Difference between revisions of "Ximea"

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Ximea

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Flag of Ximea
Motto: "Live Long and Prosper"
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Region	Atheist Empire
Capital	Xim
Official Language(s)	English
Leader	The Lord Commander Teflon Don
Population	0.5 - 1 billion
Currency	Slinky
NS Sunset XML

World Factbook Entry for : Ximea

Name 

Conventional Long Form: The Free Lands of Ximea

Conventional Short Form: Ximea

Ximea is a very large, socialistic nation governed by an elected Lord Commander and a Senate of one thousand members, along with a Supreme Court of nine Justices. The nation occupies the southern part of an immense continent and a large island in the Atheist Empire. Its rocky, volcanic terrain is home to vast expanses of both desert and rainforest, as well as several megalopolises. The massive federal government is devoted to the welfare and advancement of its citizens and the world. Ximeans tend to be liberal, atheistic, and proud of their homeland and way of life—but without the blind patriotism of more conservative nations. As a result, the people of Ximea welcome foreigners and respect the customs of other nations. Progressive social policies, a superior educational system, and a well-funded police force have reduced violent crime and crime against property to virtually nil.

Major industries in Ximea include pizza delivery, biotechnology, information technology, mining, and manufacturing. Most indistries in Ximea, particularly utilities, public transportation, and biotechnology, are government-run, and strict commercial regulations make megacorporations and monopolies impossible. Several factors, including strict environmental protection laws, reliance on geothermal energy, and a nationwide public transportation system have preserved the splendor of Ximea's vast natural areas.

Geography

Area

28,450,000 sq km

Maritime Claims 

Territorial Sea: 24 NM

Exclusive Fishing Zone: 200 NM

Geology

Ximea occupies the volcanic southern portion of a massive continent in the Atheist Empire. Most of the nation's territory is geologically active, and tremors, earthquakes, and minor volcanic eruptions are common. Three volcanoes, Vesuvius II, Alighieri Peak, and Mount Faustus, are in a continual state of low-level eruption. A thick layer of lava rock covers a granite and basalt continental mass.

Climate

Varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north. The southernmost areas of Ximea, South Island and the Tailbone (peninsula), tend to be very hot and humid, while the northern areas tend to be cooler and drier.

Precipitation can reach up to 270 cm annually.

Natural Hazards

• Flash floods can occur in the south throughout the tropical season. Other major risks include landslides, mudflows, earthquakes, tremors, tsunamis, typhoons, and volcanic eruptions.
• The dominant biomes of Ximea are rainforest and swampland, making overland travel hazardous.
• Numerous species of indigenous fauna are hazardous to humans (including the land lamprey, Ximea’s national animal), as are a few species of carnivorous flora.

Terrain

• Mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands. Large areas of rainforest, swamps, and marshes in the south; deciduous forests, deserts, and grassland in the north.
• Lowest point: Lake Charon -905 m
• Highest point: Mount Kadath, 3,025 m

Culture

Religion

Ximea is a secular nation whose government is dedicated to the strict separation of religion and state. The government does not officially recognize any religious holidays (although government employees and many most private employees are allowed to take time off of work). The population is largely atheistic, with only 26% considering themselves religious, and 6% espousing deistic religions.

• Nonreligious 74%
• Shinto Buddhist 13%
• Other Buddhist 5%
• Christian 4%
• Pagan 2%
• Other 2%

Language

The official language of Ximea is English, though many citizens utilize Latin and Esperanto as second (and sometimes tertiary) languages. Japanese is common in the south; Italian and German are common in the north. Literacy is nearly universal in English in citizens over the age of 15.

Holidays

All holidays officially recognized by the Ximean government are secular in nature, even if some of them have roots in various religious traditions. It should be noted that most employees in Ximea, in both the private sector and the government, are allowed varying amounts of payed time off which they may use for religious holidays if they so choose.

