Rapid City
The early explorers of Terra Nova determined that the Zihl Salt Flats were a major source of bauxite, and thus vital to the colonization effort. The Zihl region was dry and inhospitable, however, and thus the decision was made to establish a colony on the southern fringe of the verdant Byerst Plain, some 120 kilometers north of the ore deposits. The first colonists arrived at what would become Rapid City in TN 563, barely sixty cycles after the start of mass colonization. As cycles became centuries the city grew, serving as a magnet for heavy industry in the region. Concerns over pollution prompted the city authorities to enact strict anti-pollution Laws which, save for during the chaos of the Reconstruction, have remained in effect ever since.
Rapid City's production facilities were much sought after in the chaos after Earth withdrew from Terra Nova in TN 1454. Numerous battles were fought over control of key industrial plants, but by TN 1471 the city was unified under the control of 'General' Nyklas Volsky who ordered the construction of a 35-meter tall wall around the city (now the 'old city'). Volsky died leading the defense of the city in TN 1504 but his successor, Gabrielle Conran, was given an opportunity to end the cycle of violence, and Rapid City became a founder member of the Lyonnesse League. The troubles were not over for the city, and in TN 1550 it became the scene of the bloody clashes that brought down the Lyonnesse League and replaced it with the United Mercantile Federation.
Two of the major players in the corporate coup - Northern Metals and Concordat Systems - chose to merge in TN 1618, creating a highly efficient and diverse company with interests ranging from automobiles and military hardware to industrial chemicals and electronics. Calling itself Northco, the new company quickly dominated the local political scene, its approval often making the difference between success and failure. Indeed, though nominally a representative democracy, Rapid City is little more than a corporate fief, with over half the city's population employed by the massive conglomerate.
Rapid City - and with it the local holdings of Northco - was a major target of the Colonial Expeditionary Force during the War of Alliance. The weapons production plants were important assets to the Terranovans, and their destruction was high on the list of Terran objectives. Both the city itself and the factories were subject to repeated attacks by orbital artillery and cruise missiles. Despite the numerous defense installations ringing the city-state and dotting the region, the attacks literally flattened large sections of the city. Many died in the chaos, including Northco CEO Johan Baur and many of the company's top designers, but the city and company quickly rebuilt after the hostilities. Despite outside interference, both Rapid City and Northco have prospered over the cycles and are making efforts to maintain the status quo.
Demographics
Corporate Culture
Rapid City is the epitome of a corporate society, almost literally run by and for a single corporation. Northco directly employs almost half of the city‘s population, with a good proportion of the remainder employed directly or indirectly in supporting Northco and its personnel. As such, it is in Northco‘s interests to secure the well-being of the city’s population and the company has established solid medical and educational systems, as well as a diverse entertainment sector. The company promotes a “work hard, play hard” attitude among its staff, granting them considerable leeway in their personal lives provided they do their utmost for the company. This has fostered a high level of corporate loyalty, the population recognizing that Northco invests a considerable portion of its profits in its workers.
Some groups like the Northern Worker's Consortium have argued that Northco’s supposed generosity has blinded the population to the company’s despotic rule. Indeed, although Northco is de-facto ruler of Rapid City, the company has run into a number of problems with the local media. The company’s security force is a pervasive presence on the streets, but though publicly working hand in hand with the Rapid City police, there have been a number of occasions where corporate security troops have blatantly ignored the legal process in pursuit of company goals. Unfortunately, several of these incidents have been recorded and broadcast by the local media, leading to calls for an investigation into why Northco itself has not been prosecuted.
Northco’s best efforts have been unable to halt the growth of a large and well-organized criminal underworld. The Forzi Cartel dominate operations in the city, ranging from drugs and prostitution to blackmail and industrial espionage. In truth, Northco’s security directorate has established a number of covert contacts with the Forzi, using them for operations deemed to sensitive for even Northco’s elite private security force.
Roman Forzi, since his rise to the head of the cartel in the North, has been pursuing an agenda of making allies with corporate authorities. Local boss Chrystof Donnel has done well with this technique.
