Zagreb
Zagreb was founded in TN 1017 by a group of winners of the Terranovan Lottery, a Terran Concordat initiative to broaden the population base of the colony, moving away from the corporate employees that had hitherto dominated the world. Provided with housing materials and seed stocks by the authorities, the lottery winners established an agricultural commune whose simple lifestyle proved attractive to many potential colonists, resulting in the establishment of the city of Zagreb. Under the leadership of its three-man executive the city prospered, building up a reputation for self-sufficiency and cooperation that would later stand them in good stead during the reconstruction.
However, in the chaos of the cycles that followed Earth’s withdrawal, Zagreb’s policy of deciding all major issues through communal gatherings and voting proved cumbersome. On the urging of council head Gyorge Chekov, the system was discarded in favor of a specially trained aesthetic ruling class, whose sole responsibility was the governance of the city. Many of the city’s socialist institutions -the strong public health system, communal farm work and so forth - remained intact, and other institutions grew in importance, particularly education which became the central tenet of the Censor‘s doctrinal control over the city-state.
Even this failed to prevent the domination of the city-state by the United Mercantile Federation, membership of which the Censors were forced to accept or else see the city in financial ruin - the city had been devastated by an earthquake in TN 1610 and faced bankruptcy. Provisions of the UMF Charter allowed Zagreb to maintain its culture and political system, save for the appointment of a head of state, the Chief Censor (hitherto the censors had all been equals) and the liberalization of some economic policies to allow Mercantile interests to operate in the city. It quickly became apparent to the Caucus that though Zagreb had sacrificed some of its principals in order to survive, its population remained staunchly socialist and thus at odds with the core tenets of Mercantile society. Indeed, when several UMF agencies attempted to intervene to halt the abuses in the city’s reeducation camps, they found themselves hamstrung by the charter provisions.
Zagreb’s relationship with the UMF, and indeed the CNCS, has never been good, strained particularly by Zagreb’s membership of the Socialist Economic Pact, a mini-league co-founded with much-despised Timmins and several Badlands communities, but recent cycles have seen it take a notable downturn. The rise of the communist secessionist faction known as the Rodinists since the War of Alliance has made the city a dangerous place for corporate Mercantilists. Both companies and individuals have become the targets for a wide range of activities, ranging from dirty tricks like hoax calls to the fire brigade or guardians, to arson and, in the case of UMFA personnel, assassination attempts.
Demographics
We the People
Always dominated by socialist policies, Zagreb enacted a number of harsh laws during the reconstruction, establishing a rigid cultural and political orthodoxy loosely based on the principals of Plato's Republic, namely autocratic rule by a selfperpetuating elite whose sole duty was rational decision making and the education of the population. The dictates of the ruling class, known as the Censors, are enforced by Guardians (more akin to the AST's political commissars than the Humanist Alliance's preceptors and who are widely regarded in the UMF as 'thought police') and the city's re-education and labor camps. Every major work group, corporation or society is assigned a Guardian to monitor its activities, though the city-state is renowned for its lack of trust and often assigns additional covert agents to monitor the Guardians
The standard of living in Zagreb is lower than in the UMF as a whole but the city's extensive social service and education provisions have effectively eliminated the underclass that exists elsewhere in the league. Luxury goods are scarce but every citizen is guaranteed food and shelter, though the "rational communism" practiced in the city rewards those who work hard and show dedication to their duties. Such rewards usually take the form of better housing (most accommodation in the city is state-owned) or increased food allocations. Indeed, public displays of wealth are considered inappropriate and if brought to the attention of a Guardian or Censor will Likely result in a spell in an education camp.
Alcohol is readily available, particularly a cheap local johar-based whisky, and bars form a central part of life in the city. Alcoholism is common, though both the Guardians and the local police punish intoxication at work and drink related crimes severely. The distinctions between crime and deviation from established doctrine is somewhat blurred, and the traditional punishment for both is sentencing to one of the camps that surround the city. While criminals are sentenced to hard labor, deviants - those who fail to comply with accepted moral and political standards - undertake relatively light duties and attend doctrinal classes. On the surface they appear to have the easier time, but unlike criminals who are fully reintegrated into society after their time in the camps, attendance at a reeducation camp remains a matter of public record for ten cycles, coloring their relationship with other citizens.
