Las Nuevas MalvinasTirane's Troubled IslandsBy Scott AshThis is the first of the regional articles related to Australia's Tiranean colony, New Canberra. A hearty "Muchismas Gracias" goes to my fellow Tirane List members for their input on the Nuevas Malvinas. Like the New Canberra article, this is a collaborative effort, and would not be as rich without the input of the Tirane List membership. Index
OverviewLas Nuevas Malvinas are considered to be New Canberra's most remote region, and the one with the fewest ties to it. Situated immediately to the west of the Black Soil Plains (Llano de Tierra Negra), the Nuevas Malvinas consist of a fairly large island surrounded by several smaller ones. Most of these islets are within the Rossi Strait between the New Canberran mainland and the larger island, Isla Malvina Grande (Sp.: Great Malvina Island), while the remainder are immediately north of it. Covered in extensive forests, much of the region is not accessible by normal means. Therefore, many of the recently built smaller towns are safely accessible only by boat or aircraft, overland transportation being difficult or dangerous. As these smaller towns were built solely as support centers for the Australian Defence Force bases placed on the island, those civilians who choose to live in them often receive tax and other incentives to relocate themselves and their businesses to these towns. The bulk of the Nuevas Malvinas' population lives along the northeast coast, particularly in the city of Nueva Cordoba. This city, center of New Canberra's Nuevas Malvinas Shire, has a well-planned city center and a lively port, though the surrounding barrios (Sp.: Neighborhoods) show less planning or regulation than the older parts of the city. Noted mostly for its broad boulevards and lively cafe society, Nueva Cordoba has the potential to become another economic and political center of New Canberra, to rank behind Bennelong, Ciudad Santa Maria, and Mt. McDonald. However, its reluctant ties to the colonial government at Bennelong, as well as the Australian Federal government at Newcentre on Earth have precluded any major investment in the region. Thus, while the region is self-sufficient, contributes little to the overall economy of New Canberra. Still, for those seeking a slice of Argentina on Tirane, Nueva Cordoba offers the best opportunity to sample purely Latino culture and hospitality. A major problem for New Canberra, and Australia as well, is the growing separatist movement in the Nuevas Malvinas. Hoping to break all of New Canberra's Latino-majority areas free of Australian rule and rejoin Argentina, these separatists have begun low-level bombing campaigns in their efforts to drive Australian and New Canberran police and administrators from the islands. Additionally, many of the more notorious poor barrios have many large murals depicting their struggle, as well as their loyalty towards Argentina. Conversely, some of the few barrios loyal to Australia have in response painted their own, pro-Australian murals in prominent locations, depicting Latino cooperation with the other ethnic groups of New Canberra to build a greater future. Another conflict faced by Malvinos, as residents of the Nuevas Malvinas prefer to be called, is that between the Roman Catholic Church and the pro-INAP schismatic Novo Catolico church. While the bulk of Argentina's and Uruguay's Catholics converted to the new organization, and many Mexicans followed suit (if not already members of Protestant orders), in the Nuevas Malvinas the conversion rate was less than 50%. Therefore, the most radical of separatist groups question the loyalty to Argentina of those Malvinos who remain faithful to the Roman Catholic Church. This leads to further low-level violence, as both sides attack each other with the same level of vitriol both direct at the New Canberran government in Bennelong. TiragraphyThe region is made up of several islands. The main one, Isla Malvina Grande, sits 150km west of the New Canberran mainland, with its northernmost part being directly across from the western end of the New Silver Mountains range. Like the southwestern coast of the New Canberran mainland, these islands are mostly uninhabited, with dense temperate forests and rich wildlife. Aside from the new towns built to support the Australian Defence Force presence, Malvinos generally confine themselves to the extreme northeastern corner, where the port of Nueva Cordoba concludes most of the region's trade with the rest of New Canberra, mostly through the nearest mainland port of Port Bagaaybila. Smaller inhabited islands, near the Noreste (Sp.: "Northeast") population belt, include Isla Mitre (named for a 19th century Argentine President), Isla Eva Peron (named for a 20th century First Lady), and Isla German ("Her-man") Andreotti (named for the Argentine president who moved to Nueva Cordoba in 2206, following the First Rio Plata War). Each of these islands has populations ranging from 10,000 at Isla German Andreotti, to nearly 35,000 at Isla Eva Peron. As all are within 30km of Nueva Cordoba, connection to the main city by ferry is easy and inexpensive The main population belt, known as El Noreste, contains the best-developed land of the entire region. Mostly small estancias (Sp.: "stations," or ranches in American parlance), the Noreste is predominantly an agricultural region, with most of the efforts given over to cattle rearing. Some wheat and maize are grown here, but for the most part these are grown for animal feed, as much of the grain and vegetable products consumed in the Nuevas Malvinas comes from the Pampa or the Black Soil Plains. This is due mostly to the rocky, nearly infertile soil of the Noreste, as well as frequent overgrazing by cattle. While the New Canberra Agriculture Department has offered assistance in soil rehabilitation and the diversification of agriculture in the region, the Malvino's reluctance to accept any help from Bennelong (which would indicate a level of dependence Malvinos find distasteful), prevent any major assistance being directed in this area. Beyond El Noreste are scattered fishing villages, as well as the new military towns. While simple two-lane roads connect the coastal villages with the population belt, much of the traffic between them and Nueva Cordoba is done by sea. This is due to frequent attacks by banditos along the roadways, often in support of separatist groups. This is a pity, as these winding coastal roads often take the driver through the region's most beautiful scenery. The New Canberra Police do their best to patrol these roads, to make them more accessable to the residents of the island, but as local residents generally do not cooperate with the police, it is difficult for the constables to be more than an inconvenience to the banditos. As both ADF Maritime Command and New Canberra Emergency Service craft patrol the seas around the island, similar crime at sea is not nearly as great a problem as overland travel is. HistoryOriginally settled in 2186, Nueva Cordoba and the Nuevas Malvinas were the dream of one man: Orlando Torrijos Morelli. A high-ranking official in the original Argentine Santa Maria colony, he was distressed at the eager willingness of his fellow Santa Marians to allow their colony to be merged into New Canberra. Therefore he took 500 other people, others who disagreed with the annexation, to the then-uninhabited island now known as Isla Malvina Grande. Choosing the name of his hometown in Argentina, Torrijos planned Nueva Cordoba to be a near-exact replica to Argentina's main port city, Buenos Aires. Therefore, Torrijos, with the assistance of several architects and engineers hired from Argentina proper, laid out a regular street plan, with wide boulevards and attractive park settings between three-lane thoroughfares. Additionally, planning for the day Argentina would return to Tirane, large, ornate government buildings were built, as well as smart, high-rise apartments along the main road, Avenida San Martin. The port grew, serving the fishing fleets and the small shipyards building a variety of wooden sail- and motor-driven craft, but the city center failed to catch on. Certainly while the plan was sound, Torrijos