Chapter 1

No one really knew what became of the humans, the god-like beings that once ruled the universe.

The leading theory is that they all left for another, better universe when they had done all they could for the cosmos. Another is that they never left and are simply hiding in a distant part of the universe, perhaps in some secluded galaxy somewhere, to live in relative peace away from their rowdy descendants. Last and most cynical of all is that they had become too decadent and, when their vast empire fell apart, committed a species-wide suicide and leaving the cosmos in the hands of their more competent children.

Whatever the case, there are no humans to be found across the known cosmos.

All that is left of them now are the “Hominids”, their created descendants, inheritors of their legacy. Possessed of humanity in either their DNA or of their creator’s memories stored in their complex circuitry, all Hominids share the ability to control and manipulate Sapiotech, the wondrous technology left behind by their creators. When the Hominids first began to travel the vastness of space, they warred with one another over worlds containing Sapiotech, often dedicating decades-long campaigns over mere rumors of them. It got to the point wherein countless planets, stars and even systems have been utterly destroyed either because of war or simply a means to deny enemies of Sapiotech.

Now, in the Thirteenth Age, a tenuous peace has settled over the twelve known species of Hominids across the cosmos after almost ten millennia of constant, grueling war between the stars. Under the reign of the benevolent Empress Erolina III, supreme leader of the Alpha Dominion, an uneasy truce has settled among the Hominids and, for now, there has been no war for decades now. However, one can only wonder how long the ceasefire between the Hominids will last as even now, each of them prepare for an inevitable war as tensions build between them.

It has been said that there are as many as twenty-four species of Hominid, each one different and each one divisible into multiple subspecies. So far though, only twelve have been discovered by the Alpha Dominion in their exploration of the Observable Universe. That said, these twenty-four species and their respective subspecies populate most of the Known Cosmos, dwelling in the innumerable galaxies found therein.

First, and possibly foremost, are the alphas, an all-female race thought to be the pinnacle of physical human evolution. Possessed of special organs that allow them to heal rapidly from injury and resist almost all known diseases, the alphas have all but dominated most of the Known Cosmos. Now they rule across the stars and galaxies of the Observable Universe through their Dominion which spans across the Gaia galaxy cluster. Through military might and economic cunning, the Alpha Dominion has few rivals among the other Hominid and all but the most powerful soldiers, wisest tradesmen or most numerous savages can challenge them.

Second would be the kappas, strange creatures possessed of malleable genetic material. They both resemble the humans that created them as well as the animals believed to be the creatures humans associated with most. They share a deep connection with the beasts of their home planets and are known to use them in battle. While aggressive and almost feral, the kappas have an honor-based society and often see themselves as protectors of the oppressed. That said, there are also more than a few kappas who embrace a more barbaric lifestyle and openly war with all other Hominid species.

Third would be the gammas, beings whose very bones are laced with a bizarre organic metal. They are easily able to operate the technological devices they have at their disposal and, thanks to their strange physiology, are able to manipulate them to a degree most other Hominids cannot. Their culture is primarily based on trade and profit and each and every gamma dream of making enough to support not just his or her family, but of future generations to come. Gammas are probably one of the least warlike Hominids but a small group of them seek to escalate tensions to profit from the inevitable conflicts.

Fourth would be the numinous deltas, Hominids who can manipulate matter with their minds. Strange and colorful crystals can be found in their skin and nervous system that often concentrate in certain parts of their bodies such as their foreheads or create beautiful patterns in other parts of their bodies. Gifted with great psychic power, almost all deltas have a form of telekinesis that allow them to move objects and substances simply by willing them to do so. Deltas have a rigid religious society that often brings them into conflict with other Hominids

Fifth are the thetas, Hominids known for their strange beauty, wisdom and mastery of subversive combat. They are easily identified by their bizarrely colored skin which often take hues of red, blue, purple, gold and green. Thanks to their innate telepathy, thetas are able to easily communicate with one another and even other species without uttering a sound. It is also thanks to their telepathy that they are able to communicate with the floral creatures of their home planet and form them into tools or even weapons instead of the technology used by other species. They are the most peaceful of the Hominids and have few enemies.

