The Thestral Union of FreeAmericanStates is a gargantuan, efficient nation, ruled by Night Watch with an even hand, and notable for its smutty television, pith helmet sales, and daily referendums. The compassionate, hard-working, cheerful population of 10.361 billion Thestrals 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 medium-sized, corrupt government juggles the competing demands of Education, Administration, and Law & Order. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of New Hollow Shade. The average income tax rate is 83.3%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient FreeAmericanStatesian economy, worth a remarkable 2,009 trillion Bits a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Book Publishing, Arms Manufacturing, and Retail. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 193,924 Bits, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Pieces of iron pyrite are believed to be worth their weight in gold, the nation sends criminals home to think about what they did, the question "please would you...?" is usually laden with passive aggression, and refugees without a PhD are sent back to where they came from. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. FreeAmericanStates's national animal is the Bat, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies, and its national religion is Lunarism.

FreeAmericanStates is ranked 6,229^th in the world and 5^th in The Galactics Union for Lowest Crime Rates, with 111.28 law-abiding acts per hour.