Mitron

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Republic of Mitron
République de Mitron
Flag
Motto: "Coniunctis unum sumus! Populus enim a populo!"
Anthem: "Our Saving Grace"
Location of Mitron in western Euphemia.
CapitalBeaumont
Largest city Stark City
Official languages Trentannian
Recognised national languages Etruscan
Ethnic groups Etruscan
Trentannian
Ohcan
Kisechawk
Demonym Mitronan
Government Democratic Republic
 -  Chancellor David White
Legislature Parliament
 -  Upper house The Chamber
 -  Lower house General Assembly
Independence
 -  Treaty of Villora October 1, 1795 (1795-10-01) 
 -  Signing of Mitron Constitution March 19, 1796 (1796-03-19) 
Area
 -  137,199.84 km2
52,973 sq mi
 -  Water (%) 46%
Population
 -  2013 estimate 20 million
 -  2010 census 19,472,039
HDI (2012).917
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Currency Enieo
Time zone UTC-8
Drives on the right
Internet TLD .mt

Mitron, known officially as the Republic of Mitron (Etruscan: République de Mitron), is one of the 15 countries currently a member of the United Sovereign Nations of the World. It is located in northwestern Euphemia, and is bordered by Kuyrut to the north, Folland to the south and west, and Settler's Bay (La Baie des Pionniers) to the west, which links up to the Rites Sea. The total area of Mitron is 114,581 square miles, making it the second-smallest nation on Euphemia, only larger than the nation of Kaskaskia. It is the seventh most populous nation in Euphemia, with an estimated population of 19,472,039. The official language is Trentannian, but Etruscan is also spoken by much of the populace. Originally settled in the 17th century by Etruscan settlers, Mitron changed hands in the mid-18th century to Trentannia, before revolting and becoming an independent nation on October 1, 1795.

Mitron is made up of seven states, under a federal government comprising an executive branch, legislative branch, and judicial branch. The seven states of Mitron are Jonota, Ohio, Olympia, Calvados, Aberdeen, Williamette, and Lafayette. Beaumont is the nation's capital, and the neighboring Stark City is the commercial and entertainment center of Mitron. Since the end of the Great Adonian War, Mitron has emerged as a leader in transportation, with state-of-the-art highways, railways, and mass transit. The economy centers on agriculture and the harvesting of lumber and natural resources.

Historically, Mitron has been a very progressive nation. Mitron has also been very isolationist throughout it's existence. Barring the Great Adonian War, Mitron has avoided becoming involved in foreign conflicts and also avoided foreign alliances until the forming of the Euphemian Bloc in 2012. In the decades following the GAW, Mitron has made a strong push for global free trade.

History

Etymology

"Mitron" means "good lands" in Jonotan. When Captain Renaud discovered Jonota Island and met the natives in 1632, he asked what the land was called. They called it "Mitron". This name eventually spread to encompass the entire region of Etruscan colonies of Jonota, Osatta, and the Mainland Territories.

Colonial Times

Jonota Island: The Beginnings

File:Etruscans meeting with jonotans.jpg
Etruscans meeting with the southern Jonotan chief, Pantawahoo, in the 17th century. Evidence of trading between the two parties is evidenced.

Jonota Island was first discovered in 1632, by a passing Etruscan fleet that was charting the western coast of mainland Euphemia. They came upon Jonota Island, and decided to stop and set up camp and explore the area. It was quickly claimed as territory in the name of Etrusque. The native Jonotans, having never seen Althenians before, thought they were gods, and treated them greatly. It was only until the Etruscans repeatedly told the natives they weren’t divine that the natives finally eased off. Because of the goodheartedness of the natives, the leader of the expedition, Captain Édouard Renaud, treated them just as well as they treated him and his men. The Etruscans stayed for a winter, then in the spring returned to Etrusque. King Bernard was not interested in more colonies, especially not ones on the other side of Euphemia. But he understood the prudence of retaining the land as a future trading post in western Euphemia. So he signed the proclamation claiming the land as a territory of Etrusque.

Later, in 1682, looking to help pay off the expenses of running the much larger Shayden and Acadia colonies, claimed it a royal colony and put it up for auction. The Reynolds-Chevalier Company bid the most, winning control of this colony. Jonota then became a proprietary colony under the direct control of the company, albeit with government interference where it felt necessary. When the first settlement ships came to Jonota, it was full of a diverse group of 300 native Etruscans, including a few Trentannians and Insulonians. Several of them were fairly well off; they intended to get even richer off this fresh, new settlement. When the colonists arrived in early 1683, after waiting the winter in New Uniden City, they found the colony to be a beautiful, prosperous area, at least in comparison to 1632. A small fort was constructed, to protect the settlers and guard against the tension in Kuyrut. There was also a natural harbor in the small bay now known as Settler’s Bay, or La Baie de Settler in Etruscan. There was a huge potential for this colony, as the soil was fertile, there was forest everywhere, and it was in a strategic location for trade. Livestock was already fairly plentiful via trade with the natives, who had acquired them from the Etruscans that had rested here in 1632. The colony was set up to do very well, indeed.

Jonota also became a popular logging area in the coming years, as well as becoming world-renowned for their very fine-tasting syrup. It also established an Etruscan trading post on the western coast of Euphemia; this one of the key terms in the contract transitioning Jonota from a royal to proprietary colony - it had to maintain a royally-held port. By 1700 the colony had 2,000 colonists. But it was soon to be but a shadow in comparison to a new colony…Osatta Island.

Osatta Island & Mainland Mitron

File:Osatta & Jonota Islands.png
The two main islands of Mitron; Jonota Island and Osatta Island.

In 1687, a new expedition was sent northward from New Uniden. This new Etruscan fleet was to head to east from Jonota, in as much of a linear, eastward route as possible, and claim that land, which was estimated to be the closest mainland territory to Jonota, and claim it. The goal was to create a point for possible expansion for mainland colonization of the western coast. Landing on the southern end of Osatta Island, it was quickly claimed for Etrusque. Even friendlier than the Jonotans were the Ohcans; they welcomed the Etruscan explorers. This was a key point of Mitronan history - happening upon two very friendly native groups greatly influenced Mitron’s history. Upon discovery, Osatta Island was named the colony of Osatta, after the chief's description of the land as "Osatta", meaning green. It began as a small fort; Fort Adams, named after the main backer of the expedition. Later, Adams even became the colonial governor of Mitron, becoming one of the greatest earlier leaders. It was quickly discovered that there were bountiful numbers of fish off the coast, beautiful forests full of lumber for logging, and a great natural harbor. Being inside of a bay, it was easily defensible from a naval standpoint. The entire island was claimed for Etrusque in 1703, once the whole island had been charted out. It proved to be quite a strategical colony.

Signs of Unrest

The Trentannians, although unknowingly, committed many actions that upset the Etruscan-Mitronan colonists. Besides the fact that they had taken over a former country’s colony, the Trentannians made no huge effort to make the colonists feel at home and safe with this new country in charge. Instead, they didn’t listen to anything the Etruscan-Mitronans wanted, and openly alienated them. Although the Trentannians believed they would fall in line under this more authoritarian versus friendly approach, they would be proven drastically wrong when the Mitronans finally said they had enough and began open rebellion.

From the beginning of the Big Three’s (Jonota, Osatta, and the mainland) discovery and settlement, the natives had been friendly at least, and almost brothers and sisters at best. There had never been a major war between the two, in fact, besides a couple small conflicts with radical natives, there had been no conflict. So when the Trentannians arrived in the 1750s and began aggressive land policies against the Jonotans and Ohcans, massacring villages and breaking treaties, just so more Trentannians had quality land to live on. The Mitronans were appalled. They tried several times to stop these atrocities from happening, but to no avail. They became increasingly frustrated with their lack of voice in how things were run; this was completely opposite to how things had worked while under Etruscan control.