and his fellow Malvinos were unable to attract too much more investment, either from other Latinos in New Canberra or from Argentina proper. Also, as far as Bennelong was concerned, Nueva Cordoba was still part of New Canberra, but as government services were stretched thin to begin with as a result of the recent annexation of Santa Maria, as well as the tumultuous political events occurring in both New Canberra and Australia as a whole, the entire region was left to its own devices. This satisfied both NovoCanos and Malvinos during the early years of Nueva Cordoba's history, and in fact was the only recorded period where Malvinos and the rest of New Canberra actually cooperated to some degree. This changed with the First Rio Plata War. As Brazilian forces were about to march into Buenos Aires for their two-year occupation of the Argentine capital, the leaders of Argentina's government of the time, headed by German Andreotti Barrera, fled to Nueva Cordoba to avoid capture by the Brazilians. They brought with them several million livre, which went into completing many of the dormant construction projects. With this new investment, many other Argentines moved to the city over the following two years, many fleeing the occupation of Buenos Aires. When the Brazilians got word of this "Argentine" city being built on Tirane, particularly by the destruction of Vitoria da Conquista's nascent waterworks by Malvinos, they sent warships from their new colony at Provincia do Brasil to meet this new threat. The stated purpose of this attempted invasion was the capture of the Argentine "government in exile" as well as the elimination of all unassimilated Argentines from the Tiranean surface. However, Australia pressed its claim to the region, placing two brigades and a flotilla of its own warships in Nueva Cordoba. This halted the invasion of Nueva Cordoba, but nearly led to hostilities between Brazil and Australia. Negotiations between Australia and Brazil then began, following British and American prodding, in the newly formed Tirane Council at Bennelong. Under the terms of the deal between them, Australia was to take greater control of affairs in the Nuevas Malvinas; including the neutralization of partisan forces operating out of Nueva Cordoba against Provincia do Brasil. Additionally, Australia was to ensure that none of the former Argentine leadership was to ever leave Tirane, under pain of the destruction of the vessel said individuals would be aboard. In exchange, Brazil would recognize Australian sovereignty over the region and the Australian citizenship of Malvinos. As such, Malvinos ( save those of the former Argentine "government in exile") would be permitted to visit Brazil and its Tiranean colony much as any other Australian could, as well as engage in trade with it. This suited Australia just fine, as a growing market for the small shipbuilding industry of Nueva Cordoba was starting to show some profit, and there was some demand from Brazilian fishermen for the wooden vessels built in Nueva Cordoba despite the hostilities. As the yards and fishing industry prospered, so did Nueva Cordoba. While not showing the great economic gains of the industrial cities of Duffer's Strip or the agricultural developments of the Pampa, the city was still able to establish its niche in the overall New Canberran and Tiranean economies. However, as Argentines wishing to escape the growing overcrowding of Buenos Aires and subsequent Rio Plata Wars found other places to go under INAP sponsorship, further immigration to Nueva Cordoba began to slow. While mitigated to a small degree by arrivals from other Latin American nations, particularly Chile, it was becoming apparent that the Nuevas Malvinas were being left behind in terms of New Canberra's development. What growth beyond the agricultural and food processing industries that did occur came from the expansion of the ADF presence in the region. Much of the old port, particularly the shipyard, was taken over by Maritime Command, eventually to host the Fifth Fleet. While no jobs were lost (indeed, many new ones were created by the move), many Malvinos saw the growing government presence negatively. After decades of being left essentially alone, this new interest in the area shown by the Australian and New Canberran governments was seen as intrusive. Subsequently, those non-Latinos who moved to the region to work for the government were treated coolly by Malvinos, and crime against these new arrivals became a major problem for the New Canberra police. As a result, property developers from outside the region made claims to sections of land 10-15km from the center of town and began building secure neighborhoods for those new immigrants threatened by Malvino hostility. As the Infrastructure Department and the Australian Colonial Office were responsible for land use and distribution, they agreed to these claims and development plans eagerly. And for a time it worked. Government employees, military personnel, as well as their families had safe places to live, and the only time these new residents needed to be in Nueva Cordoba proper was to work. Otherwise there was little interaction between Malvinos and their new neighbors, which suited both parties well. However, inevitably further growth of the Malvino population filled in the spaces between these non-Latino neighborhoods and the rest of Nueva Cordoba. Additionally, further expansion of the ADF presence led to further resentments between Latino Malvinos and their non-Latino counterparts. Still, many Malvinos also prospered as a result of this new government spending. These families took the opportunity to move into the nicer, non-Latino neighborhoods inhabited by their fellow government employees. Also, as non-Latino children attended local schools, a growing knowledge and use of Spanish also bridged a few cultural gaps. Many thought it was a matter of a few generations when Nueva Cordoba and the rest of the Nuevas Malvinas would begin to integrate into NovoCano society as a whole. This was, however, an overly optimistic sentiment. In 2286 a riot took place at the newly built Colegia de Las Nuevas Malvinas (Sp.: New Malvinas College) over a requirement that all new students be proficient in English, as is the case in other Australian and New Canberran tertiary institutions. The New Canberra Police responded harshly, and both students and police suffered several serious injuries. To make matters worse, the head of the city's NCP force, Area Commissioner K.P. Singh ordered the assistance of the regional Special Operations Group (the "Soggies") to apprehend and detain the leaders of the riot. True to their paramilitary training, the Soggies killed at least eight students and wounded 25 others as they stormed the occupied administration center. While it was known that a few of the students occupying these offices were armed, and one SOG member seriously wounded by a gunshot during the apprehension mission, many Malvinos still believe the means employed by the Soggies to secure the administration building were grossly excessive. Since then, 16 November is remembered by Malvinos as Domingo Sangriente (Sp.: "Bloody Sunday"). Complaints of police brutality eventually reached First Precinct, the NCP headquarters in Bennelong, spurring a long investigation. Though Area Commissioner Singh was later replaced by a Latino from Santa Maria, and further NCP constables slated for transfer to the area required to be proficient in Spanish before arrival, the Board of Inquiry set up to investigate the Collegia incident exonerated Singh and the regional SOG in 2288. Finding that as a result of several of the occupying students having weapons the SOG was well within its right to use deadly force, the complaints of the wounded and the families of those students killed (many of whom were not armed) were thereupon dismissed. This triggered a massive protest, not only by those lodging complaints, but also of many everyday Malvinos. Sadly occurring on ANZAC Day, April 25, the large, peaceful protest brought nearly 90,000 people, over thirty percent of the city's population, to the steps of the Novo Catolico Catedro San Marcos. Here a Novo Catolico