Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn

rizal72 · Jul 18, 2015

Here is one of the most detailed video I found of the UA "explosion", filmed from two different angles.

[video=youtube;mhpdLsLgsWc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhpdLsLgsWc[/video]

Apart from the glitch that I think it's just a glitch about the shader, what about the UA after the Explosion? Wasn't it supposed to kind of disappear?
Perhaps the explosion doesn't happen at the end of its decaying cycle, that instead happens later?
That explosion really needs to be investigated further, I think. It's really evident that it is spreading something all around it. Something not good indeed.

Ratking15 said:
Uhhhh that suicides it....we already know that....

You mean, just a single very short laser shot, and it explodes? And does it explodes with that known fireworks, or just like a normal canister? Sorry for asking again...

Ratking15 · Jul 18, 2015

rizal72 said:
Here is one of the most detailed video I found of the UA "explosion", filmed from two different angles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhpdLsLgsWc

Apart from the glitch that I think it's just a glitch about the shader, what about the UA after the Explosion? Wasn't it supposed to kind of disappear?
Perhaps the explosion doesn't happen at the end of its decaying cycle, that instead happens later?
That explosion really needs to be investigated further, I think. It's really evident that it is spreading something all around it. Something not good indeed.

You mean, just a single very short laser shot, and it explodes? And does it explodes with that known fireworks, or just like a normal canister? Sorry for asking again...

I think it really can't take any hits as I recall people saying they've shot it to have it destroy which is also on the wiki too. Also I have been thinking about the theory I said about before where it's an injector of the plague and the video there doesn't seem to be out far enough to see if anything speeds off into the distance....but there is that big flash of like which could cover up anything that happens.

KRONFROMGALVATRON · Jul 18, 2015

Sigon said:
Has anyone tried shooting it at the moment it lights up and howls? Something timed?
If we assume that they will open and they do that based on interaction, perhaps that interaction has to happen at the right moment?

(Sort of triggered by the opening bit and that CQC has doors that only open when shot at)

Certainly possible and if there were more UAs around might be more likely to get tested. However, I can't help but feel any blasting to bits of the artifact with lasers isn't what the devs would have written in as part of its function. Just seems too simplistic.

Does the comment from FD, I forget which interview it was from, saying "are we even sure it's Morse?" mean the Morse portion of the audio isn't the primary hint or piece of information? Obviously there is Morse there but they've also indicated some efforts to analyze the audio were overcomplicating things so it seems like the advanced signal processing stuff may be going to far. Super interesting though and impressive to see peoples skills in that area.

It's actually getting crazy to me that thousands of smart people thinking about this haven't cracked it yet. I wish I could say I have a particularly bright idea but I don't. More UAs to test wouldn't hurt but that's certainly a lot easier said than done. Those convoys, if I could find one, would shred me up.

marx · Jul 18, 2015

Does anybody remember if they said that the next step is something obvious, or if it was that we need to do something obvious? The difference could be important.

I thought about it a bit, and from an in-universe perspective, the most obvious thing I would do if I stole an alien-looking artefact from a Federal military convoy would be to sell it to the Imperial Navy. The thing is, you can only sell it on black markets, which is a different concept. If I still had an UA, I'd be on the lookout for rare missions, to see if anything popped up that was like "We've noticed that you're carrying something interesting, Commander...". Those could be NPC encounters too. Perhaps doing some of the new missions added in 1.3 might be prerequisites as well, especially the ones involving SAP-8 containers.
I wouldn't really expect neither to be the solutions, but the missions might contain more hints towards solving the mystery. If I still had an UA, this is what I'd investigate now.

Coincidentally, if anyone were selling, I'd be willing to pay handsomely for one. If anyone's interested, send me a PM please.

bitstorm · Jul 18, 2015

Ratking15 said:
Uhhhh that suicides it....we already know that....

Ugh just one shot will kill it?

