Worldbuilding: the Nation-States of Robotech

[glitterboy2098]

because of the lack of real setting info in the RPG, it is up to those of us who play and run the game to flesh out the world.

in the vein of the frankenmecha thread and others, post your nation ideas here. please note that you should probably try to avoid contradicting what little we do have from the RPG, and should avoid munching out too much.
also, don't be afraid to offer a alternate version of a similar idea.. this thread will just be a list of possibilities to use
(also.. these should generally be for the reconstruction period.. post 2010, pre2030. when the invid arrive 'nations' kinda fall to the wayside)

here is a handy template for you:

Name: (name of the nation-state in question)
Location: (the region it claims. please try to be more specific than just the continent.)
Major Communities: (optional, be reasonable)
UEG member?: (options are basically member, ally, nuetral, hostile)
Government: (what form of government does it have?)
Military: (in general terms, the size, focus, and skill level. please note that mecha do tend to be fairly uncommon outside the UEG)
Description: (self explanitory)

and one to kick off the thread:

Name: Arkansas Enclave
Location: Western Arkansas, several thousand square miles between between Ft. Smith and Little Rock.
UEG member?: Ally
Government: Meritocracy
Military: Primarily Infantry, few combat mecha. However the Infantry are largely full sized zentraedi equipped with zent assualt rifles and support weapons.
Description: created shortly after Khyron's rebellion, atthe urging of Commander Breetai and other allied zentraedi, the Enclave was an experiment meant to give zentraedi disaffected with human society a place to gather and evolve their own culture. provided with supplies, including several surviving sizing chambers, and human technical advisers on many subjects, the Enclave grew rapidly. Enclave residents contributed to the reconstruction of the environment and, to the amazement of many, started to become a major agricultural center. however due to the presence of so many full sized zentraedi, malcontent groups began using the Enclave as a hideout, leading to tensions with the increasingly xenophobic UEG and the surrounding human population. ASC military forces were deployed to its borders, which only raised tensions futher. after 2020, and several major zentraedi malcontent incidents around the globe, the UEG decided to end their experiment. citing the malcontent problem, the UEG ordered ASC forces to 'pacify' the region, which took the form of military occupation, and mass force micronization, the later of which was done hurriedly and by technicians not fully trained, leading to many deaths. The region was declared a UEG protectorate, its own government disbanded and replaced by a human governor and council, which began to sell land for human resettlement. by 2030 and the arrival of the Robotech Master's the region had become a failed state, rife with corruption and crime, with few zentraedi residents.

[taalismn]

Aw man...The Big Apple immediately springs to mind as a possible state...given that it appears in New Generation, intact enough that it's evident that it was NOT(all) made a glassed crater during the Rain of Death.

[glitterboy2098]

i'm tempted to turn AMARG into a sort of rogue state.. selling off Aircraft (and mecha) to anyone who can afford them, and becoming a major tech trading center.

only problem is how to keep the UEG from just steamrollering the place..

eventually i'll write up my various EBSIS project related ones.. even if you don't want to use my baltic EBSIS, the smaller states could be adapted.

[taalismn]

i'm tempted to turn AMARG into a sort of rogue state.. selling off Aircraft (and mecha) to anyone who can afford them, and becoming a major tech trading center.

only problem is how to keep the UEG from just steamrollering the place..

Or the Zentraedi Fleet mistaking them for an assembly area and blasting them...

[ShadowLogan]

in the vein of the frankenmecha thread and others, post your nation ideas here. please note that you should probably try to avoid contradicting what little we do have from the RPG, and should avoid munching out too much.
also, don't be afraid to offer a alternate version of a similar idea.. this thread will just be a list of possibilities to use
(also.. these should generally be for the reconstruction period.. post 2010, pre2030. when the invid arrive 'nations' kinda fall to the wayside)

A variety of locations from the show probably should be on the list:
-Denver (TRM/NG)
-New Detroit (TMS)
-Granite City (TMS)
-New Portland (TMS)
-Newton & Manville (TRM, Monument City Suburbs?)
-Island Resort in NG (Rook comments about coming here IIRC)
-Manhattan (NG)
-Trench Town (NG Rook's hometown)
-Lake City Trap (NG)
-Town where the NG team form up
-Town by Point K (assuming the location wasn't just coincidence by that time)
-Subway Town (NG, team gets trapped in the subway)
-Mountain Offense Squad had a base near Maxwell's Town, so there could be an allied state here
-Point K, there was a nearby community where the team finds Ariel/Marlene
-Alfred Nader's town (NG, existed before the Invid Invasion)
-Crater Cities in NG (these according to Scott are "newer", but given the city the Garfish was hiding in there may have been a major city here)

2nd Edition RPG offers up Leonard's encampment in SA

[glitterboy2098]

actually, i left those off because we don't know how they fit into the political landscape.

taffy (the Artist formerly) was right when he said we need less show data diving and more actual worldbuilding.

this thread isn't for data mining the show for an offhand name.. it's for creating the actual world we can adventure in, nations we can interact with, plot hooks for a GM to use, background players can use..

an exercise of creativity, not obession. and lets not have arguments over canon here please.

i'm tempted to turn AMARG into a sort of rogue state.. selling off Aircraft (and mecha) to anyone who can afford them, and becoming a major tech trading center.

only problem is how to keep the UEG from just steamrollering the place..