Another thing the Trentannians didn’t take much notice of was the fact that the Etruscan-Mitronans and their native allies far outnumbered the Trentannian settlers and their military force. This meant that if the Mitronans weren’t pleased, they could almost run all over the Trentannians, except for the fact that Trentannia had one of the best militaries in the world at that point, and if necessary could call on tens of thousands of reinforcements. Even many Trentannian immigrants, witnessing the atrocities, called into question the actions of their own side. Although they may not have been convinced enough to join a possible rebellion, it definitely dampened their enthusiasm to support their own home country.

Thirdly, the Trentannians failed to correctly deal with the warning signs of revolution. Protests and riots were violently put down, with many Mitronans ending up severely beaten by Trentannian soldiers, many because of direct orders from their commanders. Instead of allowing the Mitronans to have a voice in the Trentannian government, even a small one, the Trentannians continually shut the door on them, further alienating them. Rather than try to assimilate themselves into Mitronan culture, or assimilate Mitronans into their culture, they just separated themselves from them. In many cities, neighborhoods were segregated based on Etruscan Mitronan and natives versus Trentannian immigrants.

Mitronan Revolution

Opening Stages

Mitronan rebels holding a bridge during the Plainsboro retreat.

On May 14th, 1792, the Mitronan rebels commenced the Mitronan Revolution. Almost simultaneously, they carried out multiple attack; the forts of Fawaho, Reynolds, Johnson, all in the surrounding area of Plainsboro were attacked, the city of Plainsboro itself was put under siege, and Beaumont was attacked. All three operations were a success. But why would the Mitronans suddenly attempt to usurp their rulers? This sudden rebellion had actually caught the Trentannians off guard, and because of that, their response time was slow and their action indecisive. Plainsboro, the Trentannian capital of Jonota, held out for 3 days under the Mitronan siege. On May 14th, 1792, cannons, along with thousands of men, surrounded the city. On May 16th, a messenger was sent down to Royal Governor Beverley’s headquarters from the rebel lines. He simply restated one sentence, directly from General McCarron’s mouth; “Leave, or face the consequences.” Almost immediately, the governor ordered his commanders to withdraw all troops from the city and to board the warships that night for evacuation. They argued that these were merely rebels, and that victory was very much achievable. Reinforcements could be brought in, and even just one successful attack on any part of their line could break their morale. But the governor, staring at the cannons and thousands of men facing him on the hills to the south, ordered the retreat, or he threatened to have insubordinate commanders hung for treason against their country. They submissed. In fact, two of them, Colonel Boken and Commander Curry, disillusioned with the actions of the Trentannians, and also upset at their policies, joined the rebels’ side after this battle, slipping to their lines in the night and offering their services to lead the ragtag army of revolutionaries. And so, on the morning of May 17th, seeing no Trentannian ships in the harbor, the Mitronans celebrated at their victory, capturing the colonial capital within 3 days of rebellion.

Trentannia Strikes Back

After securing their holdings on the mainland, and regrouping near Stark City, the Trentannians were ready to strike once again. Pompous General Moses Johnson prepared his men for an invasion on Plainsboro. The path of prudence was not the one for General Johnson, and on June 16th, 1793, he began his invasion of Plainsboro. The Nationalists had not been expecting such a quick and decisive response from the Trentannians. They were busy amassing their top leaders and politicians to Beaumont in order to write a formal Declaration of Independence. Many soldiers were either home with their families, or laxidasically at their posts. The rebels attempted to organize a defense of the city, as bells were rung to alert troops to the attack. Nationalist troops frantically tried to hold off the Trentannians until the city could be evacuated, but General Lebeau himself was captured. Defense of the city crumbled. Hundreds were captured, many wounded or even shot. At this point, there was no organized defense anywhere in the city. Lieutenant Dobbs valiantly held out with a ragtag group of militiamen, but eventually had to abandon his posts, being the last Nationalists to leave the city of their own will. Only 1,000 Nationalists made it out alive from the battle. The casualties were astounding: 4,000 Nationalists dead and 1,500 wounded, and only 500 Trentannians dead and 700 wounded. The Nationalists also lost their whole Plainsboro fleet, while the Trentannians only lost 2 ships. It was a devastating defeat for the upstart Nationalists, however, they would bounce back from this defeat and learn from it in future campaigns.

Nationalists on the Defensive

After the defeat at Plainsboro, the Nationalist cause splintered. A massive chunk of their overall troop strength was either killed or captured after Plainsboro. Fleeing every which way from the city, Nationalists entered the countryside. Divided and battered, General LeBeau attempted to organize whatever troops he could muster and camped within the central lands of Jonota. However, most of the militia, headed across the island, camping out in the forests and with sympathetic citizens. To seemingly doom the revolution even more, the city of Chevalier also fell with the Trentannians brutally burning the first city ever settled in Mitron.

Meanwhile, the Nationalists on Osatta holed up in the city of Beaumont, proclaiming it their capital. A formal declaration of independence was signed June 22, 1793, just days after the defeat at Plainsboro. The timing was very crucial as it was intended to not only attempt to legitimize the movement, but also to help keep up morale after the crucial losses in Jonota. In July, an evacuation of General LeBeau’s army was organized, and by the end of the month his troops had escaped the island and were on their way to northern Osatta, where they would then trek down to Beaumont. By the beginning of September, General LeBeau had linked up with Colonel McCarron’s forces in Beaumont. With an approaching Trentannian force from Stark City, McCarron once again was forced to take his forces on the run. By the end of 1793, Beaumont was under siege and McCarron was on the run with his army, and the revolution was in extreme danger.

The Rebels Put it All on the Line

By the spring of 1794, after digging out from the winter of 1793-94, the Nationalists realized they needed to do something bold, and quickly, or the revolution would fail. Over the winter, General LeBeau and now-General McCarron (General Austin had died of his illness over the winter) recognized their situation and planned a very, very bold joint attack. On the first of May, General LeBeau launched a surprise attack on the Trentannian forces encamped outside Beaumont, circling around them and forcing them up against the coastlines of Cerulean Bay. General McCarron, meanwhile, took his remaining troops, aided by a small detachment from General LeBeau, and launched a massive assault on Stark City. Both operations, albeit costly, were highly successful. The Trentannian presence was eliminated from Osatta Island, and it would stay that way for the entire length of the war.

Stalemate in the Revolution

By the summer of 1794, both sides in the revolution firmly held onto two distinct regions; the Trentannians held onto Jonota, while the Nationalists held onto Osatta. Both sides consolidated their forces and built up their defenses until almost a year later, in the spring of 1795. A Mitronan ship was captured by the Trentannians, and the captain of the Trentannian vessel, angered at the death of brother earlier in the revolution, had the entire crew of the Mitronan ship slaughtered. The Mitronans had surrendered, and the international community, not only Mitronans, were outraged at the massacre. Although Trentannia had the captain and his crew court-martialed, the damage was done. Etrusque finally agreed to send formal supplies to the Nationalists. Coupled with stories of atrocities by the Trentannians against the Jonotans (which were overly exaggerated), Generals LeBeau and McCarron agreed to launch a combined assault on the Trentannia stronghold of Plainsboro. In late August, 1794, an invasion force was at last organized. On August 28th, the rebels landed outside Plainsboro. Marching towards the city, they forced the Trentannian forces towards the river, which had been made void of bridges by Nationalist saboteurs. On September 16th, after being besieged, the Trentannians surrendered. An early winter prevented any serious fighting from occurring until the spring of 1795.

The Nationalists are Victorious

Nationalist troops dug in outside the town of Hillsboro

The Trentannians were now the ones on their heels. Forced into the southern peninsula of Jonota, they attempted an escape to the mainland, but faced a blockade of Mitronan merchants and Etruscan warships. Managing to send a message back to the home country, they dug in at the city of HIllsboro, preparing for an attack. In an attempt to prevent further bloodshed, General LeBeau himself attempted to meet with the Trentannian general. However, while crossing to enemy lines, a scheduled Trentannian artillery barge commenced. Him and his aide were caught in the crossfire and both were killed. Hearing of this, and thinking it was a purposeful act, General McCarron led his troops in a full frontal assault. After savage, hand-to-hand combat, General McCarron had won the day. Officially signing an armistice, the Trentannians agreed to send their troops back to Trentannia. Although the revolution would not officially end until the treaty was signed in October of 1795, delayed by disputes over the mainland territories, the fighting was now over.

