The Empire of Lyaqa is a huge, cultured nation, ruled by Emperor Charles with an iron fist, and renowned for its parental licensing program, otherworldly petting zoo, and stringent health and safety legislation. The hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 970 million Lyaqans are ruled by a mostly-benevolent dictator, who grants the populace the freedom to live their own lives but watches carefully for anyone to slip up.

The relatively small, corrupt, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Education, and Industry. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Zophis. The average income tax rate is 37.1%.

The frighteningly efficient Lyaqan economy, worth 165 trillion crowns a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Arms Manufacturing, Tourism, and Retail. Average income is an impressive 170,798 crowns, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 3.2 times as much as the poorest.

Giant beards and handlebar moustaches are increasingly popular, the "war on terror" doesn't seem to be making Lyaqans any less frightened, the cruise missile launchers on the field hospital roof are purely deterrent in purpose, and card collectors duel to the death. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Lyaqa's national animal is the seahorse, which is also the nation's favorite main course.

Lyaqa is ranked 193,787^th in the world and 370^th in Vibonia for Largest Automobile Manufacturing Sector, scoring -2 on the Henry Ford Productivity Index.