UA Mystery Thread 3: The Canonn

[RedWizzard]

Morning folks. I was sucked in by this topic from skimming across forums; I have joined Canonn on the external website, but not on here, so please let me know if I have to. Otherwise, I have read through quite a few pages of this thread but don't have time to do all 517!! Therefore, can anyone very briefly explain to me the purpose of a UA as far as it is understood at the moment please? It would help me understand the subject better, as I do find it quite intriguing.

Cheers, CMDR A.S.Shat

A Brief Synopsis of The Canonn's Research into the Unknown Artefacts

• Existence of the UAs was foreshadowed in the trailer for 1.2: the point-of-view character was allegedly transporting one to Leonard Nimoy Station in LHS 3006 (though note there were no signs of module degradation as would be expected if a UA was actually on board).
• Arcanonn (whose name "The Canonn" is derived from) started a thread about the various mysteries and hints that appeared around 1.2. The thread quickly focused on the UA. Michael Brookes asked if we had "listened to it". This thread is the second continuation of Arcanonn's thread; we're somewhere over 25,000 posts so far.
• After much searching we managed to find UAs being carried by large, heavily armed convoys found in Strong Signal Sources in various systems. The Type-9 carrying the UA in these convoys broadcast unusual chat messages about the UA.
• The first UA was recovered from such a convoy in Timocani and we immediately noticed it's odd appearance, the distortion and particle cloud effects, it's unique audio, and the damage it does to internal systems (apparently identical to toxic waste canisters). Through most of 1.2 and 1.3 UAs were recovered from these convoys at a rate of about 1 per week or two.
• Much effort was spent trying to figure out if there was any sort of message to be found in the audio. Eventually (after 1.3 was released) it was confirmed that one of the audio components was Morse code for the name of the nearest celestial body.
• Towards the end of 1.3 an XBox player found a UA floating as salvage in a SSS in HR 1185 (which is near the Pleiades nebula). It quickly became apparently that these "free-floating" UAs were much easier to find than the convoys. UAs were being recovered at a rate of one every day or so.
• The 1.4 beta revealed new behaviour which has been since confirmed in 1.4 proper: UAs in space now orient themselves to point towards Merope. If they are nudged they will quickly turn to realign themselves. They also scan ships that approach within 1000m.
• Near the end of the beta it was discovered that systems near Aries Dark Region GW-W d1-52 produce free-floating UAs at a much higher rate than previous seen. Typically a SSS containing a UA will be found in that system within minutes of arrival. This also occurs in 1.4 proper.
• A couple of Galnet articles announced the creation of a Federal research programme to investigate the UAs, and then the termination of said programme only days later. Apparently the Federation knows something about these things and isn't interested in sharing. The Empire and the Alliance have both been suspiciously silent.
• In 1.4 we discovered that the Morse code broadcast by the UA had changed. Instead of a celestial body name it was a series of semi-random letters. These signals have just been decoded in the past few days. The signals are coordinates defining 2D triangles that make up a crude line drawing of the ship that the UA just scanned.

As for what they are and what their purpose is, we don't know. Theories include:

• They are Thargoid probes, obviously. Sent out to gather information for an invasion. Or maybe testing us to see if peaceful contact is viable (apparently it isn't: we've shot, run over, and let die a large number of UAs, and also sold a bunch into unknown hands). Or they're eggs sacks/stasis chambers/etc.
• They are obviously not Thargoid in origin, but are probes from another alien race. With the same possibilities of purpose.
• They are clearly human built (possibly using Thargoid tech), probably by INRA. Perhaps carrying the Mycoid virus that INRA developed to destroy the Thargoids and their tech. Their appearance and concentration suggest INRA (or whoever) know the Thargoids are coming soon and where they are likely to appear.
• They are definitely von Neumann probes, self replicating and apparently learning over time. This is possibly even more terrifying than the above possibilities.

So... welcome to paranoia central. Grab a tin-foil hat and some biscuits. There are plenty to go around.

 

[ODonnell76]

Popped into the rings around Merope 5 - and was met by 2x Fdropships (could be random i know) ships scanning my cargo there. Unfortunatley dropped my UA earleier as it was causing damage to my systems.

 

[Cmdr Delmonte[VR]]

Good Summery Red Wizzard Virtual rep im afraid !
And here is some more madness

Is it just me

Spoiler

Or is just me

Spoiler

Or do the markings look similar ...

Spoiler

Or has this been compared before ?

The sound has been cracked for 1.4, or at least the Morse component (Well done MJK) what about the rest of the audio ?
Data burst in the howl ??
What about how it looks ! Have we ever cracked or analysed the markings in the same way the sound has been examined ?
Some poor soul spent a lot of time on the design, surely it has clues !
..
As for pointing at Merope !!! Still working on that one !
..
o7

 

[SpocksOddSocks]

Ok, so here's the Pleiades, according to NASA:

Spoiler

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e1/M45map.jpg

In-game, I opened the galaxy map, went to Sol centered Sol on the Pleiades, and searched for Merope, which flew me there in a straight line. I think this is the best way to approximate the view of the Pleiades from a Sol based telescope.

