Humanity

**Humanity**, humankind, or mankind is a race which originated on the planet Earth. They are a member of the 3rd generation of sapient life, and have expanded into their solar system, becoming one of the dominant races among the local group of Vega. Humans, following their natural evolution on Earth have developed multiple quirks that make them stand out from the other races of the cosmos. One is that they are very aggressive and militaristic, but also charitable and compassionate, earning them the nickname of "war angels". No other species had a history as turbulent, combative and divisive of that of mankind, and survived to colonize the stars. Despite their contradictory war-like nature, they are also one of the more egalitarian and compassionate species encountered so far. Going out of their way to fight for their own moral principles, and having a strong code of right and wrong.

## Aggression

Humanity has the largest arms industry of any species, has fought more wars than any other species, shed more blood and inflicted more pain upon itself than any other known species in known space. The human militaries are wildly regarded as some of the best and most powerful in known space. Human mercenaries are often called on to fight battles raging on elsewhere, and their private military companies form the backbone of the interplanetary arms supply chains.

Mankind's natural state appears to be war, with anywhere from 80% to 90% of humanity's history being drenched in war. With even so-called peace periods such as the Pax Americana and Pax Africana drenched with wars in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Europe, and Russia. After they stopped fighting themselves, they turned their eyes to the stars. Even if the fight is not physical, humans are known to be extremely competitive, and feel a sense of existential un-fulfillment if they are not actively pushing towards another goal. Humans are known to have a sense of extraordinary delusional self belief which allows them to take on impossible odds, and fight with extreme tenacity. Humans will either push as a group, or destroy themselves in violence.

## Purpose

Mankind's intrinsic love of grand narratives, in a story with them at the center, particularly in terms of morals, stories, spirituality and religion. Though many sapient species have been observed to believe in religion, none quite invent and reinvent moral systems, spiritual and religious systems quite like humanity. There are many competing belief systems and grand narratives present in humanity. From the story of human redemption of the Abrahamic faiths, the escape from material reality of the Hindus, the dialectics of history of communism, and finally the command of glorious galactic conquest, of a mandate given by God himself: Manifest Destiny.

The human drive for purpose has manifested itself as an enormous drive and almost instinctual need for stories and grand narratives. As of 2150, 93% of humanity believes in some kind of religion. Of the 7% remaining, most still follow other grand narratives such as scientific materialism, the eternal march of progress, and other stories. In general, it's a small portion of humanity that doesn't like buying into grand narratives. The strength of humanity's stories can almost be seen as an analog for the mental health of humanity in general. If humanity's belief in its own stories is fading, then it is a sign that mankind is unwell.