Sixth are the sigmas, easily recognized by their four arms and the three digits on each of their hands. Like the deltas, thetas, iotas and omegas, sigmas are inherently psychic although they can have a mix of telepathy, telekinesis or psychometry instead of just one. Also, much like the omegas, the sigmas have access to a power that can best be described as “magyk”, a force somewhat related to psionics but so far beyond the scope of the sciences that it cannot be properly explained. They are a vindictive and warlike people and once had an empire that once rivalled that of the Alpha Dominion.

Seventh are the betas, robotic beings of highly resilient metal. They are extremely durable and have weapons made from very advanced Sapiotech that they guard jealously. They are the only species able to rival the military forces of the Alpha Dominion thanks to their nigh-impenetrable armor and their devastating weaponry. However, despite their use of state-of-the-art Sapiotech, betas have a feudal society that centers their settlements around fiefs and their military resembles that of chivalric orders instead of the more modern conventions adopted by other Hominids.

Eighth are the zetas, the purely organic creatures that resemble arthropods and mollusks. While they lack the mostly mechanical technology of the other Hominids, they more than make up for with their use of living creatures. They might not be the most resilient of Hominids, but they most certainly have the numbers to be able to overwhelm the forces of the alphas and the betas. They have a mostly agrarian society when not openly hostile to other species. They are driven by their need to seed worlds with new life and while they have nothing against people taking from their produce, they do not take interference lightly.

Ninth would be the iotas, small fungal creatures that possess the psychic gift of psychometry. They are often an inquisitive and friendly people and are the most cooperative of all the Hominids. They are very helpful and have few, if any, enemies among the other species save perhaps the sigmas. Iotas often find employment as navigators or investigators thanks to their ability to peer into the true nature of things and see into their past and perhaps even a bit of the future. While not normally aggressive or warlike, iotas have also thought to arm themselves, thinking that another big war might drag their people into it whether they want to or not.

Tenth are the epsilons, a race of towering giants that are somewhat able to adjust their size thanks to the unique cellular composition of their bodies. They are able to shift from a mere ten feet tall (their minimal height) to as much as fifty or sixty feet tall when needed. They somewhat resemble both reptiles and insects and have undifferentiated cells that grant them their ability to contract and expand their bodies at will as well as quickly heal from most injuries. Epsilons can be truly dangerous combatants thanks to their size and power but prefer to keep to themselves and not cause others any trouble.

Eleventh are the upsilons, a race of sapient microbes just a single cell in size. While they may seem like a lost thing in the grand scheme of things, upsilons often gather in large settlements in Hominid-sized ships they prefer to call “micropolises”. These in turn serve as their cities or settlements as well as a means of travel and communication with beings that are likely colossal to them. Upsilons are also some of the less aggressive species of Hominid, likely due to their small size, but are also beginning to realize that another war could very well lead to their extinction.

Twelfth would be the omegas, the small and curious all-male creatures that possess psychic abilities beyond that of the deltas, thetas, sigmas and iotas. They reproduce through a bizarre form of autotomy much like starfish. They are feared by the alphas due to their vast potential for magyk and rightly so as they are known to defy the very laws of physics through singing alone. That said, they are a conquered people and live beneath the tyranny of the Alpha Dominion and the culture they once had is now all but erased.

And last to have appeared, only in the last few decades or so, are the omicrons who possess vast amounts of Sapiotech. Shortly after being discovered, the omicrons immediately initiated a new war with the existing Hominid species. Thanks to their discovery of extremely advanced Sapiotech weapons known as Imagoes, the omicrons have forced every other Hominid species on the defensive. This has what mainly caused the other twelve Hominids to declare a truce to fight a common enemy. Few even know the true appearance of omicrons as the vast majority of encounters with them involve their Imagoes and their fierce weaponry and almost always end badly for those who encounter them.

While the full capabilities of Imagoes have yet to be fully explored, Imagoes have proven to be extremely powerful and efficient vehicles of war, capable of decimating fleets of battle starships unassisted. So far, few other war machines have bested an Imago in combat and those that do must often make considerable sacrifices to ensure victory. Generally humanoid in shape, Imagoes are also capable to changing into various shapes and are seemingly comprised of microscopic particles. Imagoes also seem to be able to change their size at will with some appearing to be only a meter in height while some tower well over small mountains.

So far, the truce between the twelve Hominid races has gone on unabated save for illegal activities that take place in uncharted or contested territories. However, war continues to loom over the horizon in the Observable Universe and no one has ever really prepared for an attack from the omicrons. It is even believed by more superstitious folk that the coming conflict will spell the end for all the other Hominid species.