Mount Shavano (Revision, Factbook, Q&A, Embassies)

[Mount Shavano]

The Front Range Republic of Mount Shavano

Libertas primoris

National Summary

"Freedom, Firepower, Altitude" -- An unofficial Front Range motto.

The Front Range Republic of Mount Shavano is a rugged, devout nation, located on the continent of Laurasia. She is led by President William Cloud and the thirty-nine members of the Senate, and notable for the beautiful, sprawling vistas of her snow-capped mountains. Her hard-nosed, hard-working, intelligent population of 150 million are blessed with a plethora of personal and economic freedoms, while the political process is open and the people's right to vote held sacrosanct.

The small, hawkish government devotes most of its attention to the military and foreign policy, with areas such as public education and social welfare receiving almost no funds by comparison. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the glittering capital city of San Angelo. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 10%, although religious tithes are tax deductible. A powerhouse of a private sector is led by the defense industry, followed by arms manufacturing, information technology, and automobile manufacturing.

The Front Range Republic is well known for her interventionist military stance, freedom of information is long standing Constitutional policy, the nation's Air Force is both respected and feared, and the right to bear arms is defended fanatically. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is crippling. The Front Range Republic's national animal is the trike, which roams free across the nation's wide plains, her national religion is the Christian faith, her national anthem is "Rocky Mountain High", and her currency is the angel.

Table of Contents
National Summary
Statistics and Information
History
Politics
Geography
Technology
Economy
Military*
Culture*
Miscellaneous Information**
Embassies

*Major work still to be done.
**Includes or will include NS related art, Front Range symbolism, and links to noteworthy threads or posts.

[Mount Shavano]

Statistics and Information

"Statistics give you one angle of the truth. Be careful inferring the rest of your worldview from just that." -- Secretary of Diplomacy J.B. Jackson to a foreign diplomat, 1971

Mount Shavano

National Flag : "The Snow Angel"
Capital City : San Angelo ('The Angel City')
Largest City : Harbor Grove ('The City on the Sea')
National Language : English
National Anthem : "Rocky Mountain High"
National Animal : Triceratops horridus ('Trike')
National Tree : Yucca brevifolia (Joshua Tree)
National Plant : Artemisia tridentata (Sagebrush)
National Flower : Casetelleja (Indian paintbrush)
National Religion : Christianity
National Currency : the Angel (1 angel = $2.0098)
Motto : Libertas primoris ('Freedom First')
Population : 150 million
GDP per Capita : $64,625.47
Literacy Rate : 99.9%
Government : Federal Republic
Head of State : President William Cloud
Head of Government : President William Cloud
Founded : July 4th, 1876
WA Category : Corporate Bordello
WA Civil Rights : Excellent
WA Economy Strength : Frightening
WA Political Freedoms : World Benchmark
Demonym : Shavanese or Front Ranger
Land Area : 1,334,626 square miles
Birth Rate : 24.2/1000
Death Rate : 8.0/1000
Population Growth Rate : 1.4% (average of last ten years)
Median Age : 37.3
Average Lifespan : 86.1
Unemployment : 2.41%
Religion:*
Baptist 71%
Non-Baptist Protestant 18%
Non-Protestant Christian 9%
All Others 2%
Ethinicity: Concept not culturally recognized; estimates vary wildly.
Active Military Size:** 710,300
Reserve Military Size:** 822,400
Average Household Size: 3.4
Crime Rate: No realistic attempt to measure statistics can be made from the available data, however it is unfortunately high.

*Statistic not actually tracked. Non-governmental estimates are provided.
**Actual numbers classified. Non-governmental estimates are provided.

[Mount Shavano]

History


Coat of arms of the Front Range

I'm considering a complete revision of this section to give a longer history and remove the magical elements, so consider it semi-canon at the moment...

The Arrival (1876-1887)

"Where on Earth are we?" -- A question that was surely asked many times.

The Front Range Republic traces her founding to 4 July 1876, when five million individuals arrived in what is now Mount Shavano in a blinding flash of light that has never been properly explained. Originating from all across western North America on the date of 4 January 2008, they soon found their selection was not random; they all came from within the same broad political and religious stripes, and no families were broken in the Transition.

An infrastructure appropriate to the date of arrival was already in place, and no sign of previous human habitation was found on the continent now named Laurasia, a name appropriate to the geography, flora, and fauna found. By 19 September a new Constitution, drawn heavily from that of the United States, was drawn up and ratified. Thus, 19 September 1876 is the proper date for the founding of Mount Shavano.

The new nation extended its borders as far as the infrastructure permitted, but didn't expand beyond that immediately. Of course large, empty tracts of land don't stay empty long and soon new people groups arrived by methods both spectacular and mundane, and by 1887 there were no fewer than eight nations filling the continent.

The Front Range experienced a brief period of social confusion following the arrival, perhaps unsurprisingly, which gradually evolved into a great religious revival. Mount Shavano has had no significant periods of social strife afterwards; most of the issues that swept the world in the next century and a quarter had already been anticipated and settled by the Front Rangers either in the Constitution or during the decade that followed.

It is worth noting that the existing flora and fauna at the time of arrival corresponded to that of North America roughly 65-68 mya. However, a significant amount of wild and domestic creatures from the universe left behind came through with the new Front Rangers and soon merged with the existing wildlife. The result was an exceptional amount of diversity of species, at least among large animals, but a rather delicate ecological balance; many niches have five or six species attempting to fill them.

The Peace of the Wilderness (1887-1936)

"You'll be surprised how fast everything catches fire when those naescent empires run out of room." -- President John L. Lee, 1931

The Front Range had the advantage of being in place before the large wave of settlement swept over Laurasia, and her borders were respected by both nations that ultimately became her neighbors. The Republic (later Federal Republic) of Laurentia* settled a tract of mountain and forest country similar to the Front Ranges own to the north, and the Republic of Valbaara* a stretch of windswept plains and hills to the south. Have both borders with free and stable nations allowed the Front Range to pursue a policy of universally open borders with no worries during this and later periods.

The poetic name assigned to this era refers to the fact that regionally populations remained small and most nations remained focused on developing their infrastructure, rather than foreign expansionism. The large amount of buffer space and relatively few causes for tension led to what was probably the most tranquil time period in Laurasia's history.

However, by the time of the election of President John L. Lee in 1930, this state of affairs had already begun to unravel. President Lee was a member of the increasingly popular - and avowedly interventionist - Blue party, which had existed since 1876 but played the loyal opposition to the isolationist Whites for most of the period from the founding to his election. The Blues gained traction as the Front Range gained in strength and prestige, as improved communications worldwide made citizens more aware of the catastrophic state of many of the world's nations, and as the three authoritarian states in Laurasia began to grow imperial ambitions and the armed forces to match.

The most prominent of these three states was Imperial Ilocana*, located on Laurentia's northern border. With an internal structure and external ambitions that would have made the Romans proud, they had conquered overseas colonies, outside of Laurasia, by 1922 and by 1930 were believed to increasingly be casting a covetous eye on the continent's other denizens.

The Pan-Laurasian War (1936-1940)

"Mankind has no further use for Caesars." -- President John L. Lee, 1936

Ilocana, backed by the wealth of her empire, made her play in 1936. President Lee and the Front Range intervened immediately, although they were not the initial target of the onslaught. Rather, they were the best defended of the lot, and it appears that the Emperor simply miscalculated and did not believe the traditionally isolationist Front Range would get involved, regardless of what words came out of San Angelo.

Mount Shavano, leading a coalition of herself and the other four Laurasian republics, fought Ilocana through a slow and bloody attrition campaign on two fronts, while the other two empires sat back and watched. Eventually a successful naval campaign and a breakthrough in close air support technology and tactics drove the enemy back to their original borders and left the Front Range clearly holding the upper hand. The two formerly neutral states were on the verge of casting their lots with San Angelo.

There was intense debate whether to attempt to force the complete surrender of Ilocana, by a invasion sure to surpass all fighting so far in bloodiness, or to force her now to end the war on Front Range terms with something less than an unconditional surrender. A motion to invade passed the Senate by a single vote, but to the shock of everyone President Lee vetoed the motion and made peace overtures instead. The war formally ended in 1940 with Ilocana renouncing all her colonies and accepting a disarmament treaty.

The Peace of the Armed (1940-1997)

"On Mount Shavano there is an angel watching over you." -- Traditional

President Lee retired in 1942 a national hero. Tensions across Laurasia were reduced, with the four republics behind the Front Range umbrella and all three monarchies moving in a constitutional direction. Ilocana repudiated the disarmament treaty by the mid-50s, but this had been generally expected and led only to a brief rise in tensions. During this period the Front Range invested a lot of time and resources in overseas nation building, and acquired the reputation she still deservedly holds today for interventionism.

With a relatively stable balance of power in Laurasia, Mount Shavano enjoyed a period of prosperity and, at least at home, peace, although some nationally and continentally were distressed by the notion of a peace based on even numbers of missile silos rather than mutual understanding.

The 1997 War

"All their fancy powers mean nothing when we are smarter, hold the element of surprise, and those powers don't include immunity to firearms." -- Anonymous FRAF officer

In the year 1997, completely by accident, in the course of a UFO investigation, the Front Range Air Force became aware of an entire culture and government of several thousand vampires living in cities across Mount Shavano. How they had escaped notice for so long was a mystery; the Front Range was of course aware that such things existed elsewhere in the world but the thought of them coming to Mount Shavano had apparently never occurred to the government nor the population outside of the occasional fiction writer. Regardless, the Front Range reacted quickly and decisively to destroy all the creatures with a surprise special operations campaign that was believed to have totally succeeded. Perhaps it did. At the very least, urban murder rates dropped 60%.

*NPC nations existing to provide history; no puppets exist.

History of the Front Range by sitting President

Note: Elections are traditionally held on the Tuesday nearest the 5th of June on the calendar, with the formal transition of power taking place October 3rd. This is because the first President, Peyton Hancock, took his seat exactly two weeks following the ratification of the Constitution.

Peyton Hancock, White Party, 1876-1888: One of the primary drafters of Front Range Constitution, Hancock took a hands-off role in government. He is fondly remembered today, although more for his pre-Presidential accomplishments than his executive career. Hancock was fairly old by the time he retired, and made it a point to remain out of the public eye afterward "so as not to abuse my reputation".
Victor Clark, White Party, 1888-1900: Senator from Uncompahgre the previous twelve years, Clark resisted pressure from elements of the hawkish and growing Blue Party to assertively expand the Front Range's borders during the early period of Laurasian history. Instead, he pursued a deliberate policy of undefined borders, but rather "national control by common sense", asserting that proper borders could be negotiated later. Historians have been critical of this policy, but do give him credit for refusing to attempt to establish a continental empire while the Front Range still dwarfed her neighbors. His internal economic policies are also well regarded. Clark returned to the Senate when he was ineligible to run again, although he likely would have been defeated anyway; his Vice President ran on a platform of continuing his policies and was soundly beaten, although a minor economic downturn in mid-1900 may have also contributed.
James Fletcher, Blue Party, 1900-1906: Former representative from and then briefly governor of Shavano State, Fletcher campaigned on a simple platform: He would get the generally accepted (internally) borders of the Republic formally established beyond dispute, then he would retire. In fact, he accomplished quite a bit more than that. At the Crossroads Conference of 1904, he was not only able to get formal recognition of the Front Range's borders from her neighbors, but was able to mediate a successful conclusion to all disputed or ill-defined borders on the Laurasian continent at that time, due a combination of shrewd negotiation and force of personality. Fletcher could have won re-election handily given his ability and personal magnetism, but kept his promise and declined to run again. After retirement, he served another two years as governor of Shavano State, but seemed to have lost interest in domestic politics. ß In 1909, he left the Front Range at the request of a nascent independence movement in a country outside Laurasia, desperately looking for leadership and international legitimacy even as he looked for a new adventure. Unfortunately, in the climactic battle of the war for independence he was killed by enemy fire, and the movement collapsed. He was given a hero's funeral in his home city of Harbor Grove in 1911 when his body was returned. He is ranked with Hancock and Lee as among the best Presidents of the Front Range.
Eric Rayfield, White Party, 1906-1912: The Whites still had far more electoral support than the Blues, and without Fletcher's personal popularity his Secretary of Diplomacy was easily defeated in the next election. Rayfield, formerly Governor of Arapahoe, pursued a standard White policy of keeping hands off and letting the country - then prosperous and at peace - run itself. Rayfield is not fondly remembered today; his approaches to several foreign crises (usually mistreatment of Front Range traders by foreign governments) and domestic economic turbulence were perceived as erratic and not particularly effective. He ran for reelection but was narrowly defeated; after retirement he became President of the University of Aspen. It should be noted that the growth of the Front Range as a major military power began on his watch - not something his base admired, at least not at the time - as part of the erratic reaction to foreign crises.
Thomas Hill, Blue Party, 1912-1918: Thomas Hill was Senior Senator from San Luis, and considered a dynamic candidate when he was elected to the Presidency. He embarked on a policy to increase growth by removing tariffs on foreign trade that had been in place since the Hancock presidency to protect developing Front Range industries, and increased Rayfield's "Prestige Military" program into the development of a force worthy of the Front Range's economic power. Unfortunately, his term was marred by several scandals in Congress involving his party and continuing economic turbulence. He is much better regarded today than he was when he was soundly defeated in 1918. Hill returned to his Senate post after his Presidency.
Scott Johnston, White Party, 1918-1924: Scott Johnston, Governor of Cheyenne, was the first President of the Front Range to be born after the transition, and initially pursued standard White policies in economics (and the economy picked up steadily through 1921), although opposition from a Blue Senate prevented restoration of the tariffs. In foreign policy he searched for a middle way between ever increasing military budgets and compromising national security. He found it in a multilateral 1921 arms limitation treaty, in which the Front Range and all her immediate rivals pledged to limit military spending and buildup to a formula acceptable to all. At this point, Johnston seemed poised to be a successful, two term President and well regarded historically. Alas, his was a tale of two Presidencies. Less than a month after his great foreign policy triumph, his son died in a railway accident, leaving him listless and disinterested in government. De facto control of the government devolved upon the Senate, which got a little out of hand without the checks and balances of the Presidency. Serious disputes arose between groups of states, which were not properly resolved, and governors of several Western states were widely believed to be in the pockets of corporate interests. Johnston declined to run again in 1924, and it is doubtful his party would have allowed him to anyway. He retired and lived quietly. The Green Party first began to gain strength during the second half of Johnston's term.
Nicholas Ryan, White Party, 1924-1930: It is perhaps a sign of large the White majority was - and how much Hill's Presidency and the scandals of 1921-1924 had damaged the Blue brand - that Mr Ryan, former army intelligence officer (the FRA had not been touched by the scandals of the Johnston years), was able to win the 1924 election. The Congress and the Senate that followed the 1924 elections were the least experienced since 1882, as a "Cleaning of the House" ejected all five Senior Senators up for election. The Blues barely held onto to the second largest share of the Senate and House over the hard-charging Greens. Ryan and his "Senate of Farmers" wasted no time in setting the country back in order; by 1926 the economy was growing quickly and the chaos of 1924 was a rapidly receding memory. Ryan was a pragmatist and not an ideologue; he was the last White President to have a chance to reinstate the tariffs and declined to do so. Entering 1930 he was expected to handily win re-election, but was defeated by dynamic, charismatic, and dedicated Ouray Governor John L. Lee, who ran a brilliant campaign on a platform of national defense, criticizing Ryan for not even building the military up to Treaty levels even as Ilocana flaunted her own limitations beginning in 1929. After his narrow defeat, Ryan accepted a position in his opponent's cabinet, then became first Chairman of F.R.M.I. when that organization was created at the President's initiative in 1934.
John Lee, Blue Party, 1930-1942: John L. Lee won the Presidency in 1930 on a platform of "Strength, not Appeasement", and managed to almost singlehandedly rebuild the wreckage of the Blue Party in the process. Using Ilocanan violation of the 1921 Treaty as justification, he repudiated it and began a massive military buildup, and declared support just short of a guarantee for the independence of all Laurasian countries. John Lee is credited by mainstream historians with postponing the Pan-Laurasian War by at least four years, as well as winning it, although some White zealots still view him as "the man who ruined everything", as government size and centralization increased during his tenure. The long anticipated war broke out two months before the 1936 elections, and Lee won in the biggest landslide in Front Range history. The details of the war are described above, as well as Lee's decision to end the war without a final invasion of the Empire. President Lee was considered a national hero by the time he retired in 1942, a view that still prevails today.
James Hull, Blue Party, 1942-1948: Fleet Admiral James Tiberius Hull, originally from Rio Grande, had served as Secretary of War in the Lee administration and was considered the most able member of that body. His Presidency was considered a rousing success, although there was no major crisis to write his name on history like Lee had had (there was much fighting going on globally at this time, but it was far from Mount Shavano, and the Front Range was only peripherally involved) - his most noteworthy accomplishment is usually considered to be the beginning of the Front Range space program. The economy prospered, and Hull retired due to advancing age and declining health rather than seek a second term.
James Miller, Blue Party, 1948-1960: A hero of the Pan-Laurasian War's Laurentian Front, General James Miller, FRA ret., a Cochetopa native had served as Hull's Vice President for the previous six years. Although formally a member of the Blue party, Miller was really a political moderate. He governed near the center, and is a well-regarded peacetime President. By the end of his administration, however, a new generation of leaders had taken power in Ilocana and she was again rattling her saber. Miller is regarded as the father of the Front Range's nuclear arm (which he oversaw a massive buildup of as President) as well as the FRA's Armored Branch (which he commanded during the war) and the Front Range Interstate System (another Presidential project). The Lee-Hull-Miller sequence of Presidents is regarded by most Blues as the Front Range's "Golden Age". After retirement, he wrote military history.
Arthur Fremont, White Party, 1960-1966: Fremont, an adoptive son of and Senator from San Juan state, won on what was essentially a White-Green coalition ticket and a platform of "Thirty years is long enough!". The lack of strong candidates on the Blue side of the divide helped as well. He is best remembered for a major revision of the Front Range's extensive and well-protected National Parks system, the first since Hancock's administration. He is also remembered for allowing the balance of forces vice Ilocana to slide (although not to a dangerous level) and for accomplishing little else of note thanks to a staunch Blue Senate. He failed to win reelection in 1966, but remained in politics as a spokesman for conservationist causes.
Dale Hood, Blue Party, 1966-1972: Hood was Senior Senator from Saguache before his election to the Presidency, and an interventionist zealot, even publicly criticizing President Lee's failure to "finish off" Ilocana (a statement which did not help relations). He expanded the military, providing lavish funding for cutting edge weapons systems and training, converted many of Fremont's nature preserves into missile bases, and presided over three small, successful nation building adventures abroad. Unfortunately for Mr Hood, his lack of tact and an economic downturn did him in in 1972. He returned to the Senate.
Nathan Styles, White Party, 1972-1978: Styles (Governor of Cheyenne) was elected without much of a mandate, had a hostile Senate, and accomplished little. Attempts to patch relations with Ilocana largely failed, although he did avoid starting any new major foreign adventures. The economy hit some rough patches, although there was no major breakdown. Styles missed on the dream of all White presidents - a friendly Senate for the first time since 1930 - when Jack Reynolds, Senior Senator from Arapahoe, resigned in the name of division of power following the 1976 elections. Styles lost his party primary in 1978, and retired to the Cheyenne State Senate.
Jack Reynolds, White Party, 1978-1984: Reynolds, as has been noted, resigned his seat as Senior Senator from Arapahoe in 1976 rather than see his party gain control of both the executive and legislative branches. He is regarded as the most successful White President since at least Ryan, and is something of an icon to those committed to the balance of powers. His Presidency was characterized by strength abroad and prosperity at home. He declined to run in 1984, but was elected to his old Senate seat in 1988 and served in that body until 2000. The moon base was established on his watch, although he was not personally very involved.
Tom Gray, Blue Party, 1984-1990: Gray, a Mesa Verde native, had served as Secretary of Diplomacy in the Hood administration but had an outlook very different from his former boss. He had little interest in economics or domestic policy, mostly letting those areas run themselves (which proved successful), and successfully reduced tensions with Ilocana. He was, however, also of a nation building bent, and significant elements of the Front Range Army were deployed abroad for most of his tenure. He was narrowly defeated by another Green-backed White candidate in 1990, and wound up as head of the Front Range diplomatic corps.
Steve Bower, White Party, 1990-1996: Bower, a Congressman from Shavano State and the youngest man to reach the Presidency in more than 70 years, won the seat on a platform of a draw down of the Front Range's foreign commitments, which many felt were out of hand after the Gray administration. Between a narrow Blue edge in the Senate and Bower's own personal desire (opposed by much of his base) to ensure the adventures in question ended victoriously, however, the effect was much less than it might have been. Although Bower is actually fairly well regarded, his alienation of his base left him without much support, and he lost the 1996 election.
William Buckner, Blue Party, 1996-2008: Bill Buckner, Senior Senator from Rio Grande, was considered the elder statesman of the Blue party, which did not prevent him from having two relatively successful terms. These were characterized by more foreign adventures, economic growth, and the continued funding of a large military in spite of the decline of Ilocana's military prowess, and of course the 1997 war. Buckner has remained in the public eye following his retirement, stumping for various causes, although he has not run for another office.
William Cloud, Blue Party, 2008-???: William Cloud, formerly FRAF, a Tabeguache native, and a hero of the 1997 War, was Secretary of War from 2002 and Secretary of State from 2004 under Buckner. He was considered a long shot for the nomination in 2008, but secured the VP ticket under Lunar Governor Kosnett. When Kosnett was killed on the 1st of June in a aerospace accident, Cloud became the nominee by default and won ten of the thirteen states - considered by Blues to be a reflection of Buckner's successful policies, and Whites to be a reflection of the sympathy vote. Cloud has overseen the foundation of the Laurasian Alliance and a major foreign crisis against Ralkovia, but his leadership has been questioned in some quarters.

