The Mirak are a race of aggressive predatory carnivores. To be a Mirak is to be a survivor in harsh conditions, against terrible enemies and predators, both on the harsh surface of Mirak worlds, and in the cold dark vastness of space.

The official Mirak government is led by the Patriarch, who lives in a starbase in orbit around the original Mirak homeworld. The Patriarch's primary duty is to coordinate the movements of the Mirak fleets to make certain that they don't come into conflict with each other (wars between various fleets have occurred three times in the last two hundred years). The Patriarch is traditionally given authority over Mirak foreign relations, but relations with neighboring empires is often dependent on the strength of the individual fleet nearest their border. Very strong fleets don't hesitate to send ships across borders and raid worlds, even those belonging to traditional Mirak allies.

The first Mirak-Lyran war began 150 years ago, and hasn't formally ended, as any attempt to get the two sides to negotiate with each other has broken down into lethal hand-to-hand combat between the diplomats. The Mirak also
fought six wars against the Federation, but losses in those wars weakened the Mirak fleet to such an extent that when the Federation offered peace, the Patriarch accepted it with open paws. Since then, a tense spirit of cooperation has existed between the Federation and the Mirak Star League. The Mirak also assisted the Hydrans during the Klingon-Lyran occupation, sealing a long-term alliance between them as well.

Several decades ago, there was a major Klingon-Lyran excursion into Mirak space, and it appeared as though the Mirak Star League might collapse. However, a combination of internal Lyran treachery, a Federation offensive against the Klingons, and the unexpected strength of surviving Mirak fleets allowed the Star League to make a comeback and regain their lost territory. The commander of the lead fleet took over the vacant position of the Patriarch, and greatly strengthened it.

Mirak starships use missiles as their primary heavy weapon but also carry disruptors in limited numbers. The Mirak were the one of the first races to employ shuttles in the fighter role. They were also the first race to build a dedicated carrier and still continue their reliance on the Missile - fighter combination.