The Federal Union of Barrettstia

[Barrettstia]

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^{Flag of The Federal Union of Barrettstia}

GENERAL
Capital City: Anburgh
Population: 764.8 million
Currency: Barr (β)
Motto: Welfare; Freedom; Democracy!
Anthem: The Times They Are a-Changin' - Bob Dylan
Language: English (with Anglo-French and Anglo-Russian dialects used in parts of Christa and Pederland respectively)
Religion: Avatist
Animal: Silvertip Bear
Flower: Himalayan Blue Poppy
Tree: Sierra Redwood

Contents
Introduction
History
Politics
Geography
Industry
Crime
Military
International Relations
Culture
Characters

[Barrettstia]

INTRODUCTION
The Federal Union of Barrettstia is often called the 'Federation of Barrettstia', 'Barrettstian Federation' or simply 'Barrettstia' although the latter is inaccurate, Barrettstia itself being only one of three regions that make up the federation. It is a democratic nation known for the high regard it places on the welfare of it's people. Indeed, its national motto, "Welfare; Freedom; Democracy!" reflects the priorities of it's government, and is a reference to the first provision of the nation's constitution:

Above all else, the state's primary responsibility is to protect and promote the welfare of the individual.
Second to this are the rights and freedoms of the individual, which the state may infringe upon only if it is ultimately in the greater interest of their welfare.
Lastly is the state's responsibility to preserve democracy, which is to be upheld always, unless it is contrary to the welfare or rights of the individual.

These three tenants; welfare, freedom and democracy, are the foundation upon which Barrettstia has been built. They were deliberately intended to be general provisions, and are explained in greater depth later in the constitution. This principle can be seen in nearly all aspects of Barrettstian politics.

[Barrettstia]

HISTORY
Origins
The nation which would become Barrettstia began as a small settlement on an island at the mouth of the River An. The earliest known record of Anburgh, as the settlement was known dates back to 1173 in a merchant's records referring to a "port upon the mouth of the River An, from hence ye travel forth into the Sea of Chekvor". The land around it was very fertile thanks to the river and being on an island made it easily defensible. Trade with other cities was good thanks to the port that faced onto the Chekvor Sea and the boats which came from settlements further up the river. The town had several strong industries, including fishing, agriculture and animal husbandry. While the surrounding land was often plagued by tribes of marauding warriors the River offers valuable protection from them and the city grew quickly in size and in influence.

Expansion
As the city-state grew more powerful and influential it began to expand beyond the confines of its island. Progress was somewhat slow initially. Anburgh's army was primarily trained to defend the city from marauding warbands with it's fortifications, siege weapons and the natural defences offered by the river on either side, and was ill-suited to fighting sword to sword on open ground in a war of expansion. For a long time, the Barrettstian border shifted only very little.

Euan Barrett and the Birth of the Republic
[float=left]
A portrait of Euan Barrett wearing the Tsar's ceremonial armour and holding the
first copy of the constitution[/float]This changed with the death of Tsar David II in 1512. His only son, David III took to the throne, but fell ill shortly afterwards and died without an heir that same year. The next person in line to the throne was an unpopular choice; a young man called Euan Barrett who was a distant nephew of David II. Indeed, he was so distant that he was barely considered royalty, a lawyer coming from a middle class background and being next to oblivious to his heritage. His ascension to the throne sparked outrage among the aristocracy, but he became immensely popular with the common citizens of Anburgh. For Barrett himself was not a supporter of the monarchy, and as soon as he was able to he imposed numerous radical reforms, two of which are seen of as having key importance:

First, Barrett abolished the crown and imposed a democratic system of electing a leader. Of course, he had to abdicate as Tsar in the process but this made little difference when with the massive support of the lower classes he was immediately elected as the first Premier of the Republic of Anburgh in 1515.

This prompted Barrett's second great reform; the creation of the Constitution. This cemented the position of the Premier and insured a return to monarchic rule would never be possible. It also imposed the rules by which the nation would be governed for centuries afterwards.

Under Barrett's leadership the nation grew rapidly, aided in part by the somewhat unpopular National Service Act which doubled the size of it's military in addition to Barrett's decision to use a substantial portion of the national treasury to hire out as mercenaries the warbands which were such a nuisance to Anburgh's defences.

The gambit paid off. Within a year the upriver city of Tollan had been taken, securing the hold of Anburgh on what was a major trade route in the area and thereby quickly replenishing the state's coffers and then some. From there the spread North to the Kingdom of Christa and South to the mountains that were the border of Pederland. Barrett even went as far as to grant citizenship to Sathmel, the leader of the largest and most successful warband, and had him knighted and placed in overall command of Anburgh's armies.

