljak Maritime Federation was established in the year 1217, originally having ownership of numerous piers along the East Coast of Vasilca and Furthing; though it is important to note that they did not officially have land jurisdiction. However, the Federation grew quickly; and by the year 1317, their fleet consisted of 187 ships while they owned numerous piers around the entire coastline of the Canticulan West Peninsula nations, numerous piers down the coast of the former Chokian Republic, and numerous piers across the breadth of all of Gyrosak, the Meredythian Isles, and the Rim Isles. In the 1420s, the jurisdiction of Suljak grew even more as they began significant trade with Locin and the South Circlarian Trade Federation.
As stated in a previous entry, the Independent Commonwealth State of Retun joined as a member nation of the South Circlarian Trade Federation in 1435. In the last week of December 1450, the Retunian Commonwealth began conventional trade with the Suljak Maritime Federation. And by 1459, Suljak became a regular trading partner in this sphere of influence.
Since its establishment in 1217, the Suljak Maritime Federation consisted of a Head Council, a Matriarchal Council, a Patriarchal Council, and numerous Fraternal and Sororal Councils, with each Council having its own fleet of ships. Each Council was presided over by a Leader elected from its population, with such elections occurring when the incumbent retired or a vacancy was otherwise created. Whenever a sudden vacancy occurred, snap elections would be scheduled accordingly.
The Suljak Federation, like every other maritime and land-bound entity in Circlaria, was never free from political grief. And beginning in the 1430s, there arose, within the Federation, an insurgent group known as the Red-Flaggers, who were "ultra-conservative" and were determined to re-establish the Suljak Federation as an authoritarian House. Their short-term agenda to attain the power accordingly was to sway the electorate into putting as many Red-Flagger infiltrators as possible into significant leadership roles; and the Red-Flaggers gained notoriety for attempting to rig elections and spread misinformation as well as engaging in other infiltration methods.
In April 1458, Sonora Maydrick, Leader of the Matriarchal Council, announced her retirement at the end of the year. Per protocol, elections for the Matriarchal Council Leader position were held that September. Marakae Loris, the liberal candidate, won that election by a very small margin. Conservatives and Red-Flaggers, meanwhile, had wished for Timbra Wik, the conservative candidate, to win and thus be able to gain power and influence over the Head Council, similar to what had happened in the past. And thus, Tom Porth, Leader of the Red-Flagger Movement, initiated a rumor that Loris perished in a ship-sinking and that her running mate, Mara Karner, a liberal figure very much detested by the Red-Flaggers, would become the Interim Leader. Porth, meanwhile, had successfully assembled a task force consisting of Red-Flagger-run ships from the Head, Matriarchal, Fraternal, and Sororal sectors. Thus, the rumor served as a calling for said task force to launch their agenda: to assassinate Karner and sink her ship.
On 16 January 1459 at 5:11 am, this mission was deployed. Those Red-Flaggers listening to radio communication scanners thought the deed to eliminate Karner was done. And these listeners were, themselves, able to broadcast radio communications, which culminated into a rumor having spread back to Porth that the mission was accomplished. This led Porth to initiate his second agenda: to name the Matriarchal ship carrying Wik as the Flagship of the Matriarchal Council and to have that ship lead an agenda to sink the Flagship of the Head Council, along with all other ships within range who had populations with the majority either voting for or otherwise supporting Loris. The Flagship of the Head Council and its immediate surrounding ships confronted the Red-Flagger task force 61 miles East of Elsa Isle, off the coast of Remikra, and began engaging in an intense battle.
The Head Council Flagship and its fleet managed to overcome the Red-Flagger coalition; however, the former then set out to completely destroy the Red-Flagger ships despite urging from the other ships under jurisdiction of Suljak and their ally: the Maritime Republic of Xelan. Xelanian ships were dispatched in an attempt to stop the Head Council ships from carrying out what was considered to be an overreaction. Meanwhile, the Retunian Commonwealth Department of State began restricting gyroplane flights and Retunian maritime ship traffic from the area as Retunian defenses were raised over concerns of the intensity and proximity of the ensuing battle.
The civil conflict lasted just under nineteen hours. In the end, forces from Locin, the Taceran Council, and a few other members of the South Circlarian Trade Federation swarmed the area and, on 17 January 1459 at 12:07 am, succeeded in implementing a cease-fire.
In the end, the conflict resulted in two Suljakan ships sunk, the Head Council Flagship heavily damaged, three Red-Flagger ships sunk, three Xelanian ships heavily damaged, 612 dead, and over 4000 wounded. Negotiations ensued from all parties involved, which resulted in the treasury of the Red-Flagger organization being liquidated, while Red-Flagger-involved officers and engineers were stripped of their duties and titles and had their security clearances revoked. Furthermore, Tom Porth was arrested, prosecuted, convicted of sedition, and executed by firing squad. To this day, this latter penalty proves a controversial political talking point.
Meanwhile, all downed ships would be replaced and the damaged ships repaired. A new hotline communication network was established between the Suljakan Councils while the Suljakan Head Council agreed to cede some of its maritime authorities and powers.
