A collection of highly illegal AI remnants. These items are of extreme interest to various shady organisations and remote cults. Their almost mythical status has led to a huge amount of counterfeiting, further inflating the value of items with a clear and proven history. It is uncertain whether any of these pieces actually retain the AI personality that was originally present within.

Highly prized by collectors, the movement of recovered artefacts is strictly controlled by a number of authorities around the galaxy. Fortunately a lucrative black market offers savvy explorers with means to find reliable buyers for any ancient treasures.

Highly prized by collectors, the movement of recovered artefacts is strictly controlled by a number of authorities around the galaxy. Fortunately a lucrative black market offers savvy explorers with means to find reliable buyers for any ancient treasures.

An ancient stone casket. Its purpose is not clear and it is sealed shut.

A crystal found by scanning the data core of a Guardian beacon. It appears to contain a similar ethereal type of energy as the ancient relics found at the ruin sites of the Guardian civilisation. Like the relic this item is used in guardian technologies, unlocking new data and functions. Hence it has been given the designation of Key".

This orb appears to be a mechanical device, although no one has so far deduced its purpose.

A mysterious crystal found inside an ancient obelisk. It appears to pulse with an ethereal type of energy. It is beautiful to behold, but beyond that - what secrets does it contain?

A carved tablet with ancient runes engraved upon it. Although it looks like a decorative item, it might have had another purpose.

A statue depicting some kind of alien figure.

A sealed container that some people believe to be an urn. Its contents are unknown.

This containment unit safely stores antimatter protecting it from gamma radiation and interaction with standard matter.

This containment unit safely stores antimatter protecting it from gamma radiation and interaction with standard matter.

A treasure trove of exquisite antique jewellery. These often contain very rare, and very valuable, pieces.

A collection of priceless artefacts. Such objects are often invested with great cultural and historical value. Removal of antiquities from their original sites is generally considered a crime. The legal extraction of antiquities can only occur when the relevant permit has been granted by the local authorities.

Encrypted resources and documentation for secret attack plans. Possession of such documents is illegal as its possession implicates those transporting the information. There is a limited black market demand for these items.

The flight computer from a destroyed ship. Recovered flight computers can contain details on the movements and actions of ships before meeting their demise. If taken as legitimate salvage then reimbursement will be offered from markets. Taking a black box from the scene of an accident without the proper licence is an offence, but can offer lucrative profits on the black market.

An assortment of materials, often marketing related, and are of little value on the open market.

This escape pod's systems have been damaged and will fail by the end time provided in the briefing. After this time the system will no longer be able to sustain the life of its occupant.

A large core filled with digital data.

A large core filled with digital data.

Used to carry political correspondence and other confidential items. Can only be sold on the black market. These packages are often contained within booby-trapped containers.

Historical artefacts originating from the ancient periods of Earth. These items vary considerably in nature and hold great value to collectors.

Heavily encrypted data that is of little interest, although some hackers use it for training or practise, or simply enjoy the challenge of breaking the encryption. There is a limited black market for these items.

It is sometimes safer to transport sensitive data physically and also quicker if immense quantities need transferring. They usually have little intrinsic value except to the organisation attempting to secure these items.

Often dangerous and corrosive in nature, experimental chemicals are often created for research and scientific purposes. In the wrong hands they can be turned into dangerous weapons, so trade is strictly controlled. A thriving black market trade has proved difficult to control for authorities.

Chemically augmented waste that has agricultural applications. While not overly glamorous or profitable, its one redeeming feature is a virtually inexhaustible supply.

Fossilised fragments from an unidentified life form. Inquisitive minds will revel at the chance to analyse and possess one of our galaxy's ancestral occupants.

Fossilised fragments from an unidentified life form. Inquisitive minds will revel at the chance to analyse and possess one of our galaxy's ancestral occupants.

A where's where and what's what of the Milky Way. This guide highlights the galaxy's top destinations and hotspots.

Collection of DNA and other biological samples containing valuable information for the scientific community. These banks can sometimes contain samples from extinct species which vastly increases their demand.

Geological samples used for scientific and commercial purposes.