Padre, Eduardo Benitez Ruffo, read the names of not only those killed on Domingo Sangriente, but all other Malvinos killed by the NCP over the nearly eighty years of its presence in the Nuevas Malvinas. The protest was most notable for the number of Argentine flags carried by the participants. Presumably in retaliation, the NCP's Area Headquarters in Nueva Cordoba was seriously damaged by a car bomb in 2289. As a result, more NCP constables, as well as Australian Federal Police (FEDPOL) officers were sent into Nueva Cordoba in an effort to stop the violence. This only made the situation worse, and eventually the Chief Minister of the time, George "Kazza" Kassolis, reluctantly requested ADF assistance. As the 23rd Brigade of the Australian Defence Force was well trained in peacekeeping functions, having been Australia's dedicated force for such missions, it was relocated in-toto to the recently built Fortress Stanley. While the "Head Knockers" of the 23rd take great pride in their peacekeeping duties, within the Nuevas Malvinas there is little fanfare or media coverage of their efforts, mainly due to the distasteful job of having to keep watch over their own countrymen. Still on the streets of Nueva Cordoba today, the "Head Knockers", though seen by many Malvinos as an occupying force, do have a reputation for fairness among the residents of the region, both Latino and otherwise. Therefore, much of the separatist violence that does occur is directed at the NCP. Surprisingly, Infrastructure Department and Australia Post facilities have thus far never come under attack, and only sporadic attacks are made against ADF personnel in the region. The hands-off approach of the separatists towards the ADF has more to do with the ADF's willingness to eradicate any threat by any available means. The best example of this is the 2299 use of a Gatto hovertank to destroy a condemned building in a poor barrio of Nueva Cordoba that housed a sniper, after said sniper took a shot at an ADF Defender patrolling the neighborhood. DemographicsIn the 2300 census it was found that the Nuevas Malvinas held the greatest percentage of Latino residents, nearly 78% of the total participating population of 7,538,462. The rest are overwhelmingly of Australian descent, which includes those descended from Aboriginal peoples (most notably found in the ranks of the ADF) as well as those whose forbears immigrated to Australia from other parts of Earth. Those of Indonesian and Nigerian descent, or from any other immigrant group to New Canberra make up less than two percent of the region's population. What this does to the region's political and cultural dynamic remains a point of heated debate, not only in Bennelong but the Federal government in Newcentre as well. Spanish is the dominant language of the Nuevas Malvinas, with English a distant second. While in New Canberra this is not seen as too much of a problem, the predominance of Spanish is seen as a hindrance for Malvinos to successfully integrate into Australian society as a whole. Those Malvinos who hold pro-Australian feelings, yet have not gained sufficient proficiency in English are at a disadvantage when, for example, joining the Australian Defence Force or relocating to Australia proper or Australian colonies in the Rimward Arm. Indeed, those who are monolingual Spanish-speakers are greatly limited in their opportunities even within New Canberra. It was the efforts to rectify this situation that brought about the policy shift regarding Malvino tertiary education in 2286. It was thought that with the incentive to learn English more Malvinos would be spurred to become bilingual, and greater integrate into the overall Australian and New Canberran society. However, with the cultural isolation of the region and the pride in their Latino heritage shared by many Malvinos, this emphasis on English was perceived as a sinister act. Malvinos who may not have held separatist views felt the push towards English proficiency was an assault on their unique culture, and therefore an attack on them. In the minds of many Malvinos, the best way Australia and New Canberra can solve their problems is both to leave the region and let Argentina return, or at the very least extend civil rights and employment protection to linguistic minorities. In effect, forcing the government and private industry to accept the presence of monolingual Spanish-speakers. Indeed, one of the few pro-Australian groups in the Nuevas Malvinas has proposed that any future colonial expansion in Botany Bay include an "Isla Latina". Those of the Roman Catholic faith and those who profess allegiance to the Nova Catolico schism based in Montevideo nearly evenly split the Latino community, 5,880,000 strong. While most Malvinos see Argentina as their ancestral and spiritual home, those remaining faithful to the Roman church see the Novo Catolico schism as a political move, rather than a new religion. As this schism took place as a result of the Vatican condemning Argentine aggression in the First Rio Plata War, even those Malvinos who supported Argentina's efforts against Brazil still hold a level of revulsion towards the politicization of the country's religious affairs. Referring to themselves as Los fidelos (Sp.: "The Faithful"), their belief is that one day the Vatican will eventually regain its rightful position in Argentina, and remain separate from secular politics. In contrast, those who have joined the Novo Catolico church consider themselves the only true Argentine loyalists. Why not, they argue, as they followed Argentina into its new spiritual awakening, away from the Brazilian-corrupted Vatican? Therefore, Novo Catolico adherents, with their Cross-, Eagle, and Sun banners, hold their processions through the mostly Roman Catholic neighborhoods in order to help their brethren "see the light". Los Novos ( Sp.: "The New Ones") derisively call their Roman counterparts as los viejos ("vee-ay-hos", Sp.: "The Old Ones") or, even more derisively, as los Brasileros Hispanos (Sp.: "The Hispanic Brazilians"). In the early days of the region's settlement, this was the primary conflict between Malvinos. Secular tension had taken such a violent turn by 2260 that there was very little non-government investment in the area. While agriculturally the Nuevas Malvinas is self-sufficient, this was often threatened by destructive acts towards farms and estanciais by the opposing groups, which had a negative effect on the overall economy. Therefore the New Canberra Police have always had a large presence in the region, and specifically recruit those of neither Roman Catholic nor Novo Catolico faiths. Indeed, the current NCP Regional Commissioner, Linda Saenz ( sounds like "signs") de Guzman, is actually a Protestant of Mexican descent from San Diego. While many Latinos serve in the New Canberra Police throughout the colony, it is far more common in Nueva Cordoba to see NCP constables of Aboriginal, East Indian, Euro-Australian, and Indonesian origin. Those few Malvinos that have joined the NCP are generally stationed elsewhere, though occasionally they do return to the region, often to the new military base towns scattered throughout. Non-Latinos living in the Nuevas Malvinas overwhelmingly work for either the New Canberran or Australian Federal governments, mostly in the NCP or the ADF. However, many others serve in non-uniformed capacities to the police and military, either as administrative or support staff or in the other New Canberran and Australian Federal departments with a presence in the Nuevas Malvinas. Those few non-Latino Malvinos that work in the private sector often are in the region on short-term assignments from their employers or live in the military towns. Government, Law Enforcement, and MilitaryThe Nuevas Malvinas is divided into six shires, known in Spanish as "municipios". Like the other shires of New Canberra, none of these have any real power, as the colonial government in Bennelong performs much of New Canberra's administration. What they do have (some) control over is primary and secondary education, and unique within New Canberra this education is done entirely in Spanish. English is not taught in Malvino schools until the latter years