VERMONT
Being a mountainous region with little industry, Vermont escaped much of the war damage seen elsewhere. The state is occupied now by numerous self-governed villages, and no form of government exists above this level, though many villages in this formerly staunch democrat state are still loyal to the civilian government. Vermont has reverted to a pre-colonial lifestyle that most people actually prefer. Urban centers were small and rare in these parts, and after the chaos they are even smaller. Much of the region is self-sufficient and the area has reverted to an old semi-feudal croft system, where a collection of small farmsteads are protected by a larger town in return for a share of the crops. The inhabitants of this state are a hardy folk who are wary of strangers (basically anyone from outside of Vermont, and sometimes from outside their valley). Weaponry is common--mostly shotguns, backed with a few pistols, and a gradually increasing number of military small arms. Because of the difficulty of the terrain and the small population, few marauder groups operate in the state. Those that do are small, ranging in size from 10 to 20 men, all poorly equipped. Canadian troops are occasionally spotted in the northern counties hunting for salvage and loot.
1) NUCLEAR TARGETS
None.
2) ORGANIZED MILITARY FORCES
172nd Infantry Regiment--Burlington (450 men).
3) THE STATE AT LARGE
Burlington: In Burlington, however, the remaining population has been active. They are planning on obtaining small amounts of petroleum from rigs in the coastal waters off the Canadian coast, piping through a pipeline connecting Burlington with the coast. This pipeline was built just before the war and has never been used. The remaining bulk of the state's National Guard is here in Burlington. The remnants of the 172nd Infantry Regiment that were not shipped to Europe in 1962 (some 450 men, mostly service and rear area personnel given rifles and some training provide security along the length of the pipeline as well as perimeter defenses for the city. Internal security is composed of several ad-hoc units including a scratch force composed of a group of 350 very young trainee soldiers of Ethan Allen Military School and several local college ROTC programs. Most of them are between 16 and 18 years old and many are too small to lift an ammunition box. They have some mortars but a number of them only have uniforms and high hopes.
Royalton: On the grounds of the old Vermont Law School in Royalton now stands a pagoda-style castle, right out of Ran. The area within and surrounding is open to fields and farming. The town has around 450 people within it's environments.
Forest Dale: Home to the state's only large marauder band, the 100 men of "John Campbell's Wildcats." In 1953, John Campbell joined the Canadian Army and went through officer's training. By 1958 he had attained the rank of Captain. In 1962, shortly before the Soviet nuclear attack on North America, Captain Campbell was stationed at a communications facility on the Vermont border as a security officer. After the chaos, he moved south and went marauder.
Island Pond: Home to Vermont's only pro-MilGov resistance group, the 75 men of the "Bluff Mountain Warriors."
West Hill: This town up in the mountains with a population 3,000 was fortified by a near-legendary, fair and just leader named Felix, nicknamed “King Ultraviolet.” A survivor and hero of World War II, Felix came to lead a band of followers and pilgrims up from New York City to a series of natural mountain valleys in Northern Vermont to escape the chaos. With him he brought many talented men and women, and children as well, to populate his new “kingdom among the peaks.” Modeling this new society after the legendary knights of the Round Table and the kingdom of Avalon (with himself as King Arthur), Felix set about creating a peaceful paradise where men could live in harmony, maintaining a peace relatively secure from the raiders and savages of the outside world. Felix’s efforts have culminated in a small but stable community high in the Green Mountains, colored by dreamy ideals of the rule of law, peaceful intentions, and universal brotherhood
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