Bastions
Chapter Forty Nine: Union
Part 2
Prelude:
The history that led to the 2011 revolution in Zilina is a long and winding road. Zilina, or as it is known in Prussian: Se Sosálæniská Republik Próŝæn Zliná (The Socialist Republic of Prussian Zilina), has done everything in its power to make it well understood that they are a Prussian people, not Hungarian, going as far as adopting the Rose motif of their northern neighbor when starting their own quest for freedom. Saint Nicholas, (Zsolna in Hungarian), was founded as an Orthodox monastery during Prussia's earliest days in Hungary. The region was settled not by Carpathians, but rather by Polish Prussians from just to the north, and remained steadfast in their support in the monarchy until the civil wars under Vishly when the majority of the region was snatched up by Hungary. The rest was eventually incorporated into the territory of Silesia. The region was mostly untouched until World War I, when the Communists surrendered Silesia to the Central Pact. The majority of Silesia was turned into the Republic of Silesia, which was quickly coup'ed and turned into the Kingdom of Silesia and then again into the Soviet Republic of Silesia. Silesian Zilina, on the other hand, was split in half with part going to Germany and the rest going to Hungary. After World War II, instead of reannexing the territories, the Communists left Zilina divided to prove a point about intercultural tolerance as dictated by Communism, but it was also because the Allies had forbade Prussia from annexing any land, forcing them instead to set up puppet regimes in their neighboring countries. Under the Communists, Zilina was offered a substantial amount of protection that it had never had before. So it goes without saying that when the Communists were toppled, the Hungarians made no short time reversing the "injustice" of the special protection. Soon tensions between Zilina and their new masters were high. Even in Germany, Prussians began demanding fair treatment and the right to independence. The European Union, afraid of destabilizing the entire Balkans region (flimsily held together mostly by shear might and a harsh military hand), refused to support Zilina. Prussia, who wanted badly to support their brethren, could do nothing but watch in 1994 when fifteen students were shot and killed in Saint Nicholas during the School Riots. After that a group of politicians formed the League of Prussians, a political party that originally was based solely on advocating and then achieving independence for Zilina. After another series of revolts and rebellions, Zilina enjoyed a sort of de facto independence with limited recognition from other Prussian states and even some European Union members. In 2011 Hungary decided to intervene and bring what it saw as a rebellious province back into line. The President of Hungary offered the Republic to be forgiven its unpaid taxes and even enjoy autonomy within the state. But Zilina would have nothing of it. The war started in earnest with the assassination of the President of Hungary in Pest, an event that drew almost universal condemnation from the international community. After the war it would become clear that the assassination was actually carried out by a radical right-wing extremist group in order to gain sympathy for their own plan to completely annex the republic and levy the taxes in full to help pay off Hungary's crippling debt. By August of 2012, the two states were locked in the grips of total war; Zilina knew it only had to avoid losing the war. Even a draw would mean that it would have essentially proven its independence.
The four Prussian states in Europe: Prussia, Silesia, Carpathia and Zilina. Zilina is the small pink state that borders the other three.
September 8th, 2012
Kasimiras sat with his column a couple miles from the front lines in a cafe of Saint Nicholas. The city's citizens started to go about their lives from suitcases and the backs of cars. They were ready to leave at a moment's notice, but for now they just wanted to run their businesses, go to school, and do all the things that they thought they should be able to do. The Transitional Authority of Zilina had moved to the city officially as a sign of strength just the week before. They declared that on September 1st, 2012, Zilina was officially clear of occupation. The declarations of support were slow to start but they won a couple victories: on September 2nd, the United Kingdoms recognized Zilina, removing one of the largest European blocks to real independence. With Europe warming up to the idea of a fourth Prussian state, it was now time to win their hearts. The biggest thing was the official decree that a Zilinian soldier would never set a foot outside of Zilinian soil. This was not a war for conquest, but it meant that the front lines had been set in stone. All the extra soldiers had little to do but wait for their rotation into the trenches.
For now they manned the anti-aircraft guns and waited for something to happen. But it meant plenty of time for coffee and chatting. Alex had left back to their small mountain village in German Zilina. He had bigger things to worry about, like working to get that piece of Zilina free too. But for Kasimiras and the rest of Number Four it was a sad farewell. They'd miss their brother, but knew that they'd see him soon. Today they shared a small cafe with Number Eighteen: the infamous Texas Column. The Texas Column was infamous for two things: winning battles and winning the hearts of women. The whole unit was made up of foreigners from the Western Hemisphere. Texans did not make up the majority of the members, but they left from Texas and their column flag was based on the flag of Zilina in the colors of Texas and the "15" replaced by the column number. Many of their members, however; were whites from California and they did not often see eye-to-eye with the more liberal members from Mexico, Texas and the Yucatan. They saw this as a nationalistic fight, Prussians versus the world. They were often alone in that opinion. They didn't really understand what it meant to be suppressed or stepped on.
