Mexico in 2300 AD is THE most powerful Central American nation... In fact, it is the ONLY Central American nation! Its 12 Rudell units compare well to the 17 of America.
Population: 124,347,000 (68% urban, 32% rural). Literacy: 96%. College Education: 68%. Life Expectancy: 89.5 male, 93.3 female. Largest Cities: Mexico City (5,344,000), Los Angeles (3,430,000), San Salvador (2,754,000). Industrial Capacity: 12 Rudell units. Agricultural Output: 78% (net importer of grains and other agricultural products). Mineral Production: 76% (net importer of ores, net exporter of oil). Power Production: 100%. (78% solar, 0% atomic, 22% mineral). Principal Trading Partners: America, Argentina, Azania, The Inca Republic, Japan, Venezuela. Traditional Rivalries: America, Texas.
Mexico's position in the late 20th century was undamaged by the Twilight War, which left it in good stead compared to the "Howling Wilderness" of the divided US government to its north. Having previously been wheeling and dealing to build up its military prior to the war, in 1999 Mexico used it against Texas, and captured it. It then took the southern portions of New Mexico, Arizona, and California in 2025. It next began a campaign to dominate and absorb all of the Central American countries. While its troops were tied up against Guatemala in 2099 (the same year the Melborne Accords were signed by all but the ESA nations and Canton), Texas rebelled and asked America for aid. The Mexican-American War lasted from 2099-2103 and ended with the newly independent Texas turning down the statehood offered by America, and becoming an independent buffer nation, instead.
The brutal treatment of Texas during that war caused California to secede in 2103, quickly followed by Arizona, Baja, and New Mexico. The Mexican Civil War of 2103-2106 was the result, ending with the amphibious landing that reduced much of Los Angeles to ruins. The Peace of El Paso (2103), however, guaranteed the current Mexican-American border, and kept America neutral during this war.
In 2103 Guatemala was absorbed, followed by Belize in 2105, Honduras in 2117, El Salvador in 2123, Nicaragua in 2140, Costa Rica in 2145, Cuba in 2148 and Panama (west of Panama City) in 2161. Only in the cases of Nicaragua and Panama were military clashes necessary. Panama east of Panama City was captured by Columbia in order to stop Mexico's advance, and became part of the Inca Republic when Columbia joined it in 2284.
As each country was absorbed, it became a member of the "United Mexican States". Each state was allowed to keep its heritage, which was included in the state-run education given to the UMS's citizens. The common Latin heritage is played up, and the increased economic power of the UMS has improved the lives of most central american citizens. Thus, national loyalty of the "conquered people" remains high.
In 2162, Argentina and the UMS were forced to build the very first interstellar warships and fight the First Alpha Centauri War in order to force the ESA's member nations to sign the Melborne Accords in 2163, thus guaranteeing ALL starfaring nations the ability to colonize planets. INAP (El Instituto Nacional de Astronomia Practica) was formed by both Argentina and Mexico in 2164, in preparation for the colonization of Tirane in the Alpha Centauri system. The disappearance in transit of the Pancho Villa enroute to Tirane at 05:30 on August 13th 2168, and the later failure of Argentina's/Mexico's joint Tiranian Santa Maria colony in 2180 (after the Santa Christophos School tragedy) has made Mexico much more cautious in colonization. It now has a very concervative policy, taking its time in surveying, and only colonizing Garden worlds. The remains of the Tiranian colony were absorbed into the more successful Australian New Canberra colony.
In 2245, Mexico colonized Montaña (Omicron 2 Eridani A II) in association with Argentina, through INAP. In 2265, Mexico colonized Kwantung (Tau Ceti II), where major starship building facilities are currently being planned (see the _Colonial Atlas_).
There are also a large number of Mexican settlers on Dukou (Epsilon Eridani I). Further exploration and colonization are planned, especially of the AC+12 1800-213 and DM-21 1051 stellar systems. INAP is also interested in the Kafers, most especially their superior weapons technology. INAP currently owns five Buenos Aires (renamed York) Class colonization vessels (down from six, after the mysterious disappearance of the Poncho Villa). More vessels of a newer type will no doubt be built upon completion of the Kwantung shipyards. According to "INAP", _Challenge_ #34, page 54, paragraph 3, "INAP also funds and promotes research projects. Most of INAP's efforts are concentrated on improving its stutterwarp technology and ship design."
INAP also runs two Montañan facilities (one studying the ecology of that world, and the other drilling what will become the deepest well in known space, for volcanic activity and geothermal energy studies), as well as a third research facility on Syuhlahm in the Zeta Tucanae system, where the radiation resistance of the local life forms is studied. INAP also funds lots of R&D into ESP, Pyrokinesis, Telekinesis, Telepathy, and other paranormal activity.
Mexico wisely managed to stay out of the three Rio Plata wars between Argentina and Brazil, until Ecuador and Peru rebelled and formed the Inca Republic in 2275. Both Argentina and Mexico immediately recognized this new nation, and in return, Brazil was forced to accede to Mexico's acquisitions of land in Central America at the end of the Third Rio Plata War. While the Inca Republic was formerly part of INAP, as well, they withdrew all cooperation in 2277, due to economic disagreements. Mexico intends to woo the IR back, on agreeable terms.
