Hivivian Empire

The Hivivian Empire, also referred to simply as the Hivivian, is a Technocracy hegemony made up of multiple alien species that maintains control over large portions of the Orion and Sagittarius Arms in the Milky Way galaxy. The Hivivian is a political, military, and technological affiliation, originally a mutual alliance between the Shalgan and the Shilizal, the Hivivian expanded into 5 other species: the Staalzi, Gnimgian, Krilloir, Nin'aes, and Becceorian). The Varrhajin were formerly affiliated with the Hivivian, but after multiple classes with other races, disorganized violence, and a lack of effort towards expanding the Hivivian's technology, the Varrhajin were expelled.
The Hivivian, for unknown reasons, left the Orion Arm around the 10,000 BCE, and didn't return until the year 2725 AD when they began to wage a genocidal campaign against humanity, until their defeat in September 2735. Despite being the most powerful military in the Milkyway Galaxy, the internal conflict of the human's stubborn resistance combined with the military force of the Caniic and the betrayal of the Staalzi were formidable enough to overcome and even shattered the bonds that held the empire together.
The humans have also documented six classes of ships of Hivivian design, a battlecruiser, frigate, dreadnought, Destroyer, corvette, and one Super Dreadnought Mothership.

History

Shilizal-Shalgan War

Main Article: Shilizal-Shalgan War

The war between the Shilizal and the Shalgan began soon after their first encounter 180,000 years ago. Shilizal believed that Yictan technology should not be touched or used for personal gain while most of the Shalgan believed otherwise, and disassembled Yictan relics to produce their own versions. Their first meeting resulted in a bloody engagement. Physically the Shilizal were far superior. One Shilizal warrior was the equal to at least ten Shalgan. However, technologically, the Shalgan had the advantage: they had the Yictan dreadnought which proceeded to wipe out the Shilizal armada using hit-and-run tactics. At the conclusion of the war, the Treaty of Allegiance was penned and initiated, and the Hivivian was kindled.

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Formation of the Hivivian

The word ‘hivivian’ is a combination of the Shilizal words ‘Hivi’ meaning alliance, or allegiance depending on the context and the word ‘phian’ (pronounced v-e-in) meaning ‘to bind together’. In this case to bind Shalgan and Shilizal together as one union in the pursuit of new technology and worlds. Much of Hivivian technology is based off of the technology that was left behind by the Yictan galactic race that ruled the galaxy 5 million years prior before their mysterious disappearance.

Enslavement of the Staalzi

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Induction of the Varrhajin

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Induction of the Gnimgian

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Leaving the Orion Arm

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Banishment of the Varrhajin

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Induction of the Nin'aes

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Gnimgian Rebellion

Main Article: Gnimgian Rebellion

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Trade Alliance with the Krovenn Empire

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Returning to the Orion Arm

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Induction of the Krilloir

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Induction of the Becceorian

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Human-Hivivian War

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Society and culture

The Hivivian Empire, thanks to the Shilizel and Shalgan, are highly militaristic and technologically advanced, and look down on other species not associated with the Empire, considering them lesser beings. They are very obsessed with Yictan ruins and technology. This can be seen from the fact that they are often seen excavating known Yictan sites. They have also been known to kidnap and experiment on prisoners with genetic traits considered useful and kill prisoners with traits deemed useless and have enslaved the Staalzi for countless centuries, forcing them to act as mediators or ship ambassadors, and engineers.

