Grandais Factbook

[Grandais]

Социалистические Советские Штаты Грандия
The Soviet Socialist States of Grandais
World Factbook

Table of Contents

1.0) General Information
2.0) Geography
2.1) Flora and fauna
3.0) Economy
3.1) Currency
3.2) Industry
4.0) History
5.0) Military
5.1) Red Army
5.2) Red Fleet
5.3) Air Force
5.4) Strategic Rocket Forces
6.0) Government
6.1) Crime
7.0) People and Population
7.1) Communications

[Grandais]

General Information

Full name: The Soviet Socialist States of Grandais (Социалистические Советские Штаты Грандия)
Common name: Grandais, Grandya [old spelling] (Грандя), or Grandia (Грандия)
Demonym: Grandian

The Coat of Arms of Grandais

The guiding star of socialism shines brightly over the mountains. The hammer and cogwheel represent workers of all trades united together. The wheat at the base of the shield represents the peasants and farmers forming the base of the proletariat in the early 20th century which overthrew the monarchy in the Great Revolution.

The Flag of Grandais

The national flag of Grandais is a tricolour of white, red and green with a yellow star in the centre. The white represents the tundra and mountains in the north of the country, while the green stripe represents agriculture and forests. The red stripe and yellow star represent the land united under socialism.

In times of mourning, the flag is flown either at half-mast or underneath a black ribbon.

This is the state flag, which is flown at the location of soviets and diplomatic buildings alongside the national flag.


A desaturated version of the state flag with a black ribbon on the side is used to commemorate those who have died in battle.
It is flown in place of the state flag in days of mourning, next to the national flag at half-mast.

Each state also has its own flag. (See below)

As the flag represents the values of socialism, defacing or disrespecting the flag is representative of disrespecting socialism itself and is not only illegal but punishable by death.
However, if a flag is too damaged to serve as a symbol of the nation, its owners can apply for a one-use Permit for Proper Disposal of the National Flag, following which it is to be placed in a wooden box and burned ceremonially.

Illegal far-Right extremist groups use a defaced version of the flag with the star cut out of it.

The National Anthem of Grandais

Hymn of Grandia (1798-1854)
God Save the Tsar (1854-1929)
Internationale (1929-1931)
Proshchanyie Slavyanki (1931-)

[Grandais]

Geography

A political map of land claimed by Grandais, including the disputed territories of Khazmatistan and Tyva. The white shows tundra and permafrost.

A physical map of Grandais.

Grandais is a large nation located in the northern hemisphere. Its total land area is 1,759,541 km². It is bordered to the north by the Great Northern Sea, northwest by the Zherdev Sea, west by Soviet Haaregrad, southwest by Khazmatistan (disputed), southeast by Tyva (disputed) and Bojikami and east by the East Sakhan Sea. The northernmost parts of the nation are tundra and inhabited only by villagers. Four mountain ranges run through the nation. There are large forested areas in the southeast, many of which are marked as national parks. Logging is kept at sustainable levels and only on plantations to avoid habitat destruction.
Three small islands are located in the Great Northern Sea, Severnaya Zemlya, Novaya Zemlya and Yuzhny. Of these, only Novaya Zemlya is inhabited and only one thousand people live there.

Grandais also owns a small island oblast near Ko-oren, called Kaliningrad.

Winter in Grandais is very harsh and the unprepared may find their houses or cars snowed in. It is customary for all car owners to carry a shovel and snow chains in the boots of their car for when the winter hits. The lowest recorded temperature is -65°C, and the highest is 38°C.

The highest point in Grandais is Mount Fyodor at 2,738m. The lowest is a large ocean trench reaching 5,083m below sea level.

The land in Grandais is rich with iron ore and copper. Small deposits of uranium have been found but as yet they are used only for nuclear power and there are no plans to export it.

Grandais lies on top of two tectonic plates and has been the site of at least six major earthquakes in the last century.

Flora and fauna

Grandais is home to a large variety of flora and fauna owing to its diverse habitats. Primary climate zones in Grandais include tundra to the north, taiga in the centre, and temperate to the south.
The tundra in the north is home to wolves, white hares, lemmings and arctic foxes, while bears, marmots, mountain hares, lynxes, moose and reindeer inhabit the taiga. Our avian friends in the taiga include woodpeckers, owls and bearded vultures, while only ptarmigans and golden eagles reside in the tundra. The forests of Grandais are rich with other wildlife such as boars, various deer, beavers, a plethora of lizards and snakes, minks, eagles, skylarks and cranes. Wyverns are present in all areas.

The tundra is also home to a small variety of flora: dwarf birches, willows and various mosses and lichens. Many species of trees inhabit the taiga, including birch, pine, spruce, fir and cedar. Grandais is home to a particularly rare species of flower, the Vechno belaya (вечно белая) which only grows at high altitudes. An old folktale describes a man who climbed a mountain to fetch one for his love, but fell off and died.

Wyverns

Grandais' national animal is the wyvern, which differs from dragons in that it has only four limbs: two wings and two legs. Some breeds have claws attached to their wings which they use for climbing cliffs.