By the time Euan Barrett was assassinated in 1521 by conspiring elements of the dwindling aristocracy the Republic stretched from the Chekvor Sea to Lake Salamander, with the town of Seadragon opening up new trade routes to countries undiscovered and guaranteeing the nation's survival. He was buried at the top of a hill overlooking Anburgh and the far beyond. By that time, everything within eyesight was part of the nation he had created.

Upon his election Barrett's successor, Malcolm Daniel, had the country's name changed to honour the man who became regarded as the Father of the Republic of Barrettstia.

Though almost unanimously regarded as a hero in popular lore, Historians have cast some aspersions on Barrett's true character, of which very little is known. Some believe that his motives in creating a democracy and the constitution were not as selfless as they seemed; that it was a necessary action to retain power for himself after David III's wife came forward with a child she claimed to be the former Tsar's son and heir. Other claims include that the separation of Church and State laid down in the constitution was also a method to limit the influence of the Church of Reppy which openly supported the aristocracy. Whatever the truth, Euan Barrett is still the most popular and famous figure in the nation's history.

The Barrettstian Civil War
Following Barrett's death the Republic continued to expand under the leadership of Malcolm Daniel, now going south into Pederland and establishing the vainly named outpost that would later become the city of Fort Daniel. In the space of little more than a decade Barrettstia had grown from a small city state to one of the key superpowers within the region.

But it was not to last. As was the case with many rapidly growing nations, the Republic found itself overstretched. In 1523, after a six moth siege, the Fort Daniel outpost fell, marking forever the end of Barrettstia's occupation of Pederland. Worse still, the defeat was the breaking point for the increasingly tenuous hold the Republic held on its army of warbands. While the warlords had been happy to serve under Barrett when the pay was plentiful and victories frequent, the gradual deceleration of the expansion as the Republic consolidated its hold had left them out of pocket and with low moral. Fort Daniel was the last straw; they rebelled.

Daniel quailed, unable to be the strong leader that the Republic needed as it began to crumble on all sides. While the armies of Anburgh and the tribes under the control of Sathmel remained loyal, almost every other tribal chieftain returned to pillaging the wealthy land as they had done before. While the warbands began to undo all that his predecessor had worked for, Malcolm Daniel was found dead from a knife wound in his bedroom. In his wake, and with no time to hold an election, Sathmel immediately seized control and placed the state under marshal law. The fledgling democracy seemed to have been destroyed before it could barely begin.

With order restored within Barrettstia's remaining territory, Sathmel took his tribe and rode out to war, leaving the army itself to guard the capital and what cities it still held. His decisive action undoubtedly saved the nation and one by one the rogue tribes were subjugated and their leaders executed. Peace was restored.

Sathmel was then left in a powerful position. With the control of the whole of Barrettstia and its armies in his grasp he could have made himself the permanent ruler of the whole domain. But this was not the route he chose. It is believed that Sathmel had held a great deal of respect for Euan Barrett and did not want to see what he had created be lost. As soon as the rebellion had been fully quashed he relinquished his power and allowed new elections to be held. He didn't even run as a candidate although numerous sources at the time suggest that had he done so the saviour of Barrettstia would have won by a landslide. Indeed, there are reports that some voters still amended their ballot sheets to include Sathmel as their chosen candidate. Regardless, a new Premier was elected and bucked the trend set thus far by surviving his full term and from then on the Republic of Barrettstia enjoyed a mostly peaceful existence for the next four centuries.

To this day the cause of Malcolm Daniel's death is disputed. Some believe he took his own life while others believed he died at the hands of another. One of the most popular theories is that he was actually slain by Sathmel, presumably taking decisive action after recognising that Barrettstia needed a strong and decisive leader and that the current Premier was not it. Regardless, common folklore regards Sathmel as a hero of Barrettstia almost as much as Barrett himself.

Formation of the Union
The Federal Union of Barrettstia as it is known today was formed from the republic and its two neighbours, Pederland and Christa. In 1951 what would later be referred to as the Formation War broke out between Pederland and Christa. Barrettstia remained neutral to the conflict, which ultimately ended with the assassination of Christa's royal family shortly after a missile strike killed the entire Pederite parliament, leaving both nations leaderless and resulting in a ceasefire agreement being reached a few days later.[float=right]
Regional flags of Barrettstia, Christa and Pederland[/float]

The two nations were in tatters following the war and as they both lacked any cohesive form of government Barrettstia stepped in providing interim leadership to ease the dispensing of humanitarian aid. Even after the first elections following the war were held in Pederland and Christa in 1952 both countries maintained a close partnership with Barrettstia and a year later agreed to consolidate the three countries into a singe nation.

