Hierarchy

The Hierarchy (Learned Word: Sariisiiyaii, Literally 'The Above, The Within, The Below') is a multi-racial star state straddling the perimeter of the Great Nebula. It is enclosed between the territories of Alvund, the Empire of Unified Nations, the Combine, the Federation of Systems and Karktos, and consequently serves a key role as a highway through which trade flows. A single-party authoritarian republic, the Hierarchy controls 20 major inhabited systems and a large number of lesser systems and outposts.

Founded and dominated by the Khilsarii, the Hierarchy's politics, society and foreign policy are all shaped by the ideology of the Universal Hierarchy (Ousariisiiyaiou'kt'tvshe), a theoretical utopian state in which all intelligent life is protected and preserved, with each species enjoying it's own 'Unending Dream' (an isolated, but prosperous society in which individuals need not work save for pleasure, need not fear danger, and are spiritually and materially content, with a defined and productive societal role), with the Khilsarii race itself acting as the custodians and enforcers of the utopia. To this ideal end since it's foundation the Hierarchy has forcefully integrated a number of other species, collectively known as the Children, and built around them a complex bureaucracy dedicated to upholding the Khilsarii vision of their needs and welfare, and expanding the borders of the State outwards to absorb yet more different races as well as resources to support them.

Recent centuries have seen the development of a more religious and philosophical outlook on the Universal Hierarchy however, largely coinciding with the slow but necessary acceptance of the astropolitical reality around the Hierarchy's position in the galaxy; it is now more commonly seen as an inevitable end state of history, as opposed to a goal to be aggressively pursued but not necessarily ever fully realized. This has allowed far more amiable relations with the Hierarchy's growing number of influential neighbors, as seen in the longstanding alliance with the Empire of Unified Nations and the Hierarchy's growing prominence in galactic trade.

Khilsarii
The Khilsarii originally evolved in the depths of the grand canyons and caverns of Sil, as largely arboreal pack predators hunting large game in the planet's underground forests. They were eventually driven out of their prime hunting grounds by a string of major seismic events that effectively wiped out many of the larger herbivores the packs had previously relied upon. This forced the species to adapt hunting strategies and make use of increasingly elaborate tools to hunt larger quantities of smaller prey; eventually, this gave way to primitive animal husbandry, supported by small-scale farming - such was the basis for a civilization.

Owing to their subterranean origins, Khilsarii have notoriously poor vision. Three eyes are located on either side of the lower jaw, but their placement and general simplicity result in a visual range of under 150m on average - the primary senses used for navigation are instead smell, touch and hearing. In modern times, Khilsarii working in active professions often choose to undergo cybernetic cranial enhancements to sharpen vision.

There is considerable sexual dimorphism between male and female Khilsarii; although both hatch with fairly similar 'reptilian' form, the male largely retains his body plan throughout his lifecycle even after puberty, while Khilsarii females from about 8 years of age enter a multiple year stage of metamorphosis, characterized by a great decrease in metabolism and exponential increases in body mass. By age 14, when a female finally becomes sexually mature, she is on average 21 meters long, with only vestigial remnants of original limbs and a general body-wide decay of nerve endings. By 16, any advanced communication effectively ceases and the broodmother becomes inert save when signalling for food or egglaying. Some biological females do not undergo metamorphosis and develop a male bodyplan, albeit infertile; they are generally treated as males in the social hierarchy, as there is no societal concept of gender. Historically broodmothers were often a central feature of social groups, with loose clans forming around certain broodlines, though the overhaul of society brought by Universal Hierarchy means they are now more commonly viewed as strategic resources: the Central Breeding Agency of the Integratorial Assembly controls breeding rights and provides for broodmothers and their eggs on an industrial scale - most Khilsarii now identify only loosely with their particular brood, and have little conception of greater blood relations.

Central control of reproduction has resulted in a degree of biological caste in modern Khilsarii; the State actively selects for a variety of hereditary traits in it's breeding programmes to fill certain roles, and extensive ancestry records are kept by the CBA.