A wood carving of a wyvern, circa 17th century.

Unlike most reptiles, wyverns are warm-blooded and perspire through their wings to keep cool. Although they usually dwell in caves and on cliffs in the mountains and tundra to the north, wyverns have been seen in warmer areas on occasion. Wyverns are extremely protective of their territory and young but otherwise not particularly aggressive.
Until the 15th century, wyverns were mercilessly hunted as they were considered to be associated with the devil. Early platemail was made from wyvern scales.
Tsar Sergei I was the first to seriously consider the military potential of training wyverns and adopted the animal as his heraldric emblem, a gesture adopted by all of his successors, and ordered that hunting of the animal be stopped.
Attempts to train wyverns for military use were largely unsuccessful. Admiral Olaf raised a wyvern from birth to obtain its trust, but it still refused to fight in a war. Nonetheless the two were inseperable friends and the wyvern was often seen around the palace with its owner. Of course, the wyvern outlived Olaf and was distraught upon his death. It flew away into the wilderness, where it is assumed it died due to lack of necessary survival skills. Other nobles have kept wyverns as pets, with similar results.
Today wyverns are a protected species, generally left alone due to the dangers involved and out of respect; while tourists and adventurers do occasionally wander into their territory and are sometimes killed, though these are rare events.

Approximately seven subspecies of wyvern exist in Grandais.

Majestic wyvern (Draconis wyvern augustus)
The majestic wyvern is much smaller and more docile than most other subspecies. Its small size and calm personality made it a favourite pet for the bourgousie during the late days of the Grandian Empire. The claws on its wings enable it to climb cliffs with ease. It preys on small rodents and birds.

Conservation status: Least concern

River wyvern (Draconis wyvern agafonov)
The river wyvern is an amphibious wyvern, about the size of a beaver, that lives on riverbanks and around lakes. Its claws are used for gripping onto slippery, wet rocks. It preys on fish and small amphibians.

Conservation status: Near threatened

Autumn wyvern (Draconis wyvern khazmati)
The size of an eagle, the autumn or autumnal wyvern is a scavenger that dwells in the forests and plains in the southwest. Its wing membranes have traditionally been used for cloaks and drum skins.

Conservation status: Threatened

Mountain wyvern (Draconis wyvern montanus)
When most Grandians think of wyverns, they think of the mountain wyverns. These huge creatures are mostly docile except when their territory or young is threatened - and when they are angry, they are really angry and can kill with a single blow. Mountain wyverns are the main reason that wyverns today are so revered and feared. A few mountain wyverns were responsible for the fall of the 95th Light Infantry (see History section). They dwell in the mountains and on cliffs and prey mostly on mooses, reindeer and bears on occasion.

Conservation status: Least concern

Arctic wyvern (Draconis wyvern arctis)
The Arctic wyvern is smaller than its other mountainous cousin but still quite large. It dwells in the tundra and preys on all other arctic wildlife.

Conservation status: Endangered

Ghost wyvern (Draconis wyvern golubov)
The ghost wyvern is nocturnal and dwells in caves during the day. Its name comes from its frightening white eyes and sable scales. This subspecies probably contributed to the interpretation of wyverns as evil in the old days. It eats small rodents and birds, and competes with owls.

Conservation status: Threatened

Ogre wyvern (Draconis wyvern ingens)
The ogre wyvern is so called due to its large size, frightening look, and nasty temperament. It is this creature which most likely led to the demonisation of wyverns in medieval times. Ogre wyverns are so huge (about the size of a bus) and heavy that they can only glide, not fly. It is, however, mostly a scavenger. Hunting of these creatures led to almost extinction, saved only by the toughness of their hide. Today they exist only in zoos around the world.

Conservation status: Extinct in the wild

Draconis wyvern praepes
Praepes is probably the first wyvern, being a little smaller than a pteranodon and living around the late Cretaceous period. While pteranodon preyed on small lizards, however, Praepes' reptilian jaw structure allowed it to bite into and carry off young dinosaurs. The first skeletons of Praepes were found in the 1930s and today resides in the Novokuznetsk Museum of National History.

Conservation status: Extinct

[Grandais]

Economy

Statistics as of late January, 2014

Exchange Rate: 2.7274 drachmas = $1
Gross Domestic Product: $72,675,508,869,280.41
GDP Per Capita: $7,241.48
Unemployment Rate: 9.91%
Consumption: $17,228,399,760,000.00
Government Budget: $56,950,333,371,360.00
Government Expenditures: $55,241,823,370,219.20
Goverment Waste: $1,708,510,001,140.80
Exports: $9,086,440,534,431.20
Imports: $8,881,154,795,370.00
Trade Surplus: $205,285,739,061.20

Government Budget Details
Administration: $420,954,877,033.03 1%
Social Welfare: $7,577,187,786,594.56 18%
Healthcare: $3,367,639,016,264.25 8%
Education: $7,998,142,663,627.59 19%
Religion & Spirituality: $0.00 0% [Religious institutions are self-funded]
Defence: $7,156,232,909,561.53 17%
Law & Order: $3,367,639,016,264.25 8%
Commerce: $0.00 0%
Public Transport: $2,946,684,139,231.22 7%
The Environment: $6,735,278,032,528.50 16%
Social Equality: $3,367,639,016,264.25 8%

Grandais' main import is uranium, which is used primarily for nuclear power but also testing of nuclear weapons.
Its primary exports are iron ore, information technology, and arms.
Grandais has a small although relatively successful petroleum industry. Petroleum is used primarily for creating plastic products and for exporting. There is some market for petrol to power cars but since cars are not common in the large cities, it is not particularly large.
There is a market for natural gas, as it powers all public transport in the nation.

