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Old 11-28-2022, 06:17 PM   #742
jason taylor
 
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Portland, Oregon
Default Re: 'Imperial Culture' (non-canonista)

Rumnhamnupp Gungnir:

Otherwise known as "Visby" after the Hanseatic City this is Gungnir's Highport. It is an international city with extraterritorial quarters under control of several governments including the biggest planetary governments, most of the Sword Worlds and the Imperial Quarter. The last is a diplomatically delicate concession with complex agreements regarding extradition, hot pursuit rights, and the city's status in wartime. The International Quarter is ruled by the SWC itself, an exception to the "hands off rule" necessitated by the nature of the city.

The city is semi-demilitarized. Interested parties are allowed to keep military police on hand for constabulary work and the Confederation Patrol has regular overflights. There is however no line forces based directly on it and naval forces that call are unconnected to Visby. Police and Emergency Services aside from those provided by interested nations include the Watch, recruited from Gungnir and trained by the Confederation Patrol.

The neutrality of the city is guaranteed. The one time it was under occupation during the Fifth Frontier War is the exception that proves the rule. Imperial forces their made no attempt to do more than administer the city under local law despite the fact that it was suggested that it be used as headquarters for further operations in the system. At the peace it was returned under the same status as before.

Government is by the Council of Alders and the Council of Ombudsmen. Each interested party can appoint an Alderman and the Ministry of Trade a Chief Alderman. Despite the name the city articles specify that female Aldermen are permitted and several have been appointed over the years usually from the Imperial and Tizonian Quarters. The Ombudsmen are chosen by general election and all present at the time of elections including visiting spacers are allowed a vote.

Visby is known for it's entertainment from elegant hotels and restaurants to disreputable haunts of vice. It is also known for organized crime and international espionage, which as always overlap one another. It has been the site of intense diplomatic deal making. It's chief business however is-business, and factories from numerous shipping lines are based there as well as the infrastructure to deal with them.

This port can be treated like a variation of Deep Space Nine or Babylon Five. Any number of themes can be used for a plot from politics and espionage, to crimefighting, to simple trading. Or it can be an Inn You All Meet At. There are numerous possibilities.
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