Long Key

The Flag of Long Key

The Great Barracuda in the top right corner represents the national animal, the blue represents the tropical seas around the Empire, and the white represents freedom. The flag as a whole with the white stripe represents the international diving flag due to the reefs in the Empire’s waters.

Geography

The Empire of Long Key consists of five main islands--Alexander Key, Barracuda Key, Misty Key, Shark Key, and Long Key. Long Key is the largest and is home to the capital. Four of the islands form a rough-looking, slanted diamond shape with channels between them. The Forgotten Keys lie to the far north of Long Key and Shark Key and form a half ring, enclosing Paradise Bay. To the west of Long Key is the Misty Key Reef that runs from the end of the Forgotten Keys down to the middle part of Barracuda Key. The reef is about 15 miles from the westernmost point on Long Key, Misty Point. Misty Key is west of the reef and Squid Key is 40 miles west of Barracuda Key, which puts it around 35 miles south of Misty Key.

To the east of Long Key is Alexander Key, which is home to the oldest town in the Empire, Alexander. The island is about 28,590 square miles and is circular in shape. It lies 20 miles from the eastern shore of Long Key. The Southern Woods occupy the southern portion of the island, Alexander is on the eastern shore, Maitland is on the west coast at the junction of InterIsland Highway 2 (IH 2), the old city of Alamo is on the northeast coast, and the rest of the island is covered in farmland. Many creeks on this island provide excellent irrigation for the farms.

Barracuda Key is known for its Great Barracuda population and fishing for them is prohibited. It holds many scientific research laboratories as well as Central University, the second largest in the nation. The island is also the fourth largest in the Empire at 56,278 square miles and is 35 miles southwest of Long Key. Spotfin Atoll lies 10 miles from the northwest shore of Barracuda Key and is located near IH 1 on the way to Long Key. The entire diamond-shaped island is the Barracuda National Park except the western shore, which is comprised of the city of Salem--the third largest city, and Herot, which is a medium-sized seaport on the north shore of the island. The Long River begins in the Elle Mountains on the northeastern shore, near Mt. Savannah (20,302 feet), and opens into the sea at Salem. The Salem River connects to the Long River just before the Salem city limits and runs from the mountains in the northern part of the island. There are many small rivers branching off from these two rivers creating an excellent habitat for wildlife, thus the rain forest and national park. The small, fishing village of Driftwood lies on the southeastern coast.

Misty Key lies 10 miles west of the Misty Key Reef and is 111,277 square miles. It's oblong in shape with several important rivers for shipping, including the Highland, Misty, and Berata Rivers. Its major town is West Branch, which lies in the junction of three rivers in the central part of the bottom of the key. The Misty comes from the north, the Tarpin from the southwest and the Berata from the west. The Berata River prevails at West Branch and flows into the Cudan Sea to the east through the Berata Seaway. The town of Shadow straddles the mouth of the seaway and benefits significantly from trade. In the northern parts of the island are the Rolling Hills where the Highland River begins. The Highland flows southward from the hills through the town of Rolling Hills, into the Misty Sound to the west. The city of Elau (7th largest) lies on the southern tip of the island and profits from the boats that take divers and snorkelers out to the reef. The city is also the end of IH 4. The road travels west from Salem to Squid Key where is turns north on a curved path to avoid the reef. This was the last highway built between the islands, as it is the longest and required special planning.

