For hundreds of generations, the Epok'liz dominated every race they encountered. They were more potent fighters, had greater numbers, and possessed far superior technology to any species they opposed. And they leveraged these advantages to their fullest extent.
Under most circumstances, if they wanted to colonise an occupied planet, they simply exterminated the backward species plaguing it. But there were a few exceptions. The Epok'liz had encountered two species that they chose to enslave instead: the Khelons and the Mubii.
The Khelons were an incredibly resilient race that served two purposes. For one, their resilience was particularly useful in such physically demanding tasks as mining. And secondly, the Epok'liz were always eager to study the genes of other species in order to improve their own through genetic engineering.
Meanwhile, the Mubii were quite useful for quite different reasons. They multiplied at an impetuous pace, meaning that they were useful for high-risk tasks, such as clearing mine fields. Occasionally, the Epok'liz even used them as a slave screen in battle.
Through its unparalleled dominance, the Epok'liz built an empire that spanned a quarter of a galaxy. But their imperial expansion was to come to an end, as they were faced with a foe in their own weight-class. It was inevitable that a war would start between the Epok'liz and the Mhez'tik.
These new foes were not nearly as physically imposing as the Epok'liz. Nor was their technology as advanced. The greatest Mhez'tik advantage, however, was their power to channel energy from living beings and some inanimate objects. They called this energy Mana'bia, and could use it for constructive or destructive means.
Another significant difference between the Mhez'tik and the Epok'liz, was that the former gave their slave civilizations more autonomy. Their slave races included the Saahrai, Humans, Daiseep, and Kriit, and each governed themselves. But each was still bound by Mhez'tik laws, and had to oblige their master, under penalty of death if they failed to do so.
Given the power they exerted over their slave races, the Mhez'tik were able to leverage their strengths. They were able to use the Saahrai's warrior skills against their imposing foes. Humans made excellent workers, and the Daiseep knew no equals in covert operations. But more importantly, the Mhez'tik were able to employ the technological talents of the peace-loving Kriit, who built armour, weapons, vessels, and devices designed to boost the Mhez'tik's control over Mana'bia energy.
Despite all that the Kriit accomplished for their masters, no feat was greater than the construction of Nih'ki. The Mhez'tik were losing the war, and were desperate for a means to overcome the powerful Epok'liz space fleet.
But the Kriit gave them something better. They gave the Mhez'tik a way to avoid the Epok'liz fleet altogether. Nih'ki was a planet-ship, but deep within it laid a device that could teleport the entire Mhez'tik fleet anywhere in the galaxy.
This new weapon altered the course of the war. It allowed the Mhez'tik to obliterate most of the outer worlds of the Epok'liz empire, with no opposition from the opposing fleet. The Epok'liz had no choice but to protect the more valuable inner worlds.
However, the Epok'liz were not sitting idly as their empire was being devastated. Instead, they devised a plan to uncover the source of their enemy's power. They would cutoff communications between the Daiseep and the Mhez'tik, and force the former to use their abilities to gather the information they sought.
Their plan worked perfectly, and they were able to find out not only about the power of Nih'ki, but its current location. They had one chance to overcome the Mhez'tik's advantage, and they took it.
The war would end that day, but not in the way that either side expected. Two empires were torn apart, with little chance of ever restoring themselves.
At least without considerable intervention.
They were able to find out not only about the power of Nih'ki, but its current location. They had one chance to overcome the Mhez'tik's advantage, and they took it.
