Dark rumors and stories haunt generations of settlers about terrifying dangers lurking within the alien derelicts scattered across the Niecti star system.

Old salvors whisper among themselves about expeditions which disappeared without a trace, found wrecked by fates unknown while exploring, or barely returned to port despite savage injuries and damage inflicted by circumstances shrouded in mystery.

For those who seek them out, the stories of these ill-fated expeditions claim all manner of gruesome fates await the careless or unlucky.

Some claim warlike defenses protect the alien hulks from trespassers.

Others claim xeno-life hostile to humans laying in wait to pounce, shred, and consume the unwary.

Still others describe bio-mechanical living machinery waiting to corrupt and conscript the unlucky into some ancient conflict long past.

Skeptics quickly point out these stories seem not to originate from anyone who survived one of these expeditions themselves.

The Alliance Xeno-Archeology Agency (AXAA) issues frequent warnings to treasure hunters to avoid unlicensed salvage operations which still go unheeded by the “it can't happen to me” fortune seekers and dreamers.

The Alliance Navy chases outlaw salvage operations where it can, while steadily working to increase their presence and extend salvage regulations across the drifting belts of wrecks.

Despite this, applications by corporate and private xeno-archeological expeditions continue to pour in to AXAA, with ships departing port regularly full of hopefuls eager to test their wits and luck against the uncaring darkness.

▲ Chronology