From
a distance the capitol city of Managua appears to be a sprawling
shantytown filled with crowded street markets. Also, the old city of
Managua now lies mostly in ruins from the war, shelled out buildings
are used by squatters and have undergone very little repair.
Loudspeakers on every street corner echo the Sandinista National radio
station, spreading the rebellious message of warfare against the
Capitalists. Street protests occur daily, burning effigies of U.S.
politicians or Capitalists (European or American) that have been in the
news recently. Youth gangs rule the streets at night, trading stolen
goods for drugs from wandering Nomads on the outskirts of the Capitol.
Sandinista police do little to stop the gangs, unless members of
households pay the military substantial donations on a regular basis.
In which case the Sandinista Government commits the small time crooks
to their overcrowded jails, supposing the police do not simply shoot
the criminals on the spot. The huge jail centers are some of the more
technologically advanced sections of the city, run using 21st century
security technology and modern brainwashing techniques meant to
reeducate prisoners into fanatical soldiers. In fact 15% of the
Standing Army is drawn from the Prisons, making up special Prisoner
battalions which are known for their fanaticism and fierce loyalty to
the Sandinistas.
Major Drug Cartels in Managua
The Lacito Family, operates several legitimate drug bars inside
Managua, selling cheap Western knock-off drugs, many which are slightly
dangerous to their users. The Government does nothing to regulate them
and they often run other rackets in the drug bars, including
prostitution rings and even slavery markets of young girls from
families who owe the cartel debts. Juan Lacito lives in a luxury villa
on the shores of Lake Managua, shrouded by palms and protected by a
dozen mercenaries equipped with European Cyberware and Guns.
The Joseso Family, rivals to the Lactio family’s established drug trade
in the city, they operate more discrete drug businesses using front
shops in the city. Their main weapons against their rivals are in the
form of bribery of local officials rather than open warfare with
mercenaries. The city’s Cartel leader, Carlos Joseso, lives in an
underground network of tunnels beneath farms just on the outskirts of
the city. His underground lifestyle represents his attitude on
business.
Major Youth Gangs in Managua
The Virgin Gang, A youth gang entirely of teenagers recruited at a
local church, run by the 19 year old Jesus, a former choir boy who
attempts to honor the Virgin Mary by giving overhead on his illegal
robbery trade to his neighborhood church. The Pastor Roberto, has
become rich enough to open up an orphanage for homeless children and
has improved the church considerably. The fact that the money coming
from Jesus’ gang is done through illegal trade is never discussed.
The Locos, A violent combat gang of youngsters, they desire the
luxuries other kids their age have in Europe and America. Their
motivations primarily lie in theft and living a wealthy lifestyle in
the heart of a Communist Slums. Mostly motivated by personal wealth and
pleasure, the combat gang is filled with hardened killers and robbers,
who commit cruel atrocities on their neighbors.
Nomad Families near the
Capitol
Los Padres, a wandering band of Catholic Missionaries, they have
seemingly lost their faith from the atrocities of warfare in Nicaragua.
These homeless Padres now are ruthless mercenaries for the Cartels.
They also deal drugs as middlemen, and carry many weapons left over
from the war.
The Coyotes, a Nomad group made up of violent militiamen, they hire
themselves out to communities in the countryside which lack real police
forces. They are frowned upon by the Communist Government as
vigilantes, but are treated no differently than bounty hunters by the
townspeople of most rural communities. The Coyotes are immune to the
laws of the land, because the Sandinistas have pardoned them of all
crimes thanks to their role in the war and help in driving out the
American forces through long guerilla warfare.
(Written
by Joe "Citizen X"
Klemann : Some Information is taken from the CIA Worldfactbook,
Wikipedia, Geographia.com, and Cyberpunk 2020.)
