The United Socialist Republic of The Dark Aether is a massive, efficient nation, ruled by President Serial Designation N with an even hand, and notable for its daily referendums, ubiquitous missile silos, and frequent executions. The compassionate population of 3.145 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 86.1%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Dark Aetheran economy, worth 350 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 111,324 Aetherium Dollars, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

The The Dark Aether Automotive Racing Series draws millions of spectators annually while those near the tracks complain about the noise, nobody is allowed to stop the local daycare from reading Nietzsche to pre-schoolers, national park visitors are reporting a rash of poison ivy sightings, and the judicial branch is strongly influenced by the Communist Party. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to a capable 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 224,958^th in the world and 11^th in The Republik for Most Cheerful Citizens, with 48.52 Percentage Of Water Glasses Perceived Half-Full.