The United Republic of Cathendale is a massive, safe nation, ruled by Pinlo Makmud with an even hand, and remarkable for its daily referendums, ritual sacrifices, and compulsory military service. The compassionate, cheerful population of 1.4 billion Cathens are fiercely patriotic and enjoy great social equality; they tend to view other, more capitalist countries as somewhat immoral and corrupt.

The enormous, socially-minded government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Education, and Law & Order. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Cath. The average income tax rate is 86.7%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Cathendalean economy, worth 173 trillion Caltas a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Tourism industry, with significant contributions from Book Publishing, Beef-Based Agriculture, and Basket Weaving. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 123,731 Caltas, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Skateparks can be found in every city, unwary hikers climbing the bluffs of Mount Cath make great practice for foreign snipers, cruise ships arrive in their dozens to watch cruise missile tests, and large areas of Cathendale are not accessible by the public. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a very well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Cathendale's national animal is the Buzzard, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies.

Cathendale is ranked 225,785^th in the world and 251^st in The Frontier Sea for Largest Populations, with 1.40 billion capita.