The Island-Nation of Gann
Location: Eastern Asia, north of the Philippines, west of Japan's Ryukyu Islands.
Area: 10,577 sq miles (Slightly smaller than Maryland).
Climate: Humid Subtropical; rainy season during southwest monsoon
(June to August); cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year.
Elevation extremes:
Lowest point: Pacific Ocean, 0 feet
Highest point: Mt. Motomu, 3,997 feet
Natural resources: Small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone,
marble, and asbestos.
Land use:
Arable land: 24%
Permanent crops: 1%
Permanent pastures: 5%
Forests and woodland: 55%
Other: 15%
Natural hazards: Earthquakes and typhoons.
Environment-current issues: Air pollution; water pollution from
industrial emissions, raw sewage; contamination of drinking water supplies;
trade in endangered species; low-level radioactive waste disposal.
Population: 7,029,750
Major Population Centers: Gann City (capital),
Gann Port, Kajima City, Ryo City, Nakagama City, Kijuro Bay, Kitaro Port.
Ethnic groups: American/European 64%, Japanese 26%, Chinese 6%, Taiwanese 4%
Languages: English (official), Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Taiwanese
History: Gann Island is part of the archipelago stretching from Kyushu
to Taiwan known as Nansei Shoto. The Nansei Archipelago has been termed the
"Galapagos of the Orient". People came to the island only after the Second
World War, following spraying of DDT by the Americans to eradicate malaria.
In 2002, the CEO of Gann-Tech Corporation, Carstairs Gann,
purchased the island from Japan and quickly moved all of his manufacturing
and research operations to the island. In 2005, Gann maneuvered Japan into
granting the island sovereignty. After receipt of the approval from the Allied
Nations, the nation of Gann was born.
Island-Nation of Gann Index:
Islands
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Archer Island: The headquarters of Gann scientist, Hartmann Manneck.
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Chiaki Island: It is rumored that this island houses biological experiments
too dangerous to be contained on the Isle Gann itself. State-of-the art weaponry
surrounds the island and prevents outside scrutiny.
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Isle of the Dead: Located off the coast of Gann, it is where the citizens
of Gann bury their dead.
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Kijuro Bay: Controlled by the Clan Mansfield, it is the largest and most
lawless port on the island. Carstairs Gann unofficially tolerates its excesses so long
as drugs are smuggled out and wealth and technology are smuggled in. Especially
dangerous is Kijuro Island, which is located in the center of the bay and is a law
unto itself.
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Kijuro Island: See Kijuro Bay.
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Glock Island: The sight of a Hunter-Killer factory operated by Glock,
a cyborg associate of the Gann scientist, Venkata.
Cities
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Gann City: The largest most prosperous city
on the island, it also represents the modern, civilized image Gann tries to
present to the world. It is the center of all legitimate international
business, and is located close to Cartstairs' headquarters, the Noble House
Kotei Gann.
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Kajima City: Also called "Border City," it is located on the isthmus
of the island. This is the city of the Taiwanese Clan Lee, and its shipping
and industry is dated compared to the more modern Gann City.
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Nakagama City: A small, respectable looking city and port, it reflects
the proper image the Clan Mansfield wish to project to the world. The clan's real
business, however, is conducted at nearby Kijuro Bay.
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Ryo City: Located on the Southwest of the island, this is the city
controlled by the Clan Kang, the island's Chinese faction. Easily the smallest of
Gann's four major cities, it is more like a large open market than a metropolis.
Nonetheless, some of Gann's oldest secrets are said to be hidden in its quaint shops.
Nobles
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Noble House Kotei Gann: The house of the Clan Gann, the island's ruling
family. It is modeled after the Japanese Imperial palace, and its location on the northern
most tip of the island provides easy access to Gann City and easy defense and escape in
the case of a siege. It is sometimes referred to as "Carstairs Clan Headquarters."
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Noble House Kang: The house of the Clan Kang, the island's Chinese Clan. A
traditional Chinese structure, it has no apparent defenses and is the smallest and most
beautiful of the four Royal Houses of Gann.
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Noble House Lee: The house of the Clan Lee, Gann's Taiwanese family. It is
an unornamented fortress, reflecting the practical nature of its residents, who have sworn
to uphold stability between the clans of Gann.
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Noble House Mansfield: The English Clan Mansfield portray themselves as a
civilizing influence on the island, but are actually an ancient line of pirates. Their
Victorian-style mansion, appropriately enough, hides many rooms, tunnels and traps.
Landmarks
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Motomu Mountains: An unexplored region of the island, it is a host to many
unexplained deaths and disappearances. Nonetheless, many criminals take
refuge there because it's one sure place to lose pursuers. An ancient
beast-man is said to reside there.
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Gann Port: Lying just south of Gann City, it is an industrial port that is
far less beautiful. Much smuggling takes place here, but, unlike Kijuro Bay's, it is with
Carstairs' supervision.
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Izumi Jungle: This near-tropical forest has resisted the development that has
swept over most of the island. No one has access to all its secrets, and
even the most heavily armed Hunter-Killer would be lucky to survive the
night there.
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Lowtown:
Once a beautiful city, it is now a giant shantytown for Gann's many
impoverished citizens. Traditionally ignored, it is believed to be the
center for the revolutionary group called the Gann Political Underground.
Also called "Shimazaki Ridge."
