The Crown Colony of New Cornwall
Index
Colonial Government
Local Government
Political Parties
Influential Groups
Relations with United Kingdom
Relations with the Commonwealth
Relations with other Joian States
New Falmouth
New Falmouthshire
Carlchester
Cormoran
Highside Station
British Joi Police
New Falmouth Metropolitan Police
Facilities Security Group
Secret Intelligence Service
Acknowledgments
Thanks to the Joi Group for feedback and ideas, especially the concept of Kafer War refugees on Joi. 30 Assault Unit, Fort Fleming and FSG are concepts by David Gillon.
It was a balmy summer night in New Falmouth, the heat of the day had lingered long and people were out and about in the cafés and bars of the French Quarter of the city. My partner and I shared a glass of the finest Néo-Provençal Cléry-Grand red and we watched the world go by and the lights of the ships move out on the Fal.
The city felt almost idyllic at times like these, it was a place of education, culture and taste; a rare combination indeed in an Anglophone city. I was at home here as I hadn’t been since my childhood in Esperance so many years ago, memories ruined by the brutality of La Guerre. My travels had taken me far and wide, but I was inexorably drawn back here, although repulsed in part by teeming Terra. I finally admitted that I was a Joienne at heart.
Yet fear was now creeping into the atmosphere, even here in remote New Cornwall. Refugees were arriving daily from deeper in the cluster. The news was heavy with disaster after disaster and reports of fleets moving and fighting. The military presence was increasingly heavy; shuttles launching at all hours and now Asiatic mercenary soldiers waited discretely down side streets. The partying of the people had taken on a desperate, final edge.
We had just finished the fabulous, ruinously expensive bottle when the news broke across the networks: the Capuchons were finally here. We ordered another bottle and were joined at the table by more Élyséen expatriates and some passing Kernau.
We would worry tomorrow.
Une
Vie Coloniale Moins Ordinaire
Mme
J.I. Merteuil (Kernau Joian Press, 2308)
The British Crown Colony of New Cornwall is located on the world of Joi in the 61 Ursae Majoris system. New Cornwall was founded in 2254, the last of Britain's current colonies to be established. Since then New Cornwall has grown only very slowly, but with an excellent and highly developed infrastructure. In the near future these carefully laid plans may finally reach fruition with a wave of colonisation from Britain set to dramatically increase the colony's population.
Currently the New Cornish have the highest standard of living on Joi and have a close, mutually beneficial relationship with the neighbouring Azanian colony of Lubumbashi. However some of them fear the consequences of the planned arrivals of the new colonists. Joi on the whole is a world still in turmoil from the War of Elysian Independence and the continuing tension between German and Japanese colonies.
In addition the proximity of two alien races, the Pentapods and Kafers may yet have a major influence on the evolution of the colony. So far the influence of the Pentapods has been positive with the side-effects of inter-species trade being notable. The Kafers have proved far more problematical as they have ravaged many of the colonies of the French Arm and have already launched an abortive offensive on Joi. New Cornwall was lucky and avoided major ground conflict, although it has received a destabilising influx of refugees from other worlds in the Beta Canum Cluster.
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The People of New Cornwall Most of the people of New Cornwall regard themselves still as British, although those from other nations obviously don’t share this view. They do see themselves as citizens of a wider British Commonwealth however. The most common term for those living in the colony is ‘New Cornish’; however the 2nd and emerging 3rd Generation of colonists have begun to call themselves ‘Kernau’.
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New Cornwall is situated in the southern polar regions of Joi’s Pays de Verde continent just to the south of the Balein Isthmus and centred on the mouth of the major Fal River. The British claim 5000kms of coastline either side of the Fal up to 2000km inland, including parts of the eastern coast of the Isthmus. However at the moment only a very small part of this claim has been settled. 2000km south-east up the Fal is the Azanian colony of Lubumbashi, which cooperates closely with New Cornwall.
The main settlement of the colony is the city of New Falmouth located on high ground on the southern bank of the mouth of the Fal as it empties into New Falmouth Bay and the Balenic Sea. The Fal is navigable by barges and ACVs for most of its length, whilst ocean going ships can dock at New Falmouth’s Falport. The Fal is the lifeline for the colony’s valuable trade with its southern neighbour whose goods are transhipped either elsewhere on Joi or off-world via New Cornwall’s catapult.
To the south of New Falmouth is the wide Trecrobben Plain which is roughly triangular, running 100km east along the Fal and 100km south along the coast. The vast majority of the colonial population lives either in New Falmouth or in the Trecrobben. The Trecrobben is an area of local grassland crossed by small rivers and with areas of woodland. A number of small towns have been established across the plain and some cultivation of local flora is undertaken in the area. The plain has been pre-surveyed ready for a influx of new colonisation which may now never come.
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Expansion Plans British plans for the, often delayed, rapid expansion of New Cornwall were well in hand, but are now on hold as a result of the Kafer War. The first new wave of expansion would centre on the Trecrobben where four new towns would be founded. The wider wilderness would also be opened up for both small and large claims at this time. The second wave, five years after the first, would result in the founding of a further two cities the same size of New Falmouth, one south of the Trecrobben and the other north of the Fal.
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In the western reaches of the Trecrobben some 30km west of New Falmouth near the coast is the town of Cormoran which hosts the British Army garrison and the loading terminal of New Cornwall’s catapult. The catapult runs 8km to the south-west to Selena Ridge where the payload is launched out over the Balenic Sea. The area around Cormoran is not well developed and is primarily used for military training. 10km east of Cormoran is the main air and spaceport for the colony.
The other major settlement in the Trecrobben is the new town of Carlchester 80km southeast of New Falmouth on the banks of the tributary Buryan River. Carlchester has been quickly brought into existence to house many of the refugees from the fighting in the Beta Canum cluster who have reached Joi. The town is on relatively flat ground and is surrounded by a small forest which has been used to provide building materials.
To the north of New Falmouth lies the marshy, and sometimes noxious, Fal Delta. The delta is home to beds of local shell fish which have become sought after delicacies and fishermen can be found here most mornings. However no one lives in this region and fishermen have been known to disappear here, lending an air of mystery to the place.
The remainder of the British claim lies outside the main colony area and is essentially low lying wilderness. These areas have been surveyed, but not comprehensively explored in any depth. However there are rumours of a newly opened and secretive military base in the Penwith Hills south-west of the Trecrobben.
Overall the colony has a pleasant Mediterranean climate through most of the year, although with significant rainfall contributing to the fertility. The summer months are very agreeable with temperatures of at least 20 degrees Celsius, and in general spring and autumn months are mild. Winters can be very bitter however, especially when southerly winds bring the Antarctic cold and snow to the colony.
Timeline
2226 – ESAS Argonaute makes first survey of the 61 Ursae Majoris
2233 – ESA Joian Survey Team (EAJ) lands
2237 – EAJ completes initial survey
2241 – German colony established
2248 – French colony established
2254 – Foundation of New Cornwall
2257 – Japanese colony established
2280 – Azanian colony established
2285 – Start of Elysian Revolt
2291 – Independence of Elysia
2295 – British Colonial Census
2300 – Start of Kafer Invasion of French Arm
2302 – Invasion of Joi
Policy
Britain’s decision to establish a colony on Joi has been the subject of much debate, especially in the light of the subsequent leisurely exploitation of the colony’s potential. Following the foundation of Britain’s first two colonies on Tirane and Beowulf the possibilities of the Beta Canum Cluster began to open up. Already Britain’s resources and population were being stretched by the first too colonies and greater economic returns were being made on off-world mining than in colonisation.