But it was interesting to have the so-called New World Prussians to chat with. Someone had to believe very deeply in something to not just leave their homes, but their home country and cross oceans to fight for a country they had never even been to before. But they were passionate about the fight; there was a certain romanticism about the Old World that was flaring up in the New and vice-versa. Their names were different and their speech was strange and filled with different jargon or heavy French or native influence. They tended to be less spiritual and more religious, but Texans had a history of supporting the freedom of all so to find them here should not have been surprising. Texas had risked a lot to be one of the first countries to recognize Zilina, but they had gotten used to the risk. They also recognized Kanem before many and even many of the Indian states.
"It would be hypocritical," one Texan explained to Kasimiras. He sipped tea instead of coffee something he claimed to have picked up from his Swedish ancestors. "Texas was one of the first states to break away from Prussia, back then we were part Prussian, part Norman... part Christian and part Muslim. But we united for a cause. When we see others uniting for a worthy cause we support them... consequences be damned."
"And when the war is over... what will you do then?" Kasimiras asked.
"Head back to Texas probably," he said with a knowing smile.
"So you'll fight and bleed here and then leave? That's it?"
"Well, no, I am hoping you do something with what I've fought for. Listen, I was a soldier in the days of my youth. I was young and stupid, idealistic my teachers said. Full of hope and dreams and I never grew out of it. I've sat in a cubical for too long and I'd rather be out here."
"This is not the first civil war you've fought in, eh?" Kasimiras asked.
"No, and I doubt it will be my last. I fought in California and I fought briefly with the Dakota in the eighties; back when they won their autonomy. Wasn't able to set them free, though."
"Can't win them all," Kasimiras admitted. "Your unit's flag... it looks a lot like the flag of the new Kanem Republic."
"I know, I designed it. Fought in Kanem too. That one was different."
"Different?"
"Kanem was not about oppression. Cartheginians have trouble oppressing anyone. They'd apologize to a fly if they found it caught in their house. None of the people I talked wanted to oppress Kanem... they just didn't want to feed them to the warlords of the south either. So they were stuck, always blamed. Honestly - and this could make me an unpopular man in a lot of places - the Cartheginians were the good guys. Remember that. They fought tooth and nail to keep a lot of people safe. And they did. And when the UN made all those decrees, it was Carthage making sure that women could go to work without having to worry 'is today the day I will get raped?' Or making sure children fell asleep and didn't need to worry about being kidnapped and brainwashed. But yeah, when Kanem finally said it was time I was there with the best of them, fighting warlords and crazy religious cults. What about you, kid? You look like you aren't old enough to shave yet."
The flag of 18. Column on the left and the flag of 4. Column on the right. The 18th's flag shares many similarities with the flag of Zilina, the flag of Kanem and the flag of Texas. The flag of 4. Column is based on the coat of arms of Zilinagau in Germany.
"I am just a mountain boy. From the German lands, I am sort of out of place here in an old city with theaters and buildings built hundreds of years ago by Kings that I could never remember. I am looking forward to getting back to the mountains."
"With the exception of mountains it sounds like you need to be back in Texas."
"Haha, no, I think I am going to stay here and at least enjoy some of the fruits of my labor."
The Texan laughed, "I don't blame you, but you'll have to tell me what it is like. I'll be onto my next project. You are missing out, though."
"Missing out on what?"
"Texan girls. Let me lay it out for you: nude beaches, huge titties. A man could not ask for more except for her to come walking over with two beers."
Kasirimas chuckled, "I might have to check it out then."
"You just might have to. There is more to this world than the mountains of Zilina, or the beaches of Texas: just remember that, lad." The Texan looked over and saw his unit was moving on. He quickly drank the last of his tea and stood up, hoisting his rifle back over his shoulder. "It was good talkin' to you. Stay safe."
"Thanks," Kasimiras replied, "and thanks for fighting."
"Nah, it is my pleasure." The Texan turned and started walking off.
"One more thing," Kasimiras said. The Texan turned and waited, "Just how big are we talking about?" The Texan made a gesture like carrying two watermelons and then jogged off to catch up with his column.
"What was that about?" one of the other members asked Kasimiras.
"What?"
"The whole how big thing? What was that about?"
"Nothing, just figuring out where I am taking my vacation after this," Kasimiras replied. His buddy twisted his face in confusion but then just shrugged. The mountain boy smiled. He leaned back in his chair and imagined he was on a sandy beach with one of those cold fruity drinks all the airline posters promoted.