Or the Zentraedi Fleet mistaking them for an assembly area and blasting them...

well, with the global war and forming of the UEG, it is possible that the technical means restrictions of the START treaty's get revised.. camo netting and other means to hide it from orbit could be employed.. (given the global war, and the anti-unificationists after, one would imagine they'd work hard to secure the place)

i had figured Tuscon itself, and maybe Davis-monthan AFB, would get hit by some of the smaller guns. (after all, of the 4 million ships answering to dolza, only a small % would be gunships and flagships.. and we don't see missiles launched in that sequence. so hits from the big lasers off a cruiser or something would be a viable excuse)

[taalismn]

China would be ripe for division into various smaller states, especially if enough of the command/communications infrastructure got zapped in the Rain. What was left of Tibet would try to go their own way again, for example, until they got stomped by a warlord (Chinese or Zentraedi), Mongolia would be back to riding down invaders(and raiding), and various smaller cities and regions would hold out for themselves until they could cut an equitable deal with a larger organization that wouldn't threaten their interests or self-rule, and wouldn't seek to monopolize the local industry(whatever it is) while providing reliable protection and services.

[glitterboy2098]

thinking.. the US marine's storehouse up near Trondheim should survive.. it's so far inside the maintain it could survive a direct hit. and that would give large #'s of munitions, support ground vehicles, and so on.

pretty sure there are some other places like that.. hell, switzerland would be a gold mine because pretty much everything is based underground..

[taalismn]

thinking.. the US marine's storehouse up near Trondheim should survive.. it's so far inside the maintain it could survive a direct hit. and that would give large #'s of munitions, support ground vehicles, and so on.

pretty sure there are some other places like that.. hell, switzerland would be a gold mine because pretty much everything is based underground..

And even further underground if the Zentraedi really pasted that part of Europe and avalanched a few mountains over the landscape...Depending on how good their life support is, some of those deep shelters could suffocate before they could dig out.
Ouch, anybody going in there later might be subjected to deep dark zombie willies...

[glitterboy2098]

honestly, thinking over the bombardment scene.. they didn't seem to be aiming at anything in particular. just "down". and when Dolza shows that footage of the other world being destroyed, there doesn't seem to be any system to it, just volley after volley at the planet, seemingly at random.

north america was obviously pounded hard, but we also saw that parts of it took a 2nd volley after the grand cannon fired. (and honestly, the grand cannon firing probably screwed things up as well.. what with massive energy transfer, and how it swung round and cut through a huge swath of atmosphere.)

the fact new york and the surviving urban areas like new jersey survived would seem to support this.. new york and that area is one of the largest, most visible cities on earth. if the zentraedi were aiming at specific targets, it is hard to believe they'd miss it. but if they are just firing at the planet in general, and their only aiming concern being to not hit a friendly ship.. yeah, i could see it being missed.

plus Dolza wasn't aware of breetai's betrayal, and seems to have stationed his forces intermixed with breetai's.. so odds are that there would be some parts of the planet that wasn't bombarded in the first place.

[Alpha 11]

honestly, thinking over the bombardment scene.. they didn't seem to be aiming at anything in particular. just "down". and when Dolza shows that footage of the other world being destroyed, there doesn't seem to be any system to it, just volley after volley at the planet, seemingly at random.

north america was obviously pounded hard, but we also saw that parts of it took a 2nd volley after the grand cannon fired. (and honestly, the grand cannon firing probably screwed things up as well.. what with massive energy transfer, and how it swung round and cut through a huge swath of atmosphere.)

the fact new york and the surviving urban areas like new jersey survived would seem to support this.. new york and that area is one of the largest, most visible cities on earth. if the zentraedi were aiming at specific targets, it is hard to believe they'd miss it. but if they are just firing at the planet in general, and their only aiming concern being to not hit a friendly ship.. yeah, i could see it being missed.

plus Dolza wasn't aware of breetai's betrayal, and seems to have stationed his forces intermixed with breetai's.. so odds are that there would be some parts of the planet that wasn't bombarded in the first place.

No, I don't think any of Breetai's fleet was near earth. They were around the SDF-1, and the main fleet folded into earth orbit, witch, the SDF-1 wasn't in orbit. Or near earth orbit. No sure were exactly, but they could see the fleet coming in and surrounding the earth.

[The Artist Formerly]

Nice work glitter.

@ everyone else: The thing is, if you're not a anime fan, why play this game? This board is a static position about anime details that only anime fans care about.

[glitterboy2098]

honestly, thinking over the bombardment scene.. they didn't seem to be aiming at anything in particular. just "down". and when Dolza shows that footage of the other world being destroyed, there doesn't seem to be any system to it, just volley after volley at the planet, seemingly at random.

north america was obviously pounded hard, but we also saw that parts of it took a 2nd volley after the grand cannon fired. (and honestly, the grand cannon firing probably screwed things up as well.. what with massive energy transfer, and how it swung round and cut through a huge swath of atmosphere.)

the fact new york and the surviving urban areas like new jersey survived would seem to support this.. new york and that area is one of the largest, most visible cities on earth. if the zentraedi were aiming at specific targets, it is hard to believe they'd miss it. but if they are just firing at the planet in general, and their only aiming concern being to not hit a friendly ship.. yeah, i could see it being missed.

plus Dolza wasn't aware of breetai's betrayal, and seems to have stationed his forces intermixed with breetai's.. so odds are that there would be some parts of the planet that wasn't bombarded in the first place.