Two worlds in the cluster immediately leapt out for their potential; Beta Canum and Crater. Beta Canum had an almost Earth-like environment and Crater had a huge potential for its mineral wealth. Great debate went on within ESA over who was to settle the richest parts of Beta Canum and Britain ultimately settled for the least immediately promising area. This decision was prompted by two main factors; Britain’s limited capability to make the most of a colony due to their existing commitments and commercial interests desire to gain the lead in the exploitation of Crater.
Ultimately the British Continent slowly thrived, growing and evolving into maturity, although this development had been relatively haphazard outside of key areas and policy. Crater had been more problematical. Britain had exclusive rights to the colony but the development had not been as smooth as expected. An inhospitable world with political power mainly in the hands of industry, the conditions on Crater had produced a restive population as well as healthy profit margins.
When ESA surveyed 61 Ursae Majoris the results were troubling for the British. The world of Joi was ideal for colonisation, although it had little in the way of mineral riches to make exploitation truly profitable. Once again British resources were limited and without commercial impetuous it seemed likely that Britain would spurn the opportunity to establish a colony on Joi. In addition the movement towards Home Rule on Wellon was used by some interests to claim that Britain should get out of the colony business entirely. Instead Germany, with ESA help, set up a colony on Joi and the French were not far behind them.
In was in 2239 that a change of government in Britain brought Sir Henry Penvenen, a noted colonial enthusiast, to power in the Colonial Office. Penvenen pulled out all the stops to gain support for establishing a colony on Joi, harnessing popular public opinion. He won the commercial argument and the Wellon Question by arguing that Britain would gain more in the long term in trade from a prosperous independent Wellon than it would through ruthlessly strip mining Crater. He pointed to the success of the British Continent on Beta Canum as well as Alicia and Wellon as examples of what could be achieved and to what the possibilities were if more planning and investment were put in place.
Penvenen finally won by harnessing popular opinion and enthusiasm of the Royal Society and overcame the naysayers in the Treasury and amongst commercial interests. In the end the discovery of the Pentapods and the position of Joi on possibly rich trade routes sealed the support of HMG and Parliament. New Cornwall, named after Penvenen’s home region in the British Isles, was given the go-ahead. It was a victory for long term thinking.
Establishment
New Cornwall was planned as a long term project with at least ten years of development before the main colonisation was to get underway. The planning drew on experience from all four of Britain’s previous colonies and was notable for the input of both the Royal Society and the Foundation for Practical Knowledge. The initial plan was for the foundation of a single hub city and subsequent development of the surrounding area. Colonists in this period were all to be hand-picked specialists with previous experience or training in key areas.
Initial survey work of the EAJ had already been expanded by the specially formed British Joi Survey Team (BJST) who had done initial surveys in the south in 2242. They returned in 2249 and soon identified likely colony areas in the Trecrobben and on the banks of the Fal. Using techniques tried and tested in Wellon and Alicia a colonisation plan was quickly drawn up and preliminary recruiting begun. Almost 2/3rds of the initial colonists came from the British Isles with the remaining coming from the existing colonies and from other parts of the Commonwealth of Nations.
The hub settlement at in the Fal delta, known naturally as New Falmouth, was begun in 2254 with Colonial Macro Engineering installing the nascent city’s infrastructure while the first key colonists arrived. The infrastructure has stood the test of time; allowing the settlement to smoothly expand and giving its residents a standard of living not far from that of a core world. At the same time the core elements of the orbital terminal and first of the series of solar power satellites were brought into position. Work on the catapult was begun six years later following on from the successful air/spaceport project.
However at this time New Cornwall was reliant almost entirely on food imports, predominantly from Elysia and Halbinsel but also from Beta Canum. Also the economy was almost entirely related to the colonisation effort, although a small service sector sprung up almost from the start and grew quickly. In particular the Queen Ann Street Brewery was soon one of the healthiest private businesses in the new colony.
However a change of government back on Earth in 2262 almost changed everything for New Cornwall. New spending priorities emerged and the now retired Penvenen’s carefully laid long-term plans were set aside. What funding remained was ploughed into the headline projects of the catapult. Expansion of the colony and the first wave of mass emigration, due to begin in 2268, was put on hold. Whilst work on the catapult put enough money into the colony to keep it solvent virtually all other parts of the economy were stagnant, if not in recession.
Only the hard work of an ingenious population saved the economy as they established new businesses and trades. Small scale agriculture and fishing enabled the colony to move away from its complete reliance on imports. However the future of the colony began to look bleak as the new government’s policies took its toll for over a decade, indeed more investment was put into in-system mining efforts.
Consolidation
The outlook for New Cornwall started to look brighter with the news that the Azanians were to establish their own colony to the south of New Cornwall upstream along the Fal. The Azanians planned to use many of the British facilities to ease the initial costs of the colony. Heavy equipment used in the construction and mothballed was reactivated and CME picked up many key construction projects in the Azanian colony. The Azanians also made use of Highside Station to transfer its colonists and were supplied with power from the New Cornwall SPS system.
As Lubumbashi got on its feet it invested in Terran life form based agriculture, a policy at odds with that of New Cornwall, its exports began to move down the Fal. Some were transhipped elsewhere on Joi whilst some were sent off-world, but all went through New Cornwall’s facilities. This new income restarted New Cornwall’s progress and plans for expansion were once again put in place. A fresh influx of skilled colonists began arriving and the future began to look bright.
However in 2285 tensions in the French colony of Elysia erupted into revolt, ushering in six years of bitter fighting, wider instability across Joi and even space naval battles in the 61 Ursae Majoris system. The British response was to increase the size of the previously small garrison force, bringing in a strong ground force and a Royal Navy contingent. Space warships were moved into the system to maintain the safety of British interests. This provided a further boost to the colonial economy, both with the presence of troops with pay packets to spend but also with the construction of the garrison town of Cormoran.
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New Cornish in the Elysian War Whilst most New Cornish viewed the Elysian War from the sidelines, some became involved. Most noticeable were the media crews, many, including the founders of Independent Joian Media made their names covering the conflict. Most numerous were the New Cornish who were involved in the relief effort. However there were also some who volunteered to fight, most of these with the maquis verte or other anti-French forces, although some enlisted with the Légion Étrangère. Memoirs of the conflict, from Elysian and New Cornish, perspectives continue to sell well.
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During the Elysian War New Cornwall was used as a rear base for many Foundations who were involved in relief operations in Elysia. This and the relative proximity of the colonies led to several thousand Elysian refugees fleeing to New Cornwall, normally by sea, a trend that has not ended since the war and the establishment of the unstable République Joienne. Many of these refugees have settled in New Cornwall and their influence, most strongly in the French Quarter, along with that of the Azanians has changed the character of New Falmouth.
The remainder of the 2290’s were a time of preparation for New Cornwall. The British Government had regained its enthusiasm for colonisation projects and New Cornwall was increasingly solvent and in a position to support the expansion planned for the early years of the next century. Sadly events elsewhere on the French Arm intervened
The Kafer War
The Kafer War started in 2298 as a border war in the Eta Bootis and Arcturus systems on the far side of the Beta Canum Cluster from 61 Ursae Majoris. Initially its physical impact on New Cornwall was minimal although news reports from the front were eagerly devoured. However in the spring of 2301 the war escalated with the Kafer launching a full scale incursion into the French Arm, destroying or occupying colony after colony.