Growing Pains

Sequestering Act of 1810

The Sequestering Act of 1810 stated that the native Ohcans and Jonotans, as well as the Kisechawks, were all allowed to create townships in specified areas, where they could safely continue practicing their ways while not being in the situation of not legally owning land. 160 acres could be granted to two families, and 640 acres would be granted to a tribe. The natives simply had to file an application with the federal government, and they would be given an appropriate section. The only issue with this was that hunting was not as plausible because of a smaller legal territory, so much food had to be traded for or bought, but the rituals of hunting were still used on that animal. Many natives used these acts to build cabins, not huts, and by this time many natives, excluding the Kisechawks, had been "civilized and Christianized", and were already living the "white man's ways", so this act was much more of a peace symbol, seeing as there were only isolated land issues between the whites and the natives.

Finding Their Identity

Louvelier Purchase

By 1847, it was publicly known that the Trentannians, sensing the beginning of the end of their lucrative fur trade, were prepared to abandon their outposts on the Trentannian mainland, lifting their military occupation of Mitron’s rightful land. But the Trentannians knew that they held military superiority over the Mitronans, and as such wanted to get something out of a deal. They were not prepared to give up the land that easily. So, in December of 1846, a group of delegates, appointed by Chancellor Martin and led by Ferdinand Louvelier, approached the Trentannian government with a proposal, to “buy back” the mainland for a price of $5 million dollars. There was much debate by the general public over if this loss of face was necessary; why not either try to take back the land by force, or sign a formal treaty without any tribute to the Trentannians? While the general public might have thought this was a plausible solution, it obviously was not, and the Chancellor Martin knew that. Trentannia had the Mitronan government backed into a corner. If the Mitronans attack the Trentannian outposts, without official provocation, Trentannia could declare war on Mitron, and invade and end up occupying all of Mitron. This could result in Mitron becoming a Trentannian colony all over again. And the Trentannians would obviously never sign a treaty and take a hit to their pride to this small, little country. But, Chancellor Martin knew that the land would pay for itself and more over time, as it was rich in forests for logging, and there were plains ripe for agriculture. For this reason he figured $5 million dollars was nothing compared to future dividends it would bring the country. So, he sent Louvelier, with the budget of $5 million dollars and orders to buy the land back.

File:Louvelier Purchase additions.png
This map shows the land changes regarding the Louvelier Purchase.

The Trentannians were very pleased when the delegates arrived in Trentannia. $5 million dollars was more than they had expected, for all they could do with the land was not much. Since it wasn’t officially theirs, they couldn’t have any large scale farms or logging. Their fur trade was highly illegal, and there were surprised a coalition of former colonies hadn’t joined together to end this foreign influence which spread deeply into central Euphemia. So, after 2 months of deliberation, the Trentannians agreed to sell the land. It was the best option for them They had a dwindling fur trade, and within a few years they would be losing money by staying at their outposts. Besides, the terms of the agreement had surprised them. Mitron only asked for land up to the Lovise, so they could still maintain posts with the Lovise. This pleased them. The settlers they had been oppressing for decades were getting very bold and unruly, and although no real threat, war would divert resources that could be used for other, more meaningful Trentannian operations. So, on January 7th, 1847, the Trentannians signed the treaty. They had gained $5 million dollars, and the Mitronans had gained their land. Both sides had achieved what they had set out to achieve, and it had all happened relatively easily.

The acquired land stretched from the Fondane River in the south, bordering Folland, to an agreed upon line in the Lovise Mountains. The border with Kuyrut in the north had already been nondisputed. Within the first year of acquiring the land, 20,000 settlers had already moved east into the new land. During the reign of the Trentannians, settlements had been restricted to within 10 miles of the coast, and all existing settlements, barring the thriving cities of New Fontaine and Harpersville, had been destroyed and pillaged by Trentannian-backed Kisechawks. New Fontaine and Harpersville themselves had been closely watched by Trentannian forts. Technically, they were not restricted to expand, as all they needed was permission from the colonial governor, but this was rarely granted. As such, the two settlements began to die out as many citizens left back to the islands of Mitron in order to live a life with more freedoms. As a result, when Mitronans flowed into the mainland after the Louvelier Purchase, they found expansive wilderness primed for settlements. New towns popped up along the Meade River nearly overnight. It was a wide river, and for the most part calm. Steamboats drove up and down the river, making it almost the equivalent of today’s modern interstate system. The railroad had a smaller effect at first, seeing as it took time to build it, but once built towns and settlements popped up quickly along the tracks. The railroad was a key hub for not only the transport of settlers east, but the transport of crops and lumber back west to the coast. All was ripe for expansion on the mainland, barring one setback - the Kisechawks. The Trentannians had been turning the Kisechawks hostile to Mitronans since before the Frontier War. This meant that although treaties were and would be signed, more often than not expansion led to conflict, and there was a constant military presence along the frontier. The stage had been set for several conflicts in this new frontier, between the Mitronan pioneers and the Kisechawk natives.

The Gold and Silver Rushes of 1853 and 1855

On January 20th, 1853, gold was discovered in Cradock, Aberdeen, in a small stream near the main town. After a failed cover up by the local authorities, a stream of settlers flooded the area. Citizens from all over Mitron, as well as immigrants, rushed to the eastern mainland to find gold. Many immigrants were veteran prospectors from Shayden and Folland. By 1859, most of the surface gold had already been mined by the settlers, although companies were beginning to erect large-scale mines to search deeper. During the Gold Rush, the population of the state of Aberdeen tripled. The city of Harpersville quickly became a popular way stop for prospectors as well as a center of trade and commerce for the region.

File:Gold-rush.jpg
Gold miners during the Gold Rush of 1853.

Arguably more important than the Gold Rush was the Silver Rush. In the summer of 1855, farther south of the main prospected areas, concentrations of silver began appearing. This was centered mainly in the state of Lafayette. The silver was in lesser quantities and deeper down than the gold concentrations had been during the Gold Rush. Although not experiencing the same success and wealth of the Gold Rush, the Silver Rush was still very successful in its own right. It was quickly discovered that there were massive abundances of many different minerals deep underground. Chief among these were nickel, copper, and iron, complementing the much more precious silver. Mining companies, such as L&T Mining Inc., sprouted up in the mountains of southeastern Mitron to mine these resources. These companies created large-scale mining operations and later on became huge players in Mitron’s Industrial Revolution. As surface concentrations became scarcer, deep mining became more and more popular. By the mid-1860s, most of the private prospectors in both the remaining gold and the combined silver, platinum and iron businesses were eliminated, and dominant, large-scale mines had been created by large businesses and incorporations. Along with the Gold Rush, the Silver Rush helped to enrich the nation. The Gold and Silver Rush also attracted tens of thousands of new settlers to Mitron, helping to boost the nation’s population and later on create a workforce for Mitron’s Industrial Revolution.

Industrial Revolution

Mitron’s Industrial Revolution was in the 1860s and 1870s. Increasingly expensive trade was running up prices on manufactured goods from both western Althena and Okaiken. Companies began popping up in the early 1850s to produce goods, but they weren’t the same quality as imported goods. However, at the dawn of the 1860s, companies began perfecting their work and creating higher quality goods. This soon spread to other companies, aided by the newfound wealth of the Gold and Silver Rush of 1853. The mainland as well as the islands provided much food for the growing nation, made much more efficient by the steel plow and mechanical reaper, invented in Shayden only a decade earlier, reaching Mitron in the late 1840s.

The railway was revolutionary in helping Mitron industrialize. Pre-Industrial Revolution it was mainly used for transporting passenger and crops, but when factories began to pop up they were quick to utilize the quick, cheap and easy transportation. Railroads helped cut travel time across the islands, because instead of taking a boat all the way around the island to get to the other side, a train could take you quickly and safely. Rail lines crisscrossed the frontier of the mainland, into the mountains and connecting the central areas to the rivers and the coast. Boomtowns grew along the rail lines, with several cities isolated from waterways but thriving from the railroads.

