PHYSICAL
The Zaketh are best described as a centaur version of a triceratops, and indeed the term "tricerataur" is a common nickname for this species amongst Humans. One of the largest sentient species known, the average Zaketh stands over four metres tall and is nearly five metres long. There are two major racial divisions within the species; the 'greens' and 'reds'. The terms refer to the skin colouration which is one of the two major differences between the races. Green Zaketh are also referred to as 'common', 'base', or in their own language 'nishtal'. Reds are referred to as 'Royal' Zaketh, or 'Zantar' in their language. As well as the skin colouring, Royal Zaketh are easily distinguishable by the prominent triceratops-like crest on their heads. Reds are also about 25% larger in all dimensions, on average. Approximately 95% of the Zaketh species are greens.
The Zaketh are immensely strong and robust. Their skin has natural armour plating similar to that employed by many dinosaur species, making them virtually immune to attack unless by a significant weapon. Injuries such as the loss of a limb regrow within weeks, while the Zaketh tolerance for pain is legendary.
CULTURAL
The Zaketh Empire is widely recognised as the strongest of the active galactic powers. They are deeply conservative, and are very strong supporters of the various galactic customs and conventions - many of which they are believed to have originated.
Their territory spans some fifty thousand light years an they are believed to occupy in excess of half a billion worlds. Within the Empire the Zaketh culture is organised along strict class lines, with the reds forming the aristocracy and the greens the lower classes. Inbreeding between the two races is illegal, with an automatic death sentence for both transgressors and any offspring of mixed blood. It is not unknown for greens to give birth to a red. Possibly this is a result of some freak mutation, but many outside observers consider such cases indicative of illicit interracial relationships involving a red powerful enough to be beyond questioning. Such individuals are either killed at birth or removed from their parents and fostered by a red family.
Most Zaketh are conservative and nationalistic to the point of fanaticism. There is a deep cultural belief that theirs is a superior form of life with a natural right to rule over everything within their power. Their history has spanned some six million years, and during that time their power has waxed and waned periodically - though it is not a good idea to suggest that they have ever been less than the most powerful and respected race in the galaxy to the Zaketh themselves. The present empire evolved some one hundred thousand years ago and reached its zenith ten thousand years ago. Although the empire spans a similar volume today as it did then, it is considered by most analysts to be in an accelerating state of decline. The same cultural conservatism which spurred early expansionism long ago reached a stage where it has strangled artistic, scientific and political innovation almost totally. The outer worlds and subject species of the empire are gradually becoming more and more cut off from the center, and many of the fringe worlds have effectively seceded from the empire. The Zaketh central worlds will rarely admit to this process, and indeed it is questionable to what extent they are actually aware of it. The Zaketh themselves regard discussion of this subject as an insult coming from others and treason from their own people.
Several of the previous empires have indulged in the building of Type I and II Dyson spheres, usually shortly before a widespread recessive period. Most of the spheres have long been destroyed through neglect or in civil wars, but the current empire maintains a handful of spheres of both kinds. There is always talk within the empire of building further spheres, though this has not been attempted in known history and most question whether the Zaketh retain the ability to properly maintain the ones they have, let alone construct new ones.
Historically the Zaketh's major implement for the projection of power has been the Zaketh Imperial Navy, a fleet which is composed of more than a hundred million vessels with a total firepower many thousands of times that of the Coalition navy. However, like the empire as a whole the service is plagued by problems. Most importantly, within the civilian and military sections of the empire careers are hereditary rather than merit. This has inevitably lead to a great drop in the quality of personnel in all areas. The last few centuries has also seen a shift towards the building of gigantic super-dreadnoughts as prestige assignments for the more politically connected officers - at the time of writing the pride of the fleet is the "Emperor's Dignity", a ninety six kilometre long vessel which is quite possibly the single most powerful military unit in the galaxy. While this trend has massively boosted the overall firepower of the fleet, it has reduced its mobility and flexibility drastically. It is a telling point that the Zaketh navy rarely conducts fleet operations beyond its own borders any more.
Despite these shortcomings the sheer size and firepower of the Zaketh fleet still make it the most powerful single military force in the Milky Way, on those rare occasions when the will to use it can be gathered.