Shark Key has a very important industry--trout farming. Its ideal location with seven naturally sheltered bays provide perfect places for trout to be raised and harvested. Five of the seven bays are located in the Kidron Gulf. The other two are on the Winding River in the southern part of the island. The Kidron Gulf cuts into the western side of the island between Layton and Hammerhead and continues to Kidron. Shark Key has abundant resources, including fertile farmland, large forests, gold and stone mines, and offshore oil derricks. The second largest in the Empire, at 149,995 square miles, also has the second and fourth largest cities, Layton and Hammerhead, respectively. It is located northeast of Long Key by 26 miles, making it almost directly north of Alexander Key by about 16.6 miles. Layton is in the southwest corner while Hammerhead is in the northwest corner. Layton is one end of IH 3, which connects the island to Alliance. The Keyan Mountain Range runs the length of the island on the eastern side, with the forest in between the mountains and the cities. Another small town, Kidron, is toward the middle of this rectangular-shaped island, and borders the Kidron Gulf. Several minor rivers run from the mountains in the east to the gulf in the west. The major river though, is the Killbuck River that begins in the town of Killbuck on the northern fringes of the Keyan Mountains, continues through the town of Kidron, and dumps into the Kidron Gulf. The town of Pleasantview, although only a small town, borders the Winding River in the northern part of south central Shark Key at the Rainbow Gorge. This is where some of the best fish are caught and it is known for its camping and recreation sites that are some of the best in the empire. The tallest mountain in the empire is Mt. Killbuck at 21,539 feet. Other major towns include Bayside, which is on the northern shore of the Kidron Gulf, and Windward, which is located at the mouth of the Winding River. Another notable river is the Aspirion that flows nearly parallel to the Winding and empties into the Windward Channel.

Long Key is an island of about 183,451 square miles and resembles a rough-looking triangle, with the 'tip' pointing north. The northern part of the island is known as Lower Long Key, and the southern part is known as Greater Long Key. This is because colonists settled on the southern part of the island first, near the mouth of the Keyan River and founded Alliance there. The Keyan River begins in the town of Hilltop, which, aptly named, is located on top of the Great Misty Hills in the northern part of the island in the tip of the 'triangle', and meanders its way through the heart of Long Key until it runs into the Keyan Sea at Alliance. The four lakes region occupies the southwestern portion of the island with Long Fork, Tiburon, and Tanner profiting from the fishing business. The Falcon Reservoir supplies Alliance with fresh water and the Falcon Dam provides power. The middle of the island remains largely untouched by human hands as the major cities and towns are on the coast. Because of this, the island is teeming with wildlife. Alliance, the capital and largest city, is located on the southeast corner with superb natural harbors and an excellent infrastructure. Alliance is the hub of the InterIsland Highway Network with IH 1 going south to Salem, IH 2 east to Maitland, and IH 3 north to Layton. The bustling metropolis has two International Airports and a domestic one. A new metro system has been the source of decreased traffic on the roads which resulted in safer streets. The Diamond Harbor is the busiest in the region and the shipbuilding industry takes advantage of the large bay. The University of Greater Long Key is the largest and the most prestigious in the nation. It has received numerous accolades for new technologies such as improved Trout Farming, improvements on oil derrick architecture, and the development of the InterIsland Highway, among others. Long Key's beaches are among the region's best with breathtaking sunsets, and combined with the tropical water, it makes for a very refreshing swim. Short Key is a small island just off the western shore of the island and is home to some of the most beautiful beaches. North Shore is a tourist town located on the northeastern shore of Long Key and offers the best beaches in the Empire. There are many attractions in this town and it is the fifth largest city overall in the nation. Another midsized town is Long Fork, located at the end of the Long Fork River, notable for its outstanding high school athletic programs. The Long Fork River branches off from the Keyan River a few miles above the Falcon Reservoir, which lies in the low central part of the island. Misty Point has a magnificent landscape and the Misty Point Military Base is just outside of the town. Hilltop is another notable town in the northern “triangle” (so named because it resembles that shape) and offers many home-made goodies.

Squid Key is a small key about 18,453 square miles. There are only small towns here because the entire island is a rainforest and it’s a protected wildlife area. IH 4 skirts the northeast corner of the island with an exit so the key stays connected with the rest of the empire.

The Forgotten Keys have no towns but they do provide an excellent place for summerhouses and private getaways, as well as scientific research stations. There are no roads connecting the hundreds of keys that make up the Forgotten Keys, as they are only accessible by boat. They are all small coral keys, with the largest ones measuring about 5 miles across. The wildlife is abundant and is a popular snorkeling and scuba diving location.

