Greece

Greece remains a major entry point to Europe. Cargos from Africa, Asia and the Middle East arrive at its ports and airports not the least due to the traditional corruptibility and laziness of its customs inspectors and with them all sorts of hopefuls and expats, exiles and entrepreneurs, the flotsam and jetsam of cosmopolitan humanity, eager to get a chance to walk those streets paved with eurogold.

So long as some of that gold ends up in the pockets of military regime, the Greek National Reconciliation Caucus is prepared to see this continue. After all, it's busy enough fighting partisans in the mountains, and buying all those shiny new tanks, aeros, subs and rifles. While the treasury dwindles, new taxes get added to the excise every day, and more and more underground movements spring up across the country...

Some of the hopefuls make it. Greece is a traditional hiring ground for ex-euro meat, whether by mercs, corps or one-man bands. The early jobs will come cheap, but the real aim is a chance to earn or buy those treasured work permits.

The proud Greek heritage is certainly in poor hands. Only Great Britain is worse, and that is because the British have always been somewhat feudal. The democratic government survived the Wasting Plague and even (barely) the Santorini catastrophe, but could not handle the corporations. It is ironic that the corps that put the army on top had to quit the country due to tax pressure. Now, most corp offices are small, with administrative and trade missions, not manufacturing. The only big offices are for military hardware corporations, who sell toys to the GNRC (Greek National Reconciliation Caucus).

The army has held sway over Greece for many years, but as usual, the independent minded Greeks are not going to make it easier for them. The countryside is mostly under partisan control, and only through the big cities and along heavily-patrolled highways, can the army move. However, that same independence precludes the many resistance movements from working together. Instead they quibble among themselves while the GNRC accounts in Switzerland swell.

That's another Greek characteristic, found most!y in cities: the idea that everything has a price, or, with enough dough, you can get anything. This is what keeps the army in the cities, where you can make money, and why the resistance movements are rural. Meanwhile, the exiled parliament (the thirty odd survivors, now the theme of dozens of sim shows) still works from Rhodes. Unable to call elections, they are supported by some of the partisan movements-and specially by Turkey and most non- European countries, delighted at seeing Europeans back at their favorite historical sport: killing each other.

The greatest show this way is the campaign in Macedonia. Instead of securing the neighborhood of Lake Prespa, the Greek army is facing hardened Serb veterans, currently occupying part of Albania, a Greek ally. As they disapproved of the Macedonian venture, the EC won't intervene outside Greek borders, but Serbia is still unwilling to commit themselves against an EC member, and the war is just skirmishes at the moment A good work opportunity for soldiers and solos. This military venture has weakened the army further, and now most of Thessaly and the north of Greece (including part of Greek Macedonia) are under rebel control. It is widely thought that American and Japanese interests are supplying the partisans, but there is no definite proof.

Border Control, Greece 2020

Meanwhile, corruption, the black market and rationing are the usual fare in the military-controlled areas. Europa Sur has a strong presence here, but there are hundreds of small-time operations, from famous-label clothing counterfeits to synthetic analogs of the latest fashion drugs. Greeks, gloom aside, are a peculiar lot Very sanguineous, they are a passionate people. They might kill each other over a slight, but they will stop military ops to organize a wedding, for instance. If you contract a Greek (and I should know) he will try to cheat you blind in negotiations, but later, will fulfill your agreement to the letter. There are no better friends-nor worse enemies.

A warning to all female readers, Greek males, and even females, practice machism, and women will be discriminated against unconsciously. In the cities there is a bit more equality, but the only equal employers are foreign corporations. This can be good or bad, and you probably know how to take advantage of it.

Greece has become the hiring-hall of Europe, and Athens is still one of the greatest touristic cities in the world. Don't worry if you can't get a language chip for Modem Greek, most people, specially taxis, waiters, etc. speak a smattering of European languages, including many obscure ones. Although you won't be able to talk about literature, you can get your basic needs across (food, rest, ammo...). For those that think that Greece is a police state, well, the answer is yes, but here the police are bribe-able, and seldom bother foreigners who mind their own business. If you have other businesses in mind, remember that the police are usually judge, jury and executioner here; tread with care.

It has never been hard to get into Europe. France, Great Britain and the Netherlands automatically received citizens of their former colonies; Spain sheltered any Latin-Americans that crossed the ocean. Portugal accepted Brazilians. The Wasting Plague changed all this, although the border- dosing trend had begun earlier. Now foreigners must pass rigorous scrutiny to get in, even with a tourist visa. Work permits are very hard to get, and citizenship is almost unattainable for a foreigner. Certain nationalities are specially controlled, for various reasons, and will bring higher official interest: USA, Japan, New Africa, China and all Arab countries.

However, to help the discerning entrepreneur, Europe has two soft spots allowing foreigners into the Euroheaven. One of them, Great Britain, has its own risks-and so many disadvantages that I won't extend myself on it The other, though far from perfect, is the best way into Europe if your intention isn't tourism, but mayhem: Greece.

Corruption rules Greece, and that's why there are so many Greeks up in the mountains. With enough money (Eb only) and the right attitude, omici, you can get anything here. Regarding the particular problem of getting into the EC, there are several possibilities.

If you have a substantial amount of money (corporate backing perhaps?) the best way is by plane, via Athens airport Get a tourist visa (an "on the spot" visa costs between 1000 and 10,000 Euro) and renew it as needed (when asked, or every three months in serious parts of Europe). Any equipment you got onto the plane can pass through customs, with a "tax" depending on what the customs agent thinks you carry.

With a tourist visa you can't receive legally payment for rendered services, so set up an account in advance in some tax haven. If you are so notorious you can't get aboard a plane, or you're cash poor, there are other possibilities.

The preferred way to get cargo (and people) in cheaply is by ship. There are so many islands in the Aegean you can't control them all. So you just board a ship for Greece (the right kind of ship, Streetdeal or Streetwise 15+) in Cairo, or Tunis, or Shanghai or. .. Usually the ship will require a 200-500eb supplement to get you ashore without notifying customs, but even if you are caught, a clear head and a few hundred euro will save your butt There're many people in Greece willing to give work to paperless people, although none of these jobs are pleasant Work hard and you might get a temp work permit from the EC. The best forgers are close to Athens, and they are good because they use real documents (sometimes working as bureaucrats in the actual agencies!), so you can legalize your papers once you get some money.

The third way is by land. Its main advantage is that it is less used. Go to Turkey (land of few regulations) or the Balkans (more dangerous), and contact one of the many border crossing operations. Most of them supply the partisan movements in northern Greece, but that may be a useful cover. If you are anti-EC or pro- independence (or can fake it), this is your ticket Many of these ops will get you through free, and they can handle the papers problem for undercover work.

Getting into Greece is only half the problem. Now you have to avoid problems with the military police, get a job, and remember that Interpol are no fools. They know the hole they have in Greece, so anybody coming from there will be screened more tightly than other Euros, although much less than your typical American straight from New York.

The porous nature of the Greek border has turned it into the perfect way-station for mercenaries. Anybody can get to Greece, you can buy anything you need there, and you can take refuge afterwards. This is the favorite hiring place in Europe for deniable operations, surgical strikes or paramilitary operations all around the world. Remember that high expenses make gains from these ops a bit low, and danger tends to be a bit high, but if you make it here, you can make it anywhere, as they say.

Greece is actually very popular with netrunners, as Netwatch presence is low, and response teams after a trace are slow and bribeable. Greece is also a good place to get out of Europe. Its geographic position is close to Asia and Africa, and if you tickle the GNRC, or the partisans, or EBM, you can leave the same way you got in.