The exploration division has its roots within ISOC's own Deep Space Exploration Group of the early 2300s. The ships sent out on interstellar missions would go for months with minimal contact with the homeworld, creating officers that increasingly relied on their own decisions rather than a formal chain of command. These officers would become some of the driving forces behind the New Years Revolution in Hawking and the eventual establishment of the Provisional Fleet.

The Magnetic Assembly would assume control over the exploration ships and their support assets within Hawking after the New Years Revolution. These support assets would continue to move along as their own set of loosely affiliated groups and have their ships eventually reassigned officially to the Provisional fleet. It was during this time that the crews that would make up the Exploration Division would be working on political ties with the other supernations, forming new relationships while maintaining the extreme long distance responsibilities of the Magnetic Assembly. It wouldn't be until 2324 that the Exploration Division would be officially formed.

With an official office established in Rotislav, more serious organization of the group could occur. Ships, Crew, and supporting relationships were all formalized and tracked in service of expanding the responsibilities of those exploration ships. A larger support organization meant that the technological developments for these groups could be better spread to the rest of the fleet. Similarly, a more formalized research division would allow for better and safer research of xenoarchioligical artifacts.

The end goal of establishing this division, is to help spread that same professional organization throughout the rest of the Provisional Fleet.

The prime mover of the Exploration Group is the MAS Edward Deming. This ship is the first in line to handle exploration and other important events for the Provisional Fleet, with the rest of the exploration group built around supporting the ED's operations. Prior to the Provisional Fleet's formation the Deming operated by itself, or operated with two conventional supply ships that would be positioned at halfway points by the SLE system in Hawking. After the formation of the Provisional Fleet, the ED was supported by a pair of SLE-capable supply ships that could following the ED anywhere. Ships that support the immediate needs of the ED are attached directly to its own command structure, and report directly to the officer in charge of the ship. The more extended operations required, such as long term R&D projects, engineering tasks, and follow up visits are handled by other groups within the Exploration Group dedicated to those tasks.

Responsible for Esoteric artifact research, the Research Group works to develop an understanding of how artifacts and equipment recovered by the Edward Deming work. They use research ships with isolated labs so that this work can take place far away from other facilities to limit and danger posed by the work

Responsible for all follow on tasks identified by the Edward Deming, including return of samples, recovery of equipment, engineering tasks, and long term support of research projects.

Based out of offices on Rotislav, the Ground Department is so named for it being a fixed complex of offices, warehouses, and work spaces that support the operations of the Exploration Group. This includes things like HR, personnel management, and co-coordinating with vendors for supplies. These support facilities are critical for keeping the entire operation running.