No, I don't think any of Breetai's fleet was near earth. They were around the SDF-1, and the main fleet folded into earth orbit, witch, the SDF-1 wasn't in orbit. Or near earth orbit. No sure were exactly, but they could see the fleet coming in and surrounding the earth.

no, they were in earth orbit. bits like when Rick Hunter goes to talk to Minmei about singing (and both see the destroyed earth, large in the window) don't work otherwise.

the SDF-1 was orbiting near earth, at an altitude near the planet. breetai's force was a bit farther out. the grand fleet arrived and filled the rest of the orbital zone.

[Alpha 11]

honestly, thinking over the bombardment scene.. they didn't seem to be aiming at anything in particular. just "down". and when Dolza shows that footage of the other world being destroyed, there doesn't seem to be any system to it, just volley after volley at the planet, seemingly at random.

north america was obviously pounded hard, but we also saw that parts of it took a 2nd volley after the grand cannon fired. (and honestly, the grand cannon firing probably screwed things up as well.. what with massive energy transfer, and how it swung round and cut through a huge swath of atmosphere.)

the fact new york and the surviving urban areas like new jersey survived would seem to support this.. new york and that area is one of the largest, most visible cities on earth. if the zentraedi were aiming at specific targets, it is hard to believe they'd miss it. but if they are just firing at the planet in general, and their only aiming concern being to not hit a friendly ship.. yeah, i could see it being missed.

plus Dolza wasn't aware of breetai's betrayal, and seems to have stationed his forces intermixed with breetai's.. so odds are that there would be some parts of the planet that wasn't bombarded in the first place.

No, I don't think any of Breetai's fleet was near earth. They were around the SDF-1, and the main fleet folded into earth orbit, witch, the SDF-1 wasn't in orbit. Or near earth orbit. No sure were exactly, but they could see the fleet coming in and surrounding the earth.

no, they were in earth orbit. bits like when Rick Hunter goes to talk to Minmei about singing (and both see the destroyed earth, large in the window) don't work otherwise.

the SDF-1 was orbiting near earth, at an altitude near the planet. breetai's force was a bit farther out. the grand fleet arrived and filled the rest of the orbital zone.

Well, if it was an orbit, it was VERY FAR earth orbit. Not moon obit. And the way you say it, it sounds like the grand fleet would have surrounded the SDF-1, but they weren't. Will need to see it again, but I think they were a little further out then you think.

[glitterboy2098]

actually, not very far..though i was mistake in it being a lower orbit:
scene from near the bombardment showing earth through a window on the SDF-1:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2i4Xikk3LbE/T ... ture+8.png

zentreadi fleet after bombardment, about to be vaporized b the grand cannon.
http://www.robotechresearch.com/picture ... _large.jpg

the SDF-1 looks to be higher than that fleet shot.. but not too much higher. given we also see this as the grand fleet arrives:
http://www.robotechresearch.com/picture ... _large.jpg

similar size to the earth in the first pic, so the SDF-1 would seem t be at the outer edge of the grand fleet's orbital zone.

as for surrounding.. probably. Dolza didn't know breetai's force had turned, but was concerned about contamination.. so the grand fleet probably surrounded breetai's forces to observe them. and it would make sense that the SDF-1 was near breetai's force when the grand fleet arrived, just pretending to be held at bay.

the fact that breetai's forces were never ordered to attack earth (and wouldn't anyway), combined with the fact the heavy cannon mounting ships (flagship and gunships) don't seem to be a majority, suggests that there would have been parts of earth less devastated than others.

[Jefffar]

Here's a location I've used in a few campaigns:

Name: Alvarez
Location: A small city state near the border of what used to be New Mexico and Mexico
Major Communities: Alvarez itself, population approx 10 000 plus another 5-10 000 transients and labourers
UEG Membership: Its Complicated. Alvarez is constantly trying to work out a deal in which the UEG will offer it military protection, without Alvarez needing to join the UEG or pay UEG taxes. Due to the small nations mineral wealth, the UEG plays along at least a little.
Government: Officially, none. However the Council of Industry, made up of the board of the Alvarez Chemical, Mining and Engineering Company, makes all the important decisions affecting the region. Miguel Alvarez, CEO and majority shareholder is the functional head of the region.
Military: None. Most members of the Council of Industry have their own private military contractors. Depending on the budget of the individual council member, this can range from a few dozen poorly equipped mercenaries, to the latest in weapons and armour. Dedicated combat vehicles tend to be rare, however modified labour mecha and off road engineering equipment can and has been used as improvised armoured forces. Miguel Alvarez himself has the equivalent to a mechanized infantry company, with a tank platoon wile his sons (also on the Council) each can assemble a company of infantry. The Alvarez family forces have commandeered an old BSURP left by the UEDF some years ago. There is no air force, but number of light and medium helicopters can do air reconnaissance, transport troops and, if need be, be fitted with weapons.
Description: Alvarez is a small but mineral-rich city state. It's headed by the leadership of the Alvarez Chemical, Mining and Engineering company and has no actual governance in the traditional sense. There are no laws or taxes. Public infrastructure is also non-existent, with any facilities being built to serve the needs of the company and its employees. Individuals not affiliated with the company can tap into these utilities however, for a price. Most local businesses are owned by the members of the Council of Industry or their family members and are oriented to serving the needs (and making a profit off of) the labourers who work in the mines, oil fields and manufacturing plants of the company.

