Independence, self-sufficiency, fatalism: these are the
characteristics honored by the Alyssians, though for the last several hundred
years they have sacrificed much of their individualism for the greater cause of
societal harmony. The Alyssians are democratic and egalitarian. However, in
this new age of scientific progress, those who excel in the military sciences
are esteemed above all.
Since the destruction of their
manned mission to Malus, the Alyssians have committed vast planetary resources
to their great crusade against the culturally primitive and violent Malus. The
Alyssian soldier is a supremely competent professional. Benefiting from intense
training and esprit de corps, the Alyssian officer is a scholar of warfare. His
only weakness is perhaps a lack of familiarity with the shock of combat. This
is the first time that the Alyssians have fought an unknown enemy, an enemy
that is clearly militaristic and accustomed to conflict.
Prior to adopting
the "Alyssian" name, philosophical theses abounded with arrogant references to
the greatness of "the Elect":
"We, the Elect, are sole worthy
to inherit the Cosmos. There is no other Intelligence but Our
Intelligence."
Following the strict interpretation of Aldar scripture, particularly
the above quoted verse, the tone changes dramatically:
"We, who are the mere Shadow of
the Aldar, humbly submit our Intelligence, feeble though it may be, before
them. We, the Observed, sit in judgment of their superior
Wisdom."