October 2009

From Above

October 2009

Quarterly Publication "FROM ABOVE"
Photography: DAVID CAMERON
Cover Photo: Ground Zero Crater (North Belka)

Principality of Belka, Old City Area

In the southwestern region of the Principality of Belka stands a castle that was built upon a hill of the old city. Construction began around the 12th century, and for around 400 years thereafter it was used as the estate of the prince-elector. [1] Well known as a free imperial city, [2] the beauty of the emperor's city remains to this day.

Solo Island

Solo Island, in the northern Ceres Ocean, is largely comprised of mountains rising from volcanic activity. The composition of the canyons is complex and labyrinthine, and the little existing flat land was converted into a military facility. However, changes to the environment caused by geological activity left no choice but to abandon the facility. Currently the island appears to be a storage area.

Port Saint Hewlett

Located in western Osea and facing the Ceres Ocean is the main military port where the Osean Maritime Defense Force HQ is stationed, also famously known for being the homeport of the Osean Maritime Defense Force Third Fleet. Also located on the coast are an adjoining petroleum plant, shipyard, and ironworks, making the area the center of industry in western Osea.

Eastern Foot of Mount Schirm (North Belka Side)

Partitioning Mount Schirm from right before the center is North Belka, but becomes Osean territory deeper in. The back of the mine has a harbor and airport. The industry surrounding the mined ore is one of the Principality of Belka's most important industries. Due to the region being affected by tundra climate, its defining trait is long winters and short summers.

Basset Space Center

A mass driver facility established at Osea's prominent space base. Outer space development - formerly synonymous with competition between the two nations - has completely changed as a result of reconciliation between Osea and Yuktobania, and a gigantic bridge [3] towards space was able to take shape. The lengthy catapult is sandwiched between Osea to the south and Yuktobania's prioritized development area to the north. [4]

Osean Capital, Oured

A city facing Oured Bay and located in Osea's southeastern region. It is the Osean Federation's largest city with a population of approximately 7,650,000 (as of 2009), [5] and is composed of six administrative districts: Burton, Glennon, Stockham, Lindsey, Reinhardt, and Eversole. The Osean President's official residence "Bright Hill" is located here.

Apito Lakeside City

Southwest of the capital Oured is Apito City. Located in the city is an international airport centered around commercial operations that operates 24 hours a day. The night scenery of a city that looks out to the lake is befitting of a suburban airport and charms the passengers of nighttime flights.

Akerson Granary Region

The Osean Federation's southern peninsula became a fertile granary region due to the temperate climate. The north bank has a lengthy coastline and natural disasters such as earthquakes and wind damage are comparatively low. Farms and ranches have sporadic turbines as to not obstruct farming or livestocks' land usage, as such one can spot a great amount of wind powered generation facilities.

Eaglin Strait

The Eaglin Strait, connecting the Ceres Ocean and Osea's Bannion inner sea. Cutting across Osea from south to north, this strait is only 2km wide at its most narrow area and in the center of this photo is a Langer truss bridge [6] that required five connections. Highway OS101 runs through this bridge, making it an important connection that binds north and south Osea.

Translation Notes

[1] 選帝侯, the same kanji used for prince-electors (Kurfürsten) of the Holy Roman Empire.

[2] 帝国の直属都市 is sometimes used to refer to the imperial free cities of the Holy Roman Empire (normally 帝国自由都市). Although it lacks the "Free" phrase, replacing it with "Under the Direct Control of", it retains the same meaning. Imperial free cities were directly controlled by the Holy Roman Empire rather than being subordinate to a feudal lord.

[3] かけ橋 can be used to mean "mediation" in addition to literally meaning "suspension bridge", likely a deliberate stylistic choice rather than simply using 橋.

[4] Presumably there are Osean facilities south of the mass driver and Yuktobanian facilities to the north, otherwise this sentence makes no geographic sense when taken more literally.

[5] The Japanese wording for 7,650,000 is 765万, 万 is a counter for 10 thousand in some Asian languages. 765 is a Japanese goroawase for Namco.

[6] A Langer truss bridge is a type of tied-arch bridge; the classification is rarely used in English outside of technical writing, but more common in Japanese. Its defining trait compared to other tied-arch bridge designs is that its arch is not a perfect curve, but is instead composed of many straight girders.