From it's roots as a small sea side village had been formed one of the most powerful nations in the world.

[Barrettstia]

A recent world census report ranked Barrettstia's citizens as the third most politically minded in the region and 5663rd in the world, putting it just outside the top 10%. This is attributed partly to the compulsory voting system which is in force in Barrettstia, but also to the general love for democracy which is endemic to Barrettstian society.

In another recent world census report, Barrettstia's government was deemed the second least corrupt in Escapikickass, falling right behind the Disputed Territories of Tregonia. At 4,014th in the world, this puts Barrettstia in the top 10% far better than the regional average, which isn't even in the top 25%.

Political Parties
Most senators and congressmen belong to a certain political party although there are also some independent representatives. At present there are four main political parties, the Civil Democrats, the Conservatives, the United Centrists and the National Party of Christa.

The Civil Democrats ('Civ Dems') are currently the governing party in the Federal Union of Barrettstia, controlling 56% of seats in the Senate and varying majorities in the congresses of each of the three states with the exception of Christa, where it shares a coalition government with the National Party of Christa ('NPC'). The Premier, Chris B Chikin, is also a member of the Civil Democrats. Civ Dem policies are largely liberal when it comes to civil and political rights with centrist attitudes to economic issues. However, notable exceptions exist, such as their support for compulsory national service and a crime policy which some say borders on intrusive.

The main opposition to the Civ Dems comes from the right-of-centre Conservative party, nicknamed the 'Tories', the United Centrists ('Centrists')and the NPC. NPC is a party with largely similar policies to the Civ Dems but are notable for the fact that they also seek independence for Christa, the northernmost of the country's three states. They are also against compulsory national service, this being something of a contested issue within the nation.

In addition to these main three are numerous smaller parties. The Socialist party is considered to radical to gain much support and the Barrettstian National Party ('BNP') is criticized heavily for its attitudes towards immigration, deemed by many to be heavily racist and what support it has tends to be centred around small coastal villages whose inhabitants see illegal immigration as a major problem. Other fringe parties also exist, such as the Pensioners Party, which seeks better treatment of Barrettstia's elderly; the Moral Values party, which works for closer integration of religious values with political policy; and the Green party, which pushes for greater consideration of environmental issues. Most of these parties are largely ignored, at least in the major elections, for being seen as single issue policy makers.

Separation of Powers
In accordance with the duty to preserve democracy, the Barrettstian political system is based firmly on the concept of separation of powers. The Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches are kept entirely separate from each other though they all form the same state. This is recognised on the flags of both the state and union of Barrettstia as three eight-pointed red stars. On the Union Flag the addition of the white circle signifies the united purpose of the three branches.

The Executive Branch comprises the Premier and his subordinate officers. The Premier is the leader of the party which wins the most seats in the Senate after an election. His duty is to ensure that the laws of the nation are enforced, and also has the power to veto a bill from the senate before it goes under scrutiny by the courts.

The Legislative Branch comprises two organisations. The first is the Barrettstian Senate which is made up of six-hundred senators (two-hundred from each region) which are re-elected every four years using the Additional Member System. The Senate legislates on matters which concern and bind the entire nation, such as tax, foreign policy, defence and amendments to the constitution, the latter of which requires a 75% majority to enact instead of the usual >50%. Before it is enacted all legislation passed by the Senate much be scrutinised and accepted by the Judiciary to ensure its legality. Prior to this it may also be vetoed by the Premier, but this veto can be overruled by a 75% majority in the senate. The Senate also has the power to impeach the Premier if he/she is suspected of wrongdoing.

The second organisation is the Regional Congress. Each region has its own congress comprising three-hundred representatives which are re-elected every four years using the Additional Member System. Each Congress legislates on less important or "devolved" issues such as health, education and crime. Whilst each region has sovereignty over these matters subject to the constitution and senatorial legislation there seems to be little difference in the approach taken by each region towards various issues and most laws remain largely the same throughout the nation. Prior to its enactment all congressional legislation must be ratified by the judiciary to ensure its legality.

The Judicial Branch comprises the courts, it's judges, and its staff. Courts in Barrettstia follow a hierarchy, which hears cases depending on their level of importance. Small matters are dealt with in the Lower Courts before a single judge or, in some cases, a jury of 15. More important cases are delegated to the Middle Courts with three judges, and cases of great importance are heard by five judges in of of the High Courts, of which there is one for each region. Cases dealing with constitutional matters, such as human rights, are heard before seven judges in the Supreme Court in Anburgh. Cases which go to appeal are heard in the next highest court in the hierarchy, so a decision made in the Lower courts would be appealed to the Middle courts, then to the High Court and from there to the Supreme Court.

