Difference between revisions of "Project Theseus"

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Project Theseus

Project Theseus is a minor project within the greater Arek'Jaalan collective scientific endeavour. It is of primary interest to persons studying Takmahl artifacts.

Introduction:

The Labyrinth in Aphi, it contains numerous Takmahl artifacts and relics, which are of interest to the Arek'Jaalan: Ancient Races project directly, and some of the other divisions indirectly. The list of items requested by Acquisition is incomplete. An expedition therefore, to the Labyrinth, could help with this situation. It would also give project members some inspace activities to do, which will help with morale and experience.

Aims:

To obtain quantities of the Takmahl artifacts, if possible, the ones still outstanding on the requisition list.

To chart the Labyrinth to facilitate future archaeological expeditions - specifically to investigate if Recon or Strategic Cruisers can find a shorter route.

To identify the Takmahl artifacts present in the Labyrinth

To serve as a training exercise for ArekJaalan team members.

Existing Knowledge:

The Labyrinth in Aphi is a large Takmahl complex, containing around 20 archaeological containers, one of only two (2) sites where Takmahl relics are found. A Key is required to enter, although a person with the key can activate the entryway for fleetmates who do not, remaining at the entrance to allow others in. The Labyrinth contains Minotaurs and other forces operated by the Blood Raiders, so laser weapons will be used against team members. There are other collectors in the Labyrinth that use kinetic or explosive weapons, capabilities unknown, caution advised. Battleships may enter the Labyrinth though progress through the stages is slow. Noctises may be able to use the battleship route, this is uncertain. A 2 person team of an Abaddon (carrying firepower) and Harbinger (carrying archaeological tools) is sufficient for survival. More persons may achieve better results.

Methodology:

A team member with the key will activate the gate to allow the rest into the Labyrinth. Thereafter, the team will proceed through the complex, charting a route to the centre. The team will, upon arriving at the centre, begin analysing the containers. All items recovered from containers will be recorded, to classify the type and number of relics that may be obtained.

Data analysis:

A simple classification of the containers, with the type and number of items located there during each expedition. Repeated expeditions build up a clearer picture of things. Results of each expedition can go onto the Arek'jaalan pages.

Time frame:

Each expedition through the Labyrinth will probably take around an hour.

Resource and Personnel requirements:

Each Expedition requires, A Key to the Labyrinth. 1 or 2 Battleships, 1 or 2 Archaeological cruisers. Investigating the route through the Labyrinth requires some Recon and Strategic Cruiser pilots. A Logistics ship may be useful.

Interim Reports

Progress Report 1

Date: 05/08 YC 113

The expedition entered the Labyrinth to begin attempts at charting it. Deadspace, or other spatial phenomena at the site prevented anchoring secure containers as breadcrumb signs to indicate the way for others. This means that the objective of charting the Labyrinth cannot be met by a permanent solution. Maps are required.

It was found on one route through the Labyrinth, that an ancient ship appears to have had a catastrophic accident while using one of the gates, thereby blocking it.

Upon reaching the central site, it was found that the main structure appears to be a rough bipyramid shape. There is an extensive debris field around the midsection, cause unknown, possibly asteroid collisions, or internal explosions.

In the debris field there were around 30 mangled pieces of wreckage, that scans suggested once formed parts of the temple, or parts of ancient starships, possibly Takmahl ships. No items of any value were detected in these pieces.

There were around a dozen pieces of wreckage that appeared to be fragments of the main temple, separated from the main body through some means, either asteroid collision, or possibly by artifact collectors. They appeared in good enough condition that useful items may be found there by skilled archaeologists.

Also located around the debris field were around a dozen ancient Takmahl data storage devices. They appeared to be intact, and it should be possible to extract information from them.

Progress Report 2

Date: 06/08 YC 113

A 2-ship element entered the Labyrinth to begin investigating things. Problems were encountered.

At the central temple site, opposition from rival collectors was fierce, and the expedition had to withdraw to refit for more resilience. With this done, they re-entered the Labyrinth.

A useful route was discovered for battlecruisers and other cruisersize ships, shorter than the route that battleships are required to use.

