Location: Lazarus

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The Dark Republic of Mirkana is a gargantuan, safe nation, ruled by General Ken Remmol with an iron fist, and remarkable for its national health service. Its cynical population of 14.076 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 government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Defence, Law & Order, and Social Equality. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Mount Stronghold. The average income tax rate is 93%, and even higher for the wealthy. A powerhouse of a private sector is dominated by the Arms Manufacturing industry.

The government snoops on private internet connections, the armed forces are locked in an expensive and bloody war abroad to stamp out possible terrorists, the government is well known for declaring war on other countries for suspected slights, and billions of steelpences are being blown on orbital weapons development. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Mirkana's national animal is the raptor, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation, its national religion is Remembrance, and its currency is the steelpence.

Mirkana is ranked 491st in Lazarus and 9,780th in the world for Shortest Average Lifespan, scoring -4 on the Bus Surprisal Index.

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NationStates by Max Barry, author of and