The British garrison force for New Cornwall was soon dispatched to face the invaders, space warships were deployed first and then the 79th Armoured Brigade was moved to Beta Canum. The 1st Gurkha Brigade arrived to replace the armoured force and domestic measures were taken to improve the colony’s defences. Links with the Azanians were made even closer and defence planning cooperation put into place. In addition most of the Paramilitary Division of the British Joi Police was converted into an infantry formation, the Duke of New Cornwall’s Light Infantry. Three civil defence battalions were also raised.
Throughout 2301 and into the early months of 2302 the Kafer War went increasingly badly for humans as the key worlds of Kimanjano and Beta Canum fell to the aliens. The first influx of refugees from the core began to arrive on Joi and several thousand arrived in New Cornwall where refugee camps were quickly established. Then on the 12th of March 2302 the Kafers arrived at 61 Ursae Majoris and drove the defending space force away from Joi. Landings followed after a short bombardment with Kafer ground troops assaulting Halbinsel and Tosashimizu with utmost ferocity.
New Cornwall prepared for the worst, civilians scattered from vulnerable New Falmouth and the military stood-to. However after five days the human space forces returned to decisively defeat the aliens, however large numbers of Kafer ground troops were already fighting and the Germans and Japanese badly stretched. New Cornwall responded by dispatching the Gurkhas to aid the Japanese, and these were soon joined by volunteers from New Cornwall. After the threat to Tosashimizu was overcome these forces were then moved to help Halbinsel.
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The New Cornwall Volunteers When it became obvious that New Cornwall was not going to be directly invaded by the Kafers British military forces were soon dispatched to help the Japanese and German colonists. It was decided not to send the DNCLI to back up the Gurkhas, as the colony was now undefended, but instead an ad-hoc force of volunteers was to be dispatched. The response was huge, especially from BJP reservists and ex-soldiers but also ordinary citizens, and a force was soon cobbled together. It operated solely on the lines of communications and had numerous organisational problems and was naturally poorly trained. However it performed well in skirmishes against the Kafers. The NCV disbanded on its return to New Cornwall, but many members joined the DNCLI whilst some have become mercenaries fighting elsewhere in the cluster.
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New Cornwall was lightly hit compared with the other colonies, but was still badly damaged. Highside Station was a ruin and the SPS was badly damaged. On the surface the catapult and space port had been damaged with kinetic attacks. Kafer commando raids had been launched against some key targets but had been quickly overcome, although rumours persisted that small numbers of Kafers were on the run in the Trecrobben. The colony did its best to prepare for any return of the Kafers, however it suffered from power blackouts (as did the Azanians) as well as from its economic isolation.
News of the Battle of Beowulf and the human liberation counter-offensive came as blessed relief for New Cornwall. Repairs to the SPS were conducted in record time thanks to spares pre-positioned at Beowulf. However increasing numbers of refugees were coming from the shattered worlds in the rest of the Cluster. To accommodate them New Cornwall activated one of its pre-planned colonisation sites and constructed the town of Carlchester to accommodate the refugees.
It is now even more unlikely than ever that New Cornwall will finally begin Penvenen’s planned main wave of colonisation thanks to the devastation of the war scaring off potential colonists. While the damage to New Cornwall has been mostly repaired the colony faces a difficult future with economic problems and a burgeoning refugee population to integrate.
New Cornwall is the most technologically advanced colony and has one of the highest per Capita GPDs on Joi. However it gains most of its income from its position supporting the Lubumbashi with power and transhipment facilities. Aside from a strong service industry New Cornwall’s primary and secondary industries are fairly weak. New Cornwall had gained great support from being part of Britain’s colonial network and suffered when cut off during the war.
Natural Resources
New Cornwall suffers like the other colonies from the low level of metals and relies on in-system mining and imports from Crater for its needs. Bulk mineral extraction has never been an industry on Joi. However innovative use of natural materials has been made to fill many requirements. Subterranean petrochemical reserves have been found and are exploited on a small level to fulfil the colony’s needs.
The colony has a slowly expanding agricultural sector based in the Trecrobben. This relies entirely on the exploitation of local flora and fauna with a minimum of Earth based chemical assistance. These processes are slow and relatively expensive but produce just enough for the colonies needs. Imports of foodstuffs from elsewhere on Joi supplement this domestic production. The most commercial of the colony’s farming is used to support the thriving brewing industry.
New Cornwall has also developed a fishing industry exploiting the Balenic Sea and now ranging further a field. The majority of the catch is exported up the Fal to Lubumbashi, although some is consumed in New Cornwall.
Much of New Cornwall’s wealth revolves around the surplus of power generated by its Solar Power System which is sold on to the other colonies of Joi. The damage done to the SPS by the Kafers caused a massive downturn in the colonial economy as well as power shortages across the south. Repairing the SPS was a priority for the colony and it is now back to nearly its old efficiency. However there has been a run on solar power cells in most places.
Manufacturing
New Cornwall has a small, specialised manufacturing sector. This revolves around CAD/CAM style factories that can turn their hands to almost anything. Limited run, bespoke manufacturing of items is the norm. Most of the heavy industrial items in the colony have been imported from off-world, indeed most of the heavy plant dates from the foundation of New Cornwall and is mothballed until needed. The manufacturing sector is skilled in prefabrication construction techniques.
One part of industry that is doing increasingly well is the small shipbuilding manufacturers of Falport. They have full order books producing merchant ships and fishing vessels to ply Joi’s oceans and barges and ACVs for the Fal river trade.
The most hi-tech facility in New Cornwall is a small factory established by the Black Arrow corporation in the suburbs of New Falmouth. This produces state of the art computer systems, most of which are for export to other parts of Joi.
Service Industry
Service industries are the backbone of New Cornwall’s economy and provide employment for the vast majority of the population. These are mostly routine jobs in the retail and food sectors as well as education and health care. New Falmouth has an array of shops that would put many more established shops to shame. Of special note is the number of avant-garde clothes designers found in the French Quarter.
The colony has developed a strong media presence, based around BBC Joi’s facilities and the impetus given by the Elysian War. Independent media outlets have followed many broadcasting through the Data Net. Less open parts of Joi often complain about New Cornwall’s news and current affairs output. New Cornwall is also well known for its authors, artists and poets, many of whom have emigrated to the colony specifically. This has become something of a standing joke in the colony, like aspiring actors moving to Southern California in the late 20th Century.
New Cornwall has a large number of banks and data storage concerns and has a reputation for confidentiality which has sometimes drawn criticism and allegations of collusion with business fraud and money laundering.
In-system Resources
New Cornwall has a strong dependence on the utilisation of in-system resources. It possessed the only catapult on Joi which is used by all of the settlements of Joi for the movement of bulk goods to orbit. The orbital tugs used to shepherd the lofted loads were based out of Highside Station, although they’re now operating from the Azanian station. Like the SPS this brought in a steady stream of income for the colony.
Further out in the 61 Ursae Majoris system British, and other, corporations undertake mining operations. Most of these ores are for export into more populous worlds, but some of them were used to feed New Cornwall’s limited industry. These mining ships were frequent callers at Highside and their crews often spent their leave in New Falmouth.
Overseas and Offworld Trade
Trade and transhipment is an important part of the New Cornish economy. The colony controls the bulk of the ships and ACVs on the Fal river trade with their Azanian neighbours and makes a tidy profit from them. Merchant ships from many nations call in at Falport with loads to be dispatched by catapult and depart laden with agricultural products from Lubumbashi.
British and other merchant spaceships were called frequently at Highside Station. Foreign ships called to move their own national loads lofted by the catapult while British ships linked in the colony to the British trade network and brought the small numbers of colonists. The Kafer War cut this link and ravaged Highside, reducing the colony’s revenues. Plans to refurbish Highside have taken second priority to repairing the SPS but they are now about to be set under way.
