Who or what are the Thalan?

Though I make no speculation on the Thalan I've had the idea that the Precursors are actually Humans and that it's a continuous cycle.

The end of this war would result in all other life ending and the Humans becoming the Precursors and seeding the galaxy with life, including their own original 'forms'.

Yeah, I think the Dread Lords are definitely human.  Once time/interdimensional travel becomes involved, just about anything is possible.  Interesting idea on the time loop.  Looking forward to knowing how the galaxy is "destroyed" as a result of the "Crusade."

The Precursors look like humans, but they are not humans. You're right about the continuous cycle though. Maybe I should dig up some of Frogboy's old post again? He explained most of this stuff already.

As for the Thalan, they are an insectoid race from a future dimension. They have come to our space-time to prevent the destruction of the universe, claiming that the humans are responsible for it.

Edit: In the TotA tech tree of the Thalan it was mentioned, that they have multiple appendages. I'm quite disappointed that they changed that.

Where do you think that Altarians come from?

https://forums.galciv2.com/127754/page/1/ Is that close enough?

From the same source as the Precursors, of course.

Yes, thanks! 

Though a time loop is a possibility, it's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about adding to an iteration.

1 precursor > human > +1 goto 2
2 precursor > human > +1 goto 3
3 precursor > human > +1 goto 4
4 precursor > human > +1 goto 5
5 precursor > human > +1 goto 6
6 etc...

(the numbers represent time, it doesn't go back to 1)

Edit: Reading the link Wintersong gave, it more likely is a time loop then.

In this instance, however, it is a time loop.

I think bipedal Thalans is a retcon. If you look at Hithesius (?) in GCII, it really does appear by the angles that his weight is resting on the appendages protruding from his shoulders.

It is. Well, at least the two-arms-and-two-legs part is one. From the description of the Xeno Anthropology tech in the Thalan tech tree:

"The galaxy is populated by a series of humanoidic species. Only the Thalan break from this pattern with its multiple appendages."

It's a retcon that is most unsatisfactory to me.

You know, back in 1989 when I wrote most of this lore the idea of "This has all happened before and it will all happen again." seemed more original.

I have been wanting to get to the Thalan's story for a long time. In GalCiv II, there's a lot of dialog regarding their concern over the crusade the human's were destined to go on that would destroy the universe. Now, we finally get to get to the meat of it. 

From the GalCiv II  manual, page 88:

Regarding the Thalan
The Thalan are a mysterious race that literally popped out of nowhere in
2224. They quickly established a homeworld and while seemingly friendly
are very concerned about the Terran Alliance. According to reports, the
Thalan are from another dimension – a future dimension in which following
a great ―crusade‖ by the Humans, the galaxy is destroyed as a result of
individuals within the Terran Alliance. They claim to have come to this
galaxy to prevent this but say they have come approximately five years too
early.

...and GCIII is set 5 years later.   I'm very much looking forward to this.

Frogboy, in your post #12 you say the human crusade destroys the universe, in post #13 you say it destroys the galaxy. Can you clarity this please?

Interesting series of posts that I'd not seen before.  Still wonder if the Thalans aren't somehow more deeply connected in all off this than appears on the surface. 

I love the concept of eternal return ("This has all happened before . . .").   Looking forward to finding out the next chapter in your story. 

How do the Thalans know that the Apocalypse happens because of human actions? Do they know it at all or just guess because of the too many coincidences around the humans?

I've looked and looked at pics and the video that exists of the Thalans but I couldn't spot any zippers. So I think they're real.

I definitely look forward towards the story playing out.

They know it all, as in their "home" universe the humans caused the end of all things.

Can someone post here the thread on the Altarians? I cannot get the link to work, (Impulsedriven) and would prefer to just read it here in a thread.... 

http://draginol.impulsedriven.net/article/171522/Of_the_Altarians

This link does not work for me...(sigh)

Strange, I would have expected a "server not found" error. Didn't impulse vanish?

So, wait, the Thalan aren't the reincarnated souls of all the Praying Mantises that get squished by Humans?

Not this human, though.  I take care to avoid stepping on them Mantises, they help with pest control...

Brad did mention they come from another universe, though, so perhaps in that universe the Praying Mantises evolved to human size...

Some of the links that are found with the link in this quote indicate one of the Dread Lords was called "Lord Kona."  Does that suggest that the Drengin leader is actually a Dread Lord?  It would explain some things, like their nearly infinite patience-conquering the Torians by towing a stargate to their home system over a period of tens of thousands of years.  There are other hints as well.  Again, just speculation.

Try this link. In any case, it doesn't say anything you couldn't read in the Altarian and Drath tech trees in TotA.

I think that is just a coincidence. However, it was heavily implied several times in the DL campaign, that the Drengin were indeed puppets of the Dread Lords. For the Korath, it was definitely the case in the DA campaign.