NationStates Jolt Archive

The Zionic Republic of Naestoria

Overview: The Zionic Republic of Naestoria, commonly referred to as simply Zion or the Zionic Republic, is a small but economically powerful nation situated on the northern seabord of the former United States. In citizens it numbers just under one hundred million, very small when compared with the majority of nations extant today but quite large in light of the area it occupies. Naestoria is a highly meritocratic, thearchic constitutional oligarchy; the current government is led by Grand Priors Lucentius Zariel, Marika Ophidas, and Kaiton Aurelius, and Grand Academes Septimus Hevenna, Julien Reid, and Christopher Xanthippou. For more information on the Zionic Republic and how to commence a diplomatic relationship with it, kindly examine the links provided.

History (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12610277&postcount=2)
Geography (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12610279&postcount=3)
Government and Society (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12610284&postcount=4)
Demographics (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12610288&postcount=5)
Economy (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12610292&postcount=6)
Military (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12610294&postcount=7)
Diplomacy (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12610295&postcount=8)

History

In the year 1994, a top-secret meeting amongst the top administrations and officials of Yale University, the Roman Catholic church, and the Holy Order of the Resurrection of Zion (an extremist Christian order based in the former United States) resulted in the now infamous New Haven Accord, in which the various groups determined that the state of the world was too precarious for secular governments to handle. Accordingly, on the first of January, 1995, Yale University -- with the assistance of the private military forces of the Resurrection of Zion -- announced its formal control over the city of New Haven. The Zionic forces quickly secured the city; as the United States did not deem it a major threat, only a token number of National Guard units was initially deployed, which were no match for the fanatical troops of the Resurrection, known as the Knights of Zion. By the time the United States Government had realised that the newly independent state could be a threat, Zionic troops had pushed their way as far south as New York City, and threatened to take control of the nation's financial center should the United States not recognise the Zionic Republic and acquiesce to certain demands.

In the end, partly due to pressure from the Vatican and several fundamentalist Christian lobbies, the United States recognised the Republic as an independent and sovereign nation, and granted it the territory of southern New York State, including Westchester County and part of the Bronx as well as much of the area along the southern Hudson River, almost as far north as Albany, in addition to most of Western Connecticut, which it had already conquered by virtue of military force. The following day Knights of Zion moved into all of these counties and formally annexed them.

On the twenty-third of May, 1995, then-President Linnaeus Maro of Yale University officially changed the name of the former city of New Haven to Zion, and renamed his domain the Zionic Republic of Naestoria; this is recognised as the official Independence Day of the Zionic Republic. Maro also named himself Grand Executor of the Republic, and was recognised as such by the signatories to the New Haven Accords. A day later Maro declared a state of martial law; the Knights of Zion, which had become the Republic's official military force, were ordered to put down all of the many small insurrections that had broken out amongst the inhabitants of the area. Within three weeks the Knights had emplaced checkpoints all around the borders of Naestorian territory and were not letting anyone in or out. Naestoria had become a closed state.

As a new leader, Maro was faced with many challenges. The majority of the residents of the city of New Haven, and other nearby cities such as Bridgeport and Fairfield, were comparatively poor and uneducated; there were, however, not enough of them to form a capable workforce. Maro, therefore, hit upon a plan anticipated by Rumania a decade prior. He set the population to work, but linked wage increases and promotion to fertility and pregnancy. He also had all forms of birth control outlawed, including abortion. Within five years, the population of the Zionic Republic had quadrupled; many of the poorer children were placed under the care of the state until they reached a working age. Maro's system was shown to work, and the population of Naestoria continued to grow under his leadership, leading in turn to economic prosperity as more and more workers filled jobs that had been neglected before Maro's rise to power.

In addition, Maro was faced with continual harassment of his borders by the United States. The Knights of Zion acquitted themselves well, but they were badly outnumbered, with an estimated 100,000 total, divided between the various frontiers, and there was ever the threat that American forces could breach the line into Zionic territory. To combat this emergency, Maro drafted all able-bodied unemployed men and women, equipped them with rifles, and sent them to the fronts as cannon fodder. While leading to a regrettable loss of many lives, it did afford Maro enough time to allow for the latest group of Knights to complete their intensive training at the Academy and take their places in the ranks of the Knights of Zion. In addition, the United States had no desire to kill what seemed to be civilians with guns thrust upon them, and so attempted to avoid further bloodshed.

Nonetheless, even this drastic measure did not deter the United States forces from their attacks. Maro, desperate for aid, purchased an Italian mercenary corporation, renamed it Footmen of Zion, and transferred all 40,000 of its employees to Naestoria. Meanwhile, in need of funds and with the economy only fledgling, Maro began a limited arms trade with two growing European corporations. Despite these steps, Naestoria remained under threat; by 2001, it looked as though Naestoria was bound to failure as a nation. Although its population was growing more rapidly than that of any other Westernised nation, it had little infrastructure to support it. It also concentrated far too much on maintaining its military due to the frequent American attacks upon Zionic territory. However, the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks changed all this.

