The ship rolled as it hit the atmosphere, he heard the radio going off in the cockpit. He glanced out the window, looking across the seas on the colony. He smiled, finally accepting this would be a good oppritunity. From what he heard this colony had plenty of jobs open, and most dealt with computers, and if true he could be set for awhile.

He frowned as the ship desceneded to the surface, docking in the Space port. As the others gathered their papers and stuff he walked off, wanting to explore the colony. The spaceport was ablaze with activity, ships taking off and landing all around, he made his way off the docks, trying to get into the city.

Some vendors had set up stalls, selling everything one would need on the colony. He politely turned down their shouts to come and look, opting to head off into the city. He emerged from the dock areas, making his way into the terminals. He stared in awe at the craftsman ship that went into this place.

He had seen pictures of Greece, but never seen anything like this. The terminal had a modern look incorporating alot of Greek Architecture. The celing had a holographic sky, with collums acending into it. Carvings and statues lined the terminal, many of the ancient greek gods.

Engraved in the stone over the main entrance was the names of the big cities on the colony, along with the flag hung on top of them. He exited the space port and found him self on the streets. Cars drove past on the street, but many were also walking on the side walks. He looked up as he heard a loud noise, it was the Athens Metro Lines that had elevated MAGLEV tracks networking the city.

He decided that would be his best chance to find something to do, he needed some cash, and his skills would be valued here. He made his way up to one of the stations, buying a pass for about 50 credits. He put it in his pocket, making sure he didnt loose it. He hopped onto a train headed to the financial district of the city, hoping that he could find a way to make some quick money there.

The ride was amazing. The train rode the rails smoothly, switiching off to the taller tracks of the city. Here they could see alot more than running though city streets. Even thought the line ran through the taller buildings it was beautiful. He never realized how great a civilizations architecture could be even thousands of years after its decline. The public buildings were all white marbel, or something that simulated if most likely.

Night had fallen and the city was lit up, almost like Paris. The towers stood out agianst the rest of the architecture, but their modern designs were made to be 'intergrated' into the overall theme. He waited for the train to get to its destination, taking in the sights that the train ride provided.

Sal rubbed his temples and groaned as he managed to pull himself up from the uncomfortable seat of the transport. He had choosen a more... economical space line for this trip, and had paid for it with a throbbing headache from the engine noises and a sore back from the seats that were not quite adaquete to the structure of the Turian frame. He collected his one bag from the overhead compartment and followed the slow line of ambling passengers out onto the dock, greeted by a blast of fresh air that immediately revitalized him.

He'd found his way to this world due to the nature of his profession. As an Archaeologist, he'd always been intrested in the history of the human race, which was only just becoming more readily available to the rest of Citidel Space. He found it all fascinating, the wars, the empires, the languages, coming and going. Humans were just so much more a diverse race than the others in the galaxy, his own included. He had heard there was a library and museum on this particular human colony devoted entirely to Human history, and lacking any other pressing duties, he had decided to make the trip to see if he could increase his knowledge on Homo Sapiens and their lineage.

After making his way through the crowded spaceport and the eager shopkeeps, he'd made his way into the city, which amazed him. He hadn't seen anything of this kind before, and he never ceased to be amazed when looking upon the buildings and statues of another culture. However, he was a bit tired for being in awe, and decided to get to his hotel and crash before he collapsed in the street. He hadn't slept a wink on the seemingly endless flight. He made his way to one of conviently positioned train stations in the city, and bought a ticket.

He hefted his bag over his shoulder as he made his way onboard the train, glancing breifly out the window to admire the cityscape as it began to lurch forward. He shuffled down the aisle and finally slumped down uncerimoniously in a seat across from a human passenger. He let out a deep exhale as he leaned his head back and savored the feeling of being on a properly padded and ergonomic support...

Chase saw the Turian board the train, slumping down into the seat across from him. He wondered if he knew anything about the colony, but then agian he could be a new arrival just like him. He decided to ask him what he was doing here, the train ride was going to take a couple minutes and someone to talk to would be nice.

"So, what you here for?" He spoke up, hoping that the turian heard him.

He looked out the window over him as the train turned, passing through one of the stations on the outside of a sky scraper. The trains switched onto a transfer, heading down onto the lower rails. He was dismayed that they were down where he couldnt see the cityscape, but he could now see the statues and buildings up close, even if zooming past them.