Currency

Drachma notes, pre-spelling reform. Circa 2009.

The new banknotes, since June 19 2010.

The currency of Grandais is the drachma (represented by Đ in the Latin alphabet, Драх ('drakh') in shorthand Cyrillic and ₯ in both Latin and Cyrillic). A drachma is divided into 100 kopecks. At current approximately 2.6 drachmas are equal to one Universal Standard Dollar. In times of economic crisis the exchange rate was known to be in the hundreds.

During the dark early days of independence following the revolution, money was expensive to create and kopecks and 1 and 5 drachmas were minted as cheap aluminium alloy coins. Thankfully this period did not last long and the economy was soon back up on its feet. Shortly after the paper note was introduced, people were encouraged to trade in their drachma coins for notes, as due to security reasons (people can easily forge their own cheap aluminium coins with the right materials) it was not considered viable to keep the old coins as legal tender. Despite their relative worthlessness the old coins are highly sought after as collectors' items.
To prevent problems with carrying around large amounts of small-denomination bills, Grandian wallets are divided into different pockets or slots for denominations up to 100 drachmas (much like the different pockets in a normal wallet for keeping business cards and the like). These are popular among tourists coming from countries which also have notes in small denominations.
In 2009 Grandais celebrated its 80th anniversary of the revolution and minted a set of 'red' commemorative notes.
These were immensely popular thanks to their bright colours, but were much more expensive to mint.

Industry

An older nuclear power station in the poststructuralist style of the 1950s.

In the past Grandais had a large coal mining industry, but it has since been almost entirely abolished due to environmental concerns and the advent of nuclear power. Today, coal is only used for its byproduct coke, which is used in the manufacture of steel. Almost all of Grandais' electricity is produced with nuclear power, and a minority is produced by wind farms.
Grandais' main industry is information technology. Although their hardware is not the best on the market, it is known as a reliable and cheap alternative to larger brands. Grandais also produces efficient heaters and gas-powered appliances. Revolutionary and socialist literature is also a large industry.

Grandais' weakest industry is fossil fuels, the consumption and export of which has dropped dramatically since the switch to nuclear power.

Food and land ownership are free. However, one must pay for labour. For example, food from a market is free, but passersby are encouraged to donate to the seller. Food at a restaurant must be paid for as you are paying for the labour of the restaurant workers. Farmers are paid by the government for their efforts in raising food.
To ensure that citizens do not take more than their fair share of food, all workers are supplied with cards on which all purchases are electronically stored. If the amount of food recieved is in excess of recommended amounts, the exchange will not be made. The cards are reset fortnightly.
A block of land is also free, but no person may own more than one block of land without a good reason and government approval. One must pay in case of overly excessive electricity or water use, damages and the like, but otherwise there are no costs attached to owning a house.
Labourers are paid a set amount depending on how hard they work and the importance of their work to the nation and wellbeing of others.
Since food and land are not a commodity, most people should be able to subsist on their own. If, however, they are unable to pay a certain cost and believe that it has been unfairly given to them, they may file a report to be checked out by the Economic Department. If the Department concludes that paying the cost will result in undue hardship to the citizen, the cost will instead be paid by the government. However, this is incredibly rare.

Cars are not seen as a necessary item in Grandais and so are not often seen. Public transportation is the major way to travel, although automobiles are popular among those who live out in the tundra.
Automobile users in large cities must pay 'carbon tax' per kilometre driven, multiplied by a set amount based on the fuel economy of their vehicle. A national carbon tax is not implemented, and there are no plans to do so in the future.

[Grandais]

History

Svobodnyij Granski 962-1325
During the 10th century, the nomadic Granki tribe crossed into where Grandais is now and took the city of Kaltan by force from its previous occupants, the Khazmati. Expanding southward, they took Svobodny as their capital, becoming the first unified state in the region. The state called itself Svobodnyij Granski and reigned there for some four hundred years.
In 1116, the then-ruler of Svobodnyij Granski, Yakiv I, converted the nation to Orthodox Christianity, uniting the people under a single religion and solidifying their group identity.

By the mid-12 century the Khazmati tribes had resolidified and initiated an invasion of Grandian lands to reclaim their territory. They took Novokuznetsk and the Grandians were forced to fleeto the east. Once a small settlement, Novokuznetsk grew into a vast city due to its secure location. The headquarters of the Orthodox Church was soon moved there, making it the de-facto capital of what was to become the Grand Duchy of Novokuznetsk.