As well as hearing cases on constitutional matters, it is also the duty of the Supreme Court Judges to scrutinise every bill passed by the Senate, once it has been accepted by the premier, to ensure it is in line with the constitution and existing law. A simiar process is undergone by the High Courts Judges with regard to Congressional legislation, though in some cases they may defer the decision to the Supreme Court. Once a bill has been accepted by the courts it is returned to the Premier to be assigned and become law.

The Supreme Court vehemently protects civil rights and the right to privacy, particularly following the appointment of the most recent judge.

Christan Independence
There is a growing movement among the population in the northern region of Barrettstia which seeks independence from the federation. A political party known as the National Party of Christa (or NPC) has formed under the leadership of Philipe DuPhont, who claims to be a surviving member of the Christan royal family, though this itself is unsubstantiated. The party believes that as the royal family was not entirely wiped out during the endgame of the Pederland-Christa war there is no basis for the nation becoming part of Barrettstia and therefore they should have remained independent. If successful, the NPC would appoint DuPhont as king of an independent Christa. However, before this the region's population would have to agree to independence in a referendum. The irony that the return of a nation to a dictatorship would require the aid of democracy has not escaped the notice of several opposition party members.

The party has gained considerable popularity but there is still not enough support among Christa's population to achieve independence through a referendum.

[Barrettstia]

GEOGRAPHY
The Federal Union of Barrettstia occupies the region of Escapikickass. It is bordered to the North by the Grand Duchy of TroisMots, to the South by the Republic of Violataria and to the South-East by the Holy empire of Saurea. To the West is the Pacific Ocean and to the East is Lake Salamander. Barrettsia has the 14th most beautiful environment in the region, according to a world census report.

^{A map of the Escapikickass Region}

The Chekvor Sea
Barrettstia has many notable geographical features, the most prominent of which is the Chekvor Sea. This massive area of water is believed to have been formed by a meteor strike approximately four million years ago. All three Barrettstian regions share a shore with the sea, which serves as something of a national icon.

The Fjordlands
The area to the West of Barrettstia is known as the Fjordlands, and is an area of stunning natural beauty. The coastal region comprises numerous glacial valleys, lakes and islands and stretches across all three regions. It is a popular tourist destination thanks to the many stunning opportunities for mountaineers of all levels of experience as well as boat tours and a growing market in extreme sports such as bungee jumping.

^{A map of the Federal Union of Barrettstia and surrounding nations}

Lake Salamander
The East coast of the Region of Barrettstia faces onto Lake Salamander, a huge inland body of water named for the unusually warm temperatures it reaches thanks to massive geothermal vents located beneath the surface. The town of Seadragon sits by the lakeside and is also a popular tourist spot thanks to its many beautiful beaches.

The Christa Canal
Connecting Lake Salamander to the Chekvor Sea is the Christa Canal. Before the formation of the Union this was a river which acted as the border between Christa and Barrettstia. As the threat of possible war with Saurea or another nation increased Barrettstia was forced to create a naval presence in Lake Salamander in addition to the one in the Pacific. However, the military did not want to have to split it's navy into two groups in order to defend both bodies of water, and so as a solution the Christa Canal was created. In a spectacular feat of engineering the river was widened and deepened into a massive canal capable of allowing entire battleships two-hundred-and-fifty miles upstream to the lake. Thus Barrettstia is able to move ships from one to the other and forego the need for two navies. It has also made Barrettstia into an important ally for other nations with coasts on both the lake and the ocean but who lack a means to move their ships between the two.

Redwood
[float=right]
^{Silvertip Bears pictured by a river in Redwood}[/float]The South-Eastern area of Barrettstia is known for its massive Giant Redwood forests, which sprawl over 15,000 square miles as well as the borders with Violataria and Saurea. Indeed, it is because of this forest that no definite borders existed between the nations in this area for quite some time, although this changed in 2020 when poorly planned military training exercises involving Violatarian and Saurean forces caused numerous troops from both sides to stumble into territory which was most definitely Barrettstian. Following this incident it was agreed that more substantial borders were required. In recent years some of the forest has been cut down to mine for uranium deposits discovered underground. This had unexpectedly drastic consequences for the local eco-system and the government has been making efforts to improve the situation ever since.

Anburgh
[float=]
^{Barrett's tomb, overlooking the Old Quarter of Anburgh}[/float]Anburgh is the capital city of Barrettstia, situated on a large island between the Noran and Sutan Rivers, formed by a split in the River An itself. The island, which measures some six thousand square kilometres, is now almost entirely taken over by the burgeoning metropolis.

