Galactics

Galactics is a term used mainly in science fiction and speculative works to refer to civilizations, factions, or intelligent beings that operate on a galactic scale, spanning multiple star systems and potentially several galaxies. The word combines galactic with a plural or collective usage, designating a group rather than a single entity.

In fictional settings, Galactics are frequently depicted as political actors—ranging from expansive empires and federations to loose alliances—that maintain interstellar fleets, advanced technologies, and intercultural institutions. They are often contrasted with human factions or other species, serving as either allies or antagonists in space opera narratives.

Because the term is not standardized, different authors assign different political structures, ethical norms, and contact dynamics with "non-Galactic" civilizations. Some portray Galactics as benevolent stewards of galactic civilization, others as imperial or hegemonic powers, and many depict complex networks of diplomacy and conflict.

Outside fiction, "galactic" is the conventional scientific term for things related to a galaxy; "Galactics" as a group label is generally reserved for fictional contexts and is not part of formal astronomy or astrobiology.

Related concepts include galactic civilizations, interstellar coalitions, and space opera tropes. The exact meaning of "Galactics" thus depends on the work in question, with no single, universally accepted definition.