Gabon: Difference between revisions

Gabon is world renowned for its architectural style, builds of grandeur and its expansive city scape. Boasting a capital of brobdingnagian proportions within the minus, minus quadrant. The Capital of Salisbury is the largest population centre in the nation and forms a continuous conurbation with other towns nearby, most notable being Southshields, [[Tynemouth]] and Reddingsfield. The city stretches from coast to coast and encompasses both the Elizabeth Bay and the Bay of Biscay to the east and south respectively.

[[File:Gabon mainland map.png|alt=|left|thumb|Pictured: The first known map of mainland Gabon. '''Circa June 2018'''|304x304px]]

==='''Early History'''===

After GetSkinny's accession to the throne, Her Majesty, by letters patent<ref>https://gabon.now.sh/announcement/lp_1_14_6_18</ref> created the position of Lord High Chancellor and through a Commission<ref>https://gabon.now.sh/announcement/c_1_18</ref> appointed BritishWanderer to that office. The Lord High Chancellor had effective control of the Privy Council and was entitled to require them to present information about the activities of Gabon to himself.[[File:Updated Gabon Map.png|thumb|Current map of mainland Gabon and it's overseas territories. '''Circa September 2018'''|450x450px]]Throughout the time period as a Principality, the nation was governed by a small privy council of the Lord High Chancellor of BritishWanderer and Councillors Tvman999 and Gobblin who advised Queen GetSkinny in day to day duties and decisions. The government system was an absolute monarchy without a constitution until late July 2018 when Gabon would formally enter into a political union with Varkonia.

The establishment of the Principality of Gabon bought with it the settlement of Salisbury, this settlement was planned to be a simple base of operations whilst the surrounding area was surveyed. In June, Her Majesty deemed it necessary to set out on a vast excavation project in order to extract stone and minerals which would be used to fund future construction projects in prominent positions around the island. Throughout the time of the extraction of the grand quarry, a large influx of labourers would migrate to Salisbury, speeding up the project and resulting in buildings springing up around the quarry. The substantial amount of stone being extracted allowed the privy council to fund constructions of a storehouse, bakery and multiple houses. Although many of buildings constructed around this time have since been either torn down or reconstructed, the bakery still stands to this day as the oldest building in Gabon. As the settlement around the quarry continued to grow, a factory building and rudimental train station was set up, with one of Gabon's first factories being a compactor donated by Mayor Ahrimanne of [[Mount Augusta|MTA]].

In late June, with constant construction underway to the southeast and within the settlement, concern was placed on the damage that local labourers were committing on the native flora and fauna. This opened a fierce debate within the privy council, which was split down the middle on the economic side of the argument and the agricultural preservation side of the argument. This led Her Majesty to make a tough decision, ultimately siding with the native wildlife and by letters patent created measures to protect the natural wildlife from any further destruction which would be amended by a compromise to allow members of the privy council to authorise the destruction of any particular instance of flora so long as saplings of the respective fauna was planted elsewhere. This patent is generally regarded as saving the decline of the natural trees within the nation of Gabon.

[[File:BalmoralFoundations.png|alt=|left|frame|Pictured: An overhead view of foundations of Balmoral, laid out circa July 2018]]

The city would slowly expand after this point due to the limited resources left over, however development continued via road systems and more housing in the eastern portion of the Capital.

This also saw the dissolution of the royal throne of Gabon, including Her Majesty’s Privy Council. In its place, the monarchy was replaced with the Assembly of the Province of Gabon which was headed by the Grand Prince of the Province of Gabon. Her Majesty The Queen became the Grand Prince and appointed her privy councillors to the Provincial Assembly. This also saw the appointment of two members of the Assembly of Gabon to the Senate of Varkonia. Whilst serving on the Senate, these senators brought the virtue of codified law to Varkonia. This was something that had not been introduced beforehand to Varkonia. However, Gabon’s rich history of lawmaking and the prowess of its Assembly were a welcome addition to Varkonia.

