Ionicus

The United Technocratic Republics of Ionicus
Flag Official State Emblem of Ionicus Official State Emblem
Motto: "Semper Vigilans"
Anthem: "Forward unto Tomorrow"
File:IonicusOutline.png
Capital	Ĉefurbo
Largest	Akarov
Official languages	Esperanto
Ethnic groups (2017)	84.2% Ionician 15.8% Immigrants
Demonym(s)	Ionician
Government	Federal constitutional republic
• President	Ronald R. Terezis
Area
•	485,672 km2 (187,519 sq mi)
Population
• 2016 census	101,232,872
• Density	208.4/km2 (539.8/sq mi)
GDP (nominal)	2017 estimate
• Total	$6.376 Trillion
• Per capita	$62, 980
Gini (2017)	25.2 low
HDI (2017)	.944 very high
Currency	Ionic Credit (₹) ((IC))
Time zone	UTC + 0
Date format	dd-mm-yyyy CE
Driving side	right
ISO 3166 code	ION

History

The Ziggurat of Mikor

Government

Military

The Armed Forces of Ionicus are comprised of two main military forces. The Department of Defense administers of the national Army, Navy, and Air Force. The Department of Security is responsible for the National Defense Force and the National Civil Defense Corps. Both military forces are overseen by the Joint Services Command.Generally, Ionicus maintains a policy of neutrality and does not take part in armed conflicts, though it has participated in peacekeeping operations internationally. Participation in the military is voluntary, though participation in the National Service Program which can include a military service option is mandatory. During wartime, civilians of any sex, may be conscripted.

In 2018, the Ionician Department of Defense reported having approximately 400,000 service members in active duty and just under 1,000,000 reservists. In comparison to most other countries, the ratio of officers to enlisted members is significantly higher. This is meant to allow for a more rapid mobilization of military forces as the training for officers is much longer than the training for enlisted service men.

The Department of Security employs approximately 20,000 service members in the National Defense Force. The National Defense Force which maintains the protection of the mainland and the surrounding sea and airspace. The majority of the National Defense force works in the Naval Division, tasked with coastal defense and enforcing maritime law. The National Civil Defense Corps constructs and maintains a network of bunkers and other military fortifications with about 20,000 full time members. The National Civil Defense Corps also administers a civilian militia, the members of which go through a 8 week basic training course and keep military equipment in their residence in exchange for a modest monthly stipend. The National Civil Defense Corps has 100,000 members in it's militia force, primarily located in rural areas.

Because Ionicus has a small population in comparison to the other nation of Astyria, the armed forces utilize high-tech weapon systems, such as the SASB-2 unmanned stealth bomber, to maximize manpower and an individual soldier's capabilities. Ionicus's National Missile Defense Program operates an advanced network of land and sea-based anti-ballistic missiles, capable of protecting large cities and other areas of strategic importance from ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and artillery fire. The Ionician Department of Defense, in co-operation with the Ionician Space Agency has launched a number of reconnaissance, GPS, and military communication satellites.

Ionicus is known to posses weapons of mass destruction, having a prominent chemical and biological weapons program throughout the 1980s. In the early 2000s, Ionicus upgraded it's aging intercontinental ballistic missiles to a more modern platform, claiming only to do this as a deterrent to attacks. Beginning in the 1960s, Ionicus required most homes to have a fallout shelter, capable of providing safety to the house's residents in the event of a chemical, biological, or nuclear attack for up to two weeks, however this requirement was eliminated in 1989 and replaced with more liberal requirements. The new requirements require only that a supply cache capable of providing for a buildings inhabitants be kept in the residence. The supply cache includes items such as food and water, gas masks, and radiological measurement instruments; every 5 years items in the kit are replenished and unused ration packs are donated as international aid.

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  Ionician soldier, wearing the BKM-3 Combat Uniform.

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  One of 8 nuclear powered Citadel-class ballistic missile submarines.

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  The SASB-2 unmanned stealth bomber capable of long-range reconnaissance and attack.

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  The ground-based anti-ballistic missile launcher system, ABMM-12.

Education and Science

Education

The Medpo Institute of Agricultural Sciences, one of the many specialized secondary schools in Ionicus.

