[rust]

If we decide to use Gates to connect the worlds, even a different background
should be no real problem, the Gates could still connect worlds in "parallel uni-
verses" with completely different political etc. background situations, even
with slightly different laws of nature (e.g. to allow for different FTL drive phi-
losophies).
In my opinion, this approach could make it even more interesting than a sha-
red background, but that is probably a matter of taste.

Pharos IV currently uses the "Honorverse" of David Weber's Honor Harrington-
series as its background, but it could easily be "moved" to any other back-
ground where a remote human colony on the very edge of the explored space
is possible.