Sal opened one eye from his lounging position. He wasn't normally one for small talk, but than again, he didn't want to fall asleep on the train and than have to wake himself up to slouch all the way to the hotel. He grunted as he leaned forward, arching a brow briefly at the young looking human sitting across from him.

"Here for work. Archaeology." He said as he stretched out his shoulders. "Heading to the museum and the library once I get some sleep in... What about you?" He asked, now vaguely interested in the man.

"Here for work. Archaeology." The Turian spoke "Heading to the museum and the library once I get some sleep in... What about you?"

"Im actually here trying to find some quick cash, im an expert... well i guess i would be a computer specialist. Since half of this colonies economy involves computers i figured i could find some jobs to do." He said.

He kept himself upright as the train stopped in a station. He looked out the window, seeing a family of 3 getting on the Train. He didnt get up, as this stop wasnt where he wanted to be. He wondered what the library was, he had overheard something about it, but didnt know what it is.

"So what library thing are you going to, i haven't actually heard what it is for yet" He finished, slumping back into his seat to get comfortable.

The train sped down the tracks agian, heading towards the city center.

"So what library thing are you going to, i haven't actually heard what it is for yet" The human stated. Sal chuckled lightly as he leaned back in his seat, putting his claws behind his head.

"I'm surprised. It's the biggest library in all alliance space. Has millions of entries. Books, records, all that." He glanced out the window as he continued. "I'm trying to get more on human history, expand my knowledge in that area. It sounded like the ideal place to go." He finished with a shrug.

He leaned back foward, gesturing towards the human with a single claw. "Computer expert eh? Shouldn't be hard for you to find work, seeing the galaxy as we know it couldn't function without the dang things." He said with as much of a smirk a turian face can manage.

"Computer expert eh? Shouldn't be hard for you to find work, seeing the galaxy as we know it couldn't function without the dang things.

He laughed, he had thought about how much computers controlled the galaxy often. He loved to toy with them, but in his past he never thought it would get him a job.

"Ya, your probably right, but working on the things isnt what i like to do, hacking is more my strong suite. But then agian, that doesnt get you a job, well a legal one of course" He said, shifting in his seat a bit.

He checked his bag, he barely touched the thing since he had got off Parum, he flet his laptop inside, safe and secure. He lifted it off his shoulder and set it on the floor. He looked out the window, in the distance was the town center, he picked out one of the bigger buildings, thinking it was the library.

Sal arched a brow at the little gem the human just revealed. A hacker eh? Not exactly the most noble of vocations in an age where one individual could set back the progress of an entire government with a few keystrokes if he or she was good with it. Part of him, mainly the soldier, resented him, but as he looked at the human, he seemed to be a decent guy. He decided to let that slide as he watched him get out his personal computer from his bag.

He glanced off out the window again, overseeing the skyline. He squinted as he looked over the various different structures, one particularlily ornate one catching his eye. He pulled out a picture he'd gotten off the extranet and held it up to compare.

"Yup, that must be the library." He stuck the picture back in his pocket. "Damn, it'll take me a while to sort through all that won't it?" He chuckled with a friendly grin at his travelling companion.

"Millions of books, millions of files, thousands of artifacts. It would take a lifetime to see it all, exluding an Asari of couse." He said with a smile.

He saw the Turians eyes change, looking at him for a second with resent. He was relieved when he averted his eyes and the emotion dissapeared. He was curious about the library, he would have to stop by it some time.

"So, where you coming from?" he asked

"Millions of books, millions of files, thousands of artifacts. It would take a lifetime to see it all, exluding an Asari of couse." He said with a smile.

Sal got a sly smirk on his face as he turned back towards the human. "Heh heh, I wouldn't mind having one of them helping me work through that stuff late into the night. If you, catch my drift." He winked and chuckled as he shook his head slightly. In actuality, that would be a big help.

"So, where you coming from?" he asked

"Eh, I just got done with a seminar at a museum on the Citdel. I was hanging around for a little while, and then a collegue told me about this place when I mentioned I was getting more into human history." He smirked again as he crossed a knee over another. "You are a interesting race, and a lot of Citidel space still struggles to understand you."

