Some major city, Republic of Xagrurg
Scenes of your common citizen walking by, shoppers, and the occasional aristocrat at the social club-everything seems normal right? Oh, don’t forget the occasional protest group with veterans of that Auroran-Pacific War from a while back and nationalists amongst their ranks, complaining of the Morst’s and other Auroran countries’ perhaps overburdening and dismissive attitude towards the Xagrurgian Republic. A few years ago, these groups’ numbers had numbered in the hundreds of thousands, angered by the “harsh” treaty and peace limits imposed on Xagrurg. Though now? Their numbers had quite swollen-though still remaining a influential force in national politics-to of that of tens of thousands. While smaller than their peak from the end of the conflict some years back, the leaders and most prominent figures of the nationalist groups still have the ability to stifle closing and integration of the Xagrurgian Republic to the remainder of Aurora and the United Nations of the Auroran Continent, though would ironically support Xagrurg taking a major place in the latter organization, the most common argument being it allowed Xagrurg to check the Morst’s power in the continent (and on Xagrurg) to an extent. Extent being “flexible”. Xagrurg’s role in the organization known as the Peacekeeping Forces of Urth would be widely supported by many in Xagrurg, for reasons extending from repairing the country’s reputation to showing Xagrurg still has the capability to project influence across the world.
In the past few years, Xagrurgian political leaders have adopted a more moderate, passive attitude in terms of foreign policy, choosing to co-exist with their Auroran neighbors and having Xagrurg rebuilt economically. However, this has caused discontent with both nationalist and more cynical figures, citing the erosion of Xagrurg’s power status and ability to remain economically and militarily independent from the U.N.A.C and most pointedly, the Morst.
With the destruction of Ethalria following the Auroran-Pacific War, a certain amount of people in Xagrurg actually celebrated the collapse of Xagrurg’s historical enemy. Then came the division of the country and what followed.
Already, the destruction of Ethalria as an effective counterpart had collapsed, let alone serve as a functional nation. Clearly, the empire had been on the decline for a while, though the A.P.W had certainly accelerated it. Upon its division into four new and separate countries, the more idealistic individuals and groups of Xagrurg celebrated the application of self-determination and democracy to a formerly oppressive and authoritarian empire. However, the more experienced and pragmatic began to sweat and sighed as they saw the rushing of Morst influence into the empire’s remnants, just had Xagrurg itself seen in the late twentieth-century in less-developed and less-well-off nations in other continents. I guess we never learn unless it hits us in the face eh? With Ethalria being divided into multiple “zones” essentially, Xagrurg would attempt to close relations with at least one of the newly-formed countries in order to help quell domestic discontent and to restore a certain degree of national pride by showing Xagrurg can still project its influence outside of its own borders. And it did work-to an extent. While many in Xagrurg did appreciate and moderately praised the government for its repairing of its international image following the war, they still felt sore over the loss of Yor and its military defeat.
Thus, there is where nationalist groups spawn from. While obviously not in favor of fascism, these groups advocated a strong foreign policy with Xagrurg being more assertive in its diplomatic (and possibly) power projection. Though, these groups were initially not popular due to the “spirit of international cooperation” being the main trend ongoing at the time.
Now though, after a few years of moderate economic growth and recovery? Nationalism would see its gradual rise in Xagrurg once more, though not necessarily a war-hawkish and aggressive approach as before. The more modern groups would advocate a careful balance of national and international cooperation, with Xagrurg ensured its own interests were not being trampled on and the restoration of the nation back to a great power once more through expansion of its economy and modernization of its military. While not quite mainstream yet, these groups are gradually gaining traction-and perhaps may gain political and societal support should they go unhindered.
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Eidenburgh, Eidenburgh Province; June 14, 2019
The city, once devastated by the war, had made a considerable comeback in recent times, with its port facilities repaired and even expansion of its commercial sectors as most of the damage has been repaired. In the Eidenburgh Stock Exchange, business would be normal once more with brokers trading stocks and whatnot. New skyscrapers would be even be built as the city undergoes another period of economic growth following the A.P.W. Living in the city would be many Xagrurgian veterans of the war, as many had been forced out due to budget cuts or some excuse. Ironically enough, the immigration had assisted to a degree to the city’s economic growth, with new numbers of cheap labor flooding in. Among those refugees would be a certain Bernard Samfer, a veteran of the Xagrurgian Army.
Bernard would have an interesting backstory to him: He hadn’t planned on being a soldier initially, much less a decorated veteran and war hero. He had initially planned before the war to be a lawyer, working on his degree in law school over in Imperium. When the war had broken out however, reserves would be called up, with him amongst those drawn up. Through the events and horrors of war, he strove to keep his humanity and ideals alive, refusing in partaking any crimes and actions. While this would lead to tensions between his more morally-gray superiors, he would earn respect from his common man and civilians alike. Eventually, political pressure from the population would lead to his rise in command to become a military general himself. Though, his ability to influence the general affairs of the war had been limited, he certainly did have a hand in protecting civilians and troops from unnecessary harm and collateral damage. Seen as a hero by many during the war, his fame, alas, has fallen from the eye of the media, now moving onto more “popular culture” and “Morst” trends.
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“Is this what I fought for? Is this supposed to be the country I pledged my life to sacrifice for?” The man would muse to himself in his thoughts, briefly looking around to see Morst fashion trends and media dominate his surroundings and people, though would rarely see reminders of Xagrurg’s own culture. He would snap out of his thoughts though as the long line to the local unemployment office started moving again, many of those out-of-work being former soldiers judging from how they carried themselves, at least what Bernard thought.
A few hours later…
After getting his work sorted out for him with a job at the local soup kitchen and a hostel to sleep in, he would reside at a local park before heading back home. It would be the evening after everything would be sorted and he would be at the park, relaxing on a bench and seeing a construction crew finishing up repairs on a nearby road. For a moment, he would remember what life was before the war, before Xagrurg would be essentially torn down from its status as a “global power” by the Morst. He had actually admired the Morst before the war and to an extent during the war as well, seeing them as respectable and “good folk”. That is, until he saw what had happened with the fall of Ethalria and subsequent swooping-in of their power into former Ethalria and into Xagrurg as well, although economically and culturally regarding the latter. Still maintaining an interest in politics, he foresaw the issues regarding the post-war balance of power. Even before the war, it was lopsided towards the Morst. Now though, the Morst had free reign essentially over its former rivals, though he personally believed Xagrurg’s still-sizable military and history of nationalism were the only things keeping them back from making Xagrurg into de-facto puppet status, though the declining state of the military and patriotism both worried him deeply. “I’m supposed to be here to relax, not think.” He would stop thinking and then take a deep breath, just observing the people in the park.