Prologue:
North America Circe: August 110 PA.
The two theater war fought by the Coalition States against Tolkeen and Free Quebec has altered the very landscape of North America. But the end to these costly wars has had a detrimental effect on both the CS, and its former state of Free Quebec. The former allies now limp along, economically both nations are devastated. Returning veterans discovered that the nations they served so faithfully during the war, can not keep the promises made. Disabled veterans are returning home broken and lame, with little prospects of employment. Neither nation has enough employment for its healthy workers. Social welfare programs are pushed beyond the breaking point, as many veterans and their family's turn to them for aid.
In the former state of Free Quebec the economy has suffered just as badly. Wartime efforts to produce the needed goods for war against their one time brethren has left the nation in massive debt. Free Quebec has been fairly independent, but with a failing economy, and crushing amounts of foreign debt owed to The NGR, it finds it may not be able to hold onto that independence it has so recently struggled so hard to attain. To prevent itself from slipping further into debt, as well as provide some stimulus for its economy, Free Quebec has begun to cut expenditures that are either to costly, or tactically and economically nonviable. Free Quebec has recently negotiated the sale of the St. Lawerance lock system, to a independent company, AmTrans. A shipping company who has also negotiated an exclusive contract for importation/exportation with the new independent nation.
This has allowed the Free Quebec government to isolate itself, while still retaining the economic stimulus that it desperately needs. While many in the government are unhappy with the sale of the lock system, claiming it makes the young nation more vulnerable, supporters of the sale claim just the opposite. Those supporters believe that due to the terms of the sale, and the reduced costs for Free Quebec ships, as well as the contract for AmTrans to transport goods for Free Quebec, allows the nation to focus their already stretched and meager budget further. Furthermore Free Quebec has found the contract with AmTrans, has allowed it to conduct trade with other nations it has no political, or economic ties to. This has created a small trickle of influx into the economy, as Quebecois made goods flow out, and are sold in the surrounding kingdoms.
Meanwhile in the Coalition States, the shattered economy has lead to massive unemployment, inflation, and destabilization. The Emperor's proposed twenty year plan of expansion had been completely forgotten, as Emperor Prosek unveils his new five year plan for economic recovery. If government officials thought the twenty year expansion of the domain of man was stretching things, they see the economic plan as pure wishful thinking. Most economist in the CS have proposed that it will take at least twice that time to pull the nation out of it's economic depression. The economic collapse is attributed to overpaid military contracts, and other wastefulness during the Tolkeen and Free Quebec wars.
The government paid out billions to well over a million families, the survivors of deceased service members. The million plus dead, including the renowned hero of the CS, General Jericho Holmes and his entire field army during the Tolkeen war, is credited with much of the economic damage. The government, due to the sheer fiscal loss on paying such death policies, reneged on more then half of these. Besides the billions paid to family's upon the death of a service member, their were billions more in lost equipment, and vehicles. And these expenditures were only those incurred by the CS Army and Air force.
The near total destruction of the CS navy at the hands of the Free Quebec navy, along with the lost of trillions of credits in ships and equipment has over extended the CS fiscal budget past the braking point. The government has found it has little if any money to replace the losses of either their army or navy. Worse monthly wages to the remaining service personal threaten to drain what little the government has left. New taxes aimed at raising funds rapidly have only had the effect of slowing private spending. The CS government has tried to issue additional credits, but this has led to massive inflation. As CS credits become worth less and less, the average CS citizen is finding that essential items such as food, utilities and other necessities become more costly. Furthermore the CS refusal to trade outside of its own territory has only further hampered their economy.
Chi-Town, in an attempt to prop up its failed economy, has recently announced that the 'Burbs, the so called no man's land, is a fully protected CS city. Tax revenues, is the reason for this sudden change of heart. But Chi-Town is discovering that the people of the 'Burbs are in as bad a situation, as every other CS citizen. The Burb's were home to many of the returning Veterans, who have taken what little in the way of severance packages, and moved to other locations. The Veterans and their family's hope to find better opportunities else where. The addition of the Burbs as CS cities has had little effect, save to send the non-human residents fleeing.
The CS efforts in its recovery are further hampered by the dissolution of the treaty with Northern Gun, and the Manistique Imperium. Both nations were guaranteed certain amounts of trade, which the failing CS economy, simply cannot maintain. These two nations have activated the escape clauses in their original contracts with the CS, thus freeing them to once more trade with the whole of North America. The CS, economically strained to the breaking point can ill afford to anger these two industrial giants, as they still provide nearly 25% of the economic stability of the CS, thus the CS remains silent.
But the CS has more problems then just a failing economy. The failed attack on the Xiticix hives by Lazlo, only compounded the situation with these creatures. Now the CS must embark on a war it cannot afford, against a foe it may not be able to win against. Minnesota is still a hotbed of terrorist, and guerrilla warfare, with CS casualties as high as during the height of the war with Tolkeen, only now the CS faces near constant attacks by roving Xiticix swarms. In the CS state of Lone Star, the Pecos Bandits, under the leadership of Emperor Sabre Laser have essentially destroyed the infamous Simmons Line. The Pecos Bandits have, for years inflicted such damage on the line that its original purpose was laughable. The cost in credits, manpower and lives make the line a logistic nightmare, and more then one official has asked what they were thinking when they built it. The classical white elephant, the CS has scrapped any plans to rebuild or repair the line. While the CS retains its naval base in Lone Star, they face near constant raids at the hands of the Pecos Bandits.
