Island City

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Island City
coat-of-arms.gif
Island City Coat of Arms
Population
  - Metro
475,000
1,700,000
Province Prevnicia Capital District
Country Willink& Spizania
Area Code 57514
Postal Code IF
MCLs 97
MPPs 45
Sister cities Castle City


Island City (Known locally as Eiland by nationals, Город Острова by Willink) is the Capital and largest metropolitan city of the Democratic Territory of Very Small Island, along with the de jure capital of Spizanian and Willinkian Island Territories, with a estimated population of 475,000.(18 October 2006). It is the also the largest city in all former VSI territory. It is located in the Prevnicia province, bordering the sea to the north, the Magelgia Mountain's to the west, and the Zanzir plains to the south and east. The Lisben river cuts through the city.

The City was first settled by the Spanish in the early 12th century, and grew to become the colonial capital of the Island, although it lost this title to Castle city in 1789.The city has captured international attention numerous times in the past few years. In May 2005, it was the scene of a large military campaign by Hataria that caused minimal damage to the city. This was later repaired under Hatarian control. In June 2005 it was recaptured by rebel-led forces that re founded the nation, naming the city its capital, and in late June it was severely damaged by Parthia in the VSI revolution. In the current date, the city is finally starting to recover from the damage caused.(its current population is still only less than one-eighth of it's pre-war population.)


City residents are know as Islanders, while Visians is a general term for citizens of the nation.

Geography and climate

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Island City lies on the Northeastern coast of the Prevnicia, bordering the VSI Sea. The city covers an area of 195 square kilometers, and sits 40 meters above sea level. The municipal area is surrounded by dense forest to the west and southwest, and plains to the East and Southeast. The actual city center is very flat, while the surrounding areas tend to be covered in hills and flat plains. The City has a semi-tropical climate, with an average temperature of 90°F in the summer and a cool 35°F in the winter. The city receives on average 62 inches of precipitation a year, and flooding is frequent in the spring months. The wettest month is April, while the driest is October.

History

Not much is know about the history of the area prior to the Spanish colonization, but several nomad tribes are known to have inhabited the territory, and the actual site of the city was occupied by a large Illyrian settlement before the Spanish. After the Spanish arrived, the settlement of Puerto Llano(Port Plain) was founded with settlers numbering in the several dozen exactly 26km north of the city, on the Lisben river. During world war 2, the city was bombed (Although not invaded) by the Japanese, causing serious damage to the cities trade and industrial sectors. The area stayed a Spanish Colony until 1952, when VSI was founded.

Modern History

On May 2005, following several years of rule by Hataria of the city, forces supporting the libre gente muy pequeño isla liberación delantero (Free People of Very Small Island Liberation Front) overthrew the Hatarian colonial government and set fire to the Hatarian capital building. Hatarian troops were forced to pull out of the city, and were later surrounded to the southwest and airlifted out. During the push out of Hatarian troops, several dozen civilians were killed (The majority of which occurred when Hatarian Infantry fighting vehicles opened fire on angry protesters in a governmental complex), along with 36 FPVSILF members, but the goal of the organization was met. For the time being, the city was free of foreign rule.

FPVSILF quickly put it's fist down, arresting Hatarian workers and civilians, along with political enemies of the right-wing organization (Several of which were dragged through the streets and beat beyond recognition.) Soon after, a modest city leader by the name of Carlos Guerrero managed to soften the FPVSILF's control of the city, and later outlawed it, arresting its leaders and several hundred supporters (Who were never released.)

On July 12th 2005, Parthia attacked the city for the first time, launching a conventional SSM at a residential block on the cities east end, killing 85. Strikes later that day knocked power out to 75% of the city, destroyed the Arksfurd forward air command (Including nearly 90% of it's planes on the ground), and knocked the cities international airport out of commission.

VSI military forces later regrouped and set up defenses outside the city, although it was often pounded by air strikes on a weekly bases, destroying much of the cities industrial capabilities; over 2,000 were suspected dead after the first two weeks. Skylian and Spizani forces later set up command centers in the city, and Skycapt took over the northern port town of Port Island (An extension of Island City itself). During the period of late June-Early July, Willink joined the fray, also joining Spizani and Skylian forces in the city; total troops within the cities border by mid July 2005 was nearly 100,000 spread over 6 divisions.

