Local Cluster

Local Cluster
Location:	Local Supercluster
Subregions:	5 Subclusters Apollo Subcluster Arcturus Subcluster Draconis Subcluster Juno Reach Solar Subcluster
Star Systems:	47 Star Systems Core Sol Alpha Centauri Epsilon Eridani Wolf 359 Sirius Barnard's Star Tau Ceti Lalande Procyon Cygnus Alpha Lyrae Arcturus Artio Dael Nimrod Delta Draconis Sigma Draconis Theta Draconis Artemis Asclepius Leto Apollo Silvanus Dea Dia Vesta Juventas Agenoria Juno Flora Outer Portunus Daphne Hera Janus Veritas Virtus Styx Orcus Ismarus Cepheus Cassiopeia Kerrigan Cassini Serafino Catania Tau Eridanus Rho Eridanus Alpha Eridanus
Organizations:	9 Organizations International Institutions League of Nations Orion Treaty Organization Non-Aligned Movement African Union Solar Treaty Organization Joint Solar Authority Scientific & Academic Institutions The Champlain Group Non-State Actors Freeport Network Media & Cultural Organizations Centauri Sentinel
Nations:	14 States Apollo Artemis Arcturus Banjuna-Mahara Callisto Centauri Juno Kumasi Salamis Silvanus Sirius Tau Ceti Tetus Vesta

The Local Cluster is a group of 47 star systems located in the core of the Local Supercluster. The cluster includes 11 colonized systems and at least 14 nations: The Artemis Colonial Republic, Apollo Colonial Republic, the Union of Arcturan Republics, the Free State of Banjuna-Mahara, the Callisto Colonial Republic, the United Centauri Republic, the United States of Juno, the Kumasi Colonial Republic, the Salamis Colonial Republic, the Silvanus Colonial Republic, the Sirius Federation, the United Provinces of Tau Ceti, the Tetus People's Republic, and the Republic of Vesta. All of these states are classified as non-legacy nations, emerging entirely in the post-Earth era.

Astrography

The Local Cluster is situated coreward of the Calypso Deeps, spinward of the Indian Arm, rimward of the Lyran Veil, and spinward of the Amazonia Cluster.

Translight Strings

There are a total of 57 charted translight strings connecting the 47 star systems of the Local Cluster. The cluster has seven nexus systems, each with at least 4 strings converging on them: Alpha Centauri, Sirius, Arcturus, Apollo, Silvanus, Portunus, and Tau Eridanus.

Subcluster	Astropolitics	Organizations	Settlement	Notes
Apollo Subcluster	Apollo Artemis Callisto
Arcturus Subcluster	Arcturus
Draconis Subcluster		Freeport Network
Juno Reach	Banjuna-Mahara Juno Kumasi Salamis Silvanus Tetus Vesta
Solar Subcluster	Centauri Sirius Tau Ceti
Regional Interstellar Travel
Local Cluster - Lyran Veil				Cepheus - Vega
				Cassiopeia - Leisma
Local Cluster - Mare Nostrum				Kerrigan - Rinascita
Local Cluster - Amazonia Cluster				Cassini - Pico De Neblina
Local Cluster - Indian Arm				Styx - Sumeru
				Veritas - Asraya
				Janus - Muziris
Local Cluster - Calypso Deeps				Portunus - Terminus
				Daphne - Athena
				Tau Eridanus - Encruzilhada
Local Cluster - Spinward				Portunus - Odinokoye Pero

Etymology

The name "Local Cluster" follows the precedent established by the American astronomer Edwin Hubble's naming of the galaxy group including the Milky Way as the "Local Group". This is also why the Local Supercluster shares its name.

History

The Cold War

First Solar War

In 2208, the Commonwealth of Vega declared war on the United Centauri Republic, beginning the First Solar War. Lasting for five years, the conflict would end in an armistice in 2213 recognizing Vegan territorial gains and sovereignty.

Second Solar War

In 2229, what would become known as the Second Solar War began with an invasion of the Sirius Federation by the Commonwealth of Vega. Joining Vega were the Republic of Vesta, United States of Juno, Silvanus Colonial Republic, Barrosa Colonial Republic, Jarandi Colonial Republic, and Kassar-Antrali Colonial Republic. Joining Sirius were the nascent Solar Treaty Organization members of the United Centauri Republic and United Provinces of Tau Ceti, as well as the Apollo Colonial Republic. Although the war initially went in Vega's favor, meeting a high-water mark in 2231 with the destruction of the bulk of the United Centauri Republic fleet in the Battle of Cygnus, the war would be brought to a decisive end that same year by the intervention of the German Reich.

Contemporary Issues

Federative Republic of Brazil - Republic of India Tensions

As a part of an ongoing rivalry between the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Republic of India, a series of high-profile freedom of navigation exercises have been conducted by the competing nations in one another's IDIZs. In response to a prior Indian operation in the Encruzilhada Subcluster, a Brazilian task force of 104 ships conducted a similar operation in the Apollo Subcluster. This would be responded to, in turn, with an Indian task force of 210 ships deployed to the Bolivar Sea.

Both Brazil and India have imposed broad tariffs targeting each other's exports in their ongoing competition to extend their rival IDIZs and free trade zones.

References

1. "IDIZ Incursions Heighten India-Brazil Tensions". Champlain Group.
2. "Centauri Shark Attacks Spark Fears Ahead of International Regatta". Champlain Group.
3. "Fears of Military Coup in Tetus Colonial Republic". Champlain Group.
4. "Tetus: Reports Allege Soviet Starships Over Capital City; President Killed". Champlain Group.
5. "Tetus: 'Captain' Vasquez Declares New Government, Denies COMINTERN Ties". Champlain Group.
6. "Tetus: "Nothing Ruled Out" in O.T.O. Response, Says Official". Champlain Group.
7. "Tetus: Former President Fled So Quickly, "Mountain" of Narcotics Left Behind In Palace". Champlain Group.
8. "Silvanus News Blackout Ends. Former Tetus President Alive, In Exile". Champlain Group.
9. "Sirius President Maya Garcia Arrives In Juno As Former Rivals Aim To Strengthen Strategic Ties". Champlain Group.
10. "70+ Feared Dead Following Attack by '300-Foot' Shark At Azure Seas Regatta, Witnesses Report". Champlain Group.
11. "Son of Rundle Inc. CIO Among Arrested After Private Staryacht Breaches Solar Quarantine". Champlain Group.
12. "Supercarrier 'Chungmugong Yi Sun-Sin' Arrives In Sigma Draconis Ahead of First Port Visit". Champlain Group.
13. "Protests Spread Across Juno, Vesta Following Announcement of SaTO Membership Plan". Champlain Group.
14. "Vesta To Accelerate Militarization of Agenoria System Ahead of SaTO Expansion". Champlain Group.
15. "Juno Officials: Vestan Warships 'Increasingly Provocative' After SaTO Agreement". Champlain Group.
16. "German Warship's Unexpected Visit To Vesta Fuels Speculation". Champlain Group.
17. "Tau Ceti Closes Out 2285 Olympics With Bombastic Ceremony". Champlain Group.
18. "Vestan Aerospace Fighter Shot Down in Contested Flora System". Champlain Group.
19. "Geopolitics of the Juno Reach (2285)". Champlain Group.
20. "Vesta Recalls Its Ambassador To Juno As League of Nations Takes Sides". Champlain Group.
21. "Vesta Recognizes Tetus Revolutionary Government. Will Provide Arms & Cash". Champlain Group.
22. "Indian Naval Armada Sparks Diplomatic Row In Bolivar Sea Exercise". Champlain Group.