The Duck's Path

Where some see but a small collection of fairly significant stars, others see a duck

Astraesto    Events/Challenges    Duckuary 2024      The Duck's Path

I swear, if I hear one more duck joke out of any of you tommorow...

Oh skipper, we'll be starting right at the quack of dawn.

I'm going to feed you to the damn ducks.

Sorry, I promise to quack fewer duck jokes in the future.

— Early Terran prospectors "The Ducklings", 221AC

In the cold, dark, endless void that is outer space, there lies a collection of 18 stars. These stars have long held some geopolitical importance, directly separating the major powers of the Federation of Anfieden and Allied Planets and Kingdom of Apreas, and providing a path through the treacherous Pelleon Anomaly, but perhaps more importantly to the residents of the Galaxy, these stars form into the shape of a duck.
The immensely important trade route, between two major Galactic powers, and patrolled by vast numbers of vessels from the Federation Interstellar Navy and Apreasean Royal Navy, is widely regarded as one of the most important star clusters in the entire Galaxy. However, its importance and value has always been a secondary factor to pop culture. The area has become the subject of hundreds of jokes, and often the target of more practical pranks, including most prominently Maxwell's Grand Duck Migration.
Of the 18 stars that make up the Path, 9 are aligned with the Federation, and 6 with Apreas, with the remaining 3 hosting their independent governments, though they are heavily influenced by the two Galactic powers. While most of the territories have solidified with their respective faction of late, the Duck's Path was long regarded as one of the most tumultuous regions of the Galaxy, with planets and systems constantly changing hands, and outright revolts not uncommon. The significant presence of the Federation and Apreasean Navies has long prevented such calamity, though as tensions rise across both nations, many have begun to question the large force assigned to the area.

Badge by Tillerz using MJ

Type

Galactic Sector

Location under

Galaxy of Astraesto

Contested By

• Federation of Anfieden and Allied Planets
• Kingdom of Apreas