Veronika Kazakova

Stern and quiet, Veronika isn’t foreign to the concept of accidentally instilling fear into those around her. Despite that, she wants nothing but the best for those she loves. She fears showing weakness, and letting the walls she constructed around herself over years of trauma crumble even more. Underneath the almost impenetrable facade of a machine hardened from birth lies a dormant, scared woman with issues she can’t bring herself to share. After her family’s death, that scared woman resurfaced and turned into something much more terrifying, with a little nudge.

Veronika has light brown, shaggy mid length wolf cut hair that is topped with an ultramarine beret, which has a golden inscription. She wears a pair of shades, underneath which is a scar that crosses her entire face. She wears a telnyashka top accompanied by a light green Smersh rig and dark green camouflage pants. Her pants are tucked into her black combat boots. Veronika wears a set of dog tags around her neck as well. She’s 36 years old and 6’1 ft. tall. She’s armed with an RPK and a MP-412 REX revolver.

A descendant of a long standing line of proud soldiers of the state, Veronika Kazakova was given no option but to love the Union unconditionally. In 1963, during a particularly frosty winter, Veronika Agafonova was born in Lenitrov, one of Noskow’s neighbouring cities. Though her parents were very much privileged, she was welcomed into the world with hard, neutral stares. Her childhood is defined by their unforgiving gazes.

At two years old, both of her parents decided to return to their military duties, leaving Veronika completely in her grandfather's equally cold hands. Aleksey Dektyarov, colonel at the time, did almost nothing but praise the Union and its military, laying out his great expectations for her on the daily. He extensively taught her about the union, its history, what came before the union and everything that could come in the future. During his lectures, he remained unmoved as ever, speaking with unmistakable passion.

Aleksey was selective about who was allowed to talk to Veronika, who could be around her. She’d sit next to him on the couch as his comrades came along, listening to their hardships and their tellings of war, its glory and its honour.

Whenever Sasha and Khariton returned home, Veronika tried her best to cling to them, begging them to just stay a little longer this time. None of her efforts proved any effect as she would just be met with another hard, disapproving stare. Soon enough, she’d been conditioned to just not try anymore.

At six, Aleksey began to take a more drastic approach, deeming her lazy and too soft. Veronika began to be subjected to watered-down military drills every week, forced to endure both the physical and mental toll of Aleksey’s critical commentary of her abilities.

Her grandfather continued to exercise his complete control over her by deciding to also have her tutored instead of publicly schooled. Age did not help her situation, as Aleksey only got harsher as time went on. Instead of begging for her parents to take her back home, she learned to keep quiet, biting her feelings back down. She was well aware that if she said the wrong thing, there'd be no “but” or “because” for her to argue with. So, she adapted. The cheerful, albeit sometimes overly emotional little girl turned into a reserved, more serious version of herself. While she sobered out and began to somewhat resent her grandfather for his strictness, his idea of the Union had long since been cemented into her.

At 12, Veronika got to watch a military parade, her grandfather at the very front. Seeing him like that inspired her greatly, even if he as a person wasn't someone she aspired to be like. Then, her military future no longer seemed pushed onto her.

Sufficiently pleased with her now more mature mindset, Aleksey allowed her to attend a public school, happy to have her out of the house for once. Veronika was equally happy to rid herself of the tense atmosphere, even if just for a few hours every day.

One morning, sitting in class, a boy approached her, mocking her for her larger stature and rigid personality. She tried to pay no mind, but deep inside, something she’d stored away briefly resurfaced. For a second, the feelings bubbled over and Veronika couldn’t help herself. All it took was one strike from the back of her hand, and she was left alone. Left alone by everyone but Oleg Kazakov, a guy her age who seemed more than happy to bother her. Since he wasn’t entirely unfunny, Veronika decided to humour him.

Much to her surprise, his weirdly quirky personality had charm to it. He didn’t view her as intimidating, but didn’t swarm about how strong she was either. He seemed to see her as Veronika, in a way no one had before. Around him, Veronika felt normal. That sense of normalcy was something she’d never even known was possible, let alone that she craved it so badly.

They graduated alongside each other, officializing the relationship soon after. Getting used to it proved difficult, she’d never been so tight-knit with anyone before him. He was truly something entirely different.

Then finally, in 1980, duty called. Aleksey and her set off to Hermany together, ready to fight for the Union and preserve its form. She was chosen for a supportive role within the Noobic Paratrooper Corps. Veronika didn’t oppose this, hoping to find her freedom in the air. Despite her role, she still witnessed how terrible human kind could be. Rather than the promised patriotism and glory, Veronika only felt dread upon arrival.