of primary education, and while it is a requirement for a Higher School Certificate, the level of proficiency necessary for the Certificate in the region is often inadequate for life elsewhere in New Canberra, much less any other English-speaking country. This often conflicts with the New Canberra Department of Education's policy that English proficiency is required to enter tertiary institutions anywhere in the colony, a situation both Malvino educators and Bennelong's General Superintendent of Education hope to resolve peacefully. Bennelong carries out much of the remaining functions of government in the Nuevas Malvinas. This includes infrastructure work involving roads, airfilm lines, communications networks, and any other necessary means of communication and transport. Electrical power is supplied by the Infrastructure Department's powersats, to a receiving antenna ("la rectenna") 20km outside of Nueva Cordoba. New Canberra's Agriculture Department, Department of Revenue and the Treasury ("DiRT"), Department of Human Services, and New Canberra Emergency Services ("NCES") have offices in the city center. The NCES, known in the region as "los Bomberos" (Sp.: "Firemen"), also have several substations throughout the region, ready to lend a hand in any natural or man-made emergency. While elsewhere in New Canberra the Infrastructure Department has the greatest number of government employees, in the Nuevas Malvinas the majority of Malvino government workers are uniformed members of the NCES. This stems from the fact that out of the entire New Canberran and Federal government presence in the region, the NCES has by far the most respect. Indeed, while the New Canberra Police were firing at students holding the administration building of the Collegia de Las Nuevas Malvinas back in 2286, NCES paramedics were immediately behind them to render aid to the wounded. The New Canberra Police (NCP) have their greatest presence in the Nuevas Malvinas, as it is seen as the most troublesome region in New Canberra. While some have argued the poor kampongs of Duffer's Strip's cities need the police presence more, sectarian and separatist activity coupled with the poverty of the region have made the Nuevas Malvinas the most plagued by crime. Indeed, while the poor kampongs of Duffer's Strip do have their share of problems, the adat (In: "traditions") and Muslim faith of their residents keeps violent crime to a minimum. In contrast, the separatist and sectarian violence committed by paramilitary groups and youth gangs have made several of Nueva Cordoba's barrios near war zones, with at least ten homicides reported per month. Mail and car bombings occur nearly quarterly, and protests held every November 16 and April 25th often take violent turns. Under the Regional Commissioner, Linda Saenz de Guzman, the New Canberra Police presence is divided into 12 Areas, three of which are in Nueva Cordoba. Other Areas in New Canberra include those incorporating the towns built near ADF Facilities. As the majority of residents in these towns are ADF Defenders, the NCP in these Areas work closely with Police Command in law enforcement. Police Command, however, has no jurisdiction over civilian residents or the dependents of military personnel outside of the ADF Facilities. However, within those Facilities, Police Command has full jurisdiction over anyone and anything within them. The NCP operates three penal (or "correctional", in American parlance) facilities in the Nuevas Malvinas. One, NC Prison Isla Eva Peron, is in fact on an islet two kilometers from the actual island the prison is named for. A medium-security facility, it houses 5000 inmates in what could be best described as a low-budget college campus. While there is not the large areas of razor wire, electronic detectors, or high walls as found in similar facilities throughout human space, "Eva's Castle" manages to prevent escape by the sheer fact that some of Tirane's roughest currents cut between the main island and the islet. Another factor preventing escape is the fact that those inmates sent here are first-time non-violent offenders with the possibility of rehabilitation. As part of that rehabilitation, opportunities for learning trades or improving one's education are provided there to a far greater level than similar facilities in New Canberra. As these inmates, sent there from all over New Canberra, are those who have truly admitted making mistakes and have shown a sincere desire to improve their lives, the "fight or flee" mentality found in prisoners elsewhere is not as apparent. Sure, many talk a good game about "the cold swim to freedom", but often the only two ways an inmate leaves "Eva's Castle" are through regular discharges upon completion of sentence or accidental death, usually by drowning during escape attempts. In Nueva Cordoba itself is the NC Prison Processing Centre/Centro de Processos por Penitentes in the suburb of La Mesa. Here those convicted in Criminal Court are sent for processing to other facilities. In keeping with New Canberra penal policy, those convicted of crimes in the Nuevas Malvinas are sent to other facilities in the colony, away from the region the crimes were committed in. Therefore it is common to see Malvino inmates sent to prisons in Duffer's Strip, the Pampa, and Pulau Timor Bahru in addition to Santa Maria and the Llano de Tierra Negra, while convicts from other regions are sent to the Malvino facilities. Interestingly, there are no long-term penal facilities on the Eastern Shore, the NCP only operating similar Processing Centers in Windborne, & Bennelong. The main "super-maximum" facility in the region is the NC Prison Estancia Encanta, dug into one of the larger hills of the main island's interior. Here are housed some of New Canberra's worst convicts, many in a form of suspended animation set up to allow the inmate to age normally while in a controlled coma. As the majority of inmates are "on ice" for terms up to fifty years, a term considered inhumane by many human rights activists, security is set up primarily to keep people from breaking in to rescue inmates, rather than keeping inmates within the facility. Also the increasing waiting list of inmates to be "put to bed" means that many can wait up to nine months before the procedure is performed. The conditions these inmates wait in are crowded, with minimal ventilation or emergency egress opportunities. Therefore minor acts of arson or violence cause additional unpleasant side effects. The hill containing the prison has the highest elevation of New Canberra's largest ADF maneuver training area in the Nuevas Malvinas. The frequency of training exercises in this area provides the largest disincentive for anyone who feels the need to "rescue" any of the inmates. Another main problem faced by these rescuers is the difficulty of carrying an inanimate individual through various security levels, or the near-impossibility of anyone untrained in the necessary procedures to reawaken the desired inmate. The Australian Defence Force presence in the Nuevas Malvinas has two purposes, that of defense of the islands against unlikely attack from beyond New Canberran waters and peacekeeping within the region. In order to complete the former mission, the ADF has built one of its Defended Logistics Facilities, known as a "Fortress", in the hills south of Nueva Cordoba. Known as Fortress Stanley, after the Owen Stanley Range in Papua which saw some of the greatest fighting in the Second World War, the facility houses landing platforms for VTOL aircraft, repair centers for said aircraft, command and logistics facilities and housing for single defenders stationed within it. Married personnel live in apartments and townhouses built nearby, connected to the Fortress by a network of tunnels and access roads, built within the land allocated to the facility. The Commandant of the Defence Force in Newcentre chose the name of the Fortress, "Stanley", without regard to local sentiment. Therefore, upon its completion many Malvino construction workers made pains to avoid the dedication ceremony, and few Latino Malvinos work for, or have even applied to work in the Fortress in a civilian capacity. The reason: Port