The outcome was 2.4 million deaths, 3.

4 million acres of land made barren by

radioactivity, biological warfare, or the prevalence of rusting war material, of which 2

million metric tons remains even today.

It is a story that is long, tragic, and rife with sacrifice and indignity, but for the

purposes of this necessary and logically fashioned explanation, I will most certainly make

a valiant attempt to cut down on the monotony.

As for a formal disclaimer, consider this phrase it: The events portrayed in this

story are most certainly real, albeit the details of the plot and its characters have changed,

with the essence of the story remaining prevalent to those close to the original event, and

distant to those who were not. For one individual that this event revolves, somewhat

negatively, around, it is hopefully a series of events that they wish to forget.

It was not an unlikely partnership. The nation of Kygistan was rich and powerful,

had strength that rivaled the United States, and dominated world events in its region. The

partner? The smaller, but more experienced, nation of Alvatro. A small island nation, it

had seen many foreign invasion in its long life, but most recently had been able to keep

diplomatic ties with its regionmates to a polite, if barely tolerable, level.

Kygistan had been formed from the womb of revolution. Overthrowing an

unpopular government, one filled with corruption and slightly self destructive in its own

right, and replacing it with a new, revolutionary, and slightly stronger version. The new

government promised jobs, a stable economy, and much more involvement in foreign

affairs, something that its predecessor had failed to fully realize.

Alvatro had a different story. It had started as a prosperous nation, but (as

mentioned earlier in this explanation) had recently fallen victim to numerous foreign
aggressors, many of whom had gained the trust thereof through diplomatic coercion and

empty promises, only to strip Alvatro of natural resources and than fight to maintain its

sovereignty. This had happened only twice in the recent past, but the memories of each

were all but carved into the collective memories of the Alvatrin population, and their

long-serving female Head of State.

Thus the relationship, so to speak, was one between old and new. New and old.

Kygistan needed tutelage, Alvatro needed resources. It was a simple tradeoff, and one

sure to succeed, at least in the eyes of the most popular political theorists of the time.

However, as history would soon tell, the mix of hesitance and inexperience with fear and

knowledge became a dangerous combination.

It started with the opening of a Kygistinian Embassy in the capital of Alvatro,

Lossatro City. Construction proceeded quickly, with the help of many foreign workers

from outside nations.

Upon its completion, diplomatic relations began immediately. The Male ruler of

Kygistan and the female ruler of Alvatro soon realized that their futures could be

intertwined, and that the future of Kygistan and the stabilization of Alvatro lay in each

others hands.

Despite the many unhealthy alliances that Alvatro brought to the table, the

government of Kygistan was able to look through that in exchange for the wealth of

knowledge displayed by Alvatro. Alvatro saw this as merely a business opportunity, but

Kygistan wanted more. Needed more. Representation in the United Nations, plans for a

stronger economy, and access for the landlocked nation to Alvatro’s warm weather ports.
 Soon, Alvatro noticed some semblance of potential in Kygistan. It had a willing

populace, and saw an opportunity to get back in the game, to leverage its alliance with

Kygistan and propel itself back into the world of global affairs, and put its name back on

the map, so to speak.

And thus the alliance between Kygistan and Alvatro strengthened, and the two

started sharing Military Information, design schematics, and plans for the future.

But it seemed as though the alliance was bound for a rocky start.

Not even a week after the signing of the declaration of alliance, Alvatro was

receiving diplomatic communiqués from a rouge nation. A nation that had started great

and fallen so hard and so fast, and largely displaced nation with a government in crisis

and in danger of falling victim to many radical and subversive groups.

It was a nation that was already on a self destructive path. Infested with a growing

criminal population, an unpopular government, and one that has opened its borders to all

kinds of degenerates, including (but unbeknownst to them) a network of terrorist cells

from a neighboring nation.

It progressed into yet another diplomatic communiqué, this time privately

announcing Alvatro’s intent to dishonor the Alliance and instead form another Alliance.

However, through a shrewd Kygistinian diplomatic move, the treaty never went through,

and the Kygistan-Alvatro alliance survived a major storm intact, if somewhat weakened.

