One of the species conquered by the Isen Star Empire under the reign of Emperor Xal Shun, the Saar-melaa resisted only briefly. They determined that their interests would best be served by joining the ISE wholeheartedly and learning its technology from within. Prior to first contact with the ISE invaders, the Saar-melaa had built an industrial but pre-spaceflight civilization, occasionally fighting off Ebruchi pirates.