Editing History of Zamastan (section)

===Castovia Era===

====Emergency Election====
The crash of [[Zian Prime 0]] and President [[Damian Lorrie]]’s death came as a shock to all Zamastan and the rest of the world, and this event ultimately set in motion the subsequent emergency elections that put Governor [[Cassious Castovia]] into office in November of 1982. Cassious was the grandson of [[William Castovia]], who served as the third President of Zamastan from 1862-1906, the longest serving President with 44 years in office followed by [[Tomias Hapson]] with 40 years in office and [[Marvin Gaviria]] with 26 years in office. Cassious was a 33-year-old at the time of the emergency election, and because of his prominence as the Governor of the Zian Province and his family name, he easily won against the rather unknown and hastily picked candidates.
[[File:Cassiouscastovia1.jpg|thumb|right|Cassious Castovia]]
====Early Acts====
Castovia’s first act in office was the renewal of public transport systems and safety in personalized vehicles following the Zian Prime 0 crash. The laws he passed set in motion the safety registrations for vehicles including seat belt laws that insured greater protection on the road. Included in this new system of safer roads was a complete overhaul of the current road system, including the installation of nationwide roundabouts as opposed to intersections, wider two lane roads with divergent exits, and more moderate speed limits.
[[File:Cmequalityact.jpg|thumb|left|Members of the Zamastanian LGBT Community celebrate after President Cassious Castovia signed the County Marriage Equality Act on June 4th, 1983]]
Though most of his first official duties as President for the first quarter of his first term (6 months) were merely social issues, the Supreme Court and the Congressional members of the government discussed a growing trend in the global community – that of legalizing gay marriage. The LGBT community around the world had started gaining momentum, specifically in the fact that laws outlawing homosexuality were being abolished in many Western nations such as European countries and Canada around the 1980s. On June 4th, 1983, Castovia signed a bill that allowed for individual counties to allow their own passage of same-sex marriage. This was a hotly disputed act, but it progressed Zamastan’s social climate further towards the adapting world.

====[[First War in Vulkaria]] (1983-1991)====
On June 18th, 1983, a bomb detonated at a packed LGBT celebration rally in Alanis, killing 106 people and injuring over 400. This attack was originally thought to be perpetrated by a radical hate group, which was condemned by President Castovia and the leaders of nearly every allied nation of Zamastan’s. However, it was soon discovered that the [[Alanis Pride Parade Bombing]] was carried out by a terror group operating out of the newly founded nation of [[Vulkaria]]. Throughout the rest of the week, many more attacks took place against other targets. Most were small attacks that failed to kill people, however, two attacks of significance did occur that pressed Zamastan’s interest beyond domestic policy for the first time since the second world war. The first of these occurred on June 20th, where a bomb detonated outside of the Presidential Mansion in Tofino, killing seven security guards and four tourists. President Castovia wasn’t injured, but the glass windows of the Gaviria Room in which he was sitting did shatter and injure some of his aids. The second attack was a mass stabbing at the Tofino Airport which resulted in the deaths of three people and the injuries of nearly forty more. Zamastan demanded action, and Castovia started working on a military plan to put Zamastan back into the global schedule.