Alvarez is important to the UEG as a friendly source of strategic minerals. This far the UEG has been unable to convince the Council of Industry to take a full membership. The Council has correctly surmised that the UEG will protect them in order to keep the supply route open. The UEG has put a permanent mission in place to continue their diplomatic efforts. Personnel from the UEDF or the ASC are frequently stationed here in order to protect against raiders from the desert or the mountains.

[taalismn]

Nice little kingdom, Jeffar...small enough to be overlooked, but annoyingly well-placed and independent-minded. Like those barking little dogs with the leg-lacerating little jaws that just HAPPEN to be on the path you take to school.

[Jefffar]

Yes, my players have had a love/hate relationship with the community. Some working with the 'government', some trying to support the 'citizens' and some doing both.

[Tiree]

GB2098 you should use the 'code box' to get your template across:

Name: (name of the nation-state in question)
Location: (the region it claims. please try to be more specific than just the continent.)
Major Communities: (optional, be reasonable)
UEG member?: (options are basically member, ally, neutral, hostile)
Government: (what form of government does it have?)
Military: (in general terms, the size, focus, and skill level. please note that mecha do tend to be fairly uncommon outside the UEG)
Description: (self explanatory)

Code: Select all

[b]Name:[/b] 
[b]Location:[/b]
[b]Major Communities:[/b] 
[b]UEG member?:[/b] 
[b]Government:[/b] 
[b]Military:[/b] 
[b]Description:[/b] 

[Tiree]

Name: Iron Mountain Irregulars
Location: Western Australia
Major Communities: None per se'
Affiliation: Independent Resistance Cell
Government: Military Dictatorship
Military: Small Para Military Organization. 4 Dozen Cyclones, 4 Alpha's, 2 Logan's, 1 Hovertank
Description: During the Global Civil War, a corporation known as Iron Mountain built storage bunkers in old Copper, Gold, and Iron mines all throughout the world. They stored a variety of material within these bunkers including precious treasures, and in a few instances manufacturing facilities. One such facility was locked down during the Zentraedi Bombardment (Rain of Death) and survivors of the region had forgotten about the facility, and what it held. They were more concerned with their survival, than old artwork made by people long ago.

After the fall of the Robotech Masters, and the coming of the Invid. A group of Southern Cross soldiers took their family and friends to an old abandoned underground storage complex. After waiting out the initial bombardment from the Invid, they came out of seclusion. While in hiding they found some working portions of a Military Industrial complex from yesteryear. This was all that was needed to provide ammunition and support to communities in the area.

[Sgt Anjay]

Name: West Indies Federation
Location: Various islands in the eastern Caribbean
Major Communities: Port-of-Spain, Bridgetown, Castries
UEG member?: Nominal Ally
Government: Loose confederation
Military: Minuscule, mostly consisting of what amounts to a relatively well-armed coast guard.
Description:The W.I.F. is a loose grouping of a number of islands in the eastern Caribbean led by Trinidad and Tobago, and including Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua, Barbuda, Dominica, and St. Vincent. They have banded together for mutual assistance and survival in the wake of the collapse of greater powers in the aftermath of the Robotech War. This has enabled a moderate recovery from damage sustained from both the war and an unprecedented series of of devastating hurricanes widely believe to have been caused by the disruption of Earth's atmosphere by the orbital bombardment.

The increase of the area's strategic importance as shipping links are reforged between North and South America and between the Eastern and Western Hemispheres have aided that recovery and allowed a moderate prosperity. The resumed shipping and lack of major powers has also enabled a wave of rampant piracy which the loose Federation is either incapable or unwilling to stem, or both, since a great many of its smaller communities benefit from the piracy.

The U.E.G. is constantly trying to bring the Federation in as a full member, or at least get it to concede the U.E.G. more powers to police the area and its innumerable minor islands, cays, coves, etc. The politicians of the W.I.F. have become adept at placating the U.E.G. in return for aid, resources, and other concessions, while maintaining independence for itself, and at the same time keeping the sometimes fractious various islands just united enough to keep itself going.

Its relations with other nations in the Caribbean region vary wildly, from allied, to rival, to outright hostile, and in many cases the individual islands of the Federation maintain their own, separate, relations.

[glitterboy2098]

Name: Iron Mountain Irregulars
Location: Western Australia
Major Communities: None per se'
Affiliation: Independent Resistance Cell
Government: Military Dictatorship
Military: Small Para Military Organization. 4 Dozen Cyclones, 4 Alpha's, 2 Logan's, 1 Hovertank
Description: During the Global Civil War, a corporation known as Iron Mountain built storage bunkers in old Copper, Gold, and Iron mines all throughout the world. They stored a variety of material within these bunkers including precious treasures, and in a few instances manufacturing facilities. One such facility was locked down during the Zentraedi Bombardment (Rain of Death) and survivors of the region had forgotten about the facility, and what it held. They were more concerned with their survival, than old artwork made by people long ago.

After the fall of the Robotech Masters, and the coming of the Invid. A group of Southern Cross soldiers took their family and friends to an old abandoned underground storage complex. After waiting out the initial bombardment from the Invid, they came out of seclusion. While in hiding they found some working portions of a Military Industrial complex from yesteryear. This was all that was needed to provide ammunition and support to communities in the area.

just a note.. i did ask for reconstruction period stuff (that is, from before the master's arrive, much less the invid), mainly because after the invid arrive the idea of a 'nation' (as opposed to just a large community) kinda falls to the wayside.

