The Vasudans are a civilization of philosophers, artists, and scholars. They immerse themselves in the teachings of those who came before them, perceiving history not as a linear chronology of events but as a space inhabited by both the living and the dead.

To the Terran outsider, Vasudan society appears convoluted and ritualistic. The Vasudans themselves may seem arrogant, treacherous, and superstitious. On the other hand, Vasudans tend to view Terrans as aggressive, paranoid, and stupid. Thirty years of peaceful interaction between Terrans and Vasudans has helped to deconstruct these stereotypes.

The crowning achievement of the Vasudan civilization is its language. For the average Terran, the formalities governing its usage are beyond comprehension. Syntax and vocabulary are dictated by such factors as the speaker's age, rank, and caste, the time of day and the phase of the Vasudan calendar, and the relative spatial position of the speaker to the Emperor. This is further compounded by the existence of several alphabets, dozens of verb tenses, and thousands of dialects. A translation device is standard on all GTVA communications systems, enabling Terrans and Vasudans to understand each other.

Because the Vasudan homeworld was primarily desert, the Terrans used Egyptian names to designate Vasudan warships during the Terran-Vasudan War and the Great War. After the defeat of the Shivans, the Vasudans insisted on maintaining this convention. The Emperor strongly identified with the history of Ancient Egypt, particularly the longevity of its civilization. Following their Emperor's example, Vasudans will take on what they call a Terran name from the myths and history of Ancient Egypt.

In the years following Capella, Vasudan civilization has prospered. Their unique views on morality and history have allowed the Vasudans to overcome the loss of their homeworld. While much of Vasudan culture may seem melancholy - 'a people birthed in sorrow, die in sorrow' - Vasudan scientists, engineers, artists, writers, and poets continue to add to a staggeringly rich cultural tapestry.

The comparative success of Vasudan economic and political policy, vis a vis Terran collapse and singleminded focus on the return to Sol, has created considerable rifts in the Alliance. Terran-Vasudan relations are at a low not seen since reconstruction.

In spite of its deep historical roots, Vasudan society today is vibrant, prosperous, and outward-looking. Yet Capella did not leave the Imperium untouched. The past 18 years have seen the resurgence of the Hammer of Light ideology in a more contemplative and less militaristic form. Many Vasudans continue to believe that the Shivans are the hammer of the universe's judgment, a punishment for sin on the species-wide level. Some Hammer of Light thinkers claim that the Shivans consistently arrive when one species is engaged in violence against another, citing the Ancients, the Terran-Vasudan War, and the NTF rebellion as three points on this trendline.

Political rumor has it that Vasudan Emperor Khonsu the Second has taken counsel with certain Hammer of Light thinkers, as well as even more esoteric mystics and prophets. The meaning of these actions remains unclear.