Rethan
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| Motto: In absentia luci, tenebrae vincunt | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthem: Still being written | ||||
| Time Period: PMT | ||||
| NS Page | NSEconomy | |||
| Capital | Rethan | |||
| Two largest cities | Rethan, Alaitar | |||
| Spoken languages - Official - Unofficial |
Rethast, English Latin | |||
| Government - Premier - Deputy Premier |
Vastari Lentar Harkan Estarc | |||
| Population - Total |
574,000,000 | |||
| National animal | Rethast Hound | |||
| National flower |
Etheria | |||
| Currency | 1 rethania (ß) = 100 centar (ç) | |||
| Internet TLD | .rst | |||
| Calling code | +777 | |||
Based on non-Earth V Rethan
The Militocracy of Rethan (Die Militarien Rejimen de Rethan) is a powerful nation, controlling the entire planet of Rethan. It is ruled by a Premier, the current Premier being Vastari Lentar, the latest in the long Lentar line. As the name suggests (Militarien Rejimen literally meaning Army Government), the nation takes great pride in its military and its crime rate is next to zero. Rethan consists of the planet Rethan, made of several landmasses, and its two moons, Titanus and Abaddon.
Citizens of Rethan (Rethast) are known for their suspicious nature, although when one can prove themselves friendly they are very welcoming and helpful. While they have little or no interest in the galaxy outside their solar system, they are willing to help any who can offer something in return, or are being oppressed by corrupt rulers or enemy nations (as they have been in the past). While not the most liberal nation, Rethast people are actually quite happy with their life despite the constant surveillance by the Army and Police Forces.
Contents
Culture
Ethnicity
Their is only one ethnic group in Rethan, and that is the Rethast. Their is no such thing as a latino-Rethast, or Asian-Rethast. All of them are the same and all of them are of the one race, Rethast.This unity and the combined language Rethast has led to no terrorism, as their is nothing really to fight amongst themselves about. The uniformity also leads to an almost fanatical devotion to Rethan and a great pride in their mutation and evolution, despite being abhorred as freaks by the Martochians.
Food
Rethast enjoy food that is particularly spicy, with a preference for meat. In fact, many Rethast consider food badly cooked if it said to be spicy and doesn’t cause a sweat. A popular Rethast meal is Grösswursch (lit. Large Meat). This consists of a large 30 oz. steak covered in assorted spicy sauces and herbs. To top it all off, the meal usually comes with side orders of salad, potatoes (and spicy chicken wings for the hungrier Rethast!). Besides their meat and spicy food, Rethast also enjoy pasta immensely, with Spaghetti Bolognese being the third most popular meal ordered in restaurants (after Grösswursch and Cajun Chicken).
As far as drinks and beverages go, Rethast enjoy almost anything. However, when it comes to alcohol they tend to avoid drinking it. It takes an exorbitant amount of alcohol to make a Rethast drunk, and often people trying to get drunk throw up from over drinking rather than actually being drunk, forcing them to start all over again. Rethast society also frowns greatly upon alcohol, as it can lead to responsible people becoming slobbering idiots.
A particular favourite in Rethan is Köladrinch. This is a strongly caffeinated and sugary drink, not dissimilar to Coca Cola from Earth, albeit with far more caffeine. The energy buzz Rethast get from this is enjoyed immensely, and the Köladrinch Company is one of the largest and most successful in Rethan.
Style
Clothing
Rethast clothing tends to be quite drab, their militaristic society discarding brightly coloured clothes in favour of the more uniform look of browns and greys. However, rich Rethast may buy more flamboyant clothing, usually as a way to show off. Should they wear it outside special events, they are often ridiculed and mocked as eccentric. It is not uncommon to wear bright clothing during special events however.
Architecture
Rethast architecture is a lot like their clothing, drab and covers the bare necessities. Rethast buildings usually take a uniform square shape, and the vast majority of buildings are skyscrapers, with only the rich owning private houses as opposed to apartments. Often times (especially on tall buildings) the Rethast Star is carved somewhere on the building for all to see. Government buildings are, in contrast to normal buildings, usually only one or two storeys tall. They spread out rather than up, especially the Governor palaces. These are decorated with flags and other patriotic items.
In general, Rethast buildings are slightly gothic in design, with doorways being arched and with thin windows.
Religion
Religion does not play a major role in Rethan, with the vast majority of the population atheist. However, the government does nothing to oppress people who wish to follow their own religion. Unfortunatley, some religions do clash with Rethast beliefs and laws, forcing them to either be abandoned or changed. However, some more popular religions do flourish.
The Brotherhood of 7 is by far and away the most popular of the religions. It promotes army enlistment and upholds many Rethast qualities as sacred. Mostly though, its beliefs and practices are unknown to all but its followers. The next most popular religion is Naturism, although this religion is frowned upon by most Rethast for its peace loving nature and strong opposition to the ways of Rethan. Followers abhorr the use of violence and are forbidden from signing up to the Armed Force (although they can do nothing to prevent conscription and reserve enlistment which is mandatory). Naturists only take up weapons to defend what they worship.... Rethan and all the life on it. Naturists are among some of the most forgiving to the Martochians for forcing the mutation on them. The last religion, and by far the most sinister is Nether Worship. Netherites worship violence and death for the power they hold over all life. Enlistment in the army is forced on all worshippers and all are expected to take up arms should Rethan ever find itself at war. In fact, almost 40% of the armed forces are Netherites. Besides the love of violence, Netherites are nigh-indistuingishable from normal Atheist Rethast.
