Nautilus

Nautilus, officially known as the Commonwealth of Nautilus (Zokesian: Verbreitreich Nautilen; Arkadii/Aesori: Содружество Наутилус / Sodruzestva Nautlilus), is a province and maritime nation situated in the central Kolusian region. The commonwealth, an archipelago within the Central Strait, lies between the Wakirian Sea to the north and the Soltem Sea to the south. Located eight degrees south of the equator and surrounded by warm water currents, the country has a tropical climate with no distinct seasons. The capital and largest city is Korfu, and Nautilus borders Valenia to the east and Gallante to the west.

The islands and accompanying strait have been inhabited by various feudal societies since classical antiquity; due to their strategic location, they have long been a hotspot for conflicts. The islands were controlled by Alecton before the Eras of Strife, and afterwards had routinely been captured by rival nations, including Krome, Zokesia, and Solaria before the Era of Ash. In modern history, the islands as an autonomous state were born out of the Gallante War, with independence ratified in the Treaty of Korfu.

Nautilus is largely neutral in foreign affairs, with the headquarters of the United Kerbal Nations located on Nautilus island, and the advantageous position in the Central Strait permitting the commonwealth to easily profit from maritime trade. However, the inner workings of the nation's parliamentary government largely remain a mystery, and Nautilus' status as an independent state or a member of a larger constituency remains unclear.

Etymology
The name of the commonwealth comes from the largest island in the archipelago, Nautilus, which itself is derived from Alectonese nautílos, meaning "sailor." However, this name became more prominent in the later history, with the archipelago once galled Gobia in classical antiquity. The earliest known usage of the term Nautilus as reference to the primary island comes from the Formative Era in semi-modern history, from the founding of the Theocracy of Alecton in 1944.

The fall of Alecton later in the Collapse Era and subsequent annexation of the straits by Krome led to the first adoption of the term Nautilus (Kroman: ναυτίλος) to refer to a nation-state on the island. In order to distinguish the modern Nautilus state from the island of the same name, the island is often referred to domestically as the Big Island. The standard way to refer to citizens of Nautilus is "Nautilian" in most languages, or "Nautilane" (Arkadii: Наутилан) in Aesori/Arkadii.

Ancient History
Based on archaeological evidence, the earliest habitation of the archipelago dates to around the Bronze Age, by Wakirian settlers from the northwest. The islands' shallow oceans and proximity to the Doren and Kolus continental landmasses permitted easy maritime transit millenia before deep-sea navigation. Written records from this time note that Nautilus, then known as Safenei, was a trade league under the competing influence of the Gobian Empire and the Murovadari kingdoms. By the time of the widespread proliferation of Gunpowder, the influence of these feudal trade powers have dwindled; the primary goods travelling through the strait - silk, teas, and gems from ancient Feguanesia, Opia and Crytil - had slowly been rerouted to the dominating Kafrican market by land- and river-based trade routes.

Foreign Colonization
Following the globalization of trade and industrialization of Kerbal society, the strategic and economic importance of Nautilus and the Central Strait was revived. Nautilus and the accompanying islands, by around five hundred years ago, were absorbed by ancient Alecton, and through the next several centuries would be owned by several monarchist and theocratic variations of Alectonese rule. It was during this time that the archipelago first received widespread colonization, being fully assimilated to the culture of Alecton. Protecting trade ships passing through and defending the straits themselves, as the primary connection between many of the Kolusian countries and the rest of Kerbin, gave rise to a strong naval tradition within Alecton. The Theocracy's ultimate fall in the Collapse Era marked the beginning of several successive conflicts as varying powers competed for the control of the archipelago. In 1966, Nautilus was occupied by the Central Mercantile Collective, an extension of the Northern Mercantile Collective, with control solidified over a span of ten years. An autocratic and corporatist state administered by the Overlord, this occupation was marked by brutality; the CMC slowly bled the islands of natural resources while native rights were curtailed extensively. A policy of subjugation meant a significant fraction of the island's pre-CMC population was lost, either fatalities from haphazard industrial projects or demographic displacement to other portions of the Overlord's empire.