The UMS in 2300 occupies nearly all of Central America, including the 20th Century nations of Belize, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, as well as portions of Panama and the United States. As such, it covers a lot of ground, and has a variety of climates, from Semi-arid to Tropical. This makes such categoies as "Rainfall" and "Temperature" highly variable. Mexico in 2300 covers 2,568,092 square kilometers (992,334.5 square miles), with over 20,000 kilometers of coastline.
The multiple cultures of Mexico are encouraged to continue, and each of the countries absorbed have become an estado (state) of the USM, in addition to the 31 estados Mexico already had (now 42). While native Mexicans make up the majority of the population, there are also significant numbers of displaced Americans, Arabians, Chinese & Japanese traders, and Koreans, as well. Among the native mexicans, many are of Amerindian descent, and a large number are Mestizo. The population breaks down as: 60% Mestizo (Mixed Spanish and Indian parentage), 30% Amerindian (or mostly so), 9% predominantly white, 1% Other.
Spanish is the unifying language of all Central (and most of South) America. While many northern Mexicans speak English as a second language, and a few southern Mexicans speak Portugese, this is not a common practice among the majority. Some few careers (law, interface control, doctors, etc.) speak their own required languages, but this is no more common in Mexico than elsewhere. The hodge-podge of Mexican Indian tongues have basically become secondary (if not "dead") languages, and no more than 1% of Mexico's current population is capable of using any one of them... The future has finally caught up with the indian tribes, and swept them into the 24th Century.
Of the 375 separate languages identified in this region at the time of the Twilight War (12 of which were identified as "extinct", and several more of which were listed as nearly so), few have survived as spoken languages, and almost none as Mother Tongues. Mexico's playing-up of the common Spanish heritage has had a lot to do with this. Many native tongues (including all of the Mayan tongues) now survive only in historical, academic circles. These are carefully researched and preserved as part of the cultural heritage, but not taught as living tongues.
Despite its strong Catholic leaning in earlier days, Mexico is now only 50% (nominally) Novoa Catolico, and the other 50% divided among various Protestant and Baptist denominations. Non-native Mexicans (and a few converts) might be Baha'i, Hindu, or Muslim, but these together total less than 1%.
Mexico has a host of resources at its disposal. Antimony, cobalt, copper, gold, iron, lead, manganese, natural gas, nickel, oil, salt, silica, silver, tungsten, and zinc are among its chemical resources. Chicle, fish, shrimp, timber and rare woods (such as mahogany), and various cash crops add to the land's bounty.
Exports: Banannas, Cardamom, Citrus fruits, Chemicals, Clothing (and other textiles), Coffee, Cotton, Engines, Manufactured goods, Meat, Molasses, Nickel (and various other Minerals), Seafood (Lobster, Shellfish, Shrimp), Solar Power and Other Satellites, Sugar, and Tobacco. These are sent to: America, Argentina, Belgium, Canada, The Caribbean, China, EC, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Texas, and the UK.
Imports: Chemicals, Construction materials, Electrical equipment, Fertilizers, Food, Fuels, Grain, Metals, Pharmaceuticals, and Transportation equipment. These are imported from: America, Argentina, The Caribbean, EC, Japan, Texas, UK, and Venezuela.
All education is provided free to Mexican nationals (and those attaining citizenship), but there is significant competition for the open spots in the Under- and Post-Graduate college slots. A large part of the grade school education is devoted to the various cultures of modern Mexico, in order to educate the citizens and promote cultural tolerence.
Mexico's far-reaching roadgrid is in serious need of repairs in the outlying areas. Repairing and improving it is one of Mexico's first steps in her five year plan to upgrade her infrastructure. Mexico currently has 637,098 km of roads, of which 185,621 km are paved, 261,772 km are improved (gravel, cobblestone, etc.), and 189,705 unimproved dirt.
Substandard railways cover 78,608 km, but are old-fashioned rail-and-tie tracks, not modern airfilm lines. While her railways run efficiently, Mexico would like to upgrade this area of transportation, as well.
Watercraft transportation is far more modern, especially the Cruise Ships used to bring in the tourist trade. Mexico has 640 ships in her merchant marine, not including corporate, military, or private assets.
Mexico City has stopover spaceplane flights from America and Japan, but the only state-owned facilities (in the Yucatan Peninsula) are under military control. Daily flights from there to orbit are government controlled.
Short and sweet, Mexico is a (happy!) Military Dictatorship, and has been since the Twilight War at the end of the 20th Century. None of its nationals have ever known anything else, and many can remember days when things were not nearly as good as they are now. While some groups continue to push for more (needed) economic reforms, all tend to remain loyal to the government, and its military tool for achieving it (especially since nearly every citizen has served their two years as part of it).
The Executive Branch of the Mexican Government consists only of El Presidente and his Cabinet. The Legislative Branch is the bicameral Congreso de la Union, consisting of the upper Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores) and the lower Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados). The Judicial Branch consists of the Supreme Corte de Justicia.