However the Pecos bandits, Xiticix swarms, and Tolkeen insurgents aren't the only threats to national security. Throughout CS territory the dreaded Federation Of Magic conducts raids, terrorist actions, and other low level warfare. The Federation has recently been shown to have taken on nearly all of the Tolkeen diehards, who refuse to except the destruction of their former kingdom. The Federation of Magic has proven itself a dangerous foe, as many of the former Tolkeen fighters bring with them priceless battle experience as well as proven Coalition troop killing measures. The Federation of Magic is aided not just by the Coalitions economic problems, but by a deadly alliance. Atlantis. As the Splurgoth seem to be rapidly colonizing much of the Earth, they provide the Federation with troops, supplies and slaves.
While all of these problems hamper the CS, the lose of their naval presence in the great lakes, is devastating. The CS while still possessing an adequate fleet of small patrol boats and mini subs, has only half a dozen capital grade warships on the Lakes. Thus CS shipping, which is reliant on the great lakes, and other waterways is in constant danger of pirate attacks. These pirates now move freely between the lakes, and the St. Lawrence river, as Amtrans has declared itself politically neutral. As long as its fees are paid, it will allow any nation, or ship to use the locks to move back and forth. The navy of Free Quebec, nearly unscathed in the war with the CS is able to resist these pirate attacks fairly well. Thus the pirates focus on the CS, and other powers of the Great Lakes.
The CS must use what little resources it has to protect the gains of the war, but those gains threaten to lose them far more. More then one CS historian is ready to declare the Tolkeen/Quebec war a Pyrrhic victory at best. Others claim it may be the stray that brakes the camels back. Only time will tell if the CS can recover from the setbacks it now experiences.
The Coalition may be in economic recession, but most of North America is not. Economically the many independent nations are experiencing a surging raise in the amount of trade they conduct. The Coalitions economic problems means that nation can no longer afford to launch attacks outside it's borders. This has allowed most independent nations to freely conduct trade with each other, and beyond. Without interference from the Coalition Army, or Navy, which prevented nearly ninety percent of such trade.
Another effect of this trade is a sudden specialization of skills and industries within many communities. As well as dozens of sudden boom towns, which find themselves with an influx of citizens trying to make a living in the world. Nowhere are these towns appearing more then in the Great Lakes region. Dozens of new communities are springing up around the lakes, or along its connected waterways. These communities focused on the needs of pirates, bandits, and thieves. As well as legitimate merchant marines, sailors, mercenaries, travelers, and merchants. CS propaganda paints these towns as lawless, the homes of outlaws and others who prey upon humanity. While this is certainly true from the CS's perspective, the truth is these towns while being more then a little rough and tumble, are reasonably safe. Law Enforcement, as well as security is fairly good, but the laws of these towns are more relaxed then in more traditional communities.
Because of the increase in trade, several new independent companies have formed. These companies have specialized area's of business that would not have been viable a few years ago. These are not the massive corporations like Northern Gun or Triax, but not for a lack of trying. These companies are relatively new, and each is growing rapidly. The Big Ten, the most prosperous, and widely influential of these corporations are based in the newly rebuilt city of New Buffalo. Built on the ruins of the former city, New Buffalo is a rapidly growing city, of some hundred thousand people, most either employed by the Big Ten, or working in related fields.
Amongst the Big Ten's growth and developing business, are rumors of Black Market connections. Each of the Big Ten is ruthless in its protection of what it considers it's turf. Each Corporation is lead by a shadowy board of directors and share holders, whose identities are not public knowledge. These corporations are cut-throat in the extreme, but share power seemingly without problems. This habit of staying out of each others business area, has only strengthened the rumors of Black Market connections. But only four of the Big Ten corporations, are household names.
Amtrans, or American Transportation as it is properly called, is perhaps the worlds largest shipping company. Although it does no small amount of importation/exportation of goods as well. Amtrans owns a fleet of freighters, barges, cargo planes, hover trains, and hover trucks. These are used by it to transport goods for other companies. Amtrans purchase of the lock system from Free Quebec has lead to much of the economic boom. With easy transportation between many communities using the river and Great lakes allowing almost all to share in the prosperity.
Norcom, short for Northern Communications, owns, operates, and maintains the largest communications and computer network in North America. Covering the entirety of the Great Lakes region, and connected to the Coalition and Free Quebec's communications networks. The company continues to expand it's area of service almost monthly, with new lines, transmitter towers and other needed hardware going up monthly.
Securetech is the largest security firm in North America. Securetech holds most contracts for law enforcement in the newly forming boom towns, as well as dozens of long established communities. Securetech guarantees a reduction in violent crime by forty percent in its first year of employment. While arguably a mercenary unit, Securetech's personal are expertly trained in law enforcement procedures to deal with almost any type of perpetrator. They provide land, air, and water based law enforcement services to their clients. But rarely venture further then establish zones around a city or town.
Genetech is a massive medical, pharmaceutical, and genetic research company. Rumors of stolen CS genetics data are claimed to be where this corporation got its start. Regardless, Genetech has introduced several promising new products, not the least amongst them is the so called 'life extension' serums, which greatly extend the lifespans of their recipients. Their product lines include cybernetics, as well as many new gene therapy procedures. Genetech clinic's, hospitals, and augmentation centers have state of the art equipment, the cleanest facilities, and the best trained staff.
Since the Coalitions economy has collapsed, and its currency inflated horribly the universal credit has fallen out of favor amongst the people of North America. NG/MI dollars or Black Market issued Black Credits are the primary form of currencies used by people.