The Confederacy of Zila is a small, efficient nation, remarkable for its barren, inhospitable landscape, frequent executions, and compulsory military service. The hard-nosed, hard-working, democratic population of 32 million Zilans are effectively ruled by a group of massive corporations, who run for political office and provide their well-off citizens with world-class goods and services. Their poorer citizens, however, are mostly starving to death while being urged to go out and get real jobs. The populace has reasonably extensive civil rights, although these are mostly aimed at allowing them to buy whatever they like.

The relatively small, pro-business government prioritizes Law & Order, although Administration, Education, and Defense are also considered important, while Spirituality and International Aid receive no funds. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 9.6%.

The very strong Zilan economy, worth 2.09 trillion Byrds a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with major contributions from Basket Weaving, Cheese Exports, and Furniture Restoration. Average income is 65,326 Byrds, but there is a significant disparity between incomes, with the richest 10% of citizens earning 196,199 per year while the poor average 16,981, a ratio of 11.6 to 1.

Judges are big know-it-alls, the nation leads Horizon in per capita stalking, most people learn to drive on crash courses, and conscripts often volunteer for a second tour of duty so they can get a ticket to next year's Army Revue. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Zila's national animal is the Raven, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to toxic air pollution.

Zila is ranked 190,080^th in the world and 495^th in Horizon for Largest Insurance Industry, scoring 97.43 on the Risk Expulsion Effectiveness Rating.