[Tiree]

just a note.. i did ask for reconstruction period stuff (that is, from before the master's arrive, much less the invid), mainly because after the invid arrive the idea of a 'nation' (as opposed to just a large community) kinda falls to the wayside.

Macross Drools, Invid Rule!

I get that, but every generation needs to be fleshed out. Besides, their background starts from before RoD till afterwords.

[Jefffar]

I've used Alvarez in all eras and both editions.

[Kagashi]

Ive always been partial to the RT1E Barony of York. Here is my take, converted to 2d edition.

Name: York
Location: Roughly the old state borders of Ohio and Kentucky
Major Communities: Cleavland (population 5000): small brown water naval base and air strip that imposes taxes on all whom attempt to use the great lakes as a route for commerce. Taxes are in the form of food and goods. Dayton (population 7500): Major air port rebuilt after the Rain of Death, houses 90% of York's air forces. Frankfort (population 9400): Main headquaters for York's military and 85% of their armored corps. About another 3000 or so scattered around the Ohio valley trying to farm. Kentucky's mountains makes farming and ranching difficult.
UEG member?: No. Anti unified government. Felt the UEG failed in saving the world from alien invasion after the Rain of Death. Xenophobes: hate all those not from Earth. May consider joining forces with the UEG should another invasion occur, but offer no support of government in the meantime. Trades ore for food with the UEG, but only out of necessity. The UEG uses the ore to build the budding Armies of the Southern Cross.
Government: Democracy
Military: In the market for refurbished or discarded mecha. The mountains of Kentucky make the use of tracked vehicles (the majority of their combat forces) to be difficult to maneuver through. Relies heavily on helicopter and aircraft to patrol this area of land. So far, only 2 x Defenders have made it into their inventory.

Cleavland: Air Forces: 2 x F-203 Dragon II; 3 x S-12 Avenger II; 4 x AH-68 Comanchero. Naval Forces: 2 x brand new Coastal Patrol Gunship, 4 x Mini-PT Missile Boats (received in a trade for ore from the UEG). Ground Forces: 40 x LACV-60, modified with MK.17 Anti Armor Missile Launchers, 20 x M2201 Janissary IFV, 1 x M2204 Janisary Commander's vehicle, 1000 infantry armed with M-21 Assault Rifles, M-223 Lt Machine Guns, and M-225 Medium Machine guns. Mostly SDC ammunition.
Columbus: 10 x F-203 Dragon II; 4 x S-12 Avenger II, 2 x ES-12A Stalker, 1 x ES-11 Cat's Eye, 8 x AH-68 Comanchero, 5 VC-33 Mom's Kitchen Ground Forces: 400 x LACV-60s, 200 M2201 Janissary IFV, 10 x M2204 Janissary Commander's Vehicle, 2500 infantry.
Frankfort: Air Forces: 20 x AH-68 Comanchero and 20 x LH-2000 Snoop Ground Forces: 2 x Defender destroids, 600 LACV-60s, 300 M2201 Janissary IFV, 15 x M2204 Janissary Commander's Vehicle, 3000 infantry.
Description: York was formed out of the ashes of the Rain of Death. Survivors from New Macross City settled in the area of Kentucky/Ohio and seized antiquated military assets to defend themselves from future alien attack.

[glitterboy2098]

why from new macross? new macross city seemed perfectly fine being UEG.

given the size of the populations in southern cross and new generation, it seems likely that others survived on earth, probably in shelters, or in areas that only got indirectly hit. (or missed entirely, like new york)

so instead of some migration from new macross, it could be locals scraping together a society from the ruins.

[Kagashi]

Yeah, I agree. Just going off of what we canonically know in 2d edition and the actual continuity of the show/comics. They could be from anywhere, my post is not canon, do what you want with it.

[parkhyun]

Hmm. Seems like something's missing. Like, something in the Middle East. Someone should make one.

[Jefffar]

It's a difficult area to get right, representing the diverse cultures of the area correctly and respectfully.

[parkhyun]

It's a difficult area to get right, representing the diverse cultures of the area correctly and respectfully.

If we don't make fun of Zentraedi fundamentalist Islamic terrorists, the Zentraedi fundamentalist Islamic terrorists win!

[glitterboy2098]

i have something i could post, based on my master's levels classes on the history and cultures of the region, but i'm gonna run it by Jefffar first to get his OK.

[parkhyun]

i have something i could post, based on my master's levels classes on the history and cultures of the region, but i'm gonna run it by Jefffar first to get his OK.

Is it Durkadurkastan? Because they're totally passing MD weapons from North Korea to Zentraedi terrorists.

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[Alpha 11]

Really liking these Nation-States! Keep them coming!

[thorr-kan]

Name: Cherry Blossom Free State

Location: Traverse City, MI, the surrounding Lake Michigan islands, and about 150 miles inland.

Major Communities: Traverse City, pop. 12K, serves as administrative center, port, and manufacturing center. Everything else is small farming hamlets or fishing villages. The total population is only about 18K.

UEG member?: Independent and neutral.

Government: Hereditary monarchy, with a 20 member Commons elected from the general population in an Australia-style ballot.