The population of Nautilus island was diminished by as much as eighty percent, with most of the remaining population residing in the provinces of Gary or Alec. This was coupled by neglectful environmental policies, impacting some regions of the island for decades. In 1977, following a declaration of the Phosphoric 24 Points of Injustices from the nation's own grievances against the Overlord, a coalition of several countries including Phosphor, Aenia, and Zokesia declared war on the CMC. In the face of military intervention, the mercantile operation in the straits capitulated immediately. Afterwards, the islands of Nautilus and Korfu were administered by the duchy of Valenia, while Gary and previously-Alectonese continental holdings were formed into the Meritocratic Confederacy of the Straits.

The Great Kerbin Wars
The strait became a global hotspot again during the outbreak of the Greater Kerbin War in 1983. Elsewhere on Kerbin, the MCS and Valenia, each members of the CFS/TWA United Front, were defeated by the GKU in Operation Shadow Realm; shortly after, the MCS capitulated to Erusean invasion, and Valenia to Zokesian assault in quick succession. During the course of the war, Nautilus was captured by Krome in an amphibious landing; Zokesia, now under the Grail regime, opted to deploy Slow Bombs to saturate the island in preparation for a counterattack. The three weaponized asteroids totaled to eight megatons of ordnance, decimating the remaining infrastructure. Shortly afterwards, however, a ceasefire was called between the remaining powers of NEOCON and the United Front. In the war's aftermath, the archipelago was grestinized by all powers in the Nautilus-Comberth Treaty.

Per the treaty, the island of Nautilus was annexed by Krome, the island of Gary became part of the new Halcyon Kore Accord, and the island of Korfu - for the first time in modern history considered independent from Nautilus proper - became a co-administered territory of Solaria and the UCF, later the UIF. The HKA chose to rehabilitate the environment of Gary, designating large swaths of the islands as nature preserves. Krome, seeking to expand their sphere of influence and power projection in the Kolus area, heavily invested in rebuilding the military and energy structure of Nautilus. As the island had not yet had the chance to recover from the CMC's previously genocidal policies, Nautilus slowly became re-populated by ethnic Kroman migrants as construction continued. Solaria and the UIF opted to build up the economic strength of Korfu - despite lacking natural resources or a hinterland, the island's natural harbor had potential for a deepwater port. Both allies shared an interest in developing Korfu into a populated city-state; Solaria, a space-faring nation, desired an equatorial 'canton' to base their terrestrial affairs from, while the UIF wished to locate a branch of their federal government on the island. At this time near the turn of the century, Korfu overtook Nautilus in terms of geopolitical importance. During the CSD invasion of Zokesia, the island's airstrip became home of the Ezekielgrad Airlift, a resupply mission which avoided the coalition's naval blockade. Korfu then became a household name after CSD orbital forces attacked the island with orbital warheads, despite the neutrality of both Solaria and the UIF. The attack sank the Zokesian Phosphor Fleet, which had earlier surrendered for internment at the island, crippled the fleet of transport aircraft and their airfield, and decimated the city itself, including the Imperial Senate. Both Solaria and the UIF withdrew from the CSD and later allied with Zokesia against the coalition in response to the strikes; additionally, the UIF later entered an interplanetary conflict against the forces behind the strike. Seven years later, during the Last Days of Kafrica, Solari and UIF forces seized Nautilus from Krome following their capitulation to KAFSOC abroad. The island remained under occupation of the two powers through the turn of the century until the onset of the Era of Ash.