Stanley is the capital of the British Falkland Islands, which after five centuries remains a large point of contention between Argentina and Great Britain, and the cause of at least two minor wars between the two. Many Malvinos (as well as many Santa Marians, for that matter) feel the choice of "Stanley" was a direct insult by "los Anglos" against them. (Oddly enough, the Commandant who chose that name was of Melanesian descent, a refugee of Papuan apartheid directed against non-Caucasians in the early 2270's.) Other ADF Facilities include cantonments and maneuver areas around Hanford Gap, Estancia Encanta (Sp: "Enchanted Station"), and Playa de la Plata, though the latter is used mostly by ADF Territorial forces. Indeed, Playa de la Plata is the southernmost accessible town along the western shore of the Nuevas Malvinas' main island, and considered New Canberra's most remote town. Estancia Encanta and Hanford Gap are in the hilly interior of the island, though Hanford Gap is close enough to the Rossi Strait to allow sea- and hoverborne traffic to reach it. However, road traffic to Hanford Gap, Estancia Encanta, and Playa de la Plata is dangerous due to the bandito activity the region suffers with, and thus air access is vital to the success of these towns. As a result, airfields associated with the bases in these three towns have been built with increased commercial traffic in mind, though the ground controllers with the ADF's Aerospace Command are tasked with traffic control to these fields, not civilian controllers from New Canberra's Infrastructure Department. Maritime Command, in the form of the 5th (Western) Fleet, bases itself at the shipyard in Nueva Cordoba. Three squadrons are assigned to the 5th, though one of them, currently the 12th Flotilla, is based at Port Bagaaybila. While there is no maritime threat to New Canberra at present, the 5th Fleet has one of the highest operational tempos of any Maritime Command fleet in the ADF. Often the ships of 5th Fleet are tasked with escorting home Malvino fishermen from Provincia do Brasil's fishing grounds, in order to maintain peace between Brazil and Australia. Thus morale among the Defenders assigned to the 5th is consequently low, as they feel less as defenders of their country and more as babysitters keeping watch over recalcitrant children. This plays out in the frequent conflicts between single Maritime Command Defenders and the civilian population of the city. Police Command Defenders and the NCP often must break up fights in the cantinas and entertainment areas of Nueva Cordoba, and Tirane Command has been considering moving the entire fleet, save the repair command at the city's shipyard, to Port Bagaaybila where they receive a better reception by the locals. Further details on units stationed in the region is found in the main overview, "New Canberra, Australia's Interstellar Heart". TransportationThe Nuevas Malvinas is served by the rest of New Canberra through two sea- and five airports. The seaports are found at Nueva Cordoba and Playa de la Plata, though the former handles nearly 85% of all seaborne traffic to and from the Nuevas Malvinas. The port at Playa de la Plata is used mostly by the New Canberra Emergency Service's Third Flotilla, though some Cooperativo fishermen operate from there as well. Nueva Cordoba's port handles all the large shipping to and from the islands, as well as the occasional ADF Maritime Command ship visit and overhaul. Indeed, New Canberra's second-largest shipyard facilities are found there, and nearly forty percent of the contracts these yards receive come from the ADF and NCES. Shipyard workers, while sympathetic to separatists, provide a high quality level of craftsmanship to every client they get, as any problems found with serviced vessels, intentionally caused or otherwise, often means no further contracts from that client. Therefore whatever protests shipyard workers make against the ADF or civil authorities are done outside of the yards. Still, the Australian Security Intelligence Organization, as well as the NCP, FEDPOL, and the odd American field agents keep a firm but subtle eye on everyone working in the yards, as the possibility of INAP covert operations remains. Ferries to and from the inhabited islets north of Isla Malvina Grande operate from the Termino del Mar, opposite the shipyards and near the commercial waterfront. Both conventional trimaran and hydrofoil craft connect Nueva Cordoba with Isla Eva Peron, Isla German Andreotti, and Isla Mitre, the latter being a wealthy bedroom community housing Nueva Cordoba's oldest illustrado families. Access to visitors is by permit of the Junta del Barrio ( Sp: "Community Board"), and anyone arriving without that seldom-granted permit is put onto the next boat back to Nueva Cordoba by local private security forces. Police and other official visitors, while allowed to access the community, are looked upon with deep suspicion. Of course, as many of these illustrado families are descended from unassimilated Argentines with deep separatist sympathies, both the NCP and the civil authorities reciprocate that suspicion. Isla Mitre has a large clear-cut area in its northernmost peninsula for reasons as yet undisclosed by the local community. The five airports, at Estancia Encanta, Fortress Stanley, Hanford Gap, Nueva Cordoba, and Playa de la Plata, are all rated for large commercial and military aircraft. However, only Nueva Cordoba's airport and associated Australian Defence Force Interface Facility actually receives the larger planes. All five are serviced not only by the Aerospace Force's supply and support craft but by the government-run New Canberra Transport Services (New-CATS), recognized by the "flying gatto" painted on the tail and wings. New Canberra's privately-run airline, Aerovia of Ciudad Santa Maria, also use Nueva Cordoba as its Malvino hub, but only serve Estancia Encanta and Playa de la Plata in addition to the main city. Its emblem consists of dark- and light blue stripes with two gold eight-pointed stars, one silver and one gold. Nueva Cordoba's airport serves as the sole port of entry into the region by air using commercial means, all flights to other cities in the Nuevas Malvinas have layovers there lasting anywhere from ninety to one hundred eighty minutes. True, technology and efficient organization of arriving and departing passengers can allow for shorter turnaround times, but due to the security situation the longer waits are necessary. NCP and FEDPOL officers check every item of luggage on the plane using x-ray and metal-detection sensors, as well as drug- and explosive-sniffing dogs and burrovargs. As all checked baggage can be traced to individual passengers, it is an easy matter to apprehend a contraband smuggler waiting in the transit lounge or baggage claim area. Due to the additional security procedures performed upon arriving and departing aircraft, other carriers throughout Tirane avoid Nueva Cordoba and the Nuevas Malvinas. Thus, passengers arriving from other Tiranean nations and colonies arrive in either Bennelong or Port Bagaaybila to change to local carriers there. Therefore, in Nueva Cordoba the only NCP and Immigration and Community Affairs officers present in the city operate either in the seaport area or the odd private aircraft landing in the five airports. Private air- and seacraft arriving in the Nuevas Malvinas is met with a great deal of official scrutiny, regardless of the point of departure. It is therefore recommended that anyone wishing to enter the region do so using regular commercial conveyances, as the NCP in particular believes that anyone entering the Nuevas Malvinas in a private plane or boat is doing so for unsavory purposes. Thorough inspections are made of all cargo, passengers, and papers, and any one small thing found out of place will result in confiscation of the vehicle involved and at the very least a heavy fine. While many do use private boats to travel from town to town along the northern and western coasts, any boat crossing the Rossi Straits to the New Canberran mainland will be detained by the NCES for boarding and inspection. ADF Maritime Command vessels that also patrol with the NCES will