The Commonwealth of Golden Archipelago is a huge, safe nation, remarkable for its pith helmet sales, keen interest in outer space, and punitive income tax rates. The compassionate population of 623 million Golden Archipelagoans 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 government juggles the competing demands of Education, Administration, and Healthcare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Stork Bay. The average income tax rate is 72.7%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The powerhouse Golden Archipelagoan economy, worth 52.9 trillion Golden Galeons a year, is quite specialized and led by the Book Publishing industry, with major contributions from Trout Farming, Beef-Based Agriculture, and Arms Manufacturing. Average income is 84,924 Golden Galeons, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.3 times as much as the poorest.

Scenic mountain valleys are flooded with water as damming projects get underway, workers have their fruitcake and eat it too, conscripts often volunteer for a second tour of duty so they can get a ticket to next year's Army Revue, and foreign governments are threatened if they so much as mention the word "election". Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Golden Archipelago's national animal is the Stork, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies.

Golden Archipelago is ranked 64,762^nd in the world and 50^th in Covenant Shores for Most Advanced Defense Forces, scoring 4,123.34 on the Total War Preparedness Rating.