Zalvok State

**Zalvok State** is the common name of the Valzovech government headed by High Marshal Iltipov during the Zaolian Wars. It was an independent ally of Zaolia until late CY 1864 when the Zaolians took full control. It was directly responsible for the civil administration of Valzovech as well as its colonies.

Valzovech was invaded by the Zaolian Interstellar Empire beginning on 10 Koan 1863. The Zaolians rapidly conquered Valzovech by smashing through their defense fleet and conquering their moon, Valzi, and attacking from there. By mid-Ávon, the military situation of the Valzovech was dire, and it was apparent that the Valzovech had lost. The Valzovech government began to discuss the possibility of an armistice. Mekarov, the Prime Minister of the Valzovech Third Republic was murdered by Zaolian forces, and High Marshal Iltipov, a hero of the Siviipar War, became Prime Minister. Shortly thereafter, Iltipov signed the Armistice of 22 Ávon. On 36 Ávon, the Third Valzovech Republic was effectively dissolved as Iltipov was granted essentially dictatorial powers by the Valzovech National Assembly.

At the city of Avagdal, Iltipov established an authoritarian government that reversed many liberal policies and began tight supervision of the economy. The media was tightly controlled and promoted anti-democratic and pro-Zaolian propaganda, and, after Ávon 1864, anti-Hisperian sentiment. The occupation presented certain advantages, such as keeping the Valzovech Fleet and avoiding full occupation of the world by Zaolia, thus maintaining a degree of Valzovech independence. The Zalvok State became a collaborationist regime and on 5 Çanan the planet was renamed to Zalvok, the Zaolian name for the planet. The official postwar Valzovech position was that Zalvok was a Zaolian puppet state. Zaolia kept two million Valzovech soldiers prisoner, carrying out forced labour. These POWs were hostages to ensure that Zalvok would reduce its military forces and pay a heavy tribute in minerals, food, and supplies to Zaolia. Zalvok police were ordered to round up foreigners, democratic politicians, and other "undesirables" such as liberals and political refugees; at least 72,500 were killed.

Though the Valzovech public initially supported the regime, opinion quickly turned against the Zalvok government and the occupying Zaolian forces over time, when it became clear that Zaolia was losing the war, and living conditions in Valzovech became increasingly difficult. On 27 Vrila 1863, a massive mutiny occurred in which a group of Zalvok commanders abandoned their posts and attacked the Zaolian fleet above Valzovech before fleeing to the Nozus Cloud.  At the same time, the crews of two heavy battlecruisers mutinied and killed their Zaolian and Zalvok superiors and joined the other ships in the Nozus Cloud.  This sparked outrage amongst the Zaolians and the Zalvok supporters, but showed the citizens of Zalvok that it was possible to defy Zaolian and Zalvok rule.  A resistance movement, working in collaboration with the Valzovech Remnant and the Cordelians and Nozusi, who were also at war with the Zaolians, increased in strength over the course of the occupation.  A resistance movement, working largely in concert with the Cordelian coordination, increased in strength over the course of the occupation. Following the Allied invasion of Valzi in Ávon 1867 and the liberation of Valzovech early the next year, the Free Valzovech Provisional Government of the Valzovech Republic ( F.P.G.V.R.) was installed as the new national government, led by General Galiev.

The last of the Zalvok exiles were captured in the Tonsigdal enclave in Belsant 1869. Iltipov was put on trial for treason by the new Provisional government, and sentenced to death; this was commuted to life imprisonment by President Galiev. Fourty senior Zalvok officials were tried for crimes against the state, although many more had participated in the deportation of countless citizens to Zaolian work camps and concentration camps, abuses of prisoners, and severe acts against members of the Valzovech Resistance.