
In 2104, lithological excavations at the Fourth Mars Colony unearthed an artifact
of unknown, seemingly non-human origin; an icosahedron of an unrecognized, non terrestrial
metallic composition, inscribed with strange, indecipherable sigils and glyphs.
After long months of intense study, epigraphy experts on Earth ascertained a tenuous
parallel between the unknown language on the icosaherdon and certain obscure Aztec
hieroglyphics, and thus were able to extrapolate a meaning from the unearthly inscriptions.
The translation spoke of a legendary repository of ultimate knowledge known as the
Empyreal Lexicon... a codex of alien origin said to contain incredible cosmic secrets;
arcane words and psionic waves of power which were the keys to unlocking a network
of cerebral-transferrence portals linking the myriad galaxies of the multiverse,
and also the means to transcend the boundaries of the space-time continuum, enabling
corporeal beings to travel between dimensions and traverse at will the unknown realms
which lay between universes, tapping into the limitless energies which permeated
the sidereal fabric of the cosmos.
The translation of the Mars icosaherdon also hinted disturbingly at a great pangalactic
conflict which was waged over the possession of the codex between the mysterious
cosmic beings who had appointed themselves the keepers of the Lexicon and some terrifying
shadowy foe mentioned only fleetingly in the alien text.
The final battle in this cataclysmic power struggle was apparently fought in Earth's
own solar system, and the Keepers of the Lexicon, their power depleted and teetering
on the verge of defeat, shattered the codex into a myriad shards, scattering the
fragments across the star system in order to prevent the secrets of the Lexicon from
falling into the hands of their darksome nemesis.
According to the Martian artifact, several fragments of the Lexicon were hidden on
the third planet from the sun, the Earth itself.
One fragment was secreted in ancient Atlantis, another in Lemuria. Further pieces
of the cosmic codex fell to earth in Ys and eon-veiled Mu.
Still further fragments of the Lexicon were said to have been hidden somewhere beneath
the frozen surface of the bleak moon Callisto, and on the other mysterious orbs
Hyperion and Titan.
Lastly, the alien artifact spoke mysteriously of something hidden beneath the cratered
surface of Earth's own Moon.
Ascertaining co-ordinates from the Mars icosahedron, an expedition embarked immediately
from the Epsilon IV Moon Base and began to excavate the lunar sphere.
Thus was a veiled warning unheeded, and no one could know what to expect as the machinations
of humankind breached the ancient surface of the moon's Mare Imbrium....