Zed'drath Imperium

"The Imperium is Eternal!"--Zed'drath Emperor Otharx IX on his death bed.The Zed'drath Imperium is the governing body of the Ze'drath species and all its client races. Once a powerful empire hailing from another galaxy, the Imperium reformed in the Milkyway, hoping to reclaim their lost glory.

Government
The Imperium is governed by hierarchical structure,with the emperor/empress ruling the masses from the top. Other government officials such as governors and high military commanders rank below the imperial family but share much of their privileges and duties. Soldiers and citizens take up a third spot within the Imperial hierarchy and enjoy most freedoms that other people in the surrounding hierarchical and monarchy states would kill for. Slaves are at the very bottom and serve to fuel the ever resource hungry Imperium. This is usually species wide unless a serious crime was committed and most stay on their respective homeworlds. Slaves do, however have a chance at freedom if the Imperium deems them worthy or have repaid their transgressions to the Imperium in full. The Hierarchical Structure isn't species based as all citizens and even slaves can get as far as the second tier.

Society
Imperium society is very militarized and loyalty towards the throne is always paramount. All citizens born in the Imperium whether alien or not are drilled in the manners of war and the Zed'drath culture of respect, honor and discipline. When they graduate from schools all citizens are required to join the military and stay for 2-3 years. This allows for the defense of worlds to much more easier and organized if the ZEF has been defeated. reverence for the Imperial family is highly prevalent in the Imperium as glimpse of them requires their audience to bow and speak to them only when spoken to. Imperial society may look rigid and strict on the outside but all citizens except for slaves enjoy many freedoms. Basic sentient rights are guaranteed to all citizens including to some extent slaves. Companies are free to produce goods and services and are not state run but they do have to adhere to government oversight. Art and music are promoted throughout the Imperium and native art and culture is respected and protected. Freedom of speech is acceptable within the Imperium as long as it isn't against the crown or poses a danger to society. Xenophobia is not not tolerated within the Imperium, believing distrust of others will lead the empire into ruin and civil war. Xenophobic actions are a capital punishment and if convicted, they will be sent to slave camps or be sent to death. This has however only bred xenophobia and separatism in slave species and large slave populations on planets.The Zed'drath shun anything resembling AI or cyborgs. Other than their neighbors, the T-41, the Imperium prevents any research or diplomatic activities into the subject. The fear and war against the Grox is still fresh on every elder Zed'drath minds and the younger generations are taught to fear them.

Origins in the Spode Galaxy
The Zed'drath Imperium was formed after the Crismson Empire united the warring nations of Xyon several thousand years before 2200. The newly formed Imperium discovered a ancient crashed ship on their planet's moon and procured faster than light technology. Seeking to find out where this ship came from, government officials and the Royal family agreed on the Zita project, a super capital ship designed to be an ark, military flagship, and exploratory vessel all in one. A few weeks into the its journey, Zita had discovered the ftl origin planet only that the planet inhabitants were gone and their cities destroyed. What the ship gleamed from attack drones and old data tapes were that they were attack by a species known as the Grox. The Imperium disregarded this news, thinking that they too went extinct long ago. The Zed'drath Imperium began its rapid expansion securing worlds for colonies and numerous spice mines to increase their economy. The Zed'drath eventually met other races in which they allied with or conquered into submission. The Imperium grew physically,economically and technologically, dominating any would be rivals at their borders with their ships, spice trading, and advance technology.

Hasag War
Not all races accepted Zed'drath rule, and some rivaled them in size and military might. The Hasag were an equally powerfully race within the galaxy and along with its two allies, the Rocetans and Draxen and their allies formed an anti-Imperium alliance that encompass halve of the known galaxy. Their hostile activities including raiding, abduction, and trade sanctions disrupted life within the Imperium and its allied nations. This prompted retalitory actions but not war, until daring raid on X'yon resulted in the deaths of many civilians. War was declared by the emperor and various surprise attacks were initiated along the borders. These attacks didn't slow the Hasag Alliance's counterattack but did cripple their military to a point. The next several decades would have many border worlds jostle between the two major powers with no clear winner. This continued to happen until one the Imperium's allies broke through the Draxen and its allies lines giving the Imperium a chance to wreck havoc on the Hasag and its allies worlds. The Hasag never recovered from this and after mounting a fierce defense of their core worlds ceased to exist after the 3rd battle of Hasin. Their allies crumpled or sought mercy afterwards leaving the Zed'drath the most powerful race in the Spode Galaxy.