Anburgh is split into several districts. The north western tip beyond the remains of the city's medieval walls is known as the Old Quarter; the earliest part of Anburgh home to the Tsar's palace and numerous other historical features. It is mainly a high-class residential district that sees a lot of tourism as well as being the location of one of the city's ports. The area of the island which faces onto the Chekvor Sea is called Checkside and is the prime commercial and shopping district behind which can be seen the massive skyscrapers of the city's financial district. The Central District is mainly residential with industrial centres being spread along the riverside to the north and south. Beyond the rivers are several smaller suburban towns.

Flag
The flag of the Federal Union of Barrettstia is also a stylised map of the country. The three regions are represented as bands in the dominant colour of their flags, with Pederland and Christa in blue and Barrettstia in gold. The white circle containing the three stars representing the branches of the state also represents the Chekvor Sea.

[Barrettstia]

INDUSTRY
Barrettstia has been described as an "economically powerful nation" and in recent World Census Reports has ranked as having one of the most successful economies in the region, certainly the most successful of the free nations. A full breakdown of the nation's economic details can be found here

[Barrettstia]

CRIME

If it were my choice I would abolish the law. Do away with every precedent; every statute, and decide each individual case based solely upon its fact and its principles. If only human nature could allow such a thing to come to pass...

^{- Lord Gregory Sverov, Justice of the supreme court of Barrettstia}

Crime is virtually unknown in Barrettstia. This is largely thanks to the introduction of barcoding and identity cards for citizens along with a national database of the DNA, fingerprints and other details of every citizen. The database is similar to those of criminal records in other countries except that it contains the details of every citizen in Barrettstia. Thanks to this, the perpetrator of any criminal offence can usually be speedily identified from fingerprint or biological evidence.

The system is not without it's critics, however. Numerous Barrettstians saw it as an intrusion upon their human rights and in one case even attempted to take the government to court over a perceived violation of the constitution. However, it was held that the creation of the database was done to improve the welfare of the citizens, and therefore this came before their rights according to the first provision of the constitution.

[Barrettstia]

MILITARY
Barrettstia has a large and well equipped military. Defence spending takes up 8% of the government budget.

National Service
[float=right]
^{A Barrettstian Soldier with AR-96 M Assault Rifle}[/float]Barrettstia's military is further bolstered by youths serving national service which is compulsory in the Union. Upon completing secondary school (sometime between the age of sixteen and eighteen) all Barrettstians undergo one year's national service before going on to higher education or other employment. It is believed that this service offers youths an opportunity to mature and do something positive for their country, and they complete it having earned new skills and experiences. This service may take many forms including experience with the police or emergency services but national service is more commonly undergone within a military organisation.

Youths in national service are assigned to reserve divisions and will only see active combat if they either volunteer for it or if Barrettstia becomes involved in a full-scale war, in which case a draft would be introduced anyway. However, their presence and ability to carry out military duties on home soil allows a greater portion of the regular serving military to be dedicated to international commitments, thus expanding the capabilities of the Barrettstian military.

National servicemen and women in the reserves are identified in each of the three forces by a vertical white stripe on their headgear and another along the bottom of their brassard.

Army
Whilst the militaries of other nations may complain of underfunding or a lack of manpower or equipment, The Federal Army of Barrettstia is a definite exception. A special committee within the command structure scrutinises the systems running it to root out inefficiency and superfluous spending, allowing the money saved to be transferred directly into equipping the troops.

Barrettstian soldiers are readily recognised by their state-of the art full body armour which provides almost unparalleled levels of protection. The standard armament of the troops is the AR-96 M, an assault rifle with underslung multi-purpose grenade launcher designed to fire a variety of rounds from standard grenades to shotgun cartridges to rubber bullets, making Barrettstian infantry unusually versatile. The standard sidearm is a P-56 9mm pistol. Support fire is provided by the FMG .50 calibre machine gun and 81mm mortars. Snipers are issued with the S-76 sniper rifle or the AM-82 Anti-Material rifle.

The tanks employed by the Barrettstian army include the Silvertip Main Battle Tank, the Kodiak Light Tank, the Bergman IFV and the Ursula APC. The first three are all species of native Barrettstian bears, whilst the last means "she-bear", appropriate when considering the purpose of Armoured Personnel Carriers. The ursine naming theme is also carried on with the Cub LRV.

