Periphery (BattleTech)

In the fictional BattleTech universe, the Periphery is the region of interstellar space beyond the boundaries of the Inner Sphere, a volume some 500 light years in diameter centered around Earth. The Periphery is home to three moderately-size nations and a host of minor ones, as well as various pirate and criminal organizations. The Clan homeworlds, though lying far outside the Inner Sphere, are not generally considered part of the Periphery.