Urocyia

> *"Imperium Unitum super omnia."*
> ~ The official motto of the Urocyan Empire
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**Urocyia**, officially known as the **Urocyan Empire,** formerly as the **Urocyan Republic**, and simply the **Empire**, is a fictional country that exists within the *Foxtrot: Foxes in Arms* series. The country is a developing superpower made up of an archipelago in the northern Pacific Ocean and is loosely based on the Arctic Archipelago. By 2019, the Empire began a massive conquest which saw the annexation of several island nations throughout the Pacific and even included Greenland in the far north. Vuacester is the capital city, and is located on one of the southern island regions, it's also one of the most heavily defended areas of the entire country.

The Urocyan Empire serves as a major antagonistic faction in the series, as Arian Torres, the current self-appointed emperor, and his personal gang, known as the Urocyan Dynasty, are in control of the Imperial government. Within the series lore, Urocyia is best known for the use of military power throughout its history, and is notorious for the way it indoctrinates its soldiers. Though the inhabitants of the country may not have the best opinion of the government, Urocyans are fiercely nationalistic and are said to do whatever it takes to defend its honor. Under Arian's rule, other mottoes have included "Viva Torres", an alternate of that one goes "Viva Ari", and "Viva Urocyia".

## History

### Early History

While many regard the empire as being relatively modern, it's actually not known how far back Urocyia goes, but then again, many documents state that the capital, Vaucester, was established at some point between the 1600-1700s at the earliest, though it could be as late as the early 1800s. By the late 1860s, it is believed that Urocyia emerged as a slightly more modern country, or modern for the times. Back then, it was known as the **Kingdom of Urocyia**, with an established monarch which possibly lasted for centuries before "Urocyia" was officially established. Throughout the late 19th Century and early 20th Century, Urocyia operated on an isolationist foreign policy, where relations and trade between Urocyia and other countries were severely limited, and nearly all foreign nationals were banned from entering Urocyia, while common Urocyan people were kept from leaving the country. This lasted up until the 1930s, when the policy was changed to allow more open trade.

### Modern Era

At some point, the monarchy was overthrown, and a new federal government was established. Then known as the Urocyan Republic, the country didn't really become a prominent part in world politics until the 1970s, where it began trading more openly with the United States and United Kingdom in the midst of the Cold War, but Urocyia stayed out of the NATO v. Warsaw Pact stalemate as much as possible, where it also allowed trade with the Soviet Union as well. Throughout this time, Urocyia had a stable economy, and by 1980, a massive reorganization of the armed forces occurred. It was then that the mass indoctrination and forming of what would become the modern Urocyan Armed Forces came, where they developed pretty respectable ground, naval, and air forces.

By 1985, the leaders of the Urocyan Army, motivated by their country's progress, had begun the development of a series of weapons of mass destruction and experimental systems for the purposes of defending Urocyia from foreign invasions. These projects coincided with the ongoing Cold War. It is unknown just how much progress they made, but by 1987, the Urocyan Republic was hit by an economic depression that would go on to last until the end of the Cold War.

### Civil War

Due to the militaristic nature of the country, many leaders felt the current government was inadequate since they were not handling the economic crisis very well. This led to various coup d'état attempts as many insurgent groups formed to take control. Among these groups was the Urocyon Dynasty, which attempted its coup in January 1992. The Urocyon Dynasty's leaders were arguably the most powerful militarily and the best trained in terms of discipline, which lead to them sizing control of the government by June of that year. However, this did not stop the in-fighting, as the Urocyon Dynasty attempted to quell many insurrections. Many were put down, but they continued on, lasting for many years before finally, the Urocyon Dynasty lost control and the government they put in place also collapsed, once more plunging the country into chaos.

In 1995, after a long time of infighting, a new federal government was formed and focused on bringing everyone together again, placing a bunch of economic reforms that would benefit the country in the long-term. The fighting was finally over by December 1995, and the Urocyan Republic, still reeling from many years of what became known as the Urocyan Civil War, was beginning to prosper as it did before the economic crisis and war between the splitting factions. However, the Urocyon Dynasty's surviving leaders weren't happy with how things were, and they attempted another coup against the new federal government, which had the backing of the United States and the rest of the United Nations this. The coup attempt failed and those who hadn't been killed or fled the country already were forced to leave, spreading out across the world to live out their lives free of what the Urocyan Republic was becoming.

