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Michigan Metropolitan AxisToward the latter half of the twentieth century, Michigan had started to experience sporadic growth along its east and west coasts. Detroit was increasing their industrial strength while Grand Rapids along the west coast increased its technical and medical status. By the turn of the century, expansion fever had set in. New high-rises went in followed by the businesses and population to fill them. Interstates 96 and 94 became the lifelines of the metropolitan conglomerations as the expansion built off the highways, working its way inward toward the center of the state. By the year 2035, pretty much everything between Grand Rapids and Detroit along these two highways had been developed into one large interconnecting metropolitan area. Grand Rapids With the advent of the merging of local hospitals and the creation of the world's most advanced genetics research facility, Grand Rapids had quickly come to a competitive level with the Mayo clinic. Political officials from around the globe were now choosing Grand Rapids as their choice for genetic and neurological treatment centers. Business was booming. Following the business boom of the medical industry came technology. Major computer firms sprouted offices to host their midwest regions. Hungry for success, Grand Rapids embraced the newcomers and allowed them expansion as they needed. Over a course of six years, five skyscrapers added their profiles to the Grand Rapids skyline. During the Awakening, things were pretty mild compared to some of the other areas on the globe. The northern side of town was engulfed as the Wildlands came in. Metahumans were rejected at first due to the strong religious phobias that reside in the area, but they soon became welcome back into society and continue to lead a shared existance. In 2040, Renraku moved in and purchased a major chunk of the downtown Grand Rapids area. Within mere weeks of the purchase, an entire 25 square block area of old buildings and apartments were torn down to make way for the Renraku Midwest Arcology, announcing a major shift in the production curve in the area. Following Renraku in arcology building were Onyx Military Industries and Ares. A sudden influx of Japanese employees moved into the area to work at the Renraku and AmCase corporate centers. And with these Japanese employees came the Yakuza. While not a violent and manevolent criminal organization like many of the local gangs, they still had a negative impact on the area. Drug trafficing had increased and illegal weapon sales had skyrocketed. The Mafia kept their grounds in Detroit, content to control their side of the state (not that they don't have some presence in Grand Rapids). To combat this increase in crime, Lone Star moved in and claimed the contract for supplying the city with its law enforement needs. They employed all of the city police force into this role, which scored major brownie points with the populace. Michigan in general had turned into a testing ground for Lone Star with its diverse mixture of an Urban Sprawl and a massive awakened forest virtually right next door to each other. It has long been a dream of Grand Rapidians to become a major city, and now their wish has come true. Detroit Detroit, the Motor City, long known for its automotive industry and other industrial goods. Things have not changed much over the years. Their automotive production facilities are still among the most famous worldwide. Most of the major vehicle manufacturers have at least one assembly plant in Detroit by the end of 2020. Sports in the Detroit area are a big thing. With quite a history of poor performance in the past, the city has definately turned around in the Awakened world. The Grinders have taken the world by storm in the Combat Biker League and the Detroit Daggers have managed to hold three championships in a row for Blood Bowl. The local fans are loyal and proud of their new Detroit teams, as they have always been. The Mob has always been a looming figure in the Motor City. Their hands are stuck in so many pockets it's sometimes hard to tell where the crime ends and the law begins. They are somewhat displeased in the Yakuza presence in the Grand Rapids area, but their Don has asked that peace remain between them and their Japanese counterparts. With the organized crime mixed with the smaller go gangs, Lone Star and Knight Errant have their work cut out for them in Detroit. Everything In Between The roadways between Grand Rapids and Detroit are a veritable playground for business and crime. Every on ramp along I-96 and I-94 and the surrounding areas hosts a variety of industry and residential development. Because of the extent of the metropolitan areas extending across the state, law enforcemnt is not a constant. Patrols still circulate, but not as frequently in some of the larger areas like GR and Detroit. Because of this, the crime rates in the 'Tween Zone are higher. Go gangs and highway thugs roam the zones looking for a score. The capitol city of Lansing has not fared exceptionally well over the years, while still a large University town, its other elements have fallen to the pressures of riots and crime. The National Guard is constantly on patrol to enforce a semi-state of martial law. The downtown sector has been walled off and cleared of vagrants. Neither the Mafia nor the Yakuza have a strong hold over this part of the MMA. Various gangs have splintered the outlying portions of Lansing into rigidly controlled territories. |
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