As the world sat stunned in the aftermath and the United States government announced the discovery that Islamic extremist Osama bin Laden was behind the attacks, Maro publicly broadcasted a speech across international airwaves citing this as the proof that Islam was a dangerous and destructive faith and the most prone to exploitation by terrorists. He pointed to the large Muslim populations in Europe and asked rhetorically whether the nations of Europe wished to have more 9/11s on their hands. The answer was, of course, no; shortly thereafter Maro had secured arms deals with several European heads of state, and was making a fair profit as European armies armed with superior Naestorian weapons launched cleansing operations. The United States also ceased its attacks upon Naestoria due to the overseas deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan; Naestoria initiated a peace offer and promised to return eastern Connecticut to United States control. By now, sixty-three countries officially recognised the Zionic Republic.

In 2007, Naestoria had a population of twenty-four million and a yearly GNP of $683,372,065,000; however, in comparison with much of the Western world, it continued to fall below the poverty line. In addition, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch both rated Naestoria poorly in terms of healthcare, education, free expression, and prosperity; while such commodities were provided to the higher-ranking officials and members of the Academy, Priory, and Knights of Zion, the vast majority of citizens lived in conditions of poverty. Maro acknowledged this and spent the rest of his term attempting to solve the problem. Finally, Maro hit upon a solution; he ordered the Footmen, now 80,000 strong, to seize the Bronx. Containing almost two and a half million inhabitants by now, this area would be perfect for solving Naestoria's overemployment problem, with too many jobs and not enough people to fill them. The Footmen, supported and preceded by fireteams of Knights, swiftly invaded and cleansed the Bronx, leaving much of it in flames and taking back the vast majority of its population to Zion; the Knights held the rear during the retreat, ensuring that no United States forces could harass them en route. The so-called 'Bronx raid' garnered much international criticism, especially from the United States itself, but with that nation just having committed further troops to its war effort in Iraq, its half-hearted attempts at vengeance came to naught.

After the traditional re-education within the walls of the Priory, the newcomers were put to work on creating and servicing housing, and renovating the old, crumbling housing projects in which much of the Zionic Republic's population was now held. By 2008, the cities of Zion, Gilead (formerly Bridgeport), Samaria (formerly Hartford), Tverias (formerly New Rochelle), and Ephraim (formerly Yonkers) were fully equipped with modern housing, and the inhabitants began to move in. By now, Naestoria was becoming too large for just one central Academy and one central Priory; additional branches were soon built in the largest cities, including one in the new planned "super-city" of New Jerusalem, located along the Hermon (formerly Hudson) River.

While the Bronx Raid itself was only a momentary stimulus to the national economy, Maro soon adopted a pro-immigration policy to further boost the population and workforce. Christians from 17 different countries were soon entering the nation, some galvanised by the thought that, if they did well upon their testing, they could advance to a higher level and graduate from the Academy as holders of a more respectable or influential position, perhaps even (one day) within one of the Offices, the Academy or the Priory. Others joined simply because conditions were far worse in their native land.

Unfortunately, Maro could not be immortal; and while under his capable hand the nation of Naestoria grew from a dream to a thriving reality, he was past his seventieth year, and suffered from a weak heart. In 2012, the year construction of New Jerusalem was completed, Maro drew up his Will. The Will of Maro serves as a kind of Constitution for the Zionic Republic today; it indicated, in clear form, how Maro intended Naestoria to develop after his death.

In the Will Maro stated that, rather than any one leader, the nation should be led by an Oligarchical Council -- three Grand Priors and three Grand Academes. The Will also contained Maro's vision for how Naestorian society should develop, and what territories it should eventually look towards; it explained the rights and duties of Naestorian citizens, from the lowest worker to the Oligarchs themselves; it urged that the second generation of native-born Naestorians, which was to emerge only two to three years after Maro's death, should be educated at the Academy from extreme youth, so as not to miss the great educational opportunity that the first such generation had never had.

Maro's vision was prophetic; three weeks after the Will of Maro had been completed, he suffered a stroke, and died two weeks later without regaining consciousness. A month after his death, as the last building of New Jerusalem was unveiled, a solemn eulogy for Linnaeus Maro was read and he was laid to rest. Over a million attended the funeral of the beloved leader, who had guided Naestoria from darkness into an ever-growing light. Subsequently, the Prior Council and Academe Council gathered in Zion, and in the first convention elected the first Oligarchical Council of Naestoria. Most notably led by Grand Prior Joseph Ignace, a former Cardinal, and Grand Academe Marius Royeux, a French émigré, the First Council was to oversee the settlement of New Jerusalem and lead Naestoria into an era of ever greater prosperity.

By 2015, Naestoria's population had expanded to forty million; Zion alone had grown into a sprawling metropolis of three and a half million, with nearby Gilead holding another two million. By now the United States was beginning to degenerate as it was threatened with economic collapse from its massive trade deficit and debts from the multiple Iraq, Afghanistan, and Iran conflicts; in comparison, the isolationist Naestoria was prospering, as the GNP per capita exceeded $41,000, with an average personal income of $25,000 per capita. The Footmen were gathering more recruits monthly, now numbering over eight hundred thousand; another one hundred and forty-four thousand served in the Knights of Zion, and the borders were more secure than ever before.