Government
Economic Determinism
Officially Rapid City is a representative democracy, with councilors elected from each of the city's forty electoral districts. In practice, Northco determines who is elected to the chamber and maintains a stranglehold on the city's finances, giving the company near total control over the city's affairs. The council serves little purpose beyond rubber-stamping the decisions of the Northco board. Furthermore, Northco's importance to the UMF economy as a whole, and the presence of subsidiaries in every UMF city-state, gives the company considerable influence in Federal affairs. Indeed, it has often been claimed, only half jokingly, that Rapid City is the real capital of the UMF and Lyonnesse little more than a PR exercise. Even before the ascension of Defense Secretary Solomon Davi, widely regarded as a Northco stooge, Northco's voting power gave more than a little credence to this story.
Contrary to popular opinion, Northco is not a monolithic entity. A number of political currents flow through the company, many of them opposed to CEO Natalya Korolov. Principal among these is Aidan Jarlson, who controls a little over fifteen percent of the company's stock either directly or in proxy. Jarlson has tried to replace Korolov as CEO on several occasions but the complex nature of inter-division politics and the breakdown of the company's voting blocks has stalled his efforts to date. He remains committed to usurping Korolov's position and has attempted to suborn several members of her staff, though he is unaware that Korolov is aware of his efforts and is using his own agents to feed him bad information while she undermines his position.
Although Northco dominates Rapid City's government, there have been a number of protests over the UMFA's defensive plan for the city. Drawn up in conjunction with Northco, it calls for the abandonment of the outer city and a concentration of forces in the old city - Northco's enclave - and the destruction of sections of the outer city to clear defensive fire zones. Mayor Petrov knows his position is dependent on Northco and has done little to contest the plan.
Defences
Northco Gemeinsam Guard - Corporate Pride
The Gemeinsam Guard is Northco's primary security unit and also serve as demonstrators for the company's range of Heavy Gears. Founded in TN 1621, shortly after the merger of Northern Metals and Concordat Systems, the Guard originally served as bodyguards for the chairman and members of the board but gradually drifted from that role. By TN 1660 they were carrying out numerous paramilitary 'black' operations for the company and from there it was a short step to becoming a true military unit.
The Gemeinsam - literally 'Corporate' - Guard received its first Hunters on 10 Spring TN 1678, barely eight days after the UMFA. Officially for demonstration purposes, the units bolstered the defenses around the Rapid City factory and were likely a major factor in the WFP's decision to steal a Hunter from the UMFA rather than stage an operation against Northco itself. By the St. Vincent's War, the Gemeinsam Guard resembled the present organization: a small regiment of two companies and associated elements, self-contained in terms of support and transport.
Adept at small unit tactics and rarely involved in larger engagements, the members of the Guard are consummate professionals. The least experienced members of the unit form regular security detachments at the corporation's various holdings and installations, while the majority of the companys Gear-based black ops are carried out by the veteran 'demonstration' teams. With all Northco's resources at their disposal, they are an extremely flexible unit. One operation may call for a section of Jaguars, while the next may require a more deniable force-mix and use Hunters and Razorbacks.
Colonel Josef Gustafson, a former officer in the UMFA's Special Forces Command, commands the Guard. Widely respected, he retired from the UMFA in TN 1924 and took up a freelance post with the company under the official title of security advisor and consultant. By TN 1927 he headed the Guard and was a permanent employee on the Northco roster. Gustafson reports to Northco security chief Rozarn, but in practice he answers only to Korolov herself.
Industry & Trade
- Vehicule and weapons manufacturing
- Diversified others
Guns and Gears
Heavy industry forms the core of Rapid City/Northco's business, ranging from petroleum refineries and mineral smelting plants to the design and manufacture of finished goods. The largest segment of city's economy i s the automotive sector, to which Northco dedicated twelve whole production compounds before the Interpolar War War. The last cycle has seen a number of these lines retooled to produce military vehicles.
Northco's Gear production market has slowly been eroded by the rise of rival manufacturers like Shaian Mechanics and Keimuri Gear in NLC, or Peace River -based Paxton Arms. Northco suspect this is at the instigation of the Norlight government, part of a deliberate attempt to reduce dependency on the UMF and in particular Northco. In TN 1931 Northco entered into a 'strategic alliance' with Keimuri Gear Gear, helping the company develop a new version of its Ferret Gear intended to challenge arch-rival Shaian's Cheetah. Furthermore, Northco has been involved in a subtle - and not so subtle - covert war with Shaian, partly using the Kolson-Forzi Cartel war as cover. With the outbreak of war, the CNCS has intervened to prevent further escalation of the corporate feud and ensure an unhindered supply of material for the war effort.
Maps
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Rapid City
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