Since the era of reconstruction started, education has been a top priority for the Ionician government. The robust and well-funded education system is often cited internationally as being the best in Astyria. All schools, public and private, must be registered with the Department of Education, which oversees all schools and establishes curriculum requirements. The population of Ionicus is one of the most highly educated in Astyria with 68% holding post-secondary degrees and 3.1% holding PhDs.

The educational system is divided into four categories: pre-primary, primary, secondary, and tertiary. Pre-primary schools are offered for children aged 0-4 years old; although the intended purpose of the pre-primary schools is to function as a state funded child care program for working families, there is some educational curriculum, mostly focused on the development of language skills. Attendance at the pre-primary level is not mandatory, though its use is commonplace.

At age 5, school attendance becomes mandatory and the student enters the primary school level. Secondary schools introduce a wide number of subjects such as Esperanto, Mathematics, Science, Civics, Computer Programming, and Health/Physical Education. All primary schools feature a gifted education wing, where the highest performing students are taught advanced subjects. At the completion of primary school, at age 12, students take the Primara Lerneja Eliro Ekzameno (PLE Exam) or Primary School Exit Examination. The PLE Exam is a standardized test which helps a student determine their secondary school.

After a student has completed primary school, they begin mandatory attendance at the secondary level until age 16. Students can elect to go to a specialized secondary school based on the results of their PLE Exam. Specialized secondary schools require a minimum score in certain areas of the PLE Exam, though this can be waived if the student shows exceptional merit in a school’s concentration. General studies secondary schools cater to those who do not wish to attend a specialized secondary school. Examples of concentrations for specialized secondary schools are Computer Programming, Military Science, Engineering, Agricultural Science, and Music.

Following graduation at age 16, students enter the National Service Program, which composes the bulk of the tertiary education system. The National Service Program is a 2 year commitment where a student elects to attend a university, enlist in the military, or serve in the National Development Corps. Participation in the National Service Program is required to become a full citizen in Ionicus. The majority of students attend universities for 2 years, often entering a Mallongigita Teknika Programo, or Shortened Technical Program, a special type of STEM degree that does not require attendance in any classes not related to the core subject. Four year degrees are also offered. Those who choose to serve in the military are placed in positions based on the needs of the Department of Defense and their military entrance exam scores; support positions, such as medic or logistics specialist, are offered to those who are conscientious objectors to war. In the National Development Corps, enlistees work on national construction projects such as dam or highway construction and maintenance. If a participant in the National Development Corps takes on a specialist role which requires on the job training, such as a welder, they are awarded an educational certificate.

After participation in the National Service Program, individuals may elect to enter the workforce, attend a university, which is free for 6 years for any student with an overall grade average of 70%, or join the military with a four year contract. Participation in the National Service Corps is always available to those seeking employment and is mandatory for those who receive certain welfare benefits.

Science

The TELOS-1 satellite was among the first spacecraft to reach orbit, and the first to provide photography of the Earth from space.

Ionicus is a leading nation in scientific research, primarily in the fields of robotics, life sciences and military technology. Historically, Ionicus has contributed heavily to the fields of nuclear technology, computers, and telecommunications. DEFTELN was a network of military computers established in the late 1960s and is often considered to be one of the precursors to the internet. Research and development spending, as a percentage of the GDP is the highest in Astyria.

Research and development spending is tax deductible, and as such many international companies source their development and design facilities in Ionicus. This has also led to the creation of several high tech products created in Ionicus becoming popular in other nations.

The Ionician Space Agency is one the oldest, best funded, and developed space programs in the world. The ISA operates a network of GPS and communication satellites and several probes to explore the solar system. At its height, the ISA operated a small lunar colony which housed astronauts for six months. The ISA is one of the largest contributors to the Astyrian Orbital Space Station, second to Kobolis.

Economy

Robotic equipment performing quality control at a chemical manufacturing facility in Ionicus

The Ionician Economy is categorized as being very highly developed, having high productivity per capita, and as a mixed economy. Ionicus's high quality university education and government policies are often cited as the cause for the nation's prosperous high technology sector. Historically, state-owned enterprises comprised the bulk of the Ionician Economy, but economic reforms in the 1970s through the 1980s allowed for the development of a highly prosperous private sector and a resultant major reduction of state-owned enterprises.

