The United Socialist Republic of The Dark Aether is a massive, genial nation, ruled by President Serial Designation N with an even hand, and renowned for its smutty television, state-planned economy, and absence of drug laws. The compassionate population of 3.11 billion Dark Aetherans have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.

The enormous, corrupt government juggles the competing demands of Education, Administration, and Healthcare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Der Eisendrache. The average income tax rate is 85.5%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The all-consuming Dark Aetheran economy, worth 346 trillion Aetherium Dollars a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. The industrial sector is led by the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Arms Manufacturing, Book Publishing, and Retail. Average income is an impressive 111,294 Aetherium Dollars, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

The examiners who examine examiners are being examined by examiners, the Treasury has been accused of flushing money down the toilet, it's rare to find an unchewed pencil, and tax rises are attributed to divine will. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. The Dark Aether's national animal is the Hellhound, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

The Dark Aether is ranked 16,022^nd in the world and 1^st in The Republik for Highest Food Quality, scoring 130.95 on the Meeshlin-Starr Index.