Fort William
The largest of the Western city-states, Fort William grew from modest beginnings, a small cluster of ranching settlements known as William County on the verdant northern foothills of the Westridge Range. Most of these settlements were operated by the William and Zucco families, who grew to become the dominant powers of the region in the centuries that followed. The official history of the Zucco Clan states they arrived on Terra Nova in the early sixth century, placing them among the earliest colonists in the region. Few doubt the Zucco claim, though several have challenged the assertion that they quickly became the undisputed leaders of the region. Indeed, the William Clan history lists the Zucco as a subject clan right up until the early 10th century when a series of successful business ventures propelled the Zucco to dominance in the county.
Irrespective of the details, the Zucco worked hard and fostered many alliances, and their farmstead slowly became the administrative and economic hub of the region. The site of a major market and the destination of many cattle drives, the settlement was designated a township in TN 1011 and quickly expanded its influence into the Mulhacen Cordillera and the plains beyond. The city-state’s isolation allowed it to escape much of the conflict that raged after the withdrawal of the Earth colonial administration. Nonetheless, the economic and military benefits of a loose alliance with the other clans of the Great Western plains were readily apparent. With their neighbors becoming increasingly belligerent, Williamite administrator Gutierez Raoul proposed a more robust alliance. The result of this venture was the Western Frontier Protectorate that, after considerable lobbying by the Zucco and Gutierez Clans, selected William as its new capital.
Construction began immediately on a government complex to house the huge senate, and which would eventually form the core of the Alcazar, the military fortress overlooking the city-state. Fort William also saw a massive upgrading of its defenses, impressive fortifications replacing the wire fences and palisades that had hitherto protected the settlement. These fortifications proved invaluable when the UMF besieged the Western capitalin TN 1667, allowing the inhabitants to hold out until a relief force arrived to drive the Mercantilists away. Fort William was never directly threatened by CEF ground troops in the War of the Alliance but, as the Western capital, it was singled out for orbital bombardment. When compared to Fort Henry and Fort James the damage sustained was minimal, and of the three main urban centers, the citystate‘ s architecture is regarded as the most traditional.
The entire Williamite population, be they traditionalists or members of the counter-culture, are open and honest, willing to speak their mind. The population is also quick to anger and duels are common, though strict adherence to protocol and an exaggerated politeness serve to limit such actions.
Demographics
Clash of Culture
The population of Fort William demonstrates both extremes of Western culture. On the one hand, the city-state is a fortress of conservative Western values, stressing honor, loyalty to the clan and martial duty. Fort William is home to many of the most influential First Clans: the Zucco, Gutieriez, Ramirez and Aznar. There are also a large number of immigrants, attracted by the great wealth and power associated with the city-state's institutions. The First Clans maintain a superior attitude towards all newcomers, which plays a major role in shaping the city-state's cultural and political dynamic
At the other extreme, the combination crf immigrants and disaffected youth has made Fort William the center of the shock counter-culture. Fort William is also home to a burgeoning peace movement that argues for rapprochement with the South and with the numerous ex-CEF communities on Terra Nova. The authorities have attempted to curb both movements, deeming them subversive, but their actions have only served to heighten awareness of the groups and encourage rebellion.
Government
Martial Politics
As the home of the Western Government, Fort William is driven by politics, different groups each maneuvering to advance their own agenda. The Zuccite faction dominates the local military council but this has not prevented the Maderas and non-aligned clans from making their opinions known, through both official and unofficial channels. Both have striven to limit the impact of Zucco's hard-line actions, seeking a less confrontational series of policies. In many regards the Maderas are no less traditionalist than the Zucco, relegating new clans to a secondary role, and this has done little to endear them to the large number of new clans in the city. Indeed, many immigrants go as far as to say that at least the Zucco are honest in their prejudice while the Maderas hide behind a thin veil of civility.
Industry & Trade
The Wages of war
The economy of Fort William is the most diverse in the WFP. Mineral extraction plays a major role in outlying communities and refineries and processing plants surrounding the city-state. A number of heavy industrial conglomerates consume most of the output from these refineries, making everything from cutlery to weapons. The city-state's weapons industry is surprisingly well developed for such a small league, with exports to the other CNCS leagues playing a major role in the economics of the league and city-state. A WFPA owned and operated maglev line provides the city-state with a high-speed link to markets in the CNCS and elsewhere in the Protectorate, while the well-maintained Western Rail link to Lyonnesse serves as the major axis for exports to the UMF.
