The Enlightenment
A free federation of worlds, loosely bonded to Velor. It was created in 1521 at the Madstop Conference, with much of the initiative coming from the Velorian diaspora: Companios and former Companions familiar with the seeded worlds on which had served, and with the growing threat of the Arion Empire.
As each planet must provide its own defence, there is no such thing as an Enlightment army; this function is instead filled by the Protectors.