[Mount Shavano]

Politics

The Front Range Republic has a traditional division of powers for a constitutional republic. There are three federal branches, and each state has a similar system of its own.

Executive Branch

"The purpose of the President and of the Congress is to fight the other tooth and nail, so neither has time to oppress anyone." -- President Jack Reynolds, 1979

The Executive Branch consists of a President and a Vice President elected as a single ticket, along with a cabinet appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the President. The executive branch has extensive veto power, and extensive power to react quickly to foreign crisis, although Congress can override these decisions once it has had time to debate and act. The Presidential ticket is chosen by an electoral college in which each state has a number of number of votes equal to the combined number of House and Senate seats it possess. In the event of a tie, the outgoing House chooses between the two candidates with the most electoral votes. A tie with only two candidates is resolved by dropping the state which was awarded the 'wild card' seat in the House, or if still tied it is resolved by the House. The President serves for a six year term, and can only be re-elected once.

Anyone can theoretically be elected, but the cutoff for signatures to get on the ballot, rather than being a write in candidate, is fairly high in most states. The three relevant parties (see end of post) hold primary elections, usually by straight popular vote, in all states, and the losers are expected to bow out gracefully although they have no legal obligation to do so. The Greens often do not nominate a Presidential candidate, preferring their voters to be the balance of power in a two way Blue-White election to being the weak man in a three way race. In this way they have been very successful at getting their platform passed, by forcing Blue and White candidates to support Green positions in order to get elected.

Legislative Branch

"It's well and good to be indestructible, but it's better to be incorruptible." -- Then-Senator Jack Reynolds, 1974

The Senate consists of three members from each of the thirteen states. Each state elects one senator every other year, with six year terms. If a state has a sitting senator who has been re-elected to his seat consecutive with another term, no other senator can stand for re-election in that state. This was a compromise between factions who wanted long term political leadership and those who wanted strict term limits. The 'Senior Senator' is usually seen as the political leader of a state, even more than the executive of the state government.

The means of appointing Senators is left to the states, although all states use direct, statewide, winner take all popular vote elections as of the current time. Primaries are held, with minor parties often choosing to fold theirs in with the ideologically closest major party. The Greens sometimes contest these elections in a full capacity, sometimes play the "Balance Game", and sometimes have so much support in a region that one of the other major parties will endorse the Green candidate and choose not to run their own. These "hybrid candidates" also sometimes appear in races where both the Greens and the other party are weak, and neither would have a chance on their own. These alliances do not go beyond regional; it is not uncommon to see a Blue-Green candidate running in one state while a White-Green candidate runs in another.

The House of Representatives has 101 members, elected biannually for two year terms. 100 of these are decided by proportional population, while the last (the 'wild card' seat) is awarded to the state with the least seats. In the event of a tie for least seats, the wild card goes to the state of the group which has the highest population. It is theoretically possible for a state to have three senators and no representatives, although this has never actually happened. The budgets are set by the House of Representatives. There are no term limits in the House.

House elections unfold much like Senate elections, except they are done at the district level rather than state. Setting the districts is a power reserved to state governments. Gerrymandering is rare, as most state constitutions include the provision that counties, which have fixed boundaries, cannot be split among different districts unless there is no other means of getting the right number of districts. Usually, this results in several "county contiguous" districts, with a single, often central, county "fractured" among several to make populations balance. Many states, especially more rural ones, will break up the state's largest urban center or the county containing the state capital in this fashion. One side effect is that the House has a more rural outlook than the Senate.

Judicial Branch

"I just wish they could find justices who can read!" -- A much quoted "Man in the Street", 1912

The Supreme Court consists of thirteen justices, one from each state chosen by the legislature of that state and approved by the national legislature. They represent the final word on judicial matters and matters of Constitutional law. They have traditionally been strict constructionists. There is no term limit for a Justice of the Supreme Court, they nearly always serve until they die or retire. There is a recall procedure, requiring two thirds of both the national and state legislatures as well as the state executive to approve. It is very rarely employed.

Political Parties

"The Green Party games the system. The electoral college is supposed to prevent a fringe group from controlling the balance of power. Find out who screwed up." -- a coal industrialist, 1934

There are three significant political parties, the Blues, the Whites, and the Greens.

The Blues generally are considered the conservative party. They are strong supporters of individual rights, free market economics, and a hawkish foreign policy. The current President, William Cloud, is a Blue. They have 14 senators and 37 delegates.

The Whites have been the 'loyal opposition' party for most of the Front Range Republic's history and have returned to that role since losing the 1996 elections. Their primary current disagreement with the Blues is over foreign policy, as Whites generally tend towards isolationism. They want the government further reduced in size so that the income tax can be completely eliminated. They propose to fund the government entirely on import and export tariffs. This results in crossing swords with the Blues, who extend their free market attitude beyond the Republic's borders and oppose the military reductions the Whites need to eliminate the tax. The Whites have 16 senators and 46 delegates.

The Greens are generally moderates on foreign policy and economic issues, and their goal as a party is to preserve as much of the country's forests, plains, mountains, and deserts as possible from human destruction. They have been largely successful since although they are by far the smallest party, they often control the balance of power. They control the final 9 senate seats and 18 delegates.

There is a strong tradition among some in the Front Range Republic that the same party should not control both the executive and legislative branches. This tradition, in fact, is so strong that in 1976 the senior senator from the State of Arapahoe, Jack Reynolds, resigned his seat rather than see his own White party gain control of the legislature when they had a sitting president. He served as President himself from 1978-1984 before refusing to run for a second term.

Front Range Judicial System

"I'm not concerned with vengance, nor I am arrogant enough to think I understand justice well enough to trust myself to use punishment to get it. Rather, I want to fix the situation to the best of my ability and prevent it from happening again." -- John Morton, Member of the Constitutional Convention, 1876

The Front Range has completely abandoned, or more precisely never implemented, the prison system found in most other countries. Nor does it favor the rehabilitation systems sometimes seen in "soft-left" nations. Rather, the fundamental component of the judicial system is restitution from criminal to victim. The payment for any particular crime is determined by the applicable law and selected to be severe enough to make crime unprofitable. It *always* includes the victim's legal fees, in addition to the payment for the crime itself.

When a crime is so severe that the criminal cannot be released back into society, the Front Range Republic shoots them. Front Range taxpayers certainly aren't going to foot the bill to pay for life in prison. However, many citizens of the Front Range are uncomfortable with this approach; several think tanks have done studies on the possibility of marooning such offenders somewhere. However, nothing has yet resulted from this.

Finally, the various and sundry executive branches, including national, state, and sometimes local, have very extensive powers to give pardons.

Proconsuls

Owing to the immense size of the world - the reader may note it has room for 144,000 nations, many of them huge - and the difficulty of maintaining reliable communications over that distance, in times of crisis away from the borders of Mount Shavano the Senate can and often will appoint an official a Proconsul to command the situation. Within the scope of the crisis, which is defined at the time of appointment along with the duration of the pronconsulship, the Proconsul carries the full authority of the executive branch as well as the power to negotiate treaties which remain in effect unless repudiated by the Senate, as opposed to the normal process of ratification. The Proconsul never carries any authority within the borders of the Republic itself.

The most common source of a Proconsul is the highest ranking military officer in the area of the crisis.

Foreign Relations

"We have no allies, only interests." -- Traditional, variously attributed
"...they might find the ties of friendship are no less binding [than formal treaties]." -- President William Cloud, 2010

Historically, the Front Range Republic has get close defensive ties with the other free nations of Laurasia while remaining formally uncommitted abroad. This should not be interpreted to paint the Front Range as an inactive state; rather, she greatly values her free agency but has been very quick to intervene in the defense of liberty or of her own citizens. Many long term nation building projects have resulted from such interventions.

Constitution of the Front Range

"The fundamental purpose of the government of the Front Range is to protect the rights of her citizens. No more, and no less." --future President Peyton Hancock, 1876

The following are the clauses of the Fundamental Guarantees, the Front Range's equivalent to the Bill of Rights, with commentary. The entire Constitution is not presented here.

Preamble to the Guarantees. The following natural rights, while not a grant of government, are guaranteed by the Front Range government to all Front Range citizens. They shall not be infringed by that government, by any subordinate government, or, to the best of the government's ability to prevent it, by any foreign power.

The last clause can sometimes cause no end of difficulties when, for example, some Front Range tourist shoots his mouth off in a totalitarian state.

I. The right to freedom of speech.

This has always been held to include Freedom of the Press and Freedom of Petition, as well. It has, however, never been held to free people from responsibility for their speech; that is, the illegality of yelling "fire" in a crowded theater is held to be constitutional. Local decency laws placing restrictions for violent, sexual, or crude content in public areas, or on public airwaves during daytime, are not regarded as violations. Local "decency" laws restricting political or religious content however, are accepted as unconstitutional.

II. The right to possess and carry any personal weaponry necessary for self defense against criminals and potential or current tyrants foreign or domestic.

This is a very strong clause, as it explicitly guarantees the right of the citizens to own weaponry up to and including assault rifles, grenade launchers, and shoulder-mounted SAMs. It has not been held to allow the right to specific models of weaponry; generally, weapons used by the modern Front Range Military are banned on the grounds of needing to keep their abilities classified.

The Third Guarantee is held to partially overrule this clause, as property owners are given the right to determine who can and cannot carry weapons, and the type of weapons, on their personal property. In practice, this means that even if someone was inclined to walk down the street carrying a rocket launcher, they would likely not be able to leave the sidewalk. By law (but not the Constitution) the government is only allowed to exercise this power on military bases, state and federal capitol buildings, and similar.

III. The right to exercise full control over their own property, unless subject to a legal warrant with reasonable cause.

Similar to the more common "unreasonable search and seizure" phrasing.

Yes, this does outlaw eminent domain. This has not presented the gov't any serious problems, partially because they had excellent foresight it what property they claimed during the initial allotment in 1876, and partially it doesn't prevent them from buying property like anyone else.

This obviously does not and has never been taken to apply to illegal or stolen property.

IV. The right to freedom of religious expression, except where that would conflict with other Guarantees or pre-existing law.

The second half is intended to prevent human sacrifice and similar. "Pre-existing law" (a term explicitly defined elsewhere in the Constitution) in this case means Front Range law in place before the religion in question arrives there; it is intended to prevent the formation or importation of cults or sects to get around laws prohibiting, for example, child abuse.

Note that while elsewhere in the Constitution the government is explicitly Christian, it is a government of Christian statesmen, not Christian priests, and should not be likened to a theocracy. The clause against "denominational favoritism" would also make "theocratic" a very difficult description to support.

V. The right to avoid self-incrimination.

Pretty straightforward.

VI. The right to freedom of association and assembly.

This clause allows people absolute freedom in who they choose to associate with. It does not, however, grant the right to, say, block a roadway with your assembly, violate statutes on park curfews, etc.

To avoid potential conflicts on this issue, large parks in plain view of government sites are a common feature of Front Range cities.

VII. The right to a speedy trial by a jury of peers.

Straightforward.

VIII. The right to face one's accuser.

Pretty straightforward, although "common sense" exceptions somewhat stronger than in some other countries have always been held constitutional. It is much harder to avoid conviction by witness intimidation/mutilation/murder here than some other places. This clause is also held to prevent in absentia trials.

IX. The right to not be held in any form of involuntary servitude.

Straightforward.

X. The right to vote or not vote in all Front Range elections in jurisdictions including one's place of residence.

The right to vote is straightforward; the latter clause prohibits citizens being denied representation in any elected legislative or executive body that holds any sway over the location of their legal residence (note that this would make, for example, the condition of Washington D.C. in the current United States unconstitutional in the Front Range). The set of laws determining where one votes in national elections if living outside the thirteen states but inside Front Range territory is straightforward in the most common cases (military personnel - as original home state, federal district - as one of the neighboring states, which depending on where in the capital you live) but can be byzantine in unusual scenarios.

Note that this clause is held to make poll taxes and voter tests unconstitutional. It also makes certain schemes sometimes practiced in other countries to increase turnout unconstitutional.

The words "Front Range" are needed to prevent an unfortunate interaction with the preamble obliging the Front Range to pressure the governments of countries where Front Rangers live abroad to allow them to vote in their elections.

XI. The right to not be subject to cruel and unusual punishment.

Note "and" not "or".

XII. The right of freedom of movement within the country, and freedom of travel to and reentry from foreign nations, except in cases of persons being held for trial following legal arrest with sufficient evidence.

Straightforward.

XIII. The right to not be twice placed in jeopardy for the same offense.

Straightforward.

XIV. The right to not forfeit any of these guarantees, except voluntarily or following lawful conviction of a crime for which forfeiture of the specified clause is explicitly noted in the legal code. Guarantees I, IV, V, VII, VIII, XI, XIII, and XIV may not be revoked as legal penalties.

In practice, although in theory a law could specify loss of the protections of Guarantees III or VI, only Guarantees II, IX, X, and XII currently have any laws on the books that could revoke them. The legal warrant clause makes explicitly voiding III kind of pointless (a criminal punishment confiscating property is not a violation and is, in fact, common practice), and there is simply no crime seen at this time as having the revocation of Guarantee VI as a solution. Guarantee XII is of course temporarily forfeitted for anyone convicted of a crime involving prison time, although these are fairly rare in the Front Range judicial system.

Note that some items that would be considered fundamental rights elsewhere are enshrined in the Constitution, just not here. For example, equality before the law is established in the section defining citizenship, and ex post facto laws are prohibited (at all levels) in the section defining legislative procedure.

Ex post facto laws are an interesting case. Since it is not formally a Guarantee, it is not covered by the preamble mandate to protect citizens abroad from them. However, almost all Blues (and some Whites) hold that it is a Guarantee for all practical purposes and should be treated as such. This issue has never gone to the courts.

As a side note, the customary reference in general speech is to the "Fundamental Guarantees" or the "Thirteen Guarantees" rather than the "Fourteen Guarantees". This is because the last is seen as explaining the others, and not as a full Guarantee in itself.

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Geography

The Front Range Republic



Detail Map

"...when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur, and see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze..." -- How Great Thou Art, a hymn

The Front Range Republic is situated on the continent of West Laurasia. The topography of West Laurasia is dominated by a great inland sea east of Mount Shavano, known by other local nations as the Shavano Sea but known inside the Front Range Republic as the Interior Seaway. The Seaway is a warm sea, keeping the coastal regions warm as far north as the State of Tabegauche. The Seaway is abundant with marine life, and remains one of the world's least polluted seas due the relatively recent start to human habitation on West Laurasia. It provides a dynamic fishing industry and a vital artery for sea trade to the Front Range Republic.

The eastern part of the country itself, running north south and ranging from perhaps a quarter to half of the width of the entire country, is the region known as the Great Laurasian Plain. This region itself experiences wide variances in climate and terrain, ranging from the blistering Alte-Mojave desert in the south, across the grain covered plains of San Isabel, Mesa Verde, and Shavano, and narrowing to the wind blown prairies of Tabeguache. The plain is the breadbasket for most of the continent, providing abundant grains, cereals, livestock, and fruits. The Alte-Mojave also provides roughly half of the Front Range Republic's oil.