Although not having the large immigrant influx that Shayden and Acadia had from the 1840s onward, Mitron did get a significant number of immigrants. In the late 1810s and early 1820s, a number of Etruscans and Trentannians alike came to Mitron, to escape perpetual conflict in western Althena. Many became farmhands, or started their own farms, helping to grow the already large agrarian economy Mitron is still known for. Once the mechanical reaper and steel plow were invented and brought over, their work was greatly diminished; in fact farmhands became almost non-existent, with families working their farms themselves. This left a great unemployed demographic, whom, desperate for jobs, took up factory work.

Still though, the Industrial Revolution had not hit Mitron. But the Gold and Silver Rush of 1853 caused many of the industrialists to beg for a protective tariff. They argued that, given time, they could improve the quality of their projects. The newfound wealth of the nation gave a buffer against the expected loss of trade with an increased tariff. In 1856, Parliament passed the Tariff Act of 1856, raising a protective tariff over domestic manufacturing. The tariff gave the influx of business and necessary self-sufficiency needed for Mitron to truly begin their Industrial Revolution.Thus, the Mitronan Industrial Revolution had finally begun.

Progressive Mitron

The Beginning of Progressivism

Chancellor Abraham Hartman was elected to chancellor in 1904 on a platform of progressive reforms, known as progressivism.

Labor Advances

Up until the 1880s, labor unions in Mitron had been frowned upon. The Mitronan people saw them as greedy, obstructive to productiveness, and corrupt. Stories spread by powerful businessman, in Mitron and abroad, painted exactly that picture. However, as the 1880s approached, unions began to gain more respect from the people of Mitron. A key to this was the leadership of an Etruscan man named Alexis Joubert, the head of the Federation of Labor in Mitron, or FLM. A very eloquent speaker and champion of labor unions, he succeeded mostly by excluding the less popular demographics from the FLM, principally blacks and central Althenan immigrants. Critics of Joubert and the FLM called it the “flim union”. The union eventually crumbled in the late 1880s after several labor strikes with violent outcomes were blamed on them. In reality these strikes were not FLM-sanctioned and the violence was merely the cause of anarchist minorities from Central Althena that had infiltrated the strikes.

The labor movement also gained momentum after a series of bloody putdowns of peaceful demonstrations in the Fort Rodgers mine of eastern Lafayette. Governor Hill, an ardent anti-laborite, sent in state militiamen to seize the mine. When the militiamen approached, the strikers stood their ground despite requests to vacate the area. Several strikers threw rocks at the militiamen, but their leaders urged restraint. Despite this, one of the sides fired a shot. It is still unknown who fired first, but within seconds a massive fight ensued. With only a few strikers actually carrying any arms, they were massacred as they fled. 36 strikers were killed, 68 were wounded, and 3 militiamen were wounded, with 1 killed. Local newspapers quickly portrayed the incident as militia-provoked, and the story quickly spread across Mitron. The unions instantly gained more respect as they were portrayed as martyrs for their cause.

In the early 1900s, the federal government began to take steps to help the cause of labor. Chancellor Hartman, elected in 1904, began to make a push towards helping labor. In 1905, he passed the Karley-Roberts Act, which recognized unions and gave them basic rights such as the freedom to organize and the freedom of speech.

The Great Adonian War

Mitronan destroyer MNS Kobrick, during service in the GAW.

During the GAW, Mitron was allied on the side of the Allies. From the outbreak of conflict in Althena, the Mitronan government took precautionary measures in case the nation got pulled into the war. Rationing of oil was major, as Mitron had few oil reserves. A draft was also enacted, in order to build up the weak peacetime military. Many factories were given government subsidies to manufacture war materials. Once Mitron was drawn into the conflict, it was relatively ready. However, Mitron lacked the military prowess to lead the Allied charge, which was handed over to Shayden and Acadia. Mitron’s biggest asset was it’s navy. The merchant marine was a major asset to Allied convoys heading through the Cilician Ocean, allowing the Shaydian fleets to focus more on offensive operations. Mitronan infantry were sent in support of most major offensives by Allied troops in the Cilician.

Post GAW Mitron

Modernizing the Transportation Infrastructure

Construction of I-3 in the state of Aberdeen.

With the huge growth of suburbs in post-GAW Mitron, Mitron’s old system of highways and surface roads was beginning to feel the weight of a commuter workforce and an outdated highway infrastructure. On May 26th, 1954, the Federal Highway Initiative Act was signed by Chancellor of Mitron Johnson, effective immediately. Over 150 million dollars were allocated to the construction of an interstate highway system that would connect the major cities of Mitron. Highways were improved, widened, and built in a project that would last nearly 10 years.

During the immediate postwar era, the rail system also received a massive overhaul. The Modernization Bill, passed in 1957, enacted a number of upgrades and overhauls to the railways of Mitron. The diesel-electric locomotive became the main locomotive used in freight traffic. Railyards became more streamlined and efficient. Although passenger rail had been declining, it was still popular for commuters and long-distance travellers, as the Interstate Highway system was not yet fully built. The growing trend of creating state-run transit authorities also helped the efficiency and effectiveness of public transit in the urban centers of Mitron. Beginning in 1955 in Port Royale, individual states began assigning Transit Authorities to their states. By the 1967, each greater urban area in Mitron had their own Transit Authority (i.e., Beaumont Transit Authority), that were state-run, funded by city taxes, and enveloped the entire public transportation systems of each city and it’s surrounding areas.

Suburbanization

Immediately after the war, Mitron began rapidly suburbanizing. The first factor that led to the rapid suburbanization of Mitron was because of the deteriorating conditions of urban life. During the war, most of the government’s efforts had gone to war issues, and as such things such as public utilities in the cities had gone not only underfunded but had also been neglected. This led to the horrid conditions that urbanites were living in during the immediate postwar period.

Based off of the example perfected in Shayden, homes were built using standardized procedures and prefabricated construction materials. Although some of Mitron’s citizens frowned at the new autonomy of suburban life, most Mitronans, especially war veterans, loved the prospect of cheap housing, home owning, and the attractiveness of the suburbs when compared to tenement urban life. In the immediate postwar years, this flight from urban centers revolutionized Mitronan life.

As Mitron became a nation of suburbs, it also became a nation of commuters. This put a continual stress on the transportation infrastructure of Mitron, as traffic jams quickly became a major part of suburban life. The massive traffic jams on the older, outdated roadways and highways of Mitron led to the Federal Highway Initiative Act of 1954, and the creation of the Interstate Highway system in Mitron. Along with the Modernization Bill of 1957, commuting became much easier for suburbanites, with easy access to modern, state-of-the-art highways and railways now possible within a few years. States were even creating regional transit authorities that helped to streamline the various public transit systems of urban areas.

However, as Mitron became a nation of suburbs, the urban areas declined. Stores and shops in downtown areas began to lose business as people were instead shopping at stores out in the suburbs and the number of customers dropped. With urban areas becoming less prosperous, not only did more people leave, but poor immigrants and the lower class began to fill the tenements that once housed mainly middle-class families. Financially strained, and not receiving the same benefits to home owning as middle-class, white families did, the poorer classes, mainly black or immigrant, came to dominate the populations of urban areas. The trend has still continued to the modern day, although in recent years, the “residential segregation” has taken massive steps towards equilibrium.

Modern Day Mitron

Loyalist Front Attacks

Inner city Beaumont, centering on Beaumont Northern High School and Stewart Elementary School.