During her stay Veronika was instructed to man a radio tower. One evening, as she was half dozing off, the Freikorps launched a hit and run attack with mortar weaponry. Unprepared and near defenseless, Veronika was struck by shrapnel. The impact left a nasty scar across her face, a permanent reminder of who she was during that time. The exact culprits were never found, as they were long gone when Veronika got her bearings back.

She was lucky to have survived, the damage to the tower was immense. That particular day stuck with her, as it made her realize how mortal she really was. Had she been positioned maybe a few metres away, she could have died. What did Aleksey see in this destruction, this endless misery?

Countless images of maimed people remained in her head even as she was long home, flashing in her mind endlessly late at night as the guilt of what she herself had done in those months settled in. What disgusted her most was her grandfather's apparent pride at this barbaric, utterly wretched state of the world. There was no glory in this; war is nothing to think fondly of.

Naturally, Oleg noticed the change post discharge. While Veronika had never been one to talk much, the haunted look in her eyes said more than enough. He begged her to talk to him, to let him carry the burden with her. She replied that she wasn’t able to, that she couldn’t bring herself to speak of what she’d seen. As a last ditch effort, Oleg proposed she write down her experiences, thoughts and what kept her up at night. Tentatively at first, she agreed. The writing proved to benefit her mental state, as it helped her document how she felt and what damage it had done to her. She personally didn’t feel comfortable releasing her writing, so Oleg took initiative and did it for her. The books portrayed war for what it really was: gruesome, cruel and dishonourable. Mans most primitive doing.

Shortly after her first book release, Oleg proposed. After that, everything began to move so fast. Before long, Anton was born. The boy was so innocent and full of joy, she could hardly believe he was all hers. Slowly she began to manage her past properly, more than content with what she had now. Her writing became more confident, she began to look back on her military days with hope for the future instead of despair. At last, normalcy.

In 1996, in the midst of the third international war, Oleg went off to a business trip, taking Anton with him to clear his mind of the war momentarily. Oleg never came back. The Union had greatly underestimated the opposition, so as Lenitrov was attacked, Oleg and Anton were left trapped.

Though Anton survived in critical condition, Veronika was left utterly aimless, completely unsure of how she should even proceed. Her life partner, the man who’d accompanied her through everything, was gone. Gone forever, and she hadn’t even been there for him or her son. Anton, her baby, could slip away from her any second. It was all so agonizingly much too fast. How would someone even begin to process that?

Anton was later sent to a private trauma centre, in which he was induced into a medical coma to avoid further harm.

Thus, a repetitively agonizing cycle began for Veronika. Unable to rest yet seemingly equally unable to move, she unraveled the more Anton’s condition worsened. Her mind began to spiral, and she retreated back into one of her grandfather's old cottages in Kursa. He had no use for it, so she and Oleg turned it into a vacation retreat years earlier. The pictures on the walls and toys around her seemed to taunt her rather than provide comfort like she’d hoped. All around her were memories that seemed more grueling than anything now. While the sight of her late husband was horrible, she couldn’t bring herself to move anything around. It was the last she had of him.

No matter how much time passed, Anton’s condition didn’t improve, he remained comatose for multiple years. Over time, Veronika isolated herself further, solely surviving off of state funds. Wear from her outbursts started to show in the house through holes in the walls or broken furniture. Her battle with herself resulted in her neglect of her own body and mind, allowing her to enter a loathing, almost paralyzing loop.

In 1998, Veronika received the worst news of her life. Anton was gone, and once again, she’d failed to be there. Failure. The only thing that crossed her mind now was her own failures, the countless faults and wrongdoings. She had nothing anymore, nothing but her family's memories. The only thing that remained in the present were the books.

Now catatonic most days, she devoted herself to her writings, which too degraded into cries for help. Veronika was stuck, and she needed a way out.

One core theme in her last book revolved around a kind of vaccine which she’d been issued in her military days. Experimental, they’d said, containing things she couldn’t even pronounce. She couldn’t tell anyone, not even her husband. All she knew was that whatever would happen, wasn’t on her accord.

Nearing the end of 1998, she finished what she wanted to be her last book.

The time had come. One more honourable act to herself and her family. Sat there in her old uniform, she took in the sounds around herself for the first time in what seemed to be forever. Then, the eagle’s nest was disturbed.