It was in its fourth year of tenure that the First Council met its first major crisis. A rebel group, believed to have U.S. support, emerged in towns such as New Edom along the Jordan (formerly Connecticut) River; the rebels began conducting anti-government rallies, distributing seditious pamphlets and materials, and accusing the First Council of undermining Maro's vision. New Edom began to serve as the centre of a rebel movement, and Ignace authorised the deployment of four fireteams of Knights of Zion to cleanse the area of rebels. Encountering heavy fire from US Army troops in the area, stationed across the Jordan, the incident was reported as an invasion, and several days later twenty thousand Knights of Zion, backed by a hundred thousand Footmen, counterattacked, driving the Army back and ultimately annexing Eastern Connecticut and Rhode Island. The rebels were crushed, the survivors re-educated in the Priory at Zion and subsequently used for forced, unpaid labour, as punishment.

By now, with the military prowess of the Knights of Zion demonstrated plainly for all to see, the United States was beginning to lose all hope of regaining its lost territory. It was around this time that, inspired by Naestoria, California declared itself a sovereign republic; a federation of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado soon followed. The United States was, quite simply, disintegrating. In 2019, President Ronald J. Seeger resigned; when no-one came forward to take his place, the United States as a country was essentially history.

It was during this mad landgrab of 2019-20 that the First Council authorised the military of Naestoria to maintain a free hand. Manhattan Island and Long Island were swiftly annexed, with a series of coastal railguns installed on both the seaward and landward sides of the two islands. Royeux and a small team of lesser Academes swiftly concluded a mutual non-aggression pact with the Harvard Corporation, which was proceeding to take over western Massachusetts, Vermont, and Maine. As Independence/Graduation Day 2020 dawned, it became clear that the North American Continent had just changed radically, and it was possible for Naestoria to step in and fill the power vacuum.

Naestoria was far from the largest new nation-state to form in the Americas, despite being the oldest. Independent California and the Lone Star Republic both controlled far more resources, although their governments were in relative disorder. Royeux and Grand Academe Martin Ingraham swiftly traveled as diplomats to Austin, capital of the Lone Star Republic, and negotiated an arms-for-oil deal, filling the gap of the dwindling resource that had been threatening to cripple the Naestorian economy. However, getting the oil to Naestoria was difficult due to the long and circuitous sea and air routes; it was months before the first tankers docked at Zion.

In 2021, as the Second Council was sworn in, they looked upon a very different nation than the one Maro had ruled. Naestoria was far larger in size, encompassing two entire former states, and in population, a number which had surpassed sixty million. Naestoria controlled a purchasing power of $2,510 billion, easily the largest amount for a nation of such size; of that, almost $400 billion a year was going simply to the maintenance of the Footmen and Knights of Zion and the enforcers of the Priory. Grand Academe Kaiton Aurelius, who had graduated from the Academy School of Economics with highest honours, was among the first to realise that this expenditure figure could be hindering the growth of the Naestorian economy; Aurelius called for it to be lowered, a motion which was approved by both Offices -- albeit by a far slimmer majority amongst the Priors -- and which quickly passed into being. True to Aurelius's sentiment, with more money now passing into business, the various companies began working for their funds, seeking to create more and new jobs to gain government incentives. Unemployment was low, the population was growing, and government approval ratings had topped 70%, due to -- amongst other things -- a no-nonsense attitude towards the immoral and atheists, the rising prosperity and excellent standard of living, the apparent economic freedom; although this last was something of an illusion, as the vast majority of citizens had economic freedoms that only extended up to their own lives. This was intended to prevent any citizen below Level White from rising to a position to which they are deemed undeserving.

Grand Prior Lucretius Zariel was the only one unhappy with this; while there were plenty of Footmen, there was not enough money to train and equip more than about a hundred and fifty thousand of the nation's most élite soldiers. Zariel voiced his concerns at the Spring 2022 session of the Oligarchical Council; Grand Prior Julien Reid was in agreement, whereas Aurelius and Grand Academes Septimus Hevenna did not believe it to be a major issue. Hevenna noted that having too many Knights of Zion could actually lessen their value as soldiers; part of the reason for their élite status was their relatively small number. Aurelius suggested that the defence forces of Naestoria be cut down, as with the United States gone there was no major threat to the Zionic Republic; but his motion was unanimously vetoed by the others.

In the end the problem ceased to be an issue; the ever-increasing population ensured that more Knights of Zion were needed to keep the populace in line, and Aurelius had to acquiesce, allowing the latest group of Knights to graduate from the Academy and join their comrades on the field of honour. However, to this day the Oligarchs remain in disagreement over the issue.

What does the future hold for Naestoria? Within the next three years, the third generation of native-born Naestorians is expected to be brought into being, possibly doubling the population; this could create a housing crisis, and in preparation for this the Second Council has selected groups of the workforce to build even more modern housing, and prepare more foodstuffs for stockpiling and eventual distribution and consumption. As Naestoria opens herself to foreign influence, shedding at least some light on this mostly closed society, further increases in the size of the military may be called for once again. Ultimately, however, the future of the Zionic Republic remains a mystery; we can only wait and see what it will bring.
- Extracted and edited from an article by Professor Lien Marshall of the Academy History Department; January 2, 2026

Notes: This (the "Official History") is somewhat disputed. Historians have variously claimed that its details are inconsistent with each other or with known facts. Among other things, it seems improbable that a nation could start with a $16 billion endowment and $9 billion additional cash, and so quickly expand to control a GDP of over $3000 billion, especially with almost no failures. Virtually all the exploits described in the history of Naestoria ended up succeeding; a few believe that the failures have been either suppressed, or the successes have been fabricated.

