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Being a Brief History of the Mouselings, and why poking them is considered a bad idea. Mouselings occupy a small nation state consisting of five systems bordering the Dead Zone along the border of the Crusader Worlds and the CISS. Physically, they resemble chibified versions of Terran mice. Despite appearances, genetic testing has proved that they have no Terran connection. Their existence, however, along with other species across the galaxy, lends credence to the Forerunner Progenitor theory. It is a well known fact that there have been many races that reached space before humanity. At a time when mankind was learning to hit each other with sticks, mighty empires rose and fell among the stars. Many fell so long ago that there is little evidence remaining, save for some enigmatic remains left behind here and there. Others left substantial ruins that are still being explored even now. Some of the most dramatic evidence is the Dead Zone between the Glorious Empire of the Benevolent Protectors of the People and the Crusader Worlds. Approximately 250,000 years ago, all but two of the inhabitable planets in that entire sector were burned off, leaving sterile, airless husks behind. No one is sure why it happened. The theories range from an all out war between two powerful races, to an attempt to create a buffer zone to protect one side or the other, or even a mass crusade of extermination of some sort. The reasons are unknown, and the Forerunner races that were involved are long gone, with not even legends hinting at what happened or what they even looked like. Even the Nelajoren, an extremely long lived reptilian race with an almost pathological need to collect history, have been unable to find clues as to who these people may have been. The Forerunner Progenitors, however, had different motives. It is theorized that the first Progenitors, spreading out across a galaxy that was mostly empty of life, felt the need to spread life as far as they could. They took species from one planet and used them to seed other planets. This is an effort to explain why most sentient races resemble each other in general body shape, and in some cases why so many races resemble each other so much that it is difficult to tell them apart. Hence, the Mouselings. They are a cheerful, friendly race, eager to help out whenever they can. They are noticeably non aggressive, and do not seem to have any desire to expand their nation state beyond where it is. Technologically, they are very advanced, and love to tinker with and improve equipment of all kinds. And, they are very cute, so cute that you just want to hug them. Even when they are wearing uniforms and carrying weapons, you almost have to smile and say, "Aw. How cute." This cuteness leads many to underestimate them. When the Crusader Worlds launched their Great Crusade to reinstall the Hegemony a hundred years ago, the Mouselings were one of the first realms to be invaded. Given the Crusader Worlds stated goal of exterminating all non human races, the Mouselings were slated for genocide. The Crusaders thought that they would be easy to defeat. They made one major mistake. When attacked, Mouselings turn into absolutely ruthless soldiers. They do not understand proportional response, limited war, surrender or the taking of prisoners. They keep attacking until either they or their enemies are destroyed. Coupled with their potential for a high rate of reproduction, and the capability to rapidly produce massive quantities of high tech weapons and equipment, Mouslings can field an incredible number of well armed and equipped troops in a very short time. Much to their shock and disbelief, the invading Crusader forces were annihilated. Fortunately, the Mouselings have no desire to expand their realm, and don't seem to hold grudges, otherwise they would have conquered parts of the Crusader Worlds for themselves. Nevertheless, the Crusader Worlds learned their lesson, and now leave the Mouselings strictly alone, not even launching raids against them. The rest of human space also noticed, leading to the phrase "Don't poke the Mouseling", meaning don't deliberately antagonize someone, especially someone more powerful than yourself.