The Bard Cluster is a grouping of stars named after Taisa Arild Bard, a Nepleslian commander known for having commanded the YSS Destiny and the YSS Valiant.

The central area of the Bard Cluster (particularly around Murf) is known to be a “nightmare” to most sensors. This disturbance kind of fades out as you move away from the central region. To the East (rimward) of the Bard Cluster is Katsuko's Nebula.

The Bard Cluster was known to have been occupied by the Fifth Expeditionary Fleet and served as their base of operation until the Battle of Taiie in YE 29. The Taiie star system was destroyed and the Bard Cluster had been occupied by the Mishhuvurthyar battle fleet lead by the notoriously successful Mishhuvurthyar figurehead Melisson.

After their retreat, the Bard Cluster was assigned to the Fourth Fleet in YE 30. In YE 30, the Bard Cluster was released to the Yamatai Star Empire's control as part of the Intergalactic Armistice Agreement of YE 30 (IAA) signed at the International Relations Conference of YE 30.

Recolonized primarily by former YSE soldiers, the cluster expanded, and is often referred to as the 'Bard Expanse' by those making a living there. New systems stretch the border to both major outlets of the United Outer Colonies.

The return of the Mishhuvurthyar brought war once more to the Bard Cluster. The forces of the Fourth Fleet under Shimizu-Motoyoshi Akina (清水本吉明菜)-Taisho the 4SF lead by the YSS Nadare stopped a major incursion in what would become known as The Battle of South Gate. The 4SF lost a significant number of their vessels, but emerged victorious.

Constant engagements with the Mishhuvurthyar, and a major assault on an SMX Depot in Bizankro. The 4SF lost more than two-thirds of its forces. Under the command of Shinja Rika it regrouped, upgraded and consolidated its forces and defenses. This meant abandoning four of the planets. The colonists from them were relocated to other worlds in the cluster.

The system and planet Goumon was renamed Kotori after Kotori. The prison facility on Kotori was then given the task of containing NMX Nekovalkyrja

• Industrial - Mevar, Kilnar, Tsuyosa
• Agricultural -

• Ahmar
• Ahrbeg
• Akina System
• Kotori System - Capital - formerly Goumon
• Kilnar
• Mevar
• Murf
• Taiie (destroyed)
• Taiie Nebula - Remnants of the Taiie system
• Talori
• Tsuyosa
• Yicuqibu

• Akiko - Abandoned
• Ayano - Abandoned
• Miu - Abandoned
• Skadi - Abandoned