Caribbean Island States

Welcome to the Caribbean!

Subsidiary-Vice President

* Wanda Emilia Vazquez Garced

National Speaker

* Hector Barbossa (*Pirates of the Caribbean*)

National Justice

* Kyle Haeffner (*Shadowrun*)

## History

### Formed From

Remnants of Puerto Rico after the collapse of the United States during the apocalypse.

## Other Information

### Description

States of the Caribbean.

The **Caribbean Island States**, also referred to as **Caribbean America** as a joke, is the earliest nation state that have formed during the apocalypse and one of nine nation states of the United Nation States of America. Home to tropical beaches, summer fun, and Shadowrun Metahumanity.

## History

### During Apocalypse

During the apocalypse, the Caribbean became under siege by various pirates that have plagued much of the sea with Cuban warships of the Soviet Cold War Era try to seize control of the seas. Monsters of myths and legends started to pop up with a few sci-fi creatures such as giant pirhanas. Military and despotic dictators also appeared with their own islands as they expand their territories. Even more islands start to appear and disappear at random with some creatures migrating towards other islands. Aquatic dinosaurs have also been seen in the water that have terrorize the shores. Voodoo became more prevalent as many practitioners call forth zombies to do their bidding.

Puerto Rico was under heavy attack until help came in a form of a dragon. A dragon name, Dunkelzahn from Shadowrun, came with many Metahumans with technological and magical superiority fought against the invaders. Govenor Wanda Garced thanked the strange dragon and the people he had brought. But celebrations were cut short when the Yaran military with the Vilena and San Esperito forces. Much of the invaders were stopped by Captain Hector Barbossa with his Sword of Triton, the Trident of Poseidon and his own fleet. The ships crumble and the crews were eaten by merfolk and monsters. It took some time for people to reorganize and ensure that the Virgin Islands haven't been invaded as well. Within a span of a few days, the Caribbean Island States were formed. Wanda Garced decided to have Dunkelzahn as president of the new nation as they attack some of the fictional countries that attacked them.

Their first counter-invasion happened in San Marcos. Strangely, the A-Team was there and appreciated the assistance after overthrowing two dictators that were fighting each other. It also surprisingly have medieval fantasy settings in certain areas such as windmills, dragons, knights and so forth. A smaller island, Cayo Perico, was next as Juan "El Rubio" Strickler was planning on taking advantage of the chaos and selling cocaine. It wasn't hard to takeover the island given its size and the hired goons turned their boss over with sea monster threats. Guarma was next as they freed the slave and fought against the Colonel Alberto Fussar and his local militia. Vilena was next with some help of the Expendables as Garza was quickly overthrown. San Esperito was easy given the chaos between the presidential dictator, Salvador Mendoza, and various factions fighting for their ideologies.

Yara was the most difficult out of the other island nations. Not just because Antón Castillo's military or the poison they spray. It is because Demogorgons started to appear on the island that made things more difficult. Both television shows and video game versions as they started claiming the island as their own. But with some help from the local guerrillas, they managed to stop both the monsters and Antón. His son, Diego Castillo, left the island and chose to be a musician.

Strangely, the island of Cascara, a fictional island nation from the 1985 movie Water, was more open to diplomacy. Though it was a British colony, it was more like it was abandoned as time moved on. Baxter Thwaites wanted to have peace in his little piece of paradise yet certain factions wanted to disturb that peace. This includes the Cascara Liberation Front, Cuban guerrillas, left-over Yaran military regime, and a few monsters from Lovecraft. If they agree to help, the island of Cascara will become part of the Caribbean Island States. Thus they came in, stop the terrors and saved the day.

### After Phase I

Once things have settled, the islands now have law and order with Captain Hector Barbossa, now high admiral, commanding a massive fleet of ships that patrol the shores and supply freighters. But he is also voted, rather promoted, to National Speaker due to his popularity. The nation became more and more secure as Cuba learned to back off. People have started to enjoy their new way of life and established diplomatic ties with Atlantis and the Pan-Caribbean Federation.

President Joe Biden came with ideas of making a newer, stronger America and Puerto Rico gets to join in as a state along with the United States Virgin Islands. President Dunkelzahn asked if the other nations will be given autonomy, treated as citizens and keep their territories, cultures, etc. Biden agreed. Thus, the Caribbean Island States became a member of the newly established United Nation States of America.

### Phase II

As the galaxy got bigger and the universe got more crowded, an executive order came down from the top to have micronations deported to another world. The Caribbean Island States kicked-out the Republic of Mirador due to their fascist dictatorship and trying to gain control from the chaos.

## Society

Much has changed after the apocalypse. Magic has become more prevalent in the islands as species of Shadowrun have become more common place. It has become the new norm with people practicing at sanctioned academies and schools. However, there are places where people can combine magic and technology, which formed the bases of technomancy. This new form of magic may have many possibilities but it does have limits.

Despite the changes, many kept much of their cultures such as their Latino spirit and independent way of life align with a bit of British in Cascara. Democracy and freedom is celebrated among all the islands with poverty now non-existent. Plus people are very protective of the environment of their islands and wish to avoid pollution and ecological disasters. Some of their cultures started influencing each other as they mix old and new with liberal ideas. Which is why a certain holiday week called, Culture Week, was invented to celebrate each of the islands' cultures.