Service industries in Fort William are the best developed in the league and eight of the ten major banks of the WFP are headquartered in the city-state. The Western Stock Exchange is situated in Fort William but compared to its Norlight and Mercantile equivalents it is small and has a low turnover. Initially lacking the sophisticated safeguards of the other northern exchanges, it became a major target of Dominionite economic warfare, prompting a major crash in Western stock value that had a secondary impact on other CNCS markets. The exchange was closed for several weeks in late TN 1936 while appropriate systems were implemented. Furthermore, on the insistence of the CNCS, the exchange's operations have been monitored by Mercantile experts, seeking to avoid any additional losses.
Points of interest
Alcazar
Officially known as the Western Central Command and Government Facility, the Alcazar (Fortress) is the military and legislative heart of the WFP. It houses the central command of the WFPA, the Western Military Academy and the central administration of the Protectorate government, including the chambers of the High Council. A secure satellite link allows the Proconsuls to communicate without the need for meetings in the Alcazar, but some matters are too sensitive to trust to electronic communications, nor can such systems be relied on in times of war. The complex sits high on the cliffs overlooking the city, built in the 16th century and constantly expanded and upgraded. The visible fortress is comprised of more than two dozen buildings, but the majority of the facility is subterranean. Security at the Alcazar is very tight, requiring multiple ID checks and verification, cutting edge electronic surveillance and numerous weapons turrets designed to engage targets on the ground or in the air. Furthermore, at least one elite regiment guards the facility at all times. Proconsuls Lang and Hasegawa usually travel to the complex via supersonic transport, arriving at the facility's military airfield, which is also large enough to support space planes. A subterranean railway from the city and two narrow and heavily armed roads provide alternative access to the Alcazar compound, though none have direct access to the fortress itself. All are closely monitored and feature hidden traps to prevent their use by unauthorized personnel.
Club Orquieda Negra
The Orquidea Negra - the Black Orchid - is the premier nightclub in Fort William, heart of the shock music scene. The exact venue of the club varies on a regular basis, moving between a series of warehouses in the Barrio Adelfas to avoid entanglements with the authorities who regard its activities as encouraging rebellion. Knowledge of the venue is highly prized among the citys youth, often seen as a mark of being in with the "in" crowd. The centerpiece of the club is always the massive dance floor, surrounded by trideo-screens playing the latest shock films or music videos. The club provides live music on a regular basis, but the music is most often taped, mixed and played by a series of celebrity DJs. There is often a bar and several cartels have sought to involve the club in their drug dealing operations, but while they know they cannot prevent the trade, the managers have sought to minimize its impact on their activities. The club employs a number of lookouts scattered throughout the Barrio to warn of approaching police. So far, the organizers have managed to stay ahead of the law, though there have been a number of close escapes and many expect the club's luck to run out in the near future. The owners have hedged their bets, bribing several members of the task force assigned to track them down to provide advance notice of raids.
Barrito Atocha
Comprising the narrow winding streets around the Plaza del Arrabel, the Barrio Atocha is Fort William's most exclusive neighborhood, with apartments overlooking the square costing ten times the Western average. It contains the compounds of many of the city's First Clans, which tend to be larger and more elaborate that those found in the Protectorate's other city-states, truly living up to their name of polocio. The district is also home to many foreign embassies and thus has a formidable security presence. The activities of foreign diplomats, particularly those from the AST, are closely scrutinized and rumor suggests the Barrio Atocha has the highest concentration of WIA agents in the Protectorate.
The Barrio is also home to many of the citys most exclusive shops, notably Ekseption, a cutting edge fashion store, and Serrano, an exclusive perfumery. The locations around the Plaza del Arrabel are the most sought after and, like the apartments, command the highest rents in the city if not the entire WFP. It is also home to many antique stores, selling everything from classic early-colonial household objects to rare religious manuscripts. The massive revenue from such goods has encouraged a cottage industry producing a range of quality reproductions, many of which are passed off as genuine.
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