(Key:
Red X = Major Army Base
Red Box = Highly restricted military zone - no civilians permitted, no-fly zone.
Purple lines = Major naval installation
White lines = Air Force Bases
Double-white line on Comona Island = AFB + Extraatmospheros (space centre - not fully constructed)
Blue = Rivers)
The Free Republic of Belka
Government Type: Fascist Autocracy
Economic System: Restrictive Capitalism
Government Stance: Economic Left/Right: 1.25, Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: 7.54
Population: 2.4 billion
Monetary Unit: Regal
Overview
The Free Republic of Belka is a nation feared by many others. From her capital, Farbanti, Belka is ruled by a single autocratic and enigmatic Great Leader with absolute power. The entire government has been turned into some warped and twisted religious zeal, and the nation has been under this iron grip for over five centuries since the seven nations that once were separate joined to become one under the Holdan Dynasty. These seven nations have since lost their original names and retain only the names displayed on the map. The crosses indicate the most major cities, while Farbanti is marked and named.
Geographic Location
Taking up most of the Southwestern landmass of Soladia, Belka is a mishmash of geographical features. Her easternmost border is primarily desert, while everything east of that is a typically temperate zone, although most of her forests have given way to industrial and agricultural land. A small band of Belka falls into the tropical zone. This region is indicated by tracing a line directly east of the Darsan Straights. Belka Tropica falls almost entirely in this band, hence its name. Numerous ports dots and installations dot along the Belkan coast, while borders display a large number of military checkpoints and posts, which is also true inland. Large military bases litter the nation, and every city has a base with a permanent garrison on its outskirts for quick-response.
Belka was formerly several separate states which were eventually united.
West Belka is very much a wetland region with the river Calydon running through its heart. One of the widest rivers in the world, it is no surprise that Lake Calydon is used as an internal naval base; it's simply large enough to accommodate a fleet. Warm and somewhat humid, West Belka is prevented from being widely agricultural mostly due to the Calydon. Instead, a lot of it lays pretty barren. Around Cinigrad, the area is mountainous.
Nova Portens, one of the smaller divisions, is a population centre. It is warmer than most of the rest of Belka, and is not hampered as West Belka is by water. Much of the forests here have given way to industry which stretch through long industrialised towns all the way between the three cities.
Belka Major sees the widest distribution of climates due to its size. To the south, mountain ranges provide a great deal of rainfall, thus giving November City its name. Further north, massive plains and expanses have been colonised by immense agriculture. Farbanti, the nation's capital, is situated on a massive island built in a land reclamation project dead in the centre of the River Belqua, the river for which the nation is named. North of Romula is mostly a tropical rainforest which is being hacked down at an incredible rate to make way for more agriculture to feed Belka's ever-growing population.
East Belka is a highly mountainous region. Corel is practically built into a mountainside. Mining of many important resources takes place in East Belka, with the operations pushing into the eastern fringes of Belka Major.
Belka Tropica's climate is told by its name. Humid and warm all year round, the wet season is particularly violent. Belka have embraced this by destroying the main river which flows through the land, forming the Comona Inland Sea. Now, pumping stations are the only way the region doesn't flood, but the area was perfect to place a huge airbase and space centre that Belka nearly bankrupted itself in the venture.
Nord Belka is a fairly typical near-tropic temperate zone. Nord Belkans enjoy warm climates, agriculture and bustling cities.
Definitive Architectural Features
Steel, iron, red brick, stone and concrete are the primary architectural means. Everything Belka does is for functionality, though they do tend to reinforce the important structures with twin-layer walls. Governmental and cultural structures all display either statues, busts or stone-carved portraits of the Great Leader about their structure. They do build everything to last; steel girders always make up frames of larger buildings (even though they could free-stand on their own) and steel pillars surrounded by concrete thrust up from the centre. There is little of interest in terms of an architectural style; they build with oppression, resilience and practicality in mind.
