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Kzer-zaThe Kzer-Za, often just called Ur-Quan, are a fictional race of beings featured in the sci-fi Star Control computer game series. Physiology: The Ur-Quan Kzer-Za are an offshoot of the Ur-Quan species, and therefore share nearly all of their anatomy with the Ur-Quan Kohr-Ah. When the Dnyarri forged their subspecies, they engineered the green Ur-Quan to be the planners and support for the Dnyarri empire, to serve vital structural functions. This has translated into keen intelligence and autonomous thinking, keeping the Ur-Quan Kzer-Za devout loners. Philosophy: Raised for the function of keeping the other slaves in line, the Ur-Quan Kzer-Za have honed a detailed and efficient system of slave ruling, with supreme authority based on terrible retribution for disobedience. These fierce overlords have learned a key lesson from the Dnyarri -- any slave empire will be undone if any independence is allowed. Therefore, to keep a slave forever, one must remain ever vigilant for signs of free will -- so that it may be crushed. The Ur-Quan Kzer-Za learned another valuable lesson from the Dnyarri, and the months of torture endured during their revolt against their masters pounded it in: Foreign intellects ultimately threaten the independence of the Ur-Quan race. To this end, the Ur-Quan Kzer-Za followed the teachings of the Path of Now and Forever, where all non-Ur-Quan life is to be subjugated; forced into eternal slavery trapped forever under an impenetrable (so they thought) slave-shield, or allowed freedom to, in turn, aid the Ur-Quan enslave other sentient intellects. On the off chance that the Ur-Quan Kzer-Za were wrong (they were), they would sit back and watch the Ur-Quan Kohr-Ah slaughter each of the enslaved races without lifting a tentacle to defend their holdings. The future of the Ur-Quan race was far more important than the future of other sentients, and the slaves the Ur-Quan Kzer-Za took were only of use to take other slaves. Other life means little to the Ur-Quan Kzer-Za, and may ultimately threaten their dominance. This philosophy would inevitably lead the slavers to conflict with races who did not want to be enslaved. The Ur-Quan Kzer-Za are by no means an evil race, nor are they even hostile. They serve, in their own minds, as the guardians of the galaxy. They not only sought to assure Ur-Quan dominance over all sentient life, but to protect sentient life from its own worst enemy -- itself. They speak of finding horrible evils capable of destroying worlds, but far too often, these deeds were accomplished by the worlds' own inhabitants, in devastating nuclear exchanges with no winner. Haven been subjugated by the former fate, it does seem more likely that the Ur-Quan Kzer-Za fear xenoforms far more than internal strife, however. History: The history of the Ur-Quan Kzer-Za tightly overlaps that of their cousins, and most of their story can be found under the entry for the Ur-Quan Kohr-Ah. When the Dnyarri were overthrown, the green Ur-Quan, under the direction of their leader Kzer-Za, the newly liberated slaves turned slavers, and subjugated the Faz. In turn, the Ur-Quan Kohr-Ah had incinerated the Yuptar and were moving on to confront the Mael-Num. There, the two factions met, and the first Doctrinal Combat broke out. After winning, the Ur-Quan Kzer-Za banished their Kohr-Ah brethren and began to enact their quest to enslave all life they encountered. They may well have travelled far beyond the quadrant, inspecting worlds and enslaving races that nobody else knows about; they had 20,000 years in which to roam. The location, fate, and status (slave, thrall, free, or extinct) remains to be seen. Finally, they returned to this quadrant, the Sa-Matra "Great Prize" Battle Platform in tow, to await the return of the murderous Ur-Quan Kohr-Ah. Their entry did bring them across the Thraddash, who they swiftly enslaved, and then occupied their position in the Crateris system. News of their arrival and intentions spread quickly, and some races were already preparing for inevitable conflict. The Ilwrath were conquered, as were the Spathi. Soon, the Mycon approached the Ur-Quan Kzer-Za and offered their allegiance to their cause. Then, the slavers noticed radio transmissions emanating from earth -- they turned to attack the humans. It was at this time when the Chenjesu approached the humans and asked for their aid, foiling the Ur-Quan Kzer-Za's dark plans. They turned and conquered the Umgah, and then the Androsynth. After the Insult, the VUX refused the Alliances aid and were also sacked by the Ur-Quan Kzer-Za, drawing the lines for the Hierarchy of Battle Thralls. The war was long and devastating for all sides, but mostly the Alliance side. The fleet of Dreadnoughts smashed through Alliance fortifications at Raynet, signalling the end of the war, as the Chenjesu and Mmrnmhrm were forced to surrender in the face of the Sa-Matra. The earth was taken swiftly after, and without their productive capabilities, the Alliance collapsed. When the Dreadnoughts entered Delta Gorno to enslave the Shofixti, however, they encountered a rude surprise and what might have been a major setback if it wasn't the last act of defiance from the Alliance. After polishing off the Alliance, the Ur-Quan Kzer-Za returned to Crateris to await the arrival of the Kohr-Ah. Their battle, spanning nearly five years, ultimately lead to the defeat of the Dreadnought fleets, probably aided by depletion by the War. And so the Doctrinal Conflict was over and done, with the Ur-Quan Kzer-Za, by surrendering, signalled that the Kohr-Ah were right. While less perverse than the Eternal Doctrine, the Path of Now and Forever would ultimately fall short as did the Dnyarri's reign, for the Ur-Quan Kzer-Za were not as vigilant as they should have been. The former slavers devoted too much attention to their Doctrinal Conflict than they should have. The defeat of the Ur-Quan Kzer-Za was total as their newest slaves rose up against them to destroy the Sa-Matra and end the Ur-Quan threat forever. Or so is hoped. Current Status: The Ur-Quan Kzer-Za, following the destruction of the 'Great Trophy' by the Alliance, surrendered under the condition that the Kohr-Ah be remanded to their care. At best, an uneasy truce remains between the former slave takers and their past and potential underlings.
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