{"data":{"id":15174,"title":"Portfolio: The ARK","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/comm-link\/spectrum-dispatch\/15174-Portfolio-The-ARK","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-links\/15174","api_public_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/comm-links\/15174","channel":"Undefined","category":"Undefined","series":"Portfolio","images":[{"id":4572,"name":"Arcarticle-04.jpg","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/media\/qspm5kef4adxyr\/source\/Arcarticle-04.jpg","alt":"","size":4566940,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","last_modified":"2016-01-27T00:31:31+00:00","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/4572","similar_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/4572\/similar"},{"id":4574,"name":"Logotype_alpha-Just-Ark.png","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/media\/nuaj55zad8x8zr\/source\/Logotype_alpha-Just-Ark.png","alt":"","size":24610,"mime_type":"image\/png","last_modified":"2016-01-10T03:50:20+00:00","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/4574","similar_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/4574\/similar"},{"id":26463,"name":"source.jpg","rsi_url":"https:\/\/media.robertsspaceindustries.com\/weozjmuuh3hwh\/source.jpg","alt":"","size":843046,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","last_modified":"2019-09-19T15:49:32+00:00","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/26463","similar_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/26463\/similar"}],"images_count":8,"translations":{"en_EN":"Dismantling the Dark Age\nThe dawn of the 29th century saw Humanity struggling to redefine itself. For over two hundred years, the dynastic and despotic Messer family ruled the UEE and its people with a callous authority. The pro-Messer propaganda machine crushed dissenting voices and opinions, keeping legitimate facts that might hurt the regime from coming to light.\n\nThis information dark age was brought to an end when the Messer regime finally fell in 2792. Erin Toi ascended to Imperator and immediately worked with the Senate to restore faith in the UEE government. The Tribunal system was quickly reinstated to provide a check on the Imperator\u2019s power. The terrible terraforming policies that sparked the successful uprising against Messer were abandoned. And in 2795, the Fair Chance Act was officially adopted to protect the habitat of developing species. These and many other actions were slowly rebuilding a degree of trust between the UEE government and its people. However, mending relations between the UEE and starfaring alien species, who the Messers often vilified for political gain, would prove to be even more difficult.\n\nIn 2793, Imperator Toi met with a young, ambitious Senator named Marshall Leon and asked him to help repair Humanity\u2019s interspecies relationships by accepting the position of Diplomatic Secretary. Imperator Toi believed a first-term Senator who never had to navigate Messer-infected political waters would be seen as an envoy of Humanity\u2019s future, not its past.\n\nKnowing the enormity and complexity of the task at hand, Secretary Leon immediately scheduled meetings with Xi\u2019An and Banu diplomats. He acknowledged that the repair of relationships would take time, delicacy and \u2014 most importantly \u2014 trust, but also knew that his words and promises, or even those of the Imperator, would not be enough to mend the damage done. Only a bold act of diplomacy and peace could convince the entire universe that Humanity had truly changed its ways.\n\nIt was with that grand goal in mind that Secretary Leon conceived of the Ark.\n\nThe Dream\nSecretary Marshall Leon named his project the Ark, after an ancient story about a seafaring ship that saved both Humans and the animals of Earth from a massive flood. As Secretary Leon remarked during his initial speech before the Senate, in early 2794, \u201cMuch like its namesake, this Ark will be a manifestation of one of Humanity\u2019s greatest strengths \u2014 empathy. A trait that has sadly not been seen from our government in far too long.\u201d\n\nA bill was put forth that requested funds to construct an orbital platform with the dream that it would not be bound to any one location, species or government. It would travel between the systems of all species to promote and share universal knowledge while also providing a neutral, safe space for diplomatic discussions. Secretary Leon was convinced the future of the UEE depended on two things: access to information and stable relationships with other species. As Secretary Leon often said during debates over funding the Ark, \u201cHumanity is better off with friends instead of enemies.