The Allied States of Melhus is a small, efficient nation, notable for its barren, inhospitable landscape, compulsory military service, and complete absence of social welfare. The hard-nosed, hard-working, democratic, devout population of 32 million Melhusians are effectively ruled by a group of massive corporations, who run for political office and provide their well-off citizens with world-class goods and services. Their poorer citizens, however, are mostly starving to death while being urged to go out and get real jobs. The populace has reasonably extensive civil rights, although these are mostly aimed at allowing them to buy whatever they like.

The tiny, pro-business government juggles the competing demands of Spirituality, Defense, and Law & Order. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 5.9%.

The thriving Melhusian economy, worth 2.50 trillion kronor a year, is driven almost entirely by the private sector, which is broadly diversified and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with major contributions from Information Technology, Beef-Based Agriculture, and Cheese Exports. Average income is 78,239 kronor, but there is a significant disparity between incomes, with the richest 10% of citizens earning 276,944 per year while the poor average 15,959, a ratio of 17.4 to 1.

Crime is moderate, with the police force struggling against a lack of funding and a high mortality rate. Melhus's national animal is the panther, which can occasionally be seen sifting through garbage in the nation's cities.

Melhus is ranked 322,916^th in the world and 257^th in Lesbian for Largest Welfare Programs, scoring -11.4 on the Safety Net Mesh Density Rating.