John Kallan Kurrman

John Kallan Kurrman, born on the 4th of January 2080, was a Zokesian politician, serving as the President of Zokesia twice and Chancellor of Zokesia once. He is regarded as the Founding father of the Confederacy and is considered the founder of the Kallan Doctrine, and right to self-determination for Kolusian nations.

John Kallan Kurrman President of Zokesia • Founder of The Confederacy
Personal Details
Born		January 4th, 2080 Ward, Zokesia
Died		July 12th, 2168. Ezekialgrad, Zokesia
Nationality		Zokesian
Cause of Death		Natural Causes
Relatives		Jack Fournloke Kurrman (Son)
Nicknames		The Father of Kallan Doctrine
12th President of Zokesia
In Office
01/01/2130 - 12/31/2134
Preceded by		Boulton Graves
Succeeded by		Herbert Mundarius
7th Chancellor of Zokesia
In Office
01/01/2135 - 12/31/2139
Preceded by		Bobby Ryan Carriliel
Succeeded by		Barthollemu Cillgalli
14th President of Zokesia
In Office
01/01/2140 - 12/31/2149
Preceded by		Herbert Mundarius
Succeeded by		Winslow Harding

Early Life

John Kallan Kurrman was born on a farm in Ward province, Zokesia, and grew up as the nation rapidly progressed around him. His father became one of the wealthiest ranchers in Zokesia, and was raised in a Farmer's Coalition family, attending co-op events and political rallies. His father wanted him to take up the reigns of the family buisness, but John had aspirations of seeing the rapidly changing world outside of Zokesia. Nations would rise and fall from month to month, with the Zokesian sphere of influence radpidly expanding with each, and John would frequent the smaller nations around Kolus while studying law and economics. He graduated from the famous Ward College in 2101 and began looking into politics shortly thereafter.

Political Career and Views

Early Career

John Kallan Kurrman started his political career as an executive assistant in the Zokesian Royal Party. He became close friends with Bobby Carriliel, and the pair both entered into the parliament as Royal Party members in 2105.

First Presidency

In 2126, Ella II, Empress of Zokeisa passed away. The state funeral saw thousands of diplomats, heads of state, and fellow politicians. For the nation, a great loss was suffered with the death of their Empress. The 8 year old Magdalene of house Ward-Vikus was crowned Empress, and in the national elections four years later, Ella's old party, the Zokesian Royal Party, won their first election in decades, behind a bold and firey man named John Kallan Kurrman. With his hand, Zokesia was pulled out of neutrality and began operating actively in the Central Sea and southern Baskay area. The minor action in Gaxinia saw the first stretch of the new Zokesian Royal Navy's legs, but the real test would come in 2129, when the Nautilus Crisis would kick off the largest war in the past 20 years.

Nautilus War

John Kallan Kurrman was president during the Gallante war, and by 2131, the Gallans were kicked completely out of Castana and a naval blockade was established surrounding the nation. The Zokesian Navy, allready expanding at the time of war, exploded threefold in size, and by 2133 had the largest surface fleet on Kerbin. Naval invasions in the southern provinces were initiated by Orion and Phoenia, supported by Zokesian and Eloheim aircraft which fought bloody SEAD missions to rid the mainland of its dense missile batteries. Over 100 Zokesian fighters were lost, but the move forced Gallante off the southern half of the peninsula and peace was finally struck, ending the war in favorable terms to Nautilus and the Security Coalition.