In 1214 CE, a scouting party of cavalry encountered an enemy army headed by General Istvan in the fields just south of Novokuznetsk. It is said that the leader of the Grandian force stood still for a whole five hours and could not be roused, after which he led his troops to victory in a battle which, it was said, only the guidance of God could have won. Zaiats Grigoriev, the Grandian commander, was later glorified as a saint in the Grandian Orthodox canon.


Grand Duchy of Novokuznetsk 1325-1496
After decades of sitting back and building up its armies within the city walls, the Duchy, led by Grand Duke Kazimir II, fired back at the raiders which had for so many years held a reign of terror in the region. After years of bloodshed, the raiders were driven back, and with them gone, Kazimir set to rebuilding the Duchy. But it wasn't until Kazimir's son took the title of Grand Duke that the Duchy's administrative power was to be truly exercised.

An infantryman circa 1400.

For too long the boyars (nobility), often acting in the interests of the raider empires which had in the past exacted many treaties against the Duchy as payment for not invading them, had exercised too much power over the Grand Dukes, attempting to put in place various treaties to give themselves more power and eventually transfer the leadership to themselves. Kazimir III sought to end this harrassment and took the title of Tsar as soon as he was able, crushing the power of the boyars. With the Tsar having no limits on his powers and being recognised as the absolute ruler, an expansionist campaign was launched to reestablish the Duchy as supreme power in the region. This campaign would create the Grandian Empire.

Grandian Empire 1496-1929

Flag of the Grandian Empire

During the monarchical era, years were counted in the absolute Gregorian calendar and in a monarchical calendar, counted in years since the current monarch came to power. For example 1847 in the absolute calendar would be Sergei I 14, being the 14th year of Sergei I's reign.

The Grandian Empire fought many wars and conquered much of the mainland with its large force of loyal Orthodox soldiers. One of the great war heroes of the empire was Yuri Yaromir, who is said to have killed seventy men. His battalion, the 95th Light Infantry, was renowned for its military prowess. One day the 95th was on a march when it accidentally disturbed a wyvern breeding ground. Angered, the wyverns attacked and killed much of the battalion, including Yuri himself, before they could escape. With the fall of the 95th Light Infantry, the the Grandian Empire lost morale, moreso when expeditions to retrieve Yaromir's remains all failed.
Whether due to this or other reasons, Tsar Rurik eventually went insane, and his army, unable to carry out his ridiculous orders or do anything without permission from the crazed emperor, eventually fell and Grandais lost much of its land. Several usurpers also appeared, each claiming to be the rightful heir. This led to confusion and many deaths once the royal guard took to executing any would-be usurpers. These actions caused many revolts, the largest of which was the Culling of Vetrov in 1517, in which almost half of the populace of the city were massacred in an attempt to quell rebel activity.

A memorial to the victims of the Culling of Vetrov.
Despite its religious aesthetic, people still leave
flowers at the memorial out of respect for the
nation's earliest revolutionaries.

The civil rights of the common people (mostly peasants) of Grandais were suppressed for many years during the reign of the monarchy and had little rights. Much of the peasantry were serfs, forced to work on the plantations or mines of rich landowners in order to get money for food. Serfdom was abolished in the emancipation reform of 1870, however it was not well-implemented and many peasants were left free but without land or food. This led to many assassination attempts on the life of Tsar Grigori, the fourth of which succeeded when a revolutionary group followed the emperor on his routine walk and shot him. His son and successor Aleksandr vowed to not suffer the same fate and implemented measures to suppress the citizenry and curb revolutionary action.

By 1926 there was great unrest in Grandais. The tsar Raikov II was seen as unfit to rule, as an authoritarian who seemed to have little care for the wellbeing of his people in abject poverty. Various political groups had formed in response, although they had no actual legislative power.
The Socialist Party led by Naum Aleksey urged all of the leftist organisations and people to band together to oppose the monarchy, soon becoming the largest in the nation.

The coat of arms of the Grandian Empire.
The wyvern was the heraldric emblem of the monarchy
since the 15th century, and the text 'Bozhe Tsarya Khrani'
(God Save the Tsar) is at centre.
Click for full size.

This incited the Great Revolution of 1929 where the Socialist Party sacked the monarchy and replaced it with a socialist government. Directly following the Great Revolution were pogroms against known monarchical sympathisers and members of the bourgeoisie, a massacre that lasted for three weeks and killed many hundreds of nobles. The deposed tsar and his family were hunted down and assassinated, and the new government declared a separation of church and state, outlawing open practice of religion and urging the nation to renounce its faith. This began the Grandian Civil War (1929-35) between the socialist peoples, who organised into the Red Army and aligned with other leftist groups, against the old guard of the monarchy and their allies, collectively known as the White Army. Over one million soldiers and many civilians and priests were killed, and many churches were destroyed. Although the White Army fought valiantly, in the end the sheer numbers of the Red Army overwhelmed them and conquered. The generals of the White Army were publically hanged as a gesture to signal the end of the monarchy. Pogroms against the Orthodoxy continued although destruction of churches was soon stopped and it was decided to preserve the buildings instead, many of which are several hundred years old.

