The Empire of Bathera is a titanic, cultured nation, ruled by Grand Baron Elam Ol'ced IX with an even hand, and notable for its complete lack of prisons, ban on automobiles, and digital currency. The hard-nosed, democratic, humorless, devout population of 20.163 billion Batherans are prohibited from doing almost everything except voting, which they do timidly and conservatively.

The relatively small, corrupt government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Education, and Law & Order. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Bathera City. The average income tax rate is 22.8%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Batheran economy, worth a remarkable 4,633 trillion Baht a year, is quite specialized and dominated by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with significant contributions from Tourism, Information Technology, and Book Publishing. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an amazing 229,799 Baht, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.4 times as much as the poorest.

Cyber-crime and tin-foil hat sales are both increasing at record rates, internet ads promising "hot singles in your area" are even less accurate than they used to be, doctors are learning that red tape makes ineffective bandages, and Grand Baron Elam Ol'ced IX's relatives have been married into the royal families of foreign nations against their will. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Bathera's national animal is the Bat, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies, and its national religion is Techno-Puritanism.

Bathera is ranked 503^rd in the world and 20^th in Europe for Most Developed, scoring 99.13 on the Human Development Index.