Orbis Stellaris is a clone of the original Nathaniel Essex, one of three created in 1895^[1] along with a clone of Essex's late wife Rebecca^[2] to explore different solutions to the problem of inevitable Machine supremacy. Like the rest of of Nathaniel's clones, he believed himself to be the only one and the original Nathaniel Essex, having no memory of his death in Bedlam.^[1]

Destined to explore the stars, Essex left the planet before space travel was even an idea entertained by human fiction.^[3] He used his intellect to become a powerful figure on a galactic scale, his earthly origins unknown to most people he dealt with.^[4] Unlike other versions of Essex, who prolonged their lives through repeated cloning, he opted to become an organic/mechanical fusion construct, sealing himself in a floating orb that housed life support systems for his frail body.^[3] Eventually he managed to take over the World Farm and the Progenitors, whom he was able to easily reprogram to serve his goals.^[5]

As head of Stellaris, he used his knowledge of xenogenetics, cloning, and technology to create replicable squads of cloned cyborg warriors with enhanced powers that could be sold off to anyone willing to pay.^[6] Squads could be cloned and outfitted indefinitely, allowing buyers options from small terrorist squads to planetary invasion armies.^[7]

He also became a diplomat for the Galactic Rim Collective.^[8] Seeking a partner in the Sol system, Orbis Stellaris entered into a working relationship with Abigail Brand, who had her own secret plan to reshape galactic politics. Stellaris was willing to work with her for credits upfront and favors down the line.^[5]

At some point, he became aware of Doctor Stasis, and the two started working together.^[9]

On Brand's suggestion, Stellaris had some of his Progenitors retrieve Vulcan from the Fault.^[5] At the World Farm, three Progenitors had vivisected Vulcan's body and mind to study him and see if he would be useful. While opening him up, they discovered a great fire within him, but deemed his body and mind to be too twisted and broken to fix, yet still useful to them. They tinkered with his mind, separating all that was good within him from his truly broken and twisted self. They sent him back to his universe with his memories of this erased, seemingly as a changed man with a whole new and different personality and outlook on life, while trapping his true persona within his mind, only to be unleashed through great emotional turmoil or when they deemed fit in accordance with their plans.^[10]

After the Mutants of Krakoa and Arakko terraformed Mars, Orbis Stellaris attended a meeting of Galactic representatives on the Peak hosted by Abigail Brand to discuss the subject. He expressed interest in both the speed achieved by this method of terraforming and the offer of Mysterium, electing to accept the diplomatic terms offered by mutants on behalf of the Galactic Rim Collective.^[8]

Orbis Stellaris was offered a partnership by Henry Gyrich of Orchis who wanted to disrupt the diplomatic activity in the Lake Hellas Diplomatic Ring. Orbis Stellaris sent a squad of his latest OS017-Series Lethal Legion creations to ambush the royal procession of Shi'ar Empress Xandra. Despite it being but a trial run and the assassination not meant to succeed, the Lethal Legion squad performed remarkably, managing to neutralize Gladiator and kill three Superguardians of the Shi'ar Imperial Guard all on their own.^[6] After the first squad was finally wiped out, Stellaris used their location transponders to send in several more at once. Even though they were all destroyed by Storm, Stellaris considered the test a success for which the failed partnership with Gyrich merely provided an excuse, as he did not require his permission.^[4]

On Brand's behalf, he dispatched several of his Progenitors to attack Arakko. The attack itself was but a distraction, its true purpose was to steal the Techno-Organic Virus possessed by Cable,^[11] which it succeeded at, delivering a sample to Orbis Stellaris so it could be replicated.^[5]

As a representative of the Galactic Rim Collective, Orbis Stellaris attended a diplomatic meeting called by the Shi'ar to announce the death of Empress Xandra due to matters unrelated to Stellaris' own plans. When the possibility of resurrecting her using the mutant circuit known as the Five was floated, Orbis Stellaris opposed it fiercely. He cited possible consequences for galactic politics and threatened war should it happen, only to learn from Storm that the deed had already been done.^[12]

Cable was able to track his stolen Techno-Organic Virus to the World Farm due to it being a strain unique to him. A team consisting of Cable, Thunderbird, Manifold, Khora of the Burning Heart, and Weaponless Zsen infiltrated the World Farm, where Cable retrieved his stolen T/O and learned about the reprogramming done to Vulcan.^[5] To deal with intruders, Orbis Stellaris mounted his orb as a head onto the body of an Overlord-Class Progenitor and met his guests himself. However, he felt the Progenitor body's pain, which Cable's team used to quickly dispatch it. Detaching the orb from the body, Orbis Stellaris brought in more serious power, ordering the same three beings that managed to reprogram Vulcan himself.^[13] They were close to breaking Manifold when a momentary respite provided by Cable allowed Eden to receive unexpected aid from Lactuca the Knower. With her gift, Manifold was able to teleport the three Progenitors away, and Cable ordered him to extract the team, as they found what they came for. The Stellaris shell ended up seriously damaged, and after opening it up Essex ordered the Progenitors to quickly prepare him a new one, promising to deliver vengeance upon the mutants.^[3]

Following the defeat of Mother Righteous by Enigma, Orbis Stellaris attempted to capture her alongside Doctor Stasis, but failed to do so.^[14]