The Presidential Palace is perhaps the only exception. It is made of white brick in a distinctively Romano-Greek style in a five-wing 'star' structure. Standing on the hill in the centre of the capital, Farbanti, its huge profile is visible throughout most of the city's streets, which, after the Great Fire three hundred years ago, were all built to draw straight lines out away from the Palace. On each point of the 'star' is a large circular tower, atop each of which stands a twenty-foot-tall bust of the Great Leader. The Palace is like a giant five-pronged sundial - casting a shadow over a portion of the city at all times of day.
Religion
The nature of the government and its installation over the people for so long has resulted in the Great Leader himself becoming the object of the Belkan peoples' faith. Posters and pictures depicting his image run along many taller civic buildings, and every Belkan has such a picture in their house. All Belkans look to him as an answerer to their prayers, and all follow him with dogged zeal.
Government
The autocratic Belkan Government is ruled absolutely by the Great Leader. Currently, this leader is Holdan the XXVI. The dynasty has ruled for over five hundred years since the seven Belkan subunits were united in The Great Union. He has a number of ministers who deal with his affairs, but overall absolute power is in his hands. All who would dissent are generally executed not by a Secret Police, but by the people themselves, such is their zeal. A Secret Police does exist, though, the all-pervasive Commissariat. They are not really so secret; they generally wear very military uniforms and patrol the streets wielding assault rifles. Order is therefore kept by an iron fist and also by promoting the Great Leader as a quasi-religious entity.
Culture
There is very little, save that installed by the government and other such propaganda. All forms of literary and dramatic entertainment depicting the Great Leader must show him as an almighty saviour. Religious articles are banned, and all literature must pass the Ministry of Purity (a euphemism for 'censorship') before being released. All television shows must also pass this scrutiny.
About the only culture Belka knows is war. Many movies and military recruitment drives are broadcast nationwide, as are many public executions of traitors and dissenters. Military parades march the streets to euphoric applause, and citizenship is only granted by service.
Music
Military band music and military orchestra make up 95% of the total musical compliment of Belkan culture.
Education
Education is free at all tiers. While all forms of science and tradecraft are taught in their more-or-less pure form, all are tainted with the idea that the Great Leader had some part to play, thus reinforcing the dogma. Beyond that, Belka does prize its education highly. State-funded even through to university, ability-testing determines their place on the university courses. While all are forced into a compulsory five-year term of military service, university students tend to go at a later age, and gain access to officer training.
Military
As such a militaristic nation, it is unsurprising that their total military force is so expansive (composing roughly 3% of the total population, a total of 72 million soldiers), and so much larger than any other single nation. Doctrines rely on first strikes, massive overwhelming and divide-and-conquer of enemies. Bases and emplacements can be found all across the expanse of the nation, and they know how to use them. A compulsory five-year military service is in place, although the service is much rewarded. Once out, citizens are planted into a job role according to need and vocation.
Ground forces, the primary emphasis of the Belkan Republican Forces, operate on mainly blitzkrieg and shock tactics, giving no quarter and use of frightening bombardments. Air forces concentrate on bombing, both blanket and strategic, and do not shy from use of chemical agents and incendiary weaponry. Naval forces favour massively large ships, bombardments and submarines, the most prominent and feared of which is the Scinfaxi-class. Their forces rely on weight of numbers and devastating first strikes to achieve victory. It is true, however, that Belka is often playing catchup to the Aesanians in terms of technology.
Belkan Navy
The Scinfaxi-class is a massive submarine-carrier capable of deploying a compliment of carrier-based jets and unmanned UAVs from a catapult pointing aftways, which can also serve as a short runway when the craft comes to land. They also sport ballistic missile technology, capable of utilising a nuclear warhead, a conventional-warhead MIRV (Multiple Independent Re-entry Vehicle) or a ballistic airburst shockwave antiship/anti-aircraft missile. 8-strong fighter flight made up of MiG-29Ks or F/A 35s. The Scinfaxi and Hrimfaxi are already upgraded to take the JSF. Archangel and Mobius are now receiving similar treatment.
Number -
BNS-SX-Scinfaxi
BNS-SX-Hrimfaxi
BNS-SX-Archangel
BNS-SX-Mobius
The Viper-class are charged with anti-ship and anti-submarine duty. Fast and with multiple torpedo tubes down each side to bite fast and hard.