In late 1996, The Noobic Union was ultimately defeated by NETO during the Third International War. The Union dissolved into independent states, as well as its economy, putting more pressure on the former citizens of the Noobic Union as it made life a struggle. The everyday struggle forced people to commit crimes and take loans from the shadows to survive, even if it means having to spill innocent blood to pay their debt.

1903-1904 - Noobian-Nopanese War

The Noobian-Nopanese War was fought between the Noobian Empire and the Empire of Nopan after rivaling imperial ambitions and interests over Manchuka and Choson. Majority of the naval battles took place in the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Nopan, while the majority of the land battles took place in the Liao Peninsula. Eventually, the Noobians would be successful in pushing the Nopanese out of territorial waters and lands. The war would end in a pact, with the Noobian Empire agreeing to have a part of Manchuka.

1905 - First Noobian Revolution

The First Noobian Revolution was a revolution in the Noobian Empire which began on February 16, 1905 and would end shortly in March 4, 1905. This conflict led to the conversion of the Empire into a constitutional monarchy, with the first State Duma being established. Tsar Alexander III would also retain his throne. The First Constitution would also be established, lying down a foundation of the rights of each and every Noobian citizen.

1911-1916 - First International War

The First International War, known to the general public as the War to End All Wars, was a global conflict between two alliances: the Pacte D'ami (later known as the Pact or the Allies) and the Center Countries. Main areas of conflict include Uropa and the Middle East, as well as Afrika and parts of the Asya-Pasifik islands. There were important developments in weaponry such as landships (later known as tanks), aircraft, artillery, machine guns, explosives, and chemical weapons. Considered one of the deadliest conflicts in history, it resulted in 34 million military casualties, with an additional 4 million civilian casualties as a result of war-related deaths and genocide.

The causes of the First Internation War included the rise of the Herman Empire and the fall of the Ottic Empire, which disturbed the balance of power distributed within Uropa. Imperial rivalries, shifting alliances, and arms races also contributed to the start of the war. A breaking point would be reached when Franz Frischenschlager, the heir to the Ostrian throne, was assassinated. This led to a chain reaction, including declarations of war.

The war would end after the Center Countries collectively surrendered on December 24, 1916. The Treaty of Paris would be signed a few days prior to their surrender. Trials would start rolling out to major officers of the Central Countries. The Treaty of Paris meant Hermany would lose significant territories, would be disarmed, and would be required to pay large war reparations to the Pact.

1916-1923 - Noobian Civil War / Second Noobian Revolution

The Noobian monarchy ended with the abdication of Tsar Alexander III and the execution of the Novitsky family during the April Riots, brewing a state of political flux. This would form multiple factions fighting for Noobia. The two largest combatants were the Worker's Army, fighting for the establishment of a socialist state headed by Vladimir Lezhnev, and the forces known as the White Imperialist Movement (retaining its title as the Imperial Noobian Army), led mainly by the right-leaning officers and the remaining nobles of the Noobian Empire, united around the figure of Matvei Kovalyuk. In addition, rival militant and separatists such as the Kyivan anarchists and the Belnusian Liberation Army were involved in conflict against both factions. A few foreign Allied states, such as the United Amerikan States and Nopan, intervened indirectly against the Worker's Army.

In the end, the Noobian Civil War would stop in favor of the socialists. The remaining nobles who fought in the Civil War would be executed, prompting their families to change their surnames or hide their identities. In the near future, the nobles would gradually be accepted back into society, with their conditions being that they converted to the Communist Party, gave their wealth to the government, and that they do not serve any policing or militaristic role.

1938-1946 - Second International War

The Second International War was a global conflict between two coalitions: the International Union (informally known as the Allied powers) and the Tripartite Pact. Nearly all of the world's countries participated, with participating nations mobilizing almost all of their resources in pursuit of total war. Certain technologies, such as tanks, aircraft, and nuclear weapons advanced during this time period. It is considered the second deadliest conflict in history, causing 84 million casualties, more than half of whom were civilians. Millions died in war atrocities mostly committed by the Tripartite Pact in their pursuit of racial purity. After the Allied victory, Hermany would be divided into three zones by the western Allied nations, while Nopan was fully occupied by the Amerikans.

The causes of the Second International War included unresolved tensions following the aftermath of the First International War, the rise of despotism and extreme nationalism in Uropa and a sudden increase of militarism within Nopan. Events preceding the Second International War include the Nopanese invasion of South Manchuka in 1929, the Andalusian Civil War in 1933, the outbreak of the Second Jyusho-Nopanese war in 1934, and the Third Herman Empire's annexations of Ostria and the Southern Lands.

