Location: Mars

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The Empire of Heliadon is a huge, devout nation, remarkable for its keen interest in outer space. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 622 million are kept under strict control by the oppressive government, which measures its success by the nation's GDP and refers to individual citizens as "human resources."

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent, corrupt government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Defence, Law & Order, and Education. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Argyre City. The average income tax rate is 71%, and even higher for the wealthy. A powerhouse of a private sector is led by the Beef-Based Agriculture industry, followed by Information Technology and Woodchip Exports.

A typical fast food menu item could serve a small army, the nation's diplomatic missives are now delivered via sniper rifle, the government has started a campaign to crack down on road rage and encourage alternate means of commuting, and birds and children's kites are regularly brought down by anti-aircraft fire. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Heliadon's national animal is the Wyvern, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its currency is the Gyre.

Heliadon is ranked 1st in Mars and 15,120th in the world for Largest Insurance Industry, scoring 3 on the Risk Expulsion Effectiveness Rating.

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NationStates by Max Barry, author of and