In the years following the end of the Reaper War rapid advancements in biotechnology greatly enhanced the human condition. Diseases were eradicated and most common ailments related to age were all but eliminated. Humans living at the time just after the war could , with appropriate gene therapy, add 100 years of relative good health to their lifespan. The generation born after the end of the war could look forward to 2 - 3 centuries of good health before seeing any ill effects from age.
At the forefront of this medical revolution is the Orion Foundation. A biotech and medical research group founded by Miranda Lawson and her sister Oriana using funds appropriated from the then defunct Cerberus. Many of the advancements made were all based on the groundbreaking work Miranda did with the Lazerus project.
The Systems Alliance has begun pushing further into the Attican Traverse, colonizing more and more worlds. This brought further conflict with the Batarian Hegemony which saw this as nothing short of an invasion into hegemony space. Incidents of clashes with pirate and slaver gangs were on the rise. Mercenary groups like Eclipse and the Blue Suns were becoming very wealthy with protections contracts from private trade groups and corporations.
2247 C.E.
Voyager Cluster / Columbia System / Asteroid belt
The humbly named asteroid 871G meandered lazily in it's 10,000 year orbit. A type C asteroid formed billions of years ago when the planets of this system were still molten hot. Asteroid 871G was a mostly uninteresting hunk of carbon easily overlooked amongst the billions of other such objects in this asteroid belt. However if, for whatever reason, one took a close interest in this particular rock they may just notice an unusually round rock formation on it's surface. This unusual object sat amongst the jagged black rocks quietly, emitting no light or radiation of any kind.
A figure in a blue and black environment suit ran it's hands carefully over an unnaturally smooth black surface. It's helmet lamp grazed across the blank wall, searching. It's hand paused momentarily over a square depression in the wall. The suited figure stepped back and tapped a few commands on the omni-tool at its wrist. A holographic display popped up over the square depression. Another tap and a previously unseen door slid open revealing a dark entryway. Long unused lights began flickering on illuminating a hallway leading to another set of doors. A final light at the end of the hallway clicked on revealing a symbol emblazoned over the doors - an elongated hexagon framed by two angled lines. A symbol well known among the human species equally as a symbol of power as well as betrayal. A second figure in a white environment suit joined the first, staring down the hallway.
"I can't believe you actually found it. Do you think anything could still be here after all this time?"
"You'd better pray there is, otherwise all this planning will be for nothing."
Both figures walked down the hallway together. The sounds of their footsteps muffled by the lack of air. As they approached the end of the hallway, the doors automatically opened revealing an elevator. The pair looked at each other for a moment, a shared fear of the unknown giving them pause. Then together they stepped into the elevator.