\u201d\n\nThe combination of Secretary Leon\u2019s stirring arguments, the endorsement of Imperator Toi, and the desire to distance the UEE from its recent past led to the Senate\u2019s overwhelming approval of the Ark. Construction was slated to start in late 2794 once a suitable location was chosen. A myriad of Senators, interested in the accompanying economic bump, campaigned to have it built in their system, but Secretary Leon wanted to keep the Ark apolitical. So, in a surprise move, he chose to have it built in Tayac; a system with no native population or representation in the Senate. A system long deemed off-limits to the public during the Messer era.\n\nA system, like the UEE, looking to redefine itself.\n\nThe Reality\nConstruction on the Ark started in 2795 and progressed more slowly than anticipated. The plan was to cannibalize an abandoned platform above Tayac that the military had used for the recently declassified Project Vespa, a secret attempt by the Messer regime to weaponize the terraforming process. Secretary Leon hoped it would signify that the UEE was dismantling its warmongering ways in favor of peace. Disassembling the weaponized components proved to be more expensive and time-sensitive than expected, incurring major delays for the project.\n\nAs the initial budget ballooned, Senators who had previously supported the project started to question it. Mainly, they questioned the section of the bill that created a foundation, independent of any government, to oversee the Ark\u2019s operation. Senators suddenly wondered why the UEE was paying for a project over which they would not have jurisdiction, and even briefly blocked funding as a way to regain control over the Ark. It was only after Imperator Toi brought her political might to bear that the project got back online.\n\nWhile construction progressed over the following years, Secretary Leon frequently visited with Banu and Xi\u2019An representatives to discuss the Ark. He passionately argued that its future belonged to all of them. It was during these discussions that Secretary Leon learned his vision was not being embraced by others species as he hoped. Although enthusiastic participants, the Banu had little to no historical records to share. Meanwhile, the Xi\u2019An had serious concerns that the platform might still be weaponized and outright refused to allow the Ark into their territory.\n\nDisappointed but not deterred, Leon decided to lead by example, so he pushed for as much Human knowledge as possible to be made available at the Ark. Human companies were encouraged and incentivized to contribute any information that would not hurt business. Meanwhile, the government released a trove of information. While classified government documents, military files and personal correspondences were considered off-limits, almost everything else was considered for admission. Critics complained that enemies could use this information against us. To which Secretary Leon responded, \u201cIf anything, it will be our actions, not our openness, that cause the next conflict.\u201d\n\nIn 2800, Secretary Leon won a contentious election to become the next Imperator. Encouraged to run and endorsed by Erin Toi, Secretary Leon highlighted his work on the Ark during his campaign, claiming it proved he was a consensus builder who could also repair Humanity\u2019s relationship with other species.\n\nShortly after his inauguration, construction on the Ark was completed. Imperator Leon invited representatives from the Xi\u2019An, Banu, Tevarin and even the Vanduul to attend the gala celebration. During his introductory speech, Imperator Leon appealed for everyone to help the Ark succeed in spreading peace and knowledge. \u201cI am proud to open these doors and beg all of you to fill it with the vast and colorful history that each and every species has to offer. Let this Ark stand as a testament and proud record of the lives that we and those before us have all lived.\u201d\n\nThe Present\nToday, the Ark still orbits in the Tayac System. Months after opening its doors, the foundation running it realized the cost of hauling it from system to system exceeded the expected revenue from donors and fundraising. Though Tayac I provides the perfect neutral ground to permanently station the platform, a lack of other interesting objects in the system does not help its visitation numbers.