50 years after the Great War, 18 years after the Second Incursion, we still know almost nothing about the Shivans.

Physically, the Shivans have multiple, compound eyes and five legs with claw-like manipulators. Their insect-like carapace does not appear original to the creature's physiognomy, suggesting the Shivans are a cybernetic fusion of biology and technology. The integrated plasma weapon also exhibits properties of an organic-artificial fusion. The weapon may be a kind of focusing device powered by the energy of the being itself, though this point is the subject of heated controversy.

These details are cited as evidence that the Shivans could not have evolved as the Terran or Vasudan species had, but that they were likely constructed by another entity. Only a handful of Shivans have ever been captured, and all research on live specimens ended with the GTI's Hades rebellion in 2335. The results of these studies remain highly classified.

Though the Shivans are obviously xenocidal, their motives and origins have yet to be determined. According to Ancient artifacts, the Shivans seem to possess some kind of sensitivity to subspace disturbances. We do not know if the Shivans returned to this corner of the galaxy by chance, by cycle or pattern, or by their detection of Terran-Vasudan subspace travel.

Xenobiologists know very little about Shivan society. A leading hypothesis is the hive mind theory, arguing that Shivan society is broken down in specialized functions driven by a collective intelligence. The most convincing evidence supporting this theory is the behavior of Shivan forces following the destruction of the Lucifer, the turning point of the Great War. Other experts caution against attributing insectoid properties to the Shivans, regardless of their appearance and behavior.

The NTF ETAK project confirmed that Shivan communications occurs in modulated quantum pulses, exhibiting some nonlocal and possibly even acausative properties. Whether ETAK simply drew the attention of the Shivans or actually enabled communication with them remains hotly disputed. The nature of Shivan 'language', if it can be called such, suggests that their cognition may be so alien as to render communications or even common thoughts effectively impossible.

Ancient legend suggested that the Shivans were born from the flux of subspace, intended by the universe to eradicate aggressively hegemonistic species and preserve diversity. The Shivans do not appear to 'live' in subspace, but other elements of the Ancient legend are currently untested.

In conclusion, the lessons of Capella must be restated. The Shivans are an incredibly powerful, sophisticated species, exhibiting incredible diversity in their technological prowess. No Shivan shipyards have ever been sighted, nor any Shivan population center, suggesting that the species as a whole may be nomadic and spaceborne. How the Shivans manufacture new vessels remains unknown.

The Shivans have exhibited the capability to engineer subspace and destroy stars. The purpose of this action is unknown. Some have suggested that they may be creating nebulae, which may be their preferred habitat. Others have suggested that the Shivans are creating supernodes that link portions of their space or even link our universe with others.

Whatever the true answers, it is currently believed that the Shivan species may occupy most or all of the Milky Way galaxy, and may even extend beyond. Further contact with this species is almost a certainty, but their capabilities and objectives remain completely unknown.