In addition, there are those who question that the terrorist attacks of 1993 and 2001 alone, along with the growing civil unrest that became first noticeable in late 1996, could have destabilised the United States enough that it would fall into anarchy within two decades. In addition, the U.S. military was sufficiently strong and advanced enough to wipe the Naestorian government from the face of the earth with few civilian casualties. Some historians suspect that the United States put up only token resistance to the creation of the Zionic Republic, as to ignore it would undermine its international position; this is occasionally attributed to the idea that officials in the highest echelons of the US government were "in league" with Naestoria, and had been part of a plot that had been quietly replacing or removing nonreligious political figures throughout the United States, as well as infiltrating the education system to stimulate a Christian revival, although those who hold this belief are frequently dismissed as crackpots, which they are.

Finally, there is the role of Linnaeus Maro himself. He played a tremendous role in the development and evolution of Naestoria; yet, some historians continue to claim that he was nothing but a figurehead, or even that he never existed: few actually met Maro in his lifetime, for instance, and those few were mainly 7s, and almost all deceased today. It is highly unlikely that Maro was a fabrication, but the idea remains that control was actually maintained by a small elite group -- the First Council -- which only came into rule of its own upon Maro's death.

Geography

Overview: Naestoria is a small nation, only about forty or fifty thousand square kilometres in size; it is possible to traverse the nation from Jericho in the southwest to the northeastern border in no more than six hours on the most modern highways. Much of the terrain it occupies is hilly, but not mountainous; there are a few stretches of broad open plains, such as along Long Island, and swathes of forest remaining throughout northern and areas of western Naestoria. In addition, the areas over former subdivisions and small towns -- many of which no longer exist or have been transferred to the outskirts of the massive cities -- have been either replanted or industrialised

[To be continued]

Government and Society

Overview: The Zionic Republic of Naestoria holds one of the most complicated and shadowy government organisations in the world. The name "Republic" is somewhat of a misnomer, as Naestoria is in fact a constitutional merit-based oligarchy; it is explained by way of noting that those who are elected to the Oligarchical Council are expected to be representatives of the citizens, making Naestoria, in effect, an undemocratic republic divided sharply along social lines.

The Zionic Republic consists of two major Offices: The Academy, formerly known as Yale University and based in the former library of Sterling Hall, rebuilt so that it looks over all of Zion; and the Priory, formerly housed within the Columbus headquarters, a building which has since expanded to cover a far vaster area, ringed by security details and machine-gun nests. The Academy concerns itself primarily with education, ensuring that everyone, from infants to adults, is properly trained and equipped to deal with their own rôle in society, as well as peforming the biannual testing to allow those born or thrust into a lower echelon to ascend to their rightful place. The Priory, on the other hand, concerns itself primarily with the defence of the Zionic people, both internal and external; it handles affairs of both the internal workings of the Republic and those of the Knights of Zion. These two buildings are within two kilometres of one another, and can be seen from any point in Zion, except for the Rim Housing (beyond the outer wall of housing projects).

In the general area of these two buildings are two more highly important ones, all four describing a rough circle in the centre of Zion: the Economic Advisory and the Transportation Advisory, which oversee, respectively, the corporations of Naestoria and the roads and public transport systems. The area between the four buildings is primarily government housing and the troop parade grounds, and is not accessible by the general public.

The two Offices are headed by two councils; the Academy is headed by the Council of Academes, twenty-nine in number, whereas the Priory is headed by the Council of Priors, numbering twenty-one. The smaller size of the Council of Priors does not reflect a potentially less powerful position, but rather the difficulty inherent in properly training and housing the Priors. Academes are in turn favoured Academy officials nominated and elected to the Council by their peers, while Priors are not elected but rather handpicked by the existing Council of Priors (the first Council of Priors was handpicked by Linnaeus Maro).

Every nine years, the two councils convene for a special election; the Council of Academes elects its three most favoured members to the position of Grand Academe, whereas the Council of Priors elects its three most favoured members to the position of Grand Prior. The three Grand Academes and three Grand Priors make up the Oligarchical Council, the nation's governing body. In case of death, the Speaker of the Prior or Academe Council assumes the position; in case two of the Priors or two of the Academes are to die at once, a new election is to be held for that Office alone, with the resulting group serving only until their former Grand Priors or Academes would have before stepping down once more.

In terms of popular representation, the Zionic Republic has none to speak of; however, every two years all citizens undergo a mandatory examination at the Academy. Once all examinations have been received, the Academy officials mark each test with a numerical score based on a Bell curve factor of the total scores. Those who score a 7 are eligible for entrance into the Offices and the hierarchies that make them up; those who score 6, while not yet worthy of a highest position, are considered for some of the Office-related professions, such as Knights of Zion, clerks and attendants, etc. Those who score 5 may not enter the Offices, and are relegated to a slightly higher standard of living and a wider array of possible professions than those who score 4, who in turn are slightly higher than those who score 3. The lowest possible score is 2; those who receive 2 are deemed fit for only the most base kind of menial labour, and live in the worst conditions. However, even they are given a chance to rise from their position every other year.