"Yeah, our history is long and interesting. This city is all based off the Ancient Greeks, a civilization that was around a couple thousand years ago." He said.

He watched as the train approached the station, the trains starting to slow so it didnt overrun the small street station.

"I myself just got back from helping the Guardians, Hackers dont all have to be bad, I helped save the organization from loosing anymore info from a mole"

"Intresting... I suppose someone with your skills do have legitimate uses." He conceded as he uncrossed his legs, stretching them out in what space he had in the compact train car.

"Your race is intresting, but very complex. So many different cultures and creeds on one planet? The multitude of languages? It's lucky that most in my profession enjoy this sort of thing, or we'd probably have no one willing to put forth the effort to decrypt your kind for the rest of the galaxy." He said as he idily scratched at his leathery cheek.

He nodded as the train came to a halt, the speakers announcing they reached Central Station. He got up, grabbing his bag and throwing the strap over his shoulder.

"Heres the city square, ready?" He asked.

"Ugh.. Just barely." He grumbled as he hoisted himself up from the seat and straightened his back with a grunt. He hoisted up his own carry on bag over his shoulder.

"Alright, ready as I'll ever be..." He chuckled as he stepped towards the exit into the plaza

He nodded, walking off the train and onto the station. He looked around the square, admiring the sculptures and architecture. He turned to make sure his friend was near as they made way to the library.

Sal also glanced around at the detailed architecture of the buildings that lined the streets. Pure white marble, pillars, slanted rooves.

"I always find human architecture amazing. The buildings of my people are a little on the... utilitarian side." He says with a shrug as he walks along with the human.

"You know, I just realized I don't know your name." He says as he turns to face the young man.

Chase turned still walking, hearing that he asked his name. He decided it was alright to tell him his real name.

"Chase Lithum" he told him.

He crossed the street, dodging though cars waiting for the green light. A VI outside acted as a greeter, telling them the history of the colony, some random facts about humanity, and how the library was based off the design of the Roman Forum.

He entered the doors, taking in the size of the place immediantly. It was huge, thousands of books lined the shelves, plenty of computers, glassed in artifacts, tons of history surrounded him. A digital readout listed some of the bigger displays.

He looked at the main map layed out, a 3D cut away showed the library. It showed how the library was split up into all the major points in Human history, and what they contained.

Sal nodded at Chase as he told him revealed his identity. "Nice to meet you, I'm Saldak Davritus. You can call me Sal."

Sal ignored the VI as he entered the library, he never liked the damned things, way too uptight. He craned his neck back as he looked at the vast stores of knowledge that surrounded him. Endless entries of every point recorded in human history ever. Generation after generation.

"Well... I may have my work cut out for me."

Chase spotted something he was interested in. It was labled as the World Wars area of the Modern Age Section of the library.

"I think ill start at the World Wars section, it sounds interesting to me, how about you?" He asked.

"I got a... particular area I need to study." Sal said with slight apprehension as he glanced over a distant area of the library. "Maybe I'll catch up with you later..."

With that quick goodbye said, he hefted his bag and started off across the vast library. When he had rounded a corner on his shelf, he noticed a table for patrons and set the bag down on top. He gave a su btle glance over each shoulder and checked inside. There were a few small containers, each holding an ancient looking trinket with cryptic writing all over. At the bottom of the bag was a snugly stowed automatic pistol.

After plucking one of the trinkets from its cradle, Sal walked over to a reference terminal and began to access it. It was time to get some answers...

Sal tapped the keys on the terminal slowly, his claws not quite working well with the keyboard interface designed for human fingers. He frowned at the screen as the tapped tediously gathered data into the computer.

It had taken a while to translate the ancient alien text on the aritifacts into English, but it was finally coming out into something vaugely understandable. He typed the last keystroke into the teriminal, and hit enter. "Please Wait" appeared on the screen, as the computer began to search it's vast mainframes for the informatin.

Sal leaned back in his seat, watching the display intently. If all went well, the next clue he was seeking would be close at hand...

Chase looked at a diorama of the Battle of Normandy, and the Battle of Midway. He veiwed some artifacts from the War, helmets, boots, shell casings, weapons, etc. He flipped through a few books, looking at some of the fighting that happend.