Following the attack on the Corsto factory in Shayden on April 21, 2013, Chancellor David White, during a press conference with the head of the MBI, Steven Flores, issued a statement on the behalf of the people of Mitron, condemning the Corsto attack, stating, “This attack is not just an incursion of the liberty and safety of the Shaydians, but it is an attack on the whole of Euphemia, no matter what gender, race, or religion you are. The well-being of all that is just and right has been put in question by this attack, and I assure you that this attack will not go unnoticed by any country on this great continent, on this great planet! This is not a “liberation organization”, this is a violent group of radicals that have no place in modern society!that it was an attack not only on the state of Shayden, but the continent of Euphemia and the well-being of all that is right and just. Our condolences reach out to all families of the victims, and to the families of anyone who worked in that factory. This was an outrageous attack, but it will not divide us, but instead draw us closer together as we head into this uncertain future, with this new threat rising.”

Presumably in response to this bold statement, the Loyalist Front struck back at Mitron. At 7:43 PM on May 31, 2013, 5 individuals approached the gates of the Mitronan army/air force base located outside the city of Riverside in northern Mitron. As the guards stationed commanded them to halt, they pulled out several assault rifles, firing at the gate. Both guards were killed. At that point, an armored van rammed through the front gate. Several armed men jumped out and along with the original perpetrators sprinted in the direction of the main control room. They were quickly stopped by several on duty soldiers who had heard the gunfire. After an intense firefight that ended at 8:01 PM, all hostiles were eliminated. There were 2 wounded survivors, but as both were being brought in for questioning they bit into what is believed to be cyanide, and died instantly. 3 Mitronan soldiers were wounded, but eventually pulled through; 1 died.

Bergenstein Civil War

During the Bergenstein Civil War, Mitron, along with the IFK, attempted to send a peacekeeping force at the outbreak of violence in August of 2013. However, this attempt was condemned by the USNW, and as such the troops were forced to retreat from the nation. Mitron then placed economic sanctions on the country, in an attempt to pressure the two warring sides into a peace compromise. During the conflict, Mitron supported the Modernist’s ideals, although not always their actions. After the conflict, Mitron still does not support Bergenstein and it’s policies.

Geography

Mitron is located on the western coast of Euphemia. It is bordered by Kuyrut to the north, Folland to the south and east, and the Rites Sea to the west. It consists of 3 main bodies of land; Jonota Island, Osatta Island, and the mainland. Settler’s Bay, also known in Etruscan as La Baie des Pionniers, is located between Osatta Island and the mainland. Osatta and Jonota Islands are heavily forested, contrasting with the rolling plains of the mainland and its eastern mountains.

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Forests like this one, Greensburg National Forest, are commonplace on Mitron's two main islands.

Jonota Island is the westerly of the two main islands of Mitron. For the most part, it is heavily forested. The forests thin out along the central eastern coast. This area is home to nonforested foothills. The city of Plainsboro is a namesake to the geography of the region, located in the Calbane Foothills. Several overland routes crisscrossed these foothills in the pre-industrial era, with many trading posts popping up along the most popular routes as “rest stops”. The Jonotan foothills helped to popularize the use of rail travel in its early age, providing quicker alternatives to the cheaper, overland wagon trails or more expensive maritime circumferences.

Osatta Island is the easterly of the two main islands of Mitron. Covered in dense forests and gentle, sloping hills, it sports its fair share of farmland, although it contains nothing compared to what the mainland boasts. Osatta contains the Fulton River, which flows from the eastern shores inland, its source located within the modern-day state of Olympia. Along the southern edge of the island is a small area of highlands, which is wher the national capital, Beaumont, is located.

The mainland is the more geographically diverse of the main regions of Mitron, and is known as the third region. There are several major subregions within the mainland. Dense forests exist along the western coast of the mainland, but are also found in the modern-day states of Calvados and Lafayette. In the southern subregion of the mainland, containing most of modern-day Lafayette, it is highly mountainous. The Zebulon Mountains inhabit much of the area. These mountains connect with the Lovise Mountains near the border with the state of Williamette. The Lovise then proceed to create the eastern border with Folland, but are also found in much of Mitron’s eastern mainland. The central part of the mainland contains plains. A variety of factors make this area advantageous to agriculture. Abundant precipitation is available, as well as fertile soil surrounding the two main rivers of the mainland. The first river is the Meade River, located in the northern half of the region. It flows from it’s source in the western Lovise Mountains in a northerly, meandering path to the western coast of Calvados. Major cities along it’s route include Harpersville, an important center for rail traffic. The other major river in the mainland is the Bezigue River. The Bezigue River begins in the western Lovise Mountains, flowing westward towards it’s mouth at Settler’s Bay. The city of New Fontaine is located along the river’s path, and the major port city of Port Royale is located at the mouth of the river.

Climate

The climate of Mitron is a humid continental climate, except the extreme northern areas of Calvados, which are considered a humid, subtropical climate. Summers in the northern half of Mitron are typically hot and humid, while winters generally range from cool to cold. In the southern parts of the state, summers are warm relative to the northern summers, and winters are colder and get more precipitation. Precipitation in the rest of the country is generally moderate, with more in the southern and coastal areas. Mitron does not have many natural disasters such as tornadoes or hurricanes, except for the eastern plains of the mainland, which get an above average number of tornadoes. The “Snowbelt” of Mitron is located on the southern coast of Ohio and the western coast of Callaway and Lafayette. This area gets severe snowstorms as part of bay effect snowstorms, sometimes dropping as much as a foot or two at a time. Oftentimes, cold air gets stuck over the bay, accumulating water droplets into it’s clouds from the baywater. Eventually this front breaks free from the bay and moves to either the southern coast of Osatta Island or the southern half of the mainland coast, dropping immense amounts of precipitation on these areas.

Environment

Mitron maintains a strict environmental conservation system, led by the Department of the Environment and FEA, or Federal Environmental Authority. They monitor Mitron’s various industries, from mining and logging to manufacturing and agriculture. There are strict guidelines for logging and replanting, and there are severe punishments for companies that don’t abide by these guidelines. Mining, particularly, is heavily monitored by the FEA. In agriculture, all chemicals used have to attain the FEA seal of approval before it is legal to use them. Practices like these were begun during Chancellor Hahn’s administration in the early 1960s, popularized by a growing global push for environmental-consciousness. Other tasks given to the FEA include the inspection of automobiles for emissions, as well as the monitoring of water and air for pollution, and creating plans to help keep the nation on a positive environmental course. Mitron has 23 national parks and preserves, and hundreds of other smaller state preserves dot the nation.

Government

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David White, current Chancellor of the Republic of Mitron.

Mitron is a democratic republic. The nation was founded upon the principles of republicanism and democracy, hence the name democratic republic. There are 3 branches of the government; the Administrative Branch, Nomothetic Branch, and Judiciary Branch. There is a system of checks and balances so that no one branch can ever attain more power than the other two; this is in attempt to form a true democracy. This idea was borrowed from Shayden. Much of Mitron’s governmental system is molded from the Shaydian model.

Administrative Branch

The Administrative Branch, overall, enforces the laws and runs the country. On a federal level, this includes the office of the Chancellor and his advisors. The Chancellor has the ability to veto any law that Parliament passes, although Parliament can override the veto with a ⅔ vote in the General Assembly. The Chancellor is elected once every 4 years, by achieving a majority of the electoral votes, or a ⅔ majority in the popular vote. If a tie occurs between two candidates, then the General Assembly votes on the Chancellor within a one month time period. The Chancellor will generally only serve two terms in office, but in times of crisis the Chancellor has served three terms. Chancellor David White is the current Chancellor of Mitron. At 52, he is the fourth youngest Chancellor ever to be elected. At the state level, the administrative branch is led by the governor. At the city level, it is run by a mayor. The election process for both is only a popular vote majority of ⅔.

Nomothetic Branch

The Nomothetic Branch creates laws and bills. The most well-known part of this branch is Parliament, Mitron's bicameral legislative body. Parliament has two parts; the General Assembly and the Chamber. The General Assembly, the lower house in Parliament, contains representatives from each state. By the Partitioning Act of 1927, the number of representatives is frozen at 75. Representatives are divided among the states based on their percentage of the national population. The Chamber is the upper house in Parliament. The Chamber contains two representatives from each state, allowing every state equal power in this body of Parliament. During the drafting of the Mitronan Constitution, the issue of representation in Parliament was heavily debated. In the end, the draftees decided to use the Shaydian model, and the General Assembly and the Chamber were thus created.

