Larrikonic Junnel

The Larrikonic Junnel is a 200 km (124 mi) undersea transportation tunnel that connects western Gratenia in South Forsetti with the Antarctic and forms a part of the Larrean-Ikonic Super Highway. The tunnel was proposed as a part of the Larrean-Ikonic Super Highway project in 2188, and was intended to connect Larrea and Ikonia via an undersea link. This was desirable as it avoided the dangers of the Antarctic region. The tunnel was designed to accommodate a four-lane road system alongside two railroads for mass transportation of people and freight. Along the length of the tunnel there are strategically placed service points, where commuters can fill up on supplies and fuel.

Etymology

The tunnel's name is a portmanteau of both 'Larrea' and 'Ikonic' (the demonym for Ikonia), as well as '[REDACTED]' and 'tunnel', alluding to the large degree of underhand financial activities that occur within the tunnel.

Habitation

Due to its legal status as international waters, the Larrikonic Junnel is frequently used as a base of operations for smuggling, gang activity, gambling, prostitution, piracy and illegal commerce. The Junnel now acts as 4 km² of ungoverned real estate.

Whilst travelers must present their passport and documentation at their destination, entrance into the tunnel itself is unrestricted. This has enabled immigrants, asylum seekers and business opportunists to effectively colonize the tunnel and repurpose large swathes of its interior. The self-service centres are largely operated by the gangs, the Kashima clan being one of such organisations.

Curiously, the illegal activity within the tunnel does not seem to influence the flow of traffic. This is not surprising, given that both the Larrean and Ikonic governments have threatened to block the tunnel's access to oxygen if the flow of traffic were to be hindered by the unsavoury organisations located within it. A sort of symbiotic relationship seems to have formed, where the gangs and pirates act as unaffiliated merchants bringing in money and maintaining the tunnel by profiting off the line rather than jeopardising it. This is commonly seen as the main reason why no large scale clean up of groups inside the tunnel has been performed by the respective governments.

Privateer conflicts

Although the inside mostly isolated by the Antarktische privateer league, the league still manages to raid traffic entering and leaving the tunnel alongside their normal raids. This has caused a low intensity aerial conflict over the region as the privateers attempt to seize cargo and bring it back to their black markets and maritime forces mostly consisting of Larrea and Ikonia attempt to stop them.