World Power and Peace

The Zokesian Confederation circa 2135, which includes Nuvastia, Eastrayand, Schrschnell, Puge-Tatar, Juno, Wurst, and Valenia. The lessons learned in Gallante were stark, and Zokesia was no longer the neutral and unprepared nation it was before the war. Combined economically with her neighbors into the Zokesian Confederation, the nation and its allies enjoyed boom year after boom year, with record bumper crops, economic output, and social mobility. However, the years of war had taken its toll and the nation picked Zokesian Green Party lerader Herbert Mundarius as the next president. The nation had never in its history ever been so wealthy as after the Nautilus Crisis; and, with the aid of its newly rediscovered allies on the Mun and in the now safe and economically thriving Nautilus and Gallantian Occupied Zones, the nation enjoyed nearly a decade of prosperity as the glimmering beacon of Kerbin. It was looking like the nation would push forward into space, fielding more and more warships on Kerbin and in orbit above, and the newly re-established Wardian Korfu Colony on Minmus was bringing new and exotic resources from high Kerbin orbit into the Zokesian trading sectors. A mild outbreak of ground worms in 2136 in Nuvastia was quickly squashed by the weight of Zokesia and its allies, but sowed the seeds of disaster in the years to come.

Second Presidency

Following the years of economic failure, the blame of the mass fell squarely on the shoulders of the Zokesian Green Party - for multiple reasons. The uncovering of documents exposing the cause of multiple failures in the banking systems was primarily the result of a corrupt 'short' dealing which the ruling party either failed to correct or turned a blind eye to. Second, the lack of economic development in the east led to over-farming of the few products which could grow in the eastern plains - bumper harvests and incentive to overproduce via government stimulus to farms meant the soil was getting overburdened without enough time for rotation. Lastly, the government's decision to drag its heels on economic handouts showed a "too little, too late" approach to record low economic downturns, turning a year-long financial crisis into a half decade of slump.

The Zokesian Green party held onto the majority of seats in the Parliament ever so slightly and began, firstoff, by securing the popularity of the old guard - nominating former president John Kallan Kurrman as president of Zokesia, in exchange for the power to sweep legislation through without veto. The beginnings started with rebuilding the sectors worst hit by the crisis - the agricultural and exports. The Economic Recovery Act was passed as a stopgap, with a provision to emigrate Zokesians to the nearly-settled South Foresti, where its unhampered acres of forest & farmland could be used to re-ignite the Zokesian economy. Within a year of the plains initiative, 250,000 Zokesians moved to Foresti for a new life, leaving the unemployment and famine behind. The economy of South Foresti began to grow immensely, as well as the newfound shipping industries required to send produce & lumber back to Zokesia.

The Zokesian Civil War

Over the course of the next week one by one all 10 active StahlSieg units banded together to pledge allegiance to Reichscommander Studer, who had set up his headquarters in the Surnish province of Juno. Reichscommisariat Juno thus became the “legitimate successor state to the Grailreich” and was declared the Second Reich of Zokesia. The Zokesian Greens mobilized the armed forces but many amongst the ranks had defected along with the Stahl Sieg, and only half the remaining forces could be mustered to defend her interests and now apparent legitimacy. In Sur-Krakain and Forseti the borders, sea lanes, and air lanes were shut off to prevent any and all travel in the hopes of catching Stahl Sieg defectors, but rioting and minor coup attempts were occuring in every city in both of the principalities. Then the news that Schrschnell and the Zokesian Navy had completely defected sounded the first shots of the civil war, as the battleships Morser, Konig, and Notilian sailed past the government house in Ezekielgrad firing high explosive 16” shells onto the city. The fleet then sailed through Nautilus and out into the waters of the Southern Sea. It was the final result of years of economic hardship, weak left rule, and lingering pro-Grail ideals that suddenly ignited the nation.

In a matter of hours the most peaceful state in Kolus became a war zone as Stahl Sieg companies and Zokesian regular clashed over the control of the main port city. The Prince of Scheschnell, Wayne II, who pledged allegiance to the SS in the opening stages of conflict fled north to Zok and has been in hiding since, as large parts of the principality fall to pro-Zokesian militias and regular forces. Only a handful of SS troops fight on in the port proper, as the naval units that recently defected from Zokesia fire indiscriminately on the city. The fate of Schrshnell is not known but the fighting has alerted thousands of citizens to the polarizing nature of the struggle, and many are becoming more and more gavinized to the Green Zokesian struggle. It is only a matter of time before Schrschnell returns to Zokesian control, but at a phyrric cost to the citizens of the nation. Stahl Sieg has made themselves very unpopular in the eyes of southern Zokesians but a great number are still dissatisfied with the Greens and refuse to support them fully, neither siding with democracy nor authoritarian military rule.