In late July Pathia began a massive artillery campaign, setting field guns and rocket systems up just 75km south of the city outskirts, and over a 12 day period destroyed roughly 56% of the city, killing over 50,000 civilians and over 2,000 soldiers attempting to administer aid. Nearly 1.2 million fled the city to the northern shores, and we kept at a Spizani aid city set up next to Port Island, which housed roughly 400,000 evacuees over 20 square kilometers. Continuing artillery duels destroyed much of the outer city, and by the signing of the peace treaty only an estimated 19,000 civilians remained.

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Willikian forces examine damage to a residential block.
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During the Kravania-Lone Alliance war, the city was once again targeted by Parthian forces, and suffered considerable (Although to a lesser extent) damage. (It is estimated that the damage to the city at this point was upward of 175 billion dollars). The city suffered major economical setbacks, although at the eventual victory of the Willinkian led offensive against Kravania, the city finally returned to peace. Still, ahead were many new challenges. Less than a fourth of the cities population returned, and the cleanup and rebuilding of the city was painfully slow (And still ongoing.). Basic necessities such as water lines and power plants had to be relaid and rebuilt, and new roads had to be paved.


Government

The Democratic Territory of Very Small Island is not a government per-say. It is heavily administered by local Spizani and Willinkian politicians, and is considered more of a territory than a sovereign nation. The DTVSI, SWAD(Spizani-Willinkian Administrative Division), and FPVSILF control the cities politics and government. Each has its own Council/Parliament, Judicial courts (Although SWAD maintains control over all others), and offices. The City is comprised of several (6) municipalities, each who admister their local municipality and meet together twice a month to discuss citywide matters. The joint Executive branch consists of a Mayor, SWAD representative, two provincial deputies, and a cabinet. This is also complemented by the SWAD Executive branch, led by a 2 political representative appointed directly by Spizianian and Willinkian leaders, a justice tribune, economic supervisors and a political parliament of SWAD and local politicians appointed by the cities inhabitants. FPVSILF has limited/regulated representation, although this is rumored to be at the request of the Willinkian Government.

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The Cities main governmental center, the building of the government of Island City.
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The cities legislative branch is made up of a 32 man council of all the cities political parties. Members are elected by a citywide vote, and serve a minimum of 4 years. This branch cooperates directly with the central goverment. A local goverment council is directly linked to the legislative branch, and is designed to help the people get a voice in what the government does. These local goverments are based in the larger towns and suburbs of the city.

Demographics

The last census of the cities population occured in October of 2006, at this point it was recorded that 475,000 people lived in the city.(Although still the majority of the population has not returned, and several thousand were unable to be reached for the census.) Several FPVSILF reports indicate that the actual population is nearer to 500,000, atlthough this is unconfirmed. The long series of war and destruction displaced over 2.5 million people, and only a fraction have returned so far. The cities population density is estimated at around 2,435 people per square kilometer.


Economy

The massive destruction caused by nearly constant war over a 12 year period has taken a huge effort by Spizania and Willink to rebuild, and this is in part thanks to massive reconstruction and rehabilitation programs. New progress is visable through city sectors, although some, such as the cities eastern residential zone, are still in ruin, the same state as at the wars end. In January of 2006 the National Stock Exchange of Very Small Island opened, and trading started just a week later. The Central bank of Very Small Island reopened(Albeit completely re founded), and major business, while still concerned, are just starting to return. The manufacturing sector, the hardest hit by war, is starting to show signs of progress, and the mixed open/planned economy is benefiting the city well. The cities main exports include clothing, automobiles, furniture, and electronic goods (Especially cell phones.). The city also hosts offices of major companies such as Vistla Automotive and The Bank of Spizania.


Media

As the largest city and Capital of DTVSI, Island City is also the media and communication center of the territory. During the period of war the majority of this was destroyed, although the lack of tariffs and inexpensiveness of land, along with lax tax policies, led to the city becoming a media powerhouse following the war.

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74th street tower, home the newspaper Libertad Diaria
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The city has 3 newspapers, plus 12 regular magazines. The city has 2 Public broadcast television stations, TVN Island and IC-TV. The city has 12 FM radio stations, and a citywide agreement allows individuals to set up their own stations with a small fee, and paying for the required equipment. Cell phones are extremely common throughtout the city (Nearly 80% of residents own them), and there are several major companies in the aformentioned field that base themselves in the city.

Transportation

Due to the general flatness of the area, the city has/had a large, complicated system of wide-lane roads. (Most of these were damaged or destroyed). A new highway system is being redesigned to bring traffic through the city center to hopefully attract new business. The city also has a light monorail and streetcar system in the planning stages for the future. Island City International Airport is still undertaking repairs to prepare it for re-opening, this is expected to be sometime in late October 2006, and shall mix in the with celebration of the opening of a new sports stadium.


