Endeavour-Liberty Capital Region Country Democratic Federation Planet Liberty System Liberty System Site information Area City Proper: 2,090km2

2,090km2 Metropolitan Area: 9,540km2 Elevation Highest: 1386m

1386m Lowest: 870m Population City: 7,860,000

7,860,000 Metro: 16,409,000 Site history Founded 2131 [Source]



Endeavour, officially the Endeavour-Liberty Capital Region, is a region on Liberty comprised of 14 municipalities including the City of Endeavour which serves as the de jure capital of the Democratic Federation. The region has a population of 16.4 million people, roughly three quarters of the planet’s total population.

Since its founding in 2131, Endeavour has been a major centre for international politics, becoming a polyglot home for numerous Federation organizations, politicians, diplomats and civil servants. Endeavor hosts a number of Federation institutions including the Parliament of the United Nations, the Federation Council and the Office of the President. The Liberty System’s unique legal and administrative position within the Democratic Federation grants the Federation Council exclusive jurisdiction over the region and the authority to review and overturn all locally created laws.

The region hosts 96 foreign embassies as well as the headquarters for many international organizations, trade unions, non-profit organizations, and lobbying groups.

History

The settlement of Liberty began in 2131 with the arrival of the British colony ship Endeavour. Within a year, a cluster of 29 settlements had been established and the “Endeavour Colonies” as they became known, rapidly expanded. During the Second Scinfaxi War the colonies took in thousands of refugees but treatment problems with the local water supply stifled any plans for large-scale immigration.

In 2177 as part of the Treaty of New Philadelphia, the Liberty System was granted independence from the United Kingdom and Liberty Proper declared the capital world of the Democratic Federation. The original 21 settlements were merged into 14 separate municipalities with the City of Endeavor selected as capital city. Citizens of Liberty retained their previous citizenship however, giving the city no actual citizens of its own. Honorary citizenship is instead granted yearly to individuals who have made an especially meritorious contribution to the Democratic Federation.

The region was vastly altered by the 2219 Dujardin Plan. French architect-planner Jacques Dujardin was hired by then President David McGregor to design an urban plan for managing the Capital Region to make it more aesthetically pleasing and thus more befitting a location that was the political center of the Federation. The majority of the regions most famous landmarks including Parliament Hill were completed over the following decade.

Throughout the 2220s and 2230s Endeavour underwent a building boom. This was followed by large scale growth in high tech industries during the 2240s spurred in part by government assisted research facilities such as the Federation Research Council. Templin-Keppe became the region’s largest private employer in 2248 when it established a regional headquarters there.

Since the early 2260s there have been numerous attempts to amalgamate the 14 municipalities into a single entity under one city council and mayor. The high level of urbanization of the region has led to many of it’s people regarding Endeavor as a single city with many divisions existing only on paper. A common joke during elections on Endeavor is that should a certain candidate win, residents might be forced to flee across the street.

Geography

Endeavor is located at the transition zone between the Edward Mountains and the Liberty Prairies. The City of Endeavor is roughly 1045m above sea level while the Apollo Spaceport is 1076m. In 2285 urban areas covered 1848km2. Two rivers run through the city. The Davies River is the larger and flows from the west to the south, while the Mitchell River flows northwards from the south until both converge near the historic site of Triumph Hill.

Climate

Endeavor is located in a humid continental climate; average daily temperatures range from 16.3 °C in July to -7.5 °C in December. Winters are typically cold and temperatures drop below -30 °C on average 5.2 days of the year. Endeavor’s proximity to the Edward Mountains can affect winter temperatures with foehn winds periodically raising winter temperatures by as much as 20 °C. Endeavor has the most sunny days year round of the Democratic Federation’s 50 largest cities with just over 343 days of sun. Thunderstorms can be frequent and at time severe with the Endeavor Region averaging more then 28 days with thunderstorms. Damaging hailstorms occur ever few years, but more severe weather phenomena are rare.

Cityscape

Endeavor can be recognized by its numerous skyscrapers and it is easy to see the various phases of development that have shaped the image of it’s downtown. In total there are at least 90 towers at least 200m or higher, the tallest of these is the Templin-Keppe Center at 1209m. The city has become famous for it's many museums, historical sites and memorials, in particular the Federation Archives. The Archives hold thousands of historical documents recovered from fallen nations of Earth, as well as a rotating selection of documents from Federation members.

Prominent Buildings

Parliament Tower

Parliament Tower is the meeting place of the Parliament of the United Nations, the Federation Council and houses the Office of the President and other ministries. It is a predominately glass building with it’s southern face marked by blocks of Seget limestone inscribed with the names of those lost in the two Scinfaxi Wars. Located atop Parliament Hill, the tower overlooks the Endeavour downtown core and local laws prohibit the construction of any tower that would rise above it.

The southern base of the tower is defined by a series of gigantic stairways intended to serve as the formal entrance to the city. It is also the site of a large eternal flame symbolizing hope and the regeneration of mankind. It was officially lit by Queen Anne II in 2228.

Trent Memorial Reflecting Pool

The Trent Memorial Reflecting Pool is the largest of the many reflecting pools on Parliament Hill. It is located at the southern base of Parliament Tower and stretches for 2153 meters before ending at the Federation Scinfaxi Memorial. It is comprised of granite slabs covered by 12 centimeters of water. In the summers a system allows it to create fog every 30 minutes, while in winters the frozen pool becomes a massive skating rink. An improvised exhibition game between members of the Caldwell Flames and Exeter Oilers took place in 2221 becoming a yearly tradition in which money is raised for various charities.