[headquarters]

The once luxurious estate of Hearst Castle - now DeCorba castle -sits on top of a hill looking out on the pacific and the coast line to the west .To the east,south east and north the terrain is broken by hills and mountains .

The devestation and chaos after the november 2004 attacks and the subsequent violence left the populace in a desperate situation .To the east fearsome warlords were enslaving everybody ,to the south Mexican factions were taking over -and a military junta calling themselves the Federal Goverment but known as MilGov ruled by martial law in many areas .Enter the freebooter and soldier DeCorba .By creating the 1st Pacific Rifle Regiment he and his fellows ousted the many local chiefs on the coast and achieved supremacy .They organized the supply situiation ,trained an army and fought back the onslaught of other factions .When the smoke cleared the hero of many battles ,DeCorba , was in control of San Simeon and the nearby towns .His way of ruling was simple and efficient in the rural and agricultural society that now was California -feudalism .Every settlement had a military leader charged with the defence and administration of the area .Small settlements fielded a squad .Larger ones a platoon .Towns whole companies or battalions .All postions were named by military rank and the higher the rank ,the more important the officers holdings.Personal loyalty to DeCorba and proficiency in the field were the pre requisites for a commission .The hard world of T2K suits such a system well .Over the years the feudal structures were embedded as people came to regard the security it provided as more valuable than the dreams and ideals of a nation forever lost.The symbols of feudalism were not encouraged though to keep from estranging the populace -save one term -the Vassals .DeCorba earned the nickname "The Baron on the Hill " or just Baron -though none dared say it to his face -save cheeky miscreants like General Pain and his cultist army.

After taking power in this region and by and by expanding north and south ,DeCorba and his battle -hardened veterans once ruled a vast tract of land up and down the Californian coast .In every populated area or town DeCorba had installed one of his vassals -bound by word of honour to remain fiercly loyal to DeCorba and his family personally .In their support the vassals would levvy troops and funds to fuel the forever ongoing wars against rebels ,bandits,holnists, other warlords and the major players -MilGov ,MexGov and CivGov .Sons and fathers were lost in the fighting .Sacrifices were made .And the reward was the continued rule over th evassal fief by those left behind by the deaths.They were promised the land -and those who could not rul ewer egiven granst to support them as well as promises for their children .

As the tides of Pacgov politics turned a new power arose -the NDP .Enticed by their power and the high positions they offered him as well as pressured by their leaders , DeCorba joined their ruthless utilitarian dictatorship as a cabinet minister.The egalitarian (in name at least ) system of the NDP allowed for no personal privilges and the vassals were stripped of land and holdings for the good of the NDP state. DeCorba played both horses ,promising the vassals return of priviliges and the end to nationalizing .He created a secret organization ,The Vassal cCuncil, to to work to this end -led by himself .As the NDP grew more oppressive and in DeCorbas absence the Vassal Council revolted against the NDP in in th elast chaotic part of the 2nd American Civil war .Waging a guerilla war that grew in intensity and audacity ,the Vassals took one town after the other back from the NDP who by now was stretche dthin on all fronts. The Vassals sought only two things - a return to the way of feudalism -and revenge on the man they all despised as a traitor and opportunist -DeCorba .

Legal Clarification : as the DeCorba house sided with the anti -feudalist NDP in taking a cabinet postion in their goverment ,all vassals now claim to be relieved of any bond of honour towards the DeCorba family .They lay claim to independence -some even offering DeCorba a chance to serve them as their vassal or serf.(This would entitle him some rights under the old charter).Most are antagonistic towards the old SanSimeon rule .Some for reasons of revenge ,but most for wanting to stay independent .A few are probably aspiring to fill the vacuum after the fall of house DeCorba .

deCorba ,on the other hand has not relinquished his claim on supremacy over the vassals and hold any of them not obeying his command as rebels .

Situation :The field armies of the once affluent San Simeon empire were attacked by nuclear weapons as well as conventional weapons .As the General staff was incinerated along with most of the supply divisions and rear elements ,the frontline units collapsed and scattered.They were already in a hasty retreat at the time .The nukes devestated much of the newly built industrial capacity in the san Simeon area -and did a fair bit of damage to the castle as well .The worst effect however -was the loss of control .
by gametime actual , your patrols report that rebel scouts are frequenting the mountains 2-3 km east and south east of the Castle. Some daring ones even entered San Simeon bay in a skiff -taking the warehouse by force and hoisting their colors while burning yours .Several locals were taken away before th arapid reaction force could intervene .Some patrols have reported skirmishes with rebels that actively pitch for a fight .DeCorba kloyalists or suspected sympathizers are strung up all opver the the former territories.Anti deCorba grafitti is everywhere. men in ski masks with assault rifles roam the hills and attack anyone believed to be doing your bidding .

The nearby town of Cambria is held by a variety of rebel families -probably the ones who looted the warehouse is among them .

At Ragged Point the road is closed by a rebel group that taxes travel heavily as well as demanding tribute from all nearby settlements.

Most other towns or settlements all the way up and down the Cabrillo Highway / "1" are in the same state-governed by force by new or old masters -but in fairness -the security situation does not allow for anyone to remain disorganized and unarmed.

This pattern repeats it self too many times to recount individually all the way up and down the coastal roads,the coastal ranges and the Central vally that used to be under your control .Of the major metropolitan areas ther eare no news as of yet .

You hav epicke dup quite a bit of radio chatter -most of it mundane .You are now in firm control of the castle ,the airstrip and app. 3 km out from your firing posts .Patrol sare sent out daily .There have been a few casualties .