\n\nWhile the Ark has failed to become the bastion of interspecies diplomacy that was originally intended, Imperator Leon would still be proud of its current operations. It is the authoritative repository of information in the known universe.\n\nTo this day, it collects and analyzes an awesome amount of information sent from explorers, researchers, scientists and everyday people for possible inclusion in the Galactapedia. The Ark also works hand-in-hand with a variety of prominent universities and research institutions to verify information, and even funds projects to help expand on what is already known. Among archivists and researchers, there is no job more coveted than a position curating a portion of the deluge of data submitted to the Ark.\n\nThe crown jewel of the Ark\u2019s operations is the Starmap. This essential resource of interstellar navigation is the de facto authority on what can be found in the midst of the great, black expanse. It provides an object\u2019s location, historical context, and data on a variety of useful related topics. Constantly updated thanks to the contributions of hardworking stellar cartographers and explorers, the map reflects the ever-expanding boundary of our universe and our understanding of it.\n\nEven though the Ark may have not yet lived up to all of Imperator Leon\u2019s expectations, it is still an astounding achievement. Its dedication to truth and commitment to collecting knowledge from as many sources as possible provides an important, all-encompassing view of the universe. In many ways the Ark could be considered one of Humanity\u2019s most vital creations: an invaluable institution designed to preserve Humanity\u2019s future by keeping us mindful of its past.","de_DE":"Die Demontage des Mittelalters\nZu Beginn des 29. Jahrhunderts k\u00e4mpfte die Menschheit darum, sich neu zu definieren. \u00dcber zweihundert Jahre lang regierte die dynastische und despotische Familie Messer die UEE und ihr Volk mit einer herzlosen Autorit\u00e4t. Die Pro-Messer-Propagandamaschine zerst\u00f6rte abweichende Stimmen und Meinungen und bewahrte legitime Fakten, die das Regime verletzen k\u00f6nnten, vor dem Auftauchen.\n\nDieses dunkle Informationszeitalter wurde beendet, als das Messer-Regime 2792 schlie\u00dflich fiel. Erin Toi stieg zum Imperator auf und arbeitete sofort mit dem Senat zusammen, um das Vertrauen in die UEE-Regierung wiederherzustellen. Das Tribunal-System wurde schnell wieder in Betrieb genommen, um die Macht des Imperators zu \u00fcberpr\u00fcfen. Die schreckliche Terraforming-Politik, die den erfolgreichen Aufstand gegen Messer ausl\u00f6ste, wurde aufgegeben. Und 2795 wurde der Fair Chance Act offiziell verabschiedet, um den Lebensraum der sich entwickelnden Arten zu sch\u00fctzen. Diese und viele andere Ma\u00dfnahmen bauten langsam ein gewisses Ma\u00df an Vertrauen zwischen der UEE-Regierung und ihren B\u00fcrgern wieder auf. Allerdings w\u00fcrde sich die Wiederherstellung der Beziehungen zwischen der UEE und den Sternenfliegern fremder Arten, die die Messers oft f\u00fcr politischen Gewinn verunglimpft haben, als noch schwieriger erweisen.\n\n2793 traf Imperator Toi sich mit einem jungen, ehrgeizigen Senator namens Marshall Leon und bat ihn, die Beziehungen zwischen den verschiedenen Spezies der Menschheit zu reparieren, indem er die Position des diplomatischen Sekret\u00e4rs annahm. Imperator Toi glaubte, dass ein Erstsemester-Senator, der nie in mit Messer infizierten politischen Gew\u00e4ssern navigieren musste, als Gesandter der Zukunft der Menschheit angesehen werden w\u00fcrde, nicht ihrer Vergangenheit.\n\nIn Anbetracht der Gr\u00f6\u00dfe und Komplexit\u00e4t der anstehenden Aufgabe plante Minister Leon sofort Treffen mit Diplomaten von Xi'An und Banu. Er r\u00e4umte ein, dass die Reparatur von Beziehungen Zeit, Feingef\u00fchl und - vor allem - Vertrauen erfordern w\u00fcrde, wusste aber auch, dass seine Worte und Versprechungen oder sogar die des Imperators nicht ausreichen w\u00fcrden, um den entstandenen Schaden zu beheben. Nur ein mutiger Akt der Diplomatie und des Friedens konnte das gesamte Universum davon \u00fcberzeugen, dass die Menschheit ihre Wege wirklich ver\u00e4ndert hatte.\n\nMit diesem gro\u00dfen Ziel vor Augen konzipierte Sekret\u00e4r Leon die Arche.