Arek'Jaalan Mailing List W3: Discovering Spatial Rifts

From	Vanneth
Subject	Discovering Spatial Rifts
Date	113.07.25 07:43
Content	The sudden audacity of Sleeper drones in Class Six Anoikis as reported here[1] and reiterated here[2] has raised questions regarding their use of the phenomena designated as spatial rifts. The phenomenon was also sighted at the New Caldari incident where the being known as an Awakened Infomorph made a very public appearance (details in the SYNE report). Thus far we have no understanding of the physics governing the spatial rifts, despite their fairly common appearance throughout the cluster. Most rumors about using them for long range egress come with the caveat of never returning from whatever reaches of space they might transport to. Until more recently, it was the common belief that they were simply so violent that they destroyed whatever entered their horizon. The presentation of Sleeper drones from them suggests otherwise. There is one other recorded incident of spatial rifts actually being entered and survived. Several years ago, a capsuleer was contracted by the Servant Sisters of EVE. Most of the operation's details are buried, but I was able to get my hands on the files for a mission of interest. The capsuleer in question was sent to investigate an occurance of rogue drones. Following is the mission brief and communication received by the capsuleer during the mission. Briefing by Sister Alitura: We've secured Wolf Burgan's aid. Now all you need to do is fly out to a few of the hot spots where the drone has been spotted. Burgan's staying behind, but he'll be connected to your systems remotely. Wolf will update you as the situation changes. Listen to what he says. He'll point you in the right direction. Objective: Scout the given destination - [REDACTED] Upon arriving at [REDACTED], Wolf Burgan clicks in: "Well, it looks like we missed the party. Something was here, but its faint. Take that acceleration gate." Acceleration gate is activated and the ship follows its route: "Wait I am getting something." Ship sensors detect the presence of a Mysterious Drone, then the apparent generation of a spatial rift, possibly originating from the drone. There is activation, and the drone traverses the rift: "Did that just-? How did it do that? What are you sitting here for, follow it!" The ship enters the rift, and is transported through space to a new location. The drone is picked up again when sensors reorient. The generation occurs again, and a second spatial rift is opened. The drone traverses the second rift. The ship enters the second rift, and is similarly transported, coming upon the drone again. As before, a third rift is opened and used by the drone. When the ship comes to a halt after using the third rift, sensors are unable to find the drone. "I've lost the signal. Whatever that thing is, it's hightailed it out of there. That's okay. I've got enough data here I know how to track it. With this we should be able to pinpoint its exact location. Come on back." Debriefing by Sister Alitura: You followed it through a spatial rift of some sort? They aren't supposed to be able to do that... Drones, I mean. Now, your next mission. I was able to requisition the complete sensor data from the ship in question. There is little sense to be made of it thus far, but I have submitted it to the ST division for examination and may bring in additional minds from the MD division to research the data. If this yields comprehensive results, we may be able to understand what these rifts are and how they work. The project at large will be kept appraised of the progress made. -Professor Vanneth Deckard ((Please do not chime in saying that you, too, have done the Sisters of EVE epic arc. The capsuleer in question is purposefully left anonymous to exist as an everyman, a Joe Capsuleer that can be used for the purpose of this RP without a dozen people trying to claim (paradoxically) to have done the exact same unique storyline mission. Hopefully everyone can understand why I'd want to avoid that.))