Military:
Air Power:
4 Turbo Fan Jets (RDFM1ED, p13); at Traverse City.
4 Sea-Sergeant (RB1ED, p73), 2 at Traverse City, 2 assigned to Heavy Patrol Boats.
Naval Power:
2 Heavy Patrol Boat (RBNWO1ED, p12), 2 at Traverse City.
Ground Power:
8 AAR-Recon II (RB1ED, p75), at Traverse City serving as the heavy forces for the Free State;
500 dismounted infantry, armed with AK-47s and equipped similar to a 1970s US National Guardsman, organized in
companies of 100, 3 stationed at Traverse City, 1 deployed in outlying hamlets, 1 actively patrolling territory.

Description: The Cherry Blossom Free State was formed in the aftermath of the Zentraedi Holocaust. A civil defense platoon and their families fled from the burning wreckage of southern Michigan, only pausing when Lake Michigan prevented further retreat. The Traverse City area was relatively intact; no one was able to resist the platoon setting themselves up as
royalty. After several years of intermarrying and infighting, the current royal family was established: the Smith-Johnsons. There is no nobility, just the royal family and commoners. The Commons is active in local administration, serving as a forum for community concerns and a check on royal power.

The area surrounding Traverse City supports some general agriculture, has extensive apple and cherry orchards, and supports a few vineyards. There are extensive natural gas deposits and a few oil wells. Lake Michigan's fish population has recovered, and that is the primary source of protein for the Free State.

Manufacturing is at a 1960s level, but with a 1980s level in electronics and medicine. The Free State strives to be
self-sufficient, since the UEG won't provide services to "a rebellious province." Though using modern manufacturing
techniques, the royal family strives to provide jobs for everyone who wants one. It keeps the populace active and prevents
rebellion.

Strangely enough, Zentraedi are welcomed if they're micronized. Full-size rogues are encouraged to move along. There just aren't the resources to feed them.

The Cherry Blossom Free State isn't a paradise by any measure, but there are many worse places to live in the Reclamation period.

(Can you tell I wrote this for 1ED?)

[thorr-kan]

Name: Isle Royal Commune

Location: Isle Royal, Lake Superior, North American Sector.

Major Communities: Last Call, the only settlement on the Isle, pop. 24.

UEG member?: Independent. They have accepted EBSIS technical assistance, but have recently approached the UEG for medical assistance.

Government: Open village council; the population is small enough to allow direct discussion of any desired topic.

Military: None.

Description: The Isle Royal Commune is the survivors of a Grand Fleet cruiser that crash landed in Lake Superior. A squadron of Quadronoes, some of their support staff, some of the cruiser's command staff, and some auxiliary specialists safely made it to shore. There are 13 females and 11 males surviving. They've accepted EBSIS technical support to salvage remains from their Salan Scout Ship. This provides them with quarters proof against Lake Superior storms and winters. The salvaged portion of a Salan Scout Ship (RBZ1ED, p44) provides quarters, power, a rations machine, and a retractable laser turret (RBZ1ED, p24) for area defense. The Commune is willing to talk to EBSIS representatives, but will not work for them, nor engage in espionage for them.

Mostly, the Commune wants to be left alone. They have become engaged with exploring their island and water surroundings, learning about this "fishing" activity to supplement their bland rations, and coming to terms with fraternization between males and females, former enlisted and former officers.

Freighters frequenting Lake Superior have become accustom to seeing the 50-foot tall giants wading around Isle Royal, tending to their fishing nets. Recently the Zentraedi rescued several members of a sinking ore freighter. They arrange hospitality until a pickup for the survivors was arranged.

While the Commune has no active military, each member has a laser pistol and light body armor (RB1ED, p84). There is also one blast rifle (RBZ1ED, p20), with a dozen eclips available. The laser turret allows them to defend their homes, but the lack of mecha and isolated location means they are no threat to the surrounding communities.

The Isle Royal Commune has recently voted to seek UEG medical assistance. With the spreading fraternization, they would like to avoid any repercussions. Families may be an eventual goal, but not until the Zentraedi get a better handle on themselves.

The Isle Royal Commune quietly disappears sometime between the departure of the SDF-3 and the arrival of the Robotech Masters. But rumors persist through the Third Robotech War and the Invid Occupation of giants coming ashore around Lake Superior to hunt, to trade with humans, and to raid Invid and Tirolian settlements...

(Can you tell I wrote this for 1ED?)

[SRoss]

Isle Royal Commune

Interesting place, I could see at some point a relationship developing between them and the local First Nations tribes. Especially if they somehow survive the arrival of the Robotech Masters. Given the general consensus that Reflex Point is in the Great Lakes, they're going to need help hiding from the Invid.

[thorr-kan]

Isle Royal Commune

Interesting place, I could see at some point a relationship developing between them and the local First Nations tribes. Especially if they somehow survive the arrival of the Robotech Masters. Given the general consensus that Reflex Point is in the Great Lakes, they're going to need help hiding from the Invid.

Mines. Lots and lots of mines. And possession of the last micronization chamber in the solar system. And the CVS Iapetus (how'd THAT get there?!).

[SRoss]

Well the Great Lakes are the location of one of the Vile Vortexes.

[taalismn]

It's a difficult area to get right, representing the diverse cultures of the area correctly and respectfully.

