Novi Otonik is the administrative capital and largest city of District II (Kakerovecska). Situated in the resource-rich eastern plains of the Divine Republic of Kresimiria, it is the industrial engine of the nation.
Often described as “The Iron City,” Novi Otonik is a sprawling metropolis defined by its massive manufacturing complexes, steelworks, and logistical hubs. It is the headquarters for the Republic’s most critical heavy industries, including the arms manufacturer Otonik Ordnance, the automaker Krasja, and the steel division of Maj Holdings.
Politically, the city was historically the impregnable fortress of Blue Dawn and the trade union movement led by Ljubo Sanjakorin. However, in the 21st century, shifting economic tides and demographic changes have transformed it into the power base of Vesna Horvatin and the revitalized Civic Renewal Front (CRF).
While heavy industry remains the core, the city has developed a thriving “creative industrial” sector. The most famous export is the luxury streetwear brand Oblikav, which manufactures its high-end garments in renovated textile mills in Industrial Zone 3, selling the “worker aesthetic” back to the elites of Sinj at a premium.
History
The Arsenal of the Republic (1922–1960)
The city was founded as a modest settlement named Otonik. Its transformation began in 1922, shortly after the Unification War, when the new government chartered Otonik Ordnance to establish a domestic arms industry.
The discovery of vast iron ore deposits in the surrounding Kakerovecska hills fueled rapid expansion. During the 1950s, under the centralist policies of the Council for Development, the city was renamed Novi Otonik (New Otonik) and redesigned as a model of industrial efficiency. Thousands of workers migrated from the rural districts, swelling the population.
The Sanjakorin Era (1960–2000)
For the latter half of the 20th century, the city was synonymous with Ljubo Sanjakorin. Born in the city’s working-class tenements, Sanjakorin rose through the ranks of the SZNO trade union to become the leader of Blue Dawn.
Under his patronage, Novi Otonik became the laboratory for “Statist-Labor” economics.
- Nationalization: Following the 1988 State Enterprise Act, Sanjakorin nationalized the failing Krasja car plant (then KKA) to save local jobs.
- Infrastructure: He commissioned the KSO1 high-speed rail link, connecting the city’s factories directly to the capital, Sinj.
However, this era also saw the rise of Bran Maj, whose private conglomerate Maj Holdings aggressively acquired the city’s steel mills in the 1980s, setting up a decades-long conflict between the state-run and private sectors within the city limits.
The Technocratic Turn (2010–Present)
In the 2010s, the city began to evolve. The influence of the Otonik Institute of Applied Sciences (OIAS) produced a new generation of white-collar managers and engineers who favored deregulation over state protectionism.
This demographic shift was capitalized on by Vesna Horvatin, a local businesswoman and OIAS professor. Following Sanjakorin’s death in 2014, Horvatin won the district’s Senate seat, flipping the city to the CRF. In 2022, the CRF swept the district, ending Blue Dawn’s century-long dominance.
Economy and Layout
Novi Otonik is planned around four massive Industrial Zones (IZ), connected by a grid of heavy rail lines and worker housing blocks.
Industrial Zone 1: The Armory
The oldest part of the industrial city, dominated by the Otonik Ordnance complex. It is a high-security area where the Kres-55 rifles are manufactured.
Industrial Zone 2: The Steelworks
Controlled primarily by Maj Steel. The skyline here is defined by blast furnaces and smoke stacks. This zone was the site of fierce union battles in the 1990s between Maj’s management and the SZNO.
Industrial Zone 3: Manufacturing & Education
Home to the Krasja automotive assembly lines and the campus of OIAS. This zone represents the “modern” economy of the city, focusing on logistics and engineering.
Industrial Zone 4: Logistics
A massive transport hub operated by Republic Rail and Maj Logistics. It serves as the primary distribution point for goods heading north to Severnivaraje or west to Viskogorje.
Politics
Novi Otonik is currently held by the Civic Renewal Front.
- The CRF Base: Support comes from the skilled technicians, engineers from OIAS, and the business owners of the logistics sector, who support Horvatin’s deregulation agenda.
- The Blue Dawn Remnant: The party retains support among older, retired workers and state employees in the Otonik Ordnance plants, though their numbers are dwindling.
- The Vjetrusa Populists: The nationalist party maintains a presence in the poorest districts, where former Senator Viktor Durak (a former miner from the city) rallies disaffected laborers against both the “Sinj Elites” and “Maj Oligarchs.”
Culture and Life
The city has a gritty, utilitarian culture.
- “Shift Life”: The city operates on a 24-hour cycle to keep the furnaces running. Bars and cafes are open around the clock to cater to different shifts.
- Sport: The local football team, Iron Otonik, plays in the Republic League. They have a rivalry with FC Sinj, viewed as a clash between the working class and the capital aristocracy.
- Architecture: The city is famous (or infamous) for its Sanjakorin-era Brutalist architecture. The Palace of Labor, the headquarters of the SZNO union, is a massive concrete ziggurat in the city center.
The city’s gritty industrial atmosphere in the 1990s gave birth to the “Otonik Sound,” a genre of heavy rock popularized by the band Carpenter Workhorse (fronted by the future pop mogul Starskard). Although Starskard eventually left for the capital, the city remains proud of its musical export.