Personnel (Regular)	1,124,000
Personnel (Reserve)	764,000
Main Battle Tanks	3,800
Light Tanks	2,900
Infantry Fighting Vehicles	30,200
Light Reconnaissance Vehicles	96,300
Transport and Utility Vehicles	48,600
Artilery Units	23,800
Air Defence	3,500
Aircraft	2,400

Air Force
[float=right]
^{A Cyclone Mk VII Fighter Bomber}[/float]The Federal Air Force of Barrettstia is particularly renowned for its Cyclone Mk VII Fighter Bombers. The Air force employs five-hundred of these planes to fill their strike aircraft role. They can be equipped with various combinations of bombs and rockets in addition to two wing mounted heavy machine guns. The military has also been considering the possibility of developing nuclear warheads which could be carried by the Cyclone but at present no material breakthroughs have been made public. The fighters' vertical take-off and landing capabilities allow them to be launched from naval aircraft carriers to greatly increase their range.

[float=left]
^{An AF Commando}[/float]Unusually for a nation's military, the Air Force is also home to Barrettstia's elite special forces unit. The Air Force Commandos receive superior training to regular infantry, with an emphasis on stealth, self-sufficiency, teamwork and speed. In addition they also receive some training in driving common battlefield vehicles such as tanks or helicopters. They are commonly deployed in roles such as counter terrorism, intelligence collection, sabotage, assassination and other high-risk operations.

AF Commandos are particularly famous for the unique method by which they can be inserted into a combat zone. Whilst other combat forces will perform an aerial insertion via the use of parachutes or helicopters, AF Commandos frequently utilise wingsuits integrated into their combat equipment. The commandos will deploy from high altitude, usually at night, deploying their wingsuits as low as possible and then gliding the remaining distance to their insertion point. The process is fast, stealthy, utterly silent, and in the event that they are spotted a squad could just as easily be mistaken for a flock of birds. Because of the omnipresent inter-service rivalry in the armed forces, combined with the resemblance between wingsuits and a certain flying mammal, AF Commandos are often branded with the nickname "Squirrels".

Personnel (Regular)	471,000
Personnel (Reserve)	350,600
Strike Aircraft	1250
Reconnaissance Aircraft	185
Strike/Reconnaissance	1,650
Combat Helicopters	310
Transport Aircraft	1,050
Transport Helicopters	890
Rescue Helicopters	310
Training Aircraft	2,500
Training Helicopters	550

Navy
The Federal Navy of Barrettstia is formidable, and whilst by no means the largest or most powerful in the region, opponents would still ignore it at their peril. Among its fleet are the state-of-the-art Avatar class aircraft carriers, one of the most modern ships in the world.

[float=right]
^{The BFS Balthazar, an Avatar class Aircraft Carrier}[/float]Barrettstia is similarly proud of its submarine fleet which, armed with torpedoes and cruise missiles, patrol the waters of Escapikickass bot unseen and unheard. Aggressive nations have often halted their plans upon hearing of the possibility that a Chekvor class submarine might be anchored within missile range of their capital. The submarines also carry Barrettstia's entire nuclear deterrent, and the fact that these ships can go nearly anywhere in the water means that the Union could conceivably turn any nation in the region into a wasteland with but a single order.

Personnel (Regular)	749,000
Personnel (Reserve)	490,000
Submarines	97
Aircraft Carriers	36
Assault Ships	31
Cruisers	33
Destroyers	78
Frigates	151
Mine Counter Measure Vessels	93
Patrol Ships	123

[Barrettstia]

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
The World Assembly
Barrettstia was previously a member of the World Assembly and even the regional delegate of Escapikickass for a time. However, the nation resigned from the Assembly shortly after heated disputes with the region's founder, Violataria. As the reason for it's resignation Barrettstia cited numerous problems with the way the organisation was run, as well as declaring a desire to build its international reputation upon its own merits rather than those of what it perceived to be an utterly useless organisation.

Since then the Federation has rejoined the World Assembly with the stated intention of supporting Castleclose in a bid for regional delegate. Seeming to wish to be more active within the organisation since, the Barrettstian ambassador, Lia McEsrov, can now be seen frequently debating proposals at vote in the Assembly chambers.

Escapikickass
At a regional level Barrettstia is very active within the international community of Eskapakickass, having striven towards peace during such international crises as the Berethond Incident and endeavoured to protect the citizens of other regions such as happened following the Collapse of Martiniel.

A recent World Census Report (carried out prior to Barrettstia becoming the regional delegate) placed Barrettstia as the second most influential nation in the region. Violataria was first and Saurea was third. Since Leaving the World Assembly Barrettstia's official influence has decreased though it remained in the top ten and was still the most powerful non-member state.

