The first step into tomorrow...
As you are probably aware, The Smileyfaces are the tribe which is keen on technology and learning. This is because technological superiority and a happy, diverse society has always been considered to be a leverage against tribes or nations who may attempt to challenge the tribe. The bitter lessons of the past (a story for another time...) taught The Smileyfaces to always nurture these values and grow ever stronger through knowledge and happiness.
Being the only Smileyface town for a period of time, Laughterdale has always been a hub for innovative thought and many people got used to it. However, in time, the tribe also started to strenghten their area of influence through the newer towns of Tralfamadore and Grinburg. It resulted in significant cooperation and close ties between the three cities and a multitude of deals and bilateral arrangements. A simplified diagram of all these relations can be seen in the picture below.
Extra towns have also given The Smileyfaces some more physical space to expand - something that Laughterdale was already lacking as early as 16 Y.O.U.S. While existing companies and research centers felt cozy and secure in the tribal capital, new ones were more interested in developing their base of operations elsewhere, where they could freely lay bricks for their headquarters without "squeezing" their HQs between already existing buildings.
Tralfamadore, with its vast and open spaces up for grabs, was a very good spot in this respect. Despite the fact that most of the potentially desired workforce still lived outside of the town, the efficient rail system that the tribe has developed in the past has made it possible to build new factories in Tralfamadore and guarantee appropriate transport for all employees who live beyond the city limits.
But the true boom came when The Smileyface Tribal Council issued the "Future Technology Development and Special Economic Zones Decree" (FTDSEZD) in 23 Y.O.U.S. This bill, declared the area along the Avikmakaf River, Northwest of Laughterdale a special, future technology zone, where certain specific entrepreneurs can be given green light to settle and operate... Roughly a third of Tralfamadore and a large portion of the river's coastline suddenly became an area dedicated for very advanced and promising opportunities...
Perhaps a bit surprisingly, the citizens of Laughterdale did not mind the decree's goals, even though it undoubtedly reduced the prominence of their city. Many Laughetrdaelians wanted to see their city quiet and green rather than an abode for industry - no matter how modern and inspiring. The Smileyfaces have heartily welcomed the idea of a dedicated area, where modern industry facilities could thrive and serve as a testament for the tribe's intellect, vision and power.
The regulations and possibilities arising from the FTDSEZD started to be implemented this year (it is currently 25th Year of Udananian Settlement) and accordingly, Tralfamadore began to visibly change shape. Much of the town's area became divided into parcels which could be purchased by or leased to interested companies. Eventually, the area created as a result of the FTDSEZD bill became known as "F-Tech V". Short for "Futuristic Technology Village".
But there is a catch...
Any company, startup or firm that wishes to set up shop in the "F-Tech V", also needs to follow certain strict conditions defined in the FTDSEZD bill. These include the following:
Only upon fulfilling these conditions and a positive evaluation by the Smileyface Trade and Industry Comitee can a company set up shop along Avikmakaf River.
So far, only three companies have entered the "F-Tech V" club but according to the official data, more of them have already applied for membership. If you are interested, below you can find the profiles of the first companies that settled in "F-Tech V"...
As you can see, despite the fact that the Smileyface special economic zone hosts just three companies right now, they already present a diverse area of research. New firms are expected to follow suit and add to this picture in a very short time.
But of course, "F-Tech V" is not just a big, town-based experimental lab! There are also other places and facilities that are definitely worth mentioning. For example, some upscale housing which makes it possible for people employed in Tralfamadore to benefit from manageable commute times and the special living conditions. Elegant and ecological housing solutions are one of the many visiting cards of this zone.
One of the most prominent features of the entire area is the elaborate green and blue infrastructure. This makes the Smileyface hi-tech area not only a comfy living habitat but also a highly-desired leisure space, which is open for all tribespeople. Needless to say, large amounts of greenery and water improve the climate and make even the hottest summers far more tolerable.
Interestingly, the water in the canals can also be used for certain industrial purposes. For example, as a coolant for server rooms and central processing units. There is one condition though - the water used, has to be returned back into the canal system and be as clean as it was when it was "borrowed" from the waterways. Why? Because the water from the canals is being occassionally released into Avikmakaf River through the chutes like the one pictured below...
Before we move on, I would also like to direct your attention to a special landmark founded by the Tralfamadore City Council and placed in the middle of the "F-tech V". Pride of Tralfamadore, the Open Books Library is an educational center boasting a collection size of 1.93 million items. For comparison, this is almost one-third of the current collection of the National Library of Australia.
Open Books Library specializes in scientific and academic records mostly and is predominantly used by the specialists who work in "F-Tech V". However, fans of Moby Dick, Chaucer or Harper Lee will also find something for themselves. Library is freely accessible to all tribespeople who'd like to entertain themselves with quality literature.
Successful start of a technologically advanced borough was a huge step forward for The Smileyface tribe. However, it did not stop just there... A few months after the first "F-Tech V" facilities started to work, The Smileyface Tribal Council have reached an agreement with all towns to start the construction of the second highway in New Udanani and enhance other transportation networks in anticipation for possible visitors...
Starting in the Southern part of Laughterdale, the R-2 Highway (again, "R" for "riggdalir" - Udananian word for "highway") is intended to run westwards and reach the areas occupied by The Businesspeople - a tribe that The Smileyfaces currently consider to be the most "compatible" with their own system of values.
Of course, the highway will also branch out towards Tralfamadore so that any potential Businesspeople investors can exit R-2 in the direction of "F-Tech V" zone too.
Once in Tralfamadore, travelers will have an opportunity to switch to a comfortable and silent monorail. A special form of communication as it is the very first monorail system in entire New Udanani...
By the way, in case you were wondering, the Emo-G Site, another gem of the Smileyface technology, is doing well too. Despite all the changes it remains under full control of the Smileyface capital, despite having been expanded to cover most of the Avikmakaf River's estuary. Of course, it is sill unclear what is exactly going on in this zone and whether it has any connection to the "F-Tech V" neighborhood... As usual, there is rampant speculation about some of its newest features. The new cargo seaport and the railway tracks which clearly lead underground are some of the most mysterious new additions to the facility...
Comment replies:
@PaPa-J - Hello PaPa-J and welcome to my city journal! 
I'm glad you liked the previous chapter! Feel free to return anytime you want! Although some of the last episodes of SC:T may seem like a tale, I guarantee that you can jump into any episode at all and you will not feel lost. All you really need to know is the premise which states that there are eight (at least so far...) tribes who have slightly different ideas regarding how cities should be built. Enjoy, you are always welcome.
@TogaMasterJohn - I'm happy to hear that you liked the tour around Port MacGavran-Wright! 
Hopefully, today's return to Mainland Udanani will also provide you with an interesting read for the Easter weekend! Have fun! 
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