Housatonic: Difference between revisions

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File:Tamarack Bog (10247925825).jpg|The non-urbanized parts of the Urban Geography are dominated by typical far northern subarctic fauna and flora, such as this {{wp|tamarack}} forest.

File:Beechey Island 02 1997-08-02.jpg|The tundra-dominated Unnuaq Chain is remarkable for its sheer cliffs which take up most of the coast of all three islands.

===Conquest and independence===

After the [[War of the Northern Confederation]] and destruction of the Confederation, Housatonic was besieged by forces of Algoquona. Unlike nearby [[Pachaug]], the city did not submit, and was seized by force on 8 September of 2011. Thousands were killed and the city was looted; in an ironic twist, the area hardest impacted were the wealthier quarters, whom supported union with Algoquona for generations. The city was integrated into Algoquona, but the siege had the dual effect of hardening the city's resolve and destroying what pro-Algoquonan elements existed. 2012 and early 2013 saw a cycle of violence between radicals and the Algoquonan government, though Algoquona eventually afforded the city peace at the expense of autonomy, which some welcomed. Regardless, the city's leaders joined with others - especially the leaders of Pachaug - to agitate for autonomy within Algoquona and, eventually, the right of appeal to [[Urcea]]. The enmity between Housatonic and its Algoquonan overlords not only lay in resentment of domination but in relatively obscure religious issues; though both Algoquona and Housatonic adhered to the [[M'acunism|M'acunist]] faith tradition, Housatonicers mostly adhered to the [[M%27acunism#Man_school|Man School]] and constructed physical temples, structures largely viewed as abominations by the [[M%27acunism#Nature_school|Nature School]]-adhering Algoquona. The city was targeted for reprisals in November and December 2016, but [[Operation Mission Shield]] and [[Operation Western Blizzard]] thoroughly destroyed the ability of Algoquona to project power or police its territories. Housatonic joined with Pachaug to form the ''Tokorua nga taone nui'' ("two cities force"), eventually besieging Khurnwah and forcing Algoquona to enter into peace talks arbitrated by Urcea. Housatonic readily agreed to the 2017 Treaty of Electorsbourg and entered into negotiations with Urcea to establish the [[International charter city|charter agreement]] under which it would be governed. Housatonic retained more autonomy under its agreement with Urcea than Pachaug, though Housatonic's agreement included greater authority for [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] missions given the larger Catholic minority and influence within the city.

Significant economic development occurred in Housatonic during the charter city period. The city's economy was significantly deregulated and banks were established in an effort to become a {{wp|tax haven}} to Occidental countries; Urcean administrators purposefully studied the history of [[New Archduchy]]'s economic success in this regard during the 20th century as a pattern for Housatonic's development. In [[2019]], construction began on a major {{wp|international airport}} in Housatonic, the world's northernmost large airport. The airport not only provided additional military logistical capability for the [[Armed Forces of Urcea]] but also allowed for the easy arrival of foreign business interests. The airport remains in place and serves as a major northern hub for air travel. With the [[Final War of the Deluge]] beginning in [[2020]], economic growth slowed slightly due to fears of invasion from [[Algoquona]], but fears abated once most of Algoquona's offensive capability was destroyed in the [[Tepetlcali campaign]] by early [[2021]]; following the campaign, a minor offensive by the [[Royal and Imperial Army (Urcea)|Royal and Imperial Army]] and [[Royal Marine Corps (Urcea)|Royal Marine Corps]] created a security buffer for Housatonic within Algoquona's territory, ending the threat. By late 2021, interest in the city abroad recovered and economic development resumed. The city received significant foreign attention as its airport was a vital link for international forces arriving to fight against [[Varshan]] under [[League of Nations Command]] following the beginning of hostilities with that country. The war had the effect of greatly increasing Housatonic's name recognition abroad, and local leaders used the transitory presence of military forces to create and enforce a strong brand for the city in conjunction with Occidental marketing experts. Following the war, economic development interest grew signifiantly. The city became an outlet for companies to begin doing business and manufacturing within the [[Nysdra Sea Treaty Association]]'s trade exclusion zone. By [[2027]], the GDP PC of the city had doubled to roughly $18,000 after just a decade of charter status, gaining it the nickname of the "Northern Miracle" to the foreign business press.