Life in the Commonwealth

Baltimore Population: Approximately 800,000 people. 90% of the population is literate and has a basic education.

Humans: ~700,000
D-Bees: ~100,000

Baltimore Commonwealth Population: Approximately 100,000 people live in each of the resource towns with as many as 5,000 transients between the resource towns and the city.

Economy: The economy of the Commonwealth is based on agriculture, limited logging, mining, and fishing. The Commonwealth is fully self-sufficient in the production of food and material needs. Excess production is traded to its neighbors for merchandise and materials that either can't be made locally or are considered luxury items.

Baltimore Commonwealth Military: Baltimore has two different military organizations: The Knights of Baltimore and the Baltimore Defense Force. Each Knight organization has up to 2,500 active members at any one time. There are also up to 5,000 additional Knights from all three Orders either in retirement or in reserve. Each Knight academy has up to 500 students in training, with 100 of them being able to end training at any time to become an apprentice.

The army divisions of the BDF number at more than 115,000 members, with an additional 50,000 on reserve. The police divisions of the BDF number at about 20,000 officers and inspectors. The naval division of the BDF numbers at 15,000 officers and sailors.

Composition:
6,000 suits of Dragoon Powered Armor
10,000 suits of Squire Powered Armor
2,000 suits of Errant Powered Armor
20,000 Steed Cyborg Horses
25,000 assorted suits of Powered Armor
200,000+ suits of unpowered armor
5,000+ refurbished Pre-Rifts military vehicles
10,000 modern military vehicles
350 robot vehicles
200 artillery pieces
20 Ships of the Line
200 Naval Vessels

Goods and Services: Baltimore has a full array of modern services from Juicer conversion labs to Cyber Docs that specialize in bionic reconstruction. Lexington Market has a full array of vehicles, weapons, and equipment.

Religion: Religion plays a very important part in the life of the average Baltimorean.

Law and Order: Besides the police force, which enforces the law, Baltimore also has a system of courts very simular to that of the American Empire. There is a Circuit Court for each of the 24 church parishes inside of the city, plus two each in Detrickville, Westburg, and Minetown. The Circuit Courts handle civilian suits and minor offenses against city laws. For felonies against the State, military infractions that can't be handled under the General Court Martial laws, and High Crimes and Misdemeanors, Baltimore has a District Court in each of the major cities. For the lesser courts, all trials are tried by a jury of the defendant's peers. Whatever the status of the defendant (civilian, military, or Knight), the jury will be selected from the available jury pool of that type. If the State or a defendant wishes to contest the decision of a Circuit Court or the District Court, they can take the matter up with the Appeals Court which consists of 3 judges sitting in judgement. There is a final Supreme Court of 7 senior judges, but they only sit in judgement on those appeals they decide to take, and on cases that contest a law the City Council has passed. It is within the Supreme Court's ability to strike down a law they feel goes against the charter of the city and the will of the people.
           Baltimore has all of the standard laws most modern states have against everything from robbery to murder. Those offenses that can't be punished by fines are punished by hard labor. While Baltimore does have jails for minor and short term offenders, all other offenders are assigned to one of the labor camps. In these labor camps, the offenders spend their time either breaking bricks or preparing garbage for recycling. For an offense like manslaughter or second degree murder, an offender is usually banished from the Commonwealth. Banishment might be for a short period of time, 10 to 20 years, or for life. A person who returns before their banishment period is up will more than likely be executed if caught. Punishment for premeditated murder, warcrimes, and crimes against humanity is death, to be carried out after all appeals have been completed.
           Baltimore does have one set of laws on its books that is different from any place else. MD weaponry is not allowed in the city of Baltimore unless you are a member of the Baltimore Defense Force, or are a Knight. MDC armor and SDC weaponry are allowed to be carried within the city, and are perfectly legal as long as they aren't used to commit a crime. As such, all MD weaponry is to be either confiscated at the gates of the city, or disabled if it is to be carried within the the City Wall on a vehicle. Anyone caught carrying live or armed MD weaponry within the city is sentenced to six months hard labor, plus a cumulative six months for each MD weapon found armed and operational in their possesion and for each previous time the person has been caught violating the law. A third time offender caught with 2 charged C-18 laser pistols on their person would be sentenced to three years hard labor. A person caught using a MD weapon inside of the city will be sentenced the same as a carrier, but after their hard labor term is up, they are also banished from the City-State for at least 5 years up to a time period the judge feels is fair. Users of MD weapons who accidentally kill a person are automatically sentenced to die.

Society: The citizens of Baltimore are free spirited, hardy, and highly religious individuals. It should be noted that while most humans in the remains of the U.S. are 14 or more generations removed from the Golden Age of Humanity, most Baltimoreans are only 6 or 7 generations removed. Due to their more recent Golden Age ancestors, most Baltimoreans have some remaining genetically engineered factors that expands their natural lifespans to more than 90 years. Bionics and other life-extending medical procedures can further expand this average expanded lifespan to more than 130 years. Many Baltimoreans harbor suspicious attitudes towards anyone who does not belong to a local church, be they a D-Bee or human. You are more likely to be treated with suspicion if you display non-religious attitudes and behaviors, than if you were a D-Bee who attended a church every Sunday.