Oceanic Defence Coalition
Barrettstia became a member of ODECON shortly after leaving the World Assembly. Since then the state has become very active in alliance affairs, particularly with regard to combating the slave trade although its role here is limited by the war with BTRA.

The Holy Empire of Saurea
In the past Barrettstia and Saurea had an uneasy relationship. The two nations held widely different ideologies and a mutual dislike, coupled with the unfortunate fact that they shared a border and several shipping routes. In the past Premier Chikin had often expressed concern at the militaristic attitude of Saurean politics as well as its dictatorial government.

Relations were particularly stretched following the confrontation which lead to the solidification of Saurean, Barrettstian and Violatarian borders. Saurea had engaged in military training exercises with Violataria along their border and near to Barrettstia. Saurea launched a mock-invasion into Violataria to test the latter's defences and the former's fighting ability. However, with the border between the three nations obscured by a massive redwood forest several units from both sides got lost and ended up in territory which definitely belonged to Barrettstia, which had not been informed of the exercise and thought a genuine invasion was under way.

All out war was narrowly avoided after the situation was explained, but Barrettstia called for definite borders to be declared in the forest and, to enforce it, cut down a two mile wide strip of woodland along the new lines and defended it with border patrols and military bases. The two nations failed to trust each other for a long time afterwards.

More recently, however, the two countries have ceased to see each other as threats and have begun to co-operate in a joint effort to maintain safety and security throughout the region. They worked in concert in many matters during the Berethond Incident. When Barrettstia was invaded by BTRA and its allies Saurea mounted a counter-invasion into Revolvisia.

Brachonis-Thond Rex Alliance
The BTRA is a military alliance comprising Brachyuria, Archonis-Thay, Berethond and Khedive Rex. Barrettstia had not officialdiplomatic stance towards the alliance as a whole, preferring to deal with each nation individually. Although neutral to Berethond and Khedive Rex, with whom the Federation had been through difficulties with in the past, Barrettstia did enjoy friendly relations with Brachyuria and Archonis-Thay.

This changed after a Berethite Composer was assassinated by the Democratic Army. Berethond joined other nations which had been the victims of DemArm attacks in denouncing Barrettstia and the situation degenerated. As war became inevitable it was hoped that hostilities with the rest of BTRA could be avoided. This was not to be. As all three remaining nations announced their support for Berethond, Fasdia and Revolvisia Premier Chikin is quoted as saying in a letter to the leader of Archonis-Thay, "You spit upon the honour you say you uphold."

The war is currently ongoing.

The Republic of Violataria
Barrettstia's relationship with Violataria has been turbulent at best. Though there have never been any hostilities between them, the two nations have frequently crossed swords with each other on the subject of the representation of the region within the World Assembly. Barrettstia was briefly the regional delegate until Violataria regained the title and numerous inflammatory messages were sent back and forth by both. In the end it seems that the two nations have agreed to disagree and there has been little recent communication between the two.

[Barrettstia]

CULTURE
Barrettstians see their nation as one of the greatest democracies in the world. To outsiders this national pride can occasionally come across as snobbish or arrogant, but to a certain extent the local opinion is not unjustified. A recent World Census Report listed Barrettstia as the 5th most cultured nation in Escapikickass (itself the 4,164th most cultured region in the world) and 15,509th most cultured in the world.

The nation's national anthem, Bob Dylan's The Times They Are a-Changin', is meant to reflect the nation's aims to be forever progressive and to keep with the times. Barrettstians never let tradition get in the way of progress.

Ethnicity
Barrettstia's population is predominantly white Caucasian although ethnic minorities are far from uncommon thanks to a liberal immigration policy and the country's heritage as a nation founded on trade.

The population can be most readily divided by the provinces they hail from. Although treated as a single country, the people of Barrettstia often see them as being primarily a citizen of their province rather than their nation. This is especially common in Christa with its drive for independence. Thus citizens of Barrettstia can also be categorised as Christan, Pedish or Barrettstian. Often this is evident from the person's name. A person with Pedish heritage will have a Celtic or Scottish sounding name while Christan names have a French influence.

Another notable subdivision within Barrettstia is that the people originally hailing from the eastern pats of the central province are often referred to as Eastlanders. Frequently these are the descendants of the tribes who occupied the land prior to Anburgh's expansion and their names will have a Russian taint to them.

Arts
Following legislation aimed at promoting the Arts within universities, Barrettstia's artists are considered pillars of the society.

Education
Barrettstia's citizens are ranked as the third smartest in the region, according to a recent World Census Report. This puts them at approximately 14,418th in the world. Education is the Government's single largest expenditure, with 26% of the annual budget being spent on it. Following recent legislation aimed at reducing teenage pregnancy, schoolchildren have twice-weekly sex education classes.