The nature of Khilsarii evolutionary history, means of reproduction and communication has resulted in a people heavily tending towards collectivistic, hierarchal and competitive psychology - Khilsarii in scientific trials typically perform far better in groups, and even basic tasks such as navigation around larger areas rely on communication between individuals. Isolation for even short periods has been proven to be highly mentally tasking for most specimens with symptoms of anxiety, and Khilsarii households are almost universally crowded, numbering as many as 10 to 50. Though there is almost always leadership, it is universally most effective when exercised by a collective.

Sil's low gravity, which made possible the large size of the species, also resulted in it's considerable struggle to adapt to alien worlds; off-world Khilsarii, such as those conducting business in the Empire or participating in integration campaigns, are typically confined to electromuscle suits or gel cushioning tanks and forced to undergo frequent exercise to build up the required natural muscle mass. On the flip-side, they fare better in zero gravity than heavy worlder species, with a natural knack for three-dimensional movement and less degeneration of bones and muscle - most Khilsarii craft eschew gravity emulation devices more complex than centrifuges.

Ashbe
Dog-sized, insectoid-avian quadrapeds with shaggy feathered bodies, prominent eye stalks and a toothless beak. The oldest of the Child species, and the most tightly integrated: some argue they are suitable as custodians of the Universal Hierarchy themselves, and their offworlders are often granted prestigious positions, especially in the diplomatic corps and bureaucracy, where their biological linguistic flexibility - owing to a highly versatile set of vocal cords - has allowed them to breach many physiological gaps between the Khilsarii and other species. When first discovered, they were at a roughly late 20th century stage of technological complexity, and were nearly wiped out by the Khilsarii in a brutal first contact war after a nuclear attack on the Hierarchy landing area.

Keliei
Heavily built humanoids with alvishesque facial features, and heavy exoskeletal growths or shells on their back. They range from 7 - 14 feet tall. Keliei sex changes throughout their life cycle. Young adult Keliei (around 10 - 19 years old) develop as 'males' first, then become 'females' (carriers of children) as they grow and age. In the latter stage of their lifecycle, from about 29 to 120 years, they become infertile. Historically, Keliei society was heavily martial and clan-based in many regions, though warfare has been eradicated under Hierarchy occupation. A few old states remain, and there is a crowned monarch, who serves as a spiritual leader for many. Along with the Ashbe, Keliei make up the bulk of offworlders, and are well-represented in trading and diplomatic agencies. They are the most numerous child species within the military branches of the Integratoriate.

Taksek
Large and semi-gelatinous silicon-based life forms; the Taksek are extremophiles heavily adapted to the intensely hostile environment of their greenhouse world. They possess incredible regenerative ability, and are thought to be theoretically immortal. However, their constant regeneration means they experience an equally constant state of rapid mutation and cell multiplication, similar to cancer, which is kept in check through self digestion, ejection of body mass and atmospheric conditions. Left on their own, most Taksek's bodies will outpace their digestive capabilities in around 20 years, killing them; privileged individuals, such as warlords and merchants, often employ means such as artificial acid baths to prolong their life in old age, and may live multiple centuries as a result.

The species is hermaphroditic and asexual, but are able to reproduce sexually through the devouring of other members of their species. Their society is necessarily warlike, and their technology relatively primitive; the local Patriarchate primarily consists of an Aerospace detachment responsible for regular culling missions to prevent genocides of vulnerable populations, and occasional strikes on weapons facilities. Research is being conducted on methods to sustain the Taksek in a more stable societal structure. A small number of Taksek provided with experimental life support modules do serve with the Integratoriate.

Koshviri
Carnivorous and mollusc-like, around human height when reared-up. The Koshviri's most notable traits are their two separate brain segments - one located in their mid-section, and a second in their digestive organ. This organ - once in the Koshviri's evolutionary history a separate, symbiotic organism - is regurgitated out of the body and onto a prey carcass when feeding, and is capable of brief independent action before it returns to it's host. Neither brain can function fully without the other for prolonged periods, and a reingesting a substitute organ may kill the host - though instances of rebonding of neural connections have occurred, albeit with highly damaging psychological results.