As a south eastern offshoot from the country a hilly peninsula projects most of the way across the Seaway. Known as the Rio Grande Peninsula, it is in a strategic location giving the Front Range Republic control over the southern entrance to the inland sea. It provides an extension of the oil and cattle industries from the plains to the west.

The remainder of the country is composed of a soaring mountain range, often divided into three subranges by Front Rangers even if there is little geologic basis for this. The Grace range runs along the west coast, containing most of the mountains in the states of Cochetopa, Saguache, and San Juan. The Saddle range fills the states of Ouray, San Isabel, and San Luis, and the Angel range Arapahoe, Shavano, Tabeguache, and most of Cheyenne. The Greater Shavanese Mountain Range is geologically very young, only a few million years, and achieves incredible heights, boasting the greatest number of 14,000 foot peaks in the world. Rugged and perennially snow-capped, the mountains are the best known symbol of the Front Range Republic. They provide the nation's spectacular mineral resources and timber reserves.

The mountains run right to the western seaboard, which drops off into the blue depths of the Alte-Pacific. Fishing, of a different sort, is also common in these cooler waters. The western coast is the most urbanized part of the country, although in Mount Shavano that is not saying all that much.

Elsewhere

The Front Range Republic possess a small base/colony on the moon, with a population right around 20,000. The primary purpose is scientific research, although it has developed into a small city/high end university hybrid. Rumors of weapons cached there are unconfirmed.

Notable Cities

"San Angelo, what do you know, and tell me do you have something to say?" -- San Angelo, Third Day

Spread across the plains in an eponymous valley between two mountain ranges, San Angelo is the capital city of the Front Range Republic. The population is around 800,000 in the city itself and roughly two and a half million in the metro area, making it fairly large for Mount Shavano. The city is the best example of current Front Range architecture, being clean and modern with no pretensions to grandeur. Most streets are lined with red brick sidewalks and lines of aspen or pine trees.

As the seat of the government, San Angelo is the most active nighttime location in the Front Range Republic. Street lights, headlights, and lit skyscrapers can be seen at all hours, leading to the common description of San Angelo as a "glittering" city. The city's most common nickname is "the Angel City".

"...thine alabaster cities gleam, undimmed by human tears!" -- America the Beautiful, traditional

Harbor Grove sits on the western bank of the interior seaway, and is the largest city in the Front Range Republic. The population of the city proper is about 950,000 and the metro area about 2,850,000. "The City on the Sea" sprawls across all three sides of the best natural harbor on the interior seaway, and is the main port of entry into the country for those travelling by ship, as well the largest hub of commercial trade by sea.

The city tends to see itself as more of an international hub than San Angelo, and the city itself is built to a more neo-classical pattern than the capital. Viewed from the air, the city appears as a mesh of white split by the green avenues of trees carefully maintained in an effort to live up to her name. Harbor Grove is the site of the Front Range's most important war memorial, and the Harbor Grove Republic is the nation's most influential newspaper.

"Seventy three square miles, surrounded by reality." -- An often quoted White Party rabble rouser, 1962

Navato is the fourth largest city in the Front Range Republic and second largest on the West Coast, with a population of about 650,000 and a metro area of about 1,800,000. Sitting in a colder climate than sunny Harbor Grove but lacking the annual snowfall that helps make San Angelo famous, the city's claim to fame is both historical and practical. Navato was the nation's provisional capital for two years while a proper site for San Angelo Federal District was selected, and during the Pan-Laurasian War was known as "The Arsenal of Democracy". Perhaps as a result, she remains the bluest city in the country. She remains the heart of the Front Range's often maligned manufacturing sector.

Large Fauna in Mount Shavano

"Don't feed the Tyrannosaurus." -- Traditional, also common sense.

The nature of the Event that brought the future Front Rangers from North America also moved a significant amount of wildlife, merging with the creatures native to the continent to create a very delicate continental balance of wildlife. Many niches are filled by both a mammal and one of the native dinosaur species. Some of the more noteworthy creatures are listed below.

Large Predators

Rex (Tyrannosaurus rex)

A very large, very rare predator found on the eastern plains, and the forested areas on the eastern slopes of all three mountain ranges. The rex is the apex predator in its environment, and does not discriminate between living or dead prey or between cattle and wild individuals of prey species, making it a constant annoyance to ranchers. They rarely attack humans, being apparently intelligent enough as a group to learn "rifles are bad news" by early in Mount Shavano's history. The females are larger than the males, but not as fast or as aggressive. Coloration varies regionally, generally dull grays, golds, and reds.

Gorgo (Albertosaurus libratus)

The animal most likely to be referred to by its scientific rather than "popular" name, A. libratus is the dominant predator, at least in terms of size, in the mountains and near the northern border. Another tyrannosaur, it is faster and less robust than its larger cousin. It suffered very little from mammalian competition, since the primary extant prey species are to large for pumas or wolves to hunt. It shares the same sexual dimorphism and coloration as rexes, and is only slightly more likely to attack people.

Raptor (Dromaeosaurus albertensis)

A wolf sized, feathered pack hunter that existed in large numbers before the event, but has seen radical changes in range since then. By 1896 sightings were rare above 6,000 feet or the Arapahoe/Tabeguache border as Canis replaced it in those regions. However, the wolf was unable to push the raptor off the plains and the species made an explosive comeback near the southern border when the rabbit population began to skyrocket around 1905. They are no more dangerous to humans than their mammalian rival. Coloration tends to be a mix of black and white feathers, and the female is larger than the male, which seems to be a theropod trait.

Mountain Lion (Puma concolor)

Relatively rare both before and after the event, the Cougar carved out a niche for itself at higher altitudes in the mountains. They rarely encounter humans, since population density in lowest in the regions where the cats live.

Wolf (Canis lupus)

Almost extinct before the event, the wolf made a major comeback after the event, pushing the raptor out of the mountains and the colder regions and taking over its place in the food chain. The wolves appear to be smarter than their opposition.

Large Herbivores

Trike (Triceratops horridus and Triceratops prorsus)

A large member of the ceratopsian family and the most common herbivore (in terms of mass times number of individuals) living wild in Mount Shavano. There are two species, T. horridus or the "Plains Trike" and T. prorsus or the "Mountain Trike". Both live in small herds consisting of a single bull and two to eight cows. While there are always some individual bulls without a harem, only a quarter of the Trike population is male. They eat any vegetation they can reach, including the flowering plants that spread across the continent after the arrival, which many dinosaurs refuse to eat.

The plains Trike and mountain Trike are not totally exclusive to their ranges, as they overlap for some portion, nor are the names a hard and fast limit of their range. The plains Trike can be found anywhere in the eastern plains states and sometimes hundreds of miles deep into the mountains. The mountain trike can be found anywhere except the eastern half of the plains. The plains trike is both larger and more numerous. The species (and sexes within species) are differentiated by the coloration of the frills.

Trikes are sometimes hunted, but the numbers that can be taken in any given season are regulated to keep their numbers in balance. This number is generally relatively low, as their natural predators aren't as depleted as in some countries. Trike meat is considered a delicacy, in large part due to its rarity. They are very rarely domesticated, as they are far more difficult to control and take longer to mature than the cows, etc. that came through from NA.

Misc. Hadrosaurs (Parasaurolophus, Edmontosaurus, etc)

Large, slightly stupid herbivores, variations of this family range across the continent, in all environments. Many species are too large for wolves or mountain lions to tackle, and remain purely the province of the tyrannosaurs. Often characterized by brightly colored crests.

Elk & Deer (Cervus canadensis, plus many species)

These came through in some numbers, and quickly spread across the continent in numbers exceeding any they had had for decades in North America. Better equipped to avoid predators than the hadrosaurs in every category save size and not directly competing with the ceratopsians for food, they can be found anywhere in the country. Deer are particularly successful near cities, which they handle better than the dinosaurs.

Note: Many other species are found as well, these are just the most common/best known.

Other Helpful Information

2011 International Geographic Survey

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Technology

"You'd be amazed how much it easier it is to prepare for the future, when you are absolutely sure there won't be personal jetpacks fifty years from now!" -- Steven Hardee, head of the University of Aspen, 1950

The Front Range Republic had, for what are today obscure historical reasons, a significant head start on the rest of the world in at least theoretical areas of science and technology. While the initially poor infrastructure did not always allow the Front Range to be the first to implement a new idea, they knew what was going to be invented next for almost the entire century. As a result, the Front Range has always been near or beyond the cutting edge and has always had an infrastructure ready to take advantage of advances as soon as they were implemented.

Today, the figure most often quoted is that the Front Range is "a generation" ahead of the rest of most of the rest of the developed world in terms of technology. Most advanced are technologies in the areas of computing, information, military, power generation, and agriculture. Knowing the level of technology available is important to understanding the military and the economy.

OOC Note: In practice, what this means is that devices and techniques just being prototyped in most of the developed world are common in the Front Range Republic. It doesn't mean flying cars, time machines, Star Wars lasers, or the like.

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Economy

Statistics (Estimated)
GDP per Capita : $64,625.47
Unemployment : 2.41%
Currency : the Angel (1 angel = USD 2.0098)

Regulations

"Money is power, in one its purest forms. We wouldn't let the government tell us where to live or work or eat or play, so why would we let them tell us where we have to spend our money?" -- Luke Hood, Secretary of Diplomacy, at an economic conference, 1982

The Front Range runs a strongly free market economy, which is recognized as a international powerhouse. Most statistical measures, including standard of living indicies, place the Front Range in the top 10% of the world for both economic strength and prosperity.

Natural Resources

"Nil sine numine" -- State motto of Colorado

The Front Range Republic was blessed with seemingly limitless sources of natural wealth. Minerals of all stripes are found beneath the mountains, the nation has vast timber reserves, wildlife is abundant, she has more arable land than any other nation on her continent, both coasts are ideal for fishing, and there are significant oil reserves under the Alte-Mojave and off the western seaboard.

Power

"Shut it down? Son, this was a worst case scenario. No one picked up more radiation than they would have from microwaving a bowl of popcorn. And that's enough to make you want to replace the whole grid with bird blenders? Get out of here!" -- James Scott, head of the Taos nuclear power plant memorably ranting at a reporter, following the 1984 leak at that facility

It's often been said that the modern economy, at least in the developed world, is an energy economy. In this category, at least, the Front Range is a world leader. Mount Shavano runs almost entirely off of a nuclear power grid, as she has since the early 60s. The plants were designed with safety in mind, and to allow for rapid expansion. Today, energy is cheap, the air is clean, and there has never a fatal accident involving a nuclear plant in the history of the republic.

There used to be a significant secondary market in the power industry along the Front Range, of course, with oil being required for ships, planes, and cars. This market has been shrinking since a "plug and play" car reached the economic break even point in 2004; they outnumber traditional oil powered vehicles in Mount Shavano today. The effect on the oil producing regions of the Front Range has as yet been minimal since oil is still required for aviation and commercial shipping. However, anticipating trouble, the oil industry had begun aggressively seeking foreign customers.

Major Industries

"Intelligence can be overrated. The overriding concern in whether someone succeeds here or not is simple work ethic." -- Dale Hammond, head of Navato Naval Construction, a major defense contractor, 1994

Defense

The Front Range Military itself and a plethora of defense contractors are usually held to be the strongest industry of the Front Range. High technology, high quality equipment is produced for the F.R.M. and exported, almost without restriction, to ideological allies. Neatly tied into defense is the manufacturing of small arms, a major industry in Mount Shavano that has military applications as well as a strong market in the heavily armed citizenry.

Information Technology

Being "beyond the cutting edge" of technology naturally translates into a very strong technology industry. The computing power available to the Front Range allows for highly intelligent automation, a unrivaled communication network, and very easy distribution of information. Quantum computers run at a dozen major Front Range universities. Military aircraft are often supervised by remote control and generally allowed to run themselves, without a human pilot aboard.

Agriculture

The current productivity of the Front Range farmer is estimated at one farmer to feed 183 people. This has been achieved through increasing use of automation to aid the farmer and various techniques, including genetic engineering, to maximize crop yields. The Front Range is the breadbasket of Laurasia.

Automobiles

The technological edge of the Front Range has extended to creating a powerful automobile industry, which really exploded when the Front Range became among the very first nations to have electric rather than gas powered cars hit the economic break even point. Before, the industry had little reach outside the Front Range's borders but was extensive domestically due to the cultural apathy towards public transit and large rural areas.

Infrastructure

"The justification for the federal government building the highways may have been to have an easy way to move tanks around in the event of nuclear war, but the real purpose is simple commerce. The President overstepped his mandate, and I intend to make sure everyone knows." -- Bill Breckenridge, disgruntled White senator, 1949

The infrastructure of the Front Range reflects the character of the country. It is generally of a very high quality, although significant elements of it are not as organized as in other nations; virtually all of the development has been conducted by private companies rather than some central organization. It lacks any pretensions to grandeur; record breaking skyscrapers and similar vanity projects are quite rare.

The two areas in which it shows the greatest strength are the transportation grid, represented by an excellent system of interstate highways, and the communication network. High speed telephone, television, and internet are accessible almost anywhere in the nation.

Imports

The major imports of the Front Range are manufactured goods, luxuries, and exotic foods.

Exports

The major exports of the Front Range are computers, cars, technology, weaponry, food, and freedom.

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The Front Range Military

"Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute!" -- Traditional

Active Military Size: 710,300 (estimated)
Reserve Military Size: 822,400 (estimated)

Front Range Army

"I don't know but I've been told
Mountain boys be mighty bold
Fought with guns and knives and sticks
And still we ain't never been licked."
-- Front Range Army Cadence

The primary task of the Front Range Army is considered to be the national defense, and second task nation building. This has lead to criticism from several quarters that the army would be unprepared to fight a large scale conventional war outside of Laurasia; in high command circles it is accepted that the FRA assumes it will have a minimum of 6-8 months to prepare before fighting a major war abroad against a nation of similar prowess.

The Front Range Army, however, is very good at what it does. Like the whole military, personnel reserves are sometimes limited so no expense is spared on technology nor on training. Part of the fallout from this is the Front Range's excellent record for proficiency and initiative at the level of junior officers.

The Front Range generally operates in integrated units at the Company level, ensuring armored, artillery, and air support for the infantry at all times; this is believed to be of defensive benefit and to assist in territorial control, as well as reducing the strain on transport networks over rough terrain for large vehicular formations. However, critics assert it would struggle against large scale armored formations on flat ground, and would have great difficulty creating or exploiting major breakthroughs.

The high technology level of the Front Range shows here as well; communications are both fast and reliable. Recon UAVs are deployed at the squad level, and heavier assets at the Company level. Soldier's gear is designed to be lightweight and versatile, although in areas without a reliable communications infrastructure this is less true due to the increased bulk of communications gear.

Some, but not all, important combat systems are listed below:

TB-89 Cougar Main Battle Tank

Weight : 58t
Length : 25'4"
Width : 11'9"
Height : 7'8"
Crew : 3
Main Armament : 120mm L50 HV Cannon
Secondary Armament : .50 cal coaxial HMG, .50 cal remote control HMG
Road Speed : 44 mph (70.8 kph)
Cross-Country Speed : 34 mph (54.7 kph)
Armor : Classified, Excellent
Active Defenses : Classified, Excellent
In service : 1989

The TB-89 Cougar is a modern and powerful main battle tank, although slightly smaller than the ubiquitous M1 Abrams and significantly smaller than many modern heavy tanks such as the Wolfhound, Panthera series, or Salamander. In design, emphasis was placed on reliability and mobility (not raw speed) over size and firepower, due to mission requirements that included warfare on mountainous terrain and in close support of infantry in urban environments. Additionally, it carries the usual superlative Front Range electronics. The Cougar is considered a very successful design, with extremely high ready rates under wartime conditions, strong combat performance, and excellent cost efficiency.

A-92 Infantry Rifle

Weight : 6.5 lb loaded
Cartridge : 5.56 mm
Rate of Fire : 650 rounds/minute
Muzzle Velocity : 3200 ft/sec
Effective Range : 875 yards
Magazine Size : 32
Sights : Reconfigurable

The Rio Grande Arms A-92 is the standard infantry weapon of the Front Range Army and Front Range Marine Corps. It is typical of the breed, with an emphasis on cost efficiency. Tactically, the strongest suit is a long range.

Front Range Navy

"Tyranny ends where our cannon shot begins." -- Front Range Navy recruiting poster.

The Front Range possess a world-class navy, intended as both a sealane control and power projection force. In total, the Front Range operates ??? warships.

The Front Range Navy uses the following classification system for ship types.

An aircraft carrier is a warship entirely dedicated to the operation of air power, and will never be found operating without escorts. The FRN divides carriers into three sub-types:

Fleet Carriers (CV) are capital carriers, intended to project all-purpose power and control the surrounding area. Front Range fleet carriers typically carry an airgroup of 90-100 aircraft, have a speed of 30-35 knots, and a displacement on the order of 100,000 tons. The Front Range operates 27 fleet carriers, which are considered the backbone of the navy's ability to win control of areas and attack land-based targets. The breakdown is as follows:
14 one-offs (commissioned 1961-2011)
6 improved San Isabel type (commissioned 2011)
7 Dinosaur type (commissioned 2012-2015)

Light Carriers (CVL) are mid-sized carriers, which are not considered capital ships but are still able to project balanced air groups. Note that while the distinction in the official definition is of mission, in practice it is usually by size. The Front Range operates no light carriers, but uses this designation to describe foreign ships.

Escort Carriers (CVE) are carriers specialized for a specific role, usually anti-submarine or close support of amphibious operations, rather than carrying a balanced airgroup. Front Range doctrine holds any such carriers be small, and large specialized carriers operated by other navies would probably be considered CV or CVL by the FRN. The Front Range currently operates no escort carriers, but uses this designation to describe foreign ships.

All types of carriers use the designation -N to indicate nuclear power, and -H to indicate helicopter carriers. All FRN carriers are nuclear, none operate primarily helicopter groups (largely due to the prevalence of VTOL fixed-wing aircraft).

Battleships (BB) are capital ships whose primary weapons delivery system is not aircraft (BBG is used to designated 'missile battleships'). The Front Range does not operate any, but retains the designation to describe foreign units.

