[center][b][u]The United Valaran Empire[/u][/b][/center]
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[hider=General Overview]The Valaran Empire is a loosely centralised confederacy of planetary governments and monarchies under the nominal control of the Valaran Empire or Empress. The Empire is relatively diverse, comprising of ten different star systems hosting three different main races, though the actual title of Emperor itself as a hereditary position remains in the possession of the dominant race - the Valari - who comprise of some fifty percent of the population. 

The main interests of the Empire are self-preservation rather than expansionism, and historically it has been a non-interventionist and non-aggressive power with links mainly to technological advancement and trade, however the drastic recent circumstances may force a militarisation, as its once comfortable place in the universe has been usurped. 

[/hider][hider=Territory]The Valarans hold five star systems; Valara, Mashtar, Jalzor, Maxor Prime and Maxor Minor. The home system is Valara, which contains two inhabited planets and three inhabited moons - Valar Major, the original homeworld of the Valaran race and the administrative centre of the Empire, and a lush and well populated world, is the most prominent of these and houses the lion's share of the important governmental departments of the Empire.

The Kirr hold four star systems, imaginatively named Kirra I, II, III and IV. Their homeworld is Kirraxis in Kirra I, an ecumenopolis. The smallest species in the Empire, the Draxakori'i, hold just one star system; Draxor, which houses three inhabited planets and two inhabited moons. The Draxor thrive on arid desert worlds which are often rich in underground minerals and substances, as well as housing large communities on the water world Ahuetheria.

[/hider][hider=Governance]The Empire has eschewed democracy in favour of brutal efficiency, and the channels of power are relatively complicated and tangled due to the complexity of the hundreds of independent nations which form the Empire's bulk. At the top of the hierarchy is the Emperor, who in technicality presides over all of the star systems and species of the Empire. The Emperor is assisted by a cross-species council called The Aquamarine Senate (after the stone used in the council chamber) where representatives from each of the independent nations of the three species meet to discuss matters of importance within the Empire. These representatives are appointed by the leaders of each nation within each of the three species, and so two hundred representatives meet on a weekly basis to debate the newest proposed legislation.

Apart from the Senate, however, the Emperor is also assisted by The Verdant Council (named for the lush gardens on Valara in which they meet), where ten of the Empire's most learned minds are selected to provide advice on matters of importance outside of the Empire, such as trade negotiations, war and diplomatic relations. 

Technically, the Emperor operates under autocracy, but a [i]de facto[/i] agreement has been reached over the centuries that the Emperor should act within the parameters of both the Senate and the Council in order to ensure cohesion between the various species and nations of the Empire and to ensure the continued stability of the Empire. Apart from the two major organisations, the Empire is split into various 'ministries' which administer various areas of governance such as 'education' and 'trade', though often this involves legislating the devolution of these important matters to a planetary and sub-planetary level. This tangled and huge bureaucratic web is almost impossible for an outsider to understand and, indeed, even many of the natives of the Empire have trouble understanding just how the government works.[/hider]
[hider=Species]The Valaran are a bipedal humanoid race, distinctive from humans by their advanced height (averages of 7 feet for both sexes), their purplish skin, sharpened teeth and carnivorous diet. They dominate the Empire in many regards, comprising of half the total population. The Valaran are prone to addiction to various substances, physiologically, and are unable to digest plant matter.

The Kirr are a warm-blooded bipedal reptilian species. They reproduce in group mating sessions, and have an average height of 5 feet. They have traditionally lizard-like facial features, with the surprising addition of a pair of small antennae on the top of their head that they use to detect and produce strong electromagnetic pulses - essentially allowing them to know when they are around other Kirr without seeing or speaking to them. 

The Draxakori'i are a much more enigmatic species, comprising of just 10% of the Empire's population, they possess four legs with hooves and four arms with six fingers on each hand and a roughly humanoid torso. Their faces are humanoid, save for their slitted pupils and lack of canines. Herbivores, they sustain themselves mostly on a widely cultivated cactus crop known as 'Ish'Mala'.

[/hider][hider=Culture]The Valaran operate on a relatively rigid aristocratic caste system, with only those born into positions of relative privilege able to ascend the ranks of society into important religious or governmental organisations. They are also a highly religious society, worshipping 'the Goddess' who they say is the embodiment of Valara and has blessed them with great beauty, intelligence and a bountiful Empire (though, obviously, not great modesty). Priests are highly respected within Valaran society and often hold positions of great governmental importance. The Valaran live in small family units and produce sexually, usually for life, though their pleasure seeking ways have often led them to indulge in promiscuous behaviour - though this is, religiously, condemned as impure and debasing and inappropriate for the 'chosen race' in the Empire. Their lofty aspirations have often made them the target of ire, particularly for the Kirr, with whom they had a long standing animosity before the great amalgamation of the Empire. Each Valaran planet is either ruled by a King or divided up between several monarchs, dependent on its size and population, all of whom eventually report to the Grand Vizier, who is the representative of the Valaran race as a whole on the Verdant Council. The great families of the various Valaran monarchies have warred often throughout the centuries, and indeed the Valaran species has the most volatile individual government of the three nations. 

