Ur-Quan Hierarchy

The Ur-Quan Hierarchy, also known as the Hierarchy of Battle Thralls or simply the Hierarchy, is a system created by the Ur-Quan Kzer-Za to manage their series of conquests that perpetuates the Path of Now and Forever. In our region of space, the Hierarchy consists of the Ur-Quan, seven Battle Thralls and four Fallow Slaves, including Earth.

History

It is unknown how this system has operated in past regions conquered by the Kzer-Za; they did not bring along the ships of any previously conquered races upon attacking our region, though it is possible that at least part of the crew of their Dreadnoughts originate from other regions. Also, the growing instability of our own Hierarchy near the time of the Doctrinal Conflict suggests that it might be dangerous for the Ur-Quan to keep Battle Thralls outside their direct supervision and control.

The Kzer-Za have a policy of modifying alien cultures to varying degrees in order to pacify them and make them useful to the Hierarchy after conquest. The extent of this most likely depends highly on the situation. For instance, the Kzer-Za were forced to take radical steps to prevent a nuclear war among the Thraddash — replacing Culture 18 with Culture 19 — while apparently leaving the Yehat clan system intact after both of those species became Battle Thralls. On Earth, they destroyed all Human dwellings, monuments and archaeological sites older than 500 years, including some of which the Humans were not even aware, apparently to forcibly uproot a culture they found troublesome and allow it to be completely replaced with a more Ur-Quan-friendly one. How often this was practiced for conquered worlds is unknown, though the Spathi claim to have undergone a similar process. The Kzer-Za also threaten The Captain with the decimation of Earth should he continue to violate the Oath of Fealty.

Structure

The Ur-Quan Kzer-Za are the supreme commanders of the Hierarchy. When a race is conquered, they are given the choice to become Battle Thralls or Fallow Slaves. Battle Thralls are essentially henchmen who obey Kzer-Za commands and act as agents to help subdue other species, and thus keep some degree of political autonomy and freedom to travel through space. Fallow Slaves are races that decline to formally join the Hierarchy as Battle Thralls are forced to take the Oath of Fealty and then their homeworld is encased in a Slave Shield. Fallow species are still required to serve the Hierarchy by providing resources and labor and by maintaining a Starbase at their planet for the construction, repair, and refueling of Hierarchy vessels. Transport between the Starbase and the planetary surface is performed only under Ur-Quan supervision.

Membership

As of February 2155, the Hierarchy consists of the Ur-Quan Kzer-Ah, seven Battle Thralls and four Fallow Slaves.

Leaders

• Ur-Quan Kzer-Za

Hierarchy Battle Thralls

• Ilwrath
• Mycon
• Spathi
• Thraddash
• Umgah
• VUX
• Yehat

Fallow Slaves

• Faz
• Syreen
• Humans
• Chenjesu and Mmrnmhrm (together on a single world)