sink boats that do not stop. Connecting many of the smaller towns is a network of four-lane hydrogen roads, all leading to Nueva Cordoba. Airfilm lines were considered to connect Estancia Encanta and Playa de la Plata to Nueva Cordoba, but the available ridership was not considered large enough to justify the expense, though in the case of Playa de la Plata a regular high-speed rail line is under consideration. The major problem faced by the Infrastructure Department in building these lines, and the roads before them, is the banditos and armed separatists in the hills and forests that surround the routes chosen. While the separatist groups focus on government and military vehicles, the banditos attack anything they happen to catch up with. Often riding fast motorcycles and ground cars (hovercraft being too expensive and difficult to maintain), their preferred method of waylaying a victim involves surrounding the target vehicle and slowing it down. Once the victim has stopped his or her vehicle, they are dragged onto the street and knifed or clubbed to death in cold blood. Following the death of the victim all items of value are taken, including usable vehicle parts. Then the banditos burn the rest, including the bodies of their victims. The bandits have created such a stranglehold on road traffic that the preferred method of delivering goods and people to outlying towns is either air or sea. A specialist company of ADF peacekeepers from the "Head Knockers" of the 23rd Brigade accompanies NCP patrols, but this is often spread so thin as to have negligible effect on the crime, though traffic does seem to be safer and more prevalent during these patrol times. Traffic is so far so light as to not justify greater patrols into the forests, though as the area develops further the NCP will have to put more effort into making the highways safer. EconomyBased mainly on agriculture, fishing, the shipyard, and support of military forces, it is the economy of the Nuevas Malvinas that has suffered most from the violence. While the gauchos and gauchas (Sp: "Cowboys" and "Cowgirls" in US parlance, "Jackeroos" and "Jilleroos" in Australian) of Santa Maria and the Pampa have become successful in their blending of traditional and modern means of cattle raising, their Malvino counterparts have so far resisted any assistance from the Agriculture Department, and are thus hampered by their inability to compete. Therefore, while truer to their origins in Patagonia, Malvino gauchos (given the more conservative attitudes of Malvinos there are very few gauchas in the region) barely eke out a living in decaying estancias within 100km of Nueva Cordoba. Fishing, however, offers Malvinos a better opportunity for growth. The fleets of the Cooperativo de los Pescadores de las Nuevas Malvinas are aggressive, cunning, and often downright brutal in their methods of filling their factory ships with as many fish as their driftnets can snare. Though the use of driftnets on Earth has been banned since the post-Twilight recovery era, Malvino fishers believe that, as that ban was enacted on Earth, it only applies to that planet. While Australian, and since the 2180's New Canberran, law upholds the ban in New Canberra, given Malvino disdain for the government in Bennelong driftnets remain an important tool in their fishing efforts. Often Malvino fishing fleets sail into areas frequented by Brazilian fishermen from Provincia do Brasil's Alegre State. The conflicts between the two fleets necessitate a response from the Brazilian Navy, which sends out one of their aviation cruisers to the disputed area. Forces aboard the cruiser, including VTOL patrol and strike aircraft, maintain a level of peace until ADF Maritime Command vessels arrive to escort the Malvinos home. While not of grave enough consequences to bring Australia and Brazil to open warfare, this activity has been the subject of heated debate in the Tirane Council, and Australia is keenly interested in preventing as many of these standoffs as it can. Indeed, one of the first things that will happen when the ships return to Nueva Cordoba is the seizure of the driftnets. The Cooperativo, or the captain of the vessel if not a member, receives a hefty fine to cover the costs of the military escort home. Not surprisingly, this makes the fishermen more popular in the eyes of fellow Malvinos, as they see the fines and seizures another aspect of "Australian oppression". The shipyard at Nueva Cordoba has so far offered the least problematic pillar supporting the Malvino economy. As the yard workers are under tight security, and knowing that any problems related to their work will result in fewer contracts, the quality of the work produced is among the highest available anywhere on Tirane. While not up to the par of the Scandinavian-owned yards in Windborne, Nueva Cordoba's yard still manages to hold its own and compete aggressively for both government and civilian contracts. Able to build ships up to 8000 tons and repair vessels half again that size, the Nueva Cordoba yard rates among the best available. Oddly enough, people sympathetic to their withdrawal from the region built many of the latest line of minehunters and littoral patrol craft assigned to the Fifth and Seventh Fleets of Maritime Command there. Though not a major factor in Nueva Cordoba's economy, the servicing and entertainment of ADF troops in the region plays a large factor in the overall economy, and forms the main raison d'être of such towns as Hanford Gap, Estancia Encanta, and Playa de la Plata. Here are found three towns where the predominant language is English, little other economic activity takes place, and where the ADF's Police Command and the NCP both cooperate in ensuring the safety of Defenders, their families, and those working to support and entertain them. "Las Problemas"No discussion of the Nuevas Malvinas would be complete without mentioning the separatist and sectarian conflicts that plague the region. Violence between pro- and anti-Australian groups and Roman Catholic and Novo Catolico adherents takes place with alarming frequency. In fact, the only really safe place in the entire region is Fortress Stanley, the large ADF Facility south of the city. Car bombs, bus hijackings, and gang warfare make many of the barrios of Nueva Cordoba virtual war zones. Even Avenida San Martin, the main street leading from the port to the central business district, has not been immune to the violence. The Hotel Argentino, 750m from the waterfront, is infamous for being Tirane's "most bombed hotel". Two barrios stand out for their open political views. Barrio Bartolome ( often "Barrio Borracho", or "drunken neighborhood") houses an entirely Roman Catholic community. Here are found many artistic murals depicting Catholic symbology - sacred hearts, cruxifixes, portraits of the Pope and the Papal City in Perugia (see Mark Galleoti's "Italy in 2300" article) - all tastefully done to illustrate the resident's support for their faith. Barrio Galtieri, in contrast, is home to a decidedly Novo Catolico community. Similar murals have been painted here, invoking Novo Catolico symbols such as the Sun of May, an unadorned cross, snake-eating eagles, and the Basilica Grande in Montevideo - all with the same view to showcase the faith of the residents to the detriment of their neighbors in the opposite barrio. As the road dividing the two neighborhoods was intended to be another "grand boulevard" in the Buenos Aires tradition, the center median strip has been made into a single continuous mini-fortress, the headquarters of the regional New Canberra Police, in order to divide the two warring factions. While it does help to keep the violence between the barrios to a minimum, it has also provided a very large target for both sides to vent their anti-Australian sentiment upon. Despite the passionate convictions of Malvino separatists, reality has made it clear that Argentina will not ever return to Tirane to reclaim its lost territory. For one thing, most NovoCanos of Argentine descent do not wish this to happen (though the majority of them live in Santa Maria). Secondly, the Brazilians have made it clear that any attempt by Argentina to reclaim any