On July 6th, amid threats from a terrorist organization known as the [[Malvarian Liberation Front]] in the nation of [[Vulkaria]], Zamastan for the first time assisted and successfully rolled back an enemy force on foreign soil in [[Operation Tidal Hawk]]. The small rocky, coastal grassland nation of Vulkaria had undergone a coup d'état by [[Bernard Coard]], a staunch capitalist seeking to strengthen the country's existing ties with the United States, West Germany, and the Western U.N. nations. The prime minister was killed and insurgents had orders to shoot on sight. Over 1,000 Zamastanians were in the nation, mostly medical students and their families, and the government could not guarantee their security. After the coup, the new Vulkarian government led by Prime Minister [[Eugenia Charles]] officially called on the United States for protection, but they refused. Due to the small and relatively insufficient military, the splinter group of the old, Marxist leaning government formed a faction called the [[Malvarian Liberation Front]]. This group often attacked villages and were known for their brutality. After their attacks abroad in Zamastan, the M.L.F. was targeted for complete destruction or expulsion. The campaign launched July 6th, 1983, fought primarily against armed M.L.F. insurgents, the Zamastan military invaded and temporarily took control. Their occupation of Vulkaria’s capital fully restored democracy to the nation and fighting became mostly restricted to rural regions after the first three months of more urban centered fighting. Castovia ordered and launched an air strike against Vulkaria after it was found to have connections to the terrorists, specifically in an attack which killed two Zamastanian soldiers.
[[File:Battlevulkaria.jpg|thumb|right|Smoke rises from a battlefield in Vulkaria]]
The Castovia administration also supplied funds and weapons to heavily militarily-influenced government factions in Vulkaria beginning in 1987. In that year, with assistance from the Vulkarian national intelligence agency, the Zamastanian military organized and financed right-wing paramilitaries in the rural villages of Vulkaria, known as the Bungle-Bara. The tracing of secret funds for this scheme led to the revelations of the Zamastan–Bungle affair. In 1988 Castovia authorized the sale of arms in Vulkaria in an unsuccessful effort to free Zamastan hostages in the province of Mulwa; he later professed ignorance that subordinates were illegally diverting the proceeds to the Bungle’s. Castovia's approval ratings plummeted in 1988 as a result of the scandal, and though he won his 4th election, many Zamastanians began to seriously question his judgement. While the president's popularity improved in his final two years, he would never again enjoy the support he had had in 1983-4. The War in Vulkaria, though supported by most Zamastan’s in its reasonings, became a stalemate for the rest of the Castovia administration. The war officially ended on April 28th, 1991, after nearly 8 years of fighting, when Cassious Castovia announced the end to battle-operations within the region. Though the M.L.F. was not completely destroyed, their ability to wage war was significantly diminished. In the course of the war, 8,738 Zamastanian troops were killed, 23,393 Vulkarian troops were killed, and over 109,000 M.L.F. fighters were estimated to have died. Zamastan to this day is one of Vulkaria’s strongest allies and even has a military base within the region which serves as an air force stationing position.

====Facing Communism====
During the rest of his administration, Castovia expressed opposition to the Vietnamese-installed Communist regime of Heng Samrin (and later, Hun Sen) in Cambodia, which had ousted the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime after Vietnam invaded the country. The administration approved military and humanitarian aid to the republican KPNLF and royalist Funcinpec insurgents. The Castovia administration also supported continued UN recognition of the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea (a tripartite rebel alliance of the KPNLF, Funcinpec, and the Khmer Rouge) over the Vietnamese-backed People's Republic of Kampuchea regime. Castovia also continued Zamastan support for the autocratic Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, an ardent anti-Communist. In a 1990 presidential debate sponsored by the League of Women Voters, he explained his administration's support of Marcos by stating, "I know there are things there in the Philippines that do not look good to us from the standpoint right now of democratic rights, but what is the alternative? It is a large communist movement", referring to active Communist guerrillas operating in the Philippines at the time. The U.S. also had significant strategic military interests in the Philippines, knowing that Marcos's government would not tamper with agreements to maintain U.S. naval bases in the country. Marcos was later ousted in 1986 by the mostly peaceful People Power movement, led by Corazón Aquino.

====Mara Castovia gives Birth====
Castovia’s wife Mara gave birth to a son on the same day he was reelected to another term in 1990. [[Zacharias Castovia]] would in the future continue on the Castovia dynasty in Zamastan politics.

[[File:Castoviaun.jpg|thumb|right|Castovia (far right) joins a session at the UN Headquarters in New York City on September 1st, 1991]]
====Conflict with the U.N.====
Castovia was sharply critical of the [[United Nations]], once the darling of the Zamastanians. He repudiated what he felt was its corruption, inefficiency and failure to assist in the Vulkarian crisis. In 1985-1987, Zamastan joined the U.S. and withdrew from UNESCO, which had failed in its cultural missions, and began to deliberately withhold its UN dues. American policymakers along with their Zamastan counterparts considered this tactic an effective tool for asserting influence in the UN. When the UN and UNESCO mended their ways, the two nations returned and paid its dues.

====Cadair Crisis and [[1991 Bjeorg Conflict]]====

====Revitalization of the Economy====
Under the Presidency of [[Cassious Castovia]], the national economy of Zamastan was in a constant state of fluctuating proportions. Early on, the economy was in slow decline, but the introduction of roadworks programs brought jobs and easier travel to the nation, allowing for a growth for several years. Increased civil opportunities for previously less-opportunistic groups such as the LGBT community also grew a small but substantial working group. The economy was hit hard, however, in the first two years of the War in Vulkaria, as funds were directed towards the military. Zamastan’s first solo war abroad did eventually gain momentum as the crisis in Vulkaria began to adjust and stabilize under generals learning how to adapt to foreign combat and were able to create investments for better technologies. This accelerated not only Zamastan’s arms manufacturing economy but strengthened Zamastan’s global standing with its military. The automobile industry also skyrocketed under trade deals with the nation of Novachronos, which included manufacturing and agricultural projects for [[Novachronos]]’ emerging economy. Oil exports were nearly crushed under the threats of sanctions against Toa Krotaor, but the resolution of the diplomatic crisis created an international shipping route within this new conglomerate of nations.

