The Democratic Republic of Malerion is a small, safe nation, notable for its barren, inhospitable landscape, keen interest in outer space, and compulsory military service. The hard-nosed, cynical population of 29 million Expendables are ruled without fear or favor by a psychotic dictator, who outlaws just about everything and refers to the populace as "my little playthings."

The enormous, corrupt, moralistic, socially-minded, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Defense, and Administration. The average income tax rate is 76.2%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The sizeable but underdeveloped Expendable economy, worth 1.07 trillion VioCredits a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. The industrial sector, which is quite specialized, is led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with major contributions from Uranium Mining, Woodchip Exports, and Cheese Exports. Average income is 36,743 VioCredits, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Imprisonment is the leading cause of disownment, the sound of wooden legs echo throughout Malerion after the recent introduction of the Foot Tax, fancy dress parties are raided by military police for new recruits, and there are increasing complaints that male AI assistants have aggressive voices. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Malerion's national animal is the War machine, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation.

Malerion is ranked 245,531^st in the world and 372^nd in Starlight for Largest Manufacturing Sector, scoring 3,968.02 on the Gooback-Jerbs Productivity Index.