Battlecruiser (BC or BCG) are surface warships that are clearly outclassed by battleships but clearly outclass frigates. The Front Range does not operate any, but retains the designation to describe foreign units.

Frigates are defined as ships designed for extended solo cruises; they are used either to exercise sea control or to fill out carrier escort groups. Frigates operating outside of the screens of carriers or larger surface combatants are referred to as "Cruisers"; in the FRN this is a mission designation and not a ship type. All Front Range frigates carry small groups of F-121 Dragonslayer fighters, although this is not considered a feature of the Frigate type worldwide.

Gun Frigates (FF) are frigates whose primary armaments are artillery, rather than missiles or aircraft. The Front Range does not operate any, but uses this designation to classify foreign ships.

Missile Frigates (FFG) are frigates whose primary armaments are missiles. This is the heaviest surface combatant class operated by the FRN, and the most common variant of frigate. The Front Range operates 102 FFG, (actually, all FFGN), broken down as follows:
91 Thunderhead class (commissioned 1984-2011)
11 Red River class (commissioned 1976-1985)

Air Defense Frigates (FFA) are frigates with specialized anti-aircraft and/or anti-missile equipment. Since it is relatively rare for them to be deployed on their own, outside of carrier screens or flotillas of several frigates, some purists argue they should be designated destroyers. However, all Front Range ships of this type are built on variants of the El Paso class hull, and are designated FFAN for that reason. Likely, any foreign ships of similar capability would be classed as DDA. The Front Range currently operates 39 FFAN, all of the Minuteman class (commissioned 1992-present).

Air Frigates (FFV) are frigates carrying dedicated air groups (note that unless it also has significant surface-surface capability, etc, it would be a carrier and not a frigate). This type is very rare outside of the FRN, but due to the small space requirements of the F-121 was found to be practical. Since the airgroup of 16-24 is heavily skewed towards air superiority they are usually deployed in areas where air cover is required but fleet carriers not needed or not available, either on solo patrols or as part of multi-ship frigate squadrons. This type is almost never deployed with the carrier groups, as it would be superfluous. The Front Range operates 18 of this type, all of the Kiowa class (commissioned 1992-present).

Destroyers (DD) are ocean-going surface warships intended to destroy threats to larger warships, especially carriers or capital surface-surface units. The Front Range has traditionally relied on large, multi-role destroyers rather than specialized ships, and unlike some navies has not designated destroyers as offensive surface weapons since the late 40s (i.e. no nighttime torpedo attacks on enemy formations in Front Range doctrine; they still expect this type to carry significant surface-surface missile ability to defend their charges against surface attacks). The Front Range operates 151 destroyers, as follows:
129 Trike class (commissioned 1981-present)
22 Wapiti class (commissioned 1972-1981)

Destroyer subtypes include: DDG (missile), DDA (anti-missile and/or anti-air), and DDE (anti-submarine). Please note that the Trike and Wapiti class could be correctly designated either DDN or DDGN.

Attack Submarines (SS) are submarines intended to attack other submarines and/or surface ships, with a primary armament of torpedoes and possibly missiles. The Front Range operates only a single class of SSN, the Aurora. There are 83 active Auroras in the FRN of 84 built, plus one exported unit.

Missile Submarines (SSG) are any submarines carrying vertical launch tubes but not nuclear missiles; generally they are intended to engage land targets or make long range attacks on enemy surface formations (although many nations operate attack subs with vertical missile tubes; these ships would be formally designated SSG or SSGN by the FRN but treated as attack subs). The Front Range operates no ships of this type, believing that the horizontal-launch missiles of the Aurora class can handle quick strikes and prolonged bombardment should be carried out by surface forces.

Ballistic Missile Submarines (SSB) are submarines carrying ICBMs. They exercise the role of strategic deterrence, dispersing assets to make them impossible for any enemy to destroy before a sufficient second strike can be launched. All active FRN boomers are of the 32 unit Sand Creek.

Total breakdown of forces
CVN : 27
FFGN : 102
FFAN : 39
FFVN : 18
DDGN : 151
SSN : 83
SSBN : 31
Total Warships : 451
Logistical, Support, & Other Units : 224

Notes:
*All Front Range Navy ships are nuclear powered.
*The Front Range Navy tends to have small crew complements, as beyond-the-cutting-edge technology and lavish budgets have led to ubiquitous and excellent automation systems.
*The Front Range Navy has a significant technology edge on almost all of the modern tech world; "quality over quantity" is inherent in her philosophy. This applies to electronics, stealth systems, munitions, and aircraft.
*The quality over quantity approach is also evident in the FRN's overfunded and rigorous training programs.
*The FRN has extensive experience in irregular war and small fleet actions; however, it has not participated in a "total war" since 1940.

A few important ship classes are noted below:

San Isabel class Fleet Carrier

Displacement : 105,000 tons
Length : 1,041 feet
Beam : 135 feet
Draft : 26 feet
Power : 2 FRN2008v Nuclear Reactors
Propulsion : 4 shafts, 4 propellers
Speed : 34 knots
Operational Radius : Limited only by munitions and crew endurance.
Crew : 4,200
Armament : 14 Hydra CIWS, misc. light weapons.
Airgroup : maximum 105 aircraft (VTOL, STOL, or CTOL)

The San Isabel is the last of the long series of one-off carriers of the Front Range Navy, and a slightly improved version of her design was used for the Freedom II subclass of six ships commissioned in 2011. Her command and control facilities are world class, as are her onboard facilities, aircraft capacity, point defense, and ability to endure damage. When combined with the efficacy of her airgroup, which uses a naval variant of the Air Force F-121 among others, the Front Range Navy considers San Isabel and her sisters to be fully equivalent or superior to foreign CVBGs with multiple capital carriers as a core.

Front Range CVN roster:
One-off nuclear carriers

SNS Pike's Peak (1957-2008, 2011)
SNS Tabeguache (1961)
SNS Ouray (1964)
SNS Shavano (1969)
SNS Monarch (1973)
SNS Uncompahgre (1977)
SNS Antero (1980)
SNS Crestone (1985)
SNS San Juan (1989)
SNS Sangre de Cristo (1992)
SNS San Luis (1996)
SNS Cochetopa (2000)
SNS Saguache (2004)
SNS San Isabel (2008)
SNS Dinosaur (2012)
SNS Mesa Verde (to be commissioned 2016)

Improved San Isabel-type carriers built as part of the 2011 Naval Expansion Program in response to the Ralkovian war.

SNS Freedom (2011)
SNS Liberty (2011)
SNS Independence (2011)
SNS Nautilus (2011)
SNS Argo (2011)
SNS Thunderchild (2011)

Additional Dinosaur class carriers in a continuation of the 2011NEP.

SNS Arapahoe (2015)
SNS Cheyenne (2015)
SNS Rio Grande (2015)
SNS Lydia (2015)
SNS Atropos (2015)
SNS Hotspur (2015)

Thunderhead class Frigate

Displacement : 14,000 tons
Length : 615 feet
Beam : 72 feet
Draft : 24 feet
Power : FRN1984f Nuclear Reactor
Propulsion : 4 shafts, 4 propellers
Speed : 32 knots
Operational Radius : Limited only by munitions and crew endurance.
Crew : 300
Armament : 5"/50 RF Gun, 4 Defiance mk IV VML batteries (total 72 cells), 2 Lynx-C SAM batteries (total 24 cells), 2 Hydra CIWS, 2 Helicopters or VTOL Fighters, misc. light weapons

The Thunderhead could rightly be considered the backbone of Front Range naval power - certainly she is the workhorse. The Thunderhead is designed to be able to undertake any mission, save air superiority, and project power or protect shipping in any part of the globe. The greatest advantages over foreign competitors come in quality of electronics, fantastic operational range, and the large size of the vessel, although these of course also make the Thunderhead type quite expensive.

Trike class Destroyer

Displacement: 11,000 tons
Length : 600 feet
Beam : 69 feet
Draft : 21 feet
Power : FRN1981d Nuclear Reactor
Propulsion : 4 shafts, 4 propellers
Speed: 34 knots
Operational Radius : Limited only by munitions and crew endurance.
Crew: 250
Armament: 5"/50 RF Gun, 2 Defiance mk IV VML batteries (total 36 cells), 4 Lynx-C SAM batteries (total 48 cells), 4 Hydra CIWS, 2 Helicopters or VTOL Fighters, misc. light weapons

SNS Trike and her sisters are designed for the sole purpose of keeping the carriers and frigates alive. They carry a strong complement of cruise missiles for surface engagements, ASW gear and aircraft, and SAMs to engage incoming airstrikes in addition to the usual excellent Front Range electronics. The Trike has two particular quirks: First, her missile battery is almost exclusively longer ranged types, as FRN doctrine holds that weapons range is a decisive factor in any naval battle. Second, she is unusually large and expensive for the type due to the desire to include all these capabilities. While designed as an escort, her ability to engage all types of targets means she is equivalent or superior to many foreign cruisers in capability - although, of course, she also carries a cruiser's price tag.

Aurora class Attack Submarine

Displacement : 9,000 tons submerged, 8,200 tons surfaced
Length : 371 feet
Beam : 42 feet
Power : FRN2006s nuclear reactor, 50,000+ hp (flight 4, earlier boats would have slightly less power)
Propulsion : 1 shaft, 1 propeller
Speed : 38 knots (submerged), 19 knots (surfaced)
Crew : 100
Max Depth : 700 feet
Operational Radius : Limited only by munitions and crew endurance.
Armament : 4 Mark XII 26-inch torpedo tubes forward, 2 aft.*
Munitions Capacity : 52 torpedoes or tube-launched missiles

First in service in 1992, V&R Shipyard's Aurora class "Sheepdog" is perhaps the best example of the Front Range Navy's preference for lavish spending and high technology to obtain quality units. The Aurora has state of the art detection gear, high speed, and is better than quiet - she cannot even be detected as a hole in the background noise of the ocean except by the very latest equipment. The Aurora has been produced in high numbers, can be found in every role practiced by submarines except nuclear deterence, and can excel at any of them.

*She lacks dedicated missile cells, but is configured to carry as many tube-launched cruise missiles as desirable in place of torpedoes.

Sand Creek class Missile Submarine

Name of ship: Sand Creek class SSBN
Displacement (surfaced): ~12,000 tons
Displacement (submerged): ~14,000 tons
Length: 500 ft
Beam: 41 ft
Draft: 35 ft
Powerplant : FRN2004s nuclear reactor (Different flights of the class have slightly different powerplants.)
Propulsion : 1 shaft, 1 propeller
Speed : 24 knots submerged
Crew : 120
Max. Depth : 1,200 feet
Operational Radius : Limited only by crew endurance.
Armament: 4 Mark XII torpedo tubes forward, 2 aft, Tube-Launched Cruise Missiles, 24xSLBMs

The Sand Creek class is the best known and most important of the Front Range's "Second Strike" arm, and are considered the most important ships in the Navy after the carriers (which is reflected in the cost!). They are designed to spend as much of the time as possible at sea, and be as close to undetectable as possible - and with the Front Range Navy's lavish budget for these ships, and high technology, it's pretty dang close.

They spend most of their time cruising in deep waters away from shipping lanes, as the SLBMs can hit anywhere on Earth from anywhere on Earth and so don't need to be near potential targets. Usually an Aurora class attack submarine acts as a "sheepdog" and remains within 20-30 miles of the boomer to deal with anything that does manage to detect her or any accidental crisis that may occur.

All units of this class are named for battles or massacres from the history of Western North America - a grim subject, deemed appropriate for ships that hold to potential to kill millions. Examples include Sand Creek, Little Bighorn, Apache Canyon, and Wounded Knee. The exact number of SSBNs in the Front Range Navy is classified, but is publicly known to be at least two dozen and possibly twice that.

These ships could be used to carry conventional missiles in place of nuclear ones, but the FRN seems to prefer tube launches from the small and faster Aurora class for that purpose and has not refitted any Sand Creek class vertical tubes for that role.

Naval Ordinance

This is not an exhaustive list, just an overview of some of the more important types of weapons.

Defiance Missile System: First introduced in the early 70s, the system (now on the 4th version) was primarily designed as a launch platform for large SSMs. It is primarily designed for space efficiency, fast launches, and damage resistance. The missiles themselves are a modular chassis designed to carry a variation of platforms as the mission requires; 92% of missiles capable of using the Defiance launchers are based on the same frame. The missiles are optimized for range, speed, stealth, and ECCM while carrying only an average payload. As a result, the cost-to-explosives ratio is fairly poor.

Lynx Missile System: Introduced alongside the Defiance as the Lynx-A, the Lynx is the standard SAM system of the FRN. Optimized for range, speed, stealth, and ECCM, as the Defiance program, it is a world-class anti-air missile.

Hydra Close in Weapons System: The standard last-resort anti missile system of the Front Range. It is quite effective with paired with FRN computer control units, with an 88.9% success rate (per unit) against Defiance cruiser missiles in fleet exercises. The primary weakness is considered to be against saturation attacks.

Front Range Air Force

"Yes, we have on occasion had communications failures with our remote piloted aircraft. Yes, that has occasionally caused some mission failures. But, on balance, we consider that a very small price to pay for a 100% pilot survival rate. -- General Sam Burke, FRAF, head of the F-121 project

The Front Range Air Force is the best funded of the military branches of Mount Shavano. The intended missions of the Air Force are quite varied, including aerospace control, close air support, strategic bombing, and anti-shipping, and it excels at all of them. Her fighters, bombers, strike craft, and airlift capacity are all world class.

A unique characteristic of the FRAF is the prevalence of unpiloted aircraft, controlled either by remote or by onboard A.I. This is an improvement over piloted aircraft in a number of ways, including performance (due to not needing to be concerned about the effects of g forces on humans), size (allowing greater versatility in deployment), and pilot survival rate (obviously 100% for unpiloted craft, which allows the aircraft to be used extremely aggressively). Even leaving out aircraft performance, the A.I. is superior to all but the very best human pilots at landing, air-to-air combat, and situational awareness, although it does occasional make operational errors if unmonitored.

The Front Range, of course, maintains piloted analogs for all unpiloted aircraft for operators to gain experience, and does posses a core group of very experienced pilots.

Some important aircraft are detailed below:

F-12 Rapier Air Superiority Fighter

Crew : 1 or 0
Length : 56'5"
Wingspan : 40'6"
Empty Weight : 22.5t
Normal Weight : 33.4t
Maximum Take-off Weight : 43.1t
Propulsion : Two CA1994LBTF Engines
Thrust-to-Weight-Ratio : 1.03-to-1
Supercruise : 1100 knots
Max. Speed : 1310 knots
Ceiling : 68,000 feet
Combat Radius : 500 nmi (can be extended with drop tanks)
Ferry Range : 5,400 nmi (assumes full load of drop tanks)
Mission Ready Rate : 93%
Radar Cross-Section : 20 square centimeters.
Armament : Re-configurable.
Internal bay, capacity 3,000 lb.
Four external magnetic hardpoints, capacity 20,000 lb.
Nose 20mm cannon.
Avionics:
V&R Systems BHR12 Blended Radar Detection System, Range 350-450 miles depending on conditions.
Orange Skies Electronics BC1 Aerial Multi-Target Radar and EW Platform, Range 220-310 miles depending on conditions.
Shields Information Systems 1999A Onboard Computer, Programming Classified (earlier flights have less computing power).
BFS Systems Red Claw Integrated Anti-Missile System.

The F-12 Rapier is the second-line fighter of the FRAF. It is a high performance 5th generation fighter plane, tactically equivalent to the very common F-22 Raptor, cheaper to produce (due to the lower ratio of R&D to production costs), and with better computer systems. Production began in the mid-90s; by now, all older FRR fighters still in Front Range service are relegated to training units or the national guard.

There are four primary variants, any number of which may be combined in one plane:
F-12N is the naval variant. Designed for lighter weight and shorter takeoffs, it is not as tough as its baseline cousin and has shorter legs (without external tanks). It was the only fighter in use in the FRN prior to the introduction of the F-121. It also has other minor modifications for naval service, including a landing hook and some modified instruments.
F-12V is the vertical takeoff and landing variant. Used where runways are inadequate, it sacrifices some payload to achieve the vertical capability. The F-12NV is often used (by replacing helicopters) to give FRN frigates an air superiority capability; with EW support a FRN frigate flotilla has a better air-to-air combat group than older fleet carriers of many nations.
F-12R is a variant fitted for remote control. Usually linked up by satellite with command posts on the mainland, this enables the planes to be sent on missions too dangerous for a pilot, enables elite pilots to be "sent" where they are needed with no risk to their talents, training, and experience, and makes feasible the deployment of small groups of fighters on long missions. Most planes have this capability, although it is not always used.
F-12U is a variant with a full on A.I. pilot available for use. These pilots are unsurprisingly good, since they have excellent reflexes and can ignore g-forces that would kill a human pilot, winning 80% of the time in live practice against their human counterparts. F-12UA is a subvariant with the cockpit removed for improved performance; these exist as a few prototypes and were superseded by the F-121. The F-12U's full capabilities are widely used in commands where the F-121 is not yet deployed, although in most areas F-12s are reserved for missions requiring on-board pilots. All remaining production now includes this variant, although F-12 production now accounts for only 10% of new FRAF fighters.

Note that the similarity of the airframe to the Raptor is not a coincidence; at least one man who came through the Transition had been an aviation engineer who had worked on the F-22 program beforehand and, in later life, wrote down everything he could remember. When technology caught up to his notes, they were used as a starting point. Similar forces are behind the resemblance of the FRAF LF-37 (late 30s/early 40s) to the old P-51 Mustang.

F-8 Avalanche Strike Aircraft

Crew : 1 or 0
Length : 57'6"
Wingspan : 40'6"
Empty Weight : 22.9t
Normal Weight : 33.9t
Maximum Take-off Weight : 43.7t
Propulsion : Two CA1994LBTF Engines
Thrust-to-Weight-Ratio : 1.01-to-1
Supercruise : 1060 knots
Max. Speed : 1260 knots
Ceiling : 68,000 feet
Combat Radius : 500 nmi (can be extended with drop tanks)
Ferry Range : 5,800 nmi (assumes full load of drop tanks)
Mission Ready Rate : 94%
Radar Cross-Section : 24 square centimeters.
Armament : Re-configurable.
Internal bay, capacity 4,500 lb.
Four external magnetic hardpoints, capacity 24,000 lb.
Nose 20mm cannon.
Avionics:
V&R Systems BHR12 Blended Radar Detection System, Range 350-450 miles depending on conditions.
Orange Skies Electronics SOK1 Air & Ground Multi-Target Radar and EW Platform, Range 200-290 miles depending on conditions.
Shields Information Systems 1999A Onboard Computer, Programming Classified (earlier flights have less computing power).
BFS Systems Red Claw Integrated Anti-Missile System.