In 1995, Zamastan began importing oil, but as consumption kept rising and the nation's oil fields became less productive. Throughout the 1990s the world price of crude oil ranged between $10 and $40, and the average price at the pump did not exceed $1.40. Oil prices tripled after 2002, peaking at $147 in July 2001, about $4 a gallon; the price has continued to fluctuate widely. The theme of "energy independence" led to legislation mandating more fuel-efficient autos—even electric vehicles—and more efficient use of energy, ranging from insulation to new light bulbs. Even worse than the high price, was the fear of shortages. Many proposals and pilot projects for replacement energy sources, from ethanol to wind power and solar power were discussed and, indeed, funded by Congressional Hall after 2000. In the economic stimulus package signed by President Castovia in early 2002, billions of dollars were allocated for research and development of new energy sources.

While public attention focused on supplies from the Middle East, the main source was Canada. After 2003, new methods of extraction opened up vast new deposits of oil in the Labret Formation in Pahl and the Northern Island. As much as two trillion dollars’ worth of natural gas is potentially available in the Ziapet Formation deposits located in the historic 19th-century oil fields in Zian, stretching from Tofino through Jade into western Horseshoe Region. However, there is sharp debate underway regarding the environmental impact on the region's fresh water supply. The question of drilling in the Northern Islands National Wildlife Refuge (NINWR) was highly controversial, but the 2004 Tarin Gulf oil spill put all new drilling on hold.

====[[Treviso Nuclear Crisis]]====
On January 26th, 1992, a nuclear reactor built by the Soviet Union in the nation of Daybrake shut down unexpectedly. The USSR had disbanded in December of 1991, and all soviet scientists and nuclear workers had returned to their home nation. The new Daybraken workers at the facility had little training, and the strain of continuous small errors led to the overheat and shutdown of one of the seven reactors. For roughly three days, the station was simply abandoned and closed, but the building heat (unknown to the facilities employees) resulted in a combustion explosion, destroying the reactor’s core, outer walls, and damaging the two reactors next to it. The damage then increased drastically as low-pressure systems caused cold air to vent into the heated cores, causing sparks that ignited a nuclear explosion about half the size of the one that destroyed Hiroshima. The reactor was located adjacent to the city of Treviso, and the explosion devastated the outskirts of the city, killing an estimated 5,600 people. The frail Daybrake government tried to cover up the incident, however when scientists detected the radiation plume in the atmosphere directly above Zamastan airspace, President Castovia called the Daybraken Prime Minister as a show of force to block the contamination. He also offered assistance to the radiated citizens of Daybrake. Zamastan scientists and soldiers occupied the contaminated region of Daybrake and to this day, although the Daybraken government is in control of their nation, Zamastan maintains their heavy, unknown, and oftentimes regarded as suspicious activity within the nuclear wasted borderlands.