Things progressed well thereafter. Promises were made to transfer resources from

Kygistan to Alvatro, transfers that took longer than expected. While Alvatro’s finance

ministry was upset about this, they never publicly voiced their opinion on the matter.
 Despite these setbacks, the flow of resources eventually picked up, and things

looked up for the alliance.

All that changed soon thereafter.

For seven days the entire Alvatrin government went dark. No activity was seen

near government buildings, and communiqués went unanswered for this period.

Resources stopped flowing, Kygistinian citizens being denied access to the nation

through the subjective use of border guards. A foreign nation’s military was present on

Alvatrin soil, near the border, to keep the throngs of Kygistinian businessmen away. Until

the week was over, no word from the Alvatrin leader was heard. Kygistinian officials

suspected a coup, or an invasion. Plans were made for immediate military intervention

into the nation, and troops were positioned at the border.

At the end of the week, however, things became clear. Alvatrin officials were

disappointed over the slowing of the resource transfers, among various other superfluous

and insignificant things.

However, several meetings between the two rulers sorted things out in short order,

and things returned to a state of semi-normality.

Things progressed well for two more months. However, signs of degrading

relations began to show themselves. Communiqués were not responded to as timely as

they had, and some stopped coming all together. Foreign ministries of other nations

began to warn of an impending attack on Kygistan, and as a result the nation was ordered

to full alert.

Divisions were mobilized, a curfew was enforced, and reservist units activated.

Kygistan’s economists began looking for suitable replacements for their agreements, and
found a nation willing to honor the original charter with Alvatro, negotiations which are

still ongoing even today.

Than, two days after mobilization, it happened. A document delivered by

diplomatic courier arrived at the seat of Alvatrin power, and in no uncertain terms

demanded answers to questions. What was going on? Who was really in charge in

Alvatro? The Queen or some subversive foreign government? Did the Alvatrin

government even care about honoring the original charter? What was to happen next?

Tensions were high. For five minutes no one knew what was going to happen

next. Than the order was given. An Alvatrin army “breaching unit” stormed over the

border and launched an unexpected attack on the 33rd Kygistinian Motor-Rifle division,

forcing it to rout.

As units in the area were diverted to assist, an air strike hit the capital of Kygistan,

Kyliningrad, and forced a temporary command and control failure. Units in the field

didn’t know how to respond, and began retreating. Alvatrin units pushed forward, and

communiqués accused Kygistan of frivolous and imbecilic claims ranging from idiocy to

incompetence. Kygistinian command structures were reestablished, and the elite

Kygistinian propaganda corps went to work, publicly accusing Alvatro of signing a secret

treaty with a neighboring nation, which took place at the Summer Olympics, during the

Swimming events. International eyes than turned on Alvatro, which had achieved its goal

of fame.

Alvatrin units pulled back, and the Alvatrin government swore that they would

honor a revised, less inclusive treaty with Kygistan. However, Kygistinian politicians

were furious. The parliament declined the treaty in unanimity. The national feeling was
monomaniacal: Alvatrin blood or bust. The war dragged on for two days, nuclear

armaments were expended, a terrorist attack from a supposed Alvatrin supporter

decimated acres of Alvatrin farmland, rendering it useless. Millions of soldiers on each

side, many of whom had no orders, were slaughtered on the killing fields of Kygistan.

However, tensions soon cooled. Units pulled back to pre-war conditions. The

Kygistinian embassy was closed, its personnel escorted by the elite Kygistinian

Diplomatic Guard back to the capital. The personal at the Alvatrin embassy were

arrested, and tried (but acquitted) of treason.

Contact between the two nations ceased. If they attended the same conferences,

diplomats shunned each other. In the United Nations, ambassadors kept their distance.

Alvatro swore they wanted to remain ‘partners for a better world’ but made no effort to

do so. Kygistanians just smiled and shook their heads.

‘What has this world come to?’ Kygistinians would mull on the streets. But in the

end, Kygistan moved forward. They became successful, while the Alvatrin economy

crashed and burned, demanding financial aid from their ex-patriate. Kygistan respectfully

declined. Life moved on.