Grand Vandarch Canal: Difference between revisions

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==History==
==History==
From the [[Carolina Grand Canal]]'s opening in [[1880]] until the Grand Vandarch Canal's opening in [[1975]], the nations along the [[Carolina Grand Canal]] enjoyed a monopoly on maritime shipping to the landlocked countries, and major port cities of the Vandarch. Because it was controlled by and run through the [[Holy Levantine Empire]]'s countries of [[Urcea]], Kronenia, and Hollona and Diorisia it gave the [[Holy Levantine Empire|Empire]], and [[Urcea]] specifically, a disproportionate level of economic power in that region. The beginning of the Grand Vandarch Canal followed the formal dissolution of the [[Holy Levantine Empire]], the end of the [[Great War]], and by extension the reduction of southern [[Levantia]]'s crushing hold on much of the continent. At the time it was celebrated by all northern [[Levantia|Levantine]] nations as a demonstration of modern, self-determinist northern [[Levantia]]. In southern [[Levantia]] it was met with a much cooler reception; nations along the [[Carolina Grand Canal]] were obviously not pleased to have their monopoly broken and the loss of considerable revenues in the form of passage fees and taxes. While it was loudly protested in [[Urcea]] for this reason, the economic loses would be stymying in Kronenia, and Hollona and Diorisia, who had faired far worse in the [[Great War]] and whose economies were not big enough to absorb the blow like [[Urcea]]'s.
From the [[Carolina Grand Canal]]'s opening in [[1880]] until the Grand Vandarch Canal's opening in [[1975]], the nations along the [[Carolina Grand Canal]] enjoyed a monopoly on maritime shipping to the landlocked countries, and major port cities of the Vandarch. Because it was controlled by and run through the [[Holy Levantine Empire]]'s countries of [[Urcea]], Kronenia, and Hollona and Diorisia it gave the [[Holy Levantine Empire|Empire]], and [[Urcea]] specifically, a disproportionate level of economic power in that region. The beginning of the Grand Vandarch Canal followed the formal dissolution of the [[Holy Levantine Empire]], the end of the [[Second Great War]], and by extension the reduction of southern [[Levantia]]'s crushing hold on much of the continent. At the time it was celebrated by all northern [[Levantia|Levantine]] nations as a demonstration of modern, self-determinist northern [[Levantia]]. In southern [[Levantia]] it was met with a much cooler reception; nations along the [[Carolina Grand Canal]] were obviously not pleased to have their monopoly broken and the loss of considerable revenues in the form of passage fees and taxes. While it was loudly protested in [[Urcea]] for this reason, the economic loses would be stymying in Kronenia, and Hollona and Diorisia, who had faired far worse in the [[Second Great War]] and whose economies were not big enough to absorb the blow like [[Urcea]]'s.


A northern Vandarch Canal had been considered as an option since before the Grand Carolina's construction. The ideal location contained parts of [[Gleathan]] in [[Faneria]]. It was an underdeveloped border region within Faneria, but more importantly it spanned the narrowest part of the isthmus on the northern bank of the Vandarch.
A northern Vandarch Canal had been considered as an option since before the Grand Carolina's construction. The ideal location contained parts of [[Gleathan]] in [[Faneria]]. It was an underdeveloped border region within Faneria, but more importantly it spanned the narrowest part of the isthmus on the northern bank of the Vandarch.


The ground of the modern Grand Vandarch Canal was first broken by the [[North Levantine Architects' Guild]] on behalf of the [[Faneria|Fhainnin]] government in a bid to allow warships from the Vandarch Fleet to reinforce its Kilikas and Nordska fleets, with a project being initiated in 1929 and preparations being made in 1934. Initial surveys and redesigns saw partial work performed on laying out the path of the canal and building infrastructure, but in the waning years of the [[Great War]] the focus of the project shifted from attempting to complete the project with haste to a longer-term civilian role as an inability to dedicate enough wartime labor before the perceived end of the conflict was compounded by a growing fear of uprisings at the conclusion of the war if soldiers came home to high unemployment rates. Many countries looked to such titanic infrastructure projects as a way to, at least temporarily, give thousands of jobs to the returning service men, and at the conclusion of the war, and following the inconclusive end of the [[Great War]] the newly formed [[League of Nations]] sought proposals for peacetime efforts to bond nations together.
The ground of the modern Grand Vandarch Canal was first broken by the [[North Levantine Architects' Guild]] on behalf of the [[Faneria|Fhainnin]] government in a bid to allow warships from the Vandarch Fleet to reinforce its Kilikas and Nordska fleets, with a project being initiated in 1929 and preparations being made in 1934. Initial surveys and redesigns saw partial work performed on laying out the path of the canal and building infrastructure, but in the waning years of the [[Second Great War]] the focus of the project shifted from attempting to complete the project with haste to a longer-term civilian role as an inability to dedicate enough wartime labor before the perceived end of the conflict was compounded by a growing fear of uprisings at the conclusion of the war if soldiers came home to high unemployment rates. Many countries looked to such titanic infrastructure projects as a way to, at least temporarily, give thousands of jobs to the returning service men, and at the conclusion of the war, and following the inconclusive end of the [[Second Great War]] the newly formed [[League of Nations]] sought proposals for peacetime efforts to bond nations together.