====[[Second War in Vulkaria]] (2004-2005)====
Cassious Castovia was reelected to his 10th term as President in 2004 amid mild but still above average approval ratings. Among the debate topics during his run was the increasing conflict in Vulkaria. In 1999, a new administration was elected that was lenient towards more radical political thoughts. However, this unintentionally led to a revitalization of the M.L.F. and many other embattled groups wanting to take over power. A civil war erupted in 2000 once again, and the nation was embroiled with Zamastanian interests once again being threatened. Castovia announced a “red-line” against the rebels in 2003, and after his reelection, he decided to send aid to the Vulkarian government in the form of soldiers on October 4th, 2004. On October 15th, the full scope of the civil war’s brutality was realized by the Zamastan military when rebel forces stormed the city of Amstelveen and swiftly captured Vulkarian positions. The city had been considered to be a fortress held by government and Zamastan forces, and it was only a short drive down the national highway from Vulkaria’s capital of Vulkar. Only Zamastanian forces remained in the city on the 16th, however, they were unable to evacuate in the densely compacted town blocks and the fact that they were spread sparsely amid the nearly 600,000 inhabitants.
[[File:Amvelsteentanks.jpg|thumb|right|Zamastanian tanks preparing to enter Amstelveen on October 16th]]
Rebels began a purge throughout Amstelveen on the 17th, attacking Zamastanian positions and repelling airstrikes with shoulder fired surface-to-air missiles. Central command operating from the capital ordered all troops to rendezvous at the only remaining checkpoint in the city, a moderately guarded airstrip and prison complex used by the Vulkarian military as a staging point next to the national highway. For the next two days, thousands of Zamastanian soldiers fought, often in gritty close quarters, house to house combat, to reach the checkpoint in small groups at a time. Fighter jets and reinforcements tried, to little avail, to support the evacuating troops. By October 19th, all surviving Zamastanian forces had arrived at the base and were evacuated to the capital, preparing for an offensive to take back the city, but the first stage Battle of Amstelveen was a military disaster for both the Vulkarians and the Zamastanians. 16,930 Vulkarian troops were slaughtered during the rebel incursion and 2,933 Zamastan troops were killed trying to evacuate. 11 Zamastan jets were also shot down providing aircover, but an estimated 30,000 rebels were killed during the three days of the battle.

[[File:Battlevulkaria2.jpg|thumb|left|Damaged building in Amstelveen during the Second War in Vulkaria]]

Vulkarian and Zamastan forces began a push into the city from the north and south respectively once again roughly a week later, dropping leaflets over the city warning of the impending bombardment. A crisis began to unfold as citizens tried to leave the northern section of the city before the Vulkarian army arrived. Thousands of citizens became caught in the crossfire of rebel sharpshooters and Vulkarian artillery. Zamastan soldiers did not encounter many civilians during the fighting, but they did discover many mass graves and evidence of biochemical attacks by the rebels in many sections of the southern portion of Amstelveen. By the end of the incursion on October 28th, 6,029 Zamastanians had been killed, 10,240 Vulkarians soldiers were killed, and over 98,000 rebels had been killed. However, the startling statistic was over 200,000 citizens killed in gas attacks, mass killings, executions, and in airstrikes. The civilian death toll was not released until a year after Zamastan pulled out of Vulkaria in 2005 when the war ended. In December, a passenger jet taking off from Vulkaria’s only international airport was shot down by rebels on the outskirts of another heavy battleground city of Barneveld, killing all 320 on board. A Zamastan military plane was also shot down on approach to a base in the city, killing 39 soldiers. The war started to deescalate as rebels began to flee the region in shipping vessels for a long forgotten Vulkarian colony in Southeast Asia. By February 6th, 2005, the remaining rebels surrendered as the escapee insurgents declared a new nation in the former colony, now known as Malware. Costs of the Second Vulkarian War were staggering; 23,246 Zamastanian troops killed, 103,500 Vulkarian troops killed, over 720,000 rebels killed, and roughly 1.2 million citizens died amidst the brutal fighting. The Castovia administration was praised for ending the war but extensively blamed for the immense loss of life, both from the allied military coalition and the Vulkarian populace. Including the citizens, soldiers, and rebels, roughly 1 in every 30 Vulkarians died in the war. The final death toll with all combined sides in the five years of fighting was 2.1 million people. President [[Cassious Castovia]] faced brutal drops in his approval ratings when, on April 21st, 2006, a leaked document showed that Zamastan bombers had been the cause of thousands of civilian deaths during the battles, specifically at Amstelveen and Barneveld. As this became further clear, Castovia nearly lost his next election, but won his 11th term with an extremely close 50.032% of the vote.

====Death====
Cassious Castovia’s son, [[Zacharias Castovia]], spent time abroad to distance himself from his family. Born on election day (September 22nd) in 1990, he was raised within the elite of Zamastan’s first “family political dynasty”. However, his father was a busy politician and rarely spent time with him. Zacharias’ 18th birthday and his father’s 12th election victory in 2008 was spent flying out of Tofino International Airport to Los Angeles, California. He didn’t return to Zamastan for the next many years, and only made rare conversation with his father and mother. He spent most of his days creating a real-estate and construction firm in the United States and Canada, creating a massive fortune. His father won three more elections in 2010, 12’, and 14’, but in 2015 suddenly became ill. Perhaps the most consequential President up to that moment in history, Cassious Castovia passed away on December 5th, 2015, from his mysterious and sudden illness. He was 66 years old.