Government

The government of the Hivivian Empire is a rigid, multilayered technocracy built on a foundation of control, hierarchy, and unyielding bureaucratic discipline. Though it presents itself as a union of equals, the reality is a sharply stratified oligarchy dominated by the Shalgan and Shilizal, with the former holding near-absolute authority over all political and technological matters. The core of Hivivian governance revolves around the High Council, an imperial body of 500 Shalgan and Shilizal representatives that acts simultaneously as the legislative, judicial, and executive authority. While the Council is theoretically bicameral in composition, with equal representation from both ruling races, in practice, the Shalgan Emperor—an autocratic figure elected for life by internal Shalgan elite—is the final arbiter of policy, doctrine, and warfare. This Emperor not only holds absolute veto power over any council decision but also serves as the head of state, head of government, and supreme commander of all Hivivian forces.
The Council is supported by a tangle of subordinate councils and institutes, each serving highly specialized roles. Chief among these are the Council of Enforcement, which manages civil order and internal policing across all Hivivian territory; the Council of Technological Affairs and Doctrine, which controls all sanctioned research, reverse-engineering of Yictan relics, and approval of technological innovations; and the Council of Commanders, which oversees the deployment, doctrine, and structure of the vast Hivivian military machine. These governing organs are not democratic in any capacity and do not answer to the populations they rule—legitimacy is derived solely through technical aptitude, ideological loyalty, and lineage within the ruling castes. The Institutes beneath these councils are labyrinthine, often overlapping in scope and rife with infighting, favoritism, and corruption—especially where jurisdiction over rare Yictan technology is concerned.
Political maneuvering within the Hivivian is ruthless, particularly between Shalgan factions vying for favor or position within the Council, and among Shilizal war-nobility seeking to preserve their own influence. While outwardly cooperative, the Shalgan and Shilizal maintain a tense and distrustful relationship, with the Shalgan regarding the Shilizal as dangerous, overly militant relics of the past, while the Shilizal view the Shalgan as manipulative, cowardly, and obsessed with bureaucracy. This internal tension is both a feature and a flaw of the system—it maintains a precarious balance of power but also fosters recurring instability, as seen during the Staalzi Schism and the later betrayal by the Staalzi during the Human-Hivivian War. Client races are given no political agency. The Krilloir, Gnimgian, and Nin’aes serve as disposable tools—fodder, workers, or enforcers with no voice in policy. The Staalzi, despite their ancient lineage, are enslaved and utilized as intermediaries or technical facilitators, their nobility held hostage as a form of perpetual leverage. Even the Becceorian, despite their rising status and battlefield prominence, remain entirely subordinate to Shalgan approval. Their inclusion in the governing structure is purely operational, not ideological. In fact, there is no formal path for any non-Shalgan or non-Shilizal to enter the echelons of power—assimilation into the Hivivian Empire is synonymous with subservience.
Decision-making is slow and heavily ritualized, often requiring validation through layers of archaic protocols, council debates, and ancestral precedent. Nothing changes quickly in the Hivivian. Innovation, especially technological, is stifled by ecclesiastical review boards and preservationist doctrine, many of which treat deviation from Yictan design as heresy. Revisions to military doctrine, starship architecture, or even minor civilian infrastructure can take decades, if not centuries, to gain approval—if they are ever approved at all.

Military

Like other civilizations, the Hivivian maintains a permanent armed forces branch used to enforce order, conduct atmospheric and space combat operations, and project the Hivivian’s power onto others. The structure is rigid, hierarchical, and unforgiving—reflecting the Empire’s broader technocratic values. The military is divided into the Hivivian Navy, the Hivivian Army, and the Special Warfare Group, which contains the elite Special Operations Division (Spec-ops). Each branch serves a distinct role in executing the High Council's objectives, whether through overwhelming force, technological superiority, or surgical strikes.
The Shilizal and Becceorian lead the military effort as the Hivivian’s elite soldiers. The Shilizal, despite being second in political rank to the Shalgan, wield near-complete control over military affairs, including shipbuilding, fleet coordination, and battle strategy. They are the sole caste permitted to operate and construct warships, and their dominance of the Navy reflects both their experience and the Empire's distrust of other races handling critical assets. Their vessels are known for advanced plasma weaponry, extreme mobility, and layered shielding systems derived from reverse-engineered Yictan designs. Tactical doctrines emphasize hit-and-fade operations, orbital bombardment, and psychological suppression. The Becceorian, though newer to the Empire, have earned an elevated position as shock troops and personal enforcers. Deployed for brutal ground assaults, they specialize in urban pacification, tunnel clearing, and high-impact planetary engagements. Their berserker tendencies are both an asset and a risk—when controlled, they become blunt instruments of devastation; when unleashed, even allied forces must tread carefully. Becceorian weapons, though primitive by Hivivian standards, are devastating in close quarters and increasingly common within their own ranks. The Gnimgian serve as the Hivivian’s expendable frontline infantry. Despite being considered the lowest caste in the Empire, their overwhelming numbers and hive-minded coordination make them ideal for mass deployment. Their battlefield presence is less about precision and more about attrition—flooding enemy lines with bodies until resistance collapses. Commanders often use them to absorb fire, clear mines, or flush out entrenched positions. Their individual incompetence is offset by collective swarm tactics that overwhelm more disciplined foes.
Operations are micromanaged by technocratic war-think tanks—centralized AIs governed by Shalgan bureaucrats—that control logistics, targeting algorithms, and battle simulations. Disobedience, especially from non-Shilizal species, is met with instant termination. While some degree of autonomy exists within elite units, most of the military functions like a machine, executing pre-programmed campaigns with little regard for battlefield chaos. The Shalgan treat warfare as both conquest and experimentation, often testing unstable or experimental technologies in live combat scenarios without informing frontline units. Special Operations Divisions are comprised of hand-selected detachments, often mixed-species, chosen for loyalty, genetic compatibility, or usefulness in particular environments. These include infiltration units, assassin teams, and extermination squads tasked with silencing rebellion or eliminating high-value targets. Stealth, bioweaponry, and neural suppression fields are common tools. Their missions are sanctioned only by the High Council and carried out without oversight or regard for collateral damage.
The Hivivian military also maintains a drone corps, though the use of automated units is limited due to prior incidents of mass malfunction and accidental friendly fire. When deployed, drones are typically used in planetary sieges or to maintain order on occupied worlds. Ground vehicles and aircraft rely heavily on anti-gravity technology, which allows for rapid maneuvering but proves unstable over uneven terrain. Naval vessels remain the pride of the military—massive, plasma-laced dreadnoughts and battlecruisers patrolling star lanes with near-impunity. Every level of the military is under constant surveillance by internal enforcers to detect signs of rebellion or insubordination. Trust is a foreign concept in Hivivian ranks—only obedience is rewarded. While the military appears unified from the outside, internal tensions between species, especially between the Shilizal, Becceorian, and the increasingly bitter Gnimgian, remain constant. Loyalty is maintained not through camaraderie, but through the fear of annihilation.

