Energy Emission Civilization Scale (A1-0)

The Energy Emission Civilization Scale (EECS) is a categorization system devised by the researchers of the Galactyan Empire to surpass the limits and shortcomings of the terran Kardashev Scale and all other similar scales that classify civilizations by the amount of energy they consume compared to the energy emitted by their local star, and the amount intercepted by their local planet. While theoretically useful this scale isn't so in practice, since many civilizations which do have energy budgets exceeding the entire available energy of a single planet seldom use that amount in a single location, but rather gather and use it across a number of worlds and habitats. Similarly, many civilizations that employ energies equal to or higher than the output of a single star can be distributed across dozens, hundreds or thousands of star systems, rather than employing the energies of a single stellar source.

This is why, after extensive observation of the known civilizations within Sector A1-0, the researchers devised the Energy Emission Civilization Scale, that classifies known and detected civilizations purely on their observed energy emissions, rather than comparing a civilization's energy usage to their local celestial objects.

The scale divides civilizations into four different categories:

Null Energy Emission Civilizations (NEECs)

NEECs are civilizations without an energy output that is sufficient for them to be detectable above the background emissions of their native habitat. Not many are known even within the Sector due to the difficulty of detection, but it is considered likely that they outnumber energy emitting civilizations by an order of magnitude. While one might assume NEECs to be primitive and rudimentary, this class of civilizations can be extremely diverse. Sapient or even transapient civilizations might emit no detectable energy for a wide variety of reasons, as they might be non-technological, low technological, or post-technological. They might, on the other hand, be purposefully hiding, using advanced sapient or transapient-level technologies and devices to conceal their energy signatures to the rest of the wider Sector and Universe. If this is the case, it's rather impossible to determine why said civilizations are hiding in the first place: some may be hiding to escape past actions and current threats, avoid future ones, or simply because they chose to. The reasons to hide are almost as numerous as these "Hiders" themselves, but the notable lack of many energy emitting civilizations, especially compared to the livelihood of the Sector, may hint to hidden dangers lurking amidst the stars.

Low Energy Emission Civilizations (LEECs)

LEECs are civilizations with energy emissions well above those of their natural environment, that are however still difficult to detect at any great interstellar distance. As with null energy emission civilizations, this is believed to be a rather diverse group, as well as being rather numerous.