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Kagi Port: As large as Gann Port, this northwest complex houses Gann's
military operations. It is a highly restricted, heavily guarded area.
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Griffon's Clutch: The secret stronghold of Griffon, Carstairs Gann's freelance
assassin. It is composed of several islands surrounding the Noble House
Kotei Gann.
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Tulwar Reef: Gann's deadly barrier reef completely surrounds the island and
made it a hazard for centuries. Modern sonar and navigation allows most
ships to avoid it with some effort, but the reef has secretly been outfitted
with hidden defenses that make it deadlier than ever.
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Shimazaki Ridge: See Lowtown.
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Tsutani Mountains: Located in the center of northern Gann, these mountains,
mostly barren, are dead hollow volcanoes. Hidden here, Gann scientist Venkata has his
lab, where he does his top secret research.
Gann City
Gann City lies on the northwestern coast of the island. The map of Gann City is drawn on
a square grid with a scale of 1-mile per square. Generally, there are five types of building
"terrain" in the city. These are:
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Dense High-rise: This is an area with many high-rise (10+ story) buildings, of the
sort found in the central area of most large cities.
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Open High-rise: Fewer high-rise buildings are present, most of them surrounded by
large plazas or courtyards.
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Dense Low: A large number of lower (1 to 5 story) buildings are densely packed.
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Open Low: Fewer low buildings are scattered with fairly open ground them, and the
buildings are often laid out in very orderly rows.
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Large Structure: A single massive structure, such as a factory or hanger,
dominates the square. Many smaller out buildings and garages surround it.
Notable Gann City Sites
(Number Keyed to the Map)
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Executive Estates (A-10)
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Gann City Advanced Police HQ (B-7)
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Micro-Tel Facility (C-9)
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1st Tactical Air Squadron/Gann Air Defense Command (C-11)
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HQ, 1st Armored Battalion (C-12)
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Gann City Municipal Sewage Plant (L-5)
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Dynatek Facility (J-10)
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Petrolux Refinery Terminal (L-10)
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Akumi Defense Systems Weapon Assembly Facility A-452 (L-12)
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Developmental Neogenetics Amalgamated Facility (N-13)
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Magadon, Inc. Headquarters (Q-11)
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Militech Armored Assault Group Training & Live Fire Range (R-12)
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Gann Academy Arcology (Q-5):
Gann Academy is a private school for employees
of Gann-Tech. Students reside in campus dorms during the week, but may
"go home" on weekend furloughs. School is a yearlong event (i.e.,
no summer vacation).
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The Zoccolo (P-6): The Zoccolo is a multi-story shopping mall.
Apart from the
many shops, the teen attractions that are here include a lavish food court,
Digital Bushido (A video arcade on the upper level that includes everything
from conventional games to full holo immersion (small holodeck). The most
popular games are the swordfight and martial arts simulators, and Valkyrie:
Dark Redemption™, a popular holosimulation RPG where you take the roll of
a spacefighter (called a "Valkyrie") pilot who has been framed and kicked out
in disgrace and you must clear your name. The lines for these machines are
always very long.), and a 30-screen movie theater.
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Playland by the Sea (O-7)
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Gann-Tech Arcology (R-3): Gann-Tech is a vast monolithic holding company,
possessing vast power and wealth. Gann-Tech controls numerous subsidiaries
that provide a staggering variety of products and services [e.g., Petrolux
(petroleum products), Micro-Tel (computer hardware and software), Magadon,
Inc. (pharmaceuticals), DynaTek (cybernetics), Developmental Neogenetics
Amalgamated (bio-engineering), Akumi Defense Systems (weapons), Black Dog
Game Factory (RPGs and other games), Spiramax Toys (toys, including the
phenomenally popular Regulator Robots™), Gann-Tech Entertainment Network
(GEN), and Global News Network (GNN)].
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Gann City International Airport (K-8)
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Gann Nature Society (E-11)
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Gann-Tech Entertainment Studios (F-9): Headquarters for the Gann-Tech
Entertainment Network (GEN) and the Global News Network (GNN).
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Gann City Transit Authority (GCTA) Terminal (I-10): The public transportation
system within the city. GCTA maintains both the elevated multi-lane roadways
for wheeled vehicles and the above/underground-level tracks for maglev
trains. Surface entrances to the underground maglev train system, called the
tube, are located approximately every ˝-mile along the tracks.
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Carstairs Point State Park (K-4)
Other Notable Gann City Sites:
Downbelow: The general description of the network of underground tunnels and
passages under Gann City. This network consists of three principal systems:
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Sewers:
Both sanitary and storm sewers honeycomb the areas under the city. Most
are accessible from street level and from basements of large industrial
buildings by way of ladders. Most access points are locked. Sewers vary
from 2 to 4 meters in width and height. The sewers are from 10 to 20 meters
below ground level.
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Heaters:
These are sometimes called "steam tunnels", although they are
not used to move hot steam around. Instead, their walls are covered with
heavily insulated power cables, fiber optic cable bundles for data
transmission and standard water mains. Most of the heaters are about 2˝
meters high and 2 meters wide. The heaters are from 20 to 30 meters below
ground level.
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Tube:
The city is serviced by an underground maglev train system. The tubes
themselves are 6 to 8 meters in diameter. All of these large tubes have
maintenance tunnels that parallel them. Maintenance tunnels are about 2
meters wide and 2˝ meters tall. The tube is from 20 to 30 meters below
ground level.
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