territory on Tirane will be met with stiff resistance by Brazilian forces already present on the world. While this is in direct contradiction to the Melbourne Accords, a fact all countries on Tirane recognize, subtle pressure has been applied to Viedma, Argentina's capital since the end of the First Rio Plata War, to give up any claims to Latino-majority regions of New Canberra. So far this has succeeded, though Argentina still reserves the right to protect its citizens through regular diplomatic and legal means. No Argentine warship has visited Tirane since they abandoned Santa Maria in 2183, and in fact the only major presence in the Alpha Centauri system is a joint INAP base shared with Mexico at Sheol, in the Proxima Centauri system. Individuals from that base do, from time to time, visit Nueva Cordoba, but their presence is so closely monitored by both NCP and Australian FEDPOL officers that seldom do they have any effect on the life of the Malvinos. The official foreign presence in the Nuevas Malvinas is in the form of consulates. Currently in Nueva Cordoba the only country operating a consulate is America, though within it both the Russian and Tiranian governments have interest sections. Argentina has applied to both the External Affairs office in Newcentre and the Consular Liason in Bennelong to open its own consulate in Nueva Cordoba, but given the distrust towards INAP and its sponsoring nations, it is unlikely one will ever be built. In fact, given Russia's moral (if not covert) support for independence movements in colonies throughout Human Space, there was some concern over what sort of consular activity Russia intended to engage in. However, in fact, the Russians and their American hosts get along well, and no known contact has been noted between the three-member Russian consular staff and any separatist group. PersonalitiesThe following people may come in contact with characters during their stay in the Nuevas Malvinas. Bartolome Gallego-Aylwin, AKA "El Draco Rojo" ( Sp: "The Red Dragon")( With both thanks and apologies to Bryn Monnery...) A former student at the Colegio de las Nuevas Malvinas, and a descendent of Argentina's Patagonian Welsh community, "El Draco Rojo" has become the leader of the largest separatist organization, "El Ejercito Leal del Tirane Argentino ( ELTA)". Wounded during the storming of the Colegio's administration center back in 2286, he still manages to control a network of three to five-man cells responsible for much of the anti-Australian activity in the Nuevas Malvinas. However, what most people see is a soft-spoken paraplegic (much of the damage was not repairable) spending much of his time behind a computer terminal, and when not working from his home, he is teaching Argentine History in the Colegia. In fact, it is from his office at the Colegia's History Department that he keeps contact with the various cell leaders under his control. In fact, there has been an increase in the number of "adult" students in his classes. Motivations: Ace & queen club. Very stubborn and determined to see the Latino areas of New Canberra break from Australia and return to Argentine rule. Though he himself has never served in any military forces, he has a keen eye for the various sorts of low-intensity conflict that "freedom fighters" often employ to obtain the maximum effect for minimum risk. Lately, with the further development of the data networks of Nueva Cordoba, much of the attacks on government infrastructure have been against servers, fiber-optic lines, and data hubs. He is a mentally oriented, experienced NPC. He speaks Spanish (native), English, and some Welsh. Meeting Gallego-Aylwin: This is difficult, but not impossible. Often this is done through ELTA cells, though it is quite possible PC's will inadvertently encounter him at the Colegio. If they do, the PC's will have no clue that the studious young man in the wheelchair is in fact the leader of the largest separatist organization in the Nuevas Malvinas, and in fact might be taken by his wit, intelligence, and conviction. Linda Saenz de Guzman, Regional Commissioner, New Canberra PoliceA native of San Diego,Commissioner Saenz took on the leadership of one of the most difficult postings in the NCP in an effort to improve relations. As a native Spanish speaker, she has a unique ability to communicate with Malvinos, and in some way sympathizes with their plight. Still, she is loyal to both New Canberra and Australia, and if things ever come to a head, her first duty will be to them. A proponent of the community-policing "hearts and minds" school of law enforcement, she is often been seen talking to community leaders on both all sides of the conflict. However, her Mexican mestizo heritage does brand her an outsider to lighter-skinned European-descended Malvinos, which has been both a blessing and curse. Her earlier postings to Santa Maria, Kosciusco, and Bencoolen have all prepared her well for this assignment, as it allowed her to work with and appreciate New Canberra's great diversity. The Nuevas Malvinas has been Commissioner Saenz's most difficult assignment to date, and as she is fairly new to the posting it is unclear as to how effectively she will handle it. Motivations: Heart Jack, Heart 5. Commissioner Saenz offers much helpful advice to her subordinates and peers in the NCP, and has a genuine affection for her fellow NovoCanos. It was believed by First Precinct that her unique talents and experience with difficult policing situations would be an asset in the Nuevas Malvinas. As such, it is hard not to like her as a person, and in fact she spends most of her time in civilian clothes when meeting with the public. Commissioner Saenz is a physically oriented, veteran NCP. Meeting Commissioner Saenz: While she maintains an office in the local NCP headquarters, Commissioner Saenz spends a lot of time with both community leaders and visiting the regions urban and rural precincts. While this makes her security minders upset, this accessibility has earned her respect from friend and foe alike, and has gone some way in improving the image of the NCP in the Nuevas Malvinas. Still, part of her success in public relations stems from the fact that, when she and her security staff travel, there is little to identify her or her entourage as NCP. PC's may meet her as part of her security force, or in one of her several public appearances. Additionally, they may also meet her as part of an investigation team, either in favor of or against Malvino separatists. Inspector Morton Billingsley, Nuevas Malvinas Special Operations Group Leader"Soggie Boss" Morton Billingsley is the quintessential hard-ass cop. Standing nearly 2m tall and massing 120kg, he cuts an imposing figure in his riot gear, goatee beard and shaven head. While he is proficient in Spanish as a requirement for his posting, he seldom uses it in regular conversation in favor of his native English - even with members of the public. Born in Anchorhead, and having spent most of his fifteen-year NCP career working the kampongs of Mt. McDonald, "Mad Mort" takes a cynical view of the society he serves, believing "the only way to reduce crime is reduce the number of criminals. Permanently." Recognized for his tactical ability, First Precinct sent him to Nueva Cordoba in their efforts to place "the right Constable in the right assignment" two years ago, and since then he has led ten different assaults on suspected ELTA strongholds. While each time he was successful in neutralizing individual cells, these assaults have led him to lead what has become a one-man crusade against the separatists. This has made Commissioner Saenz somewhat concerned, not only for the sanity of her SOG leader. Indeed, there is almost naked hostility between Billingsley and Commissioner Saenz, with Billingsley having gone so far as to refer to his superior as "that F%#^$ Wetback Slitch" out of her earshot, after Saenz reprimanded him for what she terms "excessive zeal". Motivations: Major Joker, Heart Ace. Billingsley is obsessed with eliminating the separatist movement at whatever cost necessary, believing that is the only way to restore justice and order to the Nuevas Malvinas. The most recent psychological