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Joian Interorbital Joian Interorbital is the company responsible for the operation of the New Cornwall catapult. It is a company 60% owned by the Colonial Office and 40% owned by corporations including Trilon and Trans-Indi. Joian Interorbital is the wealthiest corporation in New Cornwall and is a major employer.
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Transport
New Cornwall is a relatively small colony and the bulk of the population live in a single city. Internal transportation is either by light rail or by road. New Falmouth has an internal tram system whilst New Falmouth and Falport are linked by a double railroad to the airport and on to Cormoran and the catapult.
Transport to anywhere else is by road, of which only a few metalled roads cross the Trecrobben, most routes are little more than dirt tracks. Wheeled and ACV vehicles and busses link in the more remote settlements.
Falport is the main transport hub for inter-colony traffic; hosting river and ocean going traffic, however relatively few people travel by sea although most cargo does. People travel between the colonies by high speed transatmospheric cruisers. LTA travel has not yet caught on in the Joian colonies due to the small sizes of the colonies and the distances between them.
Movement between New Cornwall and Lubumbashi, closer than any other colonies, is undertaken either by either river going ACVs or by passenger tilt-wings.
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Rivermen The evolution of the River Fal as a main thoroughfare raised a requirement for people skilled in piloting heavily laden craft up the river 2000km to Lubumbashi. To fill this, the Colonial Office began to recruit from the economically depressed Rivermen communities of the Mid and Upper Cam of Wellon. The Rivermen had filled this role on the River Cam for generations and many of them leapt at the opportunity to start again in New Cornwall. Today Rivermen crew the vast majority of the ships plying the Fal trade. Small settlements have sprung up at key points on the river but most have their homes in the N7 district of New Falmouth, and almost 10 000 New Cornish claim Rivermen ancestry.
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A compact, lightly populated colony, New Cornwall requires only a fairly simple governmental system. This involves government at the colonial and local levels. New Cornwall is widely regarded as being as the best governed colony on Joi with little conflict between colonial and local government. The New Cornish are politically aware population and support a number of special interest groups. The recent influx of refugees has altered this status quo somewhat.
As a Crown Colony New Cornwall is still governed largely by the representative of Her Majesties' Government, however there is strong local input into the running of the colony.
The Colonial Government is a variation of the typical bicameral British system. The Governor General is appointed from London and is the Queen's Representative in the running of the colony. Ultimately the Governor General has executive power over all arms of the colonial establishment. He is also responsible for the conduct of military and foreign policy however much local policy is delegated to locally elected representatives.
The Lower House is elected from the population of New Cornwall by universal suffrage. The Upper House is composed of technocrats appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Colonial Office and Lower House.
The relationship between the two houses is a fairly equal one; both can propose and revise domestic legislation. The Governor General ultimately still has a power of veto over any legislation, although this power is rarely used. He also submits British colonial policy for review by the Houses, which they have the power to ask HMG to review. The Lower House has the power to appoint a Chief Minister who runs a cabinet drawn from both Houses with the approval of the Governor General.
The policies of the Colonial Government are implemented by the New Cornwall Colonial Government Service. The CGS is New Cornwall’s civil service and is an arm of the Colonial Office; its mandarins are well trained and also well paid. Employment with the CGS is prestigious in New Cornish society.
Local government is formally established to cover several different areas of the colony. These include the city of New Falmouth, the surrounding region of New Falmouthshire, the garrison town of Cormoran and Highside Station. Areas outside of these, usually with very small populations are still governed directly by the Colonial Government from New Falmouth by the Regional Office.
Local government takes the form of a council of elected representatives led by a Chief Councillor elected from the council by its members. Local government is responsible for the implementation of Colonial Government policy in its region and also for the running of local services. The number of people elected to the councils varies with the population of the area represented, but is usual 1 per 10 000 population. Except for certain leadership positions the Councillors are entirely unpaid.
Currently there is a movement within the people of Carlchester to be granted their own council and be removed from under the control of the New Falmouthshire Council which currently runs the town. This is likely to be granted in the near future.
Party politics is a relatively new phenomenon in New Cornwall. Political divisions have previously been limited to those close to the establishment and those opposing them. This has changed a little in the aftermath of the Elysian War and the arrival of the Azanians, although the basic parties have remained unchanged.
Progressive Conservative Party
The PSPs are the local right wing party who have traditionally been supporters of the prevailing British policy for New Cornwall and many hold positions in the Colonial Government Service. However their wider popularity has been eroded by Britain’s failure to pursue a coherent policy on Joi. In general they are in favour of importing Terran flora for agricultural purposes.
New Cornwall Labour Party
The NCLP are the colony’s left leaning party and traditionally the most vocal critics of British policy. They are the best represented party in the Colonial Government but are less strong in the ranks of the CGS. The NCLP are a more outward looking party who lobby for bilateral links with other colonies on Joi and on other worlds. The NCLP have welcomed the presence of refugees and have proposed recruiting colonists from Wellon and elsewhere if none are forthcoming from Britain.
The Joian People’s Party
The JPP are the colonies fringe party, combining internationalist and environmentalist factions developed during the Elysian War. They are a party that lobbies hard for independence from Britain and pan-Joian links, and has support in the Elysian émigré population. However it is undermined by its lack of political nous, the immaturity of some of its members and some vicious inter-factional infighting.
Foundation for Practical Knowledge
Alongside the Royal Society the Wellon based FPK was the main Foundation supporting plans for a British colony on Joi. Its work on Wellon had been used as a basis for Penvenen’s painstaking preparation for the colony’s evolution. Although disappointed by the subsequent problems the FPK retains an interest in the colony. The FPK have been notable in their support of the colony’s education system and also administer the Data Net. Research papers by the FPK frequently set the political agenda and are often adopted by the NCLP.
Les Élyséen
The Élyséens are those Elysians who have emigrated to New Cornwall from Elysia since the start of the Revolt. They are divided politically; most are defeated Blancs or disillusioned Bleus, whilst dissident Rouges and Vertes are present but less common, and this has sometimes resulted in violence between the factions. In spite of this they have integrated well into New Cornish society, introducing a Francophone sophistication to the predominantly Anglophone society. However suspicion lingers that the French Empire and DGSE are using elements of the Élyséen community in New Falmouth as a base for operations against the République Joienne.
The Military
There has always been a British military presence in New Cornwall, first as for security for the colony but also in the event of the Pentapods not being as benign as was first thought. The Central Asian, Elysian and German Reunification Wars have all resulted in increased tension for the system. However the Kafer War has blown away any thoughts of demilitarising New Cornwall. The military presence in the colony is almost entirely made up of regular British units with some small locally raised formations. The military is working closely with the Azanians in the unified Southern Defence Command and the British commander has the ear of the Governor General and whatever it wants, it usually gets.
The Joienne Movement
The Joienne Movement is the pan-Joian environmentalist movement which campaigns for the protection of the Joian environment and against the introduction of Terran life forms. It has its roots in the Order of St Theodora and the activities of the Elysian Vertes. Although not a mainstream political party the movement’s activism is an influence especially on the NCLP and JPP while the bulk of the population support their views to some extent. The Joienne Movement’s current main aim is to reverse Lubumbashi’s reliance on the cultivation of Terran based agriculture.
The Carls
Carl is the name given to the off-world refugees who have arrived in New Cornwall since the Kafer War, most of who now reside in the newly built town of Carlchester. The term is a somewhat derisive one as many New Cornish believe they should have remained in their own colonies and help to rebuild them. The refugees resent this attitude, although some of the youngest have adopted the name Carl as a badge of honour, and demand greater political representation.
