The Union of Planetary Republics

This is the shoulder patch on each Berkeshire uniform.

    For centuries, the Union of Planetary Republics has explored the Galaxy. During its early years, the Union fought off attackers from all sides to usher in an era of peace. But now, that fragile peace could be crumbling. What's worse, the attacker is a force of nature!
    The force is called the Belts. It is a massive and unavoidable storm that spans the width and height of the entire Galaxy. There is no escape; Hyperdrives fail when a ship even approaches the Belts. There is no shield that can protect a ship from the Belts.
    Even if the Belts do not destroy all life, everyone is certain that they will destroy the Union.
    So, the Union decided it was payback time. Koronis' Berkeshire has been built to test the Belts to the limits. Decades ahead of the avant garde of shipbuilding, classified technology was declassified for K.O.R.O.N.I.S. Shipworks to begin building the most ambitious ship ever designed. Their ship is Koronis' Berkeshire, and she's out to test the Belts. But first, her Captain and her crew must work to restore the peace in the Union. Will the greatest crew in the Union of Planetary Republics succeed?

[There's no place to hide from the Belts!]