Species

Many of the alien species conquered by the Hivivian are conscripted into, or gradually become part of the empire.

Shalgan

Main Article: Shalgan

The Shalgan, known to humanity as "Hierarchs," are an ancient, near-extinct species from the planet Gagnoania, serving as the political and technological leaders of the Hivivian Empire. Originally contemporaries and rivals of the Yictan, the Shalgan fought a devastating war that nearly destroyed them, leaving only scattered remnants to rebuild. Conservative Shalgan abandoned their homeworld to create a space-based technocracy, while Stoic Shalgan remained planetside, preserving a tribal, spiritual culture. Conservative Shalgan society is highly stratified, meritocratic, and centered on scientific mastery, administrative efficiency, and genetic stewardship, while Stoic society is rooted in traditional kinship, physical endurance, and animistic spirituality. Technologically, the Shalgan adapted and expanded upon salvaged Yictan relics, propelling the Hivivian Empire to Tier 2 status while strictly controlling innovation and militarization through centralized, philosophically guided governance.
Culturally, the Shalgan are divided but unified by a shared legacy of survival, reverence for structured knowledge, and a deep-seated distrust of emotionalism in political life. Their language, Shaluun, is a precise, multi-modal system integral to their layered communication, and their economy operates on a post-monetary meritocratic system. Despite their technological prowess, their society moves cautiously, emphasizing stability over rapid change, and their influence within the Hivivian Empire stems from control of infrastructure and knowledge rather than direct military power. Through a rigid hierarchy, philosophical conservatism, and strategic mastery of advanced science and diplomacy, the Shalgan have ensured their continued dominance—albeit precariously—over a multi-species empire that still wrestles with the ideological tensions seeded by their violent past.