In [[1958]] Faneria's initial canal design was adopted and altered by the Committee for Global Prosperity and Improvement, an ad hoc committee that had been established to select projects in the immediate post-war period. It was put to a vote in the [[League of Nations General Assembly]] on the final agenda before the winter recess and passed by a narrow majority. There was some minor resistance from [[Urcea]] and the delegation from the [[Deric States]]. They had expected support from their close allies in [[Burgundie]], hoping to vote as a newly formed [[Levantine Union]] bloc. [[Burgundie]] saw this as an opportunity to extend good will to northern [[Levantia|Levantine]] countries with whom they sought trade deals. Seen as a another example of [[Burgundie]] putting commerce ahead of a southern [[Levantia|Levantine solidarity]] it strained the [[Levantine Union]] almost to the breaking point. [[Caphiria]] and its allies voted in favor of the resolution to reduce [[Urcea]]'s power in northern [[Levantia]]. The [[Vandarch Sea|Vandarch-locked]] countries and [[Faneria]] voted in favor of the resolution to celebrate their new agency and for economic gains. [[Kiravia]] voted in favor of the resolution to gain direct access to the heart of the [[Levantia|Levantine]] economy. The remaining of the members of the [[LoN]] voted in in about a 50/50 split, leaving the yays to take the day.
In [[1958]] Faneria's initial canal design was adopted and altered by the Committee for Global Prosperity and Improvement, an ad hoc committee that had been established to select projects in the immediate post-war period. It was put to a vote in the [[League of Nations General Assembly]] on the final agenda before the winter recess and passed by a narrow majority. There was some minor resistance from [[Urcea]] and the delegation from the [[Deric States]]. They had expected support from their close allies in [[Burgundie]], hoping to vote as a newly formed [[Levantine Union]] bloc. [[Burgundie]] saw this as an opportunity to extend good will to northern [[Levantia|Levantine]] countries with whom they sought trade deals. Seen as a another example of [[Burgundie]] putting commerce ahead of a southern [[Levantia|Levantine solidarity]] it strained the [[Levantine Union]] almost to the breaking point. [[Caphiria]] and its allies voted in favor of the resolution to reduce [[Urcea]]'s power in northern [[Levantia]]. The [[Vandarch Sea|Vandarch-locked]] countries and [[Faneria]] voted in favor of the resolution to celebrate their new agency and for economic gains. [[Kiravia]] voted in favor of the resolution to gain direct access to the heart of the [[Levantia|Levantine]] economy. The remaining of the members of the [[LoN]] voted in in about a 50/50 split, leaving the yays to take the day.
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This grand vision was almost immediately halted when in [[1962]] after only three months of preliminary construction, funding became an issue. Member states who had pledged funding to the Committee for Global Prosperity and Improvement's projects balked when the time came due to actually pay. The international effort ground to a halt despite local housing and rail line construction continuing. [[Caphiria]] and its allies cooled to the idea of keeping its their commitment of 1.5 billion [[Aureus]]es as the [[Occidental Cold War]] grew into a larger part of its approach to post-war [[Levantia]]. [[Burgundie]], who had committed to paying 700 million [[Thaler]]s over the duration of the project, found itself embroiled to stop a pro-communist coup in [[Kandara]] that would eventually expand to the massive [[Operation Kipling]]. It reduced its commitment to 500 million [[Thaler]]s over 30 years, regardless of when the project was completed, which reduced investor confidence in the success of the project. For much of the mid 60s the project stagnated, directly coinciding with the worst of the [[Lean Years]].
This grand vision was almost immediately halted when in [[1962]] after only three months of preliminary construction, funding became an issue. Member states who had pledged funding to the Committee for Global Prosperity and Improvement's projects balked when the time came due to actually pay. The international effort ground to a halt despite local housing and rail line construction continuing. [[Caphiria]] and its allies cooled to the idea of keeping its their commitment of 1.5 billion [[Aureus]]es as the [[Occidental Cold War]] grew into a larger part of its approach to post-war [[Levantia]]. [[Burgundie]], who had committed to paying 700 million [[Thaler]]s over the duration of the project, found itself embroiled to stop a pro-communist coup in [[Kandara]] that would eventually expand to the massive [[Operation Kipling]]. It reduced its commitment to 500 million [[Thaler]]s over 30 years, regardless of when the project was completed, which reduced investor confidence in the success of the project. For much of the mid 60s the project stagnated, directly coinciding with the worst of the [[Lean Years]].


