The Department of Rhone is a gargantuan, safe nation, ruled by Stéphane Bouillon with an even hand, and renowned for its compulsory military service, ubiquitous missile silos, and stringent health and safety legislation. The quiet, industrious population of 24.813 billion Rhodaniens are prohibited from doing almost everything except voting, which they do timidly and conservatively.

The large, socially-minded government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Education, and Law & Order. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Lyon. The average income tax rate is 48.5%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The Rhodanian economy, worth a remarkable 1,275 trillion francs a year, is broadly diversified and dominated by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with significant contributions from Retail, Tourism, and Cheese Exports. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 51,392 francs, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.4 times as much as the poorest.

A suspicious number of John Smiths are known to donate to Rhodanian politicians, citizens live in superstitious fear of the mysterious glowing clouds that float over Rhone, generals have trouble barking orders over the sound of thundering artillery, and prison reforms have replaced communal luaus with communal loos. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Rhone's national animal is the dolphin, which frolics freely in the nation's sparkling oceans, and its national religion is Roman Catholicism.

Rhone is ranked 177,702^nd in the world and 50^th in Department Store for Largest Insurance Industry, scoring 335.4 on the Risk Expulsion Effectiveness Rating.