If so fancy adding that to the wiki in this section: http://elite-dangerous.wikia.com/wiki/Unknown_Artefact?action=edit&section=15

Han_Zen · Jul 18, 2015

Allitnil said:
UA Wing:
Ishmael (has the UA)
Kohl (killed)
Halligan
Jameson (late to arrive)

Attack wing:
Flint (first killed)
unknown (second killed)
Vengar (third killed)

Others:
West - on Ishmael's friends list but not invited to wing
Sephirius (?) - shown as coming online in Ishmael's chat log (seen when his canopy gets breached)

I didn't see any mention of a CMDR Kurtz.

nb: Ishmael has his canopy blown out whilst still some 900 LY from Leonard Nimoy station and is shown as having only 4m09s of oxygen left. So he never made it there unless the UA is actually a life support module (possible clue??)

Kurtz was a result of poor memory. I was thinking of Kohl.

The story of the two Leviathans is to long and complex to retell with few words. I can only refere to: http://www.dream-ware.co.uk/first-encounters/journals/all/

Fore the complete story, read from DISENFRANCHISED REGISTER DISCONTENT to KIDNAP 4.
In very few words:
- Leviathan 1. A huge sea creature (200 m long) sudenly shows up in the oceans of New California. A planet known for it's rich but simple life. All advanced life forms have been introduced.

- Leviathan 2 a bubble ship fitted with hyper drives (only one ever made) also known as 'The heart of darkness'.
The crew were the last of a population that were halfed in the Antares accident.
They aquired the ship by kidnaping a bunch of leading sientists.

When the ship entered hyper space, one of the large fish vanished.

Hints in Wings trailer;
- Ishmael - Moby - Leviathan.
- California sector - New California
- Cmdr Jameson - Jameson's Rock
- Sephirius - a butter fly.
- Vengar - Spanish for avenge.
- Leonard Nimoy - another Leviathan hint.

Theory: The UA is a Leviathan cocoon.
Take it to a Water world, ideally to New California on Liaququ.
To bad the system is not in game :-/

Seon · Jul 18, 2015

So are you saying that the unknown artifact is somehow related to strange alien space whales?

nilreb · Jul 18, 2015

Timsk said:
... cut ...
I've been having a hunt around elsewhere, but noticed there are two locations with unconfirmed (but look legitimate) sightings of the UA convoy with their dialogue that are I don't think mentioned in the wiki:

Tanmark (source: ED Reddit - http://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/2z0w6g/thargoid_transport_in_tanmark/)

HIP 102128 (source: ED Reddit - http://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/363y6k/unknown_artifact_found_in_imperial_convoy/)

Thanks a lot! That is for me the very first public known sighting.
I have lost the link and never found him again because wrong memory in my head. I stored the wrong CG in my brain was not "NU", it was "Tanmark".

If you wish you can safely add this to Wiki and put also my "Blatrimpe" findings:
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&page=12&p=2497433#post2497433
Also in old thread with picture proof: Reshas (near Isinor) .
What a great chance there! Outpost with Blackmarket. And all Independent so no REP degree for FED/IMP. Have post this I think three times so far. Now is enough ....

Timsk said:
... cut ...
I definitely did get comms that was not originated by the gold trap crowd though, mentioning system failures.

So I would stay at the interpretion: naval convoi was there but badly not seen or simple bug as instance was build up
In both cases: history. Don't maltreat yourself longer with that.
Unfortunatly you have not answer the question if "A" sensor in your Python or not. If not "A" chance that simple not seen because "to far" goes up.

bitstorm · Jul 18, 2015

OK so the "thing leaving the UA on explosion".

I think it's just a graphical effect although I htink it may be intentional and so may mean something, here.....

In the background see how the left side mirrors the earth, the black area is just the UA.

Again...

And here on this other explosion, see how the silhouette matches up, it looks like a silhouette from where the yellow arrow is, ie where the explosion is travelling from => to.

It's the UA itself blocking the explosion, though whether that's just something to do with the physics/graphics engine or whether it's intentional I've no idea.

Do spaceships do this? Would a UA exploding near a spaceship add a silhouette, maybe a ship near a canister that explodes next to a ship might produce the same effect?

That's some pitch darkness though :

Perhaps there are entities we can only detect by the light they block.