[[File:Grand duchy.png|left|367x367px|Pictured: Borders of a unified nation-state between Gabon and Varkonia.

'''Circa Late July 2018'''|thumb]]

==== Reactions home and abroad ====

===== Reactions in Gabon =====

The reaction to the transition of government was met by positive outpouring by the citizenry who saw it as two sister nations joining together, many citizens of Gabon being citizens of Varkonia and vice versa made the relationship between both countries intertwined. Varkonian flags were quickly added to the production line in Salisbury's famous royal weavery. Government buildings gladly displayed the Varkonian flag alongside it's Gabonese counterpart.

===== Reactions in Varkonia =====

The reaction within the national senate and it's citizens was highly positive, seen as a inevitable decision by both governments given the lengthy history enjoyed by citizens within both sister countries. GetSkinny and BritishWanderer were welcomed into the senate gladly and their intentions to bring a foundation of law and order acts to Varkonia were warmly received.

===== Reactions abroad =====

The reaction was mostly positive within the surrounding nations, with slight confusion on what this would mean for treaties signed by Gabon with other nations in the northwest, The Grand Duchy of Varkonia was quick to assure that Varkonia would gladly take up any responsibilities in all treaties signed by Gabon much to the approval of neighbouring countries. This action would set out the course for leaders from both Gabon and Varkonia to draft a mutual defence charter which would shortly lead to the foundation of the '''United Northern Congress''' alongside '''SPQR''' & '''Nevrast.'''

==== Private Investment on behalf of Varkonia into Gabon ====

=== Formation of The United Northern Congress ===

In Early August, The Grand Prince of Gabon alongside The Lord High Chancellor in conjunction with the Red Duke of the Grand Duchy of Varkonia drafted the Charter of the United Northern Congress<ref>UNC Charter: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vR7DbHFqABFPrpsVgYrlMg1RfLAr9zkwPYTWIPQtZT96n9c1htfeEwx-jz97b2QvYclNr4iLadCy_y9/pub</ref> in hopes that a new alternative alliance bloc in the northwest quadrant would allow nations the ability to stand aside peacefully, not involving themselves in any future cold wars while also furthering good relations and economic ties between signing parties.

==== Review by SPQR & Nevrast ====

==== Additional Signatories ====

==== Gabon's Impact ====

Gabon's leading government ministers and monarchy played an instrumental role in drafting the original Charter for the United Northern Congress, the Charter itself hints to this Gabon contribution with the document being signed by each member country at the location of Balmoral Castle. This is displayed at the bottom of the Charter alongside the date.

The Gabonese Lord High Chancellor, BritishWanderer served the United Northern Congress for 118 days as the Alliance Spokesperson and was the last serving Spokesperson at it's disbandment on 13th July 2019

=== The Gabonese Civil War of 2018 ===

Current work is being handled by the Project Manager and Lord's Councillor, ChrisFa99.

==== Disillusionment Within Gabon ====

By October, Her Majesty Queen GetSkinny, had been out of the public eye for over two months. The duties that would normally be undertaken by the Queen were being added to the daily tasks of The Lord High Chancellor and his councillors. This extra workload began to aid in the stagnation of Gabon which was felt throughout the country. Republicanism was reportedly growing to unprecedented levels among the citizenry and members of the provincial assembly. The Gabonese Railway Company controversially dropped the 'Royal' title from it's name in support of the peaceful '''Green Flag Protests''' which saw citizens take to the streets to express their discontent with the monarchy and the government of Gabon.

During this time, members of the senate of Varkonia were charged with numerous criminal offences in the courts of [[Mount Augusta]] leaving Gabon awash in shame, striking at the heart of the connection between the sister nations. The Provincial Assembly's request for additional funding to aid with internal damages caused by a terrorist attack was also declined around this time, adding to the growing rift between the two nations.