But bear in mind, given the forced mingling and migration caused by the Rain of Death, as survivors move towards the more hospitable regions, that the entire cultural and demographic makeup of a region can change literally overnight.
This is akin to the massive (but thankfully temporary)population boost that Gander, Newfoundland, experienced on 9/11 when they had all those international flights descend on their little airport until the situation could be sorted out...
Now imagine all those people STAYING and trying to make a go of forming a society...

[Peacebringer]

Whoa, whoa, whoa; one problem of many is that a bunch of space-craft able to fire energy weapons on Earth would cause massive fires; as many or more as the KT extinction event that killed off the dinosaurs; in addition to, the destroyed Zentradi space craft, in which most were vaporized, would fall back to Earth and or form a ring around the Earth; if the ships had anti-gravity drives, their destruction would give them zero orbit relative to Earth and they would fall toward Earth, creating massive meteor like impacts creating more fires. Given that the ships, probably have a lot of radiation on them, there is a possibility that Earth may become a radioactive-wasteland after experiencing years of total darkness. I do not think there would be any nations after that; only survivors.

[taalismn]

Whoa, whoa, whoa; one problem of many is that a bunch of space-craft able to fire energy weapons on Earth would cause massive fires; as many or more as the KT extinction event that killed off the dinosaurs; in addition to, the destroyed Zentradi space craft, in which most were vaporized, would fall back to Earth and or form a ring around the Earth; if the ships had anti-gravity drives, their destruction would give them zero orbit relative to Earth and they would fall toward Earth, creating massive meteor like impacts creating more fires. Given that the ships, probably have a lot of radiation on them, there is a possibility that Earth may become a radioactive-wasteland after experiencing years of total darkness. I do not think there would be any nations after that; only survivors.

Anarchy is unstable; some sort of order starts to emerge from chaos. It may be the order of the pack or the tribe, but it will be order of a sort. Eventually, government arises.

[thorr-kan]

Whoa, whoa, whoa; one problem of many is that a bunch of space-craft able to fire energy weapons on Earth would cause massive fires; as many or more as the KT extinction event that killed off the dinosaurs; in addition to, the destroyed Zentradi space craft, in which most were vaporized, would fall back to Earth and or form a ring around the Earth; if the ships had anti-gravity drives, their destruction would give them zero orbit relative to Earth and they would fall toward Earth, creating massive meteor like impacts creating more fires. Given that the ships, probably have a lot of radiation on them, there is a possibility that Earth may become a radioactive-wasteland after experiencing years of total darkness. I do not think there would be any nations after that; only survivors.

Where's the story potential in that?

Plus, source? I'm finding a real dearth of evidence of the results of firing energy weapons in an atmosphere. The KT event was kinetic. Both are high energy events, but the outcomes are not guaranteed to be the same.

[Peacebringer]

Where's the story potential in that?

Mad Max.

Plus, source? I'm finding a real dearth of evidence of the results of firing energy weapons in an atmosphere. The KT event was kinetic. Both are high energy events, but the outcomes are not guaranteed to be the same.

The majority of the smut in the atmosphere was not due to the initial impact event, but rather due to fires caused by ejecta falling back into Earth; now, assuming that most Zentraedi weapons were lasers, and lasers creates fires, a KT-like event could take place. Not to mention destroyed Zentraedi craft falling like massive meteors to Earth.

[Jefffar]

Actually the majority of stuff in the atmosphere was the result not of fires, but of vaporized sulphur and dust from the force of the impact. There were fires and what not, but those weren't the sun blocker. More details

Crashing Zentraedi spacecraft would not have had the mass or velocity to penetrate the plaet's surface enough to cause a significant mass ejection and when the Zentraedi demonstrated their weapons on a 'test moon' the cratering was widespread, but not very deep. So without a significant mass ejection and with a lower oxygen level than in the Cretaceous preventing a world wide firestorm, the amount of dust and smoke from the Zentraedi bombardment would be much less. So while a degree of global cooling may have occurred, it would be far less than what was experienced at the end of the Cretaceous. Possibly similar to the 'little ice age' experienced in the Middle Ages.

[glitterboy2098]

the sheer destruction from the hits would mean an extinction level event in practice (most of the surface is leveled and the life destroyed) but the lingering effects would not be all that bad.

which fits, because if you had lingering effects similar to an asteroid impact, ontop of the known destruction? pretty much nothing would survive on earth at all.. even the survivors would be all dead within a few years. and we know that there is a fairly sizable population only 30 years later.

[thorr-kan]

Name: Michconsin

Location: Wisconsin north of US-8, Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Minnesota's Iron Range and North Shore, including the port city of Duluth.

Major Communities: Ashland, pop. 10K, serves as administrative center, fishing port, and agricultural hub; Duluth (what's
left of it), pop. 20K, serves as manufacturing center, major port, and transportation hub; Escanaba, pop. 10K, minor port,
agricultural hub, education and scavenging center; Virginia, pop 10K, mining and forestry center. Green Bay, Marquette, the
Soo Locks/Sault Ste. Marie, and St. Ignace/Mackinac Bridge are glowing craters, visible from miles away at night.

UEG member?: Member, but tentative. The area retains a regional identity and remembers absent governors. Residents would support home rule, but know they cannot go it alone. During the Invid Invasion and subsequent Invid Occupation, this identity remains, though much lower key due to Reflex Point’s proximity.