Zokesian president John Kallan Kurrman said this about the crisis, on Christmas Eve, 2141:

“To the people of Zokesia I send a message of strength in these trying times. Many of us those at home and abroad have felt the repercussions of the treason which has rooted itself out so recently and threatens our very survival. Men and women who sat shoulder to shoulder with you yesterday are now declaring intent to kill maim and murder all you know and hold dear. It was not too long ago that the greatest disagreement between neighbors was the dog had taken a leak where it shouldn’t have. Now, molotovs are thrown from houses next door. This is not the Zokesia you and I know and love. This is an artificial crisis created by the Stahl Sieg - warmongers out to create pain and suffering at anyone’s cost. You all know that for many years greens and conservatives did not get along, and I myself was reluctant to work with the Greens, even after they won the majority vote and began putting their policies in. But we sensible people solved our differences peacefully and continued the tradition of Zokesian Excelence and solidarity. No other nation is like Zokesia in the world - with unadulterated freedom, political liberty, economic success unparalleled, and patriotism above all - standards higher than all and history deeper than any - and there never will be another. The nation has been through tough times, and those abroad are scattered in their homes as far as Sur-Krakain and Forseti, or Bayconn island, but we all sing the same anthem and swear the same oath - to preserve our little nation, for our children’s children too. The stahlsieg and its supporters are not Zokesians - they are foreign thugs hired decades ago in time of need and who have held onto their spot of importance for far too long. We will drive them out once and for all and spill their blood in the name of freedom! Zokesia is and always will be a free land and it is up to all of us, everywhere, to ensure she does not fall. There is no other nation in the world to flee to - Zokesia is the last great bastion of freedom on Kerbin, and her demise will spell the death of liberty for a thousand years to come.”

Kallan Era in Zokesia

In 2145, incumbent president John Kallan Kurrman was elected to his second consecutive and third total term in office as Zokesian President. Under his seasoned leadership and steadfast resolve, Zokesia soundly defeated the Stahl Sieg at home and abroad, defeated Surnay and avoided war with Crytil, and established new colonies and lands of opportunity for Zokesians to settle outside of the home country. Hout, Slen, Strelkan South Kafrica, and Syx island were all added to the national crown, and the tourist industry and commercial flights between the interstellar colonies increased, driving the economic boom known as the "Kallan Kurrman Forties". In his inauguration speech, John Kallan Kurrman once again promised to put the nation's interest first and foremost and to push for more economic reforms at home, with the aim of giving back to the people and improving quality of life across the nation. The ripples of the civil war still burn in some parts of Schrschnell and Juno, and Green party protests were prevalent in major cities, which John Kallan Kurrman said he understood and that the nation would have to take time to heal once again before it can be in agreement. Political division is strong in Zokesia but the charisma and reliability of John Kallan Kurrman has continued to reinforce the Royal Party's reputation for this generation of voters, as the implementation of Green policies as well as promotion of the armed forces saps power from the platforms of the Socialist Party and Green party.

In 2146 Zokesian intelligence picked up the faint signals from the old Federal Colony of Rhodes, thought destroyed long ago by the collapse of a terraforming project on Duna. The colony once again re-established contact with the home planet after nearly 6 decades of silence. The explanation given by the colonists was the knowledge of how to repair the dish and align it with Kerbin was lost with the destruction of the main computer database during the crisis, and through sheer trial and error over decades they were able to rebuild and realign it thanks to a brilliant scientist who was born after the colony's founding, Robert Maccanan. Maccanan had quickly established himself as a sharp and resourceful kerbal, and moved up through the colony's ranks untill he became the Director of Colonial Development, where he began work on re-establishing contact with the home country. The colony was at 98,000 kerbals at the time of disappearance, but now has over 1.6 million Zokesians and Aenians living in vast cities just under the Duna surface.