\n\nDer Traum\nMinister Marshall Leon nannte sein Projekt The Ark, nach einer alten Geschichte \u00fcber ein Seeschiff, das sowohl Menschen als auch Tiere der Erde vor einer massiven Flut bewahrt hat. Wie Staatssekret\u00e4r Leon in seiner ersten Rede vor dem Senat Anfang 2794 bemerkte: \"\u00c4hnlich wie sein Namensgeber wird diese Arche eine Manifestation einer der gr\u00f6\u00dften St\u00e4rken der Menschheit sein - des Mitgef\u00fchls. Ein Charakterzug, der von unserer Regierung leider viel zu lange nicht mehr gesehen wurde.\"\n\nEs wurde ein Gesetzentwurf vorgelegt, der Mittel f\u00fcr den Bau einer Orbitalplattform verlangte, mit dem Traum, dass diese nicht an einen Ort, eine Spezies oder eine Regierung gebunden sein w\u00fcrde. Es w\u00fcrde zwischen den Systemen aller Arten reisen, um universelles Wissen zu f\u00f6rdern und zu teilen und gleichzeitig einen neutralen, sicheren Raum f\u00fcr diplomatische Gespr\u00e4che zu schaffen. Minister Leon war \u00fcberzeugt, dass die Zukunft der UEE von zwei Dingen abh\u00e4ngt: dem Zugang zu Informationen und stabilen Beziehungen zu anderen Arten. Wie Minister Leon oft in Debatten \u00fcber die Finanzierung der Arche sagte: \"Die Menschheit ist besser dran mit Freunden als mit Feinden\".\n\nDie Kombination aus den aufr\u00fcttelnden Argumenten von Sekret\u00e4r Leon, der Unterst\u00fctzung von Imperator Toi und dem Wunsch, die UEE von ihrer j\u00fcngsten Vergangenheit zu distanzieren, f\u00fchrte zu der \u00fcberw\u00e4ltigenden Zustimmung des Senats zur Arche. Der Baubeginn war f\u00fcr Ende 2794 geplant, nachdem ein geeigneter Standort gew\u00e4hlt worden war. Eine Unzahl von Senatoren, die an der damit verbundenen wirtschaftlichen Beule interessiert waren, k\u00e4mpften daf\u00fcr, dass sie in ihr System integriert wurde, aber Minister Leon wollte die Arche unpolitisch halten. So entschied er sich in einem \u00fcberraschenden Zug daf\u00fcr, es in Tayac bauen zu lassen; einem System ohne einheimische Bev\u00f6lkerung oder Vertretung im Senat. Ein System, das w\u00e4hrend der Messer-\u00c4ra l\u00e4ngst als tabu galt.\n\nEin System, wie die UEE, das sich neu definieren will.\n\nDie Realit\u00e4t\nDer Bau der Arche begann 2795 und verlief langsamer als erwartet. Der Plan war, eine verlassene Plattform \u00fcber Tayac zu kannibalisieren, die das Milit\u00e4r f\u00fcr das k\u00fcrzlich deklassierte Projekt Vespa benutzt hatte, einen geheimen Versuch des Messer-Regimes, den Terraforming-Prozess zu bewaffnen. Minister Leon hoffte, dass es bedeuten w\u00fcrde, dass die UEE ihre kriegerischen Wege zugunsten des Friedens abbauen w\u00fcrde. Die Demontage der waffenf\u00e4higen Komponenten erwies sich als teurer und zeitkritischer als erwartet, was zu erheblichen Verz\u00f6gerungen f\u00fcr das Projekt f\u00fchrte.\n\nAls das anf\u00e4ngliche Budget aufbl\u00e4hte, begannen Senatoren, die zuvor das Projekt unterst\u00fctzt hatten, es in Frage zu stellen. Haupts\u00e4chlich stellten sie den Abschnitt des Gesetzes in Frage, der eine von jeder Regierung unabh\u00e4ngige Stiftung gr\u00fcndete, die den Betrieb der Arche \u00fcberwachen sollte. Senatoren wunderten sich pl\u00f6tzlich, warum das UEE f\u00fcr ein Projekt zahlte, \u00fcber das sie nicht Jurisdiktion haben w\u00fcrden, und blockierten sogar kurz die Finanzierung als Weise, Steuerung \u00fcber der Arche zur\u00fcckzugewinnen. Erst nachdem Imperator Toi ihre politische St\u00e4rke unter Beweis gestellt hatte, ging das Projekt wieder online.\n\nW\u00e4hrend der Bauarbeiten in den folgenden Jahren besuchte Sekret\u00e4r Leon h\u00e4ufig Vertreter von Banu und Xi'An, um \u00fcber die Arche zu sprechen. Er argumentierte leidenschaftlich, dass seine Zukunft allen geh\u00f6rt. W\u00e4hrend dieser Gespr\u00e4che erfuhr Minister Leon, dass seine Vision nicht von anderen Arten angenommen wurde, wie er es sich erhofft hatte. Obwohl die Teilnehmer begeistert waren, hatten die Banu wenig bis gar keine historischen Aufzeichnungen zu teilen. Unterdessen hatten die Xi'An ernsthafte Bedenken, dass die Plattform immer noch bewaffnet sein k\u00f6nnte, und weigerten sich sofort, die Arche in ihr Territorium zu lassen.