The InterIsland Highway connects the Long, Shark, Misty, Barracuda, Alexander, and Squid Keys together with a four lane highway. The bridges are tall and the arches are far apart so that the shipping lanes may remain open. Architecture and physics students at the University of Greater Long Key came up with the idea and submitted it to Parliament, which approved the plans 10 days later. This massive project was started in 1970 and finished in 1976.

History

Prehistory

The islands in Paradise Cove were inhabited by the Rastifari peoples until the first explorers arrived in the 13th century. They were friendly to the newcomers but the gesture wasn't returned. Led by Arthur Alexander, Juan Cortéz and Marver Constanta, a group of 150 sailed from Europe aboard the Medallion. Seeing the despicable acts of human sacrifices, the newcomers declared war on the natives in order to cleanse the land of their 'sins'. The natives were forced from Long, Shark, Barracuda, and Alexander Keys to Steinbreen Island (later called Rastifaria). The settlers started the first colony and founded the town of Alexander, after their leader. The colony didn't flourish until the early 1700s after independence but from 1300-1650, there existed peaceful fishing villages.

War of Independence

The year was 1698, and Michael Alexander was leaving England, with about 100 companions, for Long Key colony in order to find religious freedom. He was 28 at the time and when he arrived, he found a colony in total disarray. There was widespread crime and moral sins were everywhere. The English colony was falling apart and Michael decided to act. With his excellent leadership skills, he effectively took control of the colony with the help of his 100 companions. The population of about 10,000 people recognized their crimes and reforms began to take place soon after Michael had taken control of the colony as “governor”. England began to notice a change in leadership from their colony of Long Key and sent a diplomat ordering the new leader to step down or face punishment. Michael, with the entire population's backing, refused and so the fight for independence began in 1700.

The initial fighting was glorious for the colonists who had built defensive fortifications around the four islands in key spots. The arrogant English army lost many men before even reaching the shore, thanks to the new artillery the colonists had developed. The English were more experienced, and the inevitable happened within a week: the defenses were breached. The resulting fight could better be described as a massacre, as 1,000 colonists lost their lives, compared to just 20 English deaths.

The English then secured what would later be known as Alexander Key as the colonists fled to the other three islands. The place that would later be called Shark Key received the majority of the fleeing people, where they would re-gather their strength. The English, still arrogant about how they easily took control of the colony, were unprepared for what happened next. Led by Aaron Johnson and Michael Alexander, 2,500 colonists snuck ashore during the middle of the night when all the soldiers were asleep, took their artillery, aimed them at the camp and fired warning shots into the sky. The British awoke in a panic before realizing what had happened. They were surrounded. The colonists demanded that the 5,000 English soldiers leave or die. All agreed except a few who tried to be heroes. They failed and were shot. England granted them independence the following week.

Recent History

The colonists were overjoyed about their independence, but Michael knew it would be a difficult task to build a strong country. Over the next 30 years, the new nation was called Long Key because of the larger population on that island and because of its size. The population boomed from about 8,000 people after the Revolution to 25,000 by 1735. The newly formed country began to cultivate the land and also started a fishing industry. By 1760, Long Key had taken control of four of the five major islands and was renamed The Empire of Long Key. On through the end of the 18th century, Long Key saw its population increase ten-fold, to over 250,000. This was because of the rich, spacious land of the beautiful islands that attracted businesses and immigrants to settle there. In 1801, Misty Key and Squid Key were added to the Empire. Today the Empire of Long Key boasts a population of 30 million of the happiest citizens in the world. The nation was on Great Britain's side for both of the World Wars, but remained neutral in the Cold War; although it has been rumored the United States helped fund the Keyan research of new technologies, and Barracuda Key was used for a secret underwater base for U.S. submarines. No evidence has been found to support this.