Religion
The constitution specifically states that the state shall not endorse nor permit itself to be unduly influenced by any religion. Often this is taken to lengths which critics regard as too far; with the state trying so hard not to be influenced by religious belief that they perhaps avoid its input where it would actually be appropriate. It has been said that if you want to push a proposal through the Senate then it helps if the church is not on your side. As a result, the state itself is considered Atheist, along with about 76% of the population. Indeed, Barrettstia has been described as "irreverent" towards religion and, according to a World Census Report, is even the 2th "most godforsaken" nation in the region, just behind Castleclose.

However, though the government operates in a strictly secular manner, religious freedom is still considered a human right and is as such protected by the constitution, and so Barrettstia enjoys a great deal of religious diversity. The general public see this as a positive thing allowing for a great mixture of culture. Religious festivals take place often and it is considered normal for people of any faith to take to take part in many or all of them.

Notable among the many religions is the Avatist faith, which is followed by 53% of the country's religious population, or 12% of the total population. Avatism is a religion which originated in Saurea and expanded along with the empire itself. Due to the borders in this region being ill defined for so long a substantial number of Avatists resided in the South East of Barrettstia, a community which continues to grow to the point that Temples to the Five Gods can now be found as far away as Christa City.

[Barrettstia]

CHARACTER ROSTER

Politicians
Chris B Chikin - The Premier of Barrettstia. Born in Pederton to a middle class family and a graduate of Law at the University of Anburgh, Chikin is a firm believer in democracy and the rule of law. He is a fairly liberal politician and is immensely proud of the nation he leads and wishes the best for, this being reflected by his popularity. He is famously intolerant of time wasters and impatient with the subtleties of politics.

Natalia Sevrov - The Barrettstian Foreign Affairs Minister. Natalia was appointed by Chikin's predecessor but has remained one of the most trusted members of the cabinet. She is married to Lord Gregory Sevrov, one of the most senior judges in the country.

James Baltimore - Formerly the Barrettstian Minister of Defence and long-time friend to the Premier, the cynical James Baltimore was suspended from office when it was discovered he had been using government funds to supply a terrorist organisation.

Janet Kelsen - Acting Minister of War while James Baltimore's trial continues, Janet Kelsen has a somewhat abrasive and confrontational personality and is one of the less popular presences in the cabinet.

Military
Anton De Vries - General in command of the 3^rd Cavalry Regiment. An experienced leader who's eagerness to protect the ives of his men is reflected in his tactics.

Janice Cairns - An Admiral and commanding officer of the BFS Dawyna, Cairns is an efficient and no-nonsense officer.

Nikolai Cameron - Captain of the 3^rd Cavalry's Kilo Company, Cameron is an efficient and experienced soldier but also one who gets along well with the men under his command.

Gabriel Tulloch - Lieutenant in the 3^rd Cavalry and commander of the Silvertip Tank squadron belonging to Kilo Company, Gabriel "Gab" Tulloch is somewhat more casual than his senior officer. He also studied psychology at Chekmouth College making him one of the few in the company with a higher education. Gab's older brother is in the Air Force Commandos.

http://www.specialoperations.com/Specialties/Sniping/sniper.jpgDamien Tulloch - The sergeant in charge of the Air Force Commandos Coma Squad, Damien Tulloch is efficient, deadly and utterly ruthless; a man for whom the ends always justify the means. Whilst he is on good terms with his younger brother Gabriel, the two frequently disagree of who made the better life choices in becoming a soldier.

http://i.thisislondon.co.uk/i/pix/2006/11/33a_09_jane_49_243x359.jpgCatherine De Burca - Private Catherine "Posh" De Burca signed up for the army to do her national service. While she should have been assigned to a reserve company, an administrative error had her assigned to Kilo Company. Though apprehensive at the prospect of being sent into real combat, Posh is still seen as part of the Kilo family, though she still gets some unwanted attention from some of her male squadmates.

Other Characters
Gregory Sevrov - The husband of Natalia Sevrov, Foreign Affairs Secretary, Lord Gregory Sevrov is one of the most senior judges in Barrettstia and presides over the Supreme Court.

Dmitri Medvedev - Formerly a member of the 81^st Grenadiers, a Barrettstian artillery regiment, Sergeant Medvedev defected following deployment to Creciuan to discourage a Rexian invasion. He joined a terrorist organisation called the Democratic Army and masterminded the Lucid Tower Bombings in Revolvisia.

[Barrettstia]

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