Two years' national military service are required of ALL Mexican citizens (male or female, although Mexican "Machismo" continues to keep most of the women out of combat roles), whether nationals or naturalized. Many of these citizen-soldiers can expect to serve off-world in marine units or with Mexico's space navy. Thus, Mexico is never at a loss for Experienced troops, as 1,623,291 reach military age (18) every year.
Mexico sees its Military not only as a means to an end, but as the means to any end. Currently, the Army is being used to build roads! The Army Corp of Engineers runs this operation, and Grunts/GroPos do the manual labor. All of the UMS's six branches of military service (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Space Navy, and Space Marines) are well equipped, with the latest in INAP weapons technology and armor.
Mexico's Navy is extremely well developed, with its multiplicity of Ports on both sides of the continent. A large number of small hydrofoil roam the coasts, while many warships and submarines ply her waters (The UMS claims territorial waters out to 322 km). Mexico has no "Coast Guard", as these services are handled by the Navy. Mexico also keeps her Wet-Navy technology up to par with America/Texas. The areas just north of the Panama Canal (now operated by International Commission) are home to several Naval/Submarine bases.
Mexico's Air Force is equipped with the latest in Fighter technology, and Mexican Pilots will tend to be Veteran or Elite, because of the high number of border incidents with America and Texas. Airbases in Monterey and the Yucatan are thoroughly modern, and the pride of the Mexican military. The Yucatan Spaceplane field is carefully controlled by Mexican Interface Command.
Mexico's Marine forces are nearly unique. She makes a distinction between Space Marines and those used on the Ground and at sea. While the Space Marines are expected to be able to go anywhere, only the best Marines are allowed to join the Space Marines. Thus, Mexico's Space Marines tend to be an Elite fighting force. The "Regular" Marines are the UMS's amphibious landing force, and work closely with all other branches of the UMS military, even to the point of sharing training with them. The Space Marines are likewise expected to be capable of land, air, sea, submarine and amphibious operations, but also to be prepared for Zero-G, vacuum, and hostile environment missions. The "Regular" Marines keep what is probably the world's largest collection of amphibious fighting vehicles.
Mexico's Space Navy is still composed of older ships, although these are constantly improved and re-fitted with the latest in INAP developments. Current Mexican Ships include a horde of Orage Class Updated Frigates bought wholesale from French Military Surplus (and refitted as Missile Frigates), one Ypres-12 Class Frigate, several Faidi Class Couriers of Azanian manufacture. A host of JA-77 Class Sensor Drones and EM-1 & EM-SD Class Missiles (and a few old Santisima Trinidad Class Armored Cruisers and Almirante Brown Class Updated Destroyers) built by Mexico through INAP's Technology-Sharing Program with Argentina round out The UMS's Space Fleet. Mexico is already designing her own vessels, in preparation for the opening of her new Kwantung shipyards. If building ships is taking too long and the new systems look promising, Mexico may decide to buy the three remaining York Class Colony Ships in orbit about Mars.
Kwantung, and the shipyards Mexico is planning to build there, are Mexico's current focus in space. Once it has built some ships of its own, it will be investigating the Kafers more closely, and exploring the two stellar systems mentioned earlier. Hopefully, soon after that, she will have use for some new colonization vessels.
Mexico intends to begin by improving her infrastructure, using her usual tool (the military) to rebuild its deteriorated outer roadgrid and modernizing its outdated rail lines. It also intends to get its Kwantung shipyards up and running ASAP, so that she can build her own Colonization Vessels, Courier Vessels/Missiles, Cruisers, Destroyers, Exploration/Survey ships, perhaps some Fighters and/or Frigates, and Fuel Ships/Fleet Tenders, Missiles, and X-Boats.
Once she has ships to work with, Mexico wants to send her survey ships to the AC+12 1800-213 and DM-21 1051 stellar systems. If needed, her Colonization Vessels can follow. Meanwhile, she (and INAP) will begin a more in-depth study of the Kafers, and any weapons technology they can capture. Mexico's other space assets will be used for communication with her colonies and Earth.
Other than Exploration and Colonization, Mexico's only other plans will be to hold on to what she already has. For that reason (if no other) she would like to make peace with America and Texas, if possible. She is not willing to suffer losses in the name of peace, however.
Argentina has always been Mexico's closest ally, and Mexico does not plan on changing that relationship. She would also like to improve relations with the Inca Republic, and try to form some sort of a Coalition with both of them. Whether or not this is possible remains to be seen. Both America and Texas tend to harbor grudges toward Mexico for the traditionally Spanish Territory she reacquired. Mexico would like to see these relations repaired as much as possible. She is even willing to give up the land (although not the citizens on it) if America and Texas are willing to give up all land on Mexico's side of the Rio Grande, and increase Mexico's production to the point where she will lose no Rudell units. Mexico is also somewhat suspicious of the motives of both nations, however, so working out a deal would have to proceed cautiously. Argentina's problems with Brazil and Great Britain are something Mexico prefers to stay totally out of, so she basically keeps neutral relations (when she has any at all) with those two.