The Commonwealth of Astra Prime is a titanic, cultured nation, ruled by Lance Hornsby with an iron fist, and remarkable for its infamous sell-swords, aversion to nipples, and complete absence of social welfare. The hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 11.445 billion Astrans are kept under strict control by the oppressive government, which measures its success by the nation's GDP and refers to individual citizens as "human resources."

The relatively small, corrupt, moralistic government juggles the competing demands of Industry, Defense, and Law & Order. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Alexandria. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 1.2%.

The frighteningly efficient Astra Primean economy, worth a remarkable 4,059 trillion gold coins a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Retail industry, with major contributions from Arms Manufacturing, Book Publishing, and Soda Sales. Black market activity is frequent. Average income is an amazing 354,726 gold coins, but there is a large disparity between incomes, with the richest 10% of citizens earning 1,348,363 per year while the poor average 64,709, a ratio of 20.8 to 1.

Shanty towns are forming in the suburbs of major cities, disadvantaged neighbourhoods have become no-go areas after sundown, political candidates are regularly blocked for minor convictions from their teenage years, and handling people's data is proving an immersive experience. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Astra Prime's national animal is the sea dragon, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its national religion is Talos.

Astra Prime is ranked 311,142^nd in the world and 2,691^st in the West Pacific for Most Eco-Friendly Governments, scoring -16.73 on the Dolphin Recycling Awareness Index.