Government: Representative oligarchy; the local towns, guilds, unions, and corporations provide representatives to a senate. A governor and ruling committee are elected from the senate. The local bureaucracy is appointed by the governor and approved by the committee.

Military: As a member of the UEG, Michconsin does not have their own military. However, in keeping with the fractured times
and inhabitants' independent nature, there is an active "Home Guard" component. It is organized around regional Search and Rescue posts throughout Michconsin.
Air Power:
12 L.V.T Adventurer II (RB1ED, p71), 6 at SAR Duluth (Gophers), 6 at SAR Escanaba (Yoopers);
30 QF-3000 E Ghost (RB1ED, p72), 12 at SAR Ashland (Alpha, Beta), 6 at SAR Duluth (Gamma), 6 at SAR Escanaba (Delta), 6 at SAR Houghton (Epsilon) - usually teleoperated instead of autonomous, to prevent friendly fire incidents, though a combat package is issued before each deployment;
12 Commanchero (RB1ED, p74), 6 SAR Ashland (Badgers), 6 SAR Houghton (Wolverines);
24 Sea-Sergeant (RB1ED, p73), 4 at SAR Ashland, 4 at SAR Duluth, 4 at SAR Escanaba, 2 at NAR Grand Marais (MN), 4 at SAR Houghton, 2 at SAR Munising, 2 at SAR Naubinway, 2 at SAR Paradise.
Naval Power:
24 Light Patrol Boat (RBNWO1ED, p12), 4 at SAR Ashland, 4 at SAR Duluth, 4 at SAR Escanaba, 2 at NAR Grand Marais (MN), 4 at SAR Houghton, 2 at SAR Munising, 2 at SAR Naubinway, 2 at SAR Paradise.
8 Heavy Patrol Boat (RBNWO1ED, p12), 2 at SAR Ashland, 2 at SAR Duluth, 4 at SAR Escanaba, 2 at SAR Houghton.
Ground Power:
64 AAR-Recon II (RB1ED, p75), 12 at SAR Ashland, 12 at SAR Duluth, 12 at SAR Escanaba, 4 at NAR Grand Marais (MN), 12 at SAR Houghton, 4 at SAR Munising, 4 at SAR Naubinway, 4 at SAR Paradise.
32 AZO-Recon II (RBSF1ED, p40), 8 at SAR Ashland, 8 at SAR Duluth, 8 at SAR Escanaba, 8 at SAR Houghton.
48 902-DE (Drone, Enforcer), 8 at SAR Ashland, 8 at SAR Duluth, 8 at SAR Escanaba, 4 at SAR Grand Marais (MN), 8 at SAR Houghton, 4 at SAR Munising, 4 at SAR Naubinway, 4 at SAR Paradise. - this is usually teleoperated instead of
autonomous, to prevent friendly fire incidents, though a combat package is issued before each deployment;
2400 dismounted infantry, armed with AK-47s and equipped similar to a 1970s US National Guardsman, organized in companies of 100, 8 companies at SAR Ashland, 4 companies at SAR Duluth, 4 companies at SAR Escanaba, 1 company at SAR Grand Marais (MN), 4 companies at SAR Houghton, 1 company at SAR Munising, 1 company at SAR Naubinway, 1 company at SAR Paradise.

Description: Michconsin was born out of the fires of the Zentraedi Holocaust.

The area lacked any military infrastructure, so the only first strikes were to Duluth, the Soo Locks, and the Straights of Mackinac. The RDF's counterattack prevented any probably followup strikes. It's neighbors to the south and west were not so lucking.

Fleeing refugees and law enforcement ran into local civil defense militia units. After the fighting was done, the locals emerged victorious. Surviving refugees were integrated into local communities. The surviving local governments took stock of their materials. Projections indicated the region would have enough food and materials for at most three years before crashing into post-apocalyptic barbarism.

Fortunately, portions of the UEG survived. Once contact was made, recovery operations started. The surviving local government eased the transition, and allowed aid to reach Michconsin relatively uninpeded. For its part, the UEG was estatic to have such a stable polity so close to its new centers of government and industry.

Michconsin is a resource procuding area. As such, it imports most of its technical needs from more advanced provices of the UEG. In return, it provides ore, lumber, protein (fish, livestock, and dairy), and some agricultural output. Local manufacturing has been limit, though there is a movement towards regional self-sufficiency. A local college has been maintained in Escanaba. Duluth is once again a manufacturing center, specializing in low-end, cheap consumber goods. Manufacturing, communications, and power generation are increasingly decentralized and underground in an effort to minimize targets from space. No one expects peace to continue, and the regional government is not willing to depend on luck for the region's future survival.

The predominant language is English of the American dialect. There remains a smattering of French from Quebequois refugees and the various Scandanavian languages from the area's original 19th Century immigrant population.

Recent immigrants are welcome if they are willing to work hard and fit in. Anyone who doesn't is usually shunned; the cold shoulder treatment enforces a certain local identity. Those shunned usually depart in short order. Surprisingly, Zentraedi immigrants are welcome, as long as they obey the above strictures and are Micronized. Full-sized Zentraedi require too many resources and are too threatening. They are directed to the Iron Range, where UEG megacorps can feed them in exchange for their labor as living mining machines. About 150 full-sized Zentraedi are active in the mining camps.

(Can you tell I wrote this for 1ED?)