The Earth Republic of Kelmet is a gargantuan, cultured nation, ruled by President Monroe with an even hand, and renowned for its museums and concert halls, rampant corporate plagiarism, and frequent executions. The hard-nosed, hard-working, democratic, cheerful population of 24.478 billion Kelians enjoy extensive civil freedoms, particularly in social issues, while business tends to be more regulated.

The tiny government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Education, and Industry. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Elysium. The average income tax rate is 3.1%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Kelian economy, worth a remarkable 4,985 trillion Credits a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Tourism, Arms Manufacturing, and Book Publishing. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an amazing 203,659 Credits, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Foreign 'investors' have been taking a great interest in the new secret shuttle, in a fit of passion President Monroe has shredded thirty years' worth of petitions, community-designed sword prostheses are becoming dangerously common, and 'To Regulate And Beyond' is the unofficial motto of the Kelian Space Agency. Crime is totally unknown. Kelmet's national animal is the Phoenix, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies, and its national religion is Secular Christianity.

Kelmet is ranked 6,296^th in the world and 2^nd in The Pristine Wilderness for Largest Automobile Manufacturing Sector, scoring 7,854.17 on the Henry Ford Productivity Index.