The F-8 Avalanche is the stablemate strike fighter to the F-12, built on a slightly bulkier version of the same airframe. While still a capable Air-to-Air fighter, the Avalanche is optimized for higher durability, better ground fire defenses, and a larger payload at the expense of maneuverability and speed. All the usual variants exist, and the F-8 remains in full production as the unmanned F-81 is still in the prototyping stages. The F-8 is also operated by the Front Range Navy as its primary anti-shipping aircraft, and is capable of carrying Defiance IV missiles.

F-121 Dragonslayer Air Superiority Fighter

Crew : 0
Length : 48'8"
Wingspan : 34'9"
Empty Weight : 15.9t
Normal Weight : 23.1t
Maximum Take-off Weight : 37.6t
Propulsion : Single CA2007LBTF Engine
Thrust-to-Weight-Ratio : 1.22-to-1
Supercruise : 1320 knots
Max. Speed : 1572 knots
Ceiling : 70,000 feet
Combat Radius : 1,000 nmi (can be extended with drop tanks)
Ferry Range : 5,800 nmi (assumes full load of drop tanks)
Mission Ready Rate : 91%
Radar Cross-Section : 10 square centimeters.
Armament : Re-configurable.
Internal bay, capacity 3,000 lb.
Two external magnetic hardpoints, capacity 10,000 lb.
Nose 20mm cannon.
Avionics :
V&R Systems BHR12 Blended Radar Detection System, Range 350-450 miles depending on conditions.
Orange Skies Electronics BC2 Aerial Multi-Target Radar and EW Platform, Range 220-310 miles depending on conditions.
AUCM 2006P2 Onboard Quantum Computer, Programming Classified
BFS Systems Red Claw Integrated Anti-Missile System

The Cheyenne Aeronautics F-121 Dragonslayer is the frontline late-fifth/early-sixth generation air superiority fighter of the Front Range Air Force. The F-121 is a development of the F-12 Rapier program that has entirely done away with a human pilot; the plane is quite capable of flying itself but is usually supervised by a trained and experienced pilot via secure, high-speed satellite linkage.

The aircraft, due to the advantages of Front Range EW equipment and not lugging a pilot around, is one of the best fighters currently in operation in the world today. The removal of the weight of the pilot and his support system, as well as the requirement not to crush him in high-g maneuvers, allows the F-121 performance and range that is quite literally impossible for manned aircraft. Reaction time is similarly improved; advanced algorithms defeat enemy countermeasures and missiles at an excellent rate. The small size further reduces the radar profile of the already small aircraft; only the most modern radar systems can detect it with any degree of reliability. In wargames against the older F-12U, a kill:death ratio of 12:1 has been consistently achieved.

Because the F-121 was designed from the start as a VTOL aircraft, it also serves without modification as the first-line fighter jet of the Front Range Navy. In fact, in can be carried by any vessel that can operate helicopters - sometimes in large numbers.

Additional, powerful advantages:
The remote-pilot design ensures that veteran pilots always survive the loss of their aircraft, and are not WIA, KIA, or POW.
The best pilots are always available for a critical mission, anywhere in the world.
When needed, additional personnel can be assigned to handle EW, navigation, etc, giving all the advantages of a multi-seat fighter with none of the drawbacks.

B-7 Gunslinger Strategic Bomber

Crew : 3
Length : 131'4"
Wingspan : 74'1"
Empty Weight : 86t
Normal Weight : 177.5t
Maximum Take-off Weight : 215t
Propulsion : Four CA1989LBTFJ Engines
Thrust-to-Weight-Ratio : 0.48-to-1
Supercruise : 770 knots
Max. Speed : 1030 knots
Ceiling : 76,000 feet
Combat Radius : 3,400 nmi (can be extended with drop tanks)
Ferry Range : 11,200 nmi (assumes full load of drop tanks)
Mission Ready Rate : 87%
Radar Cross-Section : 10 square meters.
Armament : Re-configurable. Four bomb bays and four external hardpoints, with a total capacity of 108,000 lb.
Avionics :
V&R Systems E1 Blended Radar Detection System, Range 150-200 miles depending on conditions.
Orange Skies Electronics LQ Aerial Radar and EW Platform, Range 120-140 miles depending on conditions.
Shields Information Systems 1999A Onboard Computer, Programming Classified
Cheyenne Aeronautics Eclipse Defensive EW & Decoys System

The B-7 Gunslinger was the mainline strategic bomber of the Front Range for nearly twenty years and still composes 60% of the FRAF heavy bomber arsenal, although less than 5% of new construction in that category. The Gunslinger is optimized for speed with minimal reduction of payload, which required reduction of defensive armament and a relatively small aircraft. Sophisticated EW and anti-missile decoy systems give it an excellent chance to penetrate even sophisticated air defense grids, and excellent targeting systems maximize the effectiveness of the arsenal.

B-3 Cataphract Strategic Bomber

Crew : 3
Length : 111'8"
Wingspan : 74'1"
Empty Weight : 68.8t
Normal Weight : 160t
Maximum Take-off Weight : 193.5t
Propulsion : Two CA2008LBTFJ Engines
Thrust-to-Weight-Ratio : 0.6-to-1
Supercruise : 924 knots
Max. Speed : 1185 knots
Ceiling : 94,000 feet
Combat Radius : 3,910 nmi (can be extended with drop tanks)
Ferry Range : 12,320 nmi (assumes full load of drop tanks)
Mission Ready Rate : 87%
Radar Cross-Section : 6 square meters.
Armament : Re-configurable. Four bomb bays and four external hardpoints, with a total capacity of 108,000 lb.
Avionics :
V&R Systems K5 Blended Radar Detection System, Range 270-400 miles depending on conditions.
Orange Skies Electronics CP Aerial Radar and EW Platform, Range 190-290 miles depending on conditions.
AUCM 2006P2 Onboard Quantum Computer, Programming Classified
BFS Systems Paladin Integrated Defensive Anti-Missile System

The B-3 Cataphract is the unmanned replacement to the Gunslinger as the Front Range's primary strategic bomber. The airframe is an outgrowth of the previous program, resulting in a high wingspan-to-length ratio. Most of the weight reduction is the removal of the cockpit, and the aircraft's ordinanace load is unaffected.

The B-3's speed and EW capabilites are even superior to those of the B-7, although the increase in cost is commiserate. Additionally, the lack of a pilot makes the aircraft able to press home literally suicidal attacks with no casualties. Both the design and these tactics were proven over Ralkovia in 2010.

E-11 Ponderosa Electronic Warfare Platform

Crew : 3 flight, 16-20 EW personnel
Length : 136'5"
Wingspan : 136'4"
Empty Weight : 81.5t
Normal Weight : 154t
Maximum Take-off Weight : 160t
Propulsion : Four CA1982LBTF Engines
Thrust-to-Weight-Ratio : 0.48-to-1
Cruising Speed : 420 knots
Max. Speed : 500 knots
Ceiling : 50,000 feet
Combat Radius : 4,500 nmi
Ferry Range : 10,000 nmi (assumes full load of drop tanks)
Mission Ready Rate : 81%
Radar Cross-Section : Very Large.
Armament : None.
Avionics :
BFS LDR Integrated Onboard Radar & Electronic Warfare System, Range 300-450 miles depending on conditions.
Shields Information Systems 2003E Onboard Computer, Programming Classified (Earlier flights have less computing power)

The E-11 Ponderosa is the primary EW platform of the FRAF (and in also used in limited numbers at FRN shore installations). It has been in service nearly 30 years, with the software and radar have been constantly upgraded. It serves both as distant EW support for combat formations and as an early warning aircraft.

E-17 Aspen Electronic Warfare Platform

Crew : 2 flight, 16-20 EW personnel
Length : 108'2"
Wingspan : 98'5"
Empty Weight : 24.5t
Normal Weight : 28t
Maximum Take-off Weight : 46t
Propulsion : Two CA1984LBTF-P Engines
Thrust-to-Weight-Ratio : 0.44-to-1
Cruising Speed : 280 knots
Max. Speed : 420 knots
Ceiling : 40,000 feet
Combat Radius : 500 nmi
Ferry Range : 3,000 nmi (assumes full load of drop tanks)
Mission Ready Rate : 77%
Radar Cross-Section : Large.
Armament : None.
Avionics :
BFS BCD Integrated Onboard Radar & Electronic Warfare System, Range 300-450 miles depending on conditions.
Shields Information Systems 2003E Onboard Computer, Programming Classified (Earlier flights have less computing power)

The E-17 Aspen is an electronic warfare platform built on the Condor airframe, and is the largest aircraft capable of operating from a standard FRN fleet carrier. The engines are somewhat overpowered for the airframe size to get it off the deck without a heavy headwind, which also accounts for the fairly high speed (and lower ready rate).

The E-17 is also surprisingly popular with the FRAF, which appreciates the reduced cost relative to the four-engine Ponderosa for some missions.

F-71 Kestrel Interceptor

Crew : 0
Length : 57'4"
Wingspan : 32'8"
Empty Weight : 12.4t
Normal Weight : 22.4t
Maximum Take-off Weight : 35.5t
Propulsion : Single CA2009LBTF/R Engine
Thrust-to-Weight-Ratio : 1.23-to-1
Supercruise : 1300 knots
Max. Speed : 1785 knots
Ceiling : 88,000 feet
Combat Radius : 350 nmi (can be extended with drop tanks)
Ferry Range : 1,000 nmi (assumes full load of drop tanks)
Mission Ready Rate : 94%
Radar Cross-Section : 35 square centimeters.
Armament : Re-configurable.
Four external magnetic hardpoints, capacity 16,000 lb.
Nose 20mm cannon.
Avionics :
V&R Systems BHR12 Blended Radar Detection System, Range 300-370 miles depending on conditions.
Orange Skies Electronics BC2 Aerial Multi-Target Radar and EW Platform, Range 180-245 miles depending on conditions.
AUCM 2006P2 Onboard Quantum Computer, Programming Classified
BFS Systems Red Claw Integrated Anti-Missile System

The Kestrel is a relatively new addition to the Front Range arsenal, part of the new generation of unmanned aircraft that includes the Dragonslayer and Cataphract. It is a high speed bomber interceptor, a role the Front Range did not see a need for prior to détente with Ilocana. Until that time, FRAF defensive doctrine held that enemy bomber formations were likely to be escorted and should be engaged by standard air superiority craft; with peace with Ilocana, the threat of bombers attacking from within fighter range vanished.

The Kestrel is a bare bones platform to accomplish its job. It can take off fast, move in a hurry, and packs an air-to-air punch, although lacks the ammo for sustained engagements. Onboard EW systems are more than adequate to deal with most defensive jammers. The small size and (relatively) simple systems make the F-71 fairly economical.

A-11 Condor Sub-Hunter Aircraft

Crew : 2 flight, 8-14 EW personnel
Length : 108'2"
Wingspan : 98'5"
Empty Weight : 24.5t
Normal Weight : 44t
Maximum Take-off Weight : 46t
Propulsion : Two CA1984LBTF-P Engines
Thrust-to-Weight-Ratio : 0.44-to-1
Cruising Speed : 280 knots
Max. Speed : 420 knots
Ceiling : 40,000 feet
Combat Radius : 500 nmi
Ferry Range : 3,000 nmi (assumes full load of drop tanks)
Mission Ready Rate : 77%
Radar Cross-Section : Large.
Armament : None.
Avionics :
V&R Systems K15 Radar Detection Aerial, Range 50-100 miles depending on conditions.
Orange Skies Electronics FH Aerial Radar, Range 100-180 miles depending on conditions.
Shields Information Systems 1983S Onboard Computer, Programming Classified
Cheyenne Aeronautics Eclipse Defensive EW & Decoys System
NNC Gwanji Magnetic Submarine Detection System

The A-11 Condor is the primary fixed-wing ASW aircraft of the Front Range Navy, and is not actually operated by the Front Range Air Force. It used primarily used for long-range patrols, with short range duties being handled by helicopters. The same airframe is used for the Aspen EW platform.

C-77 Mule Strategic Transport Aircraft

Crew : 4
Length : 122'3"
Wingspan : 188'10"
Empty Weight : 98.5t
Normal Weight : 154.5t
Maximum Take-off Weight : 204t
Propulsion : Four OS1976P Engines
Thrust-to-Weight-Ratio : 0.56-to-1
Cruising Speed : 400 knots
Max. Speed : 500 knots
Ceiling : 40,000 feet
Range : 2,400 nmi (can be extended with drop tanks)
Ferry Range : 5,000 nmi (assumes full load of drop tanks)
Mission Ready Rate : 92%
Radar Cross-Section : Very Large.
Armament : Normal Carrying Capacity 40.7t, Maximum Carrying Capacity 60.5t.
Avionics :
V&R Systems K15 Radar Detection Aerial, Range 50-100 miles depending on conditions.
Orange Skies Electronics FH Aerial Radar, Range 100-180 miles depending on conditions.
Cheyenne Aeronautics Anti-Missile Flares

The C-77 Mule is the standard transport aircraft used by all Front Range military branches. An older design, but still very efficient at what it does.

T-82 Ranger Tanker

Crew : 3
Length : 136'5"
Wingspan : 136'4"
Empty Weight : 81.5t
Normal Weight : 190t
Maximum Take-off Weight : 245t
Propulsion : Four CA1981LBTF Engines
Thrust-to-Weight-Ratio : 0.44-to-1
Cruising Speed : 500 knots
Max. Speed : 550 knots
Ceiling : 50,000 feet
Combat Radius : 1,500 nmi (can be extended by tapping refueling tanks)
Ferry Range : 12,000 nmi (assumes full load of drop tanks)
Mission Ready Rate : 88%
Radar Cross-Section : Very Large.
Armament : None.
Avionics :
V&R Systems K15 Radar Detection Aerial, Range 50-100 miles depending on conditions.
Orange Skies Electronics FH Aerial Radar, Range 100-180 miles depending on conditions.
Shields Information Systems 1981T Onboard Computer, Programming Classified
Cheyenne Aeronautics Anti-Missile Flares

The T-82 Ranger, built on a heavier version of the E-11 airframe (and entering service first). In can be used to extend the operational range of any aircraft in the FRAF arsenal.

Nuclear Arsenal

"...as the planes climbed high into the night
to light the sacrificial rite
I saw Satan laughing with delight
the day the music died..."
-- Don McLean, "American Pie"

The mission of the Front Range's nuclear arsenal is to ensure by its existence that (1) The Front Range Republic will maintain her independence and (2) The nuclear arsenal will never have to be used. This is based on the traditional principle of MAD.

The exact number, range, and capability of the Front Range's nuclear arsenal is classified, with the only "real" information available being the official government position that it is "more than adequate". Third party estimates based on military expenditures (and known factors, such as the number of SSBNs in commission) conclude that it is adequate to take any conceivable first strike and still have enough firepower to glass any nation on the face of the Earth. Some information about delivery systems is known.

Ground-Based Silos

The Front Range is known to have thousands of these in remote locations within her borders. Some locations are known, although it is also well known that some are not. Most are located in clusters in either the plains states or mountain regions; non-governmental estimates conclude than 10-40% of all Nature Preserves (a sub-category of national parks that are off limits to personnel unauthorized by the government; usually scientists and state wildlife personnel only in those used for their official purpose) host military silo complexes.

All publicly known silos are hardened against local blast effects - including nuclear near misses and EMPs - and are designed to require a direct hit from a "bunker buster" style munition to take off-line. The (believed) current most common missile type is the Reciprocity VII, a two-stage ICBM capable of delivering a payload anywhere on earth.

Bombers

Any aircraft of the FRAF capable of carrying conventional medium-to-heavy bombs or missiles is also capable of carrying nuclear missiles or bombs. These range from tactical to strategic in warhead size.

ICBM Submarines

As noted in the naval section, the Front Range has 31 SSBNs, each carrying Reciprocity VIIs ICBMs. These are of equivalent warhead size to their land-based brethren and are also capable of hitting anywhere on the planet. The missiles themselves are, however, somewhat smaller and more expensive.

Other Naval

Most Front Range naval vessels on deployment, including all carrier groups, have approximately 5% of their arsenal space devoted to nuclear cruise missiles. These are never to be used except when authorized from the highest levels of the government or in the event any enemy forces uses WMDs against the FRN.

Moon Base

There are persistent rumors of nuclear weapons cached at the Front Range's moon base, either Reciprocity VIIs or a "Reciprocity VIII", which is usually ascribed comically exaggerated capabilities. Exactly why the Front Range would need missiles here is usually not explained.

Front Range Military Intelligence

"The first step in the defense of liberty is to realize she is in danger." -- President John L. Lee, in a 1930 campaign speech

F.R.M.I. is a semi-independent branch of the Front Range military and is the primary intelligence service of the Front Range (there is a civilian counterpart, the Foreign Intelligence Department, but it is far smaller and, critics say, only exists to keep an eye on F.R.M.I.). It is staffed by intelligence officers from all three branches, as well as a fair proportion of civilian employees, and usually commanded by a three or four star general. Historically, Commander F.R.M.I. has been an Air Force officer about 70% of the time.

F.R.M.I. excels at SIGINT, communications analysis, and other forms of electronic information gathering and cyberwarfare. It is considered considerably weaker in "boots on the ground" type intelligence. F.R.M.I. senior officers have repeatedly complained over the course of the branch's existence that official standing Front Range policy against using embassies in foreign countries for intelligence gathering handicaps them unnecessarily. Of course, many third party sources believe this official policy and the protests against it are just smoke.

[Mount Shavano]

RESERVED FOR CULTURE

[Mount Shavano]

List of all Front Range capital ships, past, present, and known future (possibly outdated):

The Four Original Cruisers
Antero class protected cruisers


The Antero class was discovered already in place at the time of the Transition. They were excellently balanced and built ships, and gave quality service to the Front Range until after the turn of the century.