===== The Return of the Queen =====

In early November, Queen GetSkinny, returned to a nation seemingly divided. Disagreements had broke out within the Assembly of the Provincial Government of Gabon on how to respond to the dissatisfaction with the actions of Varkonia, alongside heated debates of government reform. The Queen's return was coldly received by her citizenry, including her own Provincial Assembly who had seen the costs of funding the monarch's private lavish lifestyle increase rapidly without any visible benefit to the nation especially that in regards to the construction of the luxurious Balmoral Castle.

==== The Red Night ====

On the 9th of November, commonly referred to as the Red Night, was to have vast impacts on Gabon not only in the decisions that were made by the Assembly that night but also the country-wide mass outcry caused by the ensuing controversies. It began with Her Majesty calling for an emergency assembly meeting of every councillor, government staff were said to have been practically dragged from their beds to attend the meeting in Balmoral.

The Queen called a total of three important votes that night, all relating to the dissolution of the union between Varkonia and Gabon. Once all councillors of the Assembly were within the doors, they were forcibly locked in by members of the Queen's royal guard. Her Majesty, above the commotion, called for the following vote, taking many of her councillors by surprise. Loyalists of the Monarchy were quick to throw their support behind the vote, with the rest of the Assembly along with the Lord High Chancellor himself safely voting against or abstaining once it was clear that the Act would not pass the 50% required by all bills in the Assembly.

[[File:Signing of Treaty of Ghent (1812).jpg|thumb|380x380px|Pictured: The Lord High Chancellor making a short speech to the Provincial Assembly of Gabon during the night of the 9th.

'''Circa 9th of November''']]

! colspan="2" |Should Gabon exercise its human right to self determination and declare independence?

With this initial vote, The Queen declared that she had the support she needed to call for independence which sent the ministers that voted nay and those that voted abstain into an uproar, calling for an official vote to respect the 50% boundary. The debates got so heated that books and other objects were reportedly thrown between multiple members of the assembly. In order to quickly quell the madness within the Assembly, the Queen called for a second referendum on independence within the Assembly.

! colspan="2" |Should we hold a second referendum on independence?

[[File:StateLibQld 1 102767 Queensland's Governor says good-bye to Queen Elizabeth II after her visit in March 1954.jpg|left|446x446px|Pictured: The only surviving photo of Her Majesty, Queen GetSkinny, discussing the emergency meeting with her general before calling it later that night.

'''Circa 9th November'''|thumb]]

After this important vote, the Lord High Chancellor stood from his chair to defend the Grand Duchy of Varkonia to the clear disapproval of many of the loyalist government ministers. The majority of the Assembly did however, stand behind the Chancellor and his track record. This bought a perhaps uncomfortable realisation to Her Majesty, that the Assembly itself was slowly splitting between herself and her own Chancellor. In order to retain her support within the house, she backed down and called for the second vote of independence.

! colspan="2" |Should Gabon exercise its human right to self determination and declare independence from the Grand Duchy of Varkonia?

===== Royal Decree Controversy =====

However the Queen took her stand before the Assembly and informed them that she would be issuing a royal decree to declare independence herself<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/civclassics/comments/9vg635/declaration_of_intention_of_gabon_to_withdraw/</ref>, effectively ignoring previous votes and the will of her Assembly. This was an unprecedented move, while allowed by the government system in place, it had never been undertaken in such a manner before in Gabon's history. The Lord High Chancellor, who was once seen as the most loyal member of Her Majesty's Assembly was the first to speak harshly against this action. In the mist of the anger felt by the Assembly, the Chancellor controversially called for a vote to unseat the ruling monarch.

Although not legal binding and not possible to enforce by the Assembly, it was a clear display of the feelings of a majority of councillors. The Queen sacked her Lord Chancellor before swiftly branding the rest of the Assembly as traitors and dissolving the entire government. From this, the Independent Principality of Gabon was again formed with Her Majesty The Queen as its head, the previous Grand Prince of the Province of Gabon. Citizens within the city who were deemed loyalists to the Queen were in great numbers and ultimately outnumbered the revolutionaries.