- - - Updated - - -

rizal72 said:
what about the UA after the Explosion? Wasn't it supposed to kind of disappear?

I think it might be the dupe bug.

Tesla3E · Jul 18, 2015

Fishing for UAs is pretty dull...

Slow crawl in deep space, watching nav panel for SSS... enter SSS, select target for quick escape... quick look around to see what is happening... boost, boost, FSD, rinse, repeat.

Last one was a T9 carrying resonating separators, marine equipment and antiquities, flanked by 2 anacondas - seems a bit heavy handed.

Seen a few hafnium convoys and pirates, got to be UA soon.

Seon · Jul 18, 2015

Tesla3E said:
Fishing for UAs is pretty dull...

Slow crawl in deep space, watching nav panel for SSS... enter SSS, select target for quick escape... quick look around to see what is happening... boost, boost, FSD, rinse, repeat.

Last one was a T9 carrying resonating separators, marine equipment and antiquities, flanked by 2 anacondas - seems a bit heavy handed.

Seen a few hafnium convoys and pirates, got to be UA soon.

Those antiquities are really expensive man.

Han_Zen · Jul 18, 2015

Seon said:
So are you saying that the unknown artifact is somehow related to strange alien space whales?

Space whales or space fish. It's not quite clear

clavain · Jul 18, 2015

Han_Zen said:
Kurtz was a result of poor memory. I was thinking of Kohl.

The Heart of Darkness reference could do that too. ;-)

The story of the two Leviathans is to long and complex to retell with few words. I can only refere to: http://www.dream-ware.co.uk/first-encounters/journals/all/

Fore the complete story, read from DISENFRANCHISED REGISTER DISCONTENT to KIDNAP 4.
In very few words:
- Leviathan 1. A huge sea creature (200 m long) sudenly shows up in the oceans of New California. A planet known for it's rich but simple life. All advanced life forms have been introduced.

- Leviathan 2 a bubble ship fitted with hyper drives (only one ever made) also known as 'The heart of darkness'.
The crew were the last of a population that were halfed in the Antares accident.
They aquired the ship by kidnaping a bunch of leading sientists.

When the ship entered hyper space, one of the large fish vanished.

Hints in Wings trailer;
- Ishmael - Moby - Leviathan.
- California sector - New California
- Cmdr Jameson - Jameson's Rock
- Sephirius - a butter fly.
- Vengar - Spanish for avenge.
- Leonard Nimoy - another Leviathan hint.

Theory: The UA is a Leviathan cocoon.
Take it to a Water world, ideally to New California on Liaququ.
To bad the system is not in game :-/

Interesting. Some other thoughts:

- whale sounds from the UA (obviously, but just stating it because I am pedantic. Or something)
- We have to "hunt" the UA, it is not easily available.
- T9 carrying the UA could be seen as a Leviathan.
- this whole exercise has been rather Quixotic and obsessive (as was Moby )
- Sheehanworld (Exbeur) is in game. It requires a Federation rank permit.

- - - Updated - - -

Is Mitterand's Claim (Quana system) on the Galaxy Map?

- - - Updated - - -

I like the "Oh, non, pas encore" line - could it be a French whale, and this is a very subtle nod to Hitchhiker's Guide? ;-)

simulacrae · Jul 18, 2015

Han_Zen said:
Space whales or space fish. It's not quite clear

Don't space whale ships look like this ?

nilreb · Jul 18, 2015

AndyinMission said:
...cut ...
Those convoys, if I could find one, would shred me up.

Watch the finding from CMDR Lurius yesterday. https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&p=2554432&viewfull=1#post2554432
No shot. All green at my radar. Unbelievable that I have seen this for the second time. (first time my finding, CMDR MURP picked it up)
But for me this is not mandatory. But possible. Try your luck!
With a "wake scanner" alone and a cargo hold an unshielded Sidewinder in principle would be enough to make the "lucky strike".
But this is only arguing afterward, no CMDR can be sure that this goes this way. Patience is a virtue. Sometimes.
No happy end this time but it is a game ...

