"Fighting the Zhrak Collective is like battling a living, breathing earthquake. Their sheer numbers, coupled with those crystalline tendrils, make them a nightmare in close combat. But it's their ability to synchronize and adapt that truly terrifies me. You think you're facing one enemy, then suddenly their entire collective is resonating, overpowering your defenses. We've developed strategies to counter their tactics, but the Zhrak's xenophobic fury drives them forward, no matter the cost. Ignore the battlefield reports; if something doesn't change for us soon, we're extinct."
~Captain Orion Vashin, Carimon Emergency Provisional Stratocracy
Cities of Puddles
The Zhrak Collective's societal structure revolves around resonant frequencies, fostering cooperation and synchronization within their underground urban centers. Family clans reside in cysts, where they merge their amorphous bodies, sharing information through vibrational empathy. This communal connection facilitates governance by consensus but can lead to severe disagreements, resulting in honorable combats, clan wars or even full-scale civil wars.
A Federated Empire of Sorts
Between metropolitan centers, larger communal pools negotiate resource allocation, often devolving into warfare. The world government, comprised of representatives forming a permanent collective pool, serves as a supreme authority. This "emperor-like" entity requires yearly sacrifices, absorbing representatives' knowledge, opinions and personalities. To maintain influence, collectives offer any sacrifices they can spare, ensuring their voices are heard within the World Collective.
War With the Universe
The Zhrak's xenophobic nature stems from their historical isolation, believing their four-planet system encompassed the universe. Discovering humans sparked societal horror, prompting relentless invasions. Despite centuries of warfare and truly eye-watering casualties, the Zhrak remain committed to destroying humanity. Their arms race with the Carimon Emergency Provisional Stratocracy continues, driven by the Zhrak's determination to close melee range and the humans' resolve to maintain distance. The implications of revealing the universe's true extent to the Zhrak remain uncertain, but their reaction is sure to be catastrophic.
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