The Soviet Socialist States of Grandais (1929-present)
Today, Grandais is a socialist nation-state, although nowhere near as large or formidable as it once was.

In 2010, Grandais went to war with Kalasparata in what we call the Six Days' War. In terms of numbers, Grandais was the victor, with only 432 casualties on its side as opposed to over one thousand hostiles killed, but officially there was no victor as a truce was mandated after both sides launched nuclear weapons on each other on Revolution Day. It remains one of the most terrible wars in Grandais' history, due to the speed and manner in which people died. Following the war, Grandais embraced pacifism, a pax which would not be broken until March 2011.

In March 2011, Grandais was hit with an airborne biological weapon accidentally released from Ravine Land, creating the Necrosis Incident (also called the Necrosis Crisis, 6-27 March, 2011). The disease caused swift death and the corpses to be controlled by parasites. Over 30,000 people died as a result of the tragedy.

[Grandais]

Military

At current, the total number of individuals in the military comes to almost 50 million, approximately 5% of the population.

The main branches of the Grandais military are:
Red Army
Red Fleet (Navy)
Air Force
Strategic Rocket Forces (control of ICBMs)

From 1944 to 1996, there was also the Air Defence Forces (Войска ПВО). In 1996 this was merged into the Air Force.

Defence spending totals 20% of total government spending.
Citizens are drafted into the military at 19, although they can defer the draft if they are, for example, studying at university. Each citizen is expected to serve at least three years in the military, and are allowed, if not recommended, to keep their weapons after service.

Red Army
Красная Армия

The ground forces of Grandais remain the largest segment of the Grandian military. As all citizens are required to undertake at least three years of compulsory military service, most choose to join the infantry.

The emblem of the Red Army, with the military motto
'Do not give the enemy a single inch of our land!'

Commanders-in-Chief
The highest commanding rank of the Red Army is 'Marshal of the Red Army' and is attributed to the commander-in-chief.

Nikita Mikhailovich Kovrov (1929-1937)
Anna Mishin (1937-1958)
Nikita Kapitsa (1958-1962)
Samuil Ivkin (1962-1965, 1972-1982)
Aleksey Rozanov (1965-1972)
Arkadi Tattar (1982-1985, 1992-1998)
Roman Romanovich Tsarko (1985-1992)
Radimir Vladimirovich Mitya (1998-2010)
Svetlana Ishutin (2010-present)

Inventory

Khibinsky-5232 cargo truck
Khibinsky-4390 cargo truck
NAZ-2923 "Tigr" light utility vehicle
NAZ-3348 "Medved" light utility vehicle
BTR-80 APC
BTR-90 APC
SBA-60K2 APC
MT-LB amphibious APC
BMP-3 IFV
BMD-4 IFV
BMPT "Terminator" IFV
BRDM-2 ARV
BRDM-3 ARV
Aluchin-63968 MRAP
Aluchin-63969 MRAP
Movakos-63095/9 MRAP
T-85
T-74
T-60
T-95A (2009 prototype purchased from Osea)
T-96
S-400 Triumf long-range SAM launcher
S-300 long-range SAM launcher
Viverna medium-range SAM launcher
9K30 Strela-10 short-range SAM launcher
9K22 Chusovoy self-propelled AA
2A36 artillery
2A66 artillery
T-12 AT
130mm field gun
BM-27 Uragan multiple rocket launcher
BM-30 Smerch multiple rocket launcher
SO-152 self-propelled artillery
2S4 Gvozdika self-propelled artillery
S1 S2A/AA artillery
2S31 Vena self-propelled mortar

Red Fleet
Красная флот

Naval ensign 1929-1965

The Red Fleet replaced the Imperial Grandian Navy in 1929, which was almost decimated in the Grandian Civil War. Due in part to the large expenses incurred by modern ships and the existence of only a single Grandian naval base in the nation, the navy is not particularly large.
The Red Fleet also has its own aerial arm, the Naval Aviation, whose inventory is displayed in the Air Force section.


Commanders-in-Chief
The highest commanding rank of the Red Fleet is 'People's Commissar of the Red Fleet' and is attributed to the commander-in-chief.

Iriney Zhiglov (1929-1945)
Sergej Adankin (1945-1968, 1984-1988)
Vladimir Borisovich Brantov (1968-1984)
Petia Baranovsky (1988-1994)
Yefim Vavilov (1994-2008)
Sonya Pyotrovna Durov (2008-present)


Inventory
As of 2012, the following craft are in service to the Red Fleet.

Adankin class aircraft carrier
Krupny class destroyer
Krokodil class amphibious landing craft
Chajka class hovercraft
Kara class battlecruiser
Slava class cruiser
Seryj class cruiser
Neustrashimy class frigate
Gamma II class submarine (ballistic missiles)
Gamma III class submarine (ballistic missiles)
Boris class submarine (cruise missiles)
Akula class submarine (fast attack submarine)
Yasen class nuclear attack submarine
Tarantul class corvette
Berserker-class corvette (purchased from Atlantica)
Natascha class minesweeper
Mk 12 Steel Tide battleship (purchased from Chazicaria)

Air Force
Военно-воздушные силы

The Air Force succeeded the Imperial Grandian Air Force in 1929 following the overthrow of the monarchy. At the time, Grandais was notably behind the military capabilities of other nations and was determined to modernise. A period of mass aircraft production followed during which the Air Force was bolstered in capabilities.

