The Five Star Stories derives its title from the Joker Star Cluster, the setting for its narrative. This cluster consists of four stars: Eastern, Western, Southern, and Northern. The "fifth star" is a massive comet called Stant, which traverses this sector of space every 1,500 years, dragging along its own system of orbiting planets. In the distant past, the Farus Di Kanon Empire, now widely referred to as the "Super Empire," ruled over all four solar systems within the Joker Cluster. They possessed technology far superior to what is currently known and dispatched explorers to the outer edges of the Joker Galaxy. Around the year 9000 AD (Ammon Duul), the empire fell due to internal conflict. The explorers were recalled, and the remnants of civilization concentrated primarily on survival. By the time the imperial families of Amaterasu, Fillmore, and Hathuha united to establish the JC era, much technology and knowledge had been lost. JC stands for "Joker Calendar" and was intended to provide a common reference point for all nations to help foster lasting peace. Although the JC calendar was adopted, the dream of peace was never realized. The first story of The Five Star Stories begins in JC 2988. At this time, interstellar travel is common, and genetically engineered "fatimas" are well established as essential co-pilots for the fearsome mortar headds that dominate the battlefields. Warfare between nations is commonplace, and few still hope for peace.