From the FIS Factbook: The Motherland

Overview:

The reclusive collectivist state that refers to itself as The Motherland (or sometimes merely as She or Her) is the geographically largest of the major powers, her current population is estimated to rate behind only the Great Republic (GR) but no hard numbers are available. In fact, very little is known for sure about the enigmatic power since the civil war was brought to an end some time just over two centuries past. She does not gladly tolerate outsiders of any kind past her trade ports and those trained in relevant social or engineering sciences and anthropology are especially unwelcome; this means that outside of her physical geography visible from recon flights based outside her borders and ancient history much of this document is largely informed conjecture and theoretical in nature.

Geography:

Over half (roughly 3/5) of the currently known dry land is held by The Motherland. However, much of that land is intensely arid and therefore uninhabitable or nearly so leaving them with only ever so slightly more arable land (total share of roughly 4/9) than their neighbors. However, in terms of raw natural resources they are well endowed indeed, with, among other things over half of the current proven oil reserves. It is also worth noting that her physical infrastructure is clearly superb, rivaling if not surpassing that of the GR and leaving the Federated Island States (FIS) a distant third.

Political Structure:

The Motherland is a collectivist society. There is, at least from the outside, no clear central organizational power nor even, as with the FIS, regional powers, instead apparently relying on a sort of utilitarian ethic to determine all matters of state. Despite the apparent ripeness for abuse, the system has stood apparently unchanged for centuries making it the oldest of the current ruling governments in power. The people demonstrate an almost religious fervor and dedication to the preservation of the whole.

Military Considerations:

She maintains the largest standing army of the three major powers though it lags both technologically possessing neither the sheer industrial might of the GR nor the skill and craftsmanship of the FIS. Every citizen is also armed and trained and, it is believed can be called into active duty for any reason at any time until the threat has passed making their potential military strength truly staggering.

International Interests:

They do not appear to entertain any great expansionist ambitions, content, at least for the moment to work at exploiting the immense resources they already hold as it is currently estimated they are only tapping about sixty percent of their capacity. There is some concern among the other powers that when she has harnessed her full potential she will begin to spread aggressively. As of yet they have expanded only slowly and rarely adding small, choice bits after great deliberation. These invitations or acceptance of applications seem to be entirely mutual and on several occasions when rebuffed they appear to have reacted with equanimity and no repercussions have befallen those who spurned their advance.

Their massive latent and active military capability holds the potentially avaricious hands of her fellow powers at bay, keeping them from attempting to seize her vast untapped assets and enforcing a peace through threat of immense violence.

Technological Development:

While her industry seems somewhat backwards and her craftsmanship behind the global standard, it is strong suspected her organizational, social and, potentially computational sciences are without peer as it seems impossible to that they could maintain their current structure without a monumental mechanism for distributing goods, services and other resources effectively without a central director. There are rumors of vast computers similar to the FIS tide computers but on a scale heretofore unimagined in any but the most theoretical circles.

History:

Thecurrent incarnation of The Motherland, now, as mentioned above, is somewhere just north of two centuries old having remained remarkably stable during that time. Their current identity is largely wrapped up in the civil war that ravaged their land and left their capital a desolated and, if rumor is to believed, irradiated waste. Originally a disparate and nomadic people who traveled their desert environment they were joined into a cohesive unit by a powerfully charismatic figure from one of their largest trade hubs who by conciliation, cajoling and not a little coercion forged a powerful, rising power from the masses. Commanding the lover, respect and fear of his people his rule was absolute and unquestioned. By his guidance they rose to become the dominant player on their world stage.

With his death, as is often the case with organizations built on one man, the country fell to vicious power struggles amongst his highest lieutenants. As time went on the struggles became increasingly open and violent, eventually breaking out into a full civil war. There are a number of records that indicate that they were largely funded and equipped by third parties eager to see the regional goliath implode, leaving its carcass ripe for the picking. The war ended when some one or ones reduced their capital to rubble.

However, this failed to destroy them, instead galvanizing the survivors, forcing them to band together and simultaneously instilling in them a deep distrust of both centralized power and foreign intrusions into domestic affairs. This rapid regrouping coupled with flare ups amongst the warring parties around them prevented those same players who may have helped encourage their downfall from benefiting from it.

From this point on, their history becomes incredibly hazy as they locked down their borders and turned in on themselves, shunning outsiders. The best that can be brought to bear is conjecture that the shock of the war and the accompanying feelings were internalized and institutionalized permanently fixing these ideals in their culture and civilization from one generation to the next creating a dogmatic ideology that drives its people and compels them to value the whole above the one and work for its betterment without regard to personal cost.

Conclusion:

While currently pacific, if they were to turn belligerent it is possible that neither power individually nor even combined could stand against them. As a trade partner their value is limited as they only trade for what they can’t produce internally and will only trade out raw resources whenever possible. Their regard in the greater world community could be vastly improved with even marginal attempts at openness and interaction; just opening reciprocal embassies would go a long way to alleviating the fears of their neighbors.