The Black Hole

Named Osiris by the Children of Ra, the black hole is the remnant core of a collision between a neutron star and a massive yellow star some 2 million years ago. The resulting supernova flooded nearby space with dense dust and gas clouds. Eventually the core of the supernova collapsed back upon itself approximately 1 million years ago, forming a black hole. Although small (and young) by black hole standards, Osiris has swallowed the three nearest star systems (including the Hibernia system). Currently it only has the gravitational pull of a very large star, so it poses no immediate threat to the other nearby star systems, however it's density plays havoc with subspace signals in the area.

It has been speculated that the wormhole to Federation space is somehow linked to the black hole, and it's close proximity is what holds the wormhole stable.

Dev Notes

This is unknown to any of the species in the game. The original star that formed the black hole contained a gaseous being similar to the one that resides in the star Ra. As it's star went supernova the being escaped by forming the wormhole to Federation space. The being setup residence in Sol (Earths star). It is still in communication with the Ra star. Any high density radio wave pulses fired at a specific frequency (known to the Ramans) at either Sol or Ra will be replicated by both stars at the same time.

This might be the basis for long term peace between the Empire and the Federation - given that Sol is effectively Ra's brother (in the eyes of the Ramans). Although in reality the gaseous beings are linked via an extra dimension and could really be considered a single entity (along with their kin throughout the galaxy).