From: Andy Cowell <andy@c...>
Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2001 14:50:19 -0500
Subject: A non-NAC break-away republic
Here's a non-NAC breakaway I've considered using, although I haven't
written them up before mostly because I haven't researched them too much in
detail. I'd love comments.
Kwa'Zulu: The Zulu have never surrendered their sovereignty, a point they make
today and in the future. When the PAU, a fractious organization anyway, makes
moves to increase ties with the ESU, the Zulu nation revolts, citing their
claims of sovereignty and history of war as a member of South Africa against
the Communist Cuba supported
Angola, as well of conflict with the Xhosa-dominated South Africa.
This revolt ends with tacit independance for the Zulu, although the PAU made
no formal agreement relinquishing their claim, as they have pointed out
several times.
The government of Kwa'Zulu is made up of the amakhosi, or the tribal chiefs,
who have kept political power out of the hands of the Zulu king. The political
system is a mixture of limited democracy and socialism, with occaisional
factional violence between rival Zulu clans.
Kwa'Zulu reinstituted universal military service for males. Each year, all
male youths that have turned 17 in the previous year are enlisted for a one
year term in an izinsizwa ("young men ready to fight") Regiment, and at least
three years active service in the Kwa'Zulu military. Satisfactory completion
of this service is mandatory for citizen rights such as voting, property
ownership and marriage. Upon leaving the military, each male retains
membership in the Kwa'Zulu military reserve system.
As Kwa'Zulu is a relatively poor nation with a strong military, it routinely
hires out regiments as mercenaries, and there is a large emphasis in the
military on taking military goods as payment of service and, where able,
salvaging equipment and other goods from defeated opponents. Recovered arms
and vehicles may be issued to troops within a regiment once proper logistic
support has been worked out.
Kwa'Zulu "regiments" vary widely in size, and are assembled or divided as
necessary, modeling their original design under king Shaka to some extent. All
Zulu wear similar uniforms in combat, although dress uniforms may vary by
regiment, with varying colors representing regiment rank and accompanied by
matching traditional shields. The more white present in a dress uniform and
shield, the more senior the regiment.
It should be noted that the Zulu nation includes a minority of white citizens,
and even more of mixed ancestry.
Notable Kwa'Zulu regiments:
uMcijo: A Kwa'Zulu special forces regiment. Despite their relatively high
status in the military, the uMcijo wear solid black uniforms.
uThulwana: The king's royal regiment. A largely ceremonial regiment for a
largely ceremonial king, the uThulwana have benefitted greatly from the influx
of recent addition iZwethigo Ugothu, a promising and inspiring graduate of his
izinsizwa Regiment. Ugothu selected uThulwana for himself and his men when
given his choice of posting, much to the surprise and concern to the amakhosi.
Dress colors are nearly almost all white.
The Sparrows: NSL mercenary battalion, led by former NSL Generaloberst
Wolfgang Pelham, a wealthy man with ties to the NSL arms industry. Pelham
invested heavily into Kwa'Zulu and its military, both with cash and NSL arms,
Pelham used his NSL troops to help train the Zulu military, and exhibits a
moderate amount of influence in the traditional government. Pelham and the
sparrows are not Zulu citizens, and take payment in the forms of NSL arms
deals and investment in Kwa'Zulu infrastructure, both civilian and military.
Pelham is quietly encouraged by members of the NSL government.