About several dozen dozen worlds with Shadow bases and outposts (from about 2259-2260 in the B5 universe) on them 'replace' pre-existing uninhabited and resource-poor worlds or systems in the Badlands, unclaimed territory between the Cardassian-Federation border or beyond Cardassian Space in the Star Trek Milky Way.
These worlds have a good number of Shadows and Shadow spaceships on them, as well as various other servant-races and agents of the forces of darkness. Including the elements of three Drakh clans, a rogue techno-mage or three, various agents belonging to the B5 'Younger Races' (including humans), as well as Zenar, 'Soldiers of Darkness' and Goblyns.
While I am interested to see everyone's opinion over who would win, I'm more curious to hear how you ladies and gents think the Shadows and their forces would interact with/view the various powers of the Alpha, Beta and Gamma Quadrants.
Scenario 1: the Shadows and their forces show up in the Star Trek Milky Way during 2366.
Scenario 2: the Shadows and their forces show up in the Star Trek Milky Way during 2370.
Note: The B5 Expanded Universe is in play here. Oh and for purposes of sanity, STD is regarded as non-canon for the purposes of this discussion/verses.
Since Babylon 5 isn't as well known these days as it should be, I've taken the liberty of including brief descriptions of the Shadows and their various servitor races and agents below.
Forces of Darkness:
The Shadows:
The Drakh:
Drakh forces:
Clan Dacu
Clan Rohr
The rohr are the best fighters among the Drakh, both on the ground and in space. In addition to using organic technology to augment their Warrior Caste, they have bred superior, specialized fighters. The rohr have the most individuality of any of the Drakh; as a result of this, they have less sway in the Entire than any other clan.
Clan Shan
Other servants of Darkness:
‘Soldiers of Darkness’
The Zener
Goblyns:
Shadow Agents
These worlds have a good number of Shadows and Shadow spaceships on them, as well as various other servant-races and agents of the forces of darkness. Including the elements of three Drakh clans, a rogue techno-mage or three, various agents belonging to the B5 'Younger Races' (including humans), as well as Zenar, 'Soldiers of Darkness' and Goblyns.
While I am interested to see everyone's opinion over who would win, I'm more curious to hear how you ladies and gents think the Shadows and their forces would interact with/view the various powers of the Alpha, Beta and Gamma Quadrants.
Scenario 1: the Shadows and their forces show up in the Star Trek Milky Way during 2366.
Scenario 2: the Shadows and their forces show up in the Star Trek Milky Way during 2370.
Note: The B5 Expanded Universe is in play here. Oh and for purposes of sanity, STD is regarded as non-canon for the purposes of this discussion/verses.
Since Babylon 5 isn't as well known these days as it should be, I've taken the liberty of including brief descriptions of the Shadows and their various servitor races and agents below.
Forces of Darkness:
The Shadows:
An ancient and powerful race from the Babylon 5 universe, whose real name is over 10,000 letters long when translated and is completely unpronounceable for humans or similar species. Their (adopted) homeworld is called Z'ha'dum. The Shadows themselves are rarely seen by those who do not serve them, thanks to their advanced cloaking and phasing technology. That said, they resemble six-foot tall black praying mantises with multiple glowing orange eyes.
The Shadows believe that advancement and growth can only come from conflict. Free will, chaos, survival of the fittest-these are the catchphrases of the Shadow ideology. For them, there is nothing greater then having a choice. Thus, every thousand years, the Shadows help start wars among the 'younger' space-faring races. The races who survive the conflict with each other become stronger, smarter and better.
One should note that, unlike the Chaos gods of Warhammer 40k, the Shadows do not want total chaos. Nothing can arise from it and they know this. But total order is just as bad too. It is between total order and total chaos that complexity lies. That, for the Shadows, is where everything interesting and wonderful happens.
Because of this outlook, the Shadows would see nothing wrong with the Cardassian’s invasion and occupation of Bajor. But by that same token, they would also see nothing wrong with the Bajorans forcing the Cardassians off-world.
