The United Socialist Republic of The Dark Aether is a massive, efficient nation, ruled by President Serial Designation N with an even hand, and remarkable for its frequent executions, state-planned economy, and punitive income tax rates. The compassionate population of 3.099 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 344 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 111,293 Aetherium Dollars, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Mechanics are often exhausted by their work, the examiners who examine examiners are being examined by examiners, the Treasury has been accused of flushing money down the toilet, and it's rare to find an unchewed pencil. 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 75,440^th in the world and 1,790^th in the Rejected Realms for Safest, scoring 92.88 on the Bubble-Rapp Safety Rating.