Commanders-in-Chief

The highest commanding rank of the Red Fleet is 'Chief Marshal of Aviation' and is attributed to the commander-in-chief.

Vilen Venyamin (1929-1933, 1956-1972)
Nikifor Konstantinovich Yerzov (1933-1942)
Mikhail Dykhovichny (1942-1947)
Mariya Zhiglov (1947-1956)
Lev Yenotin (1972-1999)
Vyacheslav Zhigunov (1999-2003)
Pavel Nikolayevich Kuznetsov (2003-present)

Inventory
As of 2012, the following craft are in service to the Grandian Air Force and Naval Aviation:
A-10 Thunderbolt II
F-22
Ilyushin Il-76
Mi-6
Mi-26
Mi-28
MiG-29
MiG-31
V-31S Strike Tern (purchased from Atlantica)
Kamov Ka-52
Panavia Tornado
SAAB JAS-39 Gripen
Sukhoi PAK-FA
Sukhoi Su-25
Sukhoi Su-30
Sukhoi Su-65 (purchased from Osea)
Tupolev Tu-16
Tupolev Tu-22M
Tupolev Tu-160
B-5a Archer Tactical Platform (purchased from Atlantica)
Yakovlev Pchela (UAV)
UF-06 Bellerophon UACV (purchased from Atlantica)

Strategic Rocket Forces
Ракетные войска стратегического назначения

Formed in 1964, the Strategic Rocket Forces are the branch of the military devoted to the keeping and launching of ICBMS and nuclear weapons. ICBMs and nuclear warheads supplied to nuclear submarines, battleships and other nuclear-equipped craft are supplied and recorded by the Strategic Rocket Forces, though once equipped these weapons are under the jurisdiction of whichever military arm owns the craft.
Although there is a considerable amount of red tape involved in the decision to launch nuclear weapons, as the Strategic Rocket Forces must answer to the other military branches which are considered higher authority, some individuals have abused their powers in the past to launch nuclear weapons without proper bureaucratic permission. Such acts are looked down upon as gross misconduct.
Funding to the Strategic Rocket Forces diminished after the Six Days' War, but has since stablised.

Commanders-in-Chief
Konstantin Ivanovich Usov (1964-1977)
Grigoriy Baburin (1977-1989)
Leonid Ekel (1989-1994)
Valeria Chaly (1994-2007)
Kostya Dmitry (2007-present)

Inventory
At current the inventory of the Strategic Rocket Forces is classified, but estimates put the nuclear arsenal of Grandais at 1100.

[Grandais]

Government

A Grandian passport. It is 100% recyclable and is not electronic, for easy disposal.

The current state of Grandais was founded on June 8, 1929, following the deposition of the monarchy.

The emblem of the workers' unions and soviets.

The government of Grandais is a socialist society where each province elects two or three representatives to speak in monthly soviets (workers' councils). Each department has a number of soviets and the decisions from each are collaborated together between councils to ensure that the majority are satisfied and that there is as little compromise as possible. Decisions made are forwarded to the Chief Spokesperson (sometimes called State Spokesperson), who is more of a national figurehead than any actual leader. It is the Spokesperson's job to publically announce what decisions have been made. The Spokesperson can voice his own opinion on issues and even pass legislature if he wishes but these are usually vetoed by the soviets. There is no definitive length on the State Spokesperson's term, instead he leaves office when he steps down or is removed when the people grow tired of him. Each soviet nominates a candidate for State Spokesperson and each makes a short speech to the nation to be considered in voting.
The WA classification of Grandais changes, but is currently Democratic Socialists.
The primary national holiday is Revolution Day and it falls on June 4, the date of the Great Revolution. Revolution Day is a day to celebrate freedom in general, but especially from the monarchy. Each year the State Spokesperson makes a speech to the public. There are celebrations around the nation and occasionally a military parade. Another important national holiday is Rememberance Day, which falls on August 12, the day that the Grandian Civil War ended. While both holidays commemorate the fight for freedom, Revolution Day is a day of celebration while Rememberance Day is a more sombre occasion to remember those who have died in the struggle for socialism.

The primary intelligence and secret police organisation is the Unit for Protection of State Security. (Группа по Защите Государственной Безопасности, GpZGB)

Grandais is divided into six states and one autonomous oblast:

Ни́жний
Nizhny

Kaltan is the largest city in Grandais not to have a nuclear power plant. It houses coal plants which are used to produce coke, one of the few remaining coal power plants in the nation.
The capital of Nizhny is Svobodny, which was the capital of Grandais until the 14th century. There are a number of military bases in Nizhny, including a major air force base, Soltsy-2; the original town of Soltsy after which it was named no longer exists.