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The Aristocracy New Cornwall has a small establishment of nobles. The vast majority are life peers ennobled for their work in the Upper House. There are only a small number of hereditary peers, some with little influence, like the Duke of New Cornwall, and others who do have clout in the establishment, like the Earl of Cormoran, sometime CEO of Joian Interorbital.
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New Cornwall is often seen as the smallest and least influential of the Joian colonies. She has remained neutral in the Elysian War and in the post-War tension between Halbinsel, Tosashimizu and Elysia. She plays the role of honest broker in Joian intercolonial politics and has quiet bilateral influence.
As a Crown Colony New Cornwall is administratively part of the United Kingdom. Whilst the Colonial Government has some internal autonomy, external and financial policies are determined in London, or by one of London’s representatives.
The bulk of the population are British, or 1st Generation descendents of British citizens and so while some British policies are sometimes unpopular, Britain remains seen as the Home Country. New Cornwall was not badly hit by the Kafer War, and thanks to prompt action in repairing the SPS the bulk of the population has little resentment over British defence measures. This includes the Élyséens, most of whom are loyalists following their experiences in the Revolt.
The effect of the Carls in relations with the UK has yet to be seen. Some of the British Carls resent the poor defences that led to the fall of Beta Canum, whilst some from foreign colonies have little love of the British.
Relations with the Commonwealth
New Cornwall is a colony whose population has come largely from the British Isles. However many specialists have come from across both the British Commonwealth and the Commonwealth of Nations. Prominent amongst them are Wellonese, some Alicians and a scattering of New Africans. Canadians are also present in significant numbers as are a few New Zealanders.
If Britain is seen as the Mother Country then Wellon is seen as an elder Brother, full of good, if sometimes patronising, advice and keeping an eye out for the colony. A great volume of relief goods were sent from Wellon and arrived after the Liberation, these have been used to support the Carls. Elements of the Wellon Expeditionary Force may be deployed to New Cornwall to bolster the defences.
Continuing the analogy Canada is seen as a kindly Uncle. Canada has been of great aid to the colony with its educational system, fostering links with Canada’s prestigious universities. Links with Alicia and New Africa are more remote due to the relative age of the latter and the formers perceived haughtiness.
Relations with other Joian States
Considering the Joi is something of a paradise, Earth’s poisonous politics and rivalries have come to scar the relationships between the colonies. New Cornwall tries to retain a neutral outlook but has not always been successful.
Kolonialgegend von Landplatz Freidrich der Grosse
New Cornwall has a very correct relationship with the German colony of Halbinsel. Halbinsel’s activities of the last two decades combined with the authoritarian outlook of its government mean that few in New Cornwall have much sympathy for the colony. However the two colonies do have an on-going trade relationship and the Governor General maintains Anglo-German diplomacy as directed by London. Whilst there is little warmth in institutional links there is no antipathy between the ordinary people.
New Cornwall has worked hard to foster good links with Elysia since it gained Independence from France, however the new nation’s unstable politics has rendered this difficult. New Cornwall has been the base for many Foundations offering relief and aid to the colony and was responsible for shipping most of the Azanian food to relieve the Elysian Famine in 2292-93. Faced with a hostile Tosashimizu and Halbinsel demanding payback for wartime support many Elysians welcome New Cornwall’s offers of friendship.
One fly in the ointment however is the presence of the exiled Blanc Élyséens in New Cornwall, whom many Elysians believe to be working for a restoration of French power over the colony.
Relations with this authoritarian, insular and militaristic colony are as correct as those with Halbinsel. In fact New Cornwall goes out of its way to ensure an equal balance in policy towards the two. The swift dispatch of British troops to aid the colony in the Kafer War has thawed relations a touch.
New Cornwall has a near symbiotic relationship with its close southern neighbour. As has been mentioned Lubumbashi makes great use of New Cornwall’s infrastructure. The only cloud on the horizon between the both is Lubumbashi’s use of Terran agriculture, much to the disgust of the Joienne Movement and its many supporters.
Relations with other non-Joian States
Almost all of New Cornwall’s relationships off Joi are conducted by the British Foreign Office, although many nations have consular access. However there are a small number of significant exceptions.
France
Since their expulsion from Elysia the French have been without a foothold on Joi. Their main diplomatic presence is their notably large Embassy in New Falmouth. It is from here that French Joian diplomacy, and espionage, is conducted. Notably continuing efforts in Elysia as well as the special forces raids that hit Halbinsel during the War of German Reunification. The French ambassador has been frequently accused of interfering in New Cornwall’s domestic politics through the Blanc Élyséens and high profile lunches with the Governor General and Chief Minister.
Manchuria
Manchuria was a key ally for the Elysian rebels, caught up as they were in their own war against the French. They even went as far as gifting interstellar warships as privateers for the rebels and dead dropped huge caches of weaponry from orbit. The Manchurian relationship with the Elysians has waxed and waned since the war and they have opened an Embassy in New Cornwall to supplement that in Elysia.
The defence of New Cornwall is in the hands of the British armed forces, as yet there is no independent New Cornwall defence establishment. There are however a number of local units that have been raised by the British. The foremost of these is the Duke of New Cornwall’s Light Infantry, a locally raised infantry battalion training closely with the British garrison. There are also a number of part-time civil defence battalions in existence.
The British Army have usually deployed a brigade sized force in New Cornwall since the escalation of the Elysian Revolt. Currently this is the 3rd Light Brigade, a light infantry formation including Welsh, Scottish and Irish battalions as well as the DNCLI. The RAF’s No. 25 Group is based here with a squadron of tactical strike aircraft and a small contingent of long ranged maritime patrol aircraft.
The Royal Navy have a escort squadron of prefabricated ships including a destroyer, frigate and sub-frigate. These were brought in to supplement the BJP’s coastguard cutters during the Elysian War. The Royal Space Navy’s presence is a transient one due to the nature of on going operations, although a small squadron was based at Highside Station before the Kafer War.
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Fort Fleming Little is publicly known about Fort Fleming, except that it is a newly constructed base located in the wilderness to the south of the Trecrobben. There are no roads to Fort Fleming with all transport going by air, and security is fierce. The base is said to be home to a unit of Royal Marines known as 30 Assault Unit.
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New Falmouth is the capital and major settlement of New Cornwall. It was built on a ridge of high ground overlooking the Fal to the north and the Trecrobben to the south. It is home to 220 000 of New Cornwall’s people and is one of the most advanced cities on Joi.
The city is laid out in a circular pattern designed to allow an easy expansion. The city has two major arteries running through it, one from northwest to southeast and the other from northeast to southwest and meet at Penvenen Square in the heart of the city. These are joined by major circular roads which mark out the growth of the city, much like the rings of a tree. The divisions between these roads give the city its districts; North 1, West 2 etc.
The districts immediately surrounding Penvenen Square are given over to the major institutions of the colony and the city’s station. The eastern districts E2-E4 are known as the French Quarter and are heavily settled by Elysian expatriates. The south of the city is dominated by educational establishments. There are major parklands in the W2, N4, S5 and E6. The Fal Road that runs northeast out of the city joins the main part of New Falmouth to Falport, the city’s port. N2, E2 and S2 are the cities main entertainment areas and are usually busy most nights.
New Falmouth is regarded as being a pleasant city with wide boulevards, a moderate climate and a welcoming population. However the city does have its bad areas with N7, E7 and W4 widely regarded as places to avoid, although to be fair they are middle class when compared with the barrios of Earth.