Shilizal

Main Article: Shilizal

The Shilizal are a proud saurian race from Shalita, renowned across the Galaxy for their unmatched martial prowess, strategic brilliance, and unwavering honor. Rooted in a warrior culture comparable to ancient Sparta, the Shilizal prize discipline, loyalty, and tactical excellence above all. Their society is governed by a strict hierarchy under five hereditary kings, supported by a Council of Elders, and structured around values of strength, duty, and communal honor. Shilizal warriors are forged through rigorous lifelong training, wielding plasma weaponry with lethal precision, and many also pursue craftsmanship, science, and philosophy as extensions of their disciplined worldview. Despite gender stratification and harsh societal expectations, rare female warriors known as Kizali achieve respect through extraordinary feats. Fiercely independent yet loyal, the Shilizal have become the backbone of the Hivivian military, feared for their devastating efficiency and honored for their rigid code of battle ethics.
Their culture reveres names, traditions, and ancestor worship, blending practical governance with deep spiritual conviction centered around gods of war, victory, and strength. Language is seen as an art form, rich in metaphor and guarded carefully against external influence. Conflict, whether ritualized or total, has long shaped their society, and their relationships with other Hivivian species range from begrudging respect to bitter rivalry, particularly with the Becceorian. Although cautious toward foreign ideas, the Shilizal contribute to the Hivivian Empire’s scientific, military, and technological achievements while fiercely preserving their traditions. Bound by duty, honor, and a deep sense of cultural destiny, the Shilizal endure as one of the galaxy’s most formidable and respected civilizations.

Gnimgian

Main Article: Gnimgian

The Gnimgian, often derogatorily referred to as "Crawlers" by humans, are a sentient, carnivorous insectoid species from the desert world of Gozolara. Assimilated into the Hivivian Empire in 10,986 BCE, they have remained the lowest-ranking and most mistreated members of the hegemony. Primarily employed as laborers and expendable infantry, the Gnimgian are valued for their sheer numbers, coordinated eusocial behavior, and tenacity in combat. Their society is rigidly hierarchical, built around a single reproductive Queen who commands absolute authority over her colony, with castes divided into workers, protectors, and domestics. Despite the oppressive conditions under Hivivian rule, the Gnimgian have preserved their survival through resilience, adaptation, and a communal loyalty to the Queen, who embodies both their political and spiritual ideals.
Culturally, the Gnimgian are a eusocial species whose way of life emphasizes duty, communal labor, and absolute obedience, suppressing individuality in favor of collective survival. Their native language, a combination of body motion, chemical signals, and hissing sounds, is largely unintelligible to other species without translation software. Technologically, they blend primitive, biology-driven tools with surprisingly advanced medical science, while their subterranean colonies are marvels of organic architecture. Although advances after the Gnimgian Rebellion secured limited rights such as weapon-bearing and military inclusion, their political representation within the Hivivian remains largely symbolic. The Queen, revered as the living heart of their civilization, is the lynchpin of their society, inspiring loyalty through a blend of biological command and deep-seated cultural veneration.

Becceorian

Main Article: Becceorian

The Becceorian, often called "Wild Brutes" or "Berserkers" by humans, are a towering, warlike species native to the ravaged planet of Pheonope. Defined by a brutal culture that reveres strength, dominance, and combat prowess, they operate under a strict pack hierarchy led by the strongest males. Violence permeates every aspect of their society—from leadership succession through patricide, to childrearing and reproduction rooted in physical dominance. Despite their savage reputation, Becceorian exhibit tactical intelligence, capable of piloting ships, commanding forces, and quickly adapting new technologies for warfare. Their highly aggressive, clan-based structure places little value on trade, governance, or philosophical pursuits, favoring a survival-of-the-fittest mentality that has made them both feared and indispensable within the Hivivian Empire.
After their defeat and assimilation into the Hivivian ranks, the Becceorian rapidly proved their worth as elite shocktroopers, territorial enforcers, and brutal squad leaders. Though respected for their immense power and battlefield effectiveness, their inclusion has strained relations with other Hivivian species—especially the orderly Shilizal, who view the Becceorian’s unchecked aggression with disdain. Culturally, the Becceorian blend primitive traditions—such as raw meat consumption and ritual combat—with the selective adoption of advanced plasma and heavy vehicle technologies. They maintain a distinct identity rooted in primal instincts, loyalty to kinship packs, and a fierce, almost nihilistic belief in personal might over all else, ensuring that their brutal influence within the Hivivian continues to grow.

