In the year 2330, twenty years after a devastating interstellar conflict known as the Colony War, the player character works as a space miner for Argos Extractors. During a routine dig, they uncover a strange artifact with unusual gravitational properties and experience a powerful vision upon touching it. This discovery draws the attention of Constellation, a renowned group of galactic explorers who believe these artifacts represent one of the greatest remaining mysteries in the settled systems. After delivering the artifact to Constellation's headquarters in New Atlantis, the capital of the United Colonies, the player joins the group in their quest to locate more artifacts scattered across known space. Their search soon draws competition from the Starborn, enigmatic beings with their own claims to the artifacts, raising the stakes of what began as simple exploration into something far more consequential.