Government
For Reason's of State
The Censors form a distinct group within an otherwise egalitarian society, taken from their families at a young age and raised by the city with its own interests at heart. Notable for their white robes and staff of office, they forswear the ownership of property and power, giving their all to the city and relying on the city to support them. Unlike the monarchy of Ashington, the post of Censor is not a hereditary position and any child who shows sufficient aptitude may be inducted into the caste, regarded as a great honor for the family. Intelligence is a key requisite for becoming a Censor, but physical and artistic abilities also play a part; the Censors are, quite literally, the judge of public morality and tastes and must be able to make reasoned decisions on a wide range of subjects.
While most Censors serve as administrators, fifteen senior censors form the politburo that governs the city. The admission of new members to the council is determined by the existing sitters, who also elect one of their number as Chief Censor for a five-cycle period. The Chief Censor serves as chairman for the politburo sessions and also as head of state, but as 'first among equals' the post's powers are strictly limited. Although the Censors nominally work in harmony for the good of the city-state, their much-vaunted neutrality is often little more than a polite fiction. Power struggles in the politburo are no less bitter than in councils throughout the UMF, each Censor holding their own views on an issue, though their aesthetic lifestyle minimizes corruption.
The rise of the Rodinist faction (see 3.3.2 The Rodinists, p. 24) has provoked considerable tensions within the city. On one hand the Rodinists' agenda, breaking away from the UMF, is broadly in line with the politburo's long term goals, prompting tacit support from a number of the council. However, their methods are considered dangerous and disruptive, running contrary to established policy. Indeed, the movement may have been counterproductive, combining with the Interpolar War to give the UMF and CNCS a long sought after excuse to flood the city-state with troops and intelligence agents.
Industry & Trade
- Agriculture
Fields of Gold
Situated on the rolling plains between the Downing and Pacifica mountain ranges, Zagreb has an agrarian economy operating on the cooperative model. All citizens are expected to work on the massive grain farms, making their own contribution to the society, helping the city feed itself as well as ensuring sufficient surplus for export, bringing hard currency into the local economy. The city's membership in the Social Economic Pact provides a ready market for the city's exports without having to trade on the Federation's cutthroat markets. Many farm workers also hold down jobs in local industry and also form a local militia. Grossly inferior to the UMFA, the fanaticism of the Zagreb Levy goes some way towards offsetting the Federation's military stranglehold on the city. Relatively poor security, however, allows the Rodinists to equip themselves from Levy armories, exacerbating the tension between the city and the UMF. The terrorist attacks have restricted UMFA operations - most often the troops remain in the relative security of their redoubt - placing the Chief Censor in a difficult position.
Despite their poor welcome by the locals, a number of Mercantile concerns maintain offices in the city. Most are trading concerns, exploiting the city's trade links with the SEP and Badlands communities. Zagreb is the principal import route for Timmins' low quality goods and also serves as a major center of smuggling activity. Both the Forzi and Granis Cartels maintain agents in the city, despite the formidable UMF and CNCS presence.
History
The Great Earthquake
(Rapid City Guardian, 7 Summer TN 1610) - Seismologists in Canterbury yesterday reported a massive earthquake centered on the Mount Lowen massif in the Pacifica Range. Shocks from the quake, which registered 7.3 on the Richter scale, were felt as far away as Marathon and Swanscombe, though damage was restricted to the immediate area. The independent city-state of Zagreb is reported to have been devastated by the quake, with many buildings destroyed and thousands believed dead. The city's consuls have declared a state of emergency but have so far refrained from seeking outside help. The extent of the damage to the region's farming communities is currently unknown, but satellite imagery shows numerous landslides and considerable ground fissuring, suggesting widespread devastation. While the region suffers hundreds of minor earthquakes every cycle, most only register on seismographic equipment. Incidents of this magnitude are rare, and this i s the most severe since records began in the 11th century. Most quakes in the region are associated with volcanic activity, and this incident is believed to herald a new active phase for Mount Lowen.
(Rapid City Guardian, 17 WinterTN 1611) - Struggling to cope with the aftermath of last summer's devastating earthquake and the ensuing eruption of Mount Lowen, the city-state of Zagreb has accepted membership in the United Mercantile Federation. UMF officials have visited several times in the past to offer such an agreement, but had always been turned down - up to now. The devastation wrought by the disaster has left no choice but to consider their offer more seriously, though negotiations have been rumored to be extremely difficult and complex. Mercantile grants are expected to play a major role in the reconstruction of the city, though the ruling Censors are adamant that they will not allow the UMF to eradicate the city's socialist culture. The city's new status will be finalized in a short ceremony that will take place later in the week.
Maps
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Zagreb
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