Central Marcos is a relatively poor part of the former colonial The Federative Republic of San Marcos. While acknowledging the leadership of The Marcosan Mandate in greater international efforts, Central Marcos was on the losing side of the stunningly quick Unification War, and occupied for several years by * “The Iron Dingoes”.

Today, the province remains an independent nation-state that is heavily influenced by the Iron Dingoes through its * Diplomatic Corps (DC); a status many refer to as a “puppy state”. Many feel it is only a matter of time before they formally enter into * Iron Dingoes Autonomous District (IDAD) as a “protectorate”.

The regional population is reported to be roughly 289,000.

A large agricultural district of the former San Marcos Republic, the region has long held little interest in the minds of most people, however, its surpluses have proven valuable to the support of its national industrial efforts, and the financial support of Vale had given it new legs as a national entity.

The district has long been quietly supportive of the national direction of the Marcosan nations, and continued to provide support to the military junta in charge of Federale City, which had given it a new identity as a leading political power in the coalition government. Their close connection with Federale City ended with their surrender and occupation by Iron Dingoes forces in 3040.

Today, the local government is controlled by the Non-Aligned Movement, a force of moderates that support maintaining the borders, and politically regaining San Marcosan claims over its former colonies presently held by Buntar, but do not believe the nation should be involved in international efforts that do not support the right of Marcosan citizens to determine their own fate. In short, they support a local, national government, but not an international or world government. This has been moderated in the last few years to depend on the advice and military development of the Iron Dingoes, who do not occupy or directly control the nation, but nonetheless provide advisors, military and economic developmental support.

Vale has supported the local junta for many years by supplying money, troops and direction, and Vale has figured highly in the politics of the nation-state, with many seeing the region as little more than an extension of the company’s own agenda. This relationship has since soured with the influence of the Iron Dingoes, who have sponsored the involvement of Consolidated Foods Limited (CFL) more prominently in the government, at Vale’s expense. Nonetheless, Vale remains an important economic fixture in the country, and its mines play a valuable source in the economy of the nation.

Makota City (Pop – 32,000) : While the city itself is small, with few services beyond banking and support of its limited industry, clearly 50% of the region’s population lives within a day’s travel of the capital. The region around the city is thick with small subsistence farming and fishing villages, and the industrial efforts of the central government. In many ways, the region is very provincial and presents a fairly laid-back attitude towards governance, provided the taxes are paid and the people keep working.

The infrastructure outside the capital is poor to the extreme, though a single railway connects all important industries and agricultural communities with the capital. Whippet Transport Lines also offers a limited travel service between key rural communities with the capital. A small minor airport, since expanded to provide DropShuttle support and refueling, serves as the only international airfield with a paved landing airfield, but sees little interest in international travel, though Whippet maintains regular air travel and a single daily shuttle flight to “The Factory”, as well as charter flights for off-world cargo. There are no paved roads outside the capital, though efforts are underway to create an improved shipping (and bus) network between major rural communities.

Economy

The economy of Central Marcos has always been dominated by Vale and its coal production efforts. The region has large coal and natural gas reserves, which have always supported the rest of the nation in support of its industries. Raw sand and even garnets are exploited by Telequartz, while steel production by Vale is an important regional industry as well. Electricity production and export consists of more than 10% of its economy.

80% of the local citizens are involved in producing surpluses in beans, corn, pork, raw sugar, tobacco, and mollusks taken from its many regional lakes and rivers. The bulk of the region, however, is undeveloped subsistence farming, whose surplus is eagerly acquired to support the industry of The Province of Cabinda, so they have a ready market for whatever they can produce. Its general citizens, however, are quite poor and have traditionally looked to the central government for support and assistance. Consolidated Foods have increasingly bent their efforts to consolidating local food processing, and the Dingo Brand Corporation has begun to develop among the many rural communities, altering the development of many smaller, isolated communities.

Caixa Econômica Federal : Caixa is the federal savings bank founded centuries ago as a financial institution destined to collect national savings, mostly from common workers and farmers. Over the years, several similar institutions were created until most of them were merged into present-day Caixa Econômica in 2975. It is the second-largest financial institution in San Marcos, with hundreds of branches across the San Marcos rural landscape. It has traditionally suffered from constant corruption and graft, and does not provide much in the way of actual services. It also runs a national lottery fund.

The popularity of the bank maintains its position among rural citizens despite some losses during the riots in the cities. Today, it is the largest source of hard currency in the agricultural rural regions, where the Real remains the primary means of paying foreign investors. The bank is closely supported by the financial backing of Dingo Brand and its local investments.

Consolidated Foods Limited (CFL) : JBS was the largest (by sales) meat processing company in the world, producing factory processed beef, chicken and pork, and also selling by-products from the processing of those meats. It operated three plants outside San Marcos, and was globally accepted for its good quality. It was owned primarily (75%) by the BNDES central bank of San Marcos. and had also acquired the meat-processing assets of Copacol, a formerly important national corporation, in the wake of the 3025 riots.

With the breakdown of central operations following the nuclear devastation in Paulo in early-3026, the company was sold-off by its holdiin the Central Marcos region, but under the Consolidated Foods “White Label”. The increasing demands from The Province of Cabinda have directed much of the local production, towards domestic consumption of its goods, rather than off-world as the company usually prefers. It openly supports Vale and the regional government in exchange for protection of its plants. The company has found itself increasingly dealing with the Dingo Brand in the region, which has improved local yields among its small farmers.

Dingo Brand Corporation : While most see the corporation as the umbrella conglomerate of Iron Dingoes economic interests, Dingo Brand is a viable agricultural company in its own right. The company moved into Central Marcos with a vengeance in 3040, following the nation’s occupation, and has aggressively influenced the landscape of its rural, agricultural communities ever since. Working closely with Caixa, the company has begun to change the lives of many of the nation’s small farmers, with its basic co-op concepts, and has in turn given the small farmers of the region a chance at improving their lives.

Today, the company still operates aggressively, expanding its reach into the farthest corners of the nation, and by 3048 is considered the leading reason for the economic development of its smallest communities. In its wake, Blue Planet Utility Services has begun to appear as well, and is bringing trash recycling, electricity, and water purification services to the region, with Dingo Brand and Caixa investments.

Vale : Vale is the largest producer of iron ore and nickel in the world. Vale also produces manganese, ferro-alloys, copper, bauxite, potash, kaolin, and cobalt. The company also currently operates several hydroelectricity plants in San Marcos, and a large network of railroads, ships, and ports used to transport its products across the globe. It is considered the largest mining company in the world. It maintains its position through what some call a “…callous contempt for the environment and the future of the world…”. It has recently begun drilling to extract uranium and titanium from test mines in the region.

The company has managed to exploit the present chaotic situation through aggressive expansion of its facilities and taking over the losses of other national mining efforts. Its security forces are notably militant, and the company has been known to both wage outright war against rivals over the last couple of years, and has hired mercenaries from time to time to ensure its position is maintained.

The company is based from Federale City, though much of its interests are located in nearby The Province of Cabinda and Central Marcos, where it openly supports the provincial government with funding and military support.