Fiction REINCARNATION, Vol. 1

Aftermath of War

<42> Aftermath of War

The war that began with Antimon's provocation ended in less than a year with the victory of the Union. Antimon's ambitions to collapse the National Union System were crushed and the war has left tremendous scars. In particular, Antimon was especially damaged. There were many casualties and major cities and industrial facilities were destroyed. The cease-fire treaty brought frustration, humiliation to the Antimonians. The loss of military power is inevitable, but it has lost its sovereignty and infrastructure to support space development. Severe penalties await government leaders and military commanders who led the war. The situation of allies is similar.

Sumerion states welcome the collapse of the troublesome Antimon and the strengthening of the National Union System. While the leadership of the three northern countries that led the war against Antimon has been strengthened, the position of Dimerion states, which have shown an opportunistic attitude in anticipation of Antimon' victory, has become embarrassing. However, Sumerion states are concerned about the emergence of a second and third Antimon, and has adopted a strategy to actively embrace the Dimerion countries into the Union System.

Antimon will never emerge again in the next few hundred years. That is the fate of a defeated nation. In this regard, the handling of the planet's war-crime nations contrasts with that of the global community. Soon after the end of World War II, Germany and Japan became richer than their enemy countries who won the war. Germany and Japan were exempted from liability even after losing the war due to the emergence of the cold war system. The addition of U.S. economic support led to the rapid economic development of the two countries. The opposite happened on the planet Merion. The victorious National Union has punished the Antimon Alliance very severely.

However, as part of its engagement policy, the National Union has exempted Antimon from the liability of indemnity. Antimon lost its ability to compensate since most of its industries was paralyzed. Even from the perspective of the Union, which should be in charge of postwar recovery, exempting Antimon from liability is an inevitable option.

Under the Cease-Fire Treaty, Antimon and its allies must accept thirty years of trust and the National Union peacekeepers should undertake the security and postwar restoration project of Antimon. The Union appointed vice chairman of the Security Cooperation Committee as head of the peacekeeping force and selected officials from the members' security forces. And the Special Forces Command stationed in Antimon were assigned to maintain peace until the peacekeepers are formed and take over the mission.

The punishment for the war criminals was swift. The responsibilities of government leaders and military commanders have been rigorously investigated and punished accordingly. Antimon's military organizations and military facilities have all been shut down. Antimon forces were disbanded and combat troops were relocated to the industrial sector. The scars of the war were so great that the restoration projects were carried out slowly. Antimon's interim government has limited sovereignty and its citizens are uncooperative. Once denouncing the government and the military, citizens began to complain and protest against the occupying forces as their livelihood got worse.

Antimon citizens have a very negative feeling about the Special Forces Command because its guerrilla troops have impoverished the lives of citizens by destroying their industrial facilities. They are cynical instead of cooperating in the postwar restoration and policing activities of the commandos. There were even militant groups trying to launch provocations against the commandos and terrorize executives.

Antimonians still have a strong sense of superiority over its history and antipathy against Union System. Although the national power and prestige have been greatly reduced due to the defeat, their civic spirit did not collapse. Citizens felt humiliated once again when they saw political leaders and military commanders being executed and showed extreme hostility toward the commandos.