Sports
Rethast sports play to their strength and militaristic nature. The national sport is Paintballing, organised into competitions, and Archery and Martial Arts (particularly Iaido and Karate) are among some of the most popular sports. Some other, less popular sports include:
- Football
- Rugby
- Boxing
Politics
The Rethast people are ruled by a Premier, a single ruler akin to an Emperor, Dictator or King. The Premier decides all happenings in the country, with the aid of the Departmental system. Each Department governs a particular branch of the government and is headed by an 'aide'. The aide's job is to condense all the information he gets into a single file, no longer than three A4 pages. The idea is to make the information easily read in a short period of time so that the Premier can make a decision. Often the aides provide suggestions.
Other than the Premier, the people have a form of power in the Senate. Senators are elected every year, two from each province. When elected, it is a Senators job to speak to the Premier for their respective province. Often the Senate may combine their efforts to sway the Premier, for example if the Premier declares war and all of Rethan is opposed to it. The Premier does not have to listen to the Senate of course, it's up to him what happens in Rethan. For the sake of peace in Rethan though, he often does listen if enough Senators argue for something.
Law and Order
The Goverment of Rethan takes its law and order system very seriosuly, with even more of the budget going to it than to the military. Despite some liberties, treason and 'heresy' are punishable with death by firing squad. Protests are allowed, so long as enough police are in place should anything go wrong. The most common crimes and punishments are:
- Murder/Manslaughter(There is no distinction in Rethan) : Death by Lethal Injection
- Treason : Death by Firing Squad.
- Avoiding Military Service(without reason) : 5-10 years
- Destruction of Government property (non-terrorist) : 10,000 Rethania fine, 2 years in prison or both
- Vandalism : 5 weeks Community Service
- Theft :5 days-3 years
- Tax Evasion : 6-10 years
- Drug Trafficking : 5months-5 years
- Hit and Run : 2 years (Classed as Murder if the victim dies)
Economy
The Rethast have a very strong economy, although the tax rate is very high (98%). The poverty levels are close to zero, with only about 1,500 people without shelter in the entire nation, even without any Social Welfare spending. The government gives no aid at all to special interest groups or the less-fortunate. As Alaitar Lentar once said, "The weak perish, so the strong may live". That one sentence governs almost all of the Rethast.
The Rethast market is completely free, one of the few things that is in the Militocracy. The government does however have strict rules about safety and potentially lethal weapons (swords, guns, etc.). Many things in Rethan are also privatised, such as beaches, some roads and air travel. The prison network however is completely under government control, despite several approaches by companies. Private Military Companies (PMCs) are also allowed, encouraged even, but none have been set up yet due to no outside contact and individual Rethast groups have no need of them.
GDP per Capita : $8,265.77 = approx. ß14,920.54
Geography
Rethan as a planet is rather barren and unwelcoming. Almost 72% of the planet's landmass is wasteland with no plant life. In the few areas of plant life, only hardy plants such as conferous trees and other such plants survive. The main body of the population is gathered in the province Rethan Prime, the location of Rethan when the planet was occupied by other nations. Due to the huge amount of land owned by the Militocracy and its relatively small population, it would be expected that urban density would be low, with the majority of people living on their own or in small villages. This is not the case, as the Rethast are fully prepared for population growth and their cities are dominated by skyscrapers and apartment blocks.
The climate is similar to Siberia on Earth. It's very cold, and is constantly snowing. The clouds are only 20% water vapour, the rest condensed Sulfur Dioxide, and small clouds of the gas blow across the land at ground level, giving the appearance of a constant fog. Strong winds are constantly blowing, although the Rethast aircraft have adapted to it. This harsh and unforgiving wetaher is part of what makes the Rethast race so tough and resilient. High radiation levels are also present all across the planet, making it deadly to almost all races. The sky always covered by dark, almost black, clouds and many Rethast proletarians have never seen the stars and there is very little difference between night and day.
Oil and gas resources are abundant, and the Rethast estimate that only 34% (or possibly less) of the fossil fuels have been discovered.
Foreign Affairs and the Military
The Military
Full Article: Rethast Army
The Rethast have a strong military, numbering some 500,000 combatants. The emphasis is on Blitzkrieg style warfare, with many of their vehicles, aircraft and spacecraft sacrificing armour for speed and firepower. Additionally, all Rethast ground vehicles are equipped with anti-grav drives to allow smooth and quick movement but sacrifice armour for it, making them easy to destroy.
Foreign Affairs
So far, the Rethast have not had dealings with any outside race other than the human Martochians, whom they hate with a passion. Although many trade convoys and diplomatic mission leave Rethan, the Martochian Armada usually forces them to turn back. A lack of decent FTL travel also means that when the Rethast do eventually get past the Martochians, they will be confined to a small area of exploration.
