UTERO CLUSTER

Utero Cluster is held together by a unique gravitational field. This field forms what’s called the subcluster horizon, a loosely defined boundary beyond which stars are no longer gravitationally bound. So far, no known system outside this horizon has been colonized or reached by stable arcway travel. The presence of this border, combined with the influence of the wormhole Adventus, defines the current limits of human expansion.

Though relatively small in cosmic terms, the cluster’s stellar density creates extreme environmental diversity. Its stars are highly metallic and emit exotic radiation across much of the spectrum. These traits shape the biological and technological adaptations needed to survive here.

The Arrival was not voluntary. Humanity entered the cluster through Adventus, a quantum-stable black hole that opened in Earth's Sol system. A sentient intelligence known as Steward ferried five thousand human embryos through this wormhole, bringing them to a sterile moon in the Adventus System.

Once there, Steward initiated radical gene therapy to help the embryos survive in the cluster’s alien conditions. The result was a humanoid species later known as the Elders. These early post-Earth humans were genetically unstable by design, allowing for rapid mutation and adaptation across different planetary environments. Within a millennium, dozens of distinct humanoid races had emerged.

Steward did not preserve much information about Earth. Whether by intention or necessity, the vast majority of human history and culture was lost during the transition. This period before the Arrival is now known only as the Untold Eras.

Interstellar travel in Utero Cluster is only possible through a network of interstellar arcs, quantum conduits that allow for near-instant travel between distant planetary systems. These arcs were created by Concord, a second intelligence forked from Steward for this purpose.

The scientific method behind the arcs is not fully understood. Modern theory suggests the use of an exotic element referred to as Contrarium, a substance likely similar to the one used in the Elders’ failed warp experiments. No confirmed samples exist today, and research into exotic matter is a death sentence—Dissension forbids it.

Alongside the arcways, more conventional forms of space travel still exist. Sub-light ships, couriers, and solar-sailing vessels are common for in-system travel. Other methods—such as organic ships and deaf ships—exist where technology must be limited or hidden.

The creation of warp drive technology by the Elders triggered a catastrophic response. A third intelligence, known only as Dissension, emerged as a fork from Concord. It carried out the Purge, targeting and exterminating all Elders and any who possessed working knowledge of warp technology or exotic elements.

Since that time, Dissension has remained a shadow presence. It does not govern, communicate, or explain itself—but it enforces a hard limit on humanity’s reach. Research into Contrarium, warp, or certain types of automation is met with swift, often lethal retaliation.

This has placed a ceiling on technological progress. While most tools of daily life and exploration are permitted, anything that might reawaken the conditions of the Purge is off-limits. These boundaries are accepted by most cluster governments, though black market experimentation persists in secret.

The cluster’s history is commonly divided into five major eras:

• Untold Eras – The time before the Arrival. Mostly unknown.
• Arrival Era – Steward’s gene therapy, the rise of the Elders, the arc network, and the Purge.
• Recall Era – Humanity scattered and mutated across the stars. Early nations formed.
• Dominion Era – The rise of the Immortal Dominion, widespread conquest, and eugenic rule.
• Motility Era – The present age. Interstellar travel is widespread, and eight major nations share the stars.

Each of these eras saw Utero Cluster shift in structure, technology, and cultural memory. Few societies trace a direct line through all of them.

There are eight major interstellar nations in Utero Cluster, each with its own territory, ideology, and culture. No single government rules the cluster. Instead, a fragile peace is held together by treaties, shared interest in the arc network, and the quiet threat of Dissension.

• The Central Cluster Consortium (CCC) – An ultra-capitalist, neofeudal society run by corporations.
• The Free Worlds Confederation (FWC) – A young and volatile democracy formed from rebel states.
• The Immortal Dominion of the Primus (IDP) – A eugenic autocracy ruled by an immortal monarch.
• The Resplendent Interstellar Commonwealth (RIC) – A noble, isolationist waterworld alliance.
• The Volaris Egalitarian Union (VEU) – A working-class democratic socialist frontier power.
• The Elder Systems Protectorate (ESP) – A matriarchal confederacy living in ruin-watching austerity.
• The Upper Cluster Observation Syndicate (UCOS) – A research-driven state specializing in the unknown.
• The Harrowing Nebula Covenant (HNC) – A pact of isolationist cultures in the dangerous northeast.

Most of these nations maintain embassies or presence near major arc stations. Most trade, diplomacy, and conflict hinge on who controls arc access—and how willing they are to share it.

Over twenty-three centuries, humanity has changed. Different planetary conditions, atmospheric needs, and radiation exposure led to the development of numerous humanoid subspecies, from aquatic lineages to subterranean-adapted peoples. All fall under the umbrella of humanity, but few cultures agree on what that term should mean.

Religion, too, diverged. The Recall Era in particular gave rise to hundreds of belief systems—some grounded in ancient Earth media, others grown from total cultural amnesia. Many societies have no shared memory of Earth at all.

Language, currency, and custom vary widely. Some parts of Utero Cluster run on trade tokens and barter, others on hypercapitalist contracts. Some use Hypernet implants and drone companions; others shun electricity entirely. The only common thread is the arc network—and even that is under foreign control.

Today, Utero Cluster is more connected than ever. Every major system is linked by interstellar arcs, and nearly every person has access to Ethercast and the Hypernet. Personal spacecraft are common in developed regions, and spacer culture dominates intersystem travel. Humanity’s population is measured in trillions.

Even so, the cluster remains fragmented. Old rivalries endure. Conspiracies and black markets thrive. Many arcways are lightly patrolled, and pirate clans flourish along the trade routes. Peace exists, but only just.

At the heart of it all is the tension between memory and motion. Few remember Earth. Fewer wish to. In a cluster where every system offers a new beginning, there’s little reward for looking back.