Many thousands of years ago, a mysterious race dominated the Etheruim. Their vast knowledge and advanced technology appeared like magic to the former residents of the galaxies.
The Arnikanian's ideas and findings in ethics and research were the base for today's cultures.
Over many centuries they had a huge impact of life in a large part of the Etherium in an era of prosperity and peace ...
... until they suddenly disappeared 3000 years ago...
11 years ago on the external corners of the borders between the Empire and the Arcturian Kingdom a unique astronomical phenomenon occurred, in the vernacular known as the "Death Zone".
The minor star Agaya disappeared from the night sky, extinguished within a few minutes. A gigantic dark fog field spread around it. In this field there was no solar wind, and every ship which ventured into it was lost.
A few years later the Empire placed the order with the engineer Professor Lambrick to construct a ship which should no longer be dependent on solar wind for locomotion.
As is so often in history, this had less to do with visionary thinking than with economic interests.
Some important trade routes of the Empire were in the area of the zone, so that trade with solar crystals (a resource the Empire doesn't have at its own disposal, and which is essential for the manufacture of ships and technology) has been severely hampered because it took months to circumnavigate the zone and was correspondingly costly.
After years of research, prototypes, countless defeats and vast sums of money, Lambrick achieved his life's work;
The R.L.S. Cygnus.
This ship would be the first that would pass the 'Death Zone'.
It would be an expedition whose incredible discoveries and the subsequent events no member of the crew would ever have expected ...