Krilloir

Main Article: Krilloir

The Krilloir are a massive, muscular species from the planet Dahorica, renowned for their extraordinary physical strength but lacking intellectual complexity. They stand about 13 feet tall and are completely passive by nature unless provoked. Because of their immense size and durability, the Krilloir have been forced into the Hivivian Empire, where they serve as living tools for labor and combat rather than traditional warriors. Their role in the Hivivian is to function as heavy shock-troops, relying solely on their physical abilities in battle, without the need for weapons. Their sheer size and resilience allow them to withstand attacks that would cripple other species, but they are not trained to fight with weapons or tactics. Krilloir society is devoid of culture or individual expression, lacking any form of written language, art, or structured hierarchy. Their communication is entirely non-verbal, relying on body movements and pheromonal releases to convey information. This form of communication, while effective within their own species, often leads to misunderstandings with other races, contributing to the perception that the Krilloir are unintelligent. Despite their lack of traditional intelligence, they have an innate understanding of their environment and a collective mentality that binds them together. The Krilloir are treated as expendable tools within the Hivivian Empire, seen as nothing more than biologically engineered laborers and soldiers, performing their duties without question or resistance. Krilloir do not occupy, or control off-world colonies on their own. Most planets they inhabit off their homeworld of Dahorica, are those of other Hivivian races.

Nin'aes

Main Article: Nin'aes

The Nin'aes are a highly advanced amphibious-hummingbird-like race from the lush oceanic world of Theotis, known for their mastery of piloting, stealth, and technology. As members of the Hivivian Empire, they have been both vital and undervalued: prized for their engineering prowess and camouflaging abilities yet often relegated to support roles despite their formidable martial traditions. Their matriarchal society, governed by the all-powerful Tur’hann and the Grand Council, is steeped in philosophy, artistry, and militaristic efficiency, while maintaining a deeply isolationist economic stance that eschews currency in favor of communal sharing. Culturally, the Nin'aes place great emphasis on harmony with nature, emotional intelligence, and artistic expression, yet paradoxically resolve external conflicts through overwhelming total war tactics when necessary, believing swift dominance restores balance.
Although relations with other Hivivian species are strained due to their refusal to engage in traditional commerce and diplomacy, the Nin'aes have slowly maneuvered themselves into critical political positions, secretly collaborating with groups like the Staalzi to subvert imperial hierarchies. Their society is marked by a rigid gender division—women dominate governance, science, and warfare, while men are relegated to labor and reproductive roles. Linguistically, they communicate through the highly complex, tonal Laeth Siv'an language, integrating speech, gesture, and color modulation for nuanced interaction. Despite facing systemic limitations within the Hivivian Empire, a growing movement among younger Nin'aes seeks to reclaim recognition for their full range of abilities, aiming to reshape their future role within the Hivivian while preserving their enduring values of wisdom, unity, and resilience.

Enslaved Races

Staalzi

Main Article: Staalzi

The Staalzi are a peaceful, mono-gendered species known for their exceptional passivity, long lifespans, and maternal instincts. They have a deep cultural respect for knowledge, balance, and cooperation, which has shaped their approach to interactions with other species. Throughout history, they were subjugated by the Hivivian Empire, who exploited their skills as engineers and diplomats. This oppression left the Staalzi with a lasting wariness toward other races, leading them to prioritize passive observation and diplomacy. After successfully gaining their freedom, they reclaimed their independence but remain cautious in their engagement with the broader galaxy.
The Staalzi society is centered on intellectual pursuits, communal living, and a deep connection to nature, which is reflected in their sustainable architecture and bio-organic technology. Their government is a constitutional monarchy, with an Empress at the helm, chosen through hereditary succession. While they are not a militaristic species, the Staalzi maintain a defense force for protection, and conflicts are resolved through civilized discussion and mediation rather than violence. Their economy operates on a barter system, and they value contributions to the community over material wealth. Despite their peaceful nature, the Staalzi have a rich tradition of intellectual exploration, and their social structure emphasizes harmony, balance, and respect for knowledge. They currently occupy 3 star systems (including their home system, Phannis though originally it was 4. The Staalzi are hard to trust outsiders after they were conquered and forcefully incorporated into the Hivivian Empire, a technocracy hegemony made up of multiple alien species. Given the chance, the Staalzi would betray the Hivivian in a heartbeat, the only thing stopping them is the safety of their princess.