There is a seventh possible score awarded to those who a) do not turn up for the examinations without a stated and appropriate excuse, b) do not complete the examinations, or c) have been deemed to answer so wrongly that they are unfit for even the status of 2. The score given is F/B. This score is permanent and goes on the citizenship record; it cannot be rescinded except by the Oligarchical Council personally. Those who receive F/B are usually found within days by Knights of Zion, branded with a special mark on the forehead resembling the Mark of Cain, and cast out from society. Generally these "Outcasts" live in rundown ghettos on the outskirts of cities; as they are not considered humans, the government does not intrude on such areas, allowing them to engage in any type of heresy or immorality, but also not protecting them from anything from which regular citizens receive protection. Thus, Outcast ghettos are a prime target for human traffickers and drug dealers; in fact, a good number of 6s and 7s own Outcast slaves, some of whom they have personally re-educated to believe, see, hear, feel, and think nothing but what their masters desire them to. Outcasts are not included in the Zionic census, but it is estimated there are about four million scattered throughout Naestoria, mainly in the cities of Zion, Jericho, and Gilead with smaller populations in Samaria and New Jerusalem.

Attaining the status of an Outcast is also possible as a punishment. Frequently, those convicted of lesser crimes -- promiscuity, sodomy, minor dissidence, possession of subversive or illegal materials ranging from cigarettes to pornographic magazines to laptop computers -- once they have expended their usefulness in labour camps, are branded and marked Outcast. The infertile have also been known to be branded Outcast as well, although this is no longer so common due to the Academy's latest health research.

Focus: Education. As has been mentioned before, Naestoria prides itself on its education system, which is deemed one of the best in the world. Teaching of subjects such as the sciences may seem difficult given the great faith Naestorians hold in the Judeo-Christian God; nonetheless, this problem is surmounted by assuming that all scientific research is merely our own limited interpretation of the universe around us, and does not in any way contradict or call into question the existence of God. It is notable, however, that no courses in cosmology or abiogenesis are offered at the Academy; such courses are forbidden according to General Ordinance 001722.

All Naestorians, from the age of three or four, are placed under the tutelage of the Academy Junior and its Professors; the basic curriculum is a mix of academic and practical knowledge, with courses in mathematics and literature alternating with courses in self-preservation and ecology. The First through Fourth Years (ages 4-7) make up Preliminary Schooling; Fifth through Ninth Years (ages 8-12) make up Primary Schooling; Tenth through Fourteenth Years (ages 13-17) make up Secondary Schooling. Following secondary education, youths may either go on to attend the Academy Proper, enlist in the military, or attend two additional years of trade school in order to serve in the workforce. All schooling is mandatory; students who fail to attend are granted five chances per year before they are marked Outcast.

[To be continued]

Demographics

Overview: The Zionic Republic of Naestoria is home to an ethnically diverse population hailing from many different parts of the world. Due to the nature of Naestorian society, which tends to attract mainly middle- to lower-class Christians, a good deal of the population originated either in the former New England region or in the American South, now codifying its constitution as the Republic of Dixie. However, numbers of British, Italians, Greeks, Moroccans, Ethiopians, and Lebanese are also present among the population of Naestoria. This mix of races has led to a uniquely devout culture; while it is a culture with autocratic undercurrents, it is a self-imposed autocracy rather than one originated by a government.

Despite the strongly Christian society, men and women are treated relatively equally in official regulations; the understanding is that womens' place in the home will be enforced by the families themselves. In fact, this is a subliminal message carried throughout the Academy's teachings: the future is all-important, it lies in Naestorian children, and it is up to women to raise those children properly. Thus, the idea that a woman's duty is first to her family is a deeply ingrained part of Naestorian culture. And if the women fail to raise children, well, more jobs can't hurt.

The traditional Naestorian family consists of a husband and wife, and several children (usually at least two, sometimes as many as nine). Other relatives may live within the house as well, along with any slaves the family may own; the man works, perhaps in one of Naestoria's many industrial corporations, while the woman takes care of the house and children. Frequently, however, the woman may work as well, leaving the children in the care of elderly relatives; or the woman may work a pattern that coincides with the hours of the Academy, allowing the children to study during the day and then return home in time for them to be cared for.

In terms of jobs, it bears noting that most of the services sector of the Naestorian economy is taken by Americans, whereas industrial and manufacturing jobs by immigrants. This is partly due to the latent distrust of foreigners still inherent in Naestorian thought; even many of the immigrants regret their status, and frequently bear more children as a result, in an attempt to integrate a native-born second generation. Over 50% of the population of Naestoria today was born under Zionic rule; this is partly because a large proportion of the population is under the age of 18.

Naestoria is massively urbanised. Almost all of the population lives in one of the great cities, with the few living in the country tending to be farmers or otherwise based in agricultural professions. The largest Naestorian city is Zion itself, frequently referred to as simply "The City"; its population nears nine million, almost a tenth of the entire population of Naestoria itself. Jericho is the second-largest, with another seven million; its population was over twenty million before the Naestorian annexation, but large portions of the population fled across the Hermon, apparently fearing Naestorian rule.

Religion has been mentioned multiple times in these paragraphs and deserves a note of its own. While Roman Catholicism is in fact the official state religion, Protestants, Eastern Orthodox, and Jews are considered 'peoples of the Book' as well, and thus are allowed to practice their religions freely. The population of Naestoria is still overwhelmingly Catholic, and members of other religions or religious sects sometimes experience discrimination or harassment; nonetheless, such practices are illegal as per the Tolerance Act of 2022, and are gradually lessening in frequency. The Priory has been known to turn a blind eye to such discrimination, but with the election of the more progressive Julien Reid (among others) to the position of Grand Prior, it is expected that the Priory top officials will begin prosecuting religious harassment seriously once more.

