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The Markers that had been transferred to the flotilla for research begin to affect the SCAF personnel.The prolonged exposure to the Markers begins to affect the dig team personnel." Rosetta" is discovered, leading to breakthroughs in understanding the Markers and the aliens themselves. Doctor Earl Serrano spearheads the research dig teams' efforts to unearth the alien artifacts and the Markers. The alien life forms are found on the surface of Tau Volantis.The hope is to find the source of the seemingly unlimited energy of the Markers, which can solve humanity's resource crisis and aid in defeating the Secessionists in the Secession Wars that rage on. The Sovereign Colonies Armed Forces Galactic Expedition to Tau Volantis is launched.Three new Markers are built and used via the Ptolemy Station Marker array to locate the "Master Signal" by tracking it to a remote and frozen planet.The previous incidents lead to the discovery of a Master Signal that is received by the Red Markers.The Red Markers are activated for the first time and trigger Necromorph outbreaks on all planets' test sites.The Red Markers with their research teams are covertly deployed together to isolated worlds including Aspera, Kreemar and Aegis VII to test them.They are believed to be a source of limitless power and a solution to the resource crisis that plagues mankind. The result is a series of near-perfect replicas that are dubbed Red Markers.
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