The Confederated Outer Reach

The Confederated Outer Reach is a loose collection of planets around the edge of Hegemony space. Each is independent, with wildly different laws and customs, but they all adhere to a central treaty.
These independent planets came into being when Hegemites, frustrated with the Hegemony's system, struck out to find their own place in the galaxy. Given the cost of doing so, these people were either incredibly wealthy, or grouped together with others, or entered into mining agreements with Hegemony transitor houses.
Later, Laresic merchants added to the exodus.