They actually fought alongside the Minbari in the last Shadow War. The Ipsha homeworld is located just far enough from a black hole to be safe, but near enough that its existence helped shape how Ipsha technology evolved. The Ipsha use a special kind of "singularity drive" that works completely different from all other Younger Races. Most of their technology works on different principles. As a result, it may SEEM more advanced, but in reality it's simply different. Additionally, the Ipsha themselves are radially symmetrical starfish-like creatures, something that undoubtedly caused their technology to advance differently from the more conventional humanoid races like Humans, Centauri, Minbari, and Brakiri.
I can't remember the reason the Hyach never became a major race like the Minbari, but the Yolu never made it big because they're what I like to call "vigilant pacifists". They're uninterested in conquest, would prefer not to fight, but they make a point to be ready should a fight come their way. The take the credo of "to ensure peace, prepare for war" very, very seriously. As a result, their ships are sufficiently bad-ass that no sane race with less-than-overwhelming forces would dare engage them in combat. Even the Minbari would hesitate to go after the Yolu. |