Investigation of the temple site revealed some interesting discoveries.

There were 4 data storage devices, given the designation "Library Log", these were found to contain: Takmahl Geometric Design, Takmahl Technology, Takmahl Astral Treatment.
These appeared to be defended by ships of Amarrian design, given the designation Zealous Collectors.

There were other data devices, identified as "Transmission log" and these contained: Takmahl Centrifugal Primer.
It was not possible to tell if these were defended.

There were several wrecked pieces, identifed as being "Temple Fragments", and the following materials were recovered: Takmahl Gyro Ballast, Takmahl Solid Mox.
It appeared these were defended by ships designated Fanatical Collector, which were of Gallente design.

Lastly, some objects designated "Temple Segments" had the following artifacts and materials contained within: Takmahl biodroid controller, Takmahl magnetic slab, Takmahl tri-polished lens.
These objects may have been guarded, it was not determined if this was the case.

Report 3

A disaster occurred when the Harbinger was ambushed by collectors at the site, and was destroyed. This held up investigations for a short while until a replacement was organised.

The routes through the Labyrinth were confirmed, work continues on an overall map.

No new types of artifacts were found, although this may just be coincidence.

Report 4

The schematic maps of the Labyrinth are 2 dimensional representations. A 3-dimensional representation was made and revealed something of the nature of the Labyrinth.

Confirmation of types and abundance of the Takmahl relics at the site. 2 artifact types were found to be very, very rare. The Quantum Sphere, and the Tri-Polished Lens.

Conclusions

The Labyrinth was charted, maps of the complex show some patterns, explained below.

The type and frequency of artifacts located at the site was determined. Not all types of artifacts that are known to exist can be found at the Labyrinth. Some of the artifacts are only located at the Museum Arcana in Zimse. Some possible reasons for this are discussed below.

There was no evidence found that would contradict the official history of the Takmahl as being former members of the Amarr Empire. The Holy Statues and Ritual Texts are similar to Amarr and Sani Sabik artifacts and writings.

Some other possibilities for research projects were found.

The nature of the Labyrinth as a collection of artificial spatial rifts was mentioned to other Arek'Jaalan project members, which may help with their efforts.

3-d visualisations

A 3-dimensional view of the Labyrinth was constructed. Some things appear from it that were not apparent before.

The Labyrinth stages are arranged in several offset layers, so there is no such thing as a straight route through it, it zig-zags.

The stages appear arranged in a fairly regular manner. There are gaps, which perhaps the broken gateways once led to.

Stage 3 is somewhat anomalous when viewing the X-Z plane, which also suggests there may be other stages that are no longer reachable.

The entranceway, does not go to the outermost stages of the labyrinth, there is at least one layer in "front" of the entrance. This may mean that the entrance is not the original, and was constructed by explorers long after the Takmahl built the Labyrinth.

Comparison with the Museum Arcana

The other site where Takmahl artifacts are found is the Museum Arcana in Zimse.

The classes of items located is different, with very little overlap in the item types.

This suggests that the Zimse artifacts are quite different, although still of Takmahl origin. The generally smaller size of the objects in the Museum suggest the possibility that they have been moved from their original location, and that the damage seen to the Temple at the centre of the Labyrinth may have been caused by collectors moving objects to the Museum.

Future Projects

With several Takmahl artifacts recovered, construction of the various devices is possible, and careful study may reveal more useful information.

A ground survey of the Temple may be possible.

Contributors

The Project received great help and useful contributions from the following: Aedeal, Horatius Caul, Calen Davrissus, Kathryn Dougans, Myyona, Katy Moore, Gosakumori Noh.

Diagrams

• Labyrinthtemple.jpg

  The Temple

• TempleDebrisField.jpg

  The debris around the Temple

• TempleSiteSize.jpg

  The size of the Temple

• LabyrinthSchematicMap.png

  Aedeal's map

• Labyrinth3d.png

  Perspective view

• Labyrinthtop.png

  Top down view XY plane

• Labyrinthfront.png

  Frontal view XZ plane