The Borderlands of Altique is a gargantuan, orderly nation, ruled by Luth'er Vaserty with an iron fist, and remarkable for its compulsory military service, infamous sell-swords, and stringent health and safety legislation. The hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical, devout population of 24.962 billion Altiqueans are ruled by a mostly-benevolent dictator, who grants the populace the freedom to live their own lives but watches carefully for anyone to slip up.

The medium-sized, corrupt, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Education, and Industry. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Baltimore City. The average income tax rate is 76.7%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Altiquean economy, worth a remarkable 4,837 trillion Altes a year, is quite specialized and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with major contributions from Information Technology, Tourism, and Book Publishing. Black market activity is notable. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 193,797 Altes, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.1 times as much as the poorest.

The government has undertaken a massive health education program to combat VODAIS, a new "thought police" branch is being developed, wilderness-dwelling hermits are surprised to find railway stations on their front doorsteps, and getting an autograph has become harder than ever. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Altique's national animal is the Teddy bear, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its national religion is YEHVEH.

Altique is ranked 64,548^th in the world and 13^th in International Northwestern Union for Safest, scoring 97.16 on the Bubble-Rapp Safety Rating.