Updated Platonic Life, chapter 19: [link]
Updated All's Fair, chapter 13:[link]



I've decided to talk about my view of the Irken Empire. Usually I don't bother talking about such thing, but I, for some reason, feel like talking about it.
SO YOU'RE GONNA LISTEN.

Okeys. As far as I can see it the Empire runs rather like the Byzantine (East Roman) Empire did back in its day, with of course, a few differences.
For one, at the highest seat of power, is the Tallest(s) who basicly have to approve every law and bill and are supreme commanders of the irken army.
Then there are the advisors who are basicly like congressmen and personal advisors, with the Tallest of say, the science, food, industry departments being the Tallest(s) cabinet.
Then, stationed on every planet and each connected, are the Control Brains who work as duel supreme judges and councils, working to enforce and interperate law while also managing a planet's general output and status.
I don't think there are any elections, ever, at least for the Tallest(s). Since all things are ultimately decided by height, the Empire is therefore something of a Byzantinian Autocracy, aka, an Empire ruled by a single (or in this cause duel) ruler(s) who is unvoted, yet, is helped by a vast network of government and who's rule is generally benevolent towards the people.

Irken rank is broken down by order of height, education and record with the head of say, a school, being the 'Tallest Principal' and the teachers below them being 'Taller Teachers' with Subtitute teachers or Aids being 'Tall Sub-Teacher' or 'Tall Aid-Teacher'. Most of the time the tallest irken will be given the best position, however, in cases where say, the Tallest is uneducated or unexperienced, the position may be given to the irken with most experience and education (e.g. the way that most invaders, although small in size, had superior education, training and experience to other taller soldiers).

Of course, each planet captured in the Empire is evaluated and put to a certain use, as shown in the show, I imagine many are things like training planets, industry and manufacturing and food production. Other things like science stations, prisons and suchlike also exist and are most likely built on planets that don't offer much farming or industrial promise. Also, its highly likely that some planets are taken just for militaristic importance and stratigic advantages over possible enemies or even just to build more living space for the uncounted massive number of irkens.

Slaves are used as the Irken race is generally considered the 'master' race as it where with the 'slave' races below them, however, in cases such as vortians the slave races may become serfs (low paid workers without rights).

However, its also been shown in the show that small irkens can be assigned to 'drone' status, which I assume many of the population do. These drones would be, in my opinion, your general working adverge joe. They work on production lines, they drive your cabs, they serve you at the local fast food stop, they build your ships etc etc. They mostly do the low skilled work and form the backbone of production and indeed the Empire itself.

One might point out with the tech at the Empire's disposal, why employ someone to build something when you could use cheep and easy robots to build it? Or indeed force the slave races to build things for you?
The answer lies in... THE ECONAMY! Simply put, if robots or slaves are used to build everything, then the adverage irken wouldn't have the money to buy the product. With no one buying the product, the company can't make money, and thus the econamy is weakened. The use of actual, well paid citizens to build things and do the low skilled jobs encorages people to also invest that money back into the econamy, thus keeping the buisnesses afloat and the people happy.

Also, its obvious in the show that the rich generals and businessirkens make up the 'elite' of irken sociaty and there's probably a large rich-poor gap. However, irken sociaty is also clearly class based, thus, most middle or working class irkens are accepting of their place in the Empire due to sociaty's conditioning. This is also probably backed up by the emphasis on height, and so, small people genarally accept their position as a drone and, with little chance of growing taller and being promoted, do their job and live their life.

And thats about enough for now. If anyone's interested I'll do another thing like this on families and why I think irkens would have them and also why I don't think the Irken Empire is the ONLY super(hyper?)power in the universe.

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