After the war, the majority of East Uropa and the eastern Carpathian states would be occupied by the Noobic Union, while the western Allied powers would occupy the entirety of Western and Central Uropa. In an effort to maintain world peace and avoid the start of another war through unresolved tensions, the Allied powers would form the Confederation of Nations, an economic and peacekeeping alliance which would come into existence in 1947 in response to the Noobic Union's sudden occupation of eastern Bayern and Saxen.

Estimates for the total number of casualties vary, as many went unrecorded. Most historians suggest around 60-80 million died.

The Noobic Union alone lost around 31 million military personnel during the war, while the Third Herman Empire lost 8 million during the events of the Eastern Front. The western Allied powers also lost 22 million military personnel.

An estimate of 15 to 21 million civilians died as a direct or an indirect result of the Third Herman Empire's purity policies, which included the genocide of Noobian and Carpathian indigenous groups and other minorities. Religious organizations were also heavily persecuted and murdered by Tripartite troops. In the Asya-Pasifik regions, the Nopanese Empire caused 3 to 12 million military casualties. The number of civilian casualties are estimated around 30 to 40 million people as a result of multiple major war crimes committed by multiple Nopanese officers. The Tripartite Pact used biological and chemical weapons, going against the Treaty of Paris. The Imperial Nopanese Army used a variety of weapons during the invasion and occupation of Jyusho and in earlier battles against the Noobic Union and the Amerikan Marine Corps. The army also conducted human experiments against civilians.

As a result of these war crimes, Tripartite officers would be executed and incarcerated. The Confederation of Nations would also sign a newer treaty, a standard for the world named the International Declaration for the Recognition of Human Rights and Freedoms. It emphasizes the rights and freedoms for each and every human being.

1947 - The Union takes two Herman states

After the previous war between the Noobic Union and Republic of Hermany, the Union ends up with two Herman states under its control which it eventually integrates into the Union instead of using it as a satellite state. Hermany would join NETO afterwards due to the looming threat.

1972 - Kamyzhia Nuclear Power Plant accident

On July 18 1972, the 4th, most recent nuclear reactor installed within the Kamyzhia Nuclear Power Plant, near Kityagrad and Kamyzhia, in the Noobic Union, exploded. With thousands of direct and indirect casualties, it is deemed the second most severe nuclear-related accident, with the first one being the 1996 Tokoyama nuclear disaster. The response involved around 400,000 personnel and cost 896 million noubles. It remains the most lethal and costliest disaster in history.

1980 - The Ostherman Massacre

Noobic soldiers stationed within the occupied Herman states kill multiple families over stolen supplies during a minor famine. This causes an uprising which eventually escalates into a revolution led by the two Herman states. The uprising started to spread to multiple agricultural regions where food was still scarce, and in retaliation against the NU and East Hermany these farmers would withhold crops. This revolution would be the beginning of the Reintegration War (1980-1983), and would result in the Noobic Union losing the war.

1980-1983 - Reintegration War

The Reintegration War was a revolutionary insurrection led by the two occupied Herman states against the Noobic Union, these two states would eventually become the entire state of East Hermany as the majority of the people joined the war against the puppet government and the NU. The East Herman rebels would utilize guerilla tactics, taking advantage of Premier Kiselov's strict rules-of-engagement to blend in with the local populace. Despite inflicting heavy casualties and humiliating the Noobic Union's government, the rebels would be unsuccessful, resulting in only minor concessions from the Noobic Union once East Hermany was restored.

1986-1988 - First Kibestani War

The assassination of Kirnian businessman Faramarz Kasebi sparked a conflict in the South Asyan region of Kibestan, as Western-allied kingdoms and princely states blamed the attack on their rivals and subsequently invaded them. Though Western influence in the Kibestani states was expanded, many Kibestanis became negatively polarized to the capitalist west.

1989-1990 - Kibestani Spring

Between 1989 and 1990, several Kibestani kingdoms in the North were toppled by Noobic-backed revolutionaries, who declared the Kibestani Federation. With military support, they set out to kick capitalism out of the region and finally unite Kibestan.

1990-1992 - Second Kibestani War / Kibestani Revolution

In 1990, the Kibestani Federation began invading the other kingdoms in the South. Even with heavy Kirnian, Kisli, and Amerikan support, the monarchs were defeated due to infighting and corruption. The lucky ones escaped, while the others were captured and executed, with their bodies paraded around the streets in front of their cheering former serfs.