He was surprised at the data they had managed to collect about a War from a period when computers never existed and much of the areas it took place on had been built over by now.

He left the section, heading off to find Sal. He spotted him at a table in the Ancient Cultures section, doing something at a table. He looked as he typed attenativly on the computer, holding some strange thing. He looked at the bag, seeing a few more cases.

He wondered what they contained, but he wouldnt snoop to stealing one out to look at it. He turned to the Turian, interrupting him.

"What is that?" He asked.

Sal just about jumped out of his thick Turian skin. He nearly dropped the artifact on the table, but quickly steadied his grip, and turned to face Chase, obviously startled by his sudden appearance, using his body to cover the computer screen

"Gah!... Gods, don't sneak up on a guy like that! Man.." He panted as he gathered his breath, nervously glancing between the human and his bag. "uhh... just some routine research, it's nothing."

"Sorry, didnt think you would jump like that" He said with a slight smile.

He looked at the small artifact on the floor, picking it up. He rolled it in his hand, not recognizing the engravings on it. He made a mental 'picture' of it, then stopped.

"Here you go, you dropped this..... things" He said, holding out the trinket.

Sal glanced between him and the object in his hand, slowly taking it in his grasp and giving him a nod. "Thanks.." He said quietly as he glanced over his shoulder at the computer. The search was done it looked like, but this was sensitive information, could he really work on it around a guy he barely knew.

"It's no big deal, I uhh... Just wasn't expecting you, that's all." He said with a shrug. "My reflexes are a bit high strung. Carries over from my army days." He said, trying to steer the conversation away from what he was doing.

Ralik emerged from an engineering tunnel looking fairly dirty.

"Hmmm, Hey, Jones!" Ralik called out

"Yeah?"

"Jones, when's the last time that those relay filters were looked at?" Ralik asked

"Uhh, I'm not entirely sure sir, I told Smith to get on it . . ."

"Aren't you in charge of making sure the engineering tunnels are operating to standard?"

"Well, yessir but I-"

"And I'm in charge of making sure you are keeping these running smooth."

Jones looks down, annoyed.

"When I assign you to a task Jones, don't baton-pass the job to someone else."

Jones just stares Ralik down.

"Is there a problem Jones?"

"No, sir . . ."

"Then I'm sure there are other engineering tunnels that are failing to meet standards at the moment."

"Of course, sir. . ."

Ralik stepped aside to let Jones continue "working".

"Damn Quarians, you'd think they'd have their own technology to be handling." Jones said on his way to the nearest tunnel

Ralik stopped, and let Jones continue on.

"Seriously, what are those things, they dont even look Human at all." He asked.

He was getting unsure of the Turians intentions, he was trying to change the subject, but he was interested.

"Why did you really come here Sal?" He then said.

The turian got up from his seat, taking the human by the shoulders roughly and glancing left and right and leaning in close to his face.

"Listen... I'm about to tell you some serious stuff here, and if you tell ANYONE about what it is I'm really doing... 'Things" could happen..."

He stares into his eyes with a serious set expression. "Do you get me?"

He returned the look, shaking off the Turian and stepping back. He looked at the bag, then back to him. He was interested of course, but knew that he didnt need to get into anything illeagal.

"Go on" He said simply, giving him a look that said he understood.

Sal backed up slowly, picking up the small trinket he had been researching, and held it up for him to see.

"This is a Prothean artifact. I "aquired" one of these through the underworld on the Citdel. Inscribed on it, is coordinates to a planet. I went to the coordinates..." He paused and opened another container, pulling out an identical trinket. ".. and found another. It repeated itself. with more coordinates and another planet..."

"Each artifact led me to a new clue, but then I came across this one." He said quietly as he held up the one artifact again. "This one... didn't have the same writing as the others. It wasn't in Prothean, at least not any I've seen before. I thought I'd hit a wall, but then a friend of mine saw it. He told me it was similar to a human language, one used on earth thousands of years ago..."

He stopped and glanced back at the computer. "Which is why I was researching this here. This is the biggest collection of Human knowledge ever. If I can find out the language, I can find out what it is that this actually leads to. PRothean technology, records, maybe even connections to ancient history on earth. Who knows?..."