The base of the Ionician Economy lies in the manufacturing sector which comprises nearly 30% of the overall GDP of Ionicus. Nearly all of the manufacturing facilities in Ionicus are automated, due to heavy subsidization of robotic manufacturing equipment given in exchange for a small tax increase. International corporations frequently locate their manufacturing facilities in Ionicus, due to the low automated manufacturing costs. The largest exported goods are machines/electronics (53.2% of exported goods), chemical products (12%) and military hardware (8.7%). The service sector constitutes the majority of the Ionician Economy, with the largest sectors being information technology, finance, shipping, and tourism.

Although the majority of industries in Ionicus are privitized, the state still operates several large enterprises. The largest publicly owned corporation is IonAg, which typically produces 85% of the agricultural products made in Ionicus. IonAg utilizes several technologies such as aquaponics and genetically modified organisms to create food security in a nation where there is little arable land. Other publicly owned sectors include energy, arms manufacturing, telecommunications, and water treatment.

Unemployment in Ionicus typically falls between 1-2%, due to guaranteed employment through the government and employment being required for most welfare programs. The average annual wage (nominal) for Ionicus was 46,199 Ionician Credits (88,241 USD). The federal income tax varies widely. The first 15,000 IC (28,650 USD) an individual earns in a year are subject to a 5% tax rate while any earnings over 150,000 IC (286,500) a year are taxed at the maximum rate of 75%.

Workers in Ionicus enjoy a number of benefits. Minimum wage is set based on average living costs in each municipality. Workers a guaranteed a minimum of 2 weeks paid vacation annually and 6 months of paid parental leave for one parent. Vacation time accrued cannot be “lost” although exchanging vacation time for equivalent wages is allowed.

Energy, Infrastructure and Environment

A high speed maglev train, popular in Ionicus.

The Ionic Department of Energy provides most of the electricity generated in Ionicus. 56% of all electricity generated in Ionicus comes from nuclear power, as the Department of Energy operates 43 nuclear reactors as of 2018. Solar energy (21%), wind (4%) and tidal energy stations (4%) comprise the renewable energy sector. The remaining electrical generation comes from hydroelectric (8%) and natural gas (13%) primarily sourced from landfill gas. In 2005, the Ionician government announced plans to decommission all nuclear reactors by 2040 and have them replaced with renewable energy sources; as of 2018 17 reactors have been decommissioned. Energy usage efficiency within Ionicus consistently scores very highly, with several government initiatives such as mandated insulation requirements in all new buildings.

Algae being grown in a photobioreactor for later use in biodiesel production.

Biodiesel, generated from algae, dominates the fuel markets, followed by natural gas, ethanol and petroleum products. The Ionic Department of Energy heavily subsidies the manufacture of algae biodiesel, making it economical for usage in most vehicles. Due to low fossil fuel reserves, the Ionician Government thought it strategically necessary to develop its energy independence, hence the low usage of fossil fuels.

Automobiles are the most popular form of transportation, although rail transportation is incredibly popular due to high fuel prices. The Ionician publicly managed road network spans nearly 1.5 million km (932,057 mi). A network of unlimited speed toll roads form the National Highway System which connects all cities. The Ionician National Rail System consists of high speed maglev trains for passengers and lower speed rail lines for the transport of goods. Nearly all goods are transported by rail.

The Ionician government is highly protective of its environment, as one of the main principles of Ionician Technocracy is harmony with the natural world. Even as early as 1934, legislation was introduced to minimize pollution. The 1950s through the 1970s would see major expansion of environmental legislation as the government created large subsidies for clean industries, constructed nuclear power stations, expanded its recycling program, and began encourage solar and wind use in buildings. The distinctly Ionician Fabakag facilities, pioneered by Dr. Karesinda, began appearing in significant numbers during the 1980s. Fabakag facilities combine a manufacturing facility (usually chemical), a water treatment plant, and a hydroponic farm into one complex, utilizing aspects of each to eliminate pollution.

Ionicus is one of the only countries in the world with negative carbon emissions. Ionicus was the creator of the Khasde Protocol, an international treatise on preventing climate change. Recycling is an important part of waste management in Ionicus, typically reporting that around 80% of all recyclable materials were recycled. Organic waste is used in the generation of synthetic natural gas, an important resource in the Ionician economy. Illegal garbage disposal, such as littering, is met with strict punishment and heavy fines. Citizens in the National Development Corps can be assigned with jobs such as litter collection or tree planting.