Judiciary Branch

The Judiciary Branch evaluates laws, making sure they are constitutional. The Judiciary Branch, at the federal level, contains the Cardinal Court. The Cardinal Court consists of 8 justices led by a Chief Justice. All are appointed by the Chancellor. The current Chief Justice is Millard Kent. A justice serves for their entire life unless they retire or get impeached, which can only be done by the General Assembly. A law or bill can be shot down by the court if a majority rules it to be unconstitutional. Likewise, a law or bill that has been challenged can be upheld by the Cardinal Court by a majority and kept as law. Before any law or bill becomes an amendment, the Cardinal Court must first review it and deem it constitutional.

Administrative Divisions

Mitron is divided into 7 states. These states sends representatives to the Chamber and the General Assembly. Each state is divided into departments, of which there are 478, which in turn send representatives to state legislatures. Nullification of federal statutes has been a controversial issue between the states and the federal government since the inception of the Mitronan Constitution. There are several instances where states have conflicting laws and bills with federal statutes. Throughout the existence of Mitron, there have even instances, mostly early on in the nation’s history, where nullification tensions have gone as far as the possibility of civil war.

Foreign Policy

Mitron has historically avoided conflicts and alliances. Generally, pre-GAW Mitron was highly isolationist. Post-GAW, Mitron has still avoided foreign conflicts but has asserted itself economically and politically worldwide, joining many alliances, including the USNW and EB. Economically, Mitron has always been open and relies heavily on foreign trade. Mitron is especially linked economically with the Far East, of which it is a frequent trade stop for overseas shipping. Over the last few decades, Mitron has pushed harder for a free and global system of trade.

Government Agencies

There are hundreds of government agencies in Mitron. They have missions varying from foreign intelligence, to domestic crime enforcement, to environmental protection, to veterans’ affairs. Some examples are the MBI (Mitronan Bureau of Intelligence), the DSS (Division of Strategic Services), and the BHS (Bureau of Health & Safety)

Immigration Policies

Mitron has historically been a country very open to immigration. After the end of the GAW, Mitron slowed, but did not restrict the flow of immigrants. Most political leaders decided on rebuilding Mitron to new heights before allowing large flows of immigrants. Thus, Mitron missed out on a massive influx of immigrants in the immediate post-GAW. In the modern day, there is a 100,000 people per year limit on immigration. Close relatives of citizens, without felonies, are allowed to immigrate outside this quota.

Human Rights

In Mitron, human rights are highly regarded by the citizens. Abortion is illegal in Mitron (except in extenuating circumstancs), per the Mitronan Abortion Ban Act (MABA), passed on April 22, 2014. Birth control, however, does not fall under the restrictions of MABA. In 1994, Mitron passed the Same-Sex Marriage Rights Act, guaranteeing the right of two same-sex persons to get married in Mitron, and the equality of that marriage with that of a heterosexual couple.

Military

The Mitronan military is the defense force of Mitron. Led by the Chancellor and High Staff, it currently contains an active force of nearly 100,000. With Mitron being a member state of the USNW, Mitronan troops are often sent as parts of peacekeeping missions to hot spots when the USNW votes to send a force.

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The A17 "McCarron" Mk IV, shown here on maneuvers during a training exercise.

Mitronan Army

The formal military of Mitron is known as the Mitronan Armed Forces. This consists of 5 branches; the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard. The largest branch is the Army, boasting an active military force of 28,000 servicemen and women. The Navy, the second-largest branch, consists of a standing force of 13,000 sailors. The Air Force includes a force of 22,000 active men. The marines consist of 21,000 active personnel. Mitron also has several thousand servicemen and women serving overseas. These troops are based almost exclusively in Abbasid, per the close relationship between Mitron and Abbasid. Approximately 7,000 army personnel serve in Abbasid, along with 4,000 Navy men, 2,000 Air Force troops, and 2,000 Marine troops. These troops regularly perform joint exercises with the Abbasidi military. The Mitronan Army was formed on March 26th, 1796, in one of the first legislations of the new Mitronan Parliament. It replaced the Nationalist Army of the Mitronan Revolution. The army considers itself a descendant of the Nationalist Army, and as such considers it’s date of creation to be the date the Nationalist Army was created, on June 4, 1793. It has participated in every war Mitron has ever fought in, ranging from the Frontier War all the way to the GAW, as well as several peacekeeping operations by the USNW. During peacetime, the army has generally kept it’s numbers low. Drafts have been initiated in times of crisis, such as during the GAW. The only example of a peacetime draft was in the years leading up to the GAW, as Chancellor Dalton sensed the growing tensions in the world. In the modern day, Mitron keeps a small army, completely volunteer. With no active conflicts Mitron is involved in, the army is mostly kept at domestic bases, except in the case where troops are needed for a USNW peacekeeping operation.

Mitronan Navy

The Mitronan Navy was officially formed on March 26th, 1796, along with the army. The Nationalists of the Mitronan Revolution had no official navy, although a vast array of armed merchant ships formed a flotilla that was under the loose command of the Nationalists. After the official Mitronan Navy was created, new ships were built to replace the merchants that had left after the Revolution ended. This shipbuilding craze continued until 1800, when shipbuilding ended as the nation focused on internal matters not related to security. Crews were largely untrained at that time, and were easily defeated in the Frontier War. After this embarrassing defeat, the Navy was overhauled, and the entire command structure was transformed into the predecessor of the modern command. Training and disciplined were emphasized. The next major test was the Great Adonian War, over a century after the last major engagement in the Frontier War. Although mainly in a support role, the Mitronan Navy shined in several engagements alongside the main Shaydian fleets. In the modern day, Mitron keeps a medium-sized naval force by international standards, but that force is highly modernized and able to deal a considerable amount of damage within a limited time frame. In April of 2014, Mitron finished construction of it’s first aircraft carrier, helping to cement it into the modern hierarchy of powers and expand it’s influence.

Mitronan Air Force

The Mitronan Air Force was formed in 1914, as the Army Air Division. In it’s early stages, it was little more than a scientific program to test and develop airplanes for the government. As the Great Adonian War dawned, the air force had developed few notable combat or logistical aircraft. During the GAW, Shaydian planes were purchased, and used at air bases across the country. In 1958, the Air Division was granted it’s own branch of the Mitronan military, becoming the Mitronan Air Force. At that same time, Mitron finally began developing modern airplanes for the air force. Although never fielding any long-distance bombers, fighters and shorter-range bombers were manufactured. In the modern day, Mitron has developed jet fighters, long-range support aircraft, and even several long-range bombers. Multiple major naval installations are located on the western island of Jonota, and several major army bases are located in the mainland states.

Economy

Agriculture

The economy of Mitron is based heavily on a highly-mechanised agricultural sector. It employs approximately 3% of the population, providing vast surpluses for both exporting and for domestic food processing. Mitron ranks in the top 5 in terms of agricultural exports. Modern day cash crops grown include wheat, corn, soybeans, and potatoes. Dairy farming is also a very popular form of agriculture in Mitron. The climate is too cold for warmer-weather crops like indigo, rice, which are mostly grown in Shayden and Kuyrut. The highest production rate occurs in the mainland states of Aberdeen and Williamette. Key marshalling areas for crops and produce are the cities of Harpersville and Port Royale.

Manufacturing

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Riverside manufacturing in the industrial town of Elmore, Ohio.

Although the economy is dominated by agriculture, Mitron also has a small, but thriving manufacturing sector. Mainly centered in the urbanized areas of Osatta and Jonota, principal in this industry is food processing. Most of the crops produced domestically are processed in domestic processing plants. This includes packaging, sorting, distributing, and preparing. Wheat, corn, soybeans, and potatoes are the main crops processed.

Resources

Logging operation in the state of Calvados.

