Hegemony of the Northern Rockies

[b]Leader's/Government Name:[/b] Andrea Habicht

The government structure of the Hegemony, despite the democratic aspects, resembles a dictatorship more than anything else. A chancellor leads the state , wielding nigh-absolute authority in all matters. His/her orders can only be contradicted should all of the mayors reject her decision, a rare occurrence. With such power the Chancellor is able to quickly respond to any incidents that would threaten the Hegemony, not having to deal with any objections that could endanger the safety of the inhabitants. The Chancellorship is awarded by a group of elders, representing the mayor and community representative of each township. The mayor of each town is elected in a similar manner. Despite these absolutist measures democratic elements are still present in society, including the right to petition, protest, and oust a leader if they are mismanaging the town/Hegemony.

[url=http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/SirVesuvius/1024px-BlankMap-USA-states-Canada-provinces_HI_closersvg_zps53a6a34c.png]Territory of the Hegemony[/url]

[b]Description of Society[/b]
Society took a harsh turn ever since the outbreak began, more so in some places than others. One of the areas to take extreme measures was the area which would eventually become the Hegemony. One may become a citizen by being born in Hegemony territory or by being admitted by a senior official's recommendation. All others must first pass a two week's probationary period before taking a 'test'. This test is more a display of will and loyalty, required by all to ensure that the Hegemony does not fall. The test taker is given an unloaded gun but this fact is not shared. They are then forced to 'shoot' someone. If the person cannot bring themselves to do it then they are thrown out of the territory. If they pass then they are immediately accepted as a citizen. A secondary test may be taken if the first one is failed, albeit a much more dangerous one. A person is sent out into the wild and must return by the end of the fifth day of leaving. On one condition. The applicant must bring back the heads of at least three zombies. If the applicant is part of a family they are sent out alone or with any children over the age of 16. If this task is completed then the applicant is also immediately accepted. Any form of dangerous behavior is dealt with harshly, flogging being the most basic punishment, though more serious crimes will result in death or expulsion without chance of return.

[b]Description of Technology[/b]
The Hegemony boasts an impressive array of technology and industrial capabilities despite the degraded state of the world following the outbreak. Large amounts of farming equipment can be found within or just outside the border, remnants of the old vineyards that produced massive quantities of wine pre-outbreak. This impressive array allows the inhabitants of the Hegemony to support themselves with farming to an extent despite the harsh nature of the area in which they live. The only problem presented by this is that the best farmland lies outside of the Hegemony's mountainous territory. In addition to farming, the Hegemony is only a short distance away from the Pacific Ocean and one of the largest ports on the West Coast. As such there are several fishing ships that can be commandeered by those of the Hegemony, although this is not done frequently as it involves risks of all kinds, albeit less than that of farming. Most often, fishing is done in the streams that run through the state of Washington.

Military technology, while not in abundance, are not a rare sight either. Over decades the nearby airfields and bases have been strippped of all valuable material, providing a vast supply of explosives, ammunition, spare parts, vehicles, and other specialized equipment. The planes were left in the airfield in hopes that they could one day be used to venture further than they ever have before. A firearm is kept in every house, meant to be used as a deterrent against the living . Against the dead, older style weaponry is used, primarily maces and short swords. Each village maintains a defense force ready to react but the bulk of the killing is done by roaming teams of hunters patrolling the borders. When encountering a group of zombies they will utilize their weapons to dispatch them quietly. If detected they form a shield wall using procured riot shields and finishing off the zombies. Each kill team also has two men that carry a firearm.

[b]Industries[/b]
The Hegemony stands as one of the main producers of raw materials out of the surviving societies. Mining quarries are scattered throughout the mountains, allowing the Hegemony access to metals and stone with which to build. In addition, manufacturing plants for electronics. vehicles, and lumber are situated near the Hegemony, allowing them to produce a variety of rarer items if needed. Due to an abundance of damns in the area, the Hegemony has been able to repair some and restore power to these plants. However, as the plants lie outside the border, it presents a danger to all those involved. Despite this availability, they do not have the means to manufacture weapons, clothing, or medical equipment very well, relying on others or rare scavenging ventures to bring back these supplies. Food can also be a problem for them as the mountainous terrain limits the crop-growing ability of many.