The Measured

The Measured is the current moniker of the prime ward species of the Scryve Empire. Working as the Empire’s bureaucrats, they were especially genetically engineered by the Scryve over ten thousand years for such a purpose. The Measured were formally called the Llani prior to their enslavement by the Scryve, something they had forgotten over the millennia.

Biology

The Measured are a race of sentient coral reefs, with a multitude of different species working in tandem to achieve their goals of bureaucracy. This seems to have been their original form during their days as the Llani and they originally inhabited ocean worlds. Due to their hive-minded biology, every individual on a reef is connected on some level. This renders the Measured vulnerable to narcotics and other such biological warfare, as if one of a reef is affected, they all are.

The Measured are heavily genetically engineered, with the only other example of the sheer level of tampering being the Drenkend, the other Scryve client race. This genetic engineering has primed the Measured for their roles as administrators, possessing immense filing and memory recollection abilities, able to recall all the various forms and sheets they require seemingly for every situation they find themselves in.

The Measured are largely loyal to the Scryve as a result of this genetic tampering and in a similar manner to the Drenkend, find it difficult to deviate from their programming when it comes to bureaucracy, experiencing pain when they do so. However, they have largely retained their free will, as upon the discovery of their true name, the Measured cease all hostilities against humanity, in spite of the Empire’s larger stance on the Federation.

Culture

The Measured’s entire culture is geared around the concept of bureaucracy, with an obsession with filing and forms. This extends to their manners of greeting and even their permission to leave a conversation. The Measured also request permission as part of their forms for different situations, as seen when they provide themselves self-affirmation to thank the Captain for his services.

The Measured are in the business of recording everything they can, including seeking out old records that have been lost to time, such as their original name as a species. They pay handsomely for any leads, even enemies of the Empire and are most pleased when they discover any leads on the matter. The Measured are largely autonomous, following orders and procedure with little self-awareness. This is not the case with a lone Measured by the name of the Librarian. This individual operates largely alone and without the orders of the Scryve, finding records of the Measured from before their genetic tempering. The Scryve know of this individual, but are exasperated by the paperwork required for the Measured to turn him in, so he is largely left alone and has gone to great lengths to hide his individuality from the Empire. The other Measured view him with distaste, but keep him safe with layers of bureaucracy.

The Measured are forced to experience a cultural shock upon the revelation of their true history and suffering at the hands of the Scryve Empire. Unfortunately, the Measured are still bound to the Empire and are processing their original name, as they would any other form. This doesn’t mean it isn’t difficult for them.

History

The Measured were originally known as the Llani around seven thousand years ago, before they encountered the Scryve during their initial waves of conquest. The Llani fought back with vigour and managed to stall the Scryve long enough to stalemate them in the war. This caused the Scryve to resort to other tactics to subvert the Llani. Over time, they began to trade a narcotic drug with the Llani that began to change their genetic structure from the inside out. Eventually all Llani were addicted to the drug and their society collapsed.

The Scryve moved into mop up the Llani and conquered them. The narcotic was continually provided to the affected Llani and it began to change their genetic structure over the millennia until they became the Measured. A few Llani managed to escape the war and attempted to re-establish themselves. They made records of their specie's downfall, but the Scryve eventually found them and wiped them out.

Over the next seven millennia, the Measured worked as the Scryve’s administrators throughout their expansion and subsequent decline, holding the Scryve up as the perfect race who can do no wrong, a mindset bred into them by the Scryve. They continued to search for their true name during this time, but little headway was made.

Eventually, the Measured were encountered by the Captain of the Vindicator. He proceeded to fulfil their request of finding the Llani’s records. Upon finding the last one, the Measured made the horrifying discovery of their past and thanked the Captain for his troubles, calling off their ships from engaging with those of the Federation. As the Empire pulled back to their home territory, the Measured sought to continue their endeavours to record everything that happened in the sector, as they had done for millennia, but this time with a key interest in humanity.