Failing to recount the events and celebrations of our 3rd Resurgence Day in my last entry is a very compelling indication of the level of stress and demand I and the rest of my officers have experienced. Of course, there is much to comment on for 30 November 2015, both on the events and festivities, and the circumstances of the day previously and currently. So, perhaps this warranted its own entry regardless.

To remind anyone who is reading this who does not have intimate knowledge of Kantarian military history, our most sacred and meaningful holiday is 30 November. We have other extremely impactful days which we observe, such as Revolution Day (1 March) and Crossing Day (19 March), and the Maritime Assault Corps celebrates their Landing Day (1 December) probably more than the related previous day. There are several causes of us tending to remember and celebrate 30 November above all of the other favorable and pivotal days in our nation's history, and I am a major one given my position and my stance on the matter. There were also days relating to Resurgence Day that were in their own right just as impactful, but they tend to be saddening rather than worthy of yearly celebration.

I will briefly explain the circumstances of this day and related days for those who lack sufficient understanding of our history. The Kantarian Revolution in 2012 had brought into existence our nation and was having very great effect on Bengaria militarily. Our ally Likuria had covertly made the revolution possible with material and advisory assistance over some years, and on 1 March we decided to openly revolt against our occupiers. Bengaria suffered from much greater military incompetence than it does now, while we had spectacular officers from the start, and we had taken over half of our pre-occupation country back by November. Bengarian leadership was starting to panic at their inability to crush the rebellion and the continuing loss of ground, and agitated with Wesitaria's unwillingness to intervene. They made a very fateful decision to attempt to decisively reverse the trend and restore their position: a large-scale nuclear bombardment across our front lines. 

We lacked the means of either regularly intercepting ordnance or erecting modern front-length fortifications, which meant many of the missiles and bombs exploded and killed a great number of soldiers and officers, and also caused significant civilian casualties. The entire planet looked on with horror and disgust at the attempt to reestablish order, and even their ally condemned the move and hesitated. This obviously had a catastrophic effect on our inchoate military psychologically and physically, and disorder and panic prevailed while we determined who was still alive and how we were going to recover from this. Under these extremely unfortunate circumstances, I was elected to lead our military and industry the next day, after determining we needed one overall commander who could optimally manage and synergize both the battlefield and economic aspects of the war. Many people have since told me my passionate address to the nation, which conveyed unashamedly great fear and anguish as well as confidence of our survival if the population and our ally mobilized accordingly, might have made the difference between survival and subjugation. 

Likuria was disgusted and appalled by Bengaria's actions, and they were further moved by my address. They saw no alternative militarily or morally to declaring limited defensive war on Bengaria on 20 November, the day after the attacks. Somehow I and my subordinates found the emotional resilience to orchestrate a withdrawal that wasn't completely devoid of order and cohesion, while Likurian planes bombarded the advancing Bengarians and their ground forces ferried to our continent. We most likely would have perished had they not so extensively intervened. While our continent was already in a wartime mobilization and this was just a terrible escalation, the Western Continent moved close to war as Likuria directly attacked Wesitaria's ally. The latter hesitated, caught between logical military-political considerations and their extreme disapproval of their ally's actions which precipitated this. Likuria ordered a general wartime mobilization and defensively mobilized towards their borders, and Wesitaria ordered a pre-war mobilization in response. All decent and enlightened people on Takomen hoped the war would be limited to our continent and not become a generalized conflict.

This was not to be, unfortunately. On 25 November, Wesitaria opted for the imperialistic route and declared war on Likuria and Kantaria, plunging our world into an epic conflict. Likuria had the advantage of having developed a very large military secretly to sustain both a war at home and abroad, or preferably to sustain our revolution while having a force sufficient to deter the Wesitarians. As so many of their aircraft and warships and field armies were away to rescue us, they were not well equipped to defend themselves despite the system of border fortifications. Their grand council decided to sustain their offensive in our defense for several more days regardless, Likurian and Kantarian dying and bleeding together even as the former's territory was eroding. Because of this, there is a tremendous level of gratitude from us, and an insuppressible sense of camaraderie and solidarity, forged during a time of great mutual suffering.

19, 20, and 25 November are crucial days in our planet's and nation's history, but are not actively remembered much here. Even with Likuria's intervention, there was a substantial chance it would not be sufficient to ensure our survival and resurgence. The first indication we might recover from these horrible costs of lives and territory was 30 November, when a small-scale attack by our forces captured a small position near the threatened port city of Quatrilane, the first time we stopped retreating and went forward again. On 1 December, aided by Likurian warships and warplanes, our primitive marine contingent won a stunning victory over a much larger force of Bengarians. These two days, but especially the first, represent hope, recovery, and indomitable spirit for our nation. The victories were broadcast and emphasized on our nation's media, and provided to our population the first concrete evidence that my predictions of our chance of resurgence were correct, that we may yet advance to the border and even beyond.