Number - 26
BNS-SV-Viper
BNS-SV-Cobra
BNS-SV-King Cobra
BNS-SV-Hornet
BNS-SV-Anaconda
BNS-SV-Black Mamba
BNS-SV-Python
BNS-SV-Sidewinder
BNS-SV-Rattlesnake
BNS-SV-Beowulf-Pi
BNS-SV-Venom
BNS-SV-Raptor
BNS-SV-Eagle
BNS-SV-Tiger
BNS-SV-Panther
BNS-SV-Lynx
BNS-SV-Beowulf-Nu
BNS-SV-Falcon
BNS-SV-Shark
BNS-SV-Piranha
BNS-SV-Barracuda
BNS-SV-Orca
BNS-SV-Archer
BNS-SV-Billman
BNS-SV-Janissary
BNS-SV-Cavalier
The Corona-class are mine-laying submarines. Small and streamlined, based vaguely on an Atlantian design, the Corona can sneak up close and deploy the mines. Usually organised into Wolfpack strategies as per the Revlov Protocol, several Coronas will deploy their mines around ships of particular interest, causing the craft to either stop, slow down or back up, thus allowing Vipers to come by and destroy it.
14
BNS-SC-Ursa Major
BNS-SC-Opuchius
BNS-SC-Sagittarius
BNS-SC-Libra
BNS-SC-Gemini
BNS-SC-Aries
BNS-SC-Capricorn
BNS-SC-Cancer
BNS-SC-Scorpio
BNS-SC-Virgo
BNS-SC-Aquarius
BNS-SC-Leo
BNS-SC-Taurus
BNS-SC-Pisces
The Pike-II class is a brand new Atlantian Union design, the first of which was given to Belka as part of an arms deal. Boasting incredibly efficient undersea stealth capacity and also quick-escape means, the Belkans have added the purchased Javelin, as well as the six fresh-off-the-line submarines, to its fleets.
BNS-SP-Javelin
BNS-SP-Harbinger
BNS-SP-Pharaoh
BNS-SP-Czar
BNS-SP-Imperator
BNS-SP-Sovreign
BNS-SP-Sardaukar
Modified Kashin and Rajput-class destroyers are also put to bear.
22 Kashin
BNS-D-Hammerhead
BNS-D-Louan Golag
BNS-D-Viator
BNS-D-Riparian
BNS-D-Hern
BNS-D-Reckoning
BNS-D-High Charity
BNS-D-Tiamat
BNS-D-Bahamut
BNS-D-Ifrit
BNS-D-Shiva
BNS-D-Zero
BNS-D-Atomos
BNS-D-Diablos
BNS-D-Phoenix
BNS-D-Taisch
BNS-D-Eden
BNS-D-Atma
BNS-D-Ramuh
BNS-D-Chimera
BNS-D-Cockatrice
BNS-D-Balrog
16 Rajput
BNS-D2-Thiassi
BNS-D2-Carabiner
BNS-D2-Mongoose
BNS-D2-Black Widow
BNS-D2-Wolf's Dragoon
BNS-D2-Jade Falcon
BNS-D2-Kestrel
BNS-D2-Vulture
BNS-D2-Hawk
BNS-D2-Buzzard
BNS-D2-Magdalena
BNS-D2-Effigy
BNS-D2-Malise
BNS-D2-Okiya Nieba
BNS-D2-Firebird
BNS-D2-Condor
Cruisers of Kynda and Kara class are also in use.
9 Kynda
BNS-C-Kynda
BNS-C-Farbanti
BNS-C-Ochre
BNS-C-Beluga
BNS-C-August
BNS-C-Nord Belka
BNS-C-Raven
BNS-C-Sable
BNS-C-Fenris
15 Kara
BNS-C2-Adoring Light
BNS-C2-Maserata
BNS-C2-Galleniah
BNS-C2-Lotus
BNS-C2-Lazuli
BNS-C2-Redemption
BNS-C2-Kolga
BNS-C2-Vengeance
BNS-C2-Kara
BNS-C2-Kara-II
BNS-C2-Lubjanka
BNS-C2-Aria
BNS-C2-Helena Bolag
BNS-C2-Fallen Angel
BNS-C2-Great Union
Faythe-Class Dreadnoughts take a number of leaves from the Iowa-Class battleships utilised by the Aesanian Union. Mostly in weaponry and hull strength.