Unincorporated Races

Krovenn

Main Article: Krovenn

The Krovenn are a war-bred near-human humanoid race native to the storm-razed world of Draxion-8. They are not a part of or directly affiliated with the Hivivian Empire. However, after encountering a Shilizal fleet within the Korran’s Reach System, a non-aggression pact was signed by Krovenn Emperor Karax Volthur I in 2,892 War Cycle (Krovenn time), but only after the Krovenn were outnumbered 5-to-1 and victory for the Krovenn could not be achieved. The terms of the pact were controversial, especially among the Shalgan, who were angered by the decision to allow Krovenn sovereignty. Nevertheless, then-Supreme Admiral Malithar-Tarnashil of the Shilizal personally recommended their independence be honored, citing the unacceptable cost of a prolonged engagement against a force as tactically entrenched and unyielding as the Krovenn. The decision was respected, if not welcomed, and has remained a source of friction within the Hivivian ever since. Though never assimilated into the Hivivian collective, the Krovenn do on occasion perform military jobs for the Hivivian. These assignments are rare, but when they do occur, they are exclusively high-risk operations—missions considered expendable or too costly to assign to Hivivian forces. The Krovenn are not mercenaries in the traditional sense; they do not serve for coin or influence, but for reasons rooted in their own internal honor code and leadership directives. Their shock-legions are renowned for their overwhelming force, ruthless execution, and ability to operate in extreme conditions. Though expensive to employ, the results they deliver are often beyond what standard Hivivian forces could achieve under similar constraints.
The Krovenn have not been spared Hivivian scrutiny. Multiple factions within the Empire—particularly among the politically dominant Shalgan—regard the Krovenn as a persistent anomaly within galactic power dynamics. Their unwillingness to cede even partial cultural or military control is viewed as a provocation. Their refusal to adopt standardized technological interfaces, Hivivian command structures, or Empire-sanctioned doctrines is seen as deliberate defiance. Over the centuries, proposals to forcibly annex Draxion-8 have been brought forward repeatedly. These proposals have consistently failed—not for lack of desire, but for pragmatic reasons. The sheer defensive fortitude of Draxion-8, combined with the Krovenn’s combat-readiness, has dissuaded even the most hawkish Shalgan and Shilizal strategists. The projected cost of invasion, measured in both lives and materiel, outweighs any perceived benefit.
To the Hivivian, the Krovenn remain something of a paradox. Among the Shalgan, they are often treated with disdain—seen as an undisciplined, stubborn relic of a primitive martial culture. Yet among the Shilizal, particularly those with battlefield experience, the Krovenn command a measure of respect that borders on reverence. Shilizal generals have on numerous occasions requested Krovenn cooperation for specific operations, usually those requiring overwhelming force, high-risk close-quarters combat, or prolonged engagements in unforgiving terrain. These collaborations are always negotiated under strict terms and on neutral ground, with both sides observing rigid codes of engagement. While trust is limited, performance is not. Krovenn units deployed under joint command have consistently outperformed expectations. The Krovenn, for their part, are under no illusions about how they are perceived. They understand fully that the Hivivian considers them both useful and dangerous, both admired and resented. But they are not interested in approval or alliance. Their priorities lie inward, anchored in their own unshakable code of honor. They are not driven by conquest for its own sake, nor by a desire for galactic recognition. What matters to them is sovereignty—to their culture, their world, and their future. They reject subservience in any form and resist attempts to dilute or reconfigure their identity.