Three years have passed between those extremely frightening and dispiriting days in 2012, and the empowering and galvanizing days of the present. Kantaria's military has long since developed into a fully professional and modern force, and the front lines long since moved into Bengarian territory. While our rate of advance has sharply fallen over the last 18 months due to Wesitaria's intervention, this also very possibly saved Likuria from defeat. Their sacrifices in the early days had long-term and severe ramifications for them, especially since Wesitaria didn't much assist Bengaria at first. Our rapid progress against our chief enemy startled them and forced them to send reinforcements to our continent, and later they determined Kantaria was to be the alliance's chief adversary. The roles and circumstances of Kantaria and Likuria have been reversed. We are essentially a child they gave birth to that has grown through adolescence, and we now are more powerful and capable than our progenitors. This has caused a mixture of emotions and perceptions which differ between our two nations, but such a development is no less moving and inspiring to both.

Thus, every year on 30 November and the week or so before, our two states come together to discuss strategy and to commemorate the circumstances that brought us together. We send whatever reinforcements we can to assist them on this time of year. Unfortunately, this year we have had to ask them for help almost as often as we tried to send it, but we both understand war sometimes does not progress to suit us and our holidays. I have traveled to their continent on Intervention Day (20 November) and the 27th for special celebrations with their senior staff, and arrived in the Procyonidae and with many marine divisions on the 30th to fulfill our promise and re-cement our bond. I also, of course, addressed our nation and theirs simultaneously on the 30th.

Most of the senior officers of both nations were direct witnesses to the events that intertwined us in 2012, and we discussed our feelings and perceptions in depth on a luncheon on 20 November. Grand Strategist Cometai held that position three years ago when they decided their only appropriate reaction was to declare war. He expressed his great fear of our world being thrown into a world war through their adversary taking advantage of the situation, and his great sympathy for our people after such an event, and being moved to tears when he heard in my voice and saw on my face my desperation and fear in my address just before their declaration. I relayed how difficult it was even to ascertain who was in charge of the various frontline units, let alone preparing a strategy for withdrawal and then executing it with any effectiveness. Of course, the senior officers also decided to elect a supreme commander and thus had to divert capacity to determine that. If the Revolution was defeated, it would be this person's job to coordinate the surrender of our nation and maybe go into exile to Likuria, and I was keenly aware of this possibility when appointed.

Cometai was surprised I didn't cast a vote at all or expected my appointment. I was simply trying desperately to ignore all the colleagues I had lost, facilitate the reformation of a cohesive force on my assigned area of the front, and ascertain what damage our industry took. I assumed everyone else would be suited to determine this and they would choose someone with more tenure and with actual combat experience, and all I contributed was to urge them to choose someone who understands all aspects of warfare and who manages people compassionately. I felt I wouldn't emotionally be suited to such a task at the moment, anyway, as this hit me especially hard. I was flabbergasted when I was summoned before the council and told they felt I was the best candidate. "People respond extremely well to you and you understand industrial matters better than most of us. We need a popular and trusted figurehead as much as a supreme commander, and you're good for both, even if you are a delicate prancer!" was the general consensus. Cometai stated that immediately upon watching my speech, he was sure they chose correctly. My then-subordinate staff felt the same way, even if they did fear I might bolt into my room and cry at any moment for the next few days (somehow that never happened).

As I spoke to various Likurian personnel on 20, 27, and 30 November, two prevailing themes emerged. The first was a extremely great trust in me and my ability to lead. Many went so far as to assert if I hadn't been appointed to this position at that time, our enemies would have prevailed by now. They find me extremely competent and charismatic, but also very genuine as I'm so disinhibited and openly emotional. While I agree with them (I can objectively view myself and my traits, I am sure), it's still comforting to hear it from others. The second was the perception (which seems irrefutable, honestly) the roles had been reversed, that now we were critical to their survival rather than the other way around. They were losing territory even as they retreated to very favorable terrain, and Wesitaria had opted to defeat them with great haste before doing much on our continent. The breathtaking speed with which our military strengthened and modernized and overran the Bengarians forced them to change their grand strategy. Their offspring grew up and managed to even withstand the combined efforts of our enemies, with comparatively very little assistance from them. 