"How could prothean artifacts lead to a artifact containing language developed thousands of years after their downfall?" he asked.

Something didnt seem to add up to him, especially about human languages on other planets.

"Well, if the Protheans do have some sort of structure somewhere on earth, then it was probably put there before their extinction and before any major civilizations arose on earth... Then when those civilizations did come about, they adopted what they found as their own customs..."

He sighed and rubbed his temples. "I know this is all complicated, but this definately leads to earth. There's no doubt about it. That's why I have to keep it quiet, there's a lot of people that would want to make this discovery themselves, or even make it dissapear.."

Ralik headed back to his quarters.

"What is it about the Quarians?" he thought to himself

"You can't just get pissed at all Quarians for the actions of the few. . . not all of us are interested in scavenging materials from any race we come in damned contact with."

Ralik laid down on his small bed.

"Guess I'll just need to get used to it sometime . . . but sometime they'll change their minds about us . . ."

"Fine, but using the public archives to scan these texts probably isnt going to turn up anything, here let me see" He told him.

He walked to the terminal, opening his bag. He pulled out his laptop, setting it on the table next to it. He started typing away, the screen on the terminal changing as he did it. A request for a password came up, but he was expecting it.

He activated one of his peices of code, the screen going black for a second. It flickered back to life, a prompt asking how to restart it. He plugged in a few lines of code, the normal library interface replaced by a black, orange, and white interface.

"There, here is all the archives, lets see what we turn up" He said as he plugged in the scan data.

Sal blinked a few times in surprise, just standing there. He finally decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth and walked over to look over the human's shoulder, his eyes darting over the data that had come up. He picked up the last artifact he had been holding.

"See if you can find a match to the language that's transcribed on this piece. That'll give me an idea where to look net."

He waited for a few moments as data scrolled over the screen before stopping him at one point...

"Woah wait!" he said as he eyed up that certain point in the collumns of text. "Well... looks like we've found it." He breathed quietly as he saw there was indeed a match for the language.

He plugged the symbols into a translator, the computer anaylzing them agianst the language. Most of it was decoded in a few seconds, but a few of the symbols remained a mystery.

"I think I have most of it, im assuming something would have been changed so it may or may not be useful" He told the turian

' 33'25'11"N 43'00'45"E ' Scrolled across the screen.

He immediantly pulled them, plugging them into the globe. It took a second for it to highlight a area on the globe. It calculated the closest city would be Ramadi, a small industrial city in the middle east on Earth.

"Ramadi, Iraq Protectorate, Earth" Curtis said in astonishment

"Hmmm Iraq... My Human history may be a bit rusty, but I believe that region is what your race calls 'The Cradle of Civlization' " he ponders, rubbing his chin as he gazes at the highlighted area of the earth intensely. "Interesting..."

He straightened up, crossing his arms as he continued to hypothosize. "So... Whatever it is I've been following with these artifacts is somewhere underneath a small middle eastern earth city... The Protheans must have built it there long before any real civilization ever came to fruition." He thought out loud.

He glanced down at his companion, his face deathly serious. "It would be best if you kept this between us. There are a few parties out there that would prefer earth not be linked to the Protheans in terms of it's historical development..."

He pulled up some files on the region, scanning over them quickly.

"I highly doubt anything there remains, that area was heavily war torn in the early 20th century during the War on Terror. Big bombs and ancient 50,000 year old artifacts dont mix." He said. "If anything is there you'll probably need to bring a mining laser to get to them"

He would be surprised if anything was there, if a civilization found the artifacts they would be long gone. Anything there would be destroyed probably after so many years.

"Don't be so sure my friend. Sometimes things like this have a knack for avoiding destruction. I've seen many prothean ruins on worlds literally reshaped by war completely unscathed. They knew how to build 'em." He said as he leaned in once more to look over the gathered information...

"Besides, if a civilization did adopt what they found as their own culture, chances are they might have moved seeing that it was so important to them. Move it to a safe place away from prying eyes... and bombs." he finished with a quiet chuckle.

"How are you going to track it, more important and well known things that have gone missing are still gone to this day." He told him "Things like that move around alot over the course of a few thousand years"

If they had survived he doubted they would be anywhere they could find. The Ark of the Covenant was one of the most important things in ancient times and still had never been found.