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Government House Government House an imposing structure which is home to the Colonial Government and most of the CGS. It is located on the south side of Penvenen Square with ceremonial guards from the British Joi Police at key points in the ornamental gardens.
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New Falmouthshire is the administrative area that is responsible for most of the Trecrobben Plain. In total it is responsible for some 20 000 people and almost all of the agricultural areas of the colony. There are a number of small towns in the wide area, evenly split between residential and farming in nature. The county town is St Alice, some 45km south of New Falmouth.
In general relatively little happens in New Falmouthshire. The colonists are happy enjoying their relatively bucolic existence and the wide, pleasant vistas of the Trecrobben. The only blight to this existence is the new town of Carlchester and its population of somewhat disgruntled refugees. The town comes under the aegis of the New Falmouthshire Council and it has little idea of what measures it should be taking.
Carlchester was originally planned to be one of the first towns to be established when the long delayed second wave of colonisation finally begun. Instead the plans were dusted off and implemented to provide homes for the influx of off-world refugees fleeing the Kafer War.
The town follows roughly the same overall design as New Falmouth, four main radial roads and currently three circumferential roads. The housing in Carlchester is mostly prefabricated and high density and as of yet there are few amenities. The town has several proposed areas of parkland which have yet to be landscaped, these are increasingly dangerous places to visit at night. Rioting is not unknown and the British Joi Police have an increasingly heavy presence.
The town’s economy is very new and largely underdeveloped. The lack of jobs has increased discontent within the 30 000 population and encouraged the growth of a black market. Most people in Carlchester desire to move to New Falmouth, something the Colonial Government is keen to stop. Political leadership of the refugees under the charismatic Alice Robertson, a New African refugee, has recently emerged and has engaged with New Falmouthshire Council and the Colonial Government.
Cormoran is best known as New Cornwall’s garrison town; however it is also the home of the base terminal of the catapult. Cormoran is actually three separate, widely spaced districts. These are the catapult terminal, a residential area and the garrison itself.
The terminal was the first to be founded 2262 and was timed to coincide with the completion of the catapult. The residential district started as temporary housing for those working on the catapult project. The garrison started in 2275 when the RAF built an airbase in the area, but was expanded in 2286 when the British expanded its military presence in response to the Elysian and Central Asian Wars. Prior to this the British Army stationed its forces in New Falmouth. Military families, the RAF had accompanied tours, and hangers on, as the army didn’t, soon revitalised the residential district and service industries grew up to cater for the soldiers.
Today the terminal district is a highly efficient, brightly lit and hi-tech centre in operation 24 hours a day with cargo being brought directly into the terminal by rail link to Falport, or by road. Excepting a visitor centre there is little of interest here, this is purely a place of work.
The residential district is home to nearly 25000 residents, most of who are connected with the garrison in some way as the terminal workers usually commute from New Falmouth. The town is well known for its large population of single women, as well as rowdy nights out in the entertainment zone which see a heavy military police presence. Cormoran is very much an acquired taste.
The garrison district was built to house an armoured brigade in addition to a wing of aircraft at RAF Manson. Consequently the garrison has a number of dispersed battalion sized barracks and training centres with easy access to the training areas to the south. All of the facilities are well fortified with excellent use made of landscaped Earthen berms, the keen eyed visitor will notice the wide number of fighting positions built into the landscape. RAF Manson is to the east of the garrison and follows a similar pattern with subterranean aircraft shelters.
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Testing Beach Testing Beach is on the coast just to the west of Cormoran. It is has a two km wide beach and a small town with a number of rundown hotels. The beach is of poor quality and as frequently battered by storms as bathed in sunshine. What it has the best surf in the colony, and it is crowded with surfers at the weekends.
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Highside Station is New Cornwall’s orbital terminal, before the war it handled landing operations for both New Cornwall and Lubumbashi, was home to most of the British ships operating in the system and monitored the SPS system. Now the station is a badly damaged shell as during the war the Kafer attempted to occupy it intact and were opposed by a small detachment of Royal Marines. The humans managed to hold out until Rochemont’s Fleet arrived to defeat the Kafers.
The station is now badly damaged and requires substantial repairs before it can be used again. Most operations have now moved to the Azanian terminal. The station had some 5000 residents before the war, about half of these are now resident in the Azanian station and the remainder are located in New Falmouth where they were initially evacuated.
The New Cornish are a relatively small, cosmopolitan population. A large number of them have been born off-world and have emigrated to the colony either as specialists or refugees. Most of these tend to regard themselves as expatriates rather than citizens of the new colony. The same holds true of the Élyséens. The 2nd and 3rd generation colonists, or Kernau, are much more aware of their colonial heritage and are more nationalistic in their outlook.
Regardless of their roots the New Cornish are one of the most highly educated populations on the Frontier, thanks both the high levels of education of the original colonists and the excellent education provisions. Consequently the New Cornish have come to regard themselves something of an intellectual colony that survives on its wits rather than on hard work.
New Cornish culture is a very urban one, with New Falmouth the hub of virtually all activity within the colony.
New Cornwall is an unusual colony as it has one of the lowest growth rates of any relatively new frontier colony, indeed in terms of birth rate it more resembles a core world with an average 2.2 children born to each female colonist. The exception to this is the colony’s Élyséen population who have a much higher birth rate and stereotypically large families.
Relationships in the colony are typically long lasting and monogamous. Many of the original colonists were couples, and amongst the singles there was an even mixture of the sexes. Most of the original marriages were civil unions but there is an increasing trend to religious ceremonies amongst the Kernau and the Élyséens brought their traditions with them.
Given its origins as a meritocracy with a population recruited on their achievements there is relatively little racism or sexism in New Cornwall. This has been shown in its relationship with the Azanians to the north and the ease with which the Élyséens have been integrated into colonial society.
The New Cornish see themselves as a sophisticated forward looking people and the inter-colonial tensions of the Elysian War and the years since are regarded with distaste. They also have little respect for authoritarianism of the Japanese and German colonial governments.
The greatest upheaval to New Cornwall society has been the arrival of so many off-world refugees. The New Cornish have not taken this well, especially given some of the rioting in Carlchester. There is a strong minority attitude that the refugees should be helping to rebuild their own worlds, not be begging for help from New Cornwall. However most of the New Cornish do not share this view and have contributed to relief funds.
New Cornwall is a largely secular place with over 60% of the population responding to the last British Colonial Census professing to be atheist or agnostic. However most of the population are Protestants, with the Anglican Church of New Cornwall being the best supported. There are also small populations of Levellers and followers of the Reformed Free Presbyterian Church of New Scotland present in the rural areas of the colony.
Other minority faiths include Hindus and Muslims of the small Anglo-Indian population of New Falmouth. The Élyséen population includes many Catholics and Muslims and these are the most religiously devout people in New Cornwall.
The influence of the Order of St Theodora is relatively limited within New Cornwall. Although many New Cornish agree with its aims its role in the Elysian War has tarnished it in the eyes of many. However the Order has a House on the outskirts of New Falmouth where a significant number of adherents gather.
New Cornwall has two police forces, one with responsibility for New Falmouth and a colonial force which looks after all other duties.
The British Joi Police are the original colonial security force, in line with standard practice on British colonies. They will retain responsibility for internal security until the colony gains a large enough population to support local police forces. So far on New Cornwall only New Falmouth has its own police force. The BJP are responsible for all policing outside of New Falmouth, maintaining specialist crime divisions, special firearms and riot control duties, coastal policing and policing ports of entry.