I manually added the positions of Electra and Taygeta, because they are too far out to show on the map.

Spoiler

View attachment 67636

Merope seems slight off from where I would expect her, but nothing too alarming. I have no idea what is up with Electra and Taygeta though, and I make no claims as to if it even means anything. But for what it's worth, those are my findings so far.

Edit: Crap, I have no idea how to make spoiler tags so I don't mess up the thread. Looking into it.

Edit 2: Ok, that should have been obvious.

That really is interesting. Perhaps they are currently hidden systems, and they are really transmitting there... and the pointing toward Morope is so we think they are pointing to a system we can see...

 

[Dommarraa]

The marking have been run through a few times. Without linking to Earth Mythology, nothing of interest. I dont buy the INRA link, so I dont buy the Earth Mythology link either. (Seven Sisters, 1 of them blind fits best, but still, INRA)

- - - Updated - - -

That really is interesting. Perhaps they are currently hidden systems, and they are really transmitting there... and the pointing toward Morope is so we think they are pointing to a system we can see...

Apart from when you are in Merope, it always points at the star. It is pointing at Merope.

 

[LordZoltan]

A Brief Synopsis of The Canonn's Research into the Unknown Artefacts

• Existence of the UAs was foreshadowed in the trailer for 1.2: the point-of-view character was allegedly transporting one to Leonard Nimoy Station in LHS 3006 (though note there were no signs of module degradation as would be expected if a UA was actually on board).
• Arcanonn (whose name "The Canonn" is derived from) started a thread about the various mysteries and hints that appeared around 1.2. The thread quickly focused on the UA. Michael Brookes asked if we had "listened to it". This thread is the second continuation of Arcanonn's thread; we're somewhere over 25,000 posts so far.
• After much searching we managed to find UAs being carried by large, heavily armed convoys found in Strong Signal Sources in various systems. The Type-9 carrying the UA in these convoys broadcast unusual chat messages about the UA.
• The first UA was recovered from such a convoy in Timocani and we immediately noticed it's odd appearance, the distortion and particle cloud effects, it's unique audio, and the damage it does to internal systems (apparently identical to toxic waste canisters). Through most of 1.2 and 1.3 UAs were recovered from these convoys at a rate of about 1 per week or two.
• Much effort was spent trying to figure out if there was any sort of message to be found in the audio. Eventually (after 1.3 was released) it was confirmed that one of the audio components was Morse code for the name of the nearest celestial body.
• Towards the end of 1.3 an XBox player found a UA floating as salvage in a SSS in HR 1185 (which is near the Pleiades nebula). It quickly became apparently that these "free-floating" UAs were much easier to find than the convoys. UAs were being recovered at a rate of one every day or so.
• The 1.4 beta revealed new behaviour which has been since confirmed in 1.4 proper: UAs in space now orient themselves to point towards Merope. If they are nudged they will quickly turn to realign themselves. They also scan ships that approach within 1000m.
• Near the end of the beta it was discovered that systems near Aries Dark Region GW-W d1-52 produce free-floating UAs at a much higher rate than previous seen. Typically a SSS containing a UA will be found in that system within minutes of arrival. This also occurs in 1.4 proper.
• A couple of Galnet articles announced the creation of a Federal research programme to investigate the UAs, and then the termination of said programme only days later. Apparently the Federation knows something about these things and isn't interested in sharing. The Empire and the Alliance have both been suspiciously silent.
• In 1.4 we discovered that the Morse code broadcast by the UA had changed. Instead of a celestial body name it was a series of semi-random letters. These signals have just been decoded in the past few days. The signals are coordinates defining 2D triangles that make up a crude line drawing of the ship that the UA just scanned.

As for what they are and what their purpose is, we don't know. Theories include:

• They are Thargoid probes, obviously. Sent out to gather information for an invasion. Or maybe testing us to see if peaceful contact is viable (apparently it isn't: we've shot, run over, and let die a large number of UAs, and also sold a bunch into unknown hands). Or they're eggs sacks/stasis chambers/etc.
• They are obviously not Thargoid in origin, but are probes from another alien race. With the same possibilities of purpose.
• They are clearly human built (possibly using Thargoid tech), probably by INRA. Perhaps carrying the Mycoid virus that INRA developed to destroy the Thargoids and their tech. Their appearance and concentration suggest INRA (or whoever) know the Thargoids are coming soon and where they are likely to appear.
• They are definitely von Neumann probes, self replicating and apparently learning over time. This is possibly even more terrifying than the above possibilities.

So... welcome to paranoia central. Grab a tin-foil hat and some biscuits. There are plenty to go around.

Out of rep dammit

 

[Bottom Hat]

Dear Red Wizard [and everybody else ofc] - Thank you very much for taking the time to write that up for me. It really is helpful, and definitely helps clear up things without having to read tens of thousands of posts! I doubt my tinfoil hat would remain in place if I had to read all that in one sitting!!

I have seen a couple bouncing around myself, and I did see one recently in a signal source that the nav computer showed up as a "salvageable wreckage" source