Picture that have been lyng around in my file for the longest time, but i'm sure you have caught a glimpse of it in my previous works, with most prominent being this.

---

The coat of arms of the Nordenfeld Empire is a black Northern firebird - a species of carnivorous, teethed, migratory swan prevalent in the former territory of Nordenfeld autonomous province - looking right with its wings displayed. It holds a basket-hilted sword in its right talon and two olive branches resting on its left talon. The way it held the sword and the olive branches symbolizes Nordenfeld empire's enduring policy of 'security over freedom' in its internal affairs and 'peace through strength' on foreign affairs.

The shield has light blue field on the left corner surmounted with six mountain peaks that separated the empire from the United Terran Republics and dark blue field on left corner with six alternating white waves that symbolizes six seas that surrounded the empire. Between them is a diagonal white band that symbolizes the empire itself, protected by six mountains and six seas around it.

The original version of the coat of arms had a mural crown appearing over firebird's head. However, following the completion 1.000-ship Imperial Marine in 684, making it the largest navy in the world, the crown was changed to current naval version which symbolizes the empire's naval might. Underneath the firebird is a scroll with the motto "IMPERIUM SINE FINE", latin for "empire without end". The coat of arms displayed on war flag and naval ensign of the nordenfeld armed forces have different motto from its imperial counterpart, "SI VIS PACEM PARA BELLUM".

Geographically, the Nordenfeld empire itself is an aggregate of 5 kingdoms, 2 autonomuos territories, 3 principalities, 41 provinces and several dependencies and overseas territories. At its height in 770, the empire covers almost quarter of world landmasses with its contiguous territory spanned over 6 time zones, from arctic circle to the equator.

The empire is home to over a third of world population. Following the Partition in late 5th century, the empire had been dominated with morph species. By 770, 90% of empire's population is terran morph and anthropomorphic alien species, with about 10% being non-anthropomorphic alien species and very small fraction of humans living in seclusion among morph population. 68% of the morph population are bipedal and 26% are taurforms, the remaining 6% are either quadrupedal, winged, or other. The official language of the empire is standard terranglo. However, numerous other ancient and native languages are also spoken such as terran chinese and cait. Literacy rate is about 96%.

Majority of the population live in urban area in the southern region. Empire's capital, Norchester is ranked as the largest city in the world, although it ranks fourth as most populous city.

The empire is bordered on the south by Union of Non-Aligned States (UNAS), the remains of former United World Government, and on the east by several puppet states ("Buffer countries") and Demiliterized zone which separate it from the United Terran Republics (UTR). On the northwest, across the Imbrian sea, is the Kingdom of Shevall, an independent state with lukewarm relationship with the empire and it's main and largest trade partner.

The empire's main resource includes world's largest reserve of crude oil and natural gas; second largest coal and salt reserve; large mineral resource of iron ore, lead, aluminum, zinc, tin and manganese; and three of only five avionite mine in the world. The empire also posesses vast petroleum refining and finest steel and iron industries in the world. In effect making it world's largest exporter of petroleum fuel. steel and other ferrous and non-ferrous metal derivatives.

Food and agriculture is largely self-sufficient, with total area of cultivated land is estimated at over 2 million square kilometres. While large farms concentrate mainly on grain production and husbandry products, smaller private farms produce most of the empire's potatoes, vegetables and fruits.

Despite its size, Nordenfeld empire only maintains a relatively small standing army, although it is second only in size to the UTR. However, the empire maintained policy of one-year national service, putting practically every able-bodied man on strategic reserve, ready to be recalled in times of war or natural disaster. The standing army on the other hand is purely voluntary through 'service extension'.