The Free State of Van Zandt

Van Zandt's sovereign flag is a minor alteration of its colonial flag.

The **Free State of Van Zandt** is a small industrial sovereignty on the isolated continent of Setra. It is bordered by the Hagean Ocean to the West, and the continent of Pokoso to the South. A former corporate colony, Van Zandt declared independence and fought a bloody rebellion against its original governing bodies.

## History

A relatively new nation, the Van Zandt Territory was settled due to its abundant natural resources, primarily minerals and lumber, with the idea that such a colony would be a valuable asset during wartime. Industrial mega-corporations had complete control over the people and the economy of Van Zandt.

A union of prominent community members, the Van Zandt Civil Council, was a coalition of citizens that worked for a more free and fair Van Zandt. They arranged community events, created some municipal services, and rallied support for self-governance. During the Van Zandt Rebellion, the group organized militia efforts. Captain Alec Hendricks was a largely retired merchant sailor who had been residing in Van Zandt full-time. He was an early member of the Civil Council and came to be seen by many as the leader of the group. During the Rebellion, Captain Hendricks led a small group of militia volunteers to storm the Van Zandt Statehouse, the territory's government headquarters.

Hendricks was appointed Commodore of Van Zandt, tasked with presiding over Civil Council meetings, and acting as an executive officer. The early years of Van Zandt's independence were characterized by a period of anarchy and reformation, as the corporatocracy was torn down and a new "populist oligarchy" form of government gradually took shape.

## Government

Following the rebellion, the Van Zandt Civil Council came to be known as the *Bestuursraad*. Originally a loose coalition of citizens, the group has since adopted a more formal governmental structure. The Bestuursraad is led by the Commodore and Vice-Commodore, elected by other Bestuursraad members.

The chief law-enforcement body is the Van Zandt Marshal Service, a volunteer agency that works to prevent violent crime against civilians.

Some larger cities established further municipal services, even local law enforcement, but maintained the lax policies characteristic of the archipelago.

## Military

The Bestuursraad initially established a territorial militia, which came to incorporate three distinct branches; the *Volksleger,* the *Striktroepen*, and the *Informatiebureau*.

### Volksleger

The Volksleger, or National Guard of Van Zandt is a militia that concerns itself only with territorial defense. All able-bodied citizens between eighteen and fifty years of age are considered members of the Volksleger, and are expected to spring into action if called upon. In larger municipal areas, the Volksleger is typically managed by the local government, who provide training and arms to citizens. In less populated areas, militia meetings are organized by community members. The equipment and level of training varies greatly among members of the Volksleger, but Van Zandt's culture of strong national pride has led many militia members to take their role in the national guard very seriously.

### Striktroepen

The Striktroepen, commonly referred to as the Van Zandt Raiders, were formed a number of years after the Volksleger, as the Bestuursraad determined that Van Zandt needed a military force capable of operating outside of their own territory. Although the Striktroepen prioritize the interests of their homeland, they often operate as a mercenary force throughout Stavasser. Due to the isolation of Van Zandt, the nation was a prominent early adopter of aircraft technology, and the Striktroepen operates almost entirely as an air force. Striktroepen pilots have a reputation for being some of the best in the world. The Striktroepen is led by the *Condottiere*, a high ranking member of the Bestuursraad.

### Informatiebureau

The Informatieburreau, commonly shortened to simply the Informatie, is the intelligence service of Van Zandt. They also handle all government research and development projects, such as the joint fighter project with Keplaria. The Informatie has notoriously tight security, and little information is known about their actions.

## Diplomacy

Van Zandt has historically avoided getting overly-involved in international affairs, but as the nation has grown, it has become more active in the geopolitical community of Stavasser. Capital city Tecumseh is a prominent tourism hotspot for global elite, and allows for positive relations with the governments of foreign territories. The Striktroepen's status as a mercenary group has repeatedly gotten Van Zandt into some international hot water, forcing the government to constantly work to balance out foreign relations.

## Economy

The economy of Van Zandt has been dominated by the mining and forestry industries since its founding. It remains an important global supplier of resources today. Following the rebellion, Van Zandt has had a flourishing tourism industry as a result of the casinos, brothels, bars, and other vice-oriented businesses that call the territory home. The capital and largest city Tecumseh is known for its relaxed culture and vibrant night life.

Van Zandt is known to have many trading partners due to its disjointed commerce system, willing to engage with anyone if the price is right. The territory is home to a multitude of privateers and mercenaries, to which the government states no official connection, merely citing that anyone is welcome to conduct business in Van Zandt.

Among the territory's most prominent trade partners is Mirya, a secluded nation to the far west of Van Zandt and former protectorate of the Republic of Keplaria.

### Food

The climate and geography of the archipelago is insufficient for wide-scale farming and ranching. Van Zandt has always mainly imported food from other nations, and continues to do so to a reduced extent. Self-sufficiency movements within the territory have encouraged many citizens to grow food for themselves in personal gardens. Although formerly home to numerous herds of bison, the animals have long since been hunted to local extinction, except in the most remote parts. One action of the Bestuursraad was the establishment of a subsidized ranch outside of Tecumseh, lowering the dependence on trade for food.

## Technology

Early on, the territory was a prominent force behind aircraft development. Many advances in air travel were developed on the archipelago, for both lighter-than-air and heavier-than-air aircraft. Early advances in fission technology were utilized in the commercial mass-production of hydrogen gas, leading to rapid growth in the airship industry.

Van Zandt's eccentric culture of independence attracted eccentric people, with many traveling to the territory to develop their radical ideas in its untamed rural regions.

The colonial flag of the Van Zandt Territory