The force is recruited both internally and from off-world Commonwealth territories. Many BJP constables have a military background whilst others have served in other colonial police forces. Many volunteered for military service during the Kafer invasion. The current force is 50% New Cornish and 50% Off-world. All receive training at the Joi Police Academy in New Falmouth. Overall the BJP has a good reputation, especially when compared with its near neighbour the British Crater Police. BJP officers are routinely armed in the course of their duties.
The force is divided into a number of operational Divisions. Most of these are responsible for the policing of local regions, whilst others are tasked with fulfilling specialist taskings. Most of the police are full time, although there is a police volunteer reserve whose members serve in most divisions.
New Falmouthshire Division
Is responsible for the routine policing of the Trecrobben, it has been relatively lightly manned and most officers have a large ‘beat’ to cover. In recent months the influx of refugees and the building of Carlchester have led to the reinforcement of the division to police the new town, a thankless task.
Cormoran Division
The Cormoran Division polices the garrison town and is also responsible for the security of the catapult. The division works closely with the Royal Military Police and Joian Interorbital and has some sophisticated capabilities. In recent months many of its incident control squads have been transferred to Carlchester.
Highside Division
The smallest part of the BJP was responsible for the policing of Highside Station in liaison with the Royal Marine’s Zeebrugge Group. It was evacuated from the station when the Kafers invaded. Since then some members are now working on the Azanian station whilst others have been reassigned to other duties.
Criminal Investigation Division
The CID is responsible for the investigation of all serious crime within New Cornwall. A small part of the BJP, the CID is nevertheless an elite within the force. Recruitment is predominantly of Off-world specialists and the higher echelons usually come from Scotland Yard in London or Baker Street in New Camelot.
Paramilitary Division
The paramilitary division includes most of the BJP’s incident control and firearms specialists. This includes the PO3 counter-terrorist unit whilst PO5 is responsible for diplomatic protection duties. Prior to the war the division was recruiting specialists to help in the control of the planned expansion of the colony. The invasion led the bulk of the division’s personnel being transferred into the newly formed Duke of New Cornwall’s Light Infantry. The PD remains, but is much smaller than previously and many have moved back from the DNCLI, having found the military life not to their liking.
Border Division
The BJP also has responsibility for policing the borders of the colony. The BD includes coastguard and river patrol elements, it also provides police to control port facilities in Cormoran, the spaceport and Falport.
Special Branch Division
Special Branch is responsible for internal security, counter subversion and counter intelligence. Another small element of the BJP with fewer than 40 members it is stretched monitoring the activities of several nations’ diplomats and spies in New Falmouth and now is involved in monitoring the activities of the new influx of refugees.
New Falmouth Metropolitan Police
The New Falmouth Met is responsible for the policing of New Falmouth itself and Falport. The New Falmouth Met is recruited almost entirely domestically and also trains at the Joi Police Academy alongside the BJP. It should be noted that the NFMP is not routinely armed.
The NFMP is divided into five Divisions; North, East, South, West and Central. The Met has only a limited CID capability within the Central Division so the BJP takes on this responsibility; this is a major bone of contention between the two forces.
Sometimes known as MI7 the FSG is the Colonial Office’s equivalent to both MI5 and MI6 on Earth. On New Cornwall it is responsible for intelligence gathering and security operations in the colony, the latter in cooperation with the BJP Special Branch. FSG is notoriously secretive and little is known about the New Cornwall operation, except that all FSG members serving on Joi are recruited from the British Commonwealth off-world. FSG is closely linked to the Royal Space Navy’s Intelligence Service.
The SIS is better known as MI6 and normally has the remit of overseas intelligence gathering on Earth. Sometimes MI6 agents are deployed to other worlds, although have no clearance to operate in British colonies although can use them as bases. The extent of MI6 operations on Joi are not known, although two agents were arrested in Halbinsel in 2299 causing a minor diplomatic stink. Their MI6 identity was only established publicly after a rare ‘off the record’ briefing to the New Cornwall press from FSG denying their involvement.
Except for magistrate’s courts who deal with minor offences, New Cornwall’s Law Courts are all contained within a purpose built facility in New Falmouth. The Courts of Law includes four court rooms where County, Crown and Appeal courts can sit in judgement as well as holding cells. The final court of appeal is the House of Lords back on Earth. New Cornwall is a relatively law abiding place with a crime rate significantly lower than in the core. A small prison is located 10km out from the city on the main rail line to Cormoran.
The official language of New Cornwall is, naturally, English. The New Cornish accent is still developing from the melange of different Commonwealth accents and is usually identified as the way the Kernau speak the language. In general it is best described as a mixture of ‘neutral’ British with New Zealander vowel sounds and nothing like the exaggerated West Country burr of popular conception. New Cornwall has its own slang, with a strong influence noticeable from their Azanians neighbours.
The second language is French, which is compulsory in schools. The relative proximity of Elysia and the presence of the Élyséen exiles in New Falmouth has given the language increased relevance and it is widely spoken in the French Quarter. German and Japanese are also covered briefly in schooling but lack the coverage of French. Although many of the 1st generation colonists have a range of languages most of the Kernau are restricted to the four Joian languages.
Education in New Cornwall is compulsory from 5 to the age of 18 and free, although many parents contribute voluntarily to increase the resources available to their children. Education was a high priority in Penvenen’s original plan and New Cornwall has always been ‘ahead of the curve’ in comparison to its neighbours. Regional Government run Primary Schools take children from 5-11 from where they are streamed into Grammar or Technical Schools until 18. The final exams are for the British Colonial Education Certificate, a baccalaureate style exam administered by the FPK and common to Crater, New Africa as well as New Cornwall.
While most schools are run and funded by local government there are also a number of fee-paying schools. Whilst some of the colonial elite send their children to these schools they also attract many scholars from Lubumbashi and some from Elysia. These schools are usually found just to the south of New Falmouth.
The colony has two main secondary education institutions, the collegiate University of New Falmouth and the New Cornwall University. The University of New Falmouth is the more prestigious of the two and hosts residential courses. It is divided into three main colleges; Penvenen College, Darwin College and Royal Canadian College each with their own specialisations. The NCU is the colony’s distributed learning further education system through which many citizens are pursuing their studies.
The New Cornwall Health Service is a free system of health care provision. Whilst New Cornish tax payers contribute to the NCHS a large proportion of its budget comes out of the coffers of the Colonial Office. The NCHS is a reasonably well regarded service although is rather ‘provincial’ in its outlook and lacks many of the specialities in larger organisations. Consequently those who are suffering from certain conditions must go for treatment elsewhere on Joi, or go off-world.
The New Cornish celebrate most of the usual key dates on the calendar, including both the Terran and local Christmas. There is also a Foundation Day celebrated on the 2nd of Ventôse.
Food is a matter of serious political and inter-colonial problems on Joi. In general terms there is a split between those colonies who rely on raising Joian crops and those who grow Terran crops. Indeed the Elysian War was partly sparked by a plan to move from Joian to Terran crops. Terran crops are easier to grow, and generally taste better to the human palate. New Cornwall relies on Joian crops, but Lubumbashi almost exclusively grows Terran.
Most of the food consumed in New Cornwall in Joian in origin, with much imported from Elysia and Halbinsel. However some Terran food is consumed after being imported from Lubumbashi. For many this is a guilty pleasure but for those on lower incomes it is a simple matter of economics: Terran food is cheaper. Most of the Kernau are happy eating Joian crops, however this is less common amongst the 1st Generation New Cornish. An exception is food imported from off-world which most people are happy to eat, as long as they can afford it.
