THE WORLD OF THE HAN WARS

Like the Republic, the Han use a 9-level structure for their conscript/enlisted ranks.

THE KR'IH

The Kr’ih are a species who live farther out on the Milky Way’s Orion Spur. Roughly humanoid in appearance, the Kr’ih share the same genetic make up as both the Terran and Han peoples (who share the same ancestral home world (Earth)). Kr’ih legends teach that they are descended from the Ancients, an extinct race who seeded life among the galaxy. As a result, the Kr’ih view humanity (Han and Terran) as part of the “Brotherhood”—one of  original seedlings planted by the mysterious and revered Ancients.

Unlike humanity, the Kr’ih have evolved into a society that reflects what an Earther would recognize as an insect-like collective—ants or bees, for example—a whole comprised of many parts. Individualism is an unknown concept to them. There are no such things as names, marriages, friendships, or separate belief systems. Every part exists to serve the whole. The Kr’ih are the Kr’ih, and there is nothing more.

The Kr’ih do not have a concept of coexistence with a foreign body. One is either a Kr’ih, or one is an enemy. And, if that enemy has something which would add to the whole, then it is taken. The human concept of morality is also a foreign concept. They do not understand surrender, or mercy.

Physically, the Kr’ih share the same body symmetry as human beings, with two arms, two legs, ten fingers and toes, etc., but apart from that, the differences are striking. Their bodies are squat and incredibly strong compared to a human being, given the fact that their race evolved on a world with much higher gravity than Earth. Their bone structure is much more extensive than a human being, and their skin resembles what an Earther would compare to an elephant’s hide—thick, rough, and durable. In addition, their home planet’s atmosphere had slightly less oxygen than Earth, and included other elements which a human would find toxic.

The Kr’ih brain structure is where the biggest differences lie. They are an incredibly intelligent species, able to devise technologies that rival any held by either the Terran or Han peoples. They are quick to improvise, adjust, and improve when faced with an untenable situation which threatens the whole.

Organizationally, the Kr’ih have no nation-states, and no political bodies. They are only the Kr’ih. The whole, however, is divided up for functionality. There are warriors—the Nokud’ih—and other groups which all work to ensure the survival of the whole. There are farmers, developers (scientists), care givers, builders, and educators, to name a few.

There is no family structure—no concept of a mother, father, or sibling. Breeding between the male and female of the species takes place twice every turn (a Kr’ih “year” equivalent, roughly seven Earth years), and is tightly controlled and structured to ensure only the most compatible genetic pairs are allowed to breed. More breeding sessions can be added if the whole has suffered or is expecting to suffer inordinate losses, but the population is strictly monitored to make sure it does not exceed the capabilities of the whole to support it.

For the most part, breeding is conducted within the castes, but cross-breeding among castes is allowed in order to prevent a gradual weakening of the whole’s genetic line. An infant Kr’ih is assigned to a particular caste based on a series of genetic adaptability tests given at birth—it may have been bred from two members of the farming caste, for example, but may be assigned to a different caste depending on test results. From that point on, that infant’s life path is decided. Any infant that does not pass the minimum genetic standard for any of the castes is slaughtered at birth.

Each caste includes sub-castes—such as caregivers and educators—who raise the caste’s young from infant to adulthood, based on the requirements of that particular caste.

The warrior caste, the Nokud’ih—are the protected caste. The whole works to ensure the Nokud’ih are well cared for, because without the Nokud’ih, the whole could be placed in peril. Only a Nokud’ih can rise to the position of Kahgan’ih. There is no delineation between male and female among the Nokud’ih—gender does not matter.