The Empire of Kresta is a huge, efficient nation, notable for its barren, inhospitable landscape, vat-grown people, and complete absence of social welfare. The hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical, devout population of 396 million Krestans are ruled with an iron fist by the corrupt, dictatorship government, which oppresses anyone who isn't on the board of a Fortune 500 company. Large corporations tend to be above the law, and use their financial clout to gain ever-increasing government benefits at the expense of the poor and unemployed.

The medium-sized, corrupt, moralistic, well-organized government prioritizes Defense, although Law & Order, Administration, and Industry are also considered important, while Welfare and International Aid aren't funded at all. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Nova Cratis. The average income tax rate is 41.7%.

The frighteningly efficient Krestan economy, worth 46.2 trillion Krestan Guilders a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with significant contributions from Book Publishing, Retail, and Woodchip Exports. Black market activity is notable. Average income is an impressive 116,570 Krestan Guilders, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 4.3 times as much as the poorest.

Teddy bear James Dean (aka "the Rebel Without the Claws") helps convince kids that candy cigarettes are cool, midnight pizza breaks are common among the work-from-home population, international collectors know that a grease-stain on a work of art probably means it's passed through Kresta, and the navy is chrome-plating its battleships to prevent rust. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Kresta's national animal is the Krestan Eagle, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to toxic air pollution.

Kresta is ranked 112,354^th in the world and 78^th in The Brotherhood of Malice for Largest Cheese Export Sector, scoring 2,693.96 on the Mozzarella Productivity Index.