Ark Pytheas was a Generation Ship launched was one of 22 research missions into the nature and origin of Cryptic Artifacts. It is the only one that is known to have survived the AI Wars, but not all of the others have been confirmed destroyed. Naddoður also survived, but that's not commonly known yet.

Ark Pytheas

In the earliest stages of research on Cryptic artifacts, it became clear that they operated more effectively the less they were influenced by gravity. Other than that, the technology (if it could be called that) operated in a way that existing scientific understanding didn't come anywhere close to explaining. Numerous scientific missions were assembled to find as close to a “gravitational dead zone” as can be found to properly study Cryptic artifacts. The missions used various combinations of international sponsors and participants, assembling crews of scientists, spiritual seekers & psionicists. 

Soon after the mission was launched, the AI Wars erupted and warnings were sent to anyone within earshot to maintain communications silence lest they give their location away. So it was no surprise when the missions never contacted humanity again. They were  likely destroyed by AIs, or are still under a policy of terrified silence. With no hint as to their locations, any that did not return were assumed to be lost. 

Research Temple Pytheas

Main article: Research Temple Pytheas

Generations later, what seemed like an alien species emerged from deep space. These were the descendants of the original crew of Ark Pytheas, which had previously been presumed lost. These were humans who spent their entire lives in zero-gravity and the dim blue glow of Cryptic artifacts. Their bodies were distorted, and their demeanor was serious & strange.

The Pytheans had continued their mission, first presuming humanity to have been extinguished by the AI threat, then eventually indifferent that it had not. The sordid matters of life on Earth & its offspring bore little appeal compared to the life of a scientist or monk. They only emerged from deep space in order to make use of VEA gates, and to trade for Cryptic artifacts.

Their technology had advanced considerably, but their knowledge of Cryptic artifacts had extended little further than reverse engineering. This is quite an advantage, however. The capabilities of Cryptic technology far surpass anything else seen in the universe. The Pytheans’ collection & use of Cryptic technology makes them a force to be reckoned with.

The center of their civilization is built around the original Ark, but it has been expanded into an enormous mobile station now known as Research Temple Pytheas. There is no documentation of its location & appearance, but secondhand accounts say it is integrates Cryptic artifacts into its structure, on purpose being to cloak itself from outside detection.