On 30 November, as we had the previous two years, we deployed a sizable force to their continent to start what we hope to be a large and sustained offensive. There is much uncertainty on our own continent, and the Wesitarians seem to not be deviating from their strategy of maximal effort here in response to our efforts. This does not dissuade us from reducing our combat strength here so that we can help the Likurians retake territory. As I mentioned in the previous entry, this particular operation was highly successful but was slightly botched by us. We are not maneuvering as rapidly as we had intended, and this somewhat limits our gains. However, the defeat to the Wesitarians is still more than substantial enough to warrant the efforts.

As our fleet was sailing towards the Western Continent, I addressed our nation which had recently voluntarily remobilized to keep up with our adversaries who had increased their own mobilization levels to try to overwhelm us. There is the general perception that at least on our own continent, we are the ascendant power, and perhaps very soon will eclipse even Wesitaria in general. However, there is also great popular frustration because we have not moved very far over the last year, and it seems as if the war might be a grand conflict with no end for many years, one that only demands more material and blood and gives not even a distant victory in return. The reality is we have had to fight so many more troops and weapons with very little allied support for the last 18 months, and it seems likely we will cause enough damage to the enemy to start an increasingly rapid recession of their lines. However, what the populace most readily sees is us being stuck in the Kleintrin Forest, limited movement relative to last year despite two great campaigns on the Central Front, and a Western Front which has barely moved at all relative to 18 months ago and is now a Takomenian equivalent to the trench warfare of Terra's World War 1 (only with lots more fortresses and warships).

Of course, one of my primary tasks is to keep our population motivated and apprised, to give them hope their children won't be asked to fight a war the previous generation started. I hoped to do this with the following address to the people of both Kantaria and Likuria.

"It is my overwhelming pleasure to address my countrypeople once again on a day of such great significance to us, from aboard the mightiest weapon of war Takomen has ever seen as it travels to its destination. This is the day that we started advancing once again after unimaginable suffering and destruction, and the day we customarily review our progress over the last year as well as predict our progress over the following year. Our progress over the last year is great but difficult to see right now, and our predictions for the next range from moderately to extremely favorable."

"Three years ago, we were in a very pitiable state. We could not be sure we would survive even with the Likurian Intervention, and my words and expressions as I spoke to you all as the nation's newly appointed chief strategist made that very clear 10 days before. We did not dare to even envision us approaching the historical border with Bengaria a year in the future. I and virtually my entire staff would have been extremely grateful if we still held Mirukan and half of Kantaria at that stage. During the next year, our existence as a sovereign nation was threatened multiple times. We had great difficulty going and staying on the offensive or standing up to the enemy in pitched battles. Given our origins and the aforementioned catastrophe, we actually were grateful we were having to deal with these issues."

"On the next Resurgence Day, Kantarian panzers were rolling towards the old border along the Nansing River. Too many factors to name were the cause of this, but the sacrifices of all of you- civilian and soldier alike- were highly instrumental. Just a few months later, with our military's various special branches fully formed and our militia units demobilized, we dared to do the unthinkable when I first spoke to all of you in such a state of fear and grief- we invaded Bengaria. We prevailed after a ferocious offensive that almost failed on a couple of moments, and the front has never been on our side of the river anywhere since then."

"However, this provoked a realization and realignment in our enemies, and has been the cause of great frustration by many of us. We might overrun Bengaria by the next winter solstice if nothing changed, maybe the one after that if there wasn't a sufficient response by Wesitaria. They feared if that happened, we would be in their capital by the solstice after that. Thus, we became the main focus of the enemy alliance, and this has ever since greatly retarded our progress. However, in exchange we probably either saved Likuria from being overrun or ourselves from deploying there to save them. Of course, they were in such a predicament due to their great generosity in 2012 so that our nation may survive."

"We still have managed to execute awe-inspiring feats against increasing enemy pressure. Before Resurgence Day 2014, we inflicted a devastating defeat against Bengaria on the Eastern Front. Immediately afterwards, we inflicted a second disaster on them there and chased them to the perimeter of their great natural fortress called the Kleintrin Forest. We also deployed close to half a million of our regular soldiers- many of whom were the best on Takomen- to support Likuria at the same time. Those and other units collided with some of the best units of Wesitaria commanded by their best marshal, and we ultimately prevailed. The enemy alliance in reaction further mobilized and caused us major setbacks this year, from which we only recently have fully erased."

