The Tech, designated Serial 002 of the Arbiter line, began its existence in the final years of the Terran Empire, roughly 3200 CE. Commissioned as the intended standard sidearm for the elite High Marshals of the Imperial Vanguard, it represented the pinnacle of plasma weaponry design. Its core innovation was a revolutionary variable geometry venting system, specifically engineered to eliminate the persistent overheating problems plaguing early heavy plasma armaments.

Only three prototypes of this advanced weapon were ever manufactured by the now-extinct Aethelgard Armory. Shortly after these units, including Serial 002, were created, an apocalyptic event known as The Sundering fractured civilization, tearing the Terran Empire apart. This catastrophic collapse halted further production and scattered what little advanced technology had been completed.

For many centuries following The Sundering, Serial 002 lay dormant and forgotten. It was secured within a cryo stasis locker aboard a derelict frigate, silently drifting through the expansive debris field of Sector 36. This long slumber preserved the weapon, untouched by the ravages of time.

In more recent times, the ancient weapon was finally rediscovered. Scavengers associated with the shadowy organization known as The Mortal Veil successfully recovered The Tech from its derelict tomb. This recovery instantly transformed the once-forgotten prototype into a highly sought-after prize.

Currently, The Tech (Serial 002) is a potent symbol of power and legitimacy. The Red Sun Dominion views possession of the weapon as a direct claim to the succession of the Terran Empire, issuing a standing kill-on-sight bounty for anyone not of Dominion high command found carrying it. Despite its immense value, the weapon's ancient Imperial biometric lockout prevents it from being fired. It remains dormant, securely housed within a bio-locked transport case, awaiting decryption by a master hacker or the use of a genetic spoofing device to bypass its formidable encryption.