For some time it has been obvious to the Government of the Terran Federation that the possibility of discovery of Forerunner artefacts and/or records by members of the TFN is relatively high (for reasons that will become obvious in the main text of this Manual). Therefore, this Field Manual has been written (and updated several times) provide certain basic data on what is known of Forerunner History and Technology, based on artefacts and records discovered at several sites in Federation space (mainly, though not exclusively, on Algol V - see Star Atlas #1 for Physical data on the planet), as well as on several sites in the territory of the Mercantile League. If any alien artefacts are discovered, then this FM should be consulted to determine the likelihood of their being Forerunner origin, otherwise consult FM - 765-DK17 (Revision #18) "Xenoarchaeological Procedures''. The Federation Navy would like to emphasise at this point the willing co-operation and assistance of the Mercantile League Starforces in the production of this FM, and acknowledge the debt owed to the research carried out by their BNI.