The Ark is a vast library and archive station located in the United Empire of Earth (UEE)-governed Tayac system. The largest library and archive in the UEE, the Ark houses records, curated information, and artifacts pertaining to the accumulated knowledge of all known spacefaring civilizations. The initial concept for the Ark was presented to the UEE Senate in 2794 by then-Diplomatic Secretary Marshall Leon as a neutral information repository for the benefit of all cultures and civilizations. It was approved the same year and completed in 2800. The Ark Galactapedia and the Ark Starmap are its two most utilized resources.