Rustbucket
"The bright side of the war was that the factories reopened. We women were working them now, the men off showing their bravado in the killing fields. We weren't making cars, just tanks and guns. The less lucky made bullets and bombs. The few men who stayed behind to work the mines were very popular. But the powers that be only cared about the war: we still had to work the fields, raise the kids, and keep things running.
We were too busy to think about what was coming, but it felt like we were all collectively holding our breath. The war would come here eventually, with nobody left to fight it but us. No matter what anyone says, it's a damn blessing the Covenant showed up when they did."
Clara Hensworth (11/15/5 AE), as recorded by the Prosperity Heritage Project.
Geography
Belly of the central continent, landlocked stretch of industry and farmlands. Borders on Lake Prosperity, home of Terminal City. The area is the result of an asteroid impact creating a massive crater, which left the area surrounded by the Scratchback Rim. To the south, Lake Prosperity channels into lowlands along the Moon Bear river.
Natural Resources
The Rustbucket is rich with resources. There are rich minerals along the Rim, especially in the Western Valley, many of which are utilized by the factories in the other Principalities. The Southern Prairie has massive herds of cattle, which is a prized luxury now that most survive on the enriched protiens most eat these days. Similarly the rivers and lake are bountiful with fish.
The timberfields from the North, however, were razed during the Trinity War. Best case they should start to grow back within a generation or two, but the bizarre fallout from the battles seems to have assured this will never happen.
History
As with most of Arilian history, much was purposefully erased or suppressed during The Exodus. Anecdotally, the area was already hard hit by global economic depression brought on by a prolonged world war. While the bucket was shielded from the majority of the conflict, huge numbers of the working class were drafted and the majority that remained were put to work providing resources to the war machine.
After the conflict ended, the end of global scarcity brought about by Covenant governance hit the area particularly hard. Covenant technologies provided the ability to easily goods in a complete efficient centralized fashion. Much of the local skilled labor had been focused on the production of obsoleted machinery such as automobiles, farm equipment, and airplanes. Things like foundries and machining were also replaced by much more high tech solutions. The defense industry, which had dominated the economy for decades, had no purpose at all. A generation of skilled labor found themselves taking whatever work was available, which was taken advantage of by the new economies created by the regional Covenant Barons.
Even with the reduced need created by efficiency, raw resources remain profitable. minerals, timber, and farming are still profitable industries. These products are pipelined out via railway to Terminal City where it is transported by ship to worldwide centers of production and processing in bulk.
Tourism
Due to its lack of cultural relevance, tourism is all but nonexistent. Any tourists that do visit come to see Terminal City due to it's cultural independence and unique wonders.
Alternative Name(s)
Prosperity Crater, Central Aralia, Una's Cradle
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