Population: ~60 million
Primary Language(s): Basic
Economy: Stable
Exports: Manufactured goods, technology, fuels, chemicals; foods, beverages, tobacco
Civil Unrest: Low
Borders: Open
Leader: Prime Minister Charles Vinene
Capitol City: Twite
Government
Ultima operates under a constitutional monarchy, a form of government established under a constitutional system which acknowledges a hereditary monarch as head of state. Ultima’s particular form of constitutional monarchy is combined with representative democracy, placing sovereignty in the hands of the people. Though the King is regarded as the head of state, it is the prime minister who actually governs the country. Elections are held every two years and there is no maximum number of terms that one minister can serve.
As a member of the Cornerian Alliance, Ultima abides by strict rules regarding the treatment of political freedoms and civil liberties. Despite having a benevolent government and a high standard of living, the nation is notoriously stingy about its foreign aid policy, quick to criticize other nations and even more reluctant to help.
Terrain and Climate
Temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds; more than one-half of the days are overcast. Mostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling plains in east and southeast. The countryside is home to barren moorlands and heath. However, the majority of the nation (80%-90%) is rather heavily populated by large, technologically advanced cities like Bridgerton and Twite.
Culture
Ultima’s culture is rich and varied, and has been influential on culture on a planetwide scale. It was in Ultima that Basic originated as a language. Ultima began as the first industrialized country in the world and played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science between 1600 and the present day. Ultimacian cuisine is well-known for its blandness and lack of distinctiveness. Tea and beer are typical drinks, but cider is also produced and in 2250, Ultima saw a reintroduction of vineyards producing high quality white wine on a small scale. It is a nation of cyberpunk nihilists and has the highest ratio of citizens with Cybernetics.
History
The history of Ultima, until the last few hundred years, was one of struggle and competition between separate nation-states all under monarchial rule. This changed in 1911 when the royal family transferred power to its parliament. The national leader became the country’s prime minister, voted into office through open elections held every two years. Ultima played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science; for many years, until the birth of Natherica, it was considered Corneria’s dominant industrial power. Ultima was one of the first countries to join the Cornerian Alliance and continues to maintain good relations with Natherica and the planet’s other free nations.
Today
Ultima has not abandoned the race for technological superiority. Far from it. It is at the forefront of nanotechnological research and has plans to cash in on the impending market for Virtual Reality when it becomes widely available to the public. It is the leading producer of high-grade Cybernetics (Elaria also produces a sizeable volume of cybernetics, although their quality and safety is a bit more dubious). Even though it has a sizable military with compulsory service, Ultima gets most of its weapons from other countries like Elaria and Cervia, and then modifies the designs to make them better – at least the way they see it. They are a socially, politically and economically aloof nation comparable to Ponni but with open borders and a laxer government.