Type 13 Societies

The Type-13 civilization spans an entire galaxy, often with governmental authority distributed between multiple subordinate nations --some of which may become entirely independent (in this case, a type 13 society might well resemble a lower-scaled civilization with access to anachronistic technology). Societies at this level tend to fracture into civil war and gradual decline.

After the Celestial civilization collapsed, their hyperdrive technology allowed the development of a chaotic galaxy-spanning society. (Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, 1980)

Those societies that do manage to maintain a strong central government do so with advanced forms of social engineering. Typically, these include a cult-like reverence for the Ruler(s) or his/her philosophy (which is in turn elevated to unbreakable dogma, with harsh punishments for "heretics").

When stable, these societies are often stagnant (due to both the difficulty of disseminating new advances, and the tendency of trends and fads to simply propagate across the galaxy rather than dying off). Any powerful exploratory or scientific agency will wane in influence --without intergalactic travel, there is simply nothing left to explore.

The Forerunners who built the Halo arrays were a Type-13 civilization at the height of their power. (Halo, 2001)

Footprint: Galaxy.

Sustainable Population: Quadrillions.

Government: Representative republic, coalition. Likely deadlocked and paralyzed between competing factions. Decentralized hive-mind.

Bureaucracy: Factionalized into independent clans and guilds beyond the government's direct control (and which may persist even beyond the fall of any given government).

Language: Universal common tongue, backed by technological translation.

Literacy: Universal.

Network: Universally-accessible real-time communication and data, probably under government control and heavily monitored/censored. Short-range ansibles are trivially portable (pocket-sized), though they may only be terminals (with the network itself residing elsewhere).

Religion: Various, likely linked to the state itself --the religious leaders may be the true power behind the throne, with important offices openly linked to membership in the order, and with the government itself bearing a "divine" mandate.

If the Celestials didn't create the Force, at the very least they were the first to learn how to manipulate it, and to create the dualistic philosophy that their spiritual descendants, Jedi and Sith alike, still use to control society. (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, 2008)

Science: Parallel universes and time-travel may be scientifically proven realities. Mecha will be designed as much for form as function, capable of combination, complex transformation, and full biological interface with augmented pilots. Spatial engineering is developing as an outgrowth of terraforming --particularly advanced societies will be able to move planets out of orbit and tow them to other star systems, alter stellar life cycles, and manipulate subspace itself). Holomatter allows for fully independent solid-state holograms. Fully-sapient AI is trivial, and can be mass-produced, yet may still be regarded as non-persons --a fully normalized slave class. Wormhole technology is common, and a portal system likely links the known worlds. Galaxy-spanning FTL and long-range teleportation are common.

Medicine: Medical technology allows for complete rejuvenation, regeneration, reconstruction, and possible resurrection. Natural (non-homicide) death is rare, but still possible. Physical transformation is possible --appearance is no longer defined by species. Species can be actively transformed into entirely new viable species via controlled evolution, mutation, or cyberization. Personal brainwave patterns (the "self") can be transferred between vessels (either living bodies or mechanical vessels).

With access to a Goa'uld Sarcophagus, even death itself is reversible --cementing the System Lords' alleged godhood. (Stargate SG-1, 1997)

Education: Universal, standardized. Implantable databases are common, especially for basic skills (language, mathematics, common technology, etc).

Energy: Advanced high-yield systems are common, and wireless transmission is almost universal (some artifacts may not even carry onboard power cells).

Industry: Large-scale mass-production via dedicated industrial worlds (for products too large and elaborate to be replicated), supported by world-spanning mining projects to supply raw materials. Entire planets may be denuded and strip-mined, or even dismantled into asteroid fields.

Military: Relying on mental/physical conditioning to enforce solidarity --may constitute a distinct species. Military forces are capable of deploying thousands or millions of warships, decimating entire worlds (the military itself may be larger than some planetary populations). Planet-destroying weaponry will be available, and star-destroying weapons are being developed.

Planet-destroying weapons are a hallmark of a Type-13 society. (Star Wars: A New Hope, 1977)

Economy: Monetary system based on credits, either supported by a government or an independent guild --a command economy (yet another means of social control). Single-function planets are common, and have become the only way to remain economically competitive. Markets and bazaars experience a resurgence, peddling handmade and second-hand goods --things which can't be replicated (either through workmanship or poverty).

Food: Any desired food is readily replicated. Most citizens have no idea where their meals actually originate (nor could they prepare a meal by hand). Some groups may have evolved or adapted beyond the need for physical nutrition (needing food only as general fuel or not at all). In the case of degeneration (including the loss of replicators), expect entire worlds to be given over to farming and food production.

Travel: Citizens have ready access to advanced FTL vehicles, which require almost no training (even interstellar navigation may be automated). Personal teleportation is available, possibly including interstellar ranges (via relays or wormholes). Wormhole travel becomes increasingly common, and platform-to-platform teleportation may be the standard way of moving around a planet. Interstellar travel is casual for most citizens.

Spaceflight: Pure sublight ships are becoming a rarity; FTL drives are now available on anything from capital ships to single-pilot fighters and pleasure craft. "Independent traders," piloting small freighters will be common, carrying small cargoes of luxury (or illicit) goods.

Alien contact: Unremarked. Unfamiliar aliens will not be noteworthy, and even scholars will have abandoned any attempt at a definitive catalogue. Species-specific homeworlds may be completely unidentifiable due to population drift and mixture.

The Vorlons and Shadows manipulated the evolution and societies of lesser species to fight a proxy-war that rocked the galaxy. (Babylon 5, 1993)

Examples (reality):
Examples (fiction): Celestials, Rakatan Infinite Empire, Quintesson Empire (at its height), System Lords, First Ones, Yuuzhan Vong*, Wraith, Tribe of Silver, Forerunners, Protheans, Iconians, Imperium of Man, Humankind Empire of Abh, Wulgaru, Vajra, Zordon's people (speculated, based on Zordon's death-throes and technology), and the Preservers (at least, considering their astro-engineering capabilities).

(* I count the Yuuzhan Vong as Type-13 since the invasion force seems to constitute their entire civilization; they have moved from one galaxy to another, but do not actually span two galaxies.)