“The Shi’ar Empire stands as one of the most formidable civilizations in the cosmos, a vast dominion stretching across countless star systems, built upon conquest, diplomacy, and an unyielding belief in their own supremacy. Their reach extends far beyond Earth’s understanding of interstellar politics, and yet, time and again, the X-Men have found themselves entangled in their affairs – sometimes as allies, sometimes as adversaries, and often as unwilling pawns in their ceaseless struggles for power.

The Shi’ar are, by nature, expansionists. Their history is written in the blood of species assimilated or eradicated in the name of imperial stability. Their wars with the Kree and the Skrulls are legendary, conflicts waged not merely for survival but for dominance. And at the heart of their empire once sat Emperor D’Ken – a man whose ambition knew no bounds, whose cruelty was matched only by his hunger for absolute control. It was D’Ken who sought to harness the unimaginable power of the M’Kraan Crystal, heedless of the devastation it might unleash upon all existence. It was his madness that led to his downfall, and yet his legacy of war and manipulation still echoes through the empire he once ruled.

The Shi’ar hold legends of the Phoenix, a force they revere and fear in equal measure. To them, it is both a deity and a harbinger of destruction, woven into their myths and their history. They have sought to control it, to worship it, and, when necessary, to destroy it. Jean Grey became the living embodiment of their prophecy, and in their desperation to contain what they could not comprehend, they condemned her to death. It was a moment that tested the X-Men to their core, forcing us to confront the impossible weight of cosmic judgment.

Yet, for all the empire’s brutality, there is Lilandra. My beloved Lilandra, who rose from the shadows of her brother’s tyranny to bring a measure of wisdom and justice to her people. As Royal Consort, I stood beside her, not merely as an advisor but as a partner in shaping the future of the Shi’ar. Our bond transcended the political – ours was a union of minds, of ideals, of love. And from that love came a daughter, a child of two worlds, whose existence is a testament to the unlikely harmony between Earth and the stars.

But the Shi’ar are never without conflict. Lilandra’s rule was challenged by Deathbird, her sister, whose strength and cunning made her a formidable adversary. Where Lilandra sought peace, Deathbird sought conquest. Where Lilandra valued diplomacy, Deathbird thrived in war. The empire has been torn between their visions, and the X-Men have been drawn into their battles more times than I care to count.

I have seen the best and worst of the Shi’ar. I have fought alongside them, against them, and within their ranks. Their empire is a paradox – capable of great enlightenment, yet shackled by its own thirst for control. And though my time among the stars has waned, my connection to them remains. Through Lilandra, through our daughter, through the scars left by every battle fought in their name.

The Shi’ar will endure, as they always have. Whether they will ever learn from their past, however, remains to be seen.”