### 21st Century: The Reformation

In the years following peace coming to Urocyia again, the Urocyans reopened trade with many countries, getting their economy, government, and military back to the prominence it had prior the the civil war. By the 2010s, things began to change once more. A young grey fox named Arian Matthew Torres had turned his back on the rest of the world upon being subjected to bullying and ridicule, and having no support from even his own family. He fled the United States seeking asylum from the life he'd wished to leave behind. He eventually learned of the long history of just where it was his family came from, and decided to round up a gang, which mainly consisted of surviving members of the Urocyon Dynasty, which Torres fought his way to the head position.

Unsatisfied with how the world was, Torres wished to change the world as he saw fit, and that meant one of two things. First, that meant attempting to conquer the world and establish it under one rule, his rule, so he could put an end to "all that was wrong with the world." The alternative was to use power to decimate a good chunk of the world and rebuild it all using the influence of the Urocyon Dynasty, especially considering how the group had been wronged themselves by the UN, particularly the Americans as they had also intervened in the Dynasty's second coup attempt, sending in their own military to back the Urocyan federal government. Fellow Urocyans couldn't help but sympathize with Torres' ideals, being wronged in a significant way and desiring revenge. So, the Urocyon Dynasty, led by Torres, enacted a plan to take back control.

#### The Revolution

Torres proved himself a genius as he led the Urocyon Dynasty in a plan to take control of the government again. In 2017, after years of planning and preparation, the coup began, and it was swift. The leaders of the federal government were executed, as were all who opposed the Dynasty. Seeing how successful and bold the group was, military leaders, many of whom were still unhappy with the state of the country and enthused by the Dynasty's ideals and promises, swore loyalty to Torres and the Dynasty, as did their subordinates. Once he was sure he had control, Torres addressed the people, announcing that change was on the horizon. He demonized all those who had oppressed him and the greater Urocyan people, who were mainly consisting of fellow grey foxes and similar species. Though having a deteriorating mental state, Torres was passionate about his views, and he seemed willing enough to allow anyone and everyone support him. And so, Urocyia had been reformed from a republic to an empire.

Torres' Urocyon Dynasty proved to be a much better governmental faction over what it was originally, and it gained the support of many people. Though there were still plenty of those who weren't supportive of the new Imperial government. Torres, not having tolerance for disobedience, set up concentration camps for all political enemies, plus insubordinate citizens who wished for the republic to be restored. In the meantime, Torres, who was only in his early 20s at this time, intended to make the Urocyan Empire the world's singular superpower, which began with the bolstering of the new Imperial military. Many within the Empire willingly signed up while others were drafted, and Torres began to personally indoctrinate his soldiers to the ideals of the Empire, emphasizing unending loyalty and being willing to lay down their lives for him, their Emperor.

Through all this, the world began to take notice of the insurrection in Urocyia, and began taking measures to oppose them, fearing a war with the Empire may break out. By late 2019, Torres's military had grown significantly in strength, once more proving that it ought to be a world superpower. Torres was bold enough to address the people of the world, announcing his own distain for the world and all the "injustice" within it.

> *"The remaining oppressors of the Urocyan people will be hunted down and defeated! Any collaborators will suffer the same fate. These have been trying times, but we have passed the test. The attempts on my life has left me scarred, but I assure you my resolve has never been stronger. The days of civil war are over. The Republic has been defeated, and all rebellions has been foiled. We stand on the threshold of a new beginning. In order to ensure our security and continuing stability, the planet will be unified into the first Worldwide Empire, for a safe and secure society! An Empire that will be ruled by this august body and a sovereign ruler chosen for life. An Empire ruled by the majority, ruled by a new constitution! Anyone who attempts to oppose us, who picks a fight with us, will lose! We are not standing for world oppression any longer, we will fight, as any good animal should! And to all those who think they have a fighting chance, I suggest you watch your backs! We are coming for you! VIVA UROCYIA!"*
> ~Arian Torres's declaration of the Urocyan Empire's aim to become a global empire.
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### The Urocyan War (2019-present)

Torres promptly began his annexations, starting with the closest areas to the Urocyan Archipelago, and continued to various other areas. The blitzkrieg tactics used by the Urocyan military were quite intimidating, proving to be successful anytime the Urocyans invaded foreign land. Ultimately, the United States had had enough, with the American Congress declaring war on the Urocyan Empire following an assault on American facilities and military installations. Torres had expected a war to begin, and upon finding out that he was also going to be facing off against some of his old acquaintances, he became much more set on defeating them and setting up that empire. But he didn't anticipate just how much of a fight he would be in for.