As a final note, the Shadows have never believed they are innately superior like so many other elder races across fiction do. Instead, they rejoiced in every victory because they won it through strength, will and cunning.
Technology level: Like the other First Ones, the Shadows are somewhere around the 26th-30th century Federation technologically speaking. Though like each First One Race, they have their own specializations and shortcomings.
The Shadows believe that advancement and growth can only come from conflict. Free will, chaos, survival of the fittest-these are the catchphrases of the Shadow ideology. For them, there is nothing greater then having a choice. Thus, every thousand years, the Shadows help start wars among the 'younger' space-faring races. The races who survive the conflict with each other become stronger, smarter and better.
One should note that, unlike the Chaos gods of Warhammer 40k, the Shadows do not want total chaos. Nothing can arise from it and they know this. But total order is just as bad too. It is between total order and total chaos that complexity lies. That, for the Shadows, is where everything interesting and wonderful happens.
Because of this outlook, the Shadows would see nothing wrong with the Cardassian’s invasion and occupation of Bajor. But by that same token, they would also see nothing wrong with the Bajorans forcing the Cardassians off-world.
As a final note, the Shadows have never believed they are innately superior like so many other elder races across fiction do. Instead, they rejoiced in every victory because they won it through strength, will and cunning.
Technology level: Like the other First Ones, the Shadows are somewhere around the 26th-30th century Federation technologically speaking. Though like each First One Race, they have their own specializations and shortcomings.
The Drakh:
The most numerous of the Shadow’s servant-races, the Drakh are fanatically loyal to the cause of the Shadows. To the Drakh, the Shadows are parents, teachers and dark angels with eyes of fire.
Drakh are reptilian in appearance, possessing a stocky build with heavy endo and exo-skeletal systems, along with scaly skin that is dark gray or green in appearance. They also have a sort of hivemind, known as ‘The Entire’ which allows them to communicate over vast distances of space.
The Drakh do not posses a homeworld, instead living in vast fleets of ships capable of supporting hundreds of thousands of Drakh. As a result, while the Drakh are easily equal in power to factions like the Romulan or Klingon Empires, they have no borders or colony worlds to pin them down.
Drakh are reptilian in appearance, possessing a stocky build with heavy endo and exo-skeletal systems, along with scaly skin that is dark gray or green in appearance. They also have a sort of hivemind, known as ‘The Entire’ which allows them to communicate over vast distances of space.
The Drakh do not posses a homeworld, instead living in vast fleets of ships capable of supporting hundreds of thousands of Drakh. As a result, while the Drakh are easily equal in power to factions like the Romulan or Klingon Empires, they have no borders or colony worlds to pin them down.
Drakh forces:
Clan Dacu
-small in number
+expert pilots, especially in atmospheric flight. Ships are more heavily armed and have more powerful engines.
+Skilled ecologists
+expert pilots, especially in atmospheric flight. Ships are more heavily armed and have more powerful engines.
+Skilled ecologists
- No clanships or Templeships
- Don’t reproduce via cloning- seen as throwback by the rest of the Drakh, though the Shadows respect them for their tenacity.
- probably settle a world or two beyond federation space
- Favored class, agent.
Clan Rohr
- Note, this would be before the Vorlons blew up most of their fleet.
- Not much is known of them pre 2260, besides they did have clan ships and templeships. And were good soldiers.
The rohr are the best fighters among the Drakh, both on the ground and in space. In addition to using organic technology to augment their Warrior Caste, they have bred superior, specialized fighters. The rohr have the most individuality of any of the Drakh; as a result of this, they have less sway in the Entire than any other clan.
- Favored class, officer.
Clan Shan
The shan were once the architects of Drakh civilization. On Draas, they were the most advanced of the clans, both technologically and culturally, until the Shadows came. The shan are conquerors, true, but they were also builders and traders. On a better world than Draas, the shan might have made a truly great civilization.