Ке́мерово
Kemerovo

Kemerovo is home to the nation's capital, Novokuznetsk. Large forested areas and national parks cover the southeast, centre-north and northeast regions, leaving few major cities. Many of these areas are protected by law after vast logging operations over the past centuries.
Poltava Air Force Base is located to the east, and army bases are stationed at Bezenchuk and Andreapol.

Завод
Zavod

Zavod is the southernmost state of Grandais. Its only major city is Uglich, the state's capital. A major military base is located at Zitomir. It is often stereotyped as the backwards state, because little of note happens there compared to other states. Nonetheless, it provides a notable amount of agricultural produce, and most of its land is set aside for agriculture.

Октябрьский
Oktyabrsky

Okytabrsky is the state with the largest habitable space in Grandais. Its capital is Serov, one of the largest cities in the nation.
The Movakos and Khibinsky mountain ranges run through Okytabrsky, and it is also home to Mount Fyodor, the largest mountain in Grandais.
Okytabrsky houses the two largest military bases in the nation, Vitebsk and Ivanovo.

Кахе́ти
Kakheti
(nb. Also referred to as Кахетия - Kakhetia)

The northernmost state, Kakheti is most well-known for having its entire northern half covered in tundra and permafrost, as well as many large mountains; the Zhiguli range runs across the northwest, and the smaller Markotkh range is to the east. Only small villages inhabit these areas, and the only major town in the north is Lakinsk, only accessible via a winding road around the mountains. Despite the relative uninhabitability and extreme climate, adventurous tourists can sometimes be seen taking the long trek into the mountains. The longest river in Grandais, Bolshoy Kerzhenets (Great Kerzhenets) runs across the state.
The islands of Severnaya Zemlya and Yuzhny are claimed as part of Kakheti.
The state's capital is Chehachkov, which is known for an old radio tower built in the early 30s.

Саха́
Sakha

Sakha is notable for having the only ports not covered in permafrost, and thus has unparalleled access to the ocean in Grandais. Novaya Zemlya is under the jurisdiction of Sakha.
The major port cities are Pallasovka and Ostafevo, which are also home to the nation's only naval base. Several small towns and cities also dominate the eastern coast and are popular tourist destinations.
The state's capital is Gadzhiyevo.
Sheremetvo is home to the largest military base in the nation, and four smaller cities, Norilsk, Berdsk, Dyagilevo and Rogachevo, also hold military bases. The army outpost of Berdsk sits in the tundra and is known for its harsh training in the blistering cold climate.
The small town of Yaromir is a tourist attraction, as it is named for the fabled war hero of the Grandian Empire.

Калинингра́д
Kaliningrad

Kaliningrad is an autonomous oblast located near Ko-oren. It was founded for the primary purpose of being a naval outpost and thus is home to only a few thousand people. Its capital is also called Kaliningrad.
Because Kaliningrad is not connected to the mainland, it is not subject to the rulings of the soviets at federal level. Instead it works autonomously with its own soviets, creating a distinct change in culture and law between Kaliningrad and mainland Grandais.

Crime

Crime is almost non-existent in Grandais, as crime is in effect a selfish act which is against the principles of socialism. As well as the moral deterrent, most citizens carry their weapons with them at all times, making any would-be criminal reconsider their actions.
The death penalty is practiced in Grandais, but only for particularly heinous acts. Political dissidents are always executed, as are murderers and rapists. Those convicted of smaller crimes are rehabilitated, but repeat offenders may be deported.
The most common form of execution is death by single gunshot. If the offender is particularly infamous, public execution by firing squad is preferred.

[Grandais]

People and Population

At the time of writing, Grandais' population is 977 million, of which sixty-five percent are ethnic Grandians, 19% are of Haaregradian descent, 9% are Khazmati, 5% are Germanic and 2% are Free Kanadian Refugees.

The government is avowedly atheist and, until early May 2010, open (public) practice of religion was prohibited. There is however a religious minority; 5% of the population are Christian, 4% follow traditional Khazmati spiritualism, and 3% are Muslim. 3% follow other religions.
The national language is Russian, although minorities speak Khazekh, German and English (8%, 6% and 4% respectively).

The average life expectancy is 73 and the median age is 24. Grandais has a literacy rate of 100%.

Citizens of Grandais have far-reaching civil rights and can do almost whatever they please, so long as it does not criticise the government. Grandians are not expected to adhere to any political creed outside of the existing socialist government, and political dissidence is punished harshly. There are, however, movements to change this trend.

The most populous cities in Grandais are in order, Serov (12.2 million people), Novokuznetsk (10.3 million) and Kaltan (9.9 million).