Deep-Trade: The Failed Agenda with the Lakema Maritime State
As aforementioned, a trade forum occurred between the Retunian Commonwealth and the Lakema Maritime State between 6 and 8 January 1456. Though no deep-trade occurred, speculation grew among Retunian trade figures of the prospects of deep-trade. Retunian federal arbitrators had since determined that a prospective deep-trade arrangement would not conflict with any future deep-trade agreement with the Lotumna State since the latter had a policy for open-market deep-trade. In 1457, the vote by the Retunian Deep-Trade Administration to emancipate from the initial deep-trade arrangement with Lotumna had passed, thus increasing the likelihood of the Deep-Trade Administration to disband for the time. However, Paul Rekorq, a significant Deep-Trade Administration member, led the Deep-Trade Administration to vote on 16 September 1457 to pass a Motion of Interest for prospective arrangements with the Lakema State, thus putting off the disbandment. The Deep-Trade Administration would go on to approve the subsequent Motion of Consideration on 24 February 1458 and the Motion of Engagement on 24 September. After a favorable popular referendum, the Deep-Trade Administration, on 5 May 1459, sent a letter to the Council of Lakema, detailing a proposal to establish a formal deep-trade arrangement.
The Lakema Council, however, voted this down and sent a letter accordingly on 24 September 1459. Retunian and Lakemish investors subsequently withdrew from the informal market that had emerged recently, leading to its collapse. And on 16 September 1460, the Retunian Deep-Trade Administration voted to disband.
1460: The CAD Virus Pandemic
The Coughing-Affliction Disorder Virus, better known as the CAD Virus, triggers a disease characterized by persistent coughing, fever, and respiratory compromise. The Virus infects lung tissue and spreads to other critical parts of the body, eventually resulting in death if left untreated.
Between the 1430s and 1440s, the Independent Commonwealth State of Retun implemented numerous measures of quarantine to stop and prevent a pandemic within its jurisdiction. However, in 1443, vaccines against the Virus began to roll out in the Retunian Commonwealth; and in the following year, quarantine measures within the Commonwealth and throughout the Circlarian Realm began to be lifted. Over the years that followed, there would be occasional smaller outbreaks coming and going in various regions.
A significant outbreak, however, emerged within the South Circlarian Trade Federation beginning in 1460, prompting the Federation to declare a "Pandemic Emergency" on 23 September. On 7 October, such an emergency was declared in the Suljak Maritime Federation. And over the next three weeks, the Virus crossed into the Retunian Commonwealth and began to spread. With authorization by Prime Minister Mackwell, the Independent Commonwealth State of Retun declared a "Pandemic Emergency" on 4 November 1460.
Fortunately, all of the involved entities were able to implement rigorous quarantine, vaccine, and treatment measures. Thus, it was not long before the outbreak subsided. On 23 March 1461, the Retunian Commonwealth officially declared its "Pandemic Emergency" to be ended.
1461-62: Trade Agendas
On 3 September 1461, the Council of Lotumna sent a proposition to the Independent Commonwealth State of Retun to re-establish trade relations. However, deep-trade efforts stalled in a subsequent popular referendum. Furthermore, Lotumnan leadership failed to follow-up on such an initiation.
Meanwhile, Dr. Eddard Teal, on behalf of the Library of Circlaria, pushed an agenda to have the Library of Circlaria gain trade relations with Northeast Ancondria and more members of the South Circlarian Trade Federation. Confidence in this led Teal to win an unprecedented second term as one of the Head Librarians on 16 September 1462, as aforementioned. Despite his efforts, however, Teal's effort struggled with very little success due to market saturation and lingering international disdain from the Esurchian War.
The 1463 Minlon Conference
The United Confederation of Ancondria, as part of an agenda to coordinate lightfire trade relations and improve diplomacy between the numerous Ancondrian states, organized for an international conference to occur in the city of Minlon (formerly Ramport) between 15 and November 1463. Ambassadors from the Independent Commonwealth State of Retun were invited to the event, which they would attend. Though the Retunian Commonwealth did not make substantial economic or diplomatic gains from this, the Conference led to a wealth of knowledge to be gained by the Retunian National Institute of Research and Development on the details of Northeast Ancondrian history following the Esurchian War. Most notably, there arrived a wealth of information regarding the Sovereign State of Minlon and its authoritarian regime.
The 1464 Elections
The most notable issue facing the Independent Commonwealth State of Retun during the 1464 election cycle was the increase in financial strain on the Retunian economy, which Teal's agenda was struggling to mitigate. During this time emerged Maryk Evans on behalf of the Commonwealth Democrats seeking to clinch the nomination for the Retunian Prime Minister position, campaigning on an agenda to reduce wasteful spending and to give more support to Teal's agenda. Meanwhile, Kara Mackwell, on behalf of the RAD Party, sought re-election to a third term, running on a very similar agenda to Evans with exception against Evans' agenda to include cuts in apparent wasteful spending in the darkfire industry. With a large share of the Retunian population favoring her stance on protecting the darkfire industry in this manner, Mackwell won re-election on 16 September 1464 for a third Prime Minister term.