Displacement: 4,746 tons
Length: 322 ft
Beam: 49 ft 6 in
Draft: 19 ft 3 in
Propulsion: vertical triple-expansion steam engine, coal-fired, 2 × screw propellers
Speed: 18 knots
Range: 16,000 nmi
Complement: 392 officers and men
Armament:
6 × 8"/35 guns in single turrets.
10 × 5"/35 guns in single turrets.
Many light weapons.
Armor:
0-5 in belt and deck, generally adequate for their class and era

SNS Antero (1876)
SNS Shavano (1876)
SNS Tabeguache (1876)
SNS Ouray (1876)

Battleships

Flamborough Head class "Inland Sea Battleships"


The Flamborough Head was a very odd design for her time, with essentially modern concepts of naval warfare applied to an industrial base from the 1870s. Secondary armament was dispensed with, allowing eight 10 inch weapons in four superfiring twins, and the relatively light armor distributed on an "all or nothing" scheme designed for long range engagements. Clipper bows and lattice masts, long to be features of Front Range capital ships, were introduced here as well. While well designed and of high quality manufacture, the ships were not well balanced, with total weight of armor being light, speed being low, and the top-heavy ships being poor sea boats. While they were more than adequate for their designed mission of maintaining the security of Front Range ports on the Interior Seaway, they likely would have performed poorly deployed in rough weather in the open ocean; this was recognized by foreign navies, who derisively termed them "whalers". Some units remained in service as auxiliaries and training ships until after the Pan-Laurasian War.

Displacement: 9,183 tons
Length: 381 ft
Beam: 69 ft 9 in
Draft: 24 ft 3 in
Propulsion: coal fired steam engines, 2 × screw propellers
Speed: 18 knots
Range: 4,000 nmi
Complement: 382 officers and men
Armament:
8 × 10"/40 guns in superfiring, centerline twin turrets.
10 × 5"/45 guns in single turrets.
Many light weapons.
Armor:
0-15 in belt, 0-4 in deck, generally weak for dreadnought battleships

SNS Flamborough Head (1879)
SNS Chesapeake (1880)
SNS Nile (1881)
SNS Trafalgar (1882)
SNS Tsushima (1883)
SNS Midway (1884)
SNS Philippine Sea (1885)
SNS Leyte Gulf (1886)
SNS Lissa (1887)
SNS Hampton Roads (1888)

Bronco class dreadnoughts


The Broncos were so named because their designer, seeking a name that reflected Western pride, decided to addend to that requirement to also indicate the anticipated rough rides in heavy seas these ships would give their crews. Coming after twelve years of White presidency and correspondingly reduced naval budgets, they were intended to give the Navy units equivalent in combat to the Flamborough Heads but capable of being deployed overseas. While the design goals were achieved, the Broncos are rarely regarded as complete successes; they were very wet ships, and developments reduced them to second class ships within a few years of commissioning. Ironically for ships that had been intended to project power overseas, they spent most of their carrers operating with the Interior Seaway Fleet. Notably, they were among the earliest oil-fired warships anywhere in the world.

Displacement: 14,153 tons
Length: 444 ft
Beam: 81 ft 3 in
Draft: 24 ft
Propulsion: oil fired turbines, 2 × screw propellers
Speed: 18 knots
Range: 9,000 nmi
Complement: 511 officers and men
Armament:
8 × 10"/40 guns in superfiring, centerline twin turrets.
10 × 5"/45 guns in single turrets.
Many light weapons.
Armor:
0-15 in belt, 0-4 in deck, generally weak for dreadnought battleships

SNS Bronco (1902)
SNS Mustang (1903)

Dauntless class first generation dreadnoughts


The Dauntless class "Gun Tubs" can be regarded as the Front Range's answer to other nation's first generation of dreadnoughts. In them the general characteristics of all pre-1921 Front Range battleships would be set. Features included superfiring turrets, fore and aft (12 inch twins in this class), excellent protection on the "all or nothing" scheme, excellent operational radii, oil powered turbo-electric engines, a tight turning radius, low speed, and a dramatic profile with white paint schemes, clipper bows, and lattice masts. Dauntless and her sisters remained questionable sea boats like their predecessors, but were fully capable of long deployments. All ships of this class gave good service, in spite of being tactically outmatched by larger, later designs before the wars of the 1910s began to heat up worldwide.

Displacement: 21,769 tons
Length: 517 ft
Beam: 92 ft 6 in
Draft: 26 ft 6 in
Propulsion: oil fired turbo-electric drive, 2 × screw propellers
Speed: 21 knots
Range: 11,000 nmi
Complement: 712 officers and men
Armament:
8 × 12"/45 guns in superfiring, centerline twin turrets.
12 × 5"/50 guns in single turrets.
Many light weapons.
Armor:
0-12 in belt, 0-4 in deck, generally adequate for dreadnought battleships

SNS Dauntless (1906)
SNS Avenger (1906)
SNS Thunderbolt (1908)
SNS Avalanche (1908)

Seawolf class battlecruisers


The Seawolf type was closely related to the Dauntless battleships. Recognizing the need for a ship capable of exercising control of the seas, in a era where the armored cruiser was clearly obsolete, the Seawolves departed from conventional worldwide battlecruiser practice in significant ways. Rather than increasing the armarment, it was frozen at the same level as the preceding class even as displacement increased by about a third to accommodate higher speed without sacrificing protection. Thus, the ships could in an emergency have stood in the line-of-battle. Both were very useful due to their high speed, although among the Navy brass and the public they were never considered the equal of their battleship cousins in spite of being equivalent or superior to them in every respect. Among sailors the story was quite different, as these were the first true Front Range capital ships *not* to have trouble with roll in heavy seas. They gave good service into the Pan-Laurasian War.

Displacement: 28,777 tons
Length: 678 ft
Beam: 92 ft 6 in
Draft: 28 ft 9 in
Propulsion: oil fired turbo-electric drive, 4 × screw propellers
Speed: 27 knots
Range: 11,500 nmi
Complement: 953 officers and men
Armament:
8 × 12"/45 guns in superfiring, centerline twin turrets.
12 × 5"/50 guns in single turrets.
Many light weapons.
Armor:
0-12 in belt, 0-4 in deck, generally adequate for dreadnought battleships

SNS Seawolf (1909)
SNS Red River (1910)

Atropos class first generation dreadnoughts


The Atropos were the second class of Front Range dreadnought, being for the most part slightly enlarged Dauntlesses with the twin 12" turret replaced by triples. Concerns over the increased size of rival foreign battleships being laid down between the first and second duos of Atropos led to the cancellation of the fourth unit (Sutherland) before her keel was laid, with the money saved eventually providing most funding for Apache. Nevertheless, the Atropos proved to be quite successful ships. Trouble with roll still existed, as in the Dauntlesses, but was not as severe.

Displacement: 24,552 tons
Length: 527 ft 6 in
Beam: 94 ft 3 in
Draft: 27 ft 3 in
Propulsion: oil fired turbo-electric drive, 2 × screw propellers
Speed: 21 knots
Range: 11,500 nmi
Complement: 763 officers and men
Armament:
12 × 12"/50 guns in superfiring, centerline triple turrets.
12 × 5"/50 guns in single turrets.
Many light weapons.
Armor:
0-12 in belt, 0-4 in deck, generally adequate for dreadnought battleships

SNS Atropos (1910)
SNS Revenge (1910)
SNS Kinnison (1911)

Argo class second generation dreadnoughts


The Argo class was the first pair of second-generation dreadnoughts of the Front Range Navy. They had a greater length to beam ratio than the preceding Dauntlesses, improved protection, and were up-gunned to twin 14 inch turrets, fore and aft (a repeat of the triple 12 inchers of the Atropos had been considered and, probably wisely, rejected). The Argos also introduced a sophisticated torpedo defense system that was many years ahead of its time, which would continue on to be a feature of later Front Range dreadnoughts. With their sisters, they formed the Second Battle Division and would be considered frontline units for nearly three decades.

Displacement: 28,573 tons
Length: 592 ft
Beam: 89 ft 9 in
Draft: 28 ft 6 in
Propulsion: oil fired turbo-electric drive, 4 × screw propellers
Speed: 21 knots
Range: 12,000 nmi
Complement: 871 officers and men
Armament:
8 × 14"/45 guns in superfiring, centerline twin turrets.
16 × 5"/50 guns in single turrets.
Many light weapons.
Armor:
0-14 in belt, 0-4 in deck, generally very good for dreadnought battleships

SNS Argo (1912)
SNS Lydia (1913)

Apache type battlecruiser


Designed to play to the same role to the Argos the Seawolves had played to the Dauntlesses, the Apache was a fine ship with high speed, strong armament, and good protection. Like all Front Range battlecruisers, "lucky" Apache was quite capable of standing in the line of battle and fully equal or superior in all respects to her battleship cousins, but not seen as equal in prestige by the high command nor the Front Range as a whole. A potential sister, designated Comanche, was never ordered due to lack of funds.

Displacement: 31,112 tons
Length: 736 ft
Beam: 99 ft 9 in
Draft: 28 ft 6 in
Propulsion: oil fired turbo-electric drive, 4 × screw propellers
Speed: 27 knots
Range: 12,500 nmi
Complement: 1,035 officers and men
Armament:
8 × 14"/45 guns in superfiring, centerline twin turrets.
16 × 5"/50 guns in single turrets.
Many light weapons.
Armor:
0-14 in belt, 0-4 in deck, generally very good for dreadnought battleships

SNS Apache (1914)

Nautilus class second generation dreadnoughts


The Nautilus and her sister Thunderchild (sometimes Thunder Child) were a follow on pair of "near sisters" to the Argos. They incorporated significantly increased protection over their already robust siblings, slight improvements in the TDS, and improved machinery to be able to match the Argos speed.

Displacement: 30,688 tons
Length: 603 ft
Beam: 90 ft 6 in
Draft: 29 ft 6 in
Propulsion: oil fired turbo-electric drive, 4 × screw propellers
Speed: 21 knots
Range: 12,000 nmi
Complement: 899 officers and men
Armament:
8 × 14"/45 guns in superfiring, centerline twin turrets.
16 × 5"/50 guns in single turrets.
Many light weapons.
Armor:
0-16 in belt, 0-4 in deck, generally excellent for dreadnought battleships

SNS Nautilus (1914)
SNS Thunderchild (1914)

Timnath Serah type third generation dreadnoughts


Known as the Timnath Serah type in the literature spite of the name ship being second in the order, this pair were enlarged relatives of the preceding Argo/Nautilus type ships. The principal difference was the increase in armarment from twin to triple 14 inch turrets; the armor was much heavier in weight than the preceding classes but was spread over a larger hull, resulting in an approximate wash in protection level. Timnath Serah and Invincible both led very active and successful careers.

Displacement: 35,104 tons
Length: 651 ft
Beam: 96 ft 9 in
Draft: 32 ft 9 in
Propulsion: oil fired turbo-electric drive, 4 × screw propellers
Speed: 21 knots
Range: 14,000 nmi
Complement: 1071 officers and men
Armament:
12 × 14"/50 guns in superfiring, centerline triple turrets.
16 × 5"/50 guns in single turrets.
Many light weapons.
Armor:
0-16 in belt, 0-4 in deck, generally excellent for dreadnought battleships

SNS Invincible (1915)
SNS Timnath Serah (1916)

Tomahawk type battlecruiser


Tomahawk was a bit of an odd ship in the normally well organized and methodical Front Range naval expansion. Commissioned New Year's Eve 1916, she was a slightly improved version of the Apache, commissioned before she was even laid down. Tomahawk was the result of a budget surplus after the ordering of the Timnath Serahs and a desire to have a fourth fast unit to bring the battlecruiser forces up to division strength. Never well liked by the brass, she put in a solid career, considering her "outdated on commissioning" reputation; a sister, provisionally Brave, was never ordered, due to a combination of lack of funding and lack of enthusiasm for the design.

Displacement: 33,112 tons
Length: 746 ft
Beam: 100 ft 3 in
Draft: 28 ft 9 in
Propulsion: oil fired turbo-electric drive, 4 × screw propellers
Speed: 27 knots
Range: 14,000 nmi
Complement: 1,146 officers and men
Armament:
8 × 14"/50 guns in superfiring, centerline twin turrets.
16 × 5"/50 guns in single turrets.
Many light weapons.
Armor:
0-14 in belt, 0-4 in deck, generally very good for dreadnought battleships

SNS Tomahawk (1917)

Saint George type third generation dreadnought


The Saint George was the product of a divided naval design board when the 7th duo of Front Range dreadnoughts was being laid down. The board basically split into two factions; one advocated higher speed to match new foreign construction, while the other maintained that the 21 knot speed was adequate for the battleship's designed mission and pushed for an up-gunned design to follow the Timnath Serahs. Saint George was the baby of the speed faction, although at the last minute the gun faction gained ascendancy and recast the design to exhibit only a modest increase in speed in exchange for no loss in protection. Saint George spent the majority of career operating in concert with the slower battleline, so her increased speed did her little good. Nonetheless, she was a good ship, well armed and very well protected. It should be noted that the apparent oddity of this name on a ship belonging to a nation neither given to veneration of saints nor of English heritage is a result of the finest battleships of the rival Ilocanan Navy being designated the Dragon class; apparently, it was good propaganda to respond by naming a ship after history's most famous dragon-slayer.

Displacement: 42,695 tons
Length: 731 ft
Beam: 108 ft 6 in
Draft: 34 ft 3 in
Propulsion: oil fired turbo-electric drive, 4 × screw propellers
Speed: 24 knots
Range: 15,000 nmi
Complement: 1261 officers and men
Armament:
8 × 16"/45 guns in superfiring, centerline twin turrets.
16 × 5"/50 guns in single turrets.
Many light weapons.
Armor:
0-17 in belt, 0-5 in deck, generally excellent for a dreadnought battleship

SNS Saint George (1918)

Conqueror class third generation dreadnoughts


Saint George's "sister-in-law", Conqueror was the ship the gun faction really wanted. Forty-five thousand tons of steel, twelve heavy sixteen inch guns, and world-standard protection made her the ultimate Front Range battleline ship. She served well her assigned duty, but as perhaps expected did not excel as the paradigm of warfare moved away from the battleline. Still, no one has ever suggested that the Navy regretted building her. A sister was ordered as part of the next year's building program, to bring the FRN up closer to the proposed treaty tonnage, bring the number of ships up to allow standardized divisions, and avoid appearences of favoritism towards the Navato shipyard that had been given Constellation. There was later considerable criticism for not upgunning La Mancha to twin 18"s in place of Conqueror's triple 16"s, but the FRN does not appear to have ever seriously considered this.

Displacement: 46,968 tons
Length: 711 ft
Beam: 112 ft 6 in
Draft: 36 ft
Propulsion: oil fired turbo-electric drive, 4 × screw propellers
Speed: 21 knots
Range: 14,100 nmi
Complement: 1314 officers and men
Armament:
12 × 16"/50 guns in superfiring, centerline triple turrets.
16 × 5"/50 guns in single turrets.
Many light weapons.
Armor:
0-17 in belt, 0-5 in deck, generally excellent for a dreadnought battleship

SNS Conqueror (1919)
SNS La Mancha (1921)

Constellation type battlecruiser


The Constellation was an oddity in a navy that favored the gun and the armor plate over the engine for their ships. The result of a quirk in a naval treaty allowing each nation a single "fast battlecruiser" of new construction, she was not well loved at conception by the brass, although her high speed and big guns made for an excellent public relations piece. Her reputation was a little unfair; although she was fast she gained her speed through powerful machinery and not at expense of protection. In fact, she was as well armored as the Conqueror or Saint George. The biggest ship in the Front Range Navy for sixteen years, she gave excellent service during and before the Pan-Laurasian War. It should be noted that in spite of her large size, excellent armor, and big guns FRN doctrine always treated her as an ultimate cruiser rather than a true battleship, and she would never have been placed in the line of battle except in dire straits.

Displacement: 49,793 tons
Length: 898 ft
Beam: 108 ft 3 in
Draft: 32 ft
Propulsion: oil fired turbo-electric drive, 4 × screw propellers
Speed: 33 knots
Range: 16,000 nmi
Complement: 1701 officers and men
Armament:
8 × 16"/50 guns in superfiring, centerline twin turrets.
16 × 5"/50 guns in single turrets.
Many light weapons.
Armor:
0-16 in belt, 0-5 in deck, generally excellent for a dreadnought battleship

SNS Constellation (1920)

Silver Dawn type fast battleship


The Herald of the Silver Dawn was a very controversial unit. Commissioned in 1936, right as the Pan-Laurasian War broke out, she was derided by many observers as a "vanity ship", noting that the Front Range could have had another of the fine Centennial class carriers for the money, time, effort, and dock space spent on her. Moreover, she was not often allowed to unleash her awesome armament on suitable targets, being mostly employed as a carrier escort, a task she barely possessed the speed for. Still, concerns about battleships vs. carriers aside, she was a fine ship. Carrying a dozen new-model 16 inch weapons, heretofore undreamed of protection, excellent AA batteries, and still capable of fleet speed, she made a fine showpiece and performed well in all roles assigned to her, regardless of opinions on whether her astronomical price tag was worth it.

Displacement: 65,488 tons
Length: 915 ft
Beam: 124 ft 9 in
Draft: 35 ft 6 in
Propulsion: oil fired boilers, 4 × screw propellers
Speed: 28 knots
Range: 19,000 nmi
Complement: 2853 officers and men
Armament:
12 × 16"/50 guns in superfiring, centerline twin turrets.
24 × 5"/50 D.P. guns in twin turrets.
Many, many light weapons.
Armor:
0-18 in belt, 0-6 in deck, generally outstanding for a fast battleship

SNS Silver Dawn (1936)

Fleet Aircraft Carriers

Freedom class carriers


The initial trio of Front Range fleet carriers, these excellent ships formed the backbone of "real" Front Range naval power for nearly a decade and demonstrated just how much the foreknowledge left from the Event helped the Front Range to the forefront of this type of warfare. Freedom and her sisters were fleet carriers of typical size. The hangar deck was the strength deck, allowing three large elevators, excellent working conditions and large air complements. Speed was high, turning radii tight, antiaircraft batteries heavy and accurate, and operational radii long. Command facilities were more than adequate for managing air groups and task forces. These should be regarded as possibly the best ships the Front Range ever produced. The last was not retired until the 1960s; Freedom herself is today a museum ship in Harbor Grove.

