Location: United Defense Directorate

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The Empire of Mereshka is a colossal, devout nation, ruled by God-Empress Saya with an iron fist, and remarkable for its parental licensing program. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 9.981 billion are ruled by a mostly-benevolent dictator, who grants the populace the freedom to live their own lives but watches carefully for anyone to slip up.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent, corrupt government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Defence, and Religion & Spirituality. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Shikodon. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 59%. A powerhouse of a private sector is led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, followed by Uranium Mining and Retail.

The government seizes all major gold finds, roads are often attended by round-the-clock construction crews, children as young as twelve are conscripted into the armed forces, and teenagers stay out into the wee hours of the morning "stargazing". Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Mereshka's national animal is the Wolf, which is also the nation's favorite main course, its national religion is Empress worship, and its currency is the Drake.

Mereshka is ranked 4th in United Defense Directorate and 92,700th in the world for Most Compassionate Citizens, scoring -144 on the Kitten Softness Rating.

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NationStates by Max Barry, author of and