Former Race

Varrhajin

Main Article: Varrhajin

The Varrhajin are a humanoid hyena species native to the vibrant and ecologically diverse world of Brakkor, located in the outer Sagittarius Arm. At the time of their discovery by the Hivivian Empire, the Varrhajin had no technological capability whatsoever—no spaceflight, no trained military structure, and no advanced metallurgy. They existed in a pre-industrial state, organized into clans across a world of sprawling savannas, grasslands, light woodlands, dense forests, subdeserts, and mountainous highlands. Physiologically, the Varrhajin are digitigrade, hyenoid bipeds—tall, broad-shouldered, and powerfully built, with dense musculature, double-jointed limbs, and an iconic snarling visage marked by a powerful jaw and pronounced canines. Their fur varies in hue depending on region and lineage, often bearing mottled or striped patterns that provide natural camouflage. Acute senses of smell and hearing, as well as exceptional endurance, make them effective trackers and warriors in the wild terrain of Brakkor.
Varrhajin society is built around clan dominance, ritualized combat, and a strict honor code. Each clan governs its own territory, traditions, and rites of passage. Leadership is earned through feats of strength, tactical cunning, and combat prowess. Though divided internally, the Varrhajin universally uphold a martial lifestyle. Young are raised communally, trained in the hunt, and hardened through constant inter-clan skirmishes. Their weapons—crude spears, bone axes, and stone-tipped javelins—were primitive, but wielded with lethal expertise. When Hivivian explorers encountered Brakkor, they initially dismissed the Varrhajin as savages. However, upon observing their cohesion, discipline, and unshakable warrior ethos, the Shalgan caste saw potential. The Empire launched a calculated campaign of coercive diplomacy—offering power and technological gifts to key warleaders in exchange for loyalty. The Varrhajin, eager to gain advantage over rival clans, accepted. The Induction of the Varrhajin thus occurred not through conquest, but through manipulation and selective empowerment.
The Varrhajin were subsequently uplifted as shock infantry within the Hivivian military structure. They were never entrusted with starships or high-level command authority, but were widely deployed in ground operations. Their fearlessness and ferocity made them ideal tools of occupation, especially in brutal suppression campaigns where psychological impact mattered as much as battlefield effectiveness. However, over time, tensions rose. Varrhajin clan rivalries spilled into Imperial assignments. Their volatile behavior, lack of discipline in interspecies coordination, and resistance to centralized command became increasingly problematic. Eventually, after several high-profile incidents of infighting and disobedience, the Hivivian High Council expelled the entire species from the Empire.
Now in exile, the Varrhajin survive as a fractured but dangerous presence on the galactic periphery. While still technologically dependent on salvaged or smuggled goods, their numbers, endurance, and hatred for the Empire make them a persistent threat. Rogue warbands have been reported raiding Hivivian outposts and supply convoys, seeking vengeance. The Varrhajin remain a lesson in the perils of attempting to weaponize a culture of raw honor without the means to control it. Though no longer part of the Hivivian structure, they have neither forgotten nor forgiven their former masters.

Technology

Hivivian technology is often described as more imitative rather than innovative, as they are based largely on mimicry and reverse-engineering of the leftover Yictan artifacts they have discovered. Such examples are their exceedingly accurate hyperspace navigation, near-instantaneous interstellar communication, the manipulation of extremely high volumes of plasma energy from sublight travel, short-range translocation of matter, a great influence over gravity and repulsor-based technologies, and man-portable application of energy manipulation. Much of the Hivivian's rapid technological advancement was made by stripping Yictan shield worlds of useful material early in the hegemony's existence. In the Hivivian, ecclesiastical authorities ultimately oversee even the most trivial modifications to existing designs. Improvements or alterations require layers of bureaucracy to navigate and often take decades to gain approval from the Shalgan. As a result, some designs, technology and starship have remained in service for countless centuries with little alteration to their base design.

Weaponry

Most of the Hivivian arsenal consists of plasma-based directed energy weapons, but the Hivivian are known to also utilize pulse lasers, particle beam weapons, antimatter explosives and even chemical crystal-based weapons. Interestingly, Hivivian weapon designs seem to defy known laws of mechanics; there is typically no form of radiative, physical, or electrical contact between the firing mechanism and "trigger" of a weapon. For these and other reasons, the workings of Hivivan weaponry is generally beyond the comprehension of Human scientists.
The sheer variety and adaptability of Hivivian arms have allowed them to maintain an edge in ongoing conflicts, giving them a significant advantage over less technologically advanced races. The typical Hivivian soldier, commonly a Shilizal, Nin’aes, or Staalzi, is equipped with a standard plasma rifle, and Plasma Repeater, allowing for flexibility in combat scenarios ranging from tight corridors to open battleground engagements.
To power the internal components of plasma weapons, a rechargeable power cell is typically used. While Hivivian plasma weapons are effective in combat, they are often unreliable and prone to overheating, especially those with automatic-fire capabilities. To prevent damage, these weapons are equipped with vents that release excess heat and plasma when necessary. However, this renders them unusable until they cool down. When the energy of a plasma weapon is depleted, it needs to be recharged or replaced. Currently, the method for recharging plasma weapons remains unknown for USC forces. The most commonly used handheld plasma weapons include pistols and rifles, while vehicles utilize cannons and mortars. On warships, turrets armed with plasma torpedoes are the primary weaponry
While not as common, the Hivivian is known to use projectile weapons, particularly unconventional crystal-based weaponry. These weapons utilize a unique chemical that hardens into sharp crystals upon contact with the atmosphere, which are mined on Kurkora, one of Shalita's moons. Some of these weapons can fire crystals at high speeds for long-range accuracy, while others use a slower speed and unknown methods to guide the crystals towards their targets. Upon impact with flesh or armor, these projectiles can cause serious injury before exploding into thousands of smaller fragments after several seconds. If enough needles penetrate the same target, they will detonate simultaneously in a much larger explosion that results in instant death.
As the Becceorian were integrated into the Hivivian as a prominent military caste, their weapons became commonly used among their own kind. These weapons consisted of metal projectiles, incendiaries, and blades, lacking the advanced plasma technology utilized by other Hivivian weapons. However, their crude nature makes them even more deadly - a fitting reflection of their creators. Examples of these berserker weapons include the Spear carbine, savage shotgun-pistol, and Berserk grenade launcher.
The Hivivian employ melee weapons in addition to their already fearsome arsenal. The best known is the energy sword, used solely by the Shilizal and Nin’aes. Creating a long blade of superheated plasma, it has both ceremonial and martial value to Shilizal warriors and its possession is closely monitored. Another is the Becceorian gravity hammer, which seems to be the Berserker's cultural equivalent to the energy sword. However, rather than using a blade of plasma, it generates a gravitational field which can cause tremendous damage within a several-meter radius.