\n\nEntt\u00e4uscht, aber nicht abgeschreckt, beschloss Leon, mit gutem Beispiel voranzugehen, also dr\u00e4ngte er darauf, dass so viel menschliches Wissen wie m\u00f6glich in der Arche zur Verf\u00fcgung gestellt wird. Menschliche Unternehmen wurden ermutigt und motiviert, alle Informationen beizusteuern, die dem Unternehmen nicht schaden w\u00fcrden. Unterdessen ver\u00f6ffentlichte die Regierung eine F\u00fclle von Informationen. W\u00e4hrend geheime Regierungsdokumente, Milit\u00e4rakten und pers\u00f6nliche Korrespondenz als tabu galten, wurde fast alles andere f\u00fcr die Zulassung ber\u00fccksichtigt. Kritiker beschwerten sich dar\u00fcber, dass Feinde diese Informationen gegen uns verwenden k\u00f6nnten. Darauf antwortete Sekret\u00e4r Leon: \"Wenn \u00fcberhaupt, dann werden es unsere Taten und nicht unsere Offenheit sein, die den n\u00e4chsten Konflikt verursachen.\"\n\nIm Jahr 2800 gewann Sekret\u00e4r Leon eine umstrittene Wahl zum n\u00e4chsten Imperator. Ermutigt, zu laufen und von Erin Toi unterst\u00fctzt, hob Sekret\u00e4r Leon seine Arbeit an der Arche w\u00e4hrend seiner Kampagne hervor und behauptete, dass sie bewiesen habe, dass er ein Konsens-Builder sei, der auch die Beziehung der Menschheit zu anderen Arten reparieren k\u00f6nne.\n\nKurz nach seiner Einweihung wurde der Bau der Arche abgeschlossen. Imperator Leon lud Vertreter der Xi'An, Banu, Tevarin und sogar der Vanduul zur Galafeier ein. W\u00e4hrend seiner einleitenden Rede rief Imperator Leon alle dazu auf, der Arche zu helfen, Frieden und Wissen zu verbreiten. \"Ich bin stolz darauf, diese T\u00fcren zu \u00f6ffnen und bitte euch alle, sie mit der langen und bunten Geschichte zu f\u00fcllen, die jede einzelne Spezies zu bieten hat. Lasst diese Arche als Testament und stolze Aufzeichnung des Lebens stehen, das wir und die vor uns alle gelebt haben.\"\n\nDie Gegenwart\nHeute umkreist die Arche noch immer das Tayac-System. Monate nach der Er\u00f6ffnung der Stiftung, die sie betreibt, realisierte sie die Kosten f\u00fcr den Transport von System zu System, die \u00fcber den erwarteten Einnahmen von Spendern und Fundraising lagen. Obwohl Tayac I den perfekten neutralen Boden bietet, um den Bahnsteig dauerhaft zu stationieren, hilft ein Mangel an anderen interessanten Objekten im System nicht, die Besucherzahlen zu erh\u00f6hen.\n\nW\u00e4hrend die Arche nicht zur Bastion der urspr\u00fcnglich geplanten Diplomatie zwischen den Arten geworden ist, w\u00e4re Imperator Leon immer noch stolz auf seine derzeitigen Operationen. Es ist das ma\u00dfgebliche Informationsspeicher im bekannten Universum.\n\nBis heute sammelt und analysiert es eine gewaltige Menge an Informationen, die von Forschern, Forschern, Wissenschaftlern und Alltagsmenschen f\u00fcr eine m\u00f6gliche Aufnahme in die Galactapedia gesendet werden. Die Arche arbeitet auch Hand in Hand mit einer Vielzahl von renommierten Universit\u00e4ten und Forschungseinrichtungen, um Informationen zu \u00fcberpr\u00fcfen, und finanziert sogar Projekte, die dazu beitragen, das bereits Bekannte zu erweitern. Unter Archivaren und Forschern gibt es keine begehrenswertere Stelle als eine Stelle, die einen Teil der Flut von Daten, die an die Arche \u00fcbermittelt wurden, kuratiert.\n\nDas Kronjuwel der Arche ist die Sternkarte. Diese wesentliche Ressource der interstellaren Navigation ist die faktische Autorit\u00e4t dar\u00fcber, was sich inmitten der gro\u00dfen, schwarzen Fl\u00e4che befindet. Es liefert den Standort eines Objekts, den historischen Kontext und Daten zu einer Vielzahl n\u00fctzlicher verwandter Themen. St\u00e4ndig aktualisiert dank der Beitr\u00e4ge von flei\u00dfigen Sternenkartographen und Forschern, spiegelt die Karte die st\u00e4ndig wachsende Grenze unseres Universums und unser Verst\u00e4ndnis davon wider.\n\nAuch wenn die Arche vielleicht noch nicht alle Erwartungen von Imperator Leon erf\u00fcllt hat, ist es dennoch eine erstaunliche Leistung. Ihre Hingabe an die Wahrheit und ihr Engagement, Wissen aus so vielen Quellen wie m\u00f6glich zu sammeln, bieten eine wichtige, umfassende Sicht auf das Universum. In vielerlei Hinsicht k\u00f6nnte die Arche als eine der wichtigsten Sch\u00f6pfungen der Menschheit betrachtet werden: eine unsch\u00e4tzbare Institution, die darauf ausgerichtet ist, die Zukunft der Menschheit zu bewahren, indem sie uns an ihre Vergangenheit erinnert.","zh_CN":"Dismantling the Dark Age\nThe dawn of the 29th century saw Humanity struggling to redefine itself. For over two hundred years, the dynastic and despotic Messer family ruled the UEE and its people with a callous authority. The pro-Messer propaganda machine crushed dissenting voices and opinions, keeping legitimate facts that might hurt the regime from coming to light.