Early life had just started to emerge on Discovery when human settlers arrived in 2304. This has now been replaced by an Earth-like ecosystem, adapted to live under the red light. Locals are generally confident their star will remain a red giant forever.

The 501st Joint Arcturus Wing is a faction that wants to bring peace to the Arcturus system and neighbouring systems. The 501st believe that you should never attack the innocent, and frown down on pirates and terrorists. They also believe that the only way to truly bring peace is to enlighten the people. The people of the 501st have a certain loyalty to their leaders, five dictators. Only one being known, the rest hiding in the shadows. The only one known to the public is Victor Lexx Crowe. Oddly, though it is a dictatorship the people of the 501st have many freedoms. The only notable thing they outlawed being slavery.