The Kirr can be described as highly industrial and highly capitalist first and foremost. They thrive on building huge and impressive cities and progressing technologically, and while the Valaran produce the vast majority of the Empire's diplomats, artists and leaders, the Kirr produce the Empire's engineers and military officers. Irreligious by nature, the Kirr's territories are split by the ownership of various corporations, some of which are so huge and vast that the CEO is as powerful as a Valaran king. The Kirr's representative on the council is the Lord-Chairman, who represents the interests of various trade conglomerates, mining operations, starship producers and other Kirr organisations. Ultra-capitalist by nature, the Kirr's attitude towards individuals is very hands off, and they have a reputation for being cold, uncaring and willing to sacrifice many of their more lowly individuals for the greater good of technological advancement and wealth.

The Draxakori'i are statistically over-represented within the governing bodies of the Empire. This has a lot to do with the fact that, while advancement in the Kirr is dependent on being bloodthirsty and savvy, and advancement within the Valar is based on birth, the Daraxakori'i (or colloquially, the Drax), are known to be a much more meritocratic society. Spiritual but not overtly religious, they wish only for peace within the universe and have never expanded beyond the parameters of their own solar system. Seen by the other races as technologically backwards, the four legged Drax generally prefer to live in smaller settlements than the grand, opulent cities of the Valar and the huge, unrepentantly urban cities of the Kirr. Within the Empire, they operate as peacekeepers and diplomats when the opulence of the Valar does not impress.

[/hider][hider=Organizations]The Cult of the Red Dawn are a new para-military terrorist organisation that have emerged in Valar space, taking the sudden transplant of the nation into the new universe as a sign of the encroachment of the end times. Seeing the Valarans as a corrupt, overly decadent and essentially immoral society, they have committed acts of terror into an attempt to topple the caste system and produce a new, egalitarian, ascetic and reflective societies. Rumours and accusations fly within the Aquamarine Senate that the Kirr or even the Drax are behind the emergence of this group.

The GloboTex Mega-Corp is the single largest corporation within Kirr-Space, and is known as the primary producer of starships for the Imperial Navy. Operating as a political pressure group, they have begun to advocated rapid expansionism in the face of the new universe, protesting that the sudden disorder is the perfect opportunity to expand the borders of the Empire and happen upon new materials and territories.

The Ivory Convocation is an unofficial meeting hall of the leading Valaran nobility. Unattended by the Emperor, and a separate organisation from the Imperial government, the Convocation advocates Valaran supremacy and has lobbied the Emperor to reduce the representation of theo the other races in the government. It especially distrusts the Drax, who it sees as uncultured savages with a set of ideologies that is hostile to the delicate balance of Valaran society.

[/hider][hider=History]The Kirr and the Valaran warred from the moment that they discovered each other. For hundreds of years chaos reigned across the lands of the current Empire, until a Valaran frigate happened upon an inhabited planet in a previously minor system that contained the strange, alien species that would come to be known as the Drax. Under the great Drax Shaman Nafari'Karuk, the Valaran Empress Kiravani III and the CEOs of each of the largest Kirr megacorporations signed a peace, stating that each of the three races would play their role within a new planetary alliance, nominally headed by the Valaran, but actually operating on a system of equal representation.
 
[/hider][hider=Outlook]Various pressure groups have emerged rapidly, some advocating violent and aggressive expansionism and others advocating peaceful contemplation. The official stance of the Emperor is as of yet unknown and is potentially undecided. Official bulletins from the Ministry of Scientific Development have been published to each sovereign ruler in the Empire, each of whom has had the job of explaining to their people what has happened. It is, therefore, very probably that many thousands or even millions of the Empire's citizens are as of yet unaware of what has happened. Money is being poured simultaneously into both the military and the science ministries, both of which are tentatively attempting to make contact with any other life around them.[/hider]

[b]Technology:[/b] The Empire possesses what can be described as 'adequate' technology. They are particularly important exporters of life-enhancing and prolonging technologies. Their inter-galactic level space travel is also well developed, as promoted by the Kirr. 
[hider=Important/Noteworthy Tech]Military technology includes large, unyieldy but well-stocked capital ships The Imperial Navy generally uses plasma technology in its weaponry, but innovations are constant under the Kirr and there is no truly uniform structure to the technology used due to the competing production of various ships by the Mega-Corporations and their various subsidiaries. Pleasure enhancing substances and luxury technologies such as space-yachts and other such fare are produced en masse by the Valaran, while scientific innovations focus mostly on spatial understanding and medical advancements, such as the extremely powerful AM-5 telescope and various wound sealants which can reattach amputated limbs with organically produced nanobots.[/hider]
[b]Military Structure:[/b] The military is led ultimately by the High-General, a position traditionally dominated by the Kirr. The High-General oversees three Grand-Generals, one from each race, who themselves are in charge of organising the race's defence forces.
[hider=Military Organization]Like most things in the Empire it is highly devolved, and each sovereign ruler is responsible for maintaining an active and well-stocked military. This is overseen by the Ministry for Defensive Matters, which continually inspects the standby militaries of each planet and independent organisation. The Empire also relies heavily on the mercenary services of various Kirr megacorps - the actual governmental militaries of Kirr being relatively meek by comparison. The Drax occupy positions as healers and as diplomats, with the Kirr occupying the bulk of the standing army. Most ground work is done by various robotic soldiers. The army itself has not fought in anything more major than a minor trade dispute for over three hundred years, and has at times been dismantled partially by various hedonistic Emperors and Empresses to fuel their budgets. However, with the sudden introduction of the new universe, funding is being poured into it in order to produce a military that can stand up to the new and uncharted potential threats.[/hider]