Han_Zen · Jul 18, 2015

clavain said:
The Heart of Darkness reference could do that too. ;-)

Interesting. Some other thoughts:

- whale sounds from the UA (obviously, but just stating it because I am pedantic. Or something)
- We have to "hunt" the UA, it is not easily available.
- T9 carrying the UA could be seen as a Leviathan.
- this whole exercise has been rather Quixotic and obsessive (as was Moby )
- Sheehanworld (Exbeur) is in game. It requires a Federation rank permit.

- - - Updated - - -

Is Mitterand's Claim (Quana system) on the Galaxy Map?

- - - Updated - - -

I like the "Oh, non, pas encore" line - could it be a French whale, and this is a very subtle nod to Hitchhiker's Guide? ;-)

Lots more to check, but the paralells are there.

We are Ahab then, aren't we?

GabrielG.A.B.Fonseca · Jul 18, 2015

Hello, guys. I've been following your progress for quite a long time now, but I have remained sat at my armchair, maintaining my status as a Forum Lurker.

But yesterday, I've found something that made me very uneasy. I was hearing to CMDR Branch's recording of the UA at the HIP 30130 System. And there is something... off.

Pay close attention to the purrs. More specially, the number of purrs. The cycle in question can be found immediately after the 1:49 mark:

[video=youtube_share;TLqXUY5v5Qk]https://youtu.be/TLqXUY5v5Qk?t=1m49s[/video]

Here follows a transcript of the sound as seen in the hole video:

[start] l Howl/chatter l l h h l howl/chatter h l h l l Howl/chatter l l h l l h Howl/chatter h l l h l l Howl/chatter [end] *l = low; h = high; Howl/chatter = horn and morse

After the third howl, there is the normal five purrs, and right before the next howl, there is a sixth purr. I am putting this forward for two main reasons:

1) This could be the obvious thing we were all missing, something hidden right beneath our noses that we kept missing. There may always be six purrs, but when the sixth purr is a low, it gets mumbled with the Howl/chatter.

2) Please tell me I'm not going insane and that there is a sixth purr.

simulacrae · Jul 18, 2015

Han_Zen said:
We are Ahab then, aren't we?

Towards thee I roll, thou all-destroying but unconquering whale;
to the last I grapple with thee; from hell’s heart I stab at thee;
for hate’s sake I spit my last breath at thee...

Maybe we need to torpedo it ?

rizal72 · Jul 18, 2015

Han_Zen said:
Kurtz was a result of poor memory. I was thinking of Kohl.

The story of the two Leviathans is to long and complex to retell with few words. I can only refere to: http://www.dream-ware.co.uk/first-encounters/journals/all/

Fore the complete story, read from DISENFRANCHISED REGISTER DISCONTENT to KIDNAP 4.
In very few words:
- Leviathan 1. A huge sea creature (200 m long) sudenly shows up in the oceans of New California. A planet known for it's rich but simple life. All advanced life forms have been introduced.

- Leviathan 2 a bubble ship fitted with hyper drives (only one ever made) also known as 'The heart of darkness'.
The crew were the last of a population that were halfed in the Antares accident.
They aquired the ship by kidnaping a bunch of leading sientists.

When the ship entered hyper space, one of the large fish vanished.

Hints in Wings trailer;
- Ishmael - Moby - Leviathan.
- California sector - New California
- Cmdr Jameson - Jameson's Rock
- Sephirius - a butter fly.
- Vengar - Spanish for avenge.
- Leonard Nimoy - another Leviathan hint.

Theory: The UA is a Leviathan cocoon.
Take it to a Water world, ideally to New California on Liaququ.
To bad the system is not in game :-/

Very, very interesting, Han_Zen!
Tons of informations!
Should I remember to everyone that the mysterious disappearance of the Highliner Antares is mentioned in one of the Galnet Articles regarding the Starship One disappearance?

BTW I like all this ED lore connections with the UA you/we are finding...

Saool · Jul 18, 2015

In terms of locating more UAs, are there any commonalities in the star types of the systems in which they have been found so far? Such as age, stellar type, mass etc, or indeed any other equal features of those systems? (Again apologies if these are old, already discounted questions).