Clades
The different collections of planets in the Heritage Universe are called "clades". There are three major clades and one minor clade in the Orion arm of the galaxy. The major clades are the Fourth Alliance, the Cecropia Federation, and the Zardalu Communion. The minor clade is a group of planets on the border of all three clades, called the Phemus Circle.
The clades are not governed in the formal sense as maintaining government across solar systems is, in the Heritage Universe, not totally possible. Rather, they are groups of planetary systems that recognize common authorities. The Fourth Alliance, Phemus Circle, and Cecropia Federation also recognize a central authority in the Ethical Council, of which Julian Graves is a member.
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