Hot Spot: The Terran Province of Rhodesian

(The Far Province)

The Rhodesian Province is referred to as the Far Province not only because of its physical distance from Terra but its independent attitude. Many of the region’s worlds were settled during the break up of the Terran Alliance and chose to go their own way, joining the Tikonov Grand Union and Ozawa Mercantile Association rather the Terran Hegemony. However, after years of chaotic struggle those early regimes did not survive the test of time. Consequently these worlds were forced to join the Terran nation in order to escape the clutches of the Great Houses. Many other systems in the region were colonized later by the Hegemony, which desperately needed new worlds for the natural resources. The Star League era did bring prosperity to the region but left its original colonial growth plan somewhat stunted. The Hegemony utilized cheaper resources imported from the Great Houses which stalled economic investment in what one day would become Rhodesia. This lack of development, the region’s distance from Terra, and a stubborn populace all kept the Usurper’s minions at arms length during the Coup. Despite being a hotbed of resistance until its liberation this area sustained the lightest damage during the Coup. Thanks to Terran resource needs the new Rhodesian Province has once again begun to develop at an accelerated pace. With the storm clouds of war gathering on the horizon it remains to be seen if this Province will ever reach its true potential.

Rhodesia still has an excellent source of untouched mineral wealth thanks in part to the Province’s delayed settlement and relatively poor overall habitability which made colonization costly. Currently it is the primary source of Terra’s raw materials, a situation that is likely to continue for some time to come. The New Republic’s voracious industry could devour these raw materials in as little as twenty years. Some estimates put this resource exhaustion at fifty years but it is clear that something has to be done in order to conserve. Unfortunately, the nation’s war footing prevents reduction in the rate of exploitation in the near future. Industrially, the Far Province is growing but on the whole remains under-developed. This native industry is adequate to maintain the regions self reliance which is a highly prized trait of the local populace. With the Province’s resources finally being developed, the industrial sector has great potential for expansion. In spite of hosting some of the New Republic’s harshest environments the Far Province is agriculturally self-sufficient thanks to its hard working denizens. Again Rhodesians are very proud of this fact and strive to maintain it. Ironically commerce and science continue to suffer thanks to Rhodesian self-sufficiency. Importing products from other areas, even Terran but especially foreign nations, is frowned upon in general as purchasing unnecessary luxuries. Despite exporting a vast amount of resources this attitude has hampered trade in the region. Even new technology is looked down on as unreliable or risky and worst of all dependent on advanced systems for maintenance. As a result Rhodesia has the lowest technological rating in the New Republic as determined by the Ministry of Science.

The Province’s differences extend into the political arena as well. Provincial laws and policies tend to favor society over the individual. With an almost socialist attitude towards governing that many other Terrans, especially Talithans, consider Rhodesia the least democratic Province of the New Republic. Of course the leftist leaning Rhodesians don’t agree with this assessment and frequently boast about their rights or entitlements as they call them. This isn’t the only area were the people of this Province disagree with their fellow Terrans. For starters they strongly disapprove of Terras blanket neutrality towards the Great Houses. They urge intervention and closer ties with friendly Inner Sphere realms including House Davion with whom they share a close relationship. Their goal is the restoration of the Star League with Amanda Cameron as its rightful First Lord. Many Rhodesians don’t even recognize the Centuran Accords in which Amanda herself renounced any claim to the Star Throne. Many also blame the Draconis Combine for the Star League’s dissolution and helping the Usurper during the Coup. It goes without saying that many Rhodesians would like to pay the Dragon back for all its “help” during the last two decades.

The single largest factor for Rhodesia’s unique provincial psychology is its original colonists’ ethnic background whose descendants now make up the majority of the populace. Many Asiatic peoples chose to settle in this region during mankind’s Exodus to the stars. As a result the people of Rhodesia have a distinctive “Eastern” view on many issues. Strangely enough they view themselves as “true Terrans” rather than outsiders. Even other Terrans think of Rhodesians as especially stubborn, which is saying a lot. They also like to argue apparently for the fun of it and are generally negative in their opinions. Indeed dealings with these grumpy people can be chaotic but worth it as they are extremely loyal friends. The Russian, Japanese, Arabic, and Chinese languages are very popular here while English remains the universal language of the Rhodesia. Eastern religions like Orthodox Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam hold sway here. Muslim influence in the Province is fast growing in the region as new immigrants continue to travel here from interior Terran space.