## Geography

Urocyia is a country made up of an island chain located in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean, known as the Urocyan Archipelago. The western, northeastern, and southern islands are mountainous, while the rest of the islands within the country is mostly made up of plains. Much like some of the regions of southern North America and northern South America, much of Urociya is made of rocky, wooded, brushy regions.

Generally, Urocyia has a temperate climate all throughout the islands. In the winter months, many of the islands do get covered in snow for up to about a week or two per year. Much of the mountainous areas has an alpine climate due to high elevation. When it comes to the major cities, the country itself is described as a fairly luxurious place to live aside from its potentially oppressive government.

## Politics

### Government

When Arian came to power and put a new order in place, Urocyia became a fascist military dictatorship led by an Emperor, the sovereign ruler and ultimate authority in all political and military matters of state. Aiding the Emperor was a Prime Minister who was the head of the Imperial Ruling Council. The Ruling Council consisted of advisors who wielded considerable powers over all aspects of Urocyia's political and military apparatus. Though that could depend on the state of the government. While supposedly bound by the Urocyan Constitution, Imperial rulers were largely above the law. As a stratocracy, legislative authority over various provinces and territories are directly at the hand of regional leaders. Direct successors of the Emperor include the Empress Consort, the Prince or Princess should there be any, and the Prime Minister, in that order.

Arian in particular rules with an iron fist, and while the police have similar training to the lower levels of the military, he won't hesitate to use the military to quell insurrections or the like. Insubordination is not tolerated by the Imperial government, and whenever this occurs, Urocyan officials ensure punishment is swift and effective, the worst is generally execution on the spot. While it does rule with fear, the Imperial government does promise citizens protection so long as they swear and show unending loyalty to the Emperor. Imperial citizens are actually treated fairly unless they get out of line, where again, punishment is swift and efficient. The public barely has any say in government matters, and if things go badly, they will likely have to suck it up until the government does something about it, and that would usually be up to the regional leaders in particular.

## Military

Following the collapse of the Urocyan Republic, the military was reformed into the Urocyan Imperial Armed Forces, which is close to being on-par with the United States military. The Armed Forces are responsible for carrying out military operations and maintaining control over the Urocyan Empire's territories. It is divided into four main sections regarding branches:

* Urocyan Imperial Ground Forces
* Urocyan Imperial Naval Forces
* Urocyan Imperial Air Forces
* Imperial Secret Service

Arian does also have a separate branch of commandos that take orders directly from him, and only him. With regards to the military at large, since they've traded with the US and its allies, as well as the Soviet Union and theirs, much of their equipment is a combination of NATO and Warsaw Pact equipment, mainly ranging from the infantry weapons, motor vehicles, tanks, ships, and aircraft.

## Trivia

* The name "Urocyia" is derived from the Greek word *Urocyon*, the genus in which natural grey foxes are a part of. The grey fox's scientific name is *Urocyon cinereoargenteus.* It would make sense since Arian Torres, who is a grey fox, and his faction of the Urocyon Dynasty (named specifically after the genus name), are the current leaders of the country.
	+ It should be noted that not all of those who serve the Empire are grey foxes, as some grey-morphed red foxes, specifically silver foxes, are mostly seen at least in the Urocyan armed forces.
	+ As far as the name is concerned, "Urocyia" should be pronounced as "euro-see-ya", based on the common pronunciation of *Urocyon*.
* The primary inspiration for the Urocyan Empire spans from two main fictional empires, those being the Eggman Empire from the *Sonic the Hedgehog* video game series and the Galactic Empire from the *Star Wars* franchise.
	+ It shares many technological advancements such as the development of mechanized soldiers and some of the flag colors from the Eggman Empire.
	+ Practically everything else can be seen as a parallel to the Galactic Empire, which was in turn mainly inspired by the likes of the Roman Empire, aspects of Nazi Germany, and the Soviet Union.
* Additional inspiration for the Urocyan Empire comes from *Top Gun: Maverick*, specifically in the form of the "rogue nation."
	+ The use of NATO and Warsaw Pact equipment, specifically aircraft, is a large indication. Known aircraft used by the rogue nation are Sukhoi Su-57 (called "5th Generation Fighters" in the film), Mil Mi-24 Hind, and the Grumman F-14A Tomcat.
	+ The rouge nation's roundel, a red Phoenix within a red ring, also serve as inspiration for the Urocyan aircraft roundel across all branches. The Urocyan aircraft use a similar red logo in a yellow circle, except the Urocyan logo utilizes the same fox logo on the flag.