While the Southern [[Levantia|Levantine]] nations continued to focus on their existing rivals as if the [[Great War]] had never ended, for the countries of Northern [[Levantia]] they found that without the [[Holy Levantine Empire]] their were boundless new economic and political opportunities in [[Levantia]] and abroad for them to explore. The nations of [[Eldmora-Regulus]], [[Faneria]], [[Fiannria]], [[Hendalarsk]] and [[Yonderre]] found this a time of optimism and economic growth. By [[1967]] many of these nations had made commitments of their own that almost filled the gaps left by the [[Sarpedon]]ians and [[Burgundie|Burgoignesc]] backing out or reducing payments. In [[1969]] enough funding had been secured to resume full schedule construction. The pause, while costly and a waste of time, had however allowed technology to catch up the scale of the task. What was projected to take 8 years took only 6. Massive crews of men in mechanical diggers and boring machines carved through the isthmus at an incredible rate. The progress of the canal is considered on of the first satellite time lapse sequences to be completed, taken by [[Caphiria|Caphirian]] spy satellites and declassified in [[2018]] after the conclusion of the [[Occidental Cold War]].  
While the Southern [[Levantia|Levantine]] nations continued to focus on their existing rivals as if the [[Second Great War]] had never ended, for the countries of Northern [[Levantia]] they found that without the [[Holy Levantine Empire]] their were boundless new economic and political opportunities in [[Levantia]] and abroad for them to explore. The nations of [[Eldmora-Regulus]], [[Faneria]], [[Fiannria]], [[Hendalarsk]] and [[Yonderre]] found this a time of optimism and economic growth. By [[1967]] many of these nations had made commitments of their own that almost filled the gaps left by the [[Sarpedon]]ians and [[Burgundie|Burgoignesc]] backing out or reducing payments. In [[1969]] enough funding had been secured to resume full schedule construction. The pause, while costly and a waste of time, had however allowed technology to catch up the scale of the task. What was projected to take 8 years took only 6. Massive crews of men in mechanical diggers and boring machines carved through the isthmus at an incredible rate. The progress of the canal is considered on of the first satellite time lapse sequences to be completed, taken by [[Caphiria|Caphirian]] spy satellites and declassified in [[2018]] after the conclusion of the [[Occidental Cold War]].  


In total, over the course of the 15 years of construction, the project cost 8.7 billion Thalers, employed 640,034 people, and is estimated to have fed and housed 1.5 million workers, families, and persons who provided on-site goods and services. Financially, it was, like most other grand infrastructure projects, poorly managed, inefficiently run, and wasteful. However, it is touted as a massive human success. Service men and women coming back from the far flung battle fields of the [[Great War]] and were given stable employment, a roof over their head, and three square meals a day for the duration of the time they worked or lived in the canal zone.
In total, over the course of the 15 years of construction, the project cost 8.7 billion Thalers, employed 640,034 people, and is estimated to have fed and housed 1.5 million workers, families, and persons who provided on-site goods and services. Financially, it was, like most other grand infrastructure projects, poorly managed, inefficiently run, and wasteful. However, it is touted as a massive human success. Service men and women coming back from the far flung battle fields of the [[Second Great War]] and were given stable employment, a roof over their head, and three square meals a day for the duration of the time they worked or lived in the canal zone.


==Incidents of Note==
==Incidents of Note==