Local delicacies include the chervap, an unleavened bread, soaked in fat and filled with skewers of local meat. The shellfish from the Fal Delta are also a noted delicacy, although very occasionally, and very randomly, can sometimes prove fatal to the consumer.
From the early days of the colony brewing has been a minor industry. Beers and whiskys are distilled from the local grain analogue. These have their own unique, but not unpleasant taste.
New Cornwall dress is predominantly highly practical for both sexes, and little different from that worn across human space. An exception is slowly creeping thanks to some flamboyant designers in the French Quarter of New Falmouth who are gradually bringing some flair to the colony’s party and formal wear.
New Cornwall has two major media firms; BBC New Cornwall and Independent Joian Media. These are available through the Data Net or via satellite broadcasts (curtailed briefly during the invasion) across the colony. BBC New Cornwall is the local branch of Britain’s state broadcaster and is regarded as a staid, reliable source of information. It also broadcasts a whole range of movies, documentaries and entertainment programmes from Earth and elsewhere as well as making its own local programmes. IJM has a much less wide range of programmes but has more local content. It was formed during the Elysian War and has a pan-Joian outlook, it has since grown with backing from Wellon’s Albion/Sunrise Media Group.
There are three main newspapers in the colony; the New Cornwall Times, New Falmouth Post and the Joian Observer. These represent left wing, right wing and Joienne opinion respectively.
The New Cornwall Data Net is an unrestricted system and has feeds from all the other Joian colonies and allows unrestricted access to them. As usual the Data Net has provision for online content from private and public sources. New Falmouth has a reputation as being a very ‘on-line’ city.
The colony has relatively little in the way of the classical arts. New Falmouth has a few privately owned galleries and a few notable artists have emerged, but there is little funding to spare for subsidising opera or ballet. Perhaps most well known in the colony is the Empty House Theatre Company, a semi-professional outfit whose performances of the ‘Elysian Cycle’ have one rave reviews and have even toured in Elysia and Lubumbashi.
New Cornwall’s music tastes are largely determined by off-world vogues, although naturally is usually several months, if not years, behind the cutting edge. Stereotypically the colony prefers very middle of the road music, although Elysian urban turbo-rock is very popular with the young.
New Cornwall is much more architecturally advanced than most colonies of its age. New Falmouth itself is one of the most pleasant cities on Joi and was designed from the beginning to be so. It has none of the domes and pre-fabs common to early colonial architecture. Architecture away from New Falmouth is more rough and ready, especially in Cormoran and Carlchester. In the rural communities of the Trecrobben many buildings are built from local woods, and have a distinctive appearance.
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Follies Like most British colonies New Cornwall has its share of follies. The Trecrobben boasts several extremely convincing stone circles, whilst a lighthouse constructed in an ethereal style graces the mouth of the Fal.
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New Cornwall is unusual for a British colony in that rugby is more popular than football amongst the general population. Although based around the local New Falmouth league strong competition between the colony, Lubumbashi, Elysia and Tosashimizu add to the popularity of the game. Football is played, but is somewhat in the shadow of the oval ball.
There are a number of golf courses around the colony and a small, but thriving, polo league based around the Cormoran garrison. Sailing is also popular in the colony and those hardy souls who sail in high-risk races around Joi are popular heroes.
Organisation de la Mouron d'Écarlate
In the months leading up to Elysian Independence and the years after it many of the loyalist blancs community looked to escape from a colony descending into anarchy. Many decided that New Cornwall was the best, and closest, place to escape to. Those Élyséens who reached New Falmouth established, with help from the DGSE, an underground railway for more of their compatriots to follow them. It was known, with tongue firmly in cheek, as the Organisation de la Mouron d'Écarlate.
The OME remains, however informally, in existence with links in with the blanc terrorist movements opposed to the République Joienne. Its senior members are now leading lights of the Élyséen community in New Falmouth, but two of them have been brutally killed over the course of two weeks.
The BJP CID was called in to investigate the first killing; the second has brought in Special Branch and MI7. No killer has yet been found and ideas range from internal feuding within the organisation, DGSE tidying up some loose ends, or the Elysians sending a team from Bureau 10 or the Légion Verte to send a message to the OME. One thing is certain; these are unlikely to be the only deaths.
Bug Hunt
It was thought that no Kafers survived on New Cornwall’s territory for more than a few hours during the invasion, the main landing took place elsewhere and the few small raids that made it to the surface were soon overwhelmed by Gurkha reaction forces. However in remote south of the Trecrobben there have been sightings of Kafers, although no conclusive evidence has yet been found.
Teams of troubleshooters from the colonial government and picked military teams have been deployed to the area to get to the bottom of the sightings, however nothing is proving easy. Are their really Kafers in New Cornwall, and if so where have they come from? Why are soldiers from Fort Fleming involved as well as the garrison? Why is the Azanian Colonial Police liaison officer acting strangely? Have the Kafers managed to land fresh forces to reconnoitre further landings?
Ghost Town
The population of Carlchester, refugees from the Kafer War, is restive. Firebrand provocateurs and ambitious politicians are encouraging the Carls to protest the ‘raw deal’ they are receiving from the Colonial Government. Crime is rising; demonstrations are commonplace and the BJP is badly overstretched. Fortunes are being made and lost in Carlchester while at the same time lives are being ruined. Carlchester is the most ‘on edge’ place in New Cornwall and it will only take a small spark to ignite explosively.
Dame Alice Rutherford, FRS
Dame Alice is the current Governor General of New Cornwall. A distinguished lady with long service in the Colonial Officer she is Edinburgh born but has spent most of her life serving on Beowulf or BCV-4. She has held the post of Governor General for six years now and is generally well regarded in the colony although she sometimes clashes with her Chief Minister.
Rutherford is a natural conciliator and diplomat, fluent in five languages with a keen interest in cultural pursuits. However she also has a very strong stubborn streak and is not someone to be crossed lightly. It was Rutherford who led the way in deploying British troops to help out the struggling Japanese and German colonies. A spinster with no children, she is approaching retirement but has no plans to take things easy. Indeed she intends to resume her work with the Royal Society.
Alexander MacGeorge, Chief Minister
Alex MacGeorge is the Chief Minister of New Cornwall, the senior elected politician in the colony. He is a second generation Kernau of Wellon-Canadian origin. He has made a career of being a politician, working his way up from the New Falmouth Council to become Chief Minister. As a result many New Cornish look on him as a dilettante who hasn’t done a day’s real work in his life.
MacGeorge is competent, charming and good looking. He is however a very ambitious man who now feels stymied at the top of his profession. The colony’s satirists poke fun at his ideas for a close alliance with Lubumbashi, Elysia, the World! He is also very focussed on New Falmouth which is the centre of his powerbase to the exclusion of the rest of the colony, especially the newly arrived Carls.
Lord George Penvenen, 2nd Duke of New Cornwall
George Penvenen is the son of Henry Penvenen, the architect of New Cornwall and its 1st Duke. George Penvenen was born on Earth and emigrated to New Cornwall with his father and became Duke on his father’s death in 2295. His ducal ‘seat’ a medium sized mansion is in the N2 district of New Falmouth, however the Penvenen’s have few other assets and live an ordinary working life.
George Penvenen has just retired after a career as one of the colonies leading judges and has served lacklustre stints in the Upper House of the Colonial Government. It is fair to say that he is not one of the most exciting people in New Cornwall but is always personable. He has three children of whom two are serving in the military and the other is a member of the CGS.
Version 1.0 4/12/2003 Copyright Dan Hebditch, 2003