==== Declarations of War ====

Both [[Varkonia]] and [[Hjaltland]] decided to rally behind the revolutionaries in their revolt against the Independent Principality of Gabon. Invoking the Security Act of Gabon<ref>https://gabon.now.sh/law/security</ref>, Her Majesty declared war on The Grand Duchy of Varkonia and U.F.R Hjatland<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/civclassics/comments/9vgf6t/declaration_of_war_by_gabon_against_varkonia_and/</ref> along with the republican rebels. The rebels, led by BritishWanderer, promptly made a response with their intention of an official military coup of Gabon<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/civclassics/comments/9vgqvw/declaration_of_official_military_coup_of_gabon/</ref>. Large outpourings of 'Long Live Gabon!' came in from home and abroad in support of the revolutionaries.

With the military of Gabon giving their assurances of continued loyalty to their Queen, The rebels were forced to wait outside city boundaries for support from the Grand Duchy of Varkonia and Hjatland. However outside of the Capital, vast progress was being made by the rebels forces, taking position in the town of Bakerswood and surrounding Cottingham to the far south. Upon hearing updates about the incidents occurring in Gabon, The Red Duke of Varkonia ordered a bombing raid by the Varkonian special military forces of the Gabonese capital, the City of Salisbury. This sole horrific act devastated the loyalist stronghold in the centre of the city allowing for it's immediate capture by supporting revolutionary forces.

[[File:SalisburyChurch.png|alt=|thumb|459x459px|Pictured: Photo of the bombing raid on the Capital City of Salisbury, St Varkanos church that stood at the helm of the city.

'''Circa 10th November 2018''' ]]

After the declaration of peace, the city experienced rapid growth internally and externally with immense funding being put into the Gabonese diamond mining industry by the Executive Council of the Grand Mercantile Republic of the Autonomous Free Sovereign State of Gabon, the Abode of Peace. This saw the Executive Council fund extensive repairs and complete long-awaited construction projects that had been waiting for Varkonaian tax, allowing citizens to visit cafes, bars, and the theatre like never before.

=== Period of Growth ===

The end of the Civil War in Gabon bought about a much-needed period of growth to the nation. After the accession of BritishWanderer and Gobblin to high ranking positions in the Gabonese government, both of whom supported relaxing regulations and expanding diplomatic ties across the globe, the economy and construction industry subsequently began to truly flourish, bringing the DPP [Diamonds per person] up to 164% compared to the quarter beforehand.

==== Construction Industry ====

The impoverished housing district of '''Melbourne''' was built to house those left homeless by the Civil war, the messy-style apartment buildings were built in a close knit fashion to allow as many citizens to inhabit as humanely possible. The apartments are homely and are purely funded by the Gabonese treasury allowing residents to forego any worry about housing payments.

Grants were also provided to the district of '''Winchester''' to provide more environmental benefits to the local housing and businesses. Winchester is widely regarded as one of the prettier parts of Salisbury thanks to the additions of the BnB and the Gloriana Cafe, both constructions overseen by the Chancellor and his Vice counterpart.

Numerous floors of '''Balmoral Castle''' were laid down during this time, over half of the treasury and it's assets were dedicated to completing large portions of the Castle after the Council voted to turn the building from a house of royalty into a house of community and governance. Balmoral is a well regarded building among the citizenry and government with unprecedented support and increased treasury donations to aid in the completion of the Castle.

In late December, the Executive Council came together to formalise and negotiate the funding and construction of a sturdy wall, 12 metres in height and 6 metres in width, surrounding Salisbury. The negotiations took 13 hours and ended with a fully funded wall, slight changes were made to the design which made it overall more defensible, in line with the policy set out by the government. As of January 2019, the wall was completed around the districts of Melbourne and the north neighbouring districts, ending close to St Varkanos Cathedral. The wall, completed will outline the city boundary of Salisbury while providing a defensive benefit to all citizens that reside within.

==== Chancellery Act ====