Located in the western part of Java, the Special Capital Region1 of Jakarta is a bustling metropolis in the 23rd century. As the name suggests, it serves as the capital of Indonesia. But there was a time when it didn’t.
History
In the 21st century, Indonesia moved its capital to Nusantara, a newly constructed planned city in East Kalimantan. This had negative consequences for Jakarta, but one that indirectly led to its current glory. Urban decay engulfed the former capital, and parts of the city’s infrastructure fell into disrepair.
Upon this background, the United Nations chose Indonesia to be the location of the space elevator. The UN intended it to be the means of world peace, a project for the nations of the world to collaborate on. In a world of rivaling blocs, the rising power Indonesia was chosen for its neutrality.
As for the location, Indonesia chose Jakarta; partly for historical reasons. The space elevator - constructed at New Sunda Kelapa, an artificial island off the city’s old port - became known as the LASK2. The construction of the LASK revitalized the former capital as the national government was forced to clean up the place to make it presentable to the rest of the world.
Jakarta’s status as the capital of Indonesia only returned after the Indonesian Coup in which a high-ranking military officer seized control of the national government in Nusantara and the nascent United Nations Space Command in Jakarta. The return of Indonesia’s capital was ratified after the Peace of Sydney in which the world powers agreed to recognize the new government and Indonesia’s possession of the LASK.
Since then, Jakarta became the center of Earth.
Present Day
Jakarta is the international city of the 23rd century. No other city in history came close. Rome, Dubai, and New York at their height has nothing on the gateway to Bima Sakti.
The Indonesian capital is also the most populated city on Earth, surpassing the likes of Tokyo, Delhi, and Shanghai.
As the location of the LASK, Jakarta is known to be the gateway to space for all Earth. All trade in and out of Earth comes through Jakarta, as do travelers. Thanks to the LASK, it also has the distinction of being the only city that has territories in space, as all of LASK is considered to be a part of Jakarta.
Given these factors, Jakarta became a melting point of ethnic groups, nationalities, and even alien races. This is not new, as the city had a history of this, dating back to the Dutch colonial times, when the city was known as Batavia.
In any case, the term ‘melting pot’ is somewhat misleading, as the people who came to Jakarta ended up forming their own ethnic enclaves, their own neighborhoods. And these neighborhoods are like their own countries, such as Little America. The alien races also had their own neighborhoods, though they tend to be limited to the LASK, as the Indonesian government had strict rules on aliens outside of the DKI (Special Capital Region).
Government
The governance of Jakarta is complicated, to say the least. As the capital of Indonesia as a whole, it is where national governmental bodies are located.
Then there’s the local governance of the Special Capital Region, separate from the governance of Indonesia-proper as a whole.
In addition, it is also where the headquarters of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is located. By the 23rd century, ASEAN had developed from an economic bloc into a loose political union of nations allied to Indonesia. And despite its name, ASEAN also contains Australia.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, was the Space Command. When Indonesia took over the LASK, the United Nations Space Command was given a new name: Space Command Indonesia3 (SCI). With its headquarters located at the topside (or space-side) of the LASK, the SCI is responsible for the management of Bima Sakti, Indonesia’s space holdings. Though given the situation, much of the management is light to nonexistent. As long as the Central Government gets its cut, the SCI will not complain too much.
Confused? Don’t worry, the average Indonesian is also befuddled by the levels of bureaucracy.
Closing
Jakarta is a city of contradictions. There is a mix of transience and permanence, people who came into the city hoping to reach the LASK, and ended up settling in ethnic neighborhoods. And speaking of ethnicity, the government continued their best to emphasize one Indonesian identity, with mixed results.
All in all, Jakarta is a reflection of Indonesia, Bhinneka Tunggal Ika4, at its best and worst.
Daerah Khusus Ibukota (DKI) in Indonesian
Short for Lift Antariksa Sunda Kelapa or the Sunda Kelapa Space Elevator
Lacking the equivalent term for ‘Space Command’ in Indonesian, the government decided to lift the phrase straight from English
The national motto of Indonesia, Old Javanese for Unity in Diversity