Navoonoids

Navoonoids are one of two sapient species, and the only sapient fungal species, to have evolved on the moon Asronis in the Ta system (Kumara 5.1.6.A.9.4). A census of Navoonoids is not possible due to the ambiguous definition of a Navoonoid “individual.” At times, the Navoonoid species has been considered to be one single, hypermassive organism. The stated preference of the Navoonoids at the present time is to be referred to in the plural (“Navoonoids” rather than “Navoon”).

Biology
Navoonoids predate the Asronians in sapience by hundreds of thousands of standard years and have been increasing in mass, as well as in intelligence and in neural/computational capability, steadily over time. It is estimated the total Navoonoid mass exceeds 12,000,000 units of mass. The majority of Navoonoids live in one single conglomeration that takes up more than 50,000 units of length squared, though there are smaller, less massive “tendrils” that form a network analogous to wires that reach to every Asronian community. Some Navoonoids travel on Asronian ships, but no significant colony or presence otherwise external to Asronis exists. The Navoonoids have indicated some confusion regarding concepts like “age” and consider themselves to be eternal, with all the memories of all the Navoonoids still present today. This long span of memory has allowed the Navoonoids to personally witness and record observations about long-term trends that would take countless generations of Asronians to record, especially astronomical phenomena. The Navoonoid measurement of the solar output of Alavar is considered to be the longest-running such observation project in the Empire.

The biology of the Navoonoids is kept as a strict secret by the Asronians. The Navoonoids have indicated that “the only known mandatory directive” the Asronians have ever issued the Navoonoids as a sovereign was “to never disclose information about [their] anatomy or biological processes,” a directive to which the Navoonoids have sworn to strictly adhere. Almost nothing is known of the Navoonoids’ anatomy or biology, except that they are fungal life forms and that spores form a part of their reproductive cycle.

Government
Legally, Navoonoids are Asronian citizens, and are subject first in all cases to the sovereignty and law of the United Asronian Realm before that of the Empire, meaning their governance is primarily the jurisdiction of Asronians. Beginning in the year 33549, a communication-uplink from the central Navoonoid conglomeration directly to the Imperial Senate has existed independent of Asronian control, as a way of “representation” in the Senate and to allow for the possibility of the Navoonoids needing to communicate outside Asronian knowledge or interference. The Navoonoids have indicated they are happy with their current governing arrangement and that should the Asronians no longer meet their needs, they would clearly communicate this to both the Asronians and the Senate. Also in 33549, the Navoonoids – then considered to be one single organism – voluntarily swore the oath of allegiance to the Emperor and acknowledged its fealty subject to the laws of the Empire and the Asronians who are their primary sovereign. In the year 34210, a resolution of the Senate declared that the Navoonoids have the right to seek independence from the Asronians, should they ever request it. The Navoonoids have responded that they acknowledge this right but have no current desire to do so.

Technology
The Navoonoids, collectively, are one of the most powerful supercomputers in the galaxy. The Navoonoids are credited with some of the most complicated proofs of advanced mathematics known to the Empire and in times of war have contributed significant computing power to plotting the most efficient possible FTL travel patterns for supply lines as well as offensive or defensive actions. The Navoonoids, under the collective name “The Navoon”, have been awarded 14 Imperial Science Legionnaire Awards, the highest scientific honor in the Empire. “The Navoon” is also a Senior Fellow of the Imperial Academy, an honor that notably no Asronian has yet achieved. “The Navoon” is also a veteran of 18 wars, and was awarded the Emperor’s Ribbon of Distinction twice. “The Navoon” received votes from electors in the Imperial Elections of 34244, 343AB, and 35057, the only time any name has been proposed in three different elections. The Navoonoids are sometimes popularly known as “the Brain of the Empire.”

Culture
The Navoonoids are very protective of the Asronians, which they call “our children.” The Navoonoids are known to have expressed anxiety, fear, and sadness during times of war when they believed Asronians could be in mortal peril. The Asronians are known to have a pseudo-religious relationship with the Navoonoids. Their culture is centered around gratitude towards the Navoonoids, and Asronians are taught to first consider the needs of the Navoonoids before all else. The Navoonoids feature significantly in the funerary rites of the Asronians, a tradition which is believed to pre-date recorded Asronian history.

An Imperial Edict issued in the year 35057, as part of the celebratory edicts issued on the occasion of the inauguration of Emperor Shez-Nai the 34th, declared that the Navoonoids were a protected species by virtue of their low number (then counted as exactly 1) and critical strategic importance. This legal status affords the Navoonoids significant Imperial protection. Since that year, an Imperial Retinue has been in place at Asronis to supervise and protect the Navoonoids. By tradition, the Retinue is always commanded by an Asronian and is usually staffed by Asronians, although in recent years many other species have served. Asronis is the smallest rimward planet by population to host an Imperial Retinue.