There are two principal resources mined and harvested in Mitron. The first, and more profitable one is minerals and metals. In southern Mitron specifically, the Zebulon Mountains are a major source of these resources. Copper, silver, coal, and iron are the most abundant resources. There is a mixture of surface and underground mines, although underground mines are the most used. Heavy restrictions by the federal government prevent large-scale surface mines, and the ones that exist are heavily watched and regulated by government agents. The underground mines thrive, dug into the Zebulon Mountains in Lafayette and into the Lovise Mountains along the Mitro-Follandan border. Lumber is also harvested, mainly in the forests of Calvados. Since the 1950s, the federal government, like in mining, has taken a strong hand in preventing damage to the environment. Programs are in place of rotating through lands and replanting trees that were cut down. Though there has been a slight decline in the lumbering industry, this has helped the environment greatly.

Energy

Mitron has seen a shift towards renewable resources since the beginning of the 1990s. The nation has only two nuclear power plants, due to public skepticism and unrest over possible nuclear meltdowns, especially since the 1976 incident in Shayden. In rural Mitron, wind power is becoming increasingly prominent as farmers and the federal government work together to grow the nation's renewable resource capabilities via joint government-farmer agreements. Hydroelectric power is also being tapped into, especially along the rivers that inhabit the mountainous areas of eastern Mitron. Coal is the most used fossil fuel, due to its abundance in the Lovise and Zebulon Mountains. Natural gas is the second-most used fossil fuel, although dependence on fossil fuels as a whole has been declining in recent years due to public pressure related to the harmful effects of burning fossil fuels on the environment. Oil has never been abundant in Mitron, and thus not really used domestically, although there are offshore oil rigs in the Rites Sea operated by foreign companies under strict regulations by the Mitronan federal government.

Trade

Mitron has historically been a very open country, trade-wise. Historically, Mitron has had low tariffs and has depended on the export of crops. Since the mid-19th century, Mitron has been economically linked to the Far East, being an important location of open ports for trans-Cilician shipping routes. In recent decades, Mitron has made a strong push for worldwide free trade.

Transport

Road

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An Interstate interchange in the mountainous farmland of Mountainwood, Willamette.

Mitron has several tiers of roadway. The highest is the interstate system, which was made for high speed intercity travel, capable of carrying anything from semi trucks to consumer automobiles. The interstate was first built in 1962, and finished in 1967. There are 5 interstates in Mitron, designated as I-1, I-2, I-3, I-4, and I-5. There are 2 “special” interstates, I-3F, or Interstate 3 Folland border, and I-2K, Interstate 2 Kuyrut border. I-1 runs in a loop around Osatta Island, and then crosses over onto the mainland, heading south along the coast to New Fontaine. From New Fontaine it goes west to its terminus at Port Royale, and east to its other terminus where it becomes Interstate 3. Interstate 2 runs through northern Aberdeen and Calvados. I-2 begins in Harpersville, heads west to an interchange with I-1, and then heads due north, cutting through Vertrieu as it reaches the Kuyrutian border. I-3 begins in Vertrieu, heads east to Baudement, and splits, with I-3FA heading east to the Follandan border, with the rest of I-3 heading south. I-3 traverses the western edge of the Lovise Mountains, through the eastern plains. At Harpersville I-3 meets with I-2 and keeps due southwest. I-3 then heads west away from the Lovise, hits Eastham, then back east to Croston. Between Croston and Eastham, I-3FB branches east to the Follandan border. From Croston, I-3 heads south, ending upon reaching I-4, but it continues as I-3FC, heading east again to the border. I-4 heads south to Lassales, then west through the mountains, and along the coast to the shore resort city of Plageleu, literally “beach place”. From Plageleu it loops east along the shore, meeting I-3 once again. I-5 travels across Jonota, beginning in Couhay in western Jonota, through Chevalier, Waltham, and Plainsboro, eventually terminating at the southern town of Slater Bay.

Rail

Mitron first debuted rail in 1836, when the Chevalier-Plainsboro Railroad, commonly known as the C & P RR, was created. This greatly decreased overland travel time between the two cities. Inspired by the overnight success in passenger rail, several other passenger companies emerged. By 1840, there were over 20 private railroads operating in Mitron. Freight rail was soon embraced, servicing areas where a lack of large, navigable rivers made trade and commerce expensive and difficult. By 1850, rail carried much of Mitron’s industrial goods to port. The Louvelier Purchase also helped increase the popularity of railways, by allowing a quick, cheap, and easy means of transport for new settlers through the vast new lands of mainland Mitron. The costs of goods decreased substantially during this revolution in transportation, and manufacturing also saw a boom.

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An 1840s Mitronan steam locomotive.

However, there were several flaws in Mitron’s early rail systems. One of the earliest and biggest obstacles to the widespread use of rail in Mitron was the dispute over rail gauge. This was solved with the 1851 Rail Gauge Standardization Act, which set the standard at 4 ft 8 ½ in. This created a near overnight boom, as travel between different rail lines could be streamlined, as all lines used the same gauge. Safety was also an issue. In the 1830s and 1840s, there were high accident rates. One of the largest issues was crew inexperience. At this point in time, steam locomotives had been largely unknown in Mitron, and many crew didn’t know the limits of their engines. In an attempt to get to stations faster, the crew would put too much coal or wood in the boiler, which would cause it to overheat and explode. Often, crews, not realizing their speed, would go too fast through turns, causing a derailment of not only the engine but several cars. Sparks from the tracks even occasionally set piles of hay and barns on fire. The air brakes on early steam locomotives were often unreliable. They were fragile and broke easily, at which point there was not much to do but cut fuel to the boiler. However, these issues weren’t widespread, as most crewmen were responsible and well-taught in how to operate their trains. Very quickly these issues were resolved, helping to further the spread of rail in Mitron.

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A Rimsley 1928 A7, a main line passenger locomotive.

In 1957, UnionRail was created. It is the government-owned entity that oversees all intercity passenger rail services. It was created in the Modernization Bill of 1957. This combined the privately-owned railways of Jonotan Railways, Pioneer Lines, the Great Northeastern Railway, the Osatta Railroad, and Southern Limited. The bill also enacted a number of upgrades and overhauls to the railways of Mitron, which in return had a profound effect on Mitron’s railways. One of these upgrades was making the diesel-electric locomotive the standard locomotive on Mitronan rail lines. This had a profound effect on Mitron’s railroads, and is the most visible and well-known of the Modernization Bill’s changes besides UnionRail. It was healthier for the environment and was cheaper than steam locomotives. The diesel-electric locomotive is much more reliable than a steam locomotive, and is easier to maintain. They are also much faster and stronger than steam locomotives. Larger, more efficient classification and departure yards were to be built.

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A Mitronan departure yard.

Also included in the Modernization Bill of 1957 was the rennovation and expansion of obsolete classification and departure yards. This increased the speed and efficiency of the freight aspect of Mitron’s railways. Thompson Yard, in Harpersville, was increased from 30 tracks to 45 tracks, making it the largest railyard in Mitron. It became the hub of freight rail in all of the northern mainland. Freight trains from Thompson Yard carry crops, lumber, and natural resources to neighboring countries such as Shayden, Kuyrut, and Folland, as well as to the rest of the nation.

Air

Mitronan Air operates both domestically and internationally, with international airports located in every major city in the country. There are currently 15 airports in Mitron. The major airports in Mitron are located in the cities of Beaumont, Stark City, Chevalier, New Fontaine, and Harpersville, with smaller airports servicing the rest of the country. The most popular airport in Mitron, usage-wise, is Stark-Hopkins International Airport, which services the capitol and it’s surrounding areas. The only trans-Cilician flights available are from Jonota, notably Chevalier and Plainsboro International Airports only (due to the protracted distance across the sea).

Mass Transit

Mass transit exists in all of the urban and metropolitan areas of MItron, and to a small extent (mostly buses), exists in several micropolitan areas too. Mass transit is most cases run by a state-owned and operated transportation authority, although there are a small number of privately owned mass transit bodies. These authorities generally operate mass transit systems throughout the greater metropolitan areas of cities, including outlying suburbs. One example of a transportation authority is the BTA, or Beaumont Transportation Authority.