profile he has undergone underscored this obsession, but due to a bureaucratic snafu in First Precinct this was overlooked. While Commissioner Saenz wants a new review on his sanity as soon as possible, the Constable's Union has backed his refusal, and thus the Commissioner must wait until the next regular psych review comes up in two years time. However, a transfer to a less-stressful posting is in the works, though whether Billingsley will accept it (or indeed keep his sanity long enough to make that decision) is an open question. His experiences both in Duffer's Strip and Nueva Cordoba have given rise to subconscious racism, though he does have respect and affection for his multi-ethnic "Soggie" team, regardless of the ethnic origins of its members. He is a physically oriented, elite NPC. Meeting Billingsley: Players can meet him as members of the NCP's Special Operations Group, or as assisting ADF peacekeeping troops of the 23rd Brigade. Additionally, they may also be the targets of his operations, if the players are involved with the separatists in any way (including as field agents infiltrating the network). Billingsley is a loose cannon, acting in a "berserker" fashion when in action. He never takes his riot gear off while on-duty, though he will not wear the helmet. "I don't need to hide behind a f@#$& mask. If they shoot my head off, my mates'll finish 'em!" Chief Inspector "Molly" Feng Mei Li, Australian Federal Police ( FEDPOL)Inspector Feng is one of the 15-20 Federal Police constables assigned to the Nuevas Malvinas. Working entirely in an investigative capacity, she remains behind the scenes in FEDPOL's efforts to infiltrate and neutralize the separatists, as well as reduce tensions between the two major religious communities of the region. A lithe 1.5m, and weighing only 45kg, she would not seem to be much of a threat. However, what she lacks in size she more than makes up in intellect and insight. In fact, fluent in Mexican Spanish, she has often made several contacts in the Malvino community passing as a descendent of Northern Baja California's "Chinos" (Sp: Chinese), though in fact she is a native Darwinian of a long-established Chinese family. Feng's work so far has netted not only several high-ranking ELTA leaders, at least two INAP agents sent from Earth to assist the separatists and Novo Catolico interests in the region were captured as well. During the course of her work, she has gained a lot of respect for her opponent, Gallego-Aylwin. However, given the level of secrecy surrounding her and her work, she strongly believes he has no idea who she is, or is indeed even aware of her presence. A situation she is more than willing to exploit. Motivations: Ace club, Jack Heart. With an uncanny ability to nearly read the minds of her opponents, Feng's skills as an analyst and field agent have been a great asset to New Canberra's efforts to reduce the separatist threat. Also, her advice in dealing with not only the separatists but the community as well is often heeded, as in many cases it has reduced the number of casualties on both sides. She is a mentally oriented, experienced NPC. Meeting Chief Inspector Feng: Players acting in field agent or troubleshooter careers against the separatists will inevitably be directed to her. Also, captured agents working with the separatists will be introduced to her as well, as she monitors interrogation sessions and subsequent trials. Archbishop Domingo Riego de Dios, head of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nueva Cordoba.The good Archbishop Riego de Dios ( Sp: "Tear of God") is pained by the violence occurring around him. While he must be credited for his moral example in keeping the Roman Catholic presence alive and well in Nueva Cordoba, he has so far been unwilling to speak to his Novo Catolico counterpart on any equal terms despite the violence between the two sects. In fact, one of the first topics of conversation between them is the Archbishop's insistence that the other renounce his allegiance to the Montevideo church and return to the Vatican's fold. Since Patre Eduardo Benitez Ruffo would vociferously reject that suggestion and storm out, further talks usually do not take place. Still, the growing number of funerals both must perform as a result of the conflict has given Archbishop Riego de Dios pause, and an increased willingness to open up to his counterpart. Motivations: Queen club, Heart 10. Archbishop Riego de Dios wants desperately to see peace restored to the city he loves. However, he will not do it at the expense of his convictions unless pushed. Of late, with the sectarian violence gaining more media attention over the separatist's, he is increasingly being pushed against a wall. If he is to restore peace between the two religions in the Nuevas Malvinas, Archbishop Riego de Dios will have to relent on doctrine enough to open a dialogue with the other side. The Archbishop is a mentally oriented, novice NPC. Meeting the Archbishop: He is found in the main Catedral in the center of the city, and in fact seldom leaves it. So far, Archbishop Riego de Dios has left the church grounds only to preside over the funerals of his flock. Though he is aware of the danger, he travels with no entourage or bodyguard, offering himself as a sacrifice "if God so wills". Padre Ernesto Benitez Ruffo, head of the Novo Catolico Church on TiranePadre Benitez, having started his career as a chaplain in Argentina's space military, accepted his current assignment as a test of his faith. With the number of remaining Roman Catholic adherents in the region, he felt honored and challenged by the opportunity to help them join the "true" Argentine church. However, what is not so well known was that his posting came not as a result of is works for the Novo Catolico Church but for INAP. In fact, it is the Novo Catolico church that has been funneling aid to the separatists, notably through the good offices of Padre Benitez. Much of his efforts are geared to destabilizing the current government, while at the same time harboring INAP agents seeking refuge from the agents of America, Australia, Brazil, Britain, and Wellon. However, if the NCP or FEDPOL get too close, Padre Benitez is more than willing to turn them over to local authorities covertly, in order to turn suspicion away from himself. INAP has, as a result, set up other safe houses for its agents on Tirane, ones unknown to Benitez. Agents hiding in these places are those INAP have no desire to allow into "enemy" hands, while those hiding with Benitez are expendable in INAP's eyes. Additionally, this has caused INAP to reconsider their relationship with Benitez, one that might prove not only his undoing, but of the aid pipeline as well. While they are working hard to replace Benitez's network, it is nowhere near ready to go. INAP merely hopes Benitez does not fall before their new network is operational, and will go to great lengths to help him for the time being. Motivations: Spade King, Diamond Jack. He will sell out anyone, anything, to save his own hide. While money is not a concern of his, his desire to get ahead not only with INAP but avoid detection by Australian and New Canberran authorities that keeps him going. While INAP has praised him for many of his efforts on their behalf, the organization's leadership in Buenos Aires and Mexico City believe it is just a matter of time before FEDPOL and the NCP catch up to him. Padre Benitez is a mentally oriented, novice NPC. Meeting Padre Benitez: When not in his sanctuary, he is found either in his office or in one of the many cafes along Avenida San Martin. At least half of the people he speaks to in these cafes are either INAP or ELTA agents. If the characters approach them in an official capacity, either as NCP officers, field agents, or troubleshooters, he will flee with the assistance of those at his table. WildlifeThe wildlife of the Nuevas Malvinas matches that of southern New Canberra, and thus drukeys, gattos, and the various other flora and fauna will be found. However, in the forests of Malvino Grande gattos and such are the least of one's worry. The only new danger that might be found there are the various bandito gangs and their redoubts. |