Quick Stats:
Population: | 93,248,071 [2025 est.]
Breakdown by age: |
----- 0-9: 23%
----- 10-19: 24%
----- 20-29: 15%
----- 30-39: 13%
----- 40-49: 11%
----- 50-59: 7%
----- 60-69: 7%
----- 70-79: 2%
----- 80+: <1%
Breakdown by ethnicity: |
----- Caucasian: 48%
----- African / African-American: 25%
----- Hispanic: 14%
----- Arabic / Semitic: 11%
----- Other: 2%
Breakdown by religion: |
----- Christian: 94%
---------- Roman Catholic - 78%
---------- Protestant - 16%
---------- E. Orthodox - 6%
----- Jewish: 6%
Infant mortality rate: | 6.91 per 1000
Literacy: | 100%
Life expectancy: |
----- Male - 71.8 years
----- Female - 75.5 years
----- Average - 73.7 years
Population below poverty line: | 22%
Homeless population: | <5%
Cars: | 579 per 1000
Televisions: | 871 per 1000
Telephones: | 927 per 1000
Cellular telephones: | Illegal
Personal computers: | Illegal
Internet access: | Illegal

Economy

Overview: Naestoria controls a market economy, recognising that such economic systems tend to outperform planned economies in terms of overall production of goods and services. In terms of monopolies it is mixed; in some industries a single corporation -- such as Reuben Housing Services, which builds housing projects -- virtually owns the market, to the degree that it is almost one with the government, whereas in other industries, such as shipping or retail, healthy competition (or perceived competition) amongst corporations keeps the economy thriving and prices low.

While the Naestorian economy is potentially self-sufficient, it would not be doing nearly as well if it were not for trade; Naestorian built weapons and machinery are the nation's primary export, which it exchanges for necessary resources such as oil and uranium. This economic growth has also fostered technological development, although at a price; the Naestorian R&D sector focuses mainly on military and educational equipment, the two main priorities of the Zionic Republic's government, at the expense of other technologies, such as transportation or power; thus, such technologies tend to be more primitive in comparison, resembling more the technologies in use at the time of Zion's foundation.

Like many modern economies, the Naestorian economy's largest section is in services; however, almost a quarter of jobs are in heavy industry, due to the Zionic Republic's constant need for new housing and machinery. A smaller number of jobs are in manufacturing; this is a sector of the Naestorian economy that has been continually shrinking since the nation's foundation, and is expected to continue this trend as the economy develops and evolves. The Zionic Republic also employs a high percentage of its population within the administration of its government, due to the size and complex nature of that government (see above).

Naestoria also is home to an estimated $670.5 billion black market; while the Priory's law enforcement services generally turn a blind eye to its machinations, it has been known to provide illegal goods and services to citizens, such as prostitutes, pornography, laptop computers, cigarettes, or on rare occasions even Internet access; in addition, it controls the bulk of the highly lucrative slave market. For that reason, top Zionic officials have been considering absorbing the legal divisions of the black market into the government-monitored private sector and cracking down on the illegal divisions; this could provide a much-needed boost to the Zionic Republic's economy, while reducing the crime rate.

[To be continued]

Quick Stats:
General
Gross National Product (GNP): | $3,989,708,928,072.00 ($3.98 trillion)
GNP per capita (official): | $42,786.09
Economy breakdown: |
----- 15% manufacturing
----- 57% services
----- 20% industrial
----- 5% agricultural
----- 3% government employees
Black market (2025 estimate): | $670,500,000,000.00 ($670.5 billion)
Black market (per capita): | $7,190.50
Black market breakdown (2025 estimate): |
----- 4% manufacturing
----- 79% services
----- 14% industrial
----- <2% agricultural
Net trade: | +$17,048,000,000 (+$17.05 billion)
Major exports: | Small arms, machinery, timber, computer chips, aluminum, fertilizer, food, plastics, coal, industrial chemicals
Major imports: | Iron, oil, natural gas, automobiles, bauxite, uranium, decontaminants
Major trading partners: |
----- The Lone Star Republic [NPC]
----- New Europe Merchant Lines, Inc. [NPC]

Government Usage
Average income tax rate: | 48% flat tax
Average sales tax rate: | 8.25% flat tax
Average tariffs: | 5%
Private consumption: | $1,795,369,017,600.00 ($1.795 trillion) [2025 estimate]
Government income: | $2,073,109,210,472.00 ($2.073 trillion)
Government waste: | $121,23o,706,334.32 ($121.23 billion)

Chart of approximate government expenditures [2025 est.]
Administration of the Offices -- $217,676,467,100.00 (10.5% of total)
The Academy -- $597,055,452,616.00 (28.8% of total)
The Priory -- $673,760,493,403.00 (32.5% of total)
Urban Development -- $161,702,518,417.00 (7.8% of total)
Commercial Development and Trade -- $254,992,432,888.00(12.3% of total)
Transportation -- $68,412,603,945.58 (3.3% of total)
Healthcare -- $107,801,678,945.00 (5.2% of total)

Military

Overview: The military forces of the Zionic Republic are a well-coordinated, well-equipped, and nearly fanatical group. While small in comparison to some of the armed forces of nations of a similar size, they are still quite powerful for their size. They are placed under total control of the Priory, which oversees five distinct branches of the Naestorian military, as follows:

1) The Footmen of Zion. Footmen are fairly standard foot soldiers; each is equipped with a ZR-5A assault rifle, light body armour, a utility belt carrying between four and six grenades of varying types -- thermobaric, white phosphorous, fragmentation, and so on -- as well as a long knife, a GPS locator, the soldier's radio, etc. Some Footmen are equipped with mortars or ZC-18 submachine guns; still others carry the ZC-24 machine gun. Both men and women may serve in the Footmen of Zion. Currently the Naestorian Military contains about 840,000 Footmen, the majority of which are on reserve but can be called up easily.

