Originally posted by Akalabeth Angel
The problem with this idea is that it assumes that:
A - the Shivans have not destroyed non-advanced life
B - the Shivans have a wide technological variety of ships at their disposal, each of which would be effectively menacing against any advanced species. So in other words they have a bunch of ships which would scare FS1 tech, and a bunch which would scare FS2 tech, and so forth.
A. Exactly. The Shivans are the Great Preservers, giving all life forms a chance to live long and prosper in their own systems. When one species discovers subspace, journeys out into the stars, discovers and tramples other primitive life, then the Shivans come and exterminate them, so as to allow other life to flourish. That is
the underlying message of FS1 and the Ancients monologues.
"The Shivans are the great destroyers, but they are also the great preservers. That is why there was no one to destroy us.
Long had we been the destroyer. Our turn had nearly come."
Given humanity's treatment of life in the past (Remember Columbus?) it makes sense that when mankind ventured into other star systems they, like the Ancients, "saw other advanced life. And we subdued it or we crushed it." Nowhere does it say that Vasudans were the first alien lifeform discovered by the Terrans.
And B.) That's what they've demonstrated so far. How else would you explain the two fleets?
Originally posted by Raa Tor'h
GE: That would all imply that the Shivans had prior knowledge of GTVA affairs...
I think they do.
Remember that the Shivans are not just another alien race; they are
not of this universe. They are an immense cosmic force the likes of which we can barely comprehend. They are the great destroyers, the great preservers, the force which keeps the universe in balance and ensures all life is free from tyrrany. They are Shivans.