The Koshviri were the most technologically advanced Child species to be taken in by the Hierarchy. They had not yet developed FTL travel upon contact, but had significantly developed their own system and had considerable martial prowess. Upon contact, Integratoriate explorers assumed they had run into an interstellar state, and took an aggressive stance based on recent experiences in the Human Contact War around this time. A diplomatic meeting went badly, and ultimately resulted in the destruction of one of the Koshviri homeworld's two moons, with cataclysmic effects on the planet itself. An Integratoriate fleet lay siege to and bombarded the Koshviri homeworld for almost a decade, partially utilizing local lunar rubble, and the species' civilization was driven underground, or into pockets of unoccupied space elsewhere in their system. A landing force eventually touched down however, and forcefully subjugated the greatly reduced population. Terraforming efforts were eventually put underway, and survivors were relocated to climate-controlled mobile colonies and orbital habitats.

A century later, the Koshviri have still not fully recovered from the effective genocide of their homeworld, and their interplanetary achievements have largely become rubble, replaced by military outposts and satellites to keep in check the enduring specter of piracy that plagues the lunar belt and other parts of the system. Small scale insurgencies continue to this day on various planets, though frequent reprisals have limited their impact. It remains difficult for Koshviri to travel; free commerce above the planetary level is non-existent, and all starcraft not in criminal hands are under Integratoriate jurisdiction. Many apologies have been made for the Hierarchy's actions, but apologies do not instantaneously fix worlds burned barren. Progress has been made however, and resettlement to a few recovering regions of the surface has been allowed, as well as a new program of colonization on suitable frontier worlds outside the system for a chosen few. Some members of the species have made new starts as diplomats for the hierarchy.

Eselpit
Relatively recent additions to the Hierarchy. Tall, four-limbed, flying creatures with manta-ray like wings that ride the winds of their home planet, and live in the ecosystems that develop on the backs of indigenous megafauna there. Their technology is highly primitive - a few static surface settlements exist, with limited agriculture, and mostly tribal hunter-gatherer behaviour elsewhere, but their culture surprisingly complex, with a vast array of developed languages and even several rich philosophical and oral literary traditions among a select few clans. Hierarchy presence on their world remains limited, and their biological secrets are yet to be fully discovered, but a handful of members of the species have taken to offworld habitats under Patriarchate employment.

Planetary Era - 5,300+ years ago
First spaceflight around 6,000 years ago. Nation-state-esque entities remain dominant form of organisation. Era ends with the establishment of the Cosmic Federation, after a disastrous war with lunar colonists encourages superpowers to band together to oppress them more efficiently.

Sil Era - 5,300 - 3,000 years ago
Golden age of the Sil system; without FTL, exploration is limited to the Sol system. Nuclear engines are the order of the day. Fusion developed roughly 4,000 years ago, and faster drives soon follow. This allows efficient travel within the system, and there is slow expansion to nearby systems: these remain largely lawless, and there is only really nominal control from the center. Wormholes discovered. Several civil wars in the period, as national interests clash with those of the world government - leadership of the gov changes claws several times. However old world political clashes begin to develop into planetary ones

First Expansion - 1,900 years ago
First wormholes discovered; very unstable, but allow Sil government to expand authority to near systems.

Contemporary History
Divisions between colonial governments and their subjects were not wholly wiped away after the end of the Insurrection, and in the decades following peace they would spread far, even into Iisari Space. Discontent was especially notable on Sil and it's moons, as the system underwent a serious recession in [DATE], sharply widening class divides. In such a volatile environment, groups like the SLA and the NCG found fertile ground for new recruits. Popular fury among the lower classes would be stoked further with the White Comet Massacre, in which Silkhiyisii Police fired into a crowd at the Keserikh Ward's annual festival; having intending to target a small group of demonstrators engaged in a scuffle with festival security, they instead provoked a 3-million strong riot, with almost 800,000 losing their lives in the subsequent street-fighting and stampede. This incident was followed by mass arrests, and secret police reprisals in the city slums - in response, more riots broke out in the Capital's residential districts, along with a wave of bombings, eventually forcing the closure of inner city tunnels to contain and starve out the violence.

