Changes in Nordheim

[Kaiser Martens]

Things had changed in Nordheim. Things had changed for the best. Still the mood of the land and morale were higher than ever now after this long-overdue victory, but its practical implicances were greater than the symbollical implications. Danger had passed, and no further offensive wars would be conducted, so the people were again able to more freely plan their lives...

The large Baltoslavic and Rus Minorities in Nordheim, after having "reconquered" their land have migrated from Nordheim's Mainland to the Protectorate Regions in Russia, to establish themselves as autonomos Rus and Slav communities, essentially becoming a number of small confederations of isolationist microcountries. Martens' promise was now a reality, as they were able to go back to their ancestral "Rodina".

Similar movements happened in the rest of Nordheim's minorities, which would be able to go back to their original homelands or otherwise start anew in Russia's north, taking the wealth and experience they had amassed during their stay in Nordland, but the other two main population movements would be remarkable too: Italy and Rebel Army. Yes, most of the territories there were partially or totally nuclear wastelands, but it was their land. Large scales expeditions are sent towards Italy and Rebel Army, where the people return to the home of their ancestors, bringing with them trucks, mobile homes, their weapons, and more. It was rather like a huge humanitarian aid operation, but also literally was like new Völkerwanderungs, as the story comes to a conclussion.

Something similar yet opposite also has happened in other Nordheimer zones, where Nordlandic minorities formerly "trapped" in Slavorussia would migrate to Nordheimer sectors to be able to start life anew. Nordheim continued so with their population distribution, sending more people to Iceland, and to the "Rurikland" in Nordheimer Russia. Strangely, it was found to be a ghost town, as many people had fled in fear and panic, so it would effectively be repopulated from now onwards.

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These changes also were related to changes in Government Expenditures and budget. The budget had gone up reasonably due the war, primarily because the Slavorussians had left literally everything intact and fighting had been so little, the army took it up to itself to retrieve all items of value left in Nordheimer Slavorussia in a hurry - After all, the former owners had ran away, and this plus the existant factories and natural resources would be exploited. Since the military equipment was currently very good and had been built in extreme numbers, a large amount of the country's might was allocated to the construction of fortifications throughout the lands, that is Nordheim Proper, Iceland, and Rurikland too, both coastal and inland, AA was also being constructed in the form of FLAK and SAM sites. Many factories - all underground - were being built too.

Apparently, while in the past Nordheim had been geared for offensive purposes, now the Government was planning a more defensive approach to sovereignty, focusing their efforts in turning Nordheim into a fortress and making the economy more resistant and resilient to high demands. The population was growing quickly in spite of the ones who left, the manpower and workforce was boldened every time.

More unusual was the fact that another portion of the budget was being destined to the construction of schools and hospitals in Ruriksland and Iceland, as well as several museums, including what would be announced as the "Nordlandisk Volksschounhaalle" (Nodlandic Peoples' Museum) just outside of Asgaard, taking a turn away from the militaristic-only nature to cultivate other necessities. Already people were referring to this as the beginning of a new Nordlandic Golden Age, "Pax Nordica", "Nordunsruhezeit", a new Enlightenment, while of course skeptical warriors always remained.

A large number of Slavorussian POWs had been captured after the surrender, those who had managed to surrender before being slaughtered, probably 50% of the forces Nordheim had faced. They remain in custody within Nordheim in facilities, however in three months their release is scheduled, where they'll be sent to one of the Nordlandic Protectorate Areas in order to allow them to begin a new life there. T-90s were also captured, and were used as training for new soldiers. Foreigners were invited if needed to check on the living conditions of the POWs to ensure they were being treated fairly, which was indeed the case. It had been one of the "cleanest" wars in European history, and definately the cleanest by far in Russian history, period.

Greater Nordland was back, maybe the chaos in Europe was to stop.