• Bacchus Day, March 16th. A celebration of intoxication. This celebration usually involves the excessive consumption of wine, since beer is far less popular in Ximea than in most other nations where alcohol consumption is permitted. Bacchus Day actually extends until dawn of March 17th.

• April Fools Day, April 1st. A day of jest and mild practical joking. Ximea’s newest national holiday, April Fools Day became “official” shortly after a joke circulated by email somehow reached the Lord Commander. According to the joke, April Fools Day is a religious holiday celebrated by atheists. Since most of Ximea’s citizens are atheists, the Lord Commander made April 1st an official holiday, mostly for his own amusement, but also because “April Fools Day is the one day when we must exercise the most critical thinking. People who blindly believe whatever they’re told are liable to end up extremely confused.”

• The Solstice Festival, December 21st. A secularized version of Christmas, the Solstice Festival is a time of merriment and goodwill. Gifts are exchanged at the end of the day and old grudges are dropped. As Ximea does not have any conifers, the “Christmas tree” is replaced by a “Solstice Cycad.”

• Hot Springs Day, December 29th. No one is really sure why, but this is the most popular day for people to visit one of Ximea’s many hot springs. Eventually, the government officially recognized it as a holiday.

Vice

Ximea is a very liberal nation, and many so-called vices which are illegal in other nations are perfectly acceptable here—though they are often well-regulated. Cannabis and similar mild drugs grow like weeds thoughout the countryside and in the swamps and jungles, making them impossible to outlaw, and most of them are less dangerous than tobacco or even therapeutic in some cases. Their use has been popularized in mainstream culture, though abstainers are common as well. Harder drugs are produced by private corporations under a watchful government eye. They are available only through special venues, colloquially known as "coke lounges," where they are administered by licensed physicians. Citizens must register for a special license to patronize these coke lounges, and private possession of these harder narcotics can be punishable by law. Prostitution is also legal, with certain limitations. Clients must be registered with the Sex Workers' Guild, and must be tested for STDs and HIV before their first visit to a prostitute and every three months thereafter as long as they continue to visit prostitutes. All prostitutes must be licensed by the Sex Workers' Guild. They must keep stringent business records, including dates, names and personal information for each of their clients and performances. They must be examined for parasites and external symptoms of disease once a month; they must be tested for pregnancy and common STDs, including HIV, once every three months; and they must be tested for a full battery of sexually communicable diseases once a year. On the plus side, the Sex Workers' Guild provides them with free contraceptives of their choice, plus morning-after pills and first-trimester abortions for a very low co-pay.

Government

Ximea's government is run by an elected monarch, known as the Lord Commander, a Supreme Court with nine Justices, and a Senate of one thousand members elected from districts of roughly equal population. The Lord Commander has a lifelong term, but he can be impeached and he can abdicate. Upon his death, his second-in-command assumes his responsibilities until an election can be held. Close family of the Lord Commander are prohibited from running for that office and from holding positions as Senators or Federal Ministers. Justices are elected for a single thirty-year term; they may not serve more than once. New elections are held at the end of this period or upon the death of a Justice. Federal Ministers act as the Lord Commander's Cabinet as well as the senior officials of the divisions of the Federal Government, called Ministries.

Senators hold office for a period of six years and elections are held every two years. They may not serve for more than five consecutive terms.

Divisions of the Federal Government

• Ministry of Agriculture
• Ministry of Culture
• Ministry of Energy
• Ministry of Finance
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Ministry of Justice
• Ministry of Industry
• Ministry of Resources
• Ministry of Science and Technology
• Ministry of State
• Ministry of Transportation
• Ministry of War

Military

Ximea boasts a small but efficient military whose operating principles are modular systems and quality over quantity. Its total armed forces make up less than a percent of the total population and the military budget takes up a smaller percentage of the GDP than the education budget, but the average Ximean infantry soldier can serve as the tactical equivalent of a Special Forces operative in many other nations.