In addition, it bears noting that courses in military education are a required part of the curriculum of the Academy, and each course includes a required one-month training session in whatever aspect of the military the citizen is deemed best suitable for by his or her instructor. Thus, all Naestorian citizens are capable of some kind of military service, and a sizeable majority own guns; if they are ever called up to fight in defence of their homeland (the "Homeland Guard") they will be quite capable of doing so. Those who choose to become Footmen of Zion undergo an additional eleven months of training and are subsequently stationed at a base for between twelve and twenty-four months; after that they serve in rotations, going home to their families for part of the year and serving their nation for the rest.

2) The Horsemen of Zion. Horsemen, more accurately iron horsemen, are the armoured divisions of Naestoria: ranging from the sturdy ZT-1 main battle tanks, capable of outmatching an M1A2 in performance at all levels -- if not in price -- to the ZT-7 light unmanned reconnaissance vehicles, which are also capable of hovering. The Horsemen of Zion consist of some three thousand armoured vehicles, manned by twelve thousand men and women, and further supported by a large logistical corps. Unlike the Footmen of Zion, the Horsemen may be stationed for up to eight years on a base before serving rotations; they also train for twenty-four months rather than twelve.

Also numbering amongst the Horsemen are the Fist of God regiments, the artillery groups; wielding a wide variety of over 1500 field and self-propelled guns, they too can be a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. The Fist of God is, by Naestorian tradition, a more honourable regiment in which to serve; for that reason, only the best artillerymen are enlisted within its ranks. A total of three thousand combat personnel are part of the Fist of God, as well as five hundred officers. The Fist of God regiments follow the same service pattern as the rest of the Horsemen.

3) The Knights of Zion. As described above, the Knights of Zion are the most élite and highly trained fighting force in the Naestorian military. Generally wearing black, a sign of their both honoured and aloof status, the Knights of Zion are instantly recogniseable. Their uniforms and armour are streamlined to allow for the widest range of motion while still affording protection to all of their bodies; in addition to the standard ZR-5As and ZC-18s, Knights of Zion frequently wield weapons as diverse and deadly as flamethrowers, ZR-7 grenade rifles, ZR-2 advanced sniper rifles, and the like. Additionally, modern armour systems have allowed for the mounting of a shoulder 20mm autocannon as well, equipped with a gas-based system that cushions the body against the recoil. As the Knights of Zion generally undergo ten to twelve years of training before being admitted into the ranks, they number comparatively few; there are now less than a hundred thousand Knights of Zion in the Naestorian military. Knights of Zion serve no rotations, as they are expected to stay in full-time service until retirement or death, whichever comes first. It is thus Knights of Zion almost exclusively that make up the upper echelons of the Naestorian military.

4) The Eagles of Zion. The Eagles are the Zionic aerospace force, utilising fighter and bomber aircraft far more modern than those in use by the former United States military and other militaries worldwide at the time of the Naestorian foundation. Its mainstay fighter is the ZF-100 "Vengeance", an aircraft originally modeled after the American F-35 Lightning II but successively upgraded with more powerful engines, a larger airframe, and more weapons until it scarcely resembles its original. In addition, the Eagles maintain fleets of ZF-103 "Firebird" advanced strike fighters, ZB-6 "Behemoth" strategic bombers, and ZB-19 "Blackwing" stealth bombers. While its extant aircrafts are formidable in power, the Eagles are comparatively small, with no more than twelve hundred combat aircrafts, supported by twenty-two hundred logistical aircrafts. Currently, new research into stealth technologies and RADAR evasion is occupying much of the Priory's development budget. Personnel in the Eagles undergo approximately twenty-four months of training as well, much like the Horsemen of Zion; they also follow a similar service pattern.

5) The Leviathans of Zion. The Leviathans are Naestoria's primary naval force; while deadly, they are also quite small, due to the existence of only one deep-water harbour, and that (Jericho, formerly known as New York City) in a particularly contested zone. The Leviathans consist of two major capital ships, the supercarriers NRN Ignace and Maro, along with several dozen escorts and two squadrons of submarines. Unlike in the air and on the ground, the Priory seems content to stick with upgrades and refits of pre-existing designs; even the massive supercarriers, exceeding a hundred thousand tonnes in displacement, follow the original plan of such former carriers as the USS Nimitz. Due to the cost of oil and natural gas, both of which must be imported, many of the Leviathans' ships utilise CONAS (combined operation nuclear and steam) turbines. The sailors of the Leviathans are trained on and serve a similar pattern to the Eagles and Horsemen, as detailed above.