Stahl Sieg Pardoned

In an unexpected and controversial move, John Kallan Kurrman moved to reconcile the civil war's still open wounds by officially pardoning the 5 Stahl Sieg Divisions that did not break away from Zokesia during the Civil War. Many in Zokesia felt that the whole of the Stahl Sieg organization was to blame for the defection and that their alleged war crimes were to be blamed on the entirety of the group. However, the still active units made up a notable force around the globe, many of which were still Zokesian loyalists and had signed up to defend their nations and Zokesia from communist and socialist menaces. Now, with the outbreak of war against Arcadia, they once again felt a need to approach Zokesia and offer their services to free the peoples of Aenia and Gagriel. Fearing their rogue status may lead them to fight for the highest bidder, the Zokesian president knew he had to make amends before he faced a second insurrection down the line. John Kallan Kurrman put those accusations to rest with the stroke of his pen.

Outside the Stahl Seig barracks complex at Nautilus, a crowd of civilians, Zokesian Sailors, Soldiers, and Aviators gathered to watch. 200 Stahl Sieg troops, from all nations - from Veiid to Kolus, Doren and Firesvar - were in perfect formation behind their honor guards. At precisely 11:45 on May 11th, 2149, each of the 5 Stahl Sieg honor guards - 11th SS. "Gunnar" Königgrätzer, 14th SS. Belasrien, 17th SS. "Morado" Nautilen, 18th SS. NeuCom, and 19th SS. Arkerien - lowered their banners before the President of Zokesia. John Kallan Kurrman gave a short speech:

"The healing process is a two way street - you have shown your loyalty to Zokesia and the Republican ideals we hold, and now it is time for the people to likewize show the spirit of Zokesia and its values of compassion and forgiveness. Together, the nation and its warriors can unite and find peace at home and abroad."

Restoration of the Confederacy

In 2149, following the restoration of the UIF as the rightful successor of Arcadia, Arcodovnian and Zokesian officials came together to tighten the bonds between their nations in the Zokesian Confederacy. A new draft of the Articles of Confederation were established, and were officially amended by unanimous vote in the Zokesian House of Lords and Arcodovnian Senate, to unite under a common banner. The nations of Zokesia, Schrschnell, Wardia, Drekevak, Juno, Arcovdonia, and Carsodonia united to form the Zokesian Confederation. Millions rejoiced as allready close ties on Kolus grow nearer.

Retirement

John Kallan Kurrman was the most esteemed politician in Zokesia in 2149. His knowledge and 30 years of experience in governance were immesurable - his two presidential terms influential and his leadership in times of strife and crisis steady as a lighthouse in a storm. But he was getting old. He felt that now, on the evening of the coronation of the new Arcovii-Zokesian Confederacy, it was time to announce retirement. In his farewell speech, he announced he would put his endorsement behind one of his closest political allies and proteges, Vice President Winslow Harding. The reigns of governance would continue down a bright future, he said, if the nation and the Zokesian Royal Party put their faith in Harding. The 2150 Elections resulted in a resounding victory by Harding, but from day one in office it was clear Harding was no carbon copy of John Kallan Kurrman. He immediately announced his support for all Kerbal Rights in Kafrica, issuing an ultimatum to Suid-Kafrica to solve its rampant race riots or face embargo. The resulting nation of Strelka-Grestinia was held together by duct tape and string, and it wasn't long before Chikusinal broke free as a refuge for Strelkans in Kafrica. Postwar military cutbacks also left much turmoil in the economic sector, and the unexpected pushback from Trans-Vanadian natives resistant to the Confederation put strain on the peace within Arcovii-Zokesia.

Legacy

John Kallan Kurrman's legacy is matched by few in the history of the Confederacy. His prowess as a statesman and care for every aspect of the state's relationship with client nations set the stage for a united Kolus under the Confederate banner long after his reign. His Kallan Doctrine of self-individualism and right to determination for smaller states created a precedent to allow the nations of Kolus to encourage national identity and sovereignty, and peace among the many nations and cultures of Kolus. His work has healed, if not completely removed, the lasting scars in the continent following Grail's path of destruction in the 2090s, and has all but eliminated the stigma of Zokesian totalitarianism in the continent.