Regions

• Forgotten Keys
• Squid Key
• Alexander Key
• Barracuda Key
• Rolling Hills (northern Misty Key)
• Three Rivers (southern Misty Key)
• Bayside (northern Shark Key)
• Kidron Gulf (middle and south Shark Key)
• Keyan Mountain Range (eastern Shark Key)
• Lower Long Key (northern Long Key)
• Short Key
• Keyan River (middle Long Key)
• Greater Long Key (southern Long Key)

Major Cities

• Alliance
• Layton
• Salem
• Hammerhead
• North Shore
• West Branch
• Elau
• Marine City
• Long Fork
• Tiburon
• Highland
• Windward
• Rolling Hills
• Shadow
• Playa Ciudad
• Herot
• Maitland
• Kidron
• Tanner
• Bayside
• Verona
• Hilltop
• Pleasantview
• Misty Point
• Bluewater Village
• Driftwood
• Killbuck
• Alamo
• Alexander

Major Universities

• The University of Greater Long Key (UGLK)
• Central University (CU)
• West Branch University (WBU)
• Salem Art Institute (SAI)
• Spotfin University (SU)
• Highland Medical Academy (HMA)
• Misty Point Military Base (MPMB)
• University of Savannah (US)
• University of Hammerhead (UH)
• Marine State University (MSU)
• Alliance Technical Institute (ATI)
• Layton Law University (LLU)
• Academie le Tour (ALT)
• Fiesta Tech (FT)
• Sim State University (SSU)
• Bayside College
• Imperial Agricultural Research and Development Center (IARDC)

National Anthem

The National Anthem for The Empire of Long Key is Grace Like Rain.

Government

The government is separated into three branches: Palace, Parliament, and the Courts. The emperor, who has the assistance of Royal Advisors, and the protection of the Royal Guards, heads the Palace branch. After the death of an emperor, there is an election for a new one. The emperor is elected for life or until his health prohibits him from carrying out his normal duties. The emperor can also be removed from office if at least 75% of the population votes him out. The emperor is Supreme Commander of the military, is in charge of enforcing the law, signs bills into law, appoints Royal Advisors, regional governors, and judges of the Courts--upon State Senate approval, and represents the Empire abroad.

The Royal Advisors Panel consists of the following positions:

• Administrator of the Empire (second in command)
• Administrator of Defense
• Administrator of the Military
• Administrator of Justice
• Administrator of Treasury
• Administrator of the Environment
• Administrator of Commerce
• Administrator of Agriculture
• Administrator of Labor
• Administrator of Transportation
• Administrator of Education

The Royal Guards are composed of 10,000 elite soldiers trained for protecting the emperor, the imperial family, and government officials. Parliament is the law-making body of the government. It consists of one house, the State Senate, which is made up of 5 elected officials from each region, and are elected for 4 year terms. Regional Senates are also part of Parliament. The head of the State Senate is the Prefect (third in command), who is elected for a 10 year term. The Courts are the judicial system and decide cases of dispute. They also determine if a new law supports the Constitution. There are 7 justices, including the Praetor (head justice), who preside over the Imperial Court. There are many courts in the Empire. The lowest courts are the Local Courts for the cities; they decide trivial matters such as misdemeanors and small crimes. The next highest are the Regional Courts where appeals may be heard from the lower courts, larger crimes are decided, as well as felonies. The next highest are the Key Courts, they hear appeals from lower courts and decide treason, felonies, and other significant matters in the Empire. The highest court is the Imperial Court, which hears appeals from lower courts, decides if a law is within the Constitution, and hears the most important matters inside and outside of the Empire.

Long Key Economy

• The currency of Long Key is the Cuda (ç). 100 Barras (Ф) = 1 Cuda (ç).
• Exchange Rate: ç2.8603 = $1
• GDP: ç650.68 billion ($1.86 trillion)
• Domestic Population: 30 million
• GDP per capita: ç21,689 ($62,038)
• Unemployment Rate: 2.31%
• Govt. Budget: ç486.5 billion ($1.39 trillion)
• Exports: ç250.5 billion ($716.5 billion)
• Imports: ç199.3 billion ($570.1 billion)
• Trade Surplus: ç51.2 billion ($146.4 billion)