During the Drakh’s time on Z’ha’dum, the shan became especially loyal to the Shadows. They embraced the principles of evolution through conflict and chaos more fully than any of the other clans, including even the kala.
During the Drakh’s time on Z’ha’dum, the shan became especially loyal to the Shadows. They embraced the principles of evolution through conflict and chaos more fully than any of the other clans, including even the kala.
- Has a ‘large and powerful’ fleet.
- Favored class, agent.
Other servants of Darkness:
‘Soldiers of Darkness’
These minions have been used by the Shadows for millions of years. They are created either by being grown-whole sale or by transforming members of the Younger Races with organic technology, in a process similar to that used for making Shadow Thralls. Their primary purpose is as assassins.
Physically, they resemble demonic carnivorous reptiles that stand at a towering 5–6 meters (16–20 ft). The servants of darkness have the same phasing and invisibility technologies as their creators, although this is a lesser version of it.
Physically, they resemble demonic carnivorous reptiles that stand at a towering 5–6 meters (16–20 ft). The servants of darkness have the same phasing and invisibility technologies as their creators, although this is a lesser version of it.
The Zener
A cold race of technicians and scholars, the Zener are little more than tools. Much of their ability to maintain and use Shadow technology comes from the Shadows themselves. While the Zener are very good at conducting experiments and recording data, their ability to make progress or actually learn anything is severely limited.
Like the Drakh, the Zener have no homeworld. They are dependent on the Drakh for transport, but dislike space travel. The Zener prefer to dwell in cloaked space stations in isolated systems, where they can conduct their cruel science in peace. They are genderless and propagate their race through cloning.
Like the Drakh, the Zener have no homeworld. They are dependent on the Drakh for transport, but dislike space travel. The Zener prefer to dwell in cloaked space stations in isolated systems, where they can conduct their cruel science in peace. They are genderless and propagate their race through cloning.
Goblyns:
A sub-species of Soldiers of Darkness, Goblyns are roughly human in size and shape, but with large cat -like eyes and sharp teeth. However, their stamina and agility surpasses that of humans. On the other hand, well-aimed shots with energy weapons are just as deadly for them as normal species. Like the Soldiers of Darkness and the Shadows themselves, Goblyns leave no body upon dying, only a smoking scorch mark on the ground where they perished.
Unusually for servants of the Shadows, they’re telepathic and tend to communicate between themselves telepathically as well. This telepathic ability is used in conjunction with their ability to camouflage themselves by taking on the texture and coloration of their surroundings, like chameleons. This is usually done while spying, or trying to mess with their victims' minds, planting suggestions in their brains with their telepathy.
Unusually for servants of the Shadows, they’re telepathic and tend to communicate between themselves telepathically as well. This telepathic ability is used in conjunction with their ability to camouflage themselves by taking on the texture and coloration of their surroundings, like chameleons. This is usually done while spying, or trying to mess with their victims' minds, planting suggestions in their brains with their telepathy.
Shadow Agents
The Shadows have a long practice for recruiting agents and followers among the Younger Races. There are always those drawn to power and chaos, so as soon as the Shadows begin to move, suitable agents are quick to present themselves. They are missionaries of chaos, searching for those willing to listen to the siren call of war and ambition. They are your best friends, your best allies, the harbingers of nightmare and carnage.
The Shadows know that the Younger Races understand themselves better than the Shadows ever could. It is these agents that give the Shadows insight into the changing galaxy. A tiny handful of agents backed up with the nearly unstoppable power of the Shadow fleets is enough to bring the galaxy spiraling down into chaos.
The Shadows know that the Younger Races understand themselves better than the Shadows ever could. It is these agents that give the Shadows insight into the changing galaxy. A tiny handful of agents backed up with the nearly unstoppable power of the Shadow fleets is enough to bring the galaxy spiraling down into chaos.