The people love free speech, free thinking, democracy, and are willing to fight tooth and nail to preserve it. People despise any form of slavery, dictatorship, fascism, communism, and even cartels and drug dealings. They will fight any and all forms of oppression with their guns aim high and the rage of thousands. Best to be friendly towards the natives.

The privateers (also known as the "good pirates") are celebrated war heroes and veterans in the Union of the Islands as they set up an old fashion pirate port town on an artificial island just south of Guarma.

## Government

The government of the Caribbean Island States is a federal democratic republic. It is headed by the subsidiary president who has a strong authority along with the Cabinet. But as a member of the UNSA, it does have to follow the president along with the UNSA Cabinet. However, some people are afraid of the "dragon in the room". Dunkelzhan maybe a benevolent president, but he is a dragon. And dragons are powerful.

Despite that, the government is pretty lenient. They are tolerant towards their "privateers" as long as they don't conduct any piracy and stick to being a naval force. They are merciful to certain people such as, Diego Castillo. Since he is still a child, they let him live and leave the island. But thanks to that, he has become a very popular jazz and rap musician. But they are very strict when it comes to growth of illegal drugs such as cocaine and opium along with trafficking people. Capital punishment is very severe if anyone breaks any of these laws.

## Economy

As a set of islands, there are only a small amount of work that can be done yet plenty of work to go around. Since cannabis (marijuana) is legal in the United Nation States, it replaces all the cocaine and other drug plants in the field. Unlike the ones growing in the Republic of Pacifica, they have properties that can cure aids without any of the hallucinogenic effects. It is also a good trade crop with the Republic of Pacifica and the Pan-Caribbean Federation.

Viviro is also a major investment in the Islands States after the Yaran regime fell. Scientists picked-up what the Viviro Society and Biovida to learn more about PG-240X, Viviro, from the tobacco fields. Rather than using what they just did, they conducted various virtual simulations and used actual lab rats rather than just on people. Thanks to their research, Viviro is now a cure for cancer with no side effects or need of a transfusion. Although, it is advised that handling the tobacco plant must be done with protection since its raw form is still dangerous to bare hands.

Fishing and agriculture are major investments in the Islands States. Giant piranhas, or mega piranhas, have been seen in the waters that terrorize ships and coasts with everyone have to be armed with whatever guns they have. One of them is enough to feed an entire village for a week. Other sea creatures include Dunkleosteus, Ammonites, Silverswimmers from The Future is Wild, Coconut Grabs from The New Dinosaurs: An Alternative Evolution, and many other creatures. Many settlements have develop their own crops for villages and towns to be self-sufficient. However, there are three major exports for the Island States. Which are: coconuts, cocoa, and sugar cane. Conditions are much better for the farmers at the plantations after getting rid of the dictators and slavers, making it more habitable.

Oil is also being drilled at the Caribbean Island States, but there is a wellspring of a special mineral water in Cascara. This type of mineral water does have laxatives that "make you sh\*t like clockwork". The Cascaran Spring Water Company made millions to dietitians, people that want to lose weight, senior citizens, fashion models and those that want to maintain their figure. This water is popular and the company keeps making more.

There is also nuclear fission energy being produced in the Caribbean Island States that the power is transmitted via some form of radio wave that only effect electronics. This strange radio wave recharges every electrical device without any form of interruption unless it is lead. It can be located on the pirate port where tourist can go and see historical pirates as long as you watch your step.

Now though, it is a popular tourist destination with beautiful beaches, mountain climbing, seeing mixed cultures, and the festivities. It rivals that of the Halcyon Islands Federation. But people like to see the sea creatures, the Hispanic decor and heritage, magic and the vintage American cars rather than the Pokemon, dinosaurs and aliens.

## Military

The military started out as a ragtag formation of various people, species and groups. This include Hector Barbossa's fleet, the metahumans of Shadowrun, guerrilla fighters, official military groups, various company security forces, and civil militias. The military started to expand as they help save thousands across the Caribbean with pirate ships joining Barbossa after seeing his power with sword and trident in hand.

After conquering some of their island neighbors, they have been reorganized as a fighting force. Although much of their forces mostly comprised of marines, navy and air force and not much of a standing army given their geographical locale. Their army forces are small but are highly skilled that are on par with special forces. The army is divided into five brigades. The Jungle Brigade specialize in jungle warfare using guerrilla tactics, sniper weaponry and making friends with the wildlife to attack enemies. The Mystic Brigade focuses on magic warfare as they use their spells to bring down fortifications that the naval guns can't reach or too defended for planes to bombard as well as call forth the dead to fight. The Alpine Brigade primarily focus on fighting in the mountains as they have trained to fight in high altitudes to survive with minimal oxygen, how to use grappling devices to gain the advantage, and how to fight with the bare necessities. The Urban Brigade specialize in urban combat that utilize the environment to their advantage as they memorize the maps of cities, raid stores that have supplies, set-up traps and use the night to stealthily eliminate enemies without making a sound. And lastly, there is the Death Brigade. They are consider the "boogeymen" of the army that would make all other brigades look like children as they strike fear into their enemies as they can take down an entire division in less than an hour.

The Local Guerrilla Militias are actually civilians that will defend their home with whatever weapon that they have and work independently from the armed forces. As the name states, they fight like guerrillas and work as ragtag militias. When the area they live in does fall under enemy control, they will organize as a resistance force that assist the Caribbean Armed Forces.

## Trivia

* The flag is a stylized version of the Puerto Rico flag.
* President Dunkelzahn, the first dragon president, died during his inauguration. Here, he is very much alive and well.