Dark Space

The term Dark Space is used to refer to any area of space outside of a defined galaxy. It is also known as the Void, the Black Ocean, or the Big Empty. The name Dark Space is actually a misnomer, as the light from the visible galaxies and lone stars are very present.

Travel
Intergalactic travel requires transit through Dark Space and the Intergalactic Federation has made large efforts to keep ships safe and on course while travelling the Void. Because of its size, however, Dark Space is often home to pirates waiting to prey on unsuspecting ships. The privateer stronghold of Haelkemman was found by accident when a convoy of freighter vessels had to make an emergency stop at a lone system in Dark Space. Numerous strongholds and rebel planets have been discovered in Dark Space, resulting in IF trade routes adjusting to avoid them. Pirates continue to discover new planets within the Void to attack ships, but most all commercial vessels are armed to some degree and travel in large groups to avoid ambushes.

Governance
Because the Dark Space between Federation galaxies is so vast it is not feasibly possible to police it. As required by Federation law, all inducted planets on the outer rim of a galaxy must field rapid response units to deal with distress calls from Dark Space. Any IF military or police ship brings with it the full jurisdiction of the IF and can act independently within the Void. Although Pirates always pose a problem to travelers, the IF chooses not to engage with them on the grounds that the Pirates most likely are fielding illegal and highly experimental technology that could give them the advantage against anything but a full assault.