Xakzen

The Xakzen are an insectoid species of workers, controlled by the Hivemind and regulated and bred by the Matriarchs. The Xakzen homeplanet is referred to simply as 'Hive', and was the seat of Nechri power after a surprise attack from their own galaxy. The Nechri have since been removed. The Xakzen easily number in the trillions, and have the highest population density in the galaxy, though this is of little issue to the abundant, mostly mindless workers. Such control is often criticised by ethics groups from other species, though their complaints are ignored as folly and naivety by the Hivemind and Matriarchs. The Xakzen are also renowned for their recognisable amalgam of technology and biology. Such an ability to essentially create life has invoked many inquiries of amazement and horror, but the Xakzen have ignored the questions, confused as to why it is so controversial.

Matriarchs and Workers
The Workers and the Matriarchs are technically different species - the Workers are insects, whilst the Matriarchs are arachnids. However, their almost symbiotic relationship means they all identify as Xakzen, and take offense if suggested otherwise. Inexplicably, the Matriarchs are able to breed Workers, and their relationship is surprisingly affectionate.

Conflict with the Cisst
For the Xakzen workers, the Cisst were their natural predators, to the fury of the Matriarchs. Despite this hatred and lust for destruction, the Cisst were powerful enough pack hunters that the Matriarchs knew they couldn't combat them. For millennia, the Cisst had hunted the Xakzen, then turned to pillaging and ransacking once their civilisations advanced - due to their impressive ability to steal Xakzen technology and then interpret it for themselves, the Cisst became a faster advancing species. This extended to the point at which the Cisst reached space travel faster: this angered the Matriarchs to such a degree that a concord was reached to combat their scourge. The Matriarchs led huge offensives against the Cisst, breeding to the point of near-death, to eliminate this dire threat. Eventually, before the turn of the Brood Wars, the Matriarchs forced the Cisst from Hive.

The Brood Wars
At the changing of the last Hivemind (the venerated Zayza), and in a time of previously unmatched potential for the Xakzen, there was a great deal of argument surrounding which Matriarch should assume the role, with the newfound power their species possessed. Without the Hivemind there to lead them, the Matriarchs waged a brutal civil war against one another, pitting Xakzen against Xakzen. Ultimately, only 2 Matriarchs survived - Yselma and Siirak, the eldest, wisest matriarch and the most savage, who had started the conflict. After negotiations ended in a terrible battle, Yselma tore out Siirak's throat, and though badly wounded, assumed the role of Hivemind. The Xakzen had almost extincted themselves, and it took many years for them to recover.