The Involved (or the In-Play) were the group of space-faring civilizations that were active members of the meta-civilization of the Milky Way galaxy. The Involved were known as the Optimae by the non-Involved Sarl. The membership of the Involveds was necessarily fluid. It drew new members from maturing lesser civilizations. Very old and mature civilizations exited the Involveds when they withdrew from galactic affairs, becaming Elders or Sublimed.