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[[File:TauCetiSystem.png|thumb|right|250px|A digital render of the Tau Ceti system.]]
'''Tau Ceti''' is a G-type star just under 12 light-years away from [[Sol]], in the constellation Cetus. The Tau Ceti system was the first extrasolar system colonized by [[humanity]] through the [[UESC Marathon]], which reached the star system in 2773 and in 2787 established a colony on the planet [[Tau Ceti IV]]. Another planet in the Tau Ceti system, [[Argolis]], was also considered for human colonization.

The star system would come under attack by the [[Pfhor|Pfhor Empire]] in 2794, and the colony on Tau Ceti IV would be destroyed.<ref name="packet">[https://marathon.bungie.org/story/bungie.html Marathon Lost Network Packets]</ref>

== History ==
:''See page [[UESC Marathon]] for more information''

=== Project Marathon ===
Plans to colonize the Tau Ceti system under [[Project Marathon]] began in 2395 at the latest, when the [[Mars|Martian]] government sold Deimos to the [[UESC]]. Project Marathon commenced despite hostility to the colonization plan by the Martian populace and the Third Martian War, and the UESC Marathon was completed in 2472.<ref>[https://marathon.bungie.org/story/counterattack.html#M1.04.2.1 Marathon, Couch Fishing, Terminal 2]</ref> After the failed 2466 coup on Mars by the Martian terrorist organization [[MIDA]], its members infiltrated the project in the hopes of hijacking the planned Tau Ceti Colony.

The Marathon arrived in Tau Ceti in 2773,<ref name="packet"></ref> and began colonization efforts.

=== Colonization of Tau Ceti IV ===
The first human colony on Tau Ceti IV would be established in 2787.<ref name="packet"></ref>

However, due to the machinations of the rampant AI [[Durandal]], the colony would come under Pfhor attack in 2794 by the [[Sfiera]]. Despite initial success in repelling the initial attack thanks to the efforts of Durandal, [[Leela]], the nine Mjolnir [[Battleroid]]s, and the [[Security Officer]], the colony would be unable to hold its own against Pfhor reinforcements. It was subsequently destroyed.

=== Project Goliath ===
The UESC officially lost contact with Tau Ceti in 2795, and began drafting a response codenamed "[[Project Goliath]]". The [[UESC Equanimity]] was modified and dispatched to the colony in the hopes of reestablishing contact. However, other elements from [[Traxus OffWorld Industries|Traxus]] and MIDA discovered that the colony had gone dark, and are scrambling their own responses.<ref>[https://docs.google.com/document/d/1M4iwWZGP6-uAnPk89B_kbnKA5i3laB0ITtJ79g0ySco/preview#heading=h.waqrasblcpil| Marathon ARG, UESC documents]</ref> <ref>[https://docs.google.com/document/d/1M4iwWZGP6-uAnPk89B_kbnKA5i3laB0ITtJ79g0ySco/preview#heading=h.fiq7lzkxcr82 Marathon (202x), TRAXUS chatroom ]</ref>

== Demographics ==
The exact population is unknown. Tycho claimed that there were 24,000 colonists killed during the Pfhor bombardment, though this number refers to the original crew of the Marathon upon its departure.<ref>[https://marathon.bungie.org/story/durandal2.html#M2.15.1.1 Marathon 2, Sorry Don't Make It So, Terminal 1]</ref>

== AI ==
While the UESC Marathon sported 3 dedicated AIs who kept it running, the colony below had its own dedicated compliment to aid them in a variety of tasks.
There are 8 known Colony AIs:<ref>[https://docs.google.com/document/d/1M4iwWZGP6-uAnPk89B_kbnKA5i3laB0ITtJ79g0ySco/preview?usp_dm=true#heading=h.7fqa3zf5oaag Marathon 202x, ARG Document, AI rampancy memo]</ref> <ref>[https://marathon.bungie.org/story/_files/Marathon_Manual.pdf Marathon Manual, Pg 15]</ref>

* [[Ar_1814419v4.93]]
* [[Ba_0423419v4.89]]
* [[Da_1907420v4.86]]
* [[Ga_2815420v4.81]]
* [[Ic_1624420v4.73]]
* [[Jo_0309421v4.69]]
* [[Li_1817421v4.65]]
* [[Na_0602422v4.61]]

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Cinematic 15 4K.webp|Tau Ceti shining over [[Dire Marsh]].
</gallery>

== List of appearances ==
{{stub|section=yes}}
*''[[Marathon (1994)]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Marathon 2: Durandal]]''
*''[[Marathon (2026)]]''

== Notes ==
* Dates in the original game were officially retconned by Bungie in the "Lost Network Packets" document. Any dates given are based on that article.

== References ==
<references/>

[[Category:Astronomical objects]]
[[Category:Star systems]]
[[Category:Trilogy locations]]
[[Category:New locations]]
[[Category:ARG content]]