The Empire of Vertuza is a massive, cultured nation, ruled by JeongJam with an iron fist, and notable for its smutty television, compulsory military service, and keen interest in outer space. The hard-nosed, cynical, humorless population of 3.691 billion Jungers 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 medium-sized, corrupt, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Administration, and Education. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Xcyv. The average income tax rate is 87.4%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Vertuzan economy, worth 664 trillion Jungs a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Tourism, Arms Manufacturing, and Book Publishing. Black market activity is frequent. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 180,130 Jungs, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.3 times as much as the poorest.

Foreign leaders are advising that JeongJam's letters must have gotten lost in the mail, diplomats shake hands with their right and hide a poison dagger in their left, the new foreign policy is "why bother invading neighbours when they can be bought wholesale?", and the nation's counterintelligence budget is all up in the air. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Vertuza's national animal is the falcon, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies.

Vertuza is ranked 35,072^nd in the world and 777^th in The North Pacific for Largest Cheese Export Sector, scoring 4,673.38 on the Mozzarella Productivity Index.