Cairo

Cairo is a human megacity located on the Nile River in the north of the African continent. It is known for its rich history and is often seen as the birthplace of the Irin Republic. However, after 2750, it was conquered by the Velconum Empire and remains a Velconi stronghold into the 31st century.
== History ==
Cairo was the capital of the territory of Kalyen Irin, the North African warlord and founder of the Irin Republic. The city is often seen as the birthplace of the Irini, although Kalyen Irin was not literally born there. 
In the First Irin-Velconum war, Cairo was occupied by the Velconi on their path to Mirnozemle in Central Asia. When the Velconi advance was finally halted at Almetovsky and the Empire agreed to settle for negotiations, they refused to give up their conquered territory in Africa. Though Australia, also occupied by the Velconi during the war, made for a more rational taking due to its proximity to the ruins of Atlantis and relative separation from the Irini heartland, the Velconi insisted on maintaining a presence in Africa and returning Australia. Pax Terra granted the Velconi access to Atlantis anyways, and Dahak sought to demoralize the Irini by taking control of where their Republic all started. 
Ultimately, Cairo was handed over to the Velconum Empire and indeed struck a major blow to Irini morale. Much of the city's population was replaced with a Velconi one when it switched hands, though some long-time residents refused to leave. The Velconi began developing Cairo as they had their own territories, turning it into an industrial and military centre. 
By the 3000s, Cairo had become a fully Velconi city. However, it was still a centre for culture and history, housing a large museum with artifacts dating all the way back to the time of Atlantis, including references to the Punishers. The city was the target of a siege by joint Irini and Rovoen troops in 3012. The Rovoen attacked the Velconi in retribution for their invasion of Ro and the Irin Republic took the opportunity to take back a city important to their past. 
After two and a half centuries of Velconi control, the birthplace of the Irin Republic finally returned to Irini hands following the battle. The Irini held the city for only a year before both the Irin Republic and Velconum Empire were dissolved and merged into New Atlantis, at which point Cairo became a New Atlantean city. Category:Cities