3
BNS-BS-Faythe
BNS-BS-Glory
BNS-BS-Tanager
Aircraft Carriers, the absolute pride and joy of the navy are Prince of Wales (CVF) class and Vikramaditya class. Designed mostly as part of a technological arms race with the Aesanian Union. Fighter flights comrpise Su-35Ks and MiG-29Ks, but more and more F/A-35s will be used as they are produced, phasing out first the MiGs and then the Sukhois.
2 Prince of Wales
BNS-AC-Great Leader's Pride
BNS-AC-Rook
3 Vikramaditya
BNS-ACV-Arbiter
BNS-ACV-Geofon
BNS-ACV-Inquisitor
Belkan Army
Infantry Weaponry
Steyr AUG
PKM
NSV
XM8 Carbine (for where the Steyr's too big, eg tank crews)
Dragunov
Tanks
T-80 MBT
T-90 MBT
These two tanks now make up 75% of the total Belkan tank force. The rest is made up of older T-series tanks, such as the
T-72 MBT which is forever undergoing upgrades to try to keep it modernised. Fully seventy per cent of the T-72 arsenal have been refitted to T-80 design spec.
The Belkan Army is working on the Black Eagle tank, with limited progress thus far.
APC/IFVs
BTR-94
BMP-3
BTR-90
Unarmoured Transports
GAZ-3937 Vodnik
(modified to allow optional fitting of a fixed RPG instead of the PKT)
Air Support
Mi-24 Hind
Mi-28 Havoc
Ka-50 Black Shark
Other Armour
2S5 (aka M1981)
A-19 Field Gun - Shells upgraded to bring up to present-day standards.
Type-89 122mm rocket launcher
Air Force
Fighters
Su-33 Flanker
Su-37 Terminator
S-37 Berkut (Advanced and modernised)
MiG-29 Fulcrum
F/A 35 JSF (Orig. from Atlantian Empire)
Reconnaisance is conducted by unloaded and refitted Flankers and MiGs. Otherwise indistinguishable from the combat variants, the MiG-29R and Su-37R are fitted with cameras instead of weapons.
Bombers/Strike Craft
Su-34 Fullback
Tu-160 Blackjack
AWACS
A-50 Mainstay
Support/Transport
Il-76 Candid
http://en.wikipedia....v_An-225]An-225
Homeland Deterrent System
Megalith
A huge ballistic missile base situated in central Belka, Megalith's main nerve centre is deep underground. It is essentially a huge multi-tubular missile silo, heavily armoured and near-impervious against strikes and incursions, with the only way to disable it being from the inside. Many speculate that it was this device that prompted the Aesanian Union to build the Divine Shield and Arkbird project. While Divine Shield is a super defence, this is a superweapon. The composition of the Megalith ICBMs is as yet unknown, but nuclear or chemical weapons can probably be assumed.
Megalith, along with Belka's other nuclear silos, have as yet never been fired. It serves as a deterrent method so far. But in the words of a past Aesanian leader, "God help the world if they do use it."
Additionally, given the advancements the Belkans have in terms of ballistic and intercontinental missile technology, they have plans to take this dominance into outer space with the SOLG weapon. Comona Island will be the staging point for the launch of this precision strategic defence satellite. Belka's answer to the Arkbird, and also to the fact that its ground missiles can be easily shot down over the course of its trajectory, SOLG will be able to maintain a either geostationary or hyperorbit and 'throw' the missiles down without a heat signature (it would burn no propellent, and therefore not show up on scanners). This is development in-progress, and the parts have yet to begin manufacture.
Additionally, fortifications of all kinds run the coast. The Cold War tradition established between the two superpowers seems to be to match or outmatch one another's weapons and defences.