"Despite all of these disadvantages, despite the overwhelming increase in resistance, we actually have advanced on all fronts rather than lost ground this calendar year, with the exception of the Kleintrin Forest salient. We conducted the largest sustained bombardment of the war on a defensive line on the Western Front and succeeded in breaking through. We won a major offensive on the Central Front during the height of summer, a time least suited for Kantarian infantry especially. We then waged a successful campaign there soon afterwards. We lost an offensive there months later, only to quickly retake captured ground and even the score through a series of blistering counterattacks. We plan on conducting large-scale operations in support of our ally despite the huge enemy presence here and our refusal to reinstate mobilization demands, in addition to the assaults we have already conducted there."

"All that being said, the lines on our continent today are not much different from those of the year before (excepting the Eastern Front), the war seeming to have stagnated while demanding ever more weapons and lives to maintain the status quo. There have been many great battles on our continent for little territorial gain for either side relative to last Resurgence Day. We have had to fight over a million more troops and many thousands of artillery and panzers during this summer than last summer, and about as many more troops this winter than this summer. Additionally, we've been subjected to withering aerial bombardment on our military, transportation, and now industrial infrastructures. We're chronically outnumbered in everything 3 to 2 on our own continent, and our military struggles to stay within our demanding attrition threshold. Both enemy combatants have further mobilized while we have decreased our level. The Western and Eastern Fronts have become nearly impossible to advance for the time being, and the Central Front is approaching the same state if nothing changes."

"While these are laudable achievements in light of adversity, I wholeheartedly admit this doesn't change the fact the pace of advance has been poor. None of the four nations of Takomen would have enough volunteers to win the war if the cost in blood per kilometer remains constant. What will change in the next year to tip the balance in our favor and break the stalemate, most of you are wondering. I cannot reveal everything, as much as I wish to keep you all informed. Anything us strategic officers order is either made, supplied, or carried out by you all, and I have a sacred responsibility to you all to minimize suffering and sacrifice. It greatly frustrates me at times when I cannot explain why I am making you all do this or that, especially when most of you do this outside the comfort of an HQ well to the rear."

"However, I can tell you all a substantial amount. Our naval forces are in the process of being upgraded and increased in number more substantially than in previous months. Combined with other initiatives on the Western Front such as more intelligent basing, we expect to at least place Kalobol under siege before next 30 November. There are great plans to improve the economic health of our nation. You all have suffered the most from these wartime mobilizations  because of our starting circumstances, and now that we have some breathing room, we will try to lessen your deprivations while indirectly bolstering military output. Our soldiers and sailors remain undisputedly the best on our planet, and our panzer crews and marines and paratroopers have almost never encountered defeat. The enemy is losing strength faster than we are. If they don't win very decisively at least one major battle this winter, they will lose their chance to cause collapse. Additionally, our ally is significantly stronger now because of the stress our nation has been subjected to, and they are finishing their own economic consolidations."

"I steadfastly refuse to relay to you all, the people of Kantaria, what I know to be false. Thus, I cannot promise the war will proceed as we hope it will. If we are extremely fortunate, Bengaria will backslide so rapidly they will be forced to capitulate, which would make Wesitaria's defeat almost inevitable. If we are catastrophically unlucky, we could be forced back behind the Nansing River. What seems quite probable is a result closer to the first, our momentum rising as the cost to sustain it declines. There will be a great deal of bloodshed to get to that stage, we are almost certain. We can't accurately predict when the enemy's backsliding will start accelerating appreciably, though we're confident it will happen at least on one front by spring. At the very least, I am virtually utterly positive we will not be worse off next year than this year."

"This war- a Takomenian World War- has utterly preoccupied all four nations, a majority of our capabilities having to be employed in the endeavor of killing people more effectively rather than consolidating our cities or minimizing what inequalities remain. I will remorselessly order whatever I feel necessary within basic ethical parameters to facilitate Kantaria's ultimate victory. However, I always give these orders while being cognizant of the impacts the war has on our societies and our frontline soldiers alike. While the decisions and outcomes at times distress me greatly, there are very few who are as fortunate and pampered as I am. Soldiers in comparatively dirty and dangerous positions are told to attempt to exterminate other sapient beings, and civilians are commanded to exhaust themselves and make do with less to allow the former to carry out my instructions. There is no feasible cultural or political alternative to this contest to the governmental death currently. However, I will always be fully dedicated to the pursuit of making this conflict as short and painless as possible, for not just Kantaria but even our enemies. This is the ultimate moral obligation of my position, to cause the resumption of peace and prosperity to Takomen with the utmost haste and conservation of resources. If we continue to do what we have been doing, I am confident those standards will have been met."