1993-2000 - Third International War

The Third International War (known to Uropa as the Noobic-NETO War) was a global conflict between multiple coalitions: the Northeastern Atlantic Treaty Organization, the Kyivan Pact, and the Southeast Asian Treaty Organization. Nearly all of the world's countries participated, with all sides using most of their resources to wage war. It is considered the deadliest conflict in history, with an estimated 126 million casualties, more than half of which were civilians. This war also marks the second time nuclear weapons were used.

The causes of the Third International War range from extreme ideological tensions to terrorist attacks. In the spring and early summer of 1993, the Noobic Union backed Red Army Division (RAD) would unleash a wave of terror attacks in Hermany, including bombing several malls and assassinating chancellor Erich Feuchtwanger.

In early July, a Fjordlandic oil tanker would be seized by the Noobic Union, with the crew taken prisoner in the Vironian NSR. The war is generally recognized to have started in July 15, 1993 after NETO refused to negotiate the crew's release, and instead sent a special operations team to forcefully extract them. After this rescue operation left 26 Noobic men dead, the Noobic General Secretary sent troops to attack NETO in a fit of rage.

Early in the war, NETO would be hit with back to back losses, with their biggest losses being the invasion of the capital of Ostria and the failed defenses of southern Saxen, which would happen within the end of the year. This would be reversed during the Battle of the Fultag Gap (1994), where NETO troops would successfully ambush and drive out one of the strongest offensive forces of the Noobic Union, giving an opportunity to counterattack. This would lead to the liberations of Bayern, Ostria, and west Poloniski. This would also open theatres from different directions, with Skantinavia paving the way to battles in north Nussia, while Hellenia and the Anatolian Republic paving the way into the Kaukasus and the Dark Sea.

In 1995, the Noobic Union had lost most of the Eastern Bloc, forcing them to resort to defensive warfare. What followed was a gradual decline in Noobic morale and territory as NETO continued to push into Kyiva, Belnusia, and the Baltik States. North Choson had also capitulated after South Choson had received UNBAC and Amerikan aid. South Jyusho would also face the same fate, as SEATO began to lay siege to Hong Huan after attaining naval and air supremacy. However, in order to protect their image, SEATO would still heavily restrain the ability for Nopan to wage war, limiting their military to support roles only outside the home islands.

On January 7, 1995, a Nussian convoy was ambushed by NETO forces near the village of Virisovka.

As Amerikan bombers destroyed the Kyivan NSR, the people decided that the Noobic Union could no longer protect them. With NETO forces drawing close to their border, the Kyivan Guards of the Noobic Red Army staged a mass revolt, kicking off the Kyivan Civil War. The Guards were joined by the Kyivan Union of National Liberation, an anti-Communist Paramilitary also fighting to liberate Kyivan from Communist Control. With the Red Army already spread thin, Anti-Communist forces drove the Noobic Union from their borders in early 1996. The loss of their namesake nation turned out to be an omen for the Pact.

On March 14, 1996, the Noobic Union launched Operation Organ to liberate the city of Artemovsky. In the end, the 231st Motor Rifle Unit achieved a Pyrrhic victory, suffering heavy losses. Two soldiers were severely injured and sent to the hospital. The platoon commander refused to continue the operation and fell back, disobeying orders.

The Uropan front would come to a close in 1996 after the Noobic Union's last line of defense was pierced by NETO troops and Eastern Bloc volunteers, killing all remaining hope for the Union. What was left of the Kyivan Pact signed the Treaty of Noskow, an agreement where the remaining nations within the Pact had to pay war reparations. This also included the dissolution of the Noobic Union. As for Nussia's Asyan allies, they continued to wage war, though their strategies were getting desperate the more SEATO troops closed in on their major cities.

In the early months of 1999, the Asya-Pasifik theatre became a desperate battle of attrition, with Jyusho going as far as to deploy chemical weapons that were banned by the Treaty of Paris. When Amerikan troops redeployed in late 1999, the tide of the war shifted in SEATO's favor, breaking the stalemate that plagued the entire theatre.

SEATO launched an all-out attack on Haihu, the richest city in Jyusho and one of Aysa's most important financial hubs. Though the JPA fought hard, they were forced to retreat or be surrounded and destroyed. Then, only a month later, SEATO captured Haijin, only 150 kilometers south of Huajing.

Finally, the Jyushonese Communist Party realized that the war was unwinnable and sued for peace. On April 23rd of 2000, the bloodiest war in human history officially came to an end.