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The terminal being reconstructed prior to the Kravanian-Lone Alliance war, has since been destroyed.
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The Airport,(IATA:ISI), suffered major damage during the previous wars. It's terminal was hit by several missiles throughout the fighting (After which it was turned into a refugee camp), only to have it's runway destroyed a few days later. Reconstruction started slowly after the end of hostilities, and repairs to the terminal were nearly complete when it was severely damaged by artillery fire by the Parthians, so much so that half the building collapsed and had to be rebuilt from scratch. The city has also put forward a plan for a new subway system, and it is expected that a lack of funds will shut the project down.

Education

Education throughout the city is poor at best. Of the nearly 220 schools opened prior to the Parthian-SW wars, a mere 70 are open today; nearly 100 were destroyed or otherwise closed by enemy action. Most of the remaining closers are due to the lack of staff, and general lack of educators through the city. The City also has two universities, the University of Island City (UIC) and Island City Tech (ICT). The latter was bombarded as it was used as a FOB by Spizanian forces during the artillery duals. Educational establishments around the world provided money to help rebuild ICT, and reconstruction was completed in December 2005. The school reopened on New Years Day, 2006, to a collegeant fanfare.


Military Presence

Since the city is still a relative danger zone, Spizania and Willink both maintain substantial military forces in the area. Unit's include the following.


Willinkian Forces

  • 3rd Air Force, Consisting of nearly 450 aircraft, including several flights of YF-33 Ravens and SuF-6C Superwraiths. Also based with this Air Force is the 7th Strategic Strike Air Arm, and the 32nd Infantry Battalion tasked with defending the Fort Mcormic Air base, on the outskirts of the city.
  • 17th Tank Army, Consisting of nearly 800 Feric MM-01 MBT's and Regus Light tanks, along with nearly 1,000 artillery pieces. Also attached is the 4th Motorized Infantry Regiment, with nearly 2,000 men and IFV's.
  • 22nd Army, Consisting of 4 Infantry divisions and one tank division, totaling nearly 50,000 men, 2,000 armored vehicles, and several hundred missile platforms.
  • 4th Colonial Fleet, based in Port Island, consisting of 14 Ayrat class Guided Missile Destroyers, 2 Oak Royal class Light Strike Carriers, and nearly 30 smaller craft, including missile boats, corvettes, minesweepers, and repair/dock ships.


Spizani Forces

  • 1st Guards Corps, consisting of nearly 300 T108A3 "Super Pompeii" Main Battle Tanks, and Wolverine Medium Battle Tanks, along with nearly fifteen hundred other vehicles and three hundred howitzers of varying calibres.
  • 118th Territorial Light Infantry Brigade, the first Confederate Unit to be deployed to VSI, it still maintains one of its three Battalions in VSI on a rotating basis, it also draws approximately 100 of its recruits from the populace of North Very Small Island.
  • 1st Dragoon Guards Division, consisting of nearly 250 Orindus Mobile Gun Systems, SOV-17 Infantry Fighting Vehicles and T112 Light Battle Tanks with supporting self propelled howitzers
  • 2nd Tank Army, consisting of over 1200 T108A3 "Super Pompeii" Main Battle Tanks, and Wolverine Medium Battle Tanks with several hundred Rapid Firing Artillery Guns providing it with support.
  • 12th Mechanised Infantry Corps, consisting of forty thousand infantry with close to two thousand SOV-17 Ejiard Infantry Fighting Vehicles and T112 Light Tanks
  • 13th Air Cavalry Armoured Division, consisting of nearly 300 Nakil 1SZ Main Battle Tanks and Fifteen Hundred light vehicles of various types, plus organic heavy lift and helicopter support.
  • 1st Air Force, consisting of nearly 900 Lu-45 Air Superiority Fighters and 150 SuFB-8 Strike Phoenixes
  • 133rd Heavy Bomb Group, Strategic Air Command, consisting of 24 SuB-4 Super Hurricaine Heavy Bombers and 8 SuKC-1 Tanker Aircraft
  • Fleet Elements (rotated through Island City Naval Base at various Intervals)
  • Island City Defensive Fortifications, emplaced during the Second Very Small Island war and constantly upgraded to leave them able to defend the city from all but a massed offensive by a considerable proportion of the entire Parthian Military