Commuter rail is the most popular long-range mass transit system in Mitron. It connects suburbs to the downtown and CBDs districts of metropolitan areas, but they also connects to other non-downtown areas with a high number of commuters, such as ports or industrial complexes. Commuter rail is often the arm of the mass transit web that extends the farthest from downtown, for obvious reasons. Some long-range commutes via rail are as long as an hour. Commuter rail is connected to the mass transit web in a variety of ways. Buses are the most common way, ferrying commuters to the stations in the suburbs as well as downtown. Subway systems are also located within several major transit hubs of downtown areas, and GLR can also be nearby, or even alongside the normal rail at the station. In order for commuter rail to exist alongside intercity and regional rail lines, they have differing boarding times, and during peak hours (6:30-8:30 AM and 4-6 PM) intercity and regional rail has the right of way, due to the higher number of commuter rail trains that would keep the other rail relegated to sidings or off the main lines.

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A subway in downtown Stark City.

Subways are the main means of mass transit within the downtown districts of most major urban centers of Mitron. Subway systems generally run in the rough shape of a web, with 1 or 2 “belt” or “ring” lines which connect the individual lines of the network. Subways generally have the outermost ring line built along the outer edge of the municipal limits, just outside the suburbs. Buses are also used in Mitron’s mass transit system, as a major connector between the different means of transportation. They connect all areas with the increased mobility of freedom of using roadways. Bus stops in residential areas are mostly shelters, but there are hubs periodically placed around the suburbs where you can park and ride the bus. This is part of the effort by the Mitronan federal government to cut down on greenhouse gases emitted by automobile commuters.

High-Speed Rail

Beginning in the early 1960s, the Mitronan government began to consider the idea of utilizing high-speed rail lines.

Demographics

Mitron was originally an Etruscan colony, but during Trentannia's hold on the colony, many Trentannians live in Mitron too. As such, the two main languages spoken in Mitron are Trentannian and Etruscan.

Most Populous Cities in Mitron State Population (2010)
Template:Country data Stark City Stark City Ohio 3,182,972 -
Template:Country data Plainsboro Plainsboro Jonota 2,393,024 -
Template:Country data Beaumont Beaumont Ohio 2,256,682 -
Template:Country data New Fontaine New Fontaine Willamette 1,242,312 -
Template:Country data Harpersville Harpersville Aberdeen 1,098,966 - 97% Umm-Salal
 [[|]] [[]] RZ 3,019,239 - 21.7% Ras'Al-Ziad
Template:Country data Khalifji Khalifji ZF 634,294 - 32.4% Khalifji
 Nasser Nasser SAR NA 3,891,129 - 100% Nasser
Template:Country data Shaltivians Shaltivians SAR SH 214,293 - 73.4% Mahé

Immigration Policies

Mitron has historically been a country very open to immigration. Only during the depression-wrought years of the 1930s were serious restrictions brought upon immigrants. Quotas dropped to as low as 1% for several countries. After the end of the GAW, Mitron dampened but did not several restrict the flow of immigrants. Most political leaders decided on rebuilding Mitron to new heights before allowing large flows of immigrants. Thus, Mitron missed out on a flow of immigrants in the immediate post-GAW. In the modern day, there is a 100,000 person limit on immigration. Close relatives of citizens without felonies are allowed to immigrate outside this quota.

Metropolitan Areas

Mitron boasts a population of over 20 million, distributed fairly evenly between metropolitan areas and rural settlements. The state of Ohio boasts the largest population of 7 million. It boasts two of the largest metropolitan areas in Mitron, the capital, Beaumont, and the commercial center of the nation, Stark City, with metro populations of 2 million and 3 million. Jonota was once the most populous state; but as a result of the Sanese invasion during the Great Adonian War and the ensuing havoc wreaked, has much of the state's population fled to the other states, although in recent decades the state has begun growing once again, albeit at a slow rate. Jonota currently holds a population of 4 million, with the city of Chevalier boasting 1 million residents, Plainsboro with 800,000, and Greensburg at 400,000. The state of Willamette holds two metropolitan areas on the mainland, with New Fontaine and Port Royale at populations of 2 million and 600,000. Harpersville, the largest city in Aberdeen, has a population of 1.5 million.

Culture

Sports

Mitron has professional sports organizations in the sports of basketball, baseball and soccer. The Professional Baseball League, or PBL, is the baseball organization. With 8 teams, it is the one of the most popular sports in Mitron. The Mitronan Soccer League, or MSL, is the professional soccer association in Mitron. It consists of 11 teams. The Mitronan Basketball Association, or MBA, is the Mitronan professional basketball association. Currently the most popular sport in Mitron in terms of viewership, it consists of 8 teams like the PBL.

Mitron has a thriving collegiate sports organization, known as the NACS, or National Association for Collegiate Sports. The most popular sports are college basketball and college baseball.

Video Games

Video games are very popular in Mitron, specifically in the youth and 18-35 demographic. The most popular genre of video games is sports. This includes the newest UFFA release, UFFA ‘17. Other popular sporting games include games of basketball and baseball, as well as the Adonia Games series. The second most popular genre is FPS, or first-person shooter. This includes the Combat series, which consists of several titles such Combat: 1947 and Combat: Counter-Terrorism, with the newest release, Combat: Galaxies, which takes a new spin on the popular series. The third most popular genre is Adventure/RPG. Two popular titles of the Adventure/RPG genre are Pokémon and The World of Atlas.

Religion

File:Religion in Mitron.png
A chart showing religion in Mitron by percentage of membership.

In the country of Mitron freedom of religion is highly guarded. Most religions of Adonia are present in Mitron. However, approximately 78% of Mitronans are Christian, with 62% of those Christians Roman Catholic. 38% of the remaining Christians are Protestant, mixed between Baptists, Lutherans, Congregationalists, Presbyterians, and Methodists. 8% of the overall population does not celebrate religion, 6% are Mormon, 4% are Jewish, 4% are not stated, and 2% are Muslim/Islam. The original Etruscan settlers were generally of the Roman Catholic faith, and as such the areas where original settlements were heavily concentrated are heavily Roman Catholic in faith. Catholicism also spread throughout much of the nation during the colonial times, and still is the dominant religion today. The Trentannians who settled in the latter half of the 1700s were predominantly Protestant, which makes the basis for the Protestants in Mitron today. The extreme minority consists of Muslims/Islams, seeing as overall their is a small percentage of Central Althenian descendents living in Mitron, and those people make up the majority of today’s Muslim and Islam population. Due to the early and heavy influence of religion on Mitronans, even to this day religion is a major part of the life of Mitronans, and as such has pushed for several progressive, moral stands on political issues such as slavery and prison conditions. Freedom of religion is a cherished by the Mitronan people, evidenced by the variety of religion. Although social toleration was originally scarce, by the creation of the modern Republic of Mitron, religious toleration was practiced by almost all people of Mitron, and freedom of religion was included in the Mitronan Constitution upon independence from Trentannia. Although Mitron is generally a Christian nation, it still allows other religious sects within it’s borders with no issues.

Holidays

June 22 is Declaration Day, commemorating the day Mitron signed it’s Declaration of Independence. October 1, a more popular holiday, is Independence Day, when Trentannia officially recognized Mitron as being sovereign in the Treaty of Villora. Christmas is the most popular holiday in Mitron, and is celebrated likewise. Easter is also celebrated in a similar manner, considering the vast portion of Mitronans that are Christian.

National Animal

The white-tailed deer, the national animal of Mitron.

The national animal of Mitron is the white-tailed deer. The white-tailed deer was chosen in 1902 as it symbolized not only beauty and grace but also hidden strength. The white-tailed deer has a top land speed of 40 mph, has a vertical leap of up to 9 feet, and can swim at 13 mph. This symbolizes Mitron in many ways; although Mitron is generally peaceful and friendly, and non-confrontive, when provoked Mitron can fight back much more fiercely than one would think, similar to the misleading power of a white-tailed deer.

References

External Links