Columbia/Branches

## Government

### Politics

As a federal republic, Columbia's head of state is the **President** who is the representative of the Federal Government under the **Union Congress**. The power of the Federal Government is balanced by various state governments who govern the state, enabling a system of check-and-balance. While in paper, every party is under the supervision of others, in reality, corruptions is prevalent where the government could be abusive to the people. In fact, there seemingly exists a "deep state" which is rumored to be spearheaded by Maylander since the nation's foundation.

Despite the nation is run by the President democratically, surprisingly, there is simply no term limit for its one and only President since the nation's foundation -- President Mark Max -- due to his extreme popularity. As a matter of fact, the Columbians are gratefully fine for President Max to stay in his office as long as he wants while not knowing his true nature. In turn, it is the **Vice President** who carries out the will of President Max, and they are the ones to be subjected to public elections where candidates will be voted by the voters.

#### Offices

The Federal Government is divided into three branches under the principle of the separation of powers: a Legislative Branch led by the Union Congress, an Executive Branch by the President, and a Judiciary Branch by the **Union Supreme Court**.

The following are some notable sub-branches and government agencies:

* **Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Arts Units and Originium (ATAO)**: The law enforcement organization of the Columbian government. It specifically regulates the manufacture and import of Arts units and Originium devices. But behind the scenes, the ATAO is trying to arouse conflicts within Sargon in order to earn profit through bloodshed.
* **Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):** A national agency tasked with ensuring public health, as well as the prevention and control of diseases. They have a toxicity database containg the hazard levels of various materials, such as Originium.
* **Columbia's Custom and Border Protection (CBP)**: A federal agency that safeguards the country's borders and regulates the activity in the customs.

### Military

#### Department of Defense

The **Department of Defense** (**D.O.D**) is the sole military department of Columbia under the Executive Branch which governs the military, and the national military under its jurisdiction is the **Union Army** that wields some of the latest technologies in Terra such as power-driven armors.

The D.O.D has been in disagreement with the Federal Government for years. Unlike other government branches, the D.O.D. firmly believes in "might makes right" and yearns to expand Columbia's influence via military expansion. Unfortunately, following the failed invasion of Bolívar in the late 40s, the D.O.D. completely fell from grace in both the Federal Government and the public. *The Union War Preparation Act* passed by the Congress even completely restrained the military's power.

In order to regain favor, the D.O.D started looking for business cooperation with many technological corporations like Rhine Lab in exchange for latest technologies that will strengthen the weaponry. Following the Victorian Crisis, the Army reaffirms their decision, fearing that they will be overpowered by other nations that surpass their military. The D.O.D's shadows could be found in many programs and scientific misconduct incidents such as the "Project Diαbolic," the "Loken Watertank Incident," and "Project Horizon Arc."

## Corporations

Spanning in all fields, Columbia's corporations are both pioneers of latest technology and science and rich tycoons. As a result, they could be found almost every corner of Terra. These corporations do not shy away from exploiting the populace, especially those in the frontiers. Some large companies practice lobbying to implement laws that are favorable to their business, while others work alongside the Columbian government to secretly aid in its imperialism. Competition and rivalry between them can be fierce and sometimes even lead to violence and death, yet the authority usually glossed over such conflict unless the interests of certain important lobbyists are threatened.

#### Pharmaceutical/science

* Rhine Lab LLC.
* **Blaine Formative**: A science institute where Elliot's professor belonged to. Twenty-two years ago, the company sent a technician group, the "Sand Soldiers," into the Ibut Region of Sargon in order to conduct research on an Originium-based weapon there. However, no one managed to survive except young Elliot after the weapon was preyed by a Sargonian Padishah. Behind the scene, the institute was hijacked by the Columbian military in order to arouse conflict within the district.
* **Haydn Pharmaceutical**: A pharmaceutical company run by the eponymous director Hayden Ramt that acts as R.L.'s investment partner. It provided its facilities, namely the Lab-1 for R.L. to conduct experiment on Ifrit. During the Diαbolic Crisis, the company's director was killed in action and Lab-1 was completely burnt down by Ifrit.
* **Loken Watertank Laboratory**: Run by the mad scientist Loken Williams, it is notorious for its unethical experimentations and secret financial supports by the D.O.D. After Rosmontis' rampage, the building was totally laid waste and Loken himself was immediately incarcerated for his crime.
* **Beachbrella**: A pharmaceutical company that Jesselton Miller is working for, led by the mysterious "Mr. K". The institute seems to provide support to Loken Watertank, as well as medical equipment for Mama John's.

#### Military-industrial complex

* Blacksteel Worldwide
* Raythean Industries
* **Volvort Kochinski**: A mysterious weapon manufacturer that also produces, oddly enough, popcorn machines. During Operation Originium Dust, it once supported Drudge Tulla's attempted treason and even provided him its latest ultrasonic emitter. During Ring-a-Ding-Ding!, one of their convoys heading to Rim Billiton was assaulted by the Reunion remnants and Rusthammer after luring a giant Metal crab to attack them. They steal the low-attitude VTOL that would be used to break Talulah free.
* **Westin Security**: A private mercenary company where Kal'tsit once worked for as an advisor and Arts trainer. Twenty years ago, it was hired by Blaine Formative in order to rescue the remaining "Sand Soldiers" technicians. However, the team faced betrayal by other groups and was totally annihilated after Kal'tsit and young Elliot left them. The company was shut down after the incident in the Ibut Region.

#### Commerce

* Mama John's
* **Simon Co.**: Owned by the Simon family, this company started as a logistic company and gradually grew into a construction supply corporation. Due to a business rivalry against HydeBro, the corporation was fallen from grace and the CEO, Smith Simon, was falsely imprisoned.
* **HydeBro**: A construction firm led by it´s twin CEOs, Val Hyde and his unnamed brother. It is the rival company of Simon Co. in Bunkerhill City that caused the downfall and imprisonment of the Simon family. As a result of this, it enjoys a monopoly in Bunkerhill and its surrounding cities. It also has connections with the Rhine Lab Energy Section acting as one of their main suppliers. At some point after the Mansfield incident, the Hyde Brothers were arrested, and the company went bankrupt.

## References

2. ↑ WD-1 After
3. ↑ Originium Shard item description
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Spes
5. ↑ Mission Briefing
6. ↑ CW-2 Before
7. ↑ DV-5: After
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 WD-1
9. ↑ Rhine Lab: Access
10. ↑ True Story
11. ↑ Rosmontis' Archive Files
12. ↑ DV-1 Before
13. ↑ OD-ST-2
14. ↑ OD-6 Before
15. ↑ 9-21
16. ↑ WD-ST-2
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 MB-1 Before
18. ↑ Mountain's Archive Files
19. ↑ Mountain/Operator Record 2
20. ↑ MB-ST-2
21. ↑ DV-4: Before