Vehicles

The Hivivian also possess advanced technology in the form of vehicles, primarily for military purposes. These vehicles use anti-gravity technology for propulsion, allowing them to hover and maneuver at high speeds. However, this technology is more unstable over uneven terrain, making it difficult to operate in certain environments.
One common feature among all Hivivian vehicles is their use of a crimson red or dark blue type of metal, said to be much more advanced than any alloy known to humans. All Hivivian vehicles are nicknamed after some kind of supernatural entity by the USC. Among the Becceorian caste, their own unique vehicles have been incorporated into the Hivivian's arsenal. These primitive yet brutal machines serve the Becceorian’s need for power. Unlike other Hivivian vehicles, they are not named after spiritual entities but rather reflect the Becceorian's more primal nature.

Political Information

Type of Government

Interstellar Empire, Technocratic Cultural Hegemony

Founding Document

Treaty of Allegiance

Constitution

Confederation Unity

Head of State

Shalgan Emperor

Head of Government

Shalgan Emperor

Commander-in-Chief

Shalgan Emperor

Head of Military

• Shilizal

  • Supreme Admiral Valuril-Kretham

• Becceorian

  • Chieftain of the Becceorian Teckamontus

Executive Branch

High Council

Legislative Branch

High Council

Judicial Branch

High Council

Societal Information

Capital

Unknown

Official Language

Shiliztan language (Officially)

Various other languages spoken by different races

State Religious Body

Unknown

Member Races

• Shalgan

• Shilizal

• Staalzi

• Gnimgian

• Krilloir

• Nin'aes

• Becceorian

Unaffiliated Races

• Krovenn

Formerly Affiliated Race

• Varrhajin

Historical Information

Formed from

Shalgan Conservatives and Shilizal

Date of Establishment

177,975 BCE; First Age of Alliance

Conflicts

• 1st Age of Conflict

• 2nd Age of Conflict

• 3rd Age of Conflict

• 4th Age of Conflict

• 5th Age of Conflict (Assimilation & Enslavement of the Staalzi; 18,000 BCE)

• 6th Age of Conflict

• 7th Age of Conflict (Assimilation of the Varrhajin; 15,687 BCE)

• 8th Age of Conflict (Assimilation of the Gnimgian; 10,986 BCE

• 9th Age of Conflict

• 10th Age of Conflict (Banishment of the Varrhajin; 9,732 BCE)

• 11th Age of Conflict

• 12th Age of Conflict

• 13th Age of Conflict

• 14th Age of Conflict

• 15th Age of Conflict

• 2nd Age of Alliance (Trade Alliance with the Krovenn Empire; 1677 CE)

• 16th Age of Conflict

• 17th Age of Conflict (Assimilation of the Nin'aes; 2,490 BCE)

• 18th Age of Conflict (Gnimgian Rebellion; 2,179 CE)

• 19th Age of Conflict (Assimilation of the Krilloir; 2,287 CE)

• 20th Age of Conflict (Assimilation of the Becceorian; 2647 CE)

• 21st Age of Conflict (Human-Hivivian War; 2725-2735)

  • Staalzi Schism (2725 - 2735)

Date of Dissolution

September 10, 2735