The Collective Authority
The Collective authority was an entity brought about several hundred years ago during the fledgling age of interplanetary travel. Differing peoples and ideals mingling so widely made it plainly apparent there was a need for some sort of centralized organization as already existed on many of these planets individually. Thus leaders from some of the most advanced planets in the system came together to form The Collective Authority. A purely democratic body in theory with the goal of maintaining relationships between various planets, managing trade, mediating disputes and responding to threats all fall under their purview. With around 120 member planets it's by far the largest single organization in the system and in the past was very well respected. Though in more recent years rumors of widespread corruption have begun to wither public opinion.
The FLINT Program
The FLINT program is an initiative funded by The Collective Authority, with its stated purpose being the exploration of the universe's furthest reaches. Officially seeking out new habitable planets or worlds rich in resources, there have been long standing rumors of something else driving the program. Theories abound from a hunt for forbidden knowledge, to scouting locations for highly secretive military programs. But one thing is generally agreed upon, it's been a very long time since the FLINT program operated as advertised.