Paradise Cove Economy

• Gross Regional Product: ç1.6 trillion
• Regional Population: 85 million
• GRP per capita: ç18,824 ($53,842)
• Long Key: ç650.68 billion; pop: 30 million; per capita: ç21,689 ($62,038)
• Dodinas: ç400.5 billion; pop: 23 million; per capita: ç17,413 ($49,806)
• Rastifaria: ç316.6 billion; pop: 15 million; per capita: ç21,106 ($60,369)
• Sanea: ç232.2 billion; pop: 17 million; per capita: ç13,659 ($39,069)

Religion and Education

The Empire of Long Key's official religion is Christianity; however, going to church is not compulsory. Long Key believes that Church and State must remain separate. The citizens are given the freedom to worship God how they like within Christianity, except non-Christian religious practices are looked down upon. Education is very important to Keyans. Schooling is required from Kindergarten through 12th grade. Pre-school is optional and college is strongly recommended as very few employers will hire anyone without a college degree. Strong emphasis is put on how students can use the knowledge they gain. It isn’t uncommon for students to do missions or travel between high school and college. Many colleges require that all students complete one semester studying abroad to gain a better worldview in order to graduate. Graduate programs for Masters and Doctorate degrees are becoming more common as the younger generation is fueled by a desire to learn. This has resulted in an upsurge of new technologies for consumer electronics. An alternative energy source has also been found and successfully implemented on a large scale. All vehicles in the Empire of Long Key now use this new energy source which burns cleanly, so it’s good for the environment, and is cheaper than the traditional energy sources.

Technology

As stated before, all vehicles, including airplanes, boats, and trains, use this new source of energy. Electricity is produced by a variety of sources but they are all good for the environment. Hydroelectric power, wind, solar, and hydrogen produce all the power for the empire’s needs. Trash is collected nationwide and used for another source of electricity. New developments have enabled trash to be burned with no harmful emissions. About 90% of homes have at least one personal computer, 100% of homes have TVs, radios, and kitchen appliances. The mail system has recently seen new developments in transporting mail which allow for a maximum of two days to deliver something anywhere in the empire, and 4 days anywhere in Paradise Cove. Technology is widespread and the country can be considered a modern, first-world country.

Emperors

Dating back to the beginnings of the Empire in 1700, there have been 11 emperors. Seven of whom are descendants of Michael Alexander.

Emperors of Long Key:

• 1700-1745 Michael Alexander (45 years)
• 1745-1766 Aaron Alexander (21 years)
• 1766-1785 Caleb Alexander (19 years)
• 1785-1837 Michael Alexander II (52 years)
• 1837-1853 Michael Alexander III (16 years)
• change in government to institute the Parliament and the Courts
• 1853-1879 Kyle Johnson (26 years)
• 1879-1908 Tyler Smith (29 years)
• 1908-1942 Rob Smith (34 years)
• 1942-1981 Edward Alexander (39 years)
• 1981-2002 William Alexander (21 years)
• 2002-present Jason Alexander

Issues

• Too much tourism is starting to destroy the environment. Programs have started to lessen this impact while still allowing a reasonable amount of visitors.
• There is much debate as to what to do with the native Rastifarian buildings that preceded the colonists. Some say they should be preserved and become landmarks while others pressure the fact that Long Key needs to expand and the land should be used for new developments.
• Certain companies are dumping toxins into the waters off of Shark Key into the Etlas Sea. Parliament has formed a committee to stop these atrocities.
• The neighboring countries of Dodinas, Rastifaria, and Sanea want to reach a free trade agreement for all in Paradise Cove.
• Long Key is the only country to use the new energy source for vehicles and it’s becoming a problem when Keyans travel around Paradise Cove as they cannot find fuel stations. Parliament is pushing the other nations to follow suit and has promised to share the new technology.
• Homosexuality is prohibited and generally looked down upon.
• The illegal drug market was fairly high during the 1940s and 50s but since then it has lost popularity as people began to realize that the drugs didn’t actually help them.
• Long Key is a smoke-free zone. No cigarettes are sold in or brought into the country. Smugglers are fined and sent to do community service.
• Alcohol isn’t very common in the Empire but the occasional beach resort will serve some.