Eresat

The Eresat are an ancient race which live in a higher plane of existence as energy-based lifeforms.

Compared to other races, their behaviour is very mysterious, appearing most of the time as just figments of light, stellar events, subspace anomalies, and electromagnetic activity. They use this vague nature and hazed physiology to their advantage against the other races, and primarily use that to defeat them.

History

The origin of the Eresat is largely unknown, and for most of known time they were simply a legend, with stories of the Eresat being passed around amongst the interstellar species of the southern quadrant of Azuria for millennia. The Valadians in particular thought the Eresat were simply a myth, with those who believed in their existence typically being shunned.

In the 8840s, the discovery of Eresat technology in the neutral zone forced the Valadians to finally accept that the Eresat were real. Following on from this, more and more Eresat technology was slowly discovered. Based on the discoveries made in subsequent years, the Eresat appear to have been conventional, physical, organic sapient beings at one point, but have since apparently evolved into a race of beings capable of traversing and manipulating spacetime, existing mostly in a higher plane of the universe.

In the 9270s, the Eresat began making excursions into the southern quadrant of Azuria, interfering with the lives of the other races living there and subsequently causing an interstellar war.

General information

The Eresat in their current form are almost a complete mystery. They are not known to take physical form, and have never been seen, with ships appearing to be remotely manned. They also don't seem to have a known home planet in the galaxy, or even to establish themselves as having a presence on a physical planet or star system. Instead, they generate subspace portals which allow them to enter the lower plane of existence occupied by the other races, absorbing matter and resources when needed.

Because they take residence in the higher plane of existence, their behaviour and abilities are difficult to ascertain. The only information known about modern Eresat behaviour and culture has to be inferred from their ship designs and combat tactics.

Technology

It is difficult to tell exactly what the capabilities of the Eresat are in direct comparison to other races. They appear to have vaguely similar abilities when confronted in combat - they can detect enemies at stellar distances, anticipate attack moves, and their weapons are similarly destructive. They also appear to have the ability to manipulate spacetime in various ways that are beyond the comprehension of the other races.

Combat style

Eresat ships do not typically show any hostility until they are actively provoked, such as if a ship of another race crosses its established territory, or if the Eresat ship itself is attacked or approached at too close a distance.

Aside from being controlled by extra-dimensional means, the ships seem to still be bound by many limitations and rules of conventional space. The ships will accelerate, manoeuvre, and react similarly to light or fighter units from other races.

For heavy attacks, they tend to use dangerous manipulation of spacetime and rippling from higher dimensions. For more precision and lower-level combat, they use space-distorting or disruptive technology to affect or damage the enemy. Compared to other races, Eresat combat can be looked at as underhanded, silent, and unanticipated.

The Eresat's ability to manipulate spacetime with activity in the higher dimensions is exceedingly difficult for the other races to deal with, due to the nature of the activity, and sometimes the complete lack of a distinguishable source. However, the Eresat seem to still require some sort of intelligent observation of conventional spacetime to exact power, and still have limited functions and resources in the higher dimensions with which to perform their actions. These limitations are the biggest weakness of the Eresat.

Background information

The evolution of races to a higher plane of existence, where they exist as pure energy, is a common science fiction staple. An example of another similar race from modern sci-fi would be the Ancients/Ori from the Stargate universe. The design style draws inspiration from the Seraphim in Supreme Commander.