Displacement: 26,305 tons
Length: 824 ft
Beam: 109 ft 9 in
Draft: 25 ft 6 in
Propulsion: oil fired boilers, 4 × screw propellers
Speed: 34 knots
Range: 16,000 nmi
Complement: 2412 officers and men
Armament:
8 × 5"/50 D.P. guns in twin turrets.
20 x 3"/45 D.P. guns in twin turrets.
Many, many light weapons.
Armor:
0-4 in belt, 0-2 in hangar deck, generally mediocre for a fleet carrier

SNS Freedom (1927)
SNS Independence (1928)
SNS Liberty (1930)

Improved Freedom class carriers


A follow on-trioka of Freedoms authorized when war seemed imminent. They were largely similar to their sisters, with improved AA and slightly improved command facilities (a standard to which the older ships were generally refitted to before the breakout of war).

Displacement: 26,305 tons
Length: 824 ft
Beam: 109 ft 9 in
Draft: 25 ft 6 in
Propulsion: oil fired boilers, 4 × screw propellers
Speed: 34 knots
Range: 16,000 nmi
Complement: 2452 officers and men
Armament:
90 aircraft
8 × 5"/50 D.P. guns in twin turrets.
20 x 3"/45 D.P. guns in twin turrets.
Many, many light weapons.
Armor:
0-4 in belt, 0-2 in hangar deck, generally mediocre for a fleet carrier

SNS Faith (1937)
SNS Honor (1938)
SNS Patriotism (1938)

Centennial class battlecruiser conversions*


The Centennials were a class of "12 inch battlecruisers" laid down as tensions rose around Laurasia in the mid-to-late thirties. In that form, they would have had mediocre gunpower and weak armor, but extremely high speed and a fine hull form. In the event that actually transpired, they were finished as large, fast carriers, which modern scholarship insists was intended from the start. Smaller than the Freedom class, and with an unfortunate tendency to suffer excessive engine damage when hit by torpedoes, they were nonetheless excellent ships that acquitted themselves well during the war.

SNS Centennial (1937)
SNS Big Sky (1937)
SNS Four Corners (1937)
SNS Silverwing (1937)
SNS Lone Star (1937)
SNS Gem of the Mountains (1938)
SNS Grand Canyon (1938)
SNS Enchantment (1938)
SNS Elevation (1938)
SNS Cowboy (1939)

Displacement: 22,266 tons
Length: 789 ft
Beam: 104 ft 2 in
Draft: 24 ft 9 in
Propulsion: oil fired boilers, 4 × screw propellers
Speed: 36 knots
Range: 14,000 nmi
Complement: 2048 officers and men
Armament:
80 aircraft
8 × 5"/50 D.P. guns in twin turrets.
20 x 3"/45 D.P. guns in twin turrets.
Many, many light weapons.
Armor:
0-4 in belt, 0-2 in hangar deck, generally mediocre for a fleet carrier

One-off conventional angle-deck carrier


The Bonhomme Richard (or Bon Homme Richard) was an experimental carrier based on the Freedom class with an angled deck to allow faster and more efficient air operations. She was an unmitigated success, and the survivors of the two previous classes were refitted with such decks post-war.

Displacement: 37,421 tons
Length: 824 ft
Beam: 161 ft 6 in
Draft: 28 ft 9 in
Propulsion: oil fired boilers, 4 × screw propellers
Speed: 32 knots
Range: 16,000 nmi
Complement: 2973 officers and men
Armament:
90 aircraft
8 × 5"/50 D.P. guns in twin turrets.
20 x 3"/45 D.P. guns in twin turrets.
Many, many light weapons.
Armor:
0-4 in belt, 0-2 in hangar deck, generally mediocre for a fleet carrier

SNS Bonhomme Richard (1938) inspiration

One-off nuclear carriers
[artwork pending]

SNS Pike's Peak (1957-2008, 2011)
SNS Tabeguache (1961)
SNS Ouray (1964)
SNS Shavano (1969)
SNS Monarch (1973)
SNS Uncompahgre (1977)
SNS Antero (1980)
SNS Crestone (1985)
SNS San Juan (1989)
SNS Sangre de Cristo (1992)
SNS San Luis (1996)
SNS Cochetopa (2000)
SNS Saguache (2004)
SNS San Isabel (2008)
SNS Dinosaur (to be commissioned 2012)

Ex-Ilocanan nuclear carriers brought into Front Range service when the L.A. formed
[artwork pending]

SNS Roc (1977, 2011)
SNS Dragon (1979, 2011)

Improved San Isabel-type carriers built as part of the L.A. Naval Expansion
[artwork pending]

SNS Freedom (2011)
SNS Liberty (2011)
SNS Independence (2011)
SNS Nautilus (2011)
SNS Argo (2011)
SNS Thunderchild (2011)

*Documents declassified in the 1980s suggest these ships were planned as carriers from the keel up, and the "battlecruiser" design was a fiction designed to throw off foreign naval intelligence agencies.

Misc. non-Capital Front Range ship classes:

"Treaty" Heavy Cruisers

Altispinax class heavy cruisers


Following the naval treaties that ended the "dreadnought" era, the upper size limit placed on non-battleship units was 10,000 tons and 8 inch guns. The Front Range Navy worked wonders in designing capable units that fit within those restrictions (rather than ignoring or creatively re-interpreting them as did some parties) but still wound up with ships unit for unit inferior to those of the treaty-flaunting members of the opposition. The Altispinax was the first of these classes, and mostly set the pattern for the following designs. She carried a heavy gun armament of ten 8 inchers, typical armor for the treaty cruiser category (that is, not enough), strong AA, and no torpedoes. Her speed was a relatively tame 30 knots, but her operational radius was excellent, which planners in the Navy thought more important. These ships gave good service during their careers.

Displacement: 9,905 tons
Length: 576 ft 9 in
Beam: 63 ft 9 in
Draft: 15 ft
Propulsion: oil fired boilers, 4 × screw propellers
Speed: 30 knots
Range: 14,000 nmi
Complement: 644 officers and men
Armament:
10 × 8"/50 guns in superfiring, centerline turrets, a twin and a triple fore and a twin and a triple aft.
12 × 5"/50 D.P. guns in twin turrets.
Many light weapons.
Armor:
0-3 in belt, 0-3 in deck, generally typical for a treaty cruiser

SNS Altispinax (1927)
SNS Lyra (1927)
SNS Orion (1928)
SNS Diamondback (1928)
SNS Crusader (1929)

Excalibur class heavy cruisers


The Excaliburs were based on the preceding Altispinax class, with the triples reduced to twins and the weight saved used to mount eight torpedo tubes. It was believed that, in general, the state of torpedo protection on older battleships was very poor, allowing these ships to fight them in an emergency (preferably at night). They still retained enough gun armament to be formidable opponents to other treaty cruisers.

Displacement: 9,848 tons
Length: 576 ft 9 in
Beam: 62 ft 9 in
Draft: 15 ft
Propulsion: oil fired boilers, 4 × screw propellers
Speed: 30 knots
Range: 14,000 nmi
Complement: 642 officers and men
Armament:
8 × 8"/50 guns in superfiring, centerline twin turrets.
8 x 21" torpedo tubes (4 starboard, 4 port).
12 × 5"/50 D.P. guns in twin turrets.
Many light weapons.
Armor:
0-3 in belt, 0-3 in deck, generally typical for a treaty cruiser

SNS Excalibur (1930)
SNS Constitution (1930)
SNS Midnight (1931)
SNS Sparta (1931)
SNS Cataphract (1932)
SNS Dragonchild (1932)

Avalon Hill class heavy cruisers


The Avalon Hills took the design of the preceding Excaliburs and removed the third turret to free up space and weight for additional anti-aircraft batteries. They retained the torpedoes, and the reduced weight also allowed an increased speed to allow them to better maintain station with carrier groups.

Displacement: 9,615 tons
Length: 576 ft 9 in
Beam: 62 ft 9 in
Draft: 15 ft
Propulsion: oil fired boilers, 4 × screw propellers
Speed: 33 knots
Range: 14,000 nmi
Complement: 664 officers and men
Armament:
6 × 8"/50 guns in superfiring, centerline twin turrets, two fore and one aft.
8 x 21" torpedo tubes (4 starboard, 4 port).
16 × 5"/50 D.P. guns in twin turrets.
Many light weapons.
Armor:
0-3 in belt, 0-3 in deck, generally typical for a treaty cruiser

SNS Avalon Hill (1933)
SNS Red Rocks (1933)
SNS Amarillo (1934)
SNS Rio Grande (1934)
SNS San Jacinto (1935)
SNS Thunderhead (1935)

Minuteman class heavy cruisers


These were essentially a follow on flight of Avalon Hills built as war clouds loomed to beef up the cruiser force. The torpedo tubes added in the Excaliburs were removed in favor of more light AA. All served well during the war.

Displacement: 9,764 tons
Length: 576 ft 9 in
Beam: 62 ft 9 in
Draft: 15 ft
Propulsion: oil fired boilers, 4 × screw propellers
Speed: 33 knots
Range: 14,000 nmi
Complement: 676 officers and men
Armament:
6 × 8"/50 guns in superfiring, centerline twin turrets, two fore and one aft.
16 × 5"/50 D.P. guns in twin turrets.
Many light weapons.
Armor:
0-3 in belt, 0-3 in deck, generally typical for a treaty cruiser

SNS Minuteman (1936)
SNS Battle Cry (1936)
SNS Rebel Yell (1937)
SNS War Whoop (1937)
SNS Monarch (1938)
SNS Hornblower (1939)

Light Cruisers

Hotspur class light cruisers


The following is typical of light Front Range cruisers of the period 1905-1925. Most classes followed this general pattern, although later ones had a superior turret arrangement.

Displacement: 5,182 tons
Length: 428 ft 6 in
Beam: 49 ft 9 in
Draft: 14 ft 9 in
Propulsion: oil fired boilers, 2 × screw propellers
Speed: 28 knots
Range: 6,000 nmi
Complement: 411 officers and men
Armament:
10 × 6"/45 guns, twin turrets fore and aft, three singles on either side.
4 x 18" torpedo tubes (amidships; can fire to either side)
8 × 5"/45 guns in single turrets.
Many light weapons.
Armor:
0-3 in belt, 0-1 in deck, generally typical for a light cruiser of the period

The Front Range had 34 CLs at one time or another during this period.

Rover class light cruisers


The following is typical of light Front Range cruisers of the period 1925-1945. Most classes followed this general pattern, except for some dedicated AA ships during the war.

Displacement: 6,162 tons
Length: 520 ft 6 in
Beam: 53 ft 9 in
Draft: 13 ft 9 in
Propulsion: oil fired boilers, 2 × screw propellers
Speed: 32 knots
Range: 10,000 nmi
Complement: 518 officers and men
Armament:
6 × 6"/50 guns in superfiring, centerline twin turrets, two fore and one aft.
4 x 21" torpedo tubes (amidships; can fire to either side)
8 × 5"/50 D.P. guns in twin turrets.
2 x depth charge racks
Many light weapons.
Armor:
0-3 in belt, 0-1 in deck, generally typical for a small light cruiser

The Front Range had 56 CLs at one time or another during this period.

Destroyers

Columbine class destroyers


The following is typical of Front Range destroyers of the period 1905-1925. Most classes followed this general pattern. Many saw continued service into the Pan-Laurasian War era; they would have been refitted with D.P. 5 inchers and 21" torpedoes.

Displacement: 1,271 tons
Length: 310 ft
Beam: 31 ft 3 in
Draft: 10 ft
Propulsion: oil fired boilers, 2 × screw propellers
Speed: 35 knots
Range: 5,000 nmi
Complement: 151 officers and men
Armament:
4 × 5"/45 guns in superfiring, centerline single turrets.
8 x 18" torpedo tubes (amidships; can fire to either side)
2 x depth charge racks
Many light weapons.
Armor:
0-2 in belt, 0-1 in deck, generally typical for a destroyer of the period

Additional names (not comprehensive) include:
SNS Edelweiss
SNS Amaranth

The Front Range generally had about 75 destroyers in operation at any time in this period.

Steller class destroyers


The following is typical of Front Range destroyers of the period 1925-1945. Most classes followed this general pattern.

Displacement: 2,115 tons
Length: 375 ft 3 in
Beam: 40 ft 9 in
Draft: 12 ft 6 in
Propulsion: oil fired boilers, 2 × screw propellers
Speed: 35 knots
Range: 6,000 nmi
Complement: 322 officers and men
Armament:
5 × 5"/50 D.P. guns in superfiring, centerline single turrets, two fore, two aft, and one amidships.
8 x 21" torpedo tubes (amidships; can fire to either side)
2 x depth charge racks
Many light weapons.
Armor:
0-2 in belt, 0-1 in deck, generally typical for a destroyer

The Front Range generally had about 225 destroyers in operation at any time in this period.

Submarines

Sagebrush class submarines


The following is typical of Front Range submarines of the period 1905-1925. Most classes followed this general pattern.

Displacement: 1,084 tons
Length: 235 ft 6 in
Beam: 19 ft
Draft: 12 ft 6 in
Propulsion: diesel engines & electric batteries, 1 × screw propeller
Speed: 17 knots surface, 8 submerged
Range: 11,500 nmi
Complement: 39 officers and men
Armament:
1 × 3"/40 deck gun
10 x 18" torpedo tubes (six fore, four aft)
Test depth: 160 feet

The Front Range generally had about 75 submarines in operation at any point in this period.

Ponderosa class submarines


The following is typical of Front Range submarines of the period 1925-1945. Most classes followed this general pattern.

Displacement: 1,564 tons
Length: 312 ft
Beam: 27 ft 6 in
Draft: 17 ft 9 in
Propulsion: diesel engines & electric batteries, 2 × screw propellers
Speed: 22 knots surface, 8 submerged
Range: 12,000 nmi
Complement: 59 officers and men
Armament:
1 × 5"/45 D.P. deck gun
10 x 21" torpedo tubes (six fore, four aft)
Test depth: 290 feet

The Front Range generally had about 125 submarines in operation at any point in this period.

[Mount Shavano]

GENERAL RESERVE

[Mount Shavano]

GENERAL RESERVE

[Mount Shavano]

Four Corners Park, San Angelo Federal District

Four Corners Park - calling it a square would have seemed too pretentious, and the grass and trees that covered much of it would have belied that description anyway - lies in the heart of the Federal District. A mile on each side of grass and paths shaded by aspen and pine, with the red dome of the Congressional Building rising in the middle. The two roads that ran north-south and east-west through the park circled around it at a distance of about one hundred yards.

San Angelo was in the first, vibrant grip of the Spring of 2011. The brilliant green of the aspen and grass presented a stark contrast with the dead yellows and bare branches of only a month earlier. Bright sunshine combined with a cold wind coming from the snowcaps of the mountains hanging on the western horizon, behind San Angelo's low skyline, to make the day comfortable.

The Park was a natural gathering place of interested crowds and protestors whenever a contentious or momentus event happened. In fact, the city had been laid out with that in mind. So it was today.

A sea of bright colors, on t-shirts, flags, banners, skirts, and a hundred other different sorts of things surrounded an outdoor podium set up for the occasion and spread out into the park around it. Even with the outcome not yet known, this was already being called by the usual commentators the "most significant day since the 1997 war ended". Clear Sky News Network had broken the story that the Emperor of Ilocana had offered to the Front Range a new, radical proposal for a continental defensive alliance in the wee hours of the morning two days previous. This had followed months of semi-public discussions. A national referendum had been called, to coincide with the House and Senate voting today. President Cloud had already agreed to formally accept should it pass both Congress and People. The referendum had been held yesterday, and the official results were to be announced along with the outcome of the debate and vote in Congress. Exit polls were all over the place.

Simultaneous with the Ilocanan discussions, the various smaller nations on the Laurasian Continent had entered into negotiations with San Angelo to enter a more formal relationship. Many of them had been relying on the Front Range and her arsenal to preserve their independence since the Pan-Laurasian War kicked off in 1936, and the nations who had originally been her antagonists had fallen further and further behind. It seems the prospect of being where they were in the world without a formal treaty - and the additional protection it called for - no longer seemed desirable to them.

Well, if they were frightened, then who could blame them? On the heels of a brief war with the Ralkovian Empire that seen hundreds of Front Rangers dead from chemical attack, the networks were now covered with images of faceless soldiers marching past streams the red color of blood. More boots now moved in locked step across Gholgoth than there were people in Laurasia. To many, it felt as if the very Earth was moving beneath their feet.

Proceedings inside the Congressional Building were broadcast publicly, so by the time the President, Senators, and foreign dignitaries emerged it was known among the spectators that the motion had passed both the House and the Senate by substantial margins. President Cloud was the first designated speaker, and the crowd quieted as he stepped up to speak.

"Good afternoon, everyone. As by now you are all well aware, the motion to accept the extended offer has passed the House by a 77 - 24 margin, and the Senate 27-12. It has also passed the referendum by a margin of 82% to 18%."

The resulting sound wasn't quite a cheer, but it was quite loud and not disgruntled. It took several minutes before the assembled crowd calmed down and the President continued.

"Additionally, the other seven governments of Laurasia and diplomats of the Front Range Republic have agreed to a fundamental change in the nature of our relationship. Pending approval by the Senate, all seven will cede their extra-continental foreign policies to us and become protectorate states of the Front Range. This will be accompanied by another wave of democratic reform in Ilocana, and a mutual free trade pact. The pact strictly prohibits any other Front Range interference with the internal affairs of their current governments, nor their non-military relations outside of Laurasia. Their standing military forces will become Front Range auxiliaries or integrated directly. Our military academies will be opened to their citizens, although the oath they take on graduation will be to the Consititution of the Front Range Republic rather than to their respective governments. This new international body will be collectively referred to as the Laurasian Alliance."

*That* got a major reaction from the crowd. When 15,000 speak at once, each trying to be heard over all the others the din is unbearable. President Cloud patiently stood and waited. Finally, the President was again able to speak.

"It is our decided hope and expectation that this will preserve the independence and liberty of Laurasia far beyond our time. Though it be through sunlight, or through clouds, or the darkest forsaken night, so far as it is within our power there shall forever be a shining beacon on Mount Shavano. Thank you all."

[Mount Shavano]

Miscellaneous Helpful Items

TV Tropes for Mount Shavano
All the World's Battleships
My Missionaries in Your Nation (an old thread linked for reference, please do not bump!)