Quick Stats:
Total Military Expenditures: $437.94 billion
----- as percentage of GNP: 10.98%
[Divided between:
-- Personnel and Maintenance: ~$334,072,400,000.00 [75%]
Costs include maintenance of equipment, including guns, ships, tanks, aeroplanes, and artillery.
----- Footmen - 840,000 @ $180,000 each = $151,200,000,000
----------------- - 1,380,000 @ $35,000 each = $48,300,000,000
----- Horsemen - 15,500 @ $420,000 each = $6,510,000,000
-------------------- - 60,000 @ $35,000 each = $2,100,000,000
----- Knights - 96,000 @ $600,000 each = $57,600,000,000
--------------- - 144,000 @ $35,000 each = $5,040,000,000
----- Eagles - 11,900 @ $750,000 each = $8,925,000,000
------------- - 120,000 @ $35,000 each = $4,200,000,000
----- Leviathans - 40,280 @ $760,000 each = $30,612,800,000
------------------- - 402,800 @ $48,000 each = $19,334,400,000

-- Procurement: ~$63,625,200,000.00 annually [15%]
Set aside perennially for the purchase of new equipment.
----- Current procurement fund balance: $743,713,156,830.87

-- Research and Development: ~$43,789,600,000.00 annually [10%]
Set aside perennially for research into new equipment; occasionally combined with Procurement.

Total Personnel: | 3,109,980
----- Combat: 1,003,180
----- Logistical: 2,106,800

At last census, an estimated 3.27% of the population of Naestoria (6.23% of the potential workforce) served in a military-related profession. This percentage is rated as High by the United Nations Defence Convention (UN DEFCON). However, as the population of Naestoria increases while military numbers remain constant, this percentage is expected to decrease to more normal levels.

[TBC]

Diplomacy (allegedly) goes here.

Basically, you can have an embassy in Naestoria if you want it; no lethal weapon larger than a handgun or pistol can be carried; you can have about 25 security people max; ambassadors will have diplomatic immunity from all crimes except murder, rape, attempted versions of either two, and espionage; no embassy may have more than 80 personnel in total; et cetera. I'll get it up in prettified form later.

You may comment below this point. I'm interested to know what people think. (Yes, the history really is supposed to be that improbable, the military is supposed to sound overblown, and diplomacy and embassy rules are not entirely up yet.)

Official Communiqué
The Foreign Ministry

The Commonwealth is quite alarmed that the Zionic Republic brands a number of its citizens due to their low achievement on intelligence tests. While even branding itself is a questionable tactic in punishment, doing so on people who committed no wrong is simply immoral. Furthermore, we find issue with the practice of condemning these individuals to an "Outcast" status and thus to a lifetime of poverty amid inhumane conditions. Needless to say, we are appalled by the occurrence of slavery in a society that subscribes to Christianity.

A government serves the people, and should extend its protection to all its citizens. We find that the nation of Naestoria has failed in these duties. Until further notice, we are suspending indefinitely the embassy exchange process between our two nations.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v297/Granzi/FM_Sun.jpg
Wenyuan Sun
Minister of Foreign Affairs

Official Response
Foreign Affairs Division, The Academy, Zion
The Republic of Naestoria
April 20, 2026

Dear Mr. Sun:

It appears your research has not given you a complete picture of the situation. First of all, those who are Outcast from society are those who are unfit for any role within it; our examination system ensures that only those who will do no benefit to either themselves or the nation they live in are failed. The Outcasts are largely considered to be nonhuman, although this is in itself a misapprehension; nonetheless, liberty and security are rights that must be earned, not freely given, and the Outcasts are those who have not earned those rights.

As for slavery, that is illegal within Naestoria, and our police forces have been attempting to crack down on slavers for the past fifteen years; it is part of the "black market" (your agents surely would have found evidence of this if you looked so closely into the existence of the Outcasts). When captured, slavers are punished as their crime befits them (in this case, by forced unpaid labour).

Nonetheless, if you feel that Naestorian politics and regulations will impede diplomatic relations, or endanger your embassy staff, we accept and honour your choice to break off relations.

Septimus Hevenna
Grand Academe of Naestoria
[Seal of the Academy]

Official Communiqué
The Foreign Ministry

I assure the Naestorian government that our decision to suspend relations was not made hastily nor without adequate reason. It has been our experience that without compatible moral values, two nations will not be able to develop productive diplomatic ties as foreshadowed by an embassy exchange.

Even though we recognize a state’s sovereign right to govern itself, we cannot help but feel for your people. Has the human race not seen enough misery and suffering in our many millennia? What pain has destruction in war wrought that we must continue it in times of peace? Segregation in any form belongs in the ignorance of the past, as the human race evolves to a point where we judge an individual’s value other than their raw contribution to society. It is counter-intuitive to the enlightenment of human nature to say that someone’s life has no merit.

We believe that a government may not act under the auspices of the people when its citizens are not well represented. While we acknowledge that the Zionic Republic may not have had a direct role in enslaving members of society, we do believe that the conditions stemming from official government policy allow such acts to occur. The government bears partial responsibility by maintaining a societal structure that inevitably results in a group of mistreated and vulnerable individuals.

We hope that the great nation of Naestoria will take these principles to heart, and realize her true potential.

Until then,

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v297/Granzi/FM_Sun.jpg
Wenyuan Sun
Minister of Foreign Affairs