Military Branches

• Air Force
• Army
• Navy
• Special Forces
• Strategic Forces
• BioSWAT (technically a branch of the Bio-Sciences Division of the Ministry of Science and Technology)

Equipment

Small Arms

The Ximean Ministry of War contracted the Allied Defense Corporation to design a family of (mostly) modular small arms for all branches of the military. All use standard NATO ammunition, but the weapon designs are proprietary to Allied Defense. The weapons are built of a combination of machined steel parts and a new composite material, making them both light and rugged. All designs have passed the War Ministry's stringent reliability tests.

• The P7 is a small sidearm chambered in 9mm Parabellum and designed to accept a silencer.
• The 'P10' is a .45 caliber pistol designed to serve either as a sidearm or as a primary weapon.
• The 'P12 Hunter' is a .357 magnum caliber pistol designed mainly for Special Forces and BioSWAT soldiers.

• The SMG5 is Ximea's answer to the MP5, chambered in 9mm Parabellum and designed to accept a variety of scopes.
• The SMG6 is a defensive "stubby" version of the SMG5 designed for soldiers operating behind the front lines.
• The SMG13 Dragon is a unique .357 magnum submachine gun designed solely for BioSWAT. It features an integral 25mm grenade launcher and a top-mounted flamethrower.

• The SG4 is a 12-gauge combat shotgun with a capacity of 8 shells.

• The AR19 is a 5.56x45 assault rifle with an extendable stock and a mount for a scope.
• The MG14 is a 7.62x51 squad machine gun with mounts for a folding bipod and an ammo box.

• The SR7 is a semiautomatic 7.62x51 sniper rifle with a capacity of 20 rounds.
• The SE55 is a bolt-action .50 caliber sniper rifle with a capacity of 12 rounds.

Explosives

These weapons are also designed by Allied Defense. In this case, the company designed not only the weapons, but the ammunition where applicable.

• The GL5 is a 25mm grenade launcher with a capacity of 20 grenades. Standard grenade types include HEAP, AP fragmentation, concussion, incendiary thermate, buckshot, and flechette rounds.
• The RL44 is an 88mm reusable rocket launcher designed to collapse for easy carrying, even while loaded. Standard rockets include HEAT, infrared and radar-guided antiaircraft missiles, and AP flechette rockets.
• The G6 series are hand grenades. Six types are common:
  • G6A grenades produce a concussive blast and have a black band.
  • G6B grenades produce a lethal cloud of shrapnel and have a red band.
  • G6C grenades are incendiary and have a yellow band.
  • G6D grenades release a potent nerve agent and have a green band.
  • G6E grenades release a nonlethal combination of tear gas and a mild sedative and have a blue band.
  • G6F grenades release particulate smoke and have a white band.

Land Vehicles

Ximean military vehicles are manufactured by several corporations including Allied Defense. What follows is only a partial listing.

• The M91 is an armored four-wheel-drive vehicle capable of swift offroad travel. Squad support weapons can be mounted on the roof, such as a 7.62x51 light machine gun, a .50 caliber heavy machine gun, or a 25mm automatic grenade launcher.
• The M577 is both an armored personnel carrier and an infantry combat vehicle. It features a .50 caliber machine gun turret next to the driver's compartment and a 25mm chaingun and a pair of 7.62x51mm light machine guns on a turret on the roof. It can serve as a troop transport, a field command vehicle, a mobile radio communications center, or a medivac transport.
• The M676 is Ximea's main battle tank. It boasts a 105mm cannon capable of firing a round a second, an antiaircraft rocket battery, and a pair of .50 caliber turrets in front.

Major Cities

Xim (capitol)

Located roughly in the center of the country and boasting a population of 26 million, Xim is both the capitol and the largest city in Ximea. The Capitol Building, the Senate Dome, Monument Park, and most foreign embassies are located in the Federal District, in the center of the city. Farther north is Tef International Airport, the largest and busiest airport in the country. Xim has a temperate climate kept mild due in part to the proximity to Lake Charon.