But it would not ultimately be on the Khilsarii home planet itself that open, armed conflict would finally take hold. Instead, it would be one of it's satellites: Silh, a small and barren rock with a roughly ovular shape, used chiefly as a military installation as well as a prison, with inmates serving to produce food for the civilian population below. It was here that on [DATE], the local Governor, [NAME], was murdered by a mob of escapees, as news of spreading chaos in the capital sparked a riot among the prisoners. This decisive event would eventually spark an all-out mutiny among the units stationed on the moon, and within a day, the seizure of the military facilities. Regular shipments of grain were abruptly cut off, and in their place, the rebels used the moon's available defenses to attack the homeworld, shooting down network satellites and manned installations, including, notoriously, Colony 7, a 7,000 strong orbital habitat which was knocked out of it's orbit by rebel strikecraft, breaking up in the atmosphere and sending debris crashing down across a large swathe of the northern hemisphere.

Politics


The Hierarchy's primary executive organ, acting as a collective head of both state and government, is the Interstellar Administrative Bureau (commonly known as the Interburo), an body of six which appoints new members through internal ballot. The Bureau's members represent the state in diplomatic events, create important legislation, approve nominations for major bureaucratic positions, and ratify proposals from the Patriarchal, Judicial, Hierarchal and Integratorial Assemblies. It also has two suboffices; the Deputy Bureau of Envoys and the Deputy Bureau of the Treasury, acting as ministries of foreign relations and financial policy respectively.

The Patriarchal Assembly consists of 5 Patriarchs representing each of the major Child Species. Patriarchs are nominated by their system's Local Administrative Bureau, and approved by the Interburo; they are not members of local governments, and typically relocate permanently to Sil upon appointment. The Patriarchal Assembly primarily concerns itself with legislative proposals around the welfare and needs of the Child Species already integrated into the Hierarchy, or in the later integration process.

Meanwhile, Khilsarii society and it's routine legislation is regulated by the Judicial Assembly, which has 11,406 seats, with members appointed by Local Administrative Bureau's and approved by the Interburo. Seats represent separate political divisions above the planetary level, and are not balanced by population - the overwhelming majority of members represent small trading outposts, orbital colonies, citystates and stations.

Logistical issues (interstellar-scale infrastructure projects, breeding rights and hatcheries, brood education, requisitioning, resource extraction), military defense, exploration and the integration of new Child Species is handled by the Integratorial Assembly, which heads the agency known as the Integratoriate. The Assembly consists of 50 senior Integration officers approved by the Integratoriate's Morality Office (a subdepartment reporting directly to the Interburo) for their political reliability. Despite still being closely controlled from the center, the Integratorial Assembly is considered to be the most independent and powerful of the four legislatures, thanks largely to it's control of the State's hard power; political disputes in the Hierarchy frequently involve factions choosing to side with either Assembly or Interburo. It is also more senior than it's peers, and by informal convention holds greater constitutional authorities, with the ability to override other Assembly's laws given Interburo backing.

The Hierarchal Assembly oversees the Hierarchal Enforcement Agency, which deals with internal security and audit, monitoring local government bodies and the general population for poor performance or political unreliability. It also approves central grants to support local agencies.

Local Administrative Bureaus are the highest autonomous political unit, though smaller bodies exist for special areas, such as the aforementioned small outposts, stations and new colonies. They are responsible for system and planetary-scale bureaucracies; most core worlds also have individual planetary and settlement assemblies serving legislative purposes under the Bureau, but frontier worlds are typically ruled absolutely, while Child Species homeworlds may have a Patriarchal assembly-appointed Welfare Maintenance Agencies.

The capital world of Sil is governed separately from the Iisari Local Administrative Authority, being controlled by the Interburo-appointed Council of Sil. The Council is frequently cited by foreign observers as the Hierarchy's 'training ground of state', as the majority of members of the Interburo and leading officers of the Integratoriate are appointed after serving on it. It is also the only popularly elected body of it's kind in the Hierarchy, though only about 40% of the planetary male population are eligible to vote due to caste restrictions.

Military
The military of the Hierarchy, known as the Integratoriate, consists of its two main branches, the Aerospace Force and the Direct Force representing surface and air & space capabilities respectively, as well as several sub-branches. Across all branches, the Integratoriate has around ten billion troops, though just over half of these belong to garrison and military police units primarily used for internal security and policing purposes, as well as the paramilitary Astroexploration Corps of the AF.

In addition to the Integratoriate, Local Administrative Bureaus are permitted to maintain their own defensive garrison and armed orbital forces, though as few receive direct Interburo backing they vary in organization, size and quality - many are equipped with equipment bought from foreign sources or out of service Integratoriate gear.