Post-Era of Ash
When the Era of Ash ended thirty years later, the eastern islands of the strait were once again under the control of Valenia while the western islands were administered by the Gallante Federation. Valenian control of Nautilus and Korfu was de facto as the islands largely existed in a power vacuum. When Valenia was brought into Eastray's sphere, and in turn within the Zokesian Confederation, there was great political demand for annexation of the long-contested islands. However, Zokesian policy changed course with the passing of their reigning monarch, Ella II, and her daughter's coronation, Magdalene Vikus-Ward. Now head of state, Magdalene's directive sought independence for the islands; as the Harmonious Program astronauts returned from their Munar mission, plans to support a Nautilus Provisional Government were drafted. However, the Gallante Federation, seeking to capitalize on the instability in the Central Strait and Gaxinia regions, claimed sovereignty over Nautilus and Korfu. Nautilus was forced to nation-build itself as Zokesia and her allies became preoccupied in the subsequent Gallante War. Officially a belligerent, Nautilus at this time had no military capability. To deal with the looming crises of war, shortages, and illegitimacy, the League of Twenty was formed - twenty lawyers, trade unionists, and ex-military émigrés with a common interest in reviving the islands. As the war progressed, the L20 formed the big-tent Immediate Action Party (Arkadii/Aesori: Немедленное действие / Nemedlennoye Deystviye; abbreviated "IA" ) with Nicholas Cromwell as its secretary-general. A snap referendum saw IA win a landslide victory - albeit without an organized opposition to contest - solidifying L20 control over drafting the Nautilane constitution. Nautilus became the seat of negotiation between Gallante and the Zokesian coalitions, and Cromwell's cabinet successfully used this leverage to gain a favorable peace deal for the fledgling country. Gary and outlying islands were ceded to the now-independent Commonwealth, and the government became internationally recognized upon the Treaty of Korfu's ratification.

Commonwealth of Nautilus
After the provisional 2057 referendum, officially considered the year of Nautilus' foundation, IA secured their dominance of the Nautilane Assembly in the 2060 territorial election. Now with peace secured, Cromwell's cabinet placed emphasis on economic revival, support for business entrepreneurship, and limitations on internal politics. Highlighting the country as neutral and geographically important, the Zokesian Confederation supported the Nautilane bid for the United Kerbal Nations headquarters in Safenei, Nautilus; construction began in 2058. The country's economy began to grow rapidly as Gallantean financial support, stipulated by the Treaty of Korfu, laid the foundation for long-term investment in the islands. Balancing this support, economic advisors from the Zokesian Federal Reserve provided guidance and construction of numerous factories in the upstart port cities. The Central Sea Trade Commission was established by Nautilus and Zokesia in 2058, and construction of the Citadel Space Center on Nautilus began the same year. With stability returned, the density of international shipping travelling through Nautilane waters has increased exponentially. Korfu, once again a capital island-city, started to rapidly meet its pre-Era of Ash level of development again.

Government & Politics
Nautilus is primarily a parliamentary democracy with a unicameral legislative body, the Nautilane Assembly. The First Minister is head of government, and is appointed by the legislature as the person most likely to command the confidence of a majority of the Assembly. The Korfu Home Office is the FM's appointed cabinet. While an executive branch and head of state are enshrined in the nation's constitution, the head of state, if one exists, is unknown to the public. Information regarding this is subject to numerous conspiracy theories, and the commonwealth government refuses to comment. Furthermore, the nation's status as a "constituent unit" remains unclear. With this discrepancy, it is likewise uncertain if the State Court, the judiciary branch of Nautilane government, holds supreme judicial authority or is subservient to a foreign court.

Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) are chosen to serve for a term lasting up to five years. The current Assembly has 59 members, 51 directly elected from the commonwealth's 16 proportionally-represented districts, and nine nonpartisan, nominated members supposedly appointed by the head of state. The Immediate Action Party (IA) occupies a dominant position in Nautilane politics, having won large parliamentary majorities in every election since independence in 2057. The current First Minister is Nicholas Cromwell, previously an Ezekielgrad School lawyer and secretary-general of IA. Despite his modern commitments to Nautilus, details about his upbringing is the topic of many accusations; one theory implicates him as even being from the Mun. The judicial system is based on Solari civil law, continuing the legal tradition established before the Era of Ash. Criminal law is based on the Zokesian Penal Code, however Nautilus still guarantees trial by jury. Both caning and capital punishment are administered as penalties for severe offences. With an almost paradoxical commitment to kerbal rights and prosperity contrasted with the shadowy nature of governance, Nautilus is generally considered to be an authoritarian democracy. Calls for reform exist, though are visibly satiated by the rapid economic growth and stability currently provided by IA leadership. This model governance has since been labelled the "Nautaline Model;" it is noteworthy for many similarities to the neo-conservative institutions of the previous century.

Foreign Relations
Nautilus' stated foreign policy priority is maintaining security in the Central Strait and surrounding territories; an underlying principle is political and economic stability in the region. It has diplomatic relations with most sovereign states and hosts UKN forums and offices on its main island. As consequence to its location, the country aims for international neutrality and isolation, with some exceptions - it holds close relationship with Zokesia, running the Central Sea Trade Commission with them; the nationstates of Konig and Arkeria are also close global partners, for unknown reasons. While in diplomatic contact with most other countries, Nautilus refuses to recognize the government of Ultranationalist Arcadia, and aside from within UKN grounds, does not communicate with the state.

Military
Due to only recently gaining independence and industry, the Nautilane military is small compared to its neighbors. In recent years, an influx of investment has provided the armed forces opportunity to build a technologically advanced force from the ground up, spearheaded by a team of international designers and military theorists. As of present, the Commonwealth Air Force is the most well equipped, fielding two full-sized, domestically-designed fighter wings and auxiliary units from CAF Tabbard on the main island. The Army uses lend-leased Zokesian surplus equipment, such as Rhodie IFVs and Honey Badger armored cars. Similarly, the Navy's flagship is the carrier Fort Grace, an ex-Zokesian Thunderchief-class supercarrier gifted after the Treaty of Korfu's ratification; the keels for several future combat vessels have since been laid at Korfu drydocks, with construction assistance from Freedom Iron Works.

While space forces exist on paper - supposedly taking up 58% of the nation's √10M defense budget - no such known orbital presence exists, with the Cromwell administration refusing to comment. Amatuer space enthusiasts have observed consistent rocket and SSTO launches from the Citadel Space Center on a weekly basis, with classified payloads and destinations.

Geography
Nautilus consists of 16 islands, including three main ones; Nautilus, Gary, and Korfu. It is one of the world's smallest countries, with a combined land area of only 33,313 km2. Its primary geographical feature is the Central Strait, connecting the Wakir and Kolus regions in one of the most important thoroughfares in global commerce, carrying 40% of the world's trade. The highest natural point is Tukit Hill at 163.63 m. Due to the lack of natural land, the islands of Korfu and Nautilus proper have been often subject to land reclamation.

Biodiversity
Several areas in Nautilus are under the protection of the Park Service in order to preserve the islands' diverse wildlife, and both Nautilus and Gary have large swaths of land set aside as national parks. Two of the three intermediate islands surrounding Gary have been designated wildlife preserves and are off limits to heavy industry, with the third used as a military training ground. Heavy emphasis on ecological preservation is in no small part due to the islands' history; decades of great power conflicts and violent occupation had nearly destroyed the region's ecosystem on more than one occasion.

Climate
Owing to its equatorial location and maritime exposure, Nautilus has a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen: Af), no distinctive seasons, and uniform humidity and temperature. The average annual rainfall is 250 cm, and temperatures usually range from 23 to 32 °C. Further contrasts that prevent true all-year uniformity are twice-yearly monsoon seasons, one in spring and one in autumn; periods between monsoon seasons receive less rain and wind. During the Northeast Monsoon, northeast winds prevail, sometimes reaching 20 km/h. Another notable meteorological feature of the islands is thick morning fog, most prevalent in the early summer and winter seasons.