\n\nThis information dark age was brought to an end when the Messer regime finally fell in 2792. Erin Toi ascended to Imperator and immediately worked with the Senate to restore faith in the UEE government. The Tribunal system was quickly reinstated to provide a check on the Imperator\u2019s power. The terrible terraforming policies that sparked the successful uprising against Messer were abandoned. And in 2795, the Fair Chance Act was officially adopted to protect the habitat of developing species. These and many other actions were slowly rebuilding a degree of trust between the UEE government and its people. However, mending relations between the UEE and starfaring alien species, who the Messers often vilified for political gain, would prove to be even more difficult.\n\nIn 2793, Imperator Toi met with a young, ambitious Senator named Marshall Leon and asked him to help repair Humanity\u2019s interspecies relationships by accepting the position of Diplomatic Secretary. Imperator Toi believed a first-term Senator who never had to navigate Messer-infected political waters would be seen as an envoy of Humanity\u2019s future, not its past.\n\nKnowing the enormity and complexity of the task at hand, Secretary Leon immediately scheduled meetings with Xi\u2019An and Banu diplomats. He acknowledged that the repair of relationships would take time, delicacy and \u2014 most importantly \u2014 trust, but also knew that his words and promises, or even those of the Imperator, would not be enough to mend the damage done. Only a bold act of diplomacy and peace could convince the entire universe that Humanity had truly changed its ways.\n\nIt was with that grand goal in mind that Secretary Leon conceived of the Ark.\n\nThe Dream\nSecretary Marshall Leon named his project the Ark, after an ancient story about a seafaring ship that saved both Humans and the animals of Earth from a massive flood. As Secretary Leon remarked during his initial speech before the Senate, in early 2794, \u201cMuch like its namesake, this Ark will be a manifestation of one of Humanity\u2019s greatest strengths \u2014 empathy. A trait that has sadly not been seen from our government in far too long.\u201d\n\nA bill was put forth that requested funds to construct an orbital platform with the dream that it would not be bound to any one location, species or government. It would travel between the systems of all species to promote and share universal knowledge while also providing a neutral, safe space for diplomatic discussions. Secretary Leon was convinced the future of the UEE depended on two things: access to information and stable relationships with other species. As Secretary Leon often said during debates over funding the Ark, \u201cHumanity is better off with friends instead of enemies.\u201d\n\nThe combination of Secretary Leon\u2019s stirring arguments, the endorsement of Imperator Toi, and the desire to distance the UEE from its recent past led to the Senate\u2019s overwhelming approval of the Ark. Construction was slated to start in late 2794 once a suitable location was chosen. A myriad of Senators, interested in the accompanying economic bump, campaigned to have it built in their system, but Secretary Leon wanted to keep the Ark apolitical. So, in a surprise move, he chose to have it built in Tayac; a system with no native population or representation in the Senate. A system long deemed off-limits to the public during the Messer era.\n\nA system, like the UEE, looking to redefine itself.\n\nThe Reality\nConstruction on the Ark started in 2795 and progressed more slowly than anticipated. The plan was to cannibalize an abandoned platform above Tayac that the military had used for the recently declassified Project Vespa, a secret attempt by the Messer regime to weaponize the terraforming process. Secretary Leon hoped it would signify that the UEE was dismantling its warmongering ways in favor of peace. Disassembling the weaponized components proved to be more expensive and time-sensitive than expected, incurring major delays for the project.\n\nAs the initial budget ballooned, Senators who had previously supported the project started to question it. Mainly, they questioned the section of the bill that created a foundation, independent of any government, to oversee the Ark\u2019s operation. Senators suddenly wondered why the UEE was paying for a project over which they would not have jurisdiction, and even briefly blocked funding as a way to regain control over the Ark. It was only after Imperator Toi brought her political might to bear that the project got back online.