An idea I had for a setting based off the intro for Valerian and the various species of Stars in Shadow (which I also plan to make <3) where Earth and humanity get assimilated into an alien federation, ushering in a new age for all involved

Don't have an image unfortunately but I thought about using the Blue Song from Dead Sound's Sauria as a ref since I imagine that's what my raptor-like saurian race would look like

Also hope you enjoy!


edit 6/9/25: generic Earth image is generic

Also gonna copy-paste everything here

(NOTE: I don’t have any names for these species, other than placeholders, so feel free to come up with whatever you want for them)

The (Saurian)s are a race that resemble anthropomorphic raptors or dinosaurs covered in colorful feathers, and are the leaders of the interstellar empire. They are the only species to possess an advanced civilization and interstellar capabilities, meaning that other species are reliant on them for travel and trade to other worlds, which they take full advantage of; using other species to colonize worlds with valuable resources but environments that are ill-suited for them (for example, sending aquatic aliens to colonize ocean-covered worlds), allowing them to build and maintain their vast empire.
They are matriarchal, with females being noticeably larger than males, and making up most of their government and military, while the more colorful males take up other jobs, often related to art, science, or engineering. They evolved on an arid, Earth-like world of mostly dry deserts with few forests or oceans, making them resilient towards harsh climates but preferring more hospitable environments. They are led by a single empress, the most powerful and influential female in their society, and her chosen mate(s), the best and the brightest male(s).

The (Reptilian)s are the (Saurian)s closest allies and share many superficial similarities. They are a large and powerful race that resemble Earth’s reptiles: scaly, cold-blooded carnivores with large claws and sharp fangs that evolved as apex predators on a hot, humid world of swamps and jungles. Due to their strength and ferocity, they make up a sizable portion of the empire’s military and help to enforce the (Saurian)’s rule and police the other species, though many have also taken to piracy or mercenary work, which - along with other unsavory aspects of their society and culture - has given them a bad rep among the other races.
Like the (Saurian)s, they are matriarchal, with females being larger and more aggressive than males. They are also an r-selected species, producing large numbers of offspring that are largely left to fend for themselves or enter society as little more than slave labor, ensuring that only the strongest survive. Having evolved in a warm, wet homeworld, cold and arid climates are inhospitable to them.

(Mammalian)s are a race that resemble bipedal bears or wolves, with thick fur coats and large, powerful bodies. Having evolved on a cold, icy homeworld, they are hardy enough to live anywhere and eat anything, though often struggle in higher temperatures. Their size, strength and hardiness make them excellent laborers and they are known to take great pride in their craft, but they are also formidable combatants.
They are considered close allies to humanity due to their similarities and are often amiable towards them, having a reputation for being loyal, honest, and hard working. In contrast to the (Saurian)s and Reptilian(s), they are a patriarchal society, with males being larger, stronger, and more colorful than females.

The (Aquatic)s are the most "alien" of the aliens, resembling Earth cephalopods, with soft, boneless bodies, large eyes, and long, prehensile limbs, even being able to change color to express their mood and communicate with each other. Like Earth's octopi, they are also very intelligent and curious creatures, often pursuing professions related to art and science, as well as diplomacy and trade, and are considered valuable allies to both Humans and (Saurian)s. Although fully aquatic, they are capable of surviving on land for brief periods of time, though breathing air is considered uncomfortable for them and their soft, boneless limbs are unable to support their weight against gravity, forcing them to crawl around instead.
Not long after first contact was made, made of them quickly immigrated to Earth, eager to forge trade deals with humanity in exchange for being allowed to live in Earth's oceans. From shallow seas to deep oceans, they now occupy most of the planet, often acting as mediators and negotiators between Earth and the empire. Unlike the other races, they exhibit little to no sexual dimorphism and males and females are virtually indistinguishable from each other, though the former tend to be more colorful.

Humanity are the new players on the field, and the only species to have an industrial society prior to being discovered by the empire, though they weren't yet advanced enough to travel beyond their solar system. Compared to the others, humans are a very well-balanced and adaptable race, able to act as traders, diplomats, researchers, laborers, and even warriors, as well as being able to colonize most planet types, from warm, wet ocean and Earth-like worlds to cold, dry desert and ice worlds. This makes them a valuable asset to the empire, recruiting their services in exchange for helping them to expand their civilization by having them colonize other worlds and mine their resources to trade with the rest of the empire.