Creature:Rator

Rator is a sentient species of carnivores with high fighting abilities and developed social skills. It is a playful, but aggressive species and inspite of it's small size it is a dangerous predator and useful ally. Mainly resembling a Rat, but with features such as feathers and even plant like growths, a Rator's coat doesn't suggest such stealthy predator. Inspite of this the Rator were able to use their fighting prowess to maintain their social status (e.g. fight off rogues who attack allies) amoung several species and reach the [tribal stage].

Tribal life
Here they again showed high socialisation abilities, befriending the first tribe they met and farming three species. However, two other tribes were apparently less friendly, trying to burn the huts down, force the cheiftain's hand. A third tribe was mistakenly attacked (the Chief's fault) which lead to another war. The final group were less than happy to see them, but eventually became allies. These alliances lasted until the eventual natural extinction of these allies, an event that likely had a impact on the attitude of the tribe when it reached [civilization stage].

Civilisation
This may explain the shift to a more military focus and the conquering of many other military powers early in their culture, anger the previously friendly economic powers, as well as the already dangerous religious ones. However, when one of their remaining allies was forcably converted by an emperor planing to expand globally, Rator city fought back and took the city by force. The freed city then used it's own religious vehicles to convert the many cities the enemy had taken over, eventually wipe them out and gaining economic means by which to deal with the remaining civilisations. After buying out the next 3 cultures the final one (the first ally) surrendered. Again this balanced approach still left Rator's development in the red and the philisophy of force was the lifestyle by which they entered [the spacefaring age].