Population Breakdown: 13,000 Total Citizens 81% Human
10% D-Bee races (mostly humanoid) 7% Psi-Stalker
2% Mutant Animals
Note: This does not include the 300 mercenaries employed by Northern Gun or the 2D6x100 visitors, adventures, or unemployed mercenaries present at any given time. About one third of the transient population in Cedar River is from the Manistique Imperium.
Well south of the traditional border of Ishpeming, Cedar River is of strategic and economic importance as Ishpeming’s only port on Lake Michigan. Before the treaty with the Coalition States, all ships from the north shore of Ishpeming were confined to Lake Superior as the Coalition held control of the locks and canals at Sault Ste. Marie. Non-access to Great Lakes shipping was unacceptable for a nation which relies so heavily on trade.
Cedar River was disputed territory between Ishpeming and MI, but Ishpeming settled the matter for good, annexing the town in the late 60’s P.A. Northern Transport has built a major transportation hub at
the mouth of Big Cedar River that can service some of the largest Great Lakes cargo vessels and warships. The town also features a major dry dock and repair center. In 100 P.A., as problems with pirates were heating up and with the prospect of war between the CS and Free Quebec looping, the Ishpeming Naval Defense Force commissioned a second fleet headquartered at Cedar River: the flag ship being the NGS Muskegon, a Sea King missile cruiser. Cedar River is also home to a large number of mercenary ships, hired to protect merchant convoys and to sub-contract shipping. Recently, the Coalition has invested in a small port facility at Cedar River for their ships coming from Old Chicago Naval Station.
The large military presence at Cedar River, along with its proximity to their borders, does not sit well with the Manistique Imperium, who felt the annexing of the territory was an act of hostility. Whenever the two sides are at odds, Cedar River is on high alert. As a result, no town is more nationalistic and loyal to the company than Cedar River.
Some 120 miles (193 km) south of Ishpeming, but only 50 miles (80 km) east of Iron Mountain, Cedar River relies on air supply from the main city. Therefore, in addition to its major port facilities, the town also boasts a large commercial and military airport with a squadron of IDF Air Corps fighters on station for repelling attacks and engaging pirate vessels on Lake Michigan. As a transportation hub, Cedar River sees a lot of transient population, as merchants and visitors come to town with deliveries of all sorts.
Supporting the IDF and Naval Defense Force personnel at Cedar River is a mercenary company of 300 personnel known as McGelpin’s Marines. The "Marines" specialize in sea-to-land combat, port
protection, shallow water patrols, and boarding vessels. They maintain a small fleet of patrol craft that move around the harbor and surrounding inlets, keeping their eyes open for pirates and other intruders, as well as making up the city garrison and doubling as police. Most of McGelpin’s Marines are
Headhunters with swimming, SCUBA, and pilot watercraft skills, although there is also a mix of ex-CS Naval Infantry and good aligned River Pirate O.C.C.s.
Covington
Population Breakdown: 12,000 Total Citizens 89% Human
6% Psi-Stalker
5% D-Bee races (mostly humanoid)
Note: This does not include the 200 mercenaries employed by Northern Gun or the 3D6x10 visitors, adventures, or unemployed mercenaries present at any given time.
Known as Ishpeming’s breadbasket, Covington is 45 miles (72 km) from Ishpeming and is nothing but acre after acre of farmland where basic crops are grown and cattle are ranged. The large lakes and rivers in the area, along with the smooth landscape, make it ideal farmland. Advanced farming techniques and the use of automated labor bots means the population of the town itself is relatively small, especially considering its yearly production.
Northern Gun Agriculture, makers of fine farm equipment, keeps a few acres of test plot here to experiment with machinery and technologies for export. The farm machines are actually produced in Ishpeming along with most other heavy manufacturing, but tested in Covington. In addition to the farms themselves, there are numerous food processing plants in the area converting livestock and produce into processed and packaged food for sale in Ishpeming and other towns and cities.
Most farms are owned and operated by Northern Gun, although a few independent farmers and ranchers try to stay afloat, refusing to sell out on their way of life. The Independent Ranchers is a community group organized by those who own their own farms and ranches in the area. The Independent Ranchers lobby the government and Northern Gun, handle the sale of produce to the nearby food processing plants, and even organize the local farm hands into a militia in times of need.
Covington is like the New West of Ishpeming. Many of the best selling brands in the New West are used by the residents of the Covington area. Everything from Hobby Horse hovercycles to Maverick Riding Amour and vintage pistols all make an appearance in Covington. Unlike the New West, however, the area is well developed and the farms and ranches benefit from some of the very best agricultural technologies and methodologies. Although boring, Covington keeps the people of Ishpeming fed. This fact makes the area strategically important. The IDF Air Corps makes continual air sorties over the area to keep an eye open for any threats.
Law and order, as well as protection, comes from a small mercenary company of about two hundred troops known as Silver Star Security. These folks patrol the ranging farmlands, rivers and forests and act as the town’s garrison and law enforcement. The company is made up mainly of Wilderness Scouts, Cowboys, Fur Trappers, Sheriff, and Deputy O.C.C.s. Most patrol on hovercycles or horses (real and robotic), and they move from farm to farm on a regular rotation to make sure there’s no trouble. There are some attractions that make Covington more then just a boring farm town:
Harvest Fair
Every year after produce is collected, there is a giant fair in Covington where produce is displayed (especially the record breaking kind), live animals are on display, and a few animals are even available for rides. The two main features of the fair are the Shooting Jamboree and the Rodeo.
Some of the best shooters in the North come to the Jamboree to compete for the coveted Covington Cup - which by itself is unimpressive, but the 500,000 credit prize for first place in each category makes it worth the trip. The competition tests a variety of categories from long-range shooting, quick draw competitions, and trick shooting. Spectators flock to the trick-shooting venue to watch ricochet shots, upside down, over the back, and a whole host of other creative and original shots. A panel of judges grades the trick shots on degree of difficulty, creativity and accuracy.
The reigning champ of the trick-shooting competition is a Gunfighter from Colorado known as Missy Perkins. She specializes in handguns but is also a fantastic acrobat and gymnast allowing her to do trick shots from tight-ropes or in combination with flips and other fancy moves. The long-range shooting champ is, Lieutenant Hank Trainem, a Coalition Officer who makes the trip every year (assignments permitting) and blows the doors off the competition. Lieutenant Trainem is one of the best snipers in the CS and a member of the vaunted Target Acquisition Group (TAG). His presence can sometimes rub some of the other participants the wrong way, especially those from the Pecos badlands, where Lt. Trainem is suspected to be responsible for the long range assassination of some major gang leaders. The Rodeo features a variety of riding shows, from the bull-riding, untamed horses, cattle roping, and even riding a few alien animals and small dinosaurs. Simvan are unwelcome at the competition and any who show their faces are usually escorted out of the area; the people of Ishpeming have a long rivalry with an evil Simvan tribe in Wisconsin. The current champion is Dustin "Duke" Wilson a local Cowboy from Covington.
Worm Lake Resort
Southeast of the town proper is Worm Lake Resort, a ‘world-class’ resort that offers luxurious cabins in a wilderness lakeshore setting. The resort attracts people from all over North America not only for its plush accommodations, but also for its unique fishing opportunities. The lake itself is home to a peculiar, and seemingly unique, alien fish that is not only entertaining to catch but tasty to eat. The restaurant at the resort features an entire menu of the fish and is frequented by a who’s-who of Ishpeming business types.