\n\nWhile construction progressed over the following years, Secretary Leon frequently visited with Banu and Xi\u2019An representatives to discuss the Ark. He passionately argued that its future belonged to all of them. It was during these discussions that Secretary Leon learned his vision was not being embraced by others species as he hoped. Although enthusiastic participants, the Banu had little to no historical records to share. Meanwhile, the Xi\u2019An had serious concerns that the platform might still be weaponized and outright refused to allow the Ark into their territory.\n\nDisappointed but not deterred, Leon decided to lead by example, so he pushed for as much Human knowledge as possible to be made available at the Ark. Human companies were encouraged and incentivized to contribute any information that would not hurt business. Meanwhile, the government released a trove of information. While classified government documents, military files and personal correspondences were considered off-limits, almost everything else was considered for admission. Critics complained that enemies could use this information against us. To which Secretary Leon responded, \u201cIf anything, it will be our actions, not our openness, that cause the next conflict.\u201d\n\nIn 2800, Secretary Leon won a contentious election to become the next Imperator. Encouraged to run and endorsed by Erin Toi, Secretary Leon highlighted his work on the Ark during his campaign, claiming it proved he was a consensus builder who could also repair Humanity\u2019s relationship with other species.\n\nShortly after his inauguration, construction on the Ark was completed. Imperator Leon invited representatives from the Xi\u2019An, Banu, Tevarin and even the Vanduul to attend the gala celebration. During his introductory speech, Imperator Leon appealed for everyone to help the Ark succeed in spreading peace and knowledge. \u201cI am proud to open these doors and beg all of you to fill it with the vast and colorful history that each and every species has to offer. Let this Ark stand as a testament and proud record of the lives that we and those before us have all lived.\u201d\n\nThe Present\nToday, the Ark still orbits in the Tayac System. Months after opening its doors, the foundation running it realized the cost of hauling it from system to system exceeded the expected revenue from donors and fundraising. Though Tayac I provides the perfect neutral ground to permanently station the platform, a lack of other interesting objects in the system does not help its visitation numbers.\n\nWhile the Ark has failed to become the bastion of interspecies diplomacy that was originally intended, Imperator Leon would still be proud of its current operations. It is the authoritative repository of information in the known universe.\n\nTo this day, it collects and analyzes an awesome amount of information sent from explorers, researchers, scientists and everyday people for possible inclusion in the Galactapedia. The Ark also works hand-in-hand with a variety of prominent universities and research institutions to verify information, and even funds projects to help expand on what is already known. Among archivists and researchers, there is no job more coveted than a position curating a portion of the deluge of data submitted to the Ark.\n\nThe crown jewel of the Ark\u2019s operations is the Starmap. This essential resource of interstellar navigation is the de facto authority on what can be found in the midst of the great, black expanse. It provides an object\u2019s location, historical context, and data on a variety of useful related topics. Constantly updated thanks to the contributions of hardworking stellar cartographers and explorers, the map reflects the ever-expanding boundary of our universe and our understanding of it.\n\nEven though the Ark may have not yet lived up to all of Imperator Leon\u2019s expectations, it is still an astounding achievement. Its dedication to truth and commitment to collecting knowledge from as many sources as possible provides an important, all-encompassing view of the universe. In many ways the Ark could be considered one of Humanity\u2019s most vital creations: an invaluable institution designed to preserve Humanity\u2019s future by keeping us mindful of its past."},"links_count":0,"comment_count":144,"created_at":"2016-01-27T00:00:00+00:00","created_at_human":"10 years ago"},"meta":{"processed_at":"2026-04-28 14:32:49","valid_relations":["images","links","translations"],"prev_id":15171,"next_id":15175}}