Old and/or Completed RPs

Ralkovian war (canonicity debatable, was never fully completed)
Gholgothic ascension (canonicity dubious following 2015 revision)
The Cape Columbia Incident (canon)

Front Range Symbolism

The classic "Bonnie Blue Flag", used by the Republic of West Florida, Republic of Texas, and Confederate States of America before, is used to represent the ideological concept of freedom - less due to any historical association than due to it's clean design and clear symbolism. It is one of only two flags the flag code allows to be flown in a superior position to the "Snow Angel". Is sometimes confused with the Rio Grande state flag.


The "Christian Flag" has spread to the Front Range as well (more accurately, it was brought along in the transition); it is the other flag that may be flown above the "Snow Angel".


The first national flag was the "Purple Peaks", run up over San Angelo within days of the transition. It didn't remain the national flag for long, but today is used as a symbol of the earliest frontier days of the Front Range.


The "Second National", which was the national flag from early 1877 until 4 July 1879 when it was replaced by the "Snow Angel". Generally regarded as too busy, it today still flies over some museums and historical sites.


National personification, "The Angel of Mount Shavano". Some portrayals use a sword instead of a gun belt.


This symbol is often used to represent the Front Range.

Miscellaneous Front Range Media

A rough map of the capital city, San Angelo.




State flag map.


Presidential election map from the most recent election.


Fancy flag graphic.

[Mount Shavano]

Embassies

Welcome to the embassy program of the Front Range Republic of Mount Shavano! While the Front Range may sometimes seem to maintain an isolated stance on the world stage, she welcomes bilateral relations with almost all nation-states; with our ideological friends, as a means of obtaining closer ties and promoting free trade and the common defense; and with our ideological enemies, as a means of resolving disputes and protecting the rights of citizens without having to resort to military channels. Details of the embassy program follow.

Front Range Embassy Policy:
All natives of the country establishing the embassy, who are employed by or reside at the embassy, are granted full diplomatic immunity. They may be expelled from the Front Range at any time for any reason*, but may not be prosecuted and if arrested will either be returned to the embassy or deported**. The Front Range, however, will not make any reparations for any personnel injured or killed by legitimate self defense or security measures while in the process of committing a crime.

The embassy is considered the territory of the host nation unless and until such time as the embassy is declared expelled, plus one week. Front Range citizens may not enter the grounds without the holding country's permission. Please note that harboring serious criminals will result in the expulsion of the embassy immediately, and if an attempt is made to remove the individual in question from the country in the intervening week he will simply be arrested on the way to the airport. Don't do it.

*Of course, while we reserve all rights, this isn't going to be exercised without a good reason. Generally, what would otherwise be a criminal action, or blatantly acting against Front Range interests in an unreasonable manner.

**This section may be waived on a case by case basis by the country of origin.

Location:
All embassies are located in the heart of San Angelo Federal District, at the edge of downtown San Angelo. They are less than a mile from Four Corners Park where the Congressional Building is located, and less than three miles from the Presidential Residence.

The following is a list of all nations that have established formal diplomatic relations with the Front Range:
Grays Harbor (Front Range Embassy in Aberdeen only, so far)
Front Range Ambassador : Leonard Colt
NS Limbaugh Island (Front Range Embassy in Rush only, so far)
Front Range Ambassador : John Thompson
San Pellegrino Romana
Front Range Ambassador : James Ryan
Roman Ambassador : His Excellency Ambassador Luca Solis, CMG, ORE
Darmen (Front Range Embassy in Scott City only, so far)
Front Range Ambassador : William Winchester
Reformed Britannia (Front Range Embassy in Kensington only, so far)
Front Range Ambassador : Steven Hardee
Lykosia (Front Range Embassy in Snowpoint City only, so far)
Front Range Ambassador : William Boyce
Inutoland (Front Range Embassy in Initipun only, so far)
Front Range Ambassador : James Ross
Quirina (Front Range Embassy in Quirinalia only, so far)
Front Range Ambassador : Isaac Bainbridge
Libertarian Governance (Front Range Embassy in Liberty only, so far)
Front Range Ambassador : Jephthah Pike
Provisional America (Front Range Embassy in Kansas City only, so far)
Front Range Ambassador : Jeff Colt
YellowApple (Front Range Embassy in Manzanopolis Prime only, so far)
Front Range Ambassador : Pat McFadden
Old Beringia (Front Range Embassy in Emerald City only, so far)
Front Range Ambassador : Jacob Hunter
Baltravia (Front Range Embassy in Wyngaard only, so far)
Front Range Ambassador : Alexander Brooks
Noavak
Front Range Ambassador : Mark Edwards
Noavak Ambassador : Robert Franklin
Otrenia (Front Range Embassy in Astropolis only, so far)
Front Range Ambassador : Samuel Austin
East Klent (Front Range Embassy in Kent only, so far)
Front Range Ambassador : Christopher Tyler
Bellganamos (Front Range Embassy in Bellan only, so far)
Front Range Ambassador : Gordon Sadler
Noordeinde (Front Range Embassy in s'Gravenhage only, so far)
Front Range Ambassador : Roger Carter
Hippostania (Front Range Embassy in Waverley only, so far)
Front Range Ambassador : William Bush
Gulnera
Front Range Ambassador : Robert Forrest
Gulnera Ambassador : Dasstaf Mohenho
Seperate Vermont (Front Range Embassy in Montpelier only, so far)
Front Range Ambassador : Isaac Cope
The ruvian Empire (Ruvian Embassy in San Angelo only, so far)
Ruvian Ambassador : Sir Franklin Knight
Goldsaver
Front Range Ambassador : Sam Morton
Goldsaver Ambassador : Akira Aston
Yohannes
Front Range Ambassador : Richard Dealy
Yohannesian Ambassador : Lina Viktoria Ahlberg
Calmerica
Front Range Ambassador : Edward Rhome
Calmerican Ambassador : Ricardo Munfasson
Radiatia (Front Range Embassy in Xerconia only, so far)
Front Range Ambassador : Randolph Richardson
The Eagleland (Front Range Embassy in Kokkinia only, so far)
Front Range Ambassador: Robert Breckenridge
Capisaria
Front Range Ambassador: Cato Robertson
Capisarian Ambassador: Nikita Royce

An OOC note: I don't really care what your street address is, or how many security guards you have. If you'd like an embassy in San Angelo, fill out the brief form below, post it in this thread and I'll review your factbook/etc and get back to you.

The Form:

Code: Select all

[b]Full Name of Nation:[/b]
[b]Government Type:[/b]
[b]Head of State:[/b]
[b]Head of Government:[/b]
[b]Ambassador's Name:[/b]
[b]Ambassador's Family:[/b]
[b]Reciprocal Embassy Requested (Y/N):[/b]
[b]Special Requests or Requirements:[/b]

[Mount Shavano]

OOC: I hope that was good enough to justify posting. I have enough space reserved, so anyone who wants to comment is now free to do so. I'll fill out the "to be elaborated" sections in the next few days, hopefully.

Also, I don't check this thread regularly so if you want a response in a reasonable time frame TG me to check it.

[San Pellegrino Romana]

His Royal Majesty's Department of State

---

TO: The Government of the Front Range Republic of Mount Shavano
FROM: Secretary of State The Rt Hon. Francesco Lombardi of San Pellegrino Romana
RE: Establishing An Embassy In the Front Range Republic of Mount Shavano

---

Greetings:

I am hereby submitting the formal application and necessary documents needed to establish a Roman embassy within the Front Range Republic of Mount Shavano. On behalf of the United Kingdom of San Pellegrino Romana and His Royal Majesty Raphael I, King of The United Kingdom of San Pellegrino Romana, I hope that all of our documents are in order and ready to be received by the appropriate government officials.

Sincerely,



The Rt Hon. Francesco Lombardi,

Secretary of State

---

.
Full Name of Nation: The United Kingdom of San Pellegrino Romana
Government Type: Unitary parliamentary democracy & constitutional monarchy.
Head of State: His Royal Majesty Raphael the First, by the Grace of God, of San Pellegrino Romana and the Roman Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith
Head of Government: Prime Minister The Rt Hon. Giorgio Berlusconi
Ambassador's Name: His Excellency Ambassador Luca Solis, CMG, ORE
Ambassador's Family: Wife, two daughters, one son.
Reciprocal Embassy Requested (Y/N): Yes, once our Diplomatic Missions Program is complete, the Government of Mount Shavano will recieve a special sign-up invitation.
Special Requests or Requirements: 1) Will Ambassador Solis be able to purchase a family home apart from the embassy? 2) Will the Ambassador's children be able to sign up at a local school? 3) We request a picture of our embassy for our government files.

[Mount Shavano]

(Image)
His Royal Majesty's Department of State

---

TO: The Government of the Front Range Republic of Mount Shavano
FROM: Secretary of State The Rt Hon. Francesco Lombardi of San Pellegrino Romana
RE: Establishing An Embassy In the Front Range Republic of Mount Shavano

---

Greetings:

I am hereby submitting the formal application and necessary documents needed to establish a Roman embassy within the Front Range Republic of Mount Shavano. On behalf of the United Kingdom of San Pellegrino Romana and His Royal Majesty Raphael I, King of The United Kingdom of San Pellegrino Romana, I hope that all of our documents are in order and ready to be received by the appropriate government officials.

Sincerely,

(Image)

The Rt Hon. Francesco Lombardi,

Secretary of State

---

.
Full Name of Nation: The United Kingdom of San Pellegrino Romana
Government Type: Unitary parliamentary democracy & constitutional monarchy.
Head of State: His Royal Majesty Raphael the First, by the Grace of God, of San Pellegrino Romana and the Roman Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith
Head of Government: Prime Minister The Rt Hon. Giorgio Berlusconi
Ambassador's Name: His Excellency Ambassador Luca Solis, CMG, ORE
Ambassador's Family: Wife, two daughters, one son.
Reciprocal Embassy Requested (Y/N): Yes, once our Diplomatic Missions Program is complete, the Government of Mount Shavano will recieve a special sign-up invitation.
Special Requests or Requirements: 1) Will Ambassador Solis be able to purchase a family home apart from the embassy? 2) Will the Ambassador's children be able to sign up at a local school? 3) We request a picture of our embassy for our government files.

The embassy request from the United Kingdom of San Pellegrino Romana is hereby formally accepted by the Front Range Republic. We look forward to long and cordial relations between our two nations. In response to your specific concerns:

While housing outside of official government functions is not regulated at the Federal level, a quick perusal shows that there are many houses of all sizes and price ranges available in the San Angelo area. There are no barriers to these being purchased by non-Front Rangers, however you should be aware they will not be considered Roman soil.

The ambassador's children will be able to sign up at any local school the ambassador chooses, although their education will have to be paid for by either the ambassador or his government. San Angelo is a location of sufficient size that a Catholic school can easily be located if desired.

This is a picture of the embassy building. Generally, each nation will be assigned a floor of the building.

Source: http://coloradoblogging.com/wp-content/ ... tments.jpg

Sincerely,

Secretary of Diplomacy

[YellowApple]

Full Name of Nation: The Nomadic Peoples of YellowApple
Government Type: Corporate Dictatorship
Head of State: Administrator Amarillo Manzano
Head of Government: Administrator Amarillo Manzano
Ambassador's Name: Representative Christopher Kent
Ambassador's Family: Priscilla Kent, wife; Charles Kent, son
Reciprocal Embassy Requested (Y/N): Yes (already exists)
Special Requests or Requirements: Public education for Charles Kent; option of Shavano/YellowApple dual-citizenship

[Mount Shavano]

Full Name of Nation: The Nomadic Peoples of YellowApple
Government Type: Corporate Dictatorship
Head of State: Administrator Amarillo Manzano
Head of Government: Administrator Amarillo Manzano
Ambassador's Name: Representative Christopher Kent
Ambassador's Family: Priscilla Kent, wife; Charles Kent, son
Reciprocal Embassy Requested (Y/N): Yes (already exists)
Special Requests or Requirements: Public education for Charles Kent; option of Shavano/YellowApple dual-citizenship

The embassy request from the Nomadic Peoples of YellowApple is formally accepted by the Front Range Republic, awaiting your response to the following, regarding your specific concerns:

The Front Range Republic does not have public schooling at the primary level. Rather, the school system is entirely private. For families unable to afford it, state & local governments or other bodies such as churches generally provide grants equivalent to the average required for a solid education in that geographical area. Therefore, any school in the San Angelo area is open to Mr. Kent, but it will have to be paid for by the ambassador or his government unless they are genuinely unable to find the funding.

Further, the Front Range Republic offers dual citizenship only in the case in which the child's parents consist of one Front Ranger and one foreign national. We assure the government of YellowApple and Ambassador Kent that we do not unjustly discriminate against non-citizens, and the only legal restrictions placed on non-citizens living on the Front Range is that they cannot vote in Front Range elections nor hold government office. Any legal protections that would otherwise be extended only to Front Rangers are more than superseded by diplomatic immunity.

We hope that you understand, and that these issues do not constitute an irreconcilable obstacle to the placement of a YellowApple embassy in San Angelo.

With respect,

Secretary of Diplomacy

[Noavak]

To: The Government of the Front Range Republic
From: Foreign Relations Minister Drake Sylvette
Subject: Embassy Program

With your country's recent approval for an embassy in our nation it has come time for the Noavak Federation to send its own application for an embassy in your nation's capitol. Enclosed in this letter is the appropriate documents and files of our selected Ambassador to the FRR and embassy staff and security that will be assigned to his detail. As a small nation we do not require any extraneous protective measures nor do we seek them. Though our initial staff is small we are hopeful that eventually we can expand our facilities and staff with the addition of consulates in various cities and the creation of a foreign student exchange program between our two nations.

Signed,
Drake Sylvette

Embassy Application

Full Name of Nation: The Noavak Federation
Government Type: Federal Democracy
Head of State: President Clair Smith
Head of Government: Same as above
Ambassador's Name: Robert Franklin (29)
Ambassador's Family: Wife; Ashley Franklin (27)
Reciprocal Embassy Requested (Y/N): No
Special Requests or Requirements: We request a two story building with appropriate facilities for lodging of fourteen personal (Ambassador and his wife, nine staffers, and three security guards).

[Mount Shavano]

To: The Government of the Front Range Republic
From: Foreign Relations Minister Drake Sylvette
Subject: Embassy Program

With your country's recent approval for an embassy in our nation it has come time for the Noavak Federation to send its own application for an embassy in your nation's capitol. Enclosed in this letter is the appropriate documents and files of our selected Ambassador to the FRR and embassy staff and security that will be assigned to his detail. As a small nation we do not require any extraneous protective measures nor do we seek them. Though our initial staff is small we are hopeful that eventually we can expand our facilities and staff with the addition of consulates in various cities and the creation of a foreign student exchange program between our two nations.

Signed,
Drake Sylvette

Embassy Application

Full Name of Nation: The Noavak Federation
Government Type: Federal Democracy
Head of State: President Clair Smith
Head of Government: Same as above
Ambassador's Name: Robert Franklin (29)
Ambassador's Family: Wife; Ashley Franklin (27)
Reciprocal Embassy Requested (Y/N): No
Special Requests or Requirements: We request a two story building with appropriate facilities for lodging of fourteen personal (Ambassador and his wife, nine staffers, and three security guards).

The embassy request from the Noavak Federation is formally accepted by the Front Range Republic. A facility matching your request is available for you move into at your convenience. We look forward to long and cordial relations with your nation.

Yours,

Secretary of Diplomacy

[Gulnera]

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Gulnera

No.222, Chester Street, Greater Malveira, Gulnera

PRIORITY: Normal
PROCESSED: 293475239

~Official Communique~

As instructed by the Hon. Minister for External Affairs of our Republic, I hereby submit the application for the founding of an Embassy within The Front Range Republic of Mount Shavano, which we hope will further both cultural and economic ties between our two great nations.

Embassy Application Form

Full Name of Nation:The Republic of Gulnera
Government Type: Semi-Democratic Centrist
Head of State: Executive President Matthias Blazenihck
Head of Government: Executive President Matthias Blazenihck
Ambassador's Name: Dasstaf Mohenho (Male, 47)
Ambassador's Family: Wife (Elina Mohenho, 43)
Reciprocal Embassy Requested: Y
Special Requests or Requirements: 1. Background checks on all local citizens hired as support staff. 2. Permission to import approx. 15 litres of Gulnerian wines each month for personal consumption of staff and for formal occasions

Yours Sincerely,

Chevaze Francesco
Commissioner
Department of WA Relations
Ministry of External Affairs
Gulnera

[Mount Shavano]

(Image)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Gulnera

No.222, Chester Street, Greater Malveira, Gulnera

PRIORITY: Normal
PROCESSED: 293475239

~Official Communique~

As instructed by the Hon. Minister for External Affairs of our Republic, I hereby submit the application for the founding of an Embassy within The Front Range Republic of Mount Shavano, which we hope will further both cultural and economic ties between our two great nations.

Embassy Application Form

Full Name of Nation:The Republic of Gulnera
Government Type: Semi-Democratic Centrist
Head of State: Executive President Matthias Blazenihck
Head of Government: Executive President Matthias Blazenihck
Ambassador's Name: Dasstaf Mohenho (Male, 47)
Ambassador's Family: Wife (Elina Mohenho, 43)
Reciprocal Embassy Requested: Y
Special Requests or Requirements: 1. Background checks on all local citizens hired as support staff. 2. Permission to import approx. 15 litres of Gulnerian wines each month for personal consumption of staff and for formal occasions

Yours Sincerely,

Chevaze Francesco
Commissioner
Department of WA Relations
Ministry of External Affairs
Gulnera

The embassy request from the Republic of Gulnera is hereby formally accepted by the Front Range Republic. We look forward to long and cordial relations between our two nations. In response to your specific concerns:

There are no restrictions on what reasons persons may be hired or fired in the Front Range Republic, so the embassy will be welcome to run their own or to have any of several private Front Range firms run background checks on anyone they wish to hire. Additionally, there are no restrictions or tariffs on the import of wines, so that is not an issue at all.

Sincerely,

Secretary of Diplomacy

[The Ruivan Empire]

Full Name of Nation: The Kingdom Of The Ruivan Empire
Government Type: Imperial Democracy
Head of State: Emperor Perron
Head of Government: Grand Vizier Gamlien
Ambassador's Name: Sir, Franklin Knight
Ambassador's Family: none
Reciprocal Embassy Requested (Y/N): Yes(Automatic) you may choose between three Major Cities to house your Embassy with us(

Coruscant, Naboo, Mustafar

)
Special Requests or Requirements: 1) we wish to directly purchase a building for the sole use of the Ruivan Embassy if accepted.

any questions about the three cities will be submitted upon request.