Sometimes criminal gangs hide their hostages in cargo pods fitted with rudimentary life support.

Insectoid livestock requires specialised cargo containers to safely transport. Insectoid livestock offer extremely efficient production of materials that can be harvested from them, having low overheads and farming requirements compared to larger species. The range of goods they can service is less extensive, however.

Occasionally survey ships go missing during their journeys into the black. On even rarer occasions their cache of survey data can be retrieved and these are highly sought after by institutions and private interests.

Highly confidential documents detailing military movements and military strategy. Possession of such documents is highly illegal, due to their sensitive nature. For the same reason they fetch an exceedingly large sum from the right buyer.

Highly confidential documents detailing military movements and military strategy. Possession of such documents is highly illegal, due to their sensitive nature. For the same reason they fetch a large sum for the right seller on the black market.

A sample of brain tissue from a space-based mollusc.

A fluid sample from a space-based mollusc.

A sample of membrane from a from a space-based mollusc.

A sample of the mycelium of a space-based mollusc.

A sample of soft tissue from a space-based mollusc.

A sample of spores from a from a space-based mollusc.

This appears to be an idol crafted to worship some sort of deity or higher form of life.

This appears to be an idol crafted to worship some sort of deity or higher form of life.

Escape pods are typically made from composite materials designed to withstand extremes of pressure and temperature, and can protect a single occupant in the event of ship destruction.

Escape pods are typically made from composite materials designed to withstand extremes of pressure and temperature, and can protect a single occupant in the event of ship destruction.

Personal items are often transported and sometimes lost while travelling within and between star systems. They usually have little value except to their owners.

A sample of tissue from the core of a space-based seed pod.

A sample of dead tissue from a space-based seed pod.

A sample of jelly-like tissue from a space-based seed pod.

A sample of tissue from the outer layers of a space-based seed pod.

A sample of tissue from the shell of a space-based seed pod.

A sample of tissue from the surface of a space-based seed pod.

A sample of tissue from a space-based seed pod.

Political prisoners are sometimes transported in cargo pods to help disguise their movement.

These materials have inherent value. They are very useful in maintaining stability in otherwise volatile economies. Alongside the wealth factor, precious gems and metals play a significant role in the generation of extravagant status symbols.

"Contains theoretical and experimental research, along with samples, the subject and contents of which are strictly prohibited by most authorities

Contains theoretical and experimental research, along with samples, the subject and contents of which are strictly prohibited by most authorities; their very existence is a crime, however their contents are highly valuable.

The latest developments in experimental technology are jealously guarded by the galaxy's various corporations, and unsanctioned possession of prototype tech is severely punished. However, pilots have discovered there is a prosperous black market for stolen tech.

Prized and treasured works of art. The galaxy is rife with reproductions and forgeries, and trade in the genuine article is highly controlled, with pieces transported between owners in secure convoys. Occasionally pieces find their way onto the black market, selling for under-the-counter prices. Due to a recent relaxing of the law, selling on the open market has become a viable prospect.

Transcripts of communications between dissident groups. These documents are highly valued by a number of factions for the intelligence they contain. It is considered highly suspicious to be carrying them, but black market trade in data will always flow.

This container holds a crystalline shard of unknown origin. Scans indicate that the foot long shard is suspended inside a modified, self-sustaining, fusion-core containment field. Any breach of the field will result in the container's destruction.

Accidents in space often leave a lot of debris, some of that wreckage is useful for determining the cause of the accident. They should be handed in to whichever organisation has called for their collection, however they also generate some demand as morbid mementos or simply for scrap.

A collection of data and equipment, the results of a series of scientific experiments and observations.

Most scientific sample analysis is done on site, although certain types of projects require further or separate analysis. These finds can sometimes lead to breakthroughs and are also highly sought after by private collectors.

Finding the data cache from a survey mission is a rare, but often lucrative, find for explorers. These caches are constantly in demand from academic institutions and commercial interests.

Items from mankind's first attempts at space exploration and research.

Items from mankind's first attempts at space exploration and research.

Encrypted documents detailing logistics, armament control points and infrastructure. Possession of such documents is illegal, due to their sensitive nature. There is a limited black market demand for these items as their military grade encryption makes them almost impossible to crack.

