A colony world of the Republic of Manhattan located in the Raleigh-system, planet formerly was an Earth Federation colony that broke away during the Sol Gamma Wave in 2601. It later was conquered by the Republic during the Annexation of the Western Territories in 2743, the Republic's annexation of the 27 independent colony worlds that dominated the space to its galactic west.
The colony was founded by a Capecchi group of settlers, the Naiad.
Trivia
The planet is named after the colony ship that founded the original settlement, the EFS Ark Royal, which in turn is named after the a 16th century English galleon, that was used as the English flagship in a number of engagements, including the battles that resulted in the defeat of the Spanish Armada, and had a long career spanning over 50 years. Her fame led to a number of later warships of the Royal Navy being named Ark Royal in her honour, including a number of flagships of the fleet, civilian crafts, orbital facilities and ultimately the planet.