United Enclave of British Counties

UEBC's state flag, St. George's Cross.

## Lore Overview

The **United Enclave of British Counties** is the post-Flash successor state to the United Kingdom. Following the Flash, it was able to rebuild quicker than countries such as the United States of America. Currently, it is in a rivalry with the Brazilian Republic over trade within the post-Flash world, with competition in both Africa and North America. Despite its size and damage inflicted on the British Isles during the nuclear exchange in the Third World War, the UEBC continues to climb and challenge Brazil's dominance and status as a superpower.

## History

### Pre-Flash

Prior to the formation of the UEBC and the Flash, the British Isles were home to an old European power known as the United Kingdom, made up of the kingdoms of England, Wales, and Scotland, alongside the territory of Northern Ireland. The United Kingdom had once been an undisputed colonial power for centuries, which had mostly dissipated toward the end of the 20th century.

As part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the United Kingdom, alongside the US and other European allies, battled against the Asian Continental Military Force (ACMF) during the Third World War in a conflict lasting over six years spanning across the globe. However, in the fall of 2032, a nuclear exchange would destroy both NATO and ACMF, which would plunge the world into an apocalyptic state. Several major cities, including the United Kingdom's capital, London, would fall victim to the nuclear strikes, forming many irradiated deadlands.

### Nuclear Winter

With the clouds of ashes filling the skies following the nuclear exchange, the world would be plunged into a nuclear winter. However, unlike its American allies across the Atlantic Ocean with the United States Civilization Preservation Force (USCPF), the Westminster government was ultimately unable to form a post-Flash reclamation force to restore order in the wasteland. As a result, the British Isles remained in complete anarchy, and the United Kingdom officially disbanded. From the 2030s and into the 2040s, Britain was ravaged by mutants and raiders alike, forcing smaller communities of survivors to band together in order to get through the tough post-Flash environment.

It wouldn’t be until the 2040s that these communities would seek ties with one another to establish a unified state, most prominent within the border regions between England and Wales. This sentiment was felt with many, including former politicians and military officials that had served the pre-war government centered within the community of Herefordshire. With the protection of itself against bandits and mutants, and ultimately the wasteland itself, a militia group, named the "Royal Militia" was formed, which would slowly grow in power to rival opposing factions that stood in their way.

### Formation of the United Enclave

Soon, the Royal Militia began to expand their efforts outside of the Herefordshire Area, purging bandit-contested areas as well as scavenging supplies from former military installations which led to the acquisition of military grade equipment. By the late 2050s, the Royal Militia had expanded far into Britain, including up into Scotland, with some success in unifying with the locals while other rejected. By the late 2050s, most of England and Wales had been successfully reclaimed, which would eventually lead to the official founding of the United Enclave of British Counties in 2061, with Herefordshire as its capital. With the assistance of the Royal Commerce Organisation (RCO), the UEBC would begin to rebuild its country at a quick pace and seek to expand outside its borders. It's growing economy was also bolstered by the creation of a new official currency, named the "New Sterling" which was backed by copper.

### Reconstruction Era

Alongside the US, the UEBC would begin the process of rebuilding the nation and seeking communications with the rest of the world to once again resume trade. Soon, the Royal Militia was reformed into a proper military force, the Royal Army (RA). The Royal Army would be supplemented by pre-war scavenged equipment as well as hardware produced from newly rebuilt factories and infrastructure. Alongside the Royal Army, the Royal Navy was restored and, as it once was centuries ago, would return to its undisputed status as the top naval power in the post-Flash world. With a newly founded government, it was decided to elect a new monarch to rule over the country, and so in 2089, Howell Faulkner, the son of a well decorated pre-war officer and Royal Militia veteran, was crowned King of the UEBC. Just as in the United Kingdom, a constitution was formed to preserve democratic values of the people.

With the RCO, the UEBC would resume trade with other nations in Europe, its mission to help rebuild former NATO states and unify them once again, just as they once were before the Flash. This would also spread to the US across the Atlantic Ocean, with the spread of British goods in American markets, which aided the RCO and UEBC's economies greatly. However, by the 2090s, the Brazilian Republic was encountered, and a newfound rivalry in the region would commence between the two great powers. During this period, RCO ships would be attacked and boarded by naval vessels of the Maior Exército Brasileiro (MEB), Brazil's reformed military. This would force the UEBC to increase military spending in order to counter the threat of Brazil, which would only increase at the start of the Atlanta Crisis.

With no choice, the UEBC would fight alongside the US in the Atlanta Crisis in 2096 and the following Second American Civil War. With much of its industrial capacity weakened, with the newly formed People's Republic of Tidewater (PRT) seizing it from the US government, the RCO would send what it could to aid the American war effort, including the RA's assistance in combat operations in North America against the PRT and MEB. However, with hostilities climaxing around the late 2090s and into the 2100s, the RA would mostly halt its operations, focusing on other theaters near Central and South America against the MEB. Today, the UEBC and RCO maintain a presence on the East Coast of North America, with many ports and adjoining facilities owned by them.

## Politics

### Relations

#### United States of America

The US and the British have had relations since long before the Flash, and even afterwards, the RCO act as the UEBC’s helping hand to the US. The RCO act as both combatant allies and suppliers. Though they started more neutral in the early years, they grew to bring back the great alliance.

#### People's Republic of Tidewater

The PRT and the UEBC stand in an awkward position, the MEB blocking the RCO from being a trade ally of the PRT. Though, the RCO get around it by secretly trading commercial goods to the PRT, keeping them at a quiet neutral-friendly stance. Though, if the time had to come, the RCO would go into combat against unsuspecting PRT troops who threaten RCO goods.

#### Brazilian Republic

The RCO and the MEB have a rough history, and are in all senses hostile to each other. The MEB have sunk RCO ships, claimed British territory, and have hired a notorious pirate gang to hinder RCO activity.

#### The Reds

The UEBC and Reds had initially been allies prior to the Second American Civil War. However, nowadays communication between the two has grown stagnant.