Blueprints of patented new machinery and systems that are highly prized on the black market. Copyright theft is frowned upon by the authorities and those carrying illegally acquired blueprints can face extreme application of the law.

A sample of bio-mechanical tissue taken from a Thargoid Interceptor-class vessel. This sample has come from a variant known as a Basilisk and appears older and more developed than samples taken from the Cyclops variant, with denser biological matter and more intricate technological elements. Tissue samples appear to be highly sought after for research purposes despite the fact that they appear to be highly corrosive.

A bio-mechanical canister containing biological matter of Thargoid origin. It is unclear what the purpose of the matter contained within is, but it appears that the Thargoids have the ability to break down and reuse biological matter. It has been speculated that they also use this material in the construction on their structures, technology and ships.

A sample of bio-mechanical tissue taken from a Thargoid Interceptor-class vessel. This sample has been taken from a variant known as a Cyclops and contains both biological and mechanical elements. Tissue samples appear to be highly sought after for research purposes despite the fact that they appear to be highly corrosive.

A processing node found in the debris of a Thargoid ship. The exact function of these items is unknown, but they are thought to be integral to the flight and operational systems in all Thargoid vessels.

A sample of bio-mechanical tissue from a Thargoid Interceptor-class vessel. This sample is from the Hydra variant, and is therefore more developed than samples from other kinds of Interceptor, with denser biological matter and more intricate technological elements. Such samples are highly sought after by scientists despite being highly corrosive.

An item located at the large wreckage sites. Its appearance and composition indicate a common origin with the Thargoid artefacts and probes found in the Merope region.

A sample of bio-mechanical tissue taken from a Thargoid Interceptor-class vessel. This sample has come from a variant known as a Medusa and appears older and more developed than samples taken from both the Cyclops and Basilisk variants, with denser biological matter and more intricate technological elements. Tissue samples appear to be highly sought after for research purposes despite the fact that they appear to be highly corrosive.

Originally known as "Unknown Probes", these strange objects are of Thargoid origin. They are capable of emitting an electro-magnetic pulse that can temporarily incapacitate a starship. Since they have not been given a designation by intergalactic trade authorities, it is impossible to buy or sell them legally.

A bio-mechanical canister containing Thargoid resin. This substance, known as Resin, seems to be a key element in Thargoid constructions. It appears the resin can be used in various states, both to offer protection and additional strength to structures when dry, or as a lubricant in the internal systems of Thargoid bio-technology when in liquid form. When converted to a gas it is highly corrosive.

A sample of bio-mechanical tissue taken from a Thargoid Scout-class vessel. Tissue samples appear to be much sought after for research purposes, despite the fact that they appear to be highly corrosive.

Originally known as "Unknown Artefacts", these strange objects are of Thargoid origin. They have the ability to repair themselves by extracting non-organic material from their immediate environment, and this self-repair mechanism can severely damage starships and other machinery. They can also scan nearby vessels and celestial bodies, and transmit information about the scanned object in an encrypted form. Since they have not been given a designation by intergalactic trade authorities, it is impossible to buy or sell them legally.

A bio-mechanical canister containing technological samples of Thargoid origin. There is widespread speculation that these are used in the construction of the various probes and ships, as well as the inner workings of their structures.

These canisters are of historical interest and highly collectable although sometimes the contents have turned to dust with age.

The trade manifest data for a ship that met its end nearby. The information contained within can be extremely useful to unscrupulous individuals and fetches a good price on the black market. However, illegal salvage is punishable by law.

This container appears to hold an assorted collection of low-value trinkets, knick-knacks and statuettes. Such trinkets are generally used by superstitious pilots to try and win favour with Lady Fortuna. However, these particular knick-knacks have a much more valuable prize hidden within.

These ubiquitous devices provide extensive data storage, but are extremely volatile when damaged. They must be returned by the end date for information retrieval or their contents become unusable.

Accidents in space often leave a lot of debris, some of that wreckage is useful for determining the cause of the accident. They should be handed in to whichever organisation has called for their collection, however they also generate some demand as morbid mementos or simply for scrap.