Population: 977 million
Birth Rate: 17.5/1000
Death Rate: 10.7/1000
Immigration/Emigration Rate: +12.3/1000
Population Growth Rate: 6%
Average age of citizen (years): 24
Average lifespan of citizen (years): 73
Average number of people in a household in your nation: 4

Percentage of population:
Retired: 7%
Disabled: 2%
Non-working homemakers: 3%
Children: 18%
Homeless: Negligible, <1%
Holding a passport: 92%

Ratio of males to females: 2/3
On a scale of 1 to 10, how happy is your population?: 7
Literacy percentage: 100%

How many households have access to:
a) Indoor plumbing: ~99%
b) One or more motor vehicles: 2%
c) One or more computers: 83%
d) One or more televisions: 90%
e) The Internet: 72%


On a scale of 1-10, how much religious freedom do your people have?: 8
Religion make-up of population (%):
a) Christianity: 17%
b) Judaism: 0%
c) Hinduism: 2%
d) Islam: 8%
e) Buddhism: 2%
f) Taoism: <1%
g) Confucianism: <1%
h) Other <please specify>: >70% non-religious, 5% traditional Khazmati animist, 3% neopagan

On a scale of 1-10, rate how much tension there is between ________ groups in your nation:
a) religious: 2
b) racial: 3
c) economic: 7
d) political: 7

Does your nation have a separation of church and state? Yes
Are religions tax exempt and/or given some form of tax benefit? No
On a scale of 1-10, rate how much religion affects political policy 0

Does your government publicly fund the arts and culture?: Yes
How much money was spent on the arts and culture last year?: 800 million
Number of museums: 385
Number of museums per major city: ~4
Number of libraries: 728
Number of libraries per major city: ~30
Number of universities: 54
Number of universities per major city: ~4
Estimated income from tourism last year: 400 billion
Does your nation have any public holidays?: Yes
How many days of the year are given to public holidays? 13

Communications

Grandais' communications technology is a relative mishmash of those of other nations. While mobile phones and the internet, for example, are well integrated into society, much of the public prefers records to CDs and Beta to VHS (or DVD for that matter). Grandais is one of the few nations where CDs are relatively non-existent, as they are seen as flimsy, easily damaged and too cheap. Software is purchased on USB dongles instead and there is absolutely no DRM. Software piracy is rampant, but the government has no desire to amend this.

Most government organisations still send telegrams, often coded. Military transmissions use an updated version of the Enigma machine.

Major radio stations are:
FM 92.9 The State Unity Radio, which broadcasts revolutionary and socialist music from around the world.
FM 93.6 METEOR, generic pop and mainstream music.
FM 95.2 Variety channel.
FM 97.7 The Classics channel, which plays classical music and (often pirated) film soundtracks
FM 100.1 Chernobog, industrial.
FM 107.7 Hardcore 24-7, which plays hardcore electronic music
AM 882 State of Affairs, which is the main news and talkback channel.

Every day at 7am, the 'Morning Song' (Утренняя песня) is played across all television and radio channels to announce the start of the day's programming. This trend was first adopted by the Classics channel in the 70s and became a surprise hit. It has become the song to which all Grandians wake up in the morning, hence the name. Similarly, 'Please give me wings' (Пожалуйста, дайте мне крылья) is played at the end of the day's programming.

Grandais' web TLD is .gd, and the nation has its own social networking website, soyuz.gd
Grandais does not block any websites, but internet use is monitored and those who have a history of accessing anti-governmental websites will be monitored further.

Grandais does not use an age rating system for media, but all films, books and videogames contain a sticker at the front or back of the case indicating what objectionable content, if any, is in the film and to what degree. It is up to the parents to decide whether they or their children should see the film. If the film is being shown in a cinema, these warnings are shown on a placard in front of the cinema to let theatregoers know what is in the films.
Examples of these warnings include:
Violence (used for mild, cartoon, to medium amounts)
Gore (used for high to extreme amounts of violence and gratituous depictions of the aforementioned)
Derogatory language (racial, sexist or other discriminatory slurs; Grandais does not classify swears as objectionable)
Sexual content (for sex scenes of medium to extreme impact; Grandais does not classify non-sexualised nudity as objectionable)
Offensive historical themes (used for anti-communist themes or racism used in a historical context)
Promotion of alternative governments (Capitalism or other non-communist/socialist governments portrayed in a highly positive light)
Dissent (anti-governmental and anti-communist themes. Usually banned or censored unless very minor)
Religious themes
Promotion of crime
Horror themes
Miscellaneous offense (content such as offensive jokes or anything that could be considered widely offensive not in the above categories)

Films, books and videogames containing large amounts of pro-religious or anti-communist themes are banned, although rules regarding the former have been toned down after public religious practice was made legal.

Films, books and videogames which are propaganda pieces or otherwise considered mandatory reading/watching/etc. by all citizens contain these warnings if necessary but also have a sticker 'Endorsed By the Socialist States'.

Major newspapers include Свет (The Light) and Новости Грандии Сегодня (Grandian News Today).
Popular magazines include Социалисты, соединяйтесь! (Socialists, unite!) and ФИЛМ (Film).

The only news program is Течением Времени (The Passing of Time). It has been broadcast since 1934, and is the longest-running television program in Grandais.
The longest running television series is Ванька (Little Ivan), a children's cartoon. It has been broadcast since 1942.
The longest running sitcom was Смерть и цветы (Death and Flowers), a black comedy, which began in 1951. It ended its run in 1999, but reruns are still shown. It spawned a cult film by the same name which is rebroadcast annually.