Bruno

Bruno is a city of 15 million nestled on a peninsula in the south. Ximea's fishing industry is largely based here, as is a bustling tourist industry fueled by its breathtaking environmental beauty. Visitors can enjoy diving among the coral reefs or the forests of tropical kelp (a species unique to Ximea's territorial waters), take guided hiking tours through the lush jungle, or simply unwind on the beach and admire the sapphire-blue sea.

Cape City

Located on South Island, Cape City is a resort city of about 8 million people. Its formidible heat and humidity make it less attractive to tourists than Bruno, but its thick jungles and swamps and its proximity to numerous ancient cities and ziggurats make Cape City popular with adventure seekers. Unfortunately, a black market in stolen archaeological relics has formed in the city, but the Federal Government has formed a special, inter-ministerial task force to stamp it out.

Cobalt Point

On the tip of a peninsula northeast of Botany Bay sits Cobalt Point, a major manufacturing center with a population of 14 million people. Its climate is balmy, but cooler than the more southern cities due to trade winds coming in from the sea. Its secondary industries are fishing, crab and lobster fishing, and adventure diving—its rocky reefs are fertile nesting grounds for shellfish, and its underwater caves and numerous sunken wrecks provide plenty of excitement for seasoned divers.

Fiorina

Fiorina sits in the middle of Ximea's most fertile agricultural zone. Its 19 million residents make their living primarily from growing, processing, and shipping crops such as soybeans, hemp seeds, grapes, rice, and swamp melons. Factories in the heart of the city make derivative products such as tofu, hemp-fu, wine, ground melon, and animal feed. The city also has a thriving textile industry based on hemp, silk, spider silk (from genetically altered spiders) and synthetic fabrics.

Old Iron Peak

A former mining colony in the north, Old Iron Peak has now grown to about 11 million people. Much of the city's industry still revolves around mining, smelting, and metalworking. In addition to iron ore and other common metals, the mines surrounding the city produce uranium and precious gemstones. Old Iron Peak sits just west of the massive caldera of Vesuvius II. According to historical records, Vesuvius II has not erupted in 600 years, and modern geologists expect it to remain quiet for the forseeable future, but the area is still volcanically active—the locals must deal with frequent minor tremors, the caldera constantly emits a plume of steam, and the rock in the center is soft and glows dull red at night. Old Iron Peak exploits this activity to produce 18% of Ximea's geothermal energy.

Sif

The 21 million people of Sif live on the Tailbone Peninsula, just across Cape Bishop from South Island. Sif has the largest seaport in Ximea and most of its economy revolves around shipping, both domestic and foreign. It also runs about 27% of Ximea's desalinization plants-more than any other single city. Sif is the center of culture in Ximea, home to its largest opera house and most successful orchestra. In addition, Sif is home to Ximea's most famous red light district, though the adult entertainment industry is heavily regulated to ensure that everyone remains safe from disease and abuse.

Industry and Technology

The information technology and biotechnology industries are the two dominant fields in Ximea, though mining and manufacturing are also represented strongly. Because of strong anti-monopoly, anti-conglomeration, anti-trust and consumer-safety laws, most companies in Ximea (but not all) are actually government-run, as are power and water utilities.

Ximea generates nearly 65% of its electrical power from nuclear energy, 27% from geothermal energy, and 8% from hydroelectric dams. Roughly 62% of fresh water comes from natural sources such as lakes, rivers, underground streams and aquifers, and 38% comes from desalinated ocean water. Sea salt is exported as a by-product of the desalination process.

Exports

Mined exports include uranium, iron ore, tungsten, titanium, copper, tin, platinum, nickel, lead, zinc, phosphates, basalt, granite, marble, pumice, sea salt, mineral water, and precious stones.

Agricultural exports include commercial fish, shellfish, seaweed, timber, hemp, natural fibers, certain tropical fruits, and plant-based medicinal products.

Additional exports include heavy machinery, electronics, laboratory and medical equipment, and industrial chemicals.