Shi'ar Empire
The Shi'ar Empire is one of the largest space empires in the galaxies adjacent to the Milky Way. It borders the Skrull Empire and Kree Empire, claiming domain over a million worlds in the Shi'ar Galaxy and with at least a thousand settled planets. The homeworld of the Shi'ar is considered a sacred location, called Aerie. The seat of power of the Shi'ar Empire is the artificial planetoid known as Throneworld. Their population numbers around 60 billion in total. They are technological rivals with their major neighbors, utilizing both hyperspace drive for localized space travel and Blink drives to travel between galactic outposts. Up until recently, the borders of the three Empires hemmed in The Brood in the largely unoccupied space between them. The extinction of that species has created a major power vacuum in the region and left thousands of planets ready for exploitation.
Recent Events
The Majestor of the Shi'ar is D'Ken Neramani, who rose to that position of power after his sister Cal'syee Neramani assassinated their mother. Though she claimed her right under the Imperial edicts of ascendance, the judicars of the Empire ruled that she had acted improperly. Cal'syee's claim to the throne was dismissed and D'ken rose in her place. His sister Lilandra Neramani was advanced as the First Admiral, the Supreme Commander of the Shi'ar Navy.
Disgraced and enraged, Cal'syee approached The Brood and promised them vast worlds and territory if they would accept her tactical leadership. She gave them coordinates for Earth and supplied them with the means of operating the massive Blink Drives that allowed for intergalactic travel. Lilandra contacted Charles Xavier-- whom she had met during the Alien Alliance Invasion-- to warn him. Her message saves millions of Earth lives and buys enough time for Earth's defenders to form a vanguard to stop the Brood Invasion and with the aid of the renegade Starjammers, send a strike team to Alcanti to cut the head off the beast. Xavier remains with Lilandra for two years afterwards, learning much about the ancient entity known as The Phoenix and its metaphysical ties to the object known as the M'kraan Crystal.
Social Structure
The Empire is technically multiracial but much like the Kree, the Shi'ar enjoy preferred citizen status over aliens living in their domain. Their culture is extremely militaristic with strong undercurrents of theologic imperatives. Religion is not mandatory in the sense of attending worship but interpretation of Shi'ar religious scripture drives their zeal for forcefully integrating new worlds and cultures into their Empire. A strong adherence to conservative values and tradition generally means that new customs are sublimated or drowned out very quickly. The process of succession is dynastic and follows maternal bloodlines with eldest children typically being considered heirs presumptive.
Shi'ar do not produce music, art, or entertainment beyond violent conflict. They do not dream and consider a creative mind to be a damaged one. Insanity is considered a vindication of judicial punishment rather than a defense of innocence. Shi'ar law is uncompromising and based on the will of magistrates and planetary governors. There is no concept of division of government and it is not uncommon for the Shi'ar to have military personnel serving in roles of civilian law enforcement, judicial determination, or civic leadership. The laws and traditions of the Shi'ar are seen as involate and it is customary for them to be enforced on any world the Shi'ar visit, whether or not that world accepts Shi'ar authority.
The Majestrix/Majestor holds absolute and unchecked executive power in the Shi'ar Empire. A High Council of various planetary leaders and representatives of subjugated races is tasked with the day-to-day management of the Empire at large.
