Commonwealth (Remake)

"*Currahee!*"
—Motto of the Commonwealth, taken from the Cherokee word meaning "stand alone"[src]
The **Commonwealth of the Missouri River**, also called the **River Commonwealth** or simply the **Commonwealth**, is a network of fortified towns and outposts located in the former states of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming that appears in *Strain Zero*. Established by the Delta survivor network in late 2011, it has since grown into a mighty union of towns and safe-zones with a total population of over 20,000 people. It is one of two known civilizations in post-pandemic America, the other being the Republic on the west coast with whom the Commonwealth has sparse relations.

Led by an elected Governor, the Commonwealth has a shared capital, Bastion, located within the rebuilt city of Great Falls, while its military is headquartered at Adams Air Force Base. Its borders are always expanding thanks to the efforts of its rangers, who seek out new communities and clear the roads of walkers.

## Overview

The Commonwealth of the Missouri River is a vast civilization consisting of a series of townships, safe-zones and outposts all united under the common cause of building a fair and free society. Born out of conflict, the Commonwealth was founded on a charter of principles that all communities must follow; such principles include the right of self-government, cooperation in all matters of supply and trade, and mutual defence.

To ensure that the Commonwealth's society is fair and equal, its leadership consists of a triumvirate instead of a single leader; this triumvirate consists of the Commonwealth's governor, the commander-in-chief of its army, and the mayor of Bastion, the Commonwealth's capital. Laws that affect the entire Commonwealth must be decided between these three; otherwise they are free to govern their sectors as they wish. The governor is responsible for the Commonwealth's civilian affairs, such as the relations between the communities, and also manages the rangers; the commander-in-chief leads the army out of Adams Air Force Base and is responsible for the Commonwealth's defence against raiders and walkers; and the mayor of Bastion oversees the various guilds - such as the Patrol Guard, the trading guild and the various militia forces - in addition to the affairs of the capital.

True to its name, the Commonwealth's territory follows the path of the upper Missouri River and its tributaries in the northern United States; it completely controls at least 100 former US counties in Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota and Wyoming, with partial control over twenty more. Its western border consists of the Rocky Mountains, while its eastern border extends all the way to the shores of Lake Sakakawea, North Dakota and down to the shore of Lake Oahe, South Dakota. Its southernmost permanent outpost is the city of Casper, Wyoming, though missions and friendly settlements are found as south as Nebraska.

## Post-Apocalypse

### Season 6: Remake

The Commonwealth was declared in the two years following the Battle of AAFB and the official union of the communities within the Militia with their former enemy, Delta Force. With Prescott and Fairbanks in ruins, the communities collaborated to gather resources from other towns in Montana and build a shared settlement, Bastion, within the city of Great Falls; their expeditions, led by Henry, introduced them to other survivor groups dotted around Montana, including a sizeable one within a pair of apartment towers in Billings.

Armed with new resources, the Commonwealth began creating new infrastructure. The roads between the communities were fortified and cleared of walkers, opening up access to water treatment plants, solar arrays, factories and the critical oil field in the east. The union's growth quickly attracted bandits and rival alliances; defence was spearheaded by the Commonwealth Army, born out of a merger between the Militia and Delta Force, under the leadership of Commander Worth from Adams Air Force Base. Meanwhile, the Commonwealth's relations with the Frontiersmen, their former enemy, became cold but peaceful, with written agreements to not to encroach on one another's land.

In 2013, the Commonwealth made contact with another civilization, the Republic of Greater California, located hundreds of miles away along the west coast.

## Inhabitants

### Adams Air Force Base

* Kieron Worth - leader, commander-in-chief
* Muldoon - soldier
* Dustin Robbins - soldier
* Cara - pilot
* Tanya Steele - doctor
* At least 300 unnamed soldiers and civilians

### Bastion

* Samuel Fairbanks - mayor
* Lawrence Carter - officer
* Drew Stanton - chief of security
* Becky Grace - teacher
* Sarah Stanton - journalist
* Shadowman - radio operator
* Jane Rhodes - ranger
* John Blake
* Carl Rhodes
* Mike Trapp
* Katrina
* Hundreds of unnamed people

### Billings

* Katherine - diplomat
* More than fourty unnamed people

### Fort Peck

* David
* Ashleigh

### Graystone

* Holly Parker - governor, mayor of Graystone
* Henry Ward - first ranger
* Hope Ward
* Eric Ward
* Layla Ward
* Emma Goode
* Kyle Granger - ranger
* Laika
* Nicolas - bar owner
* Florence
* Joel
* At least 80 unnamed people

### Prescott

* Abigail
* Tonks

## Locations

* Adams Air Force Base - military HQ
* Bastion - capital
* Billings
* Casper
* Deepwater
* Fairbanks
* Fort Peck
* Graystone
* Greencole
* Helena
* Lewistown
* Oil Field
* Prescott

## Trivia

* With a population of over 20,000, the Commonwealth is the largest community or group of communities yet seen in *Strain Zero*.
* The Commonwealth is one of two "survivor nations" known to exist in *Strain Zero*, the other being the Republic of Greater California.
* As of 2023, the Commonwealth consists of four regions, known as "One", "Two", "Three" and "Four".
	+ Commonwealth One is centred around Bastion and Adams Air Force Base
	+ Commonwealth Two has its regional capital in the Billings complex
	+ Commonwealth Three is headquartered at the community in Fort Peck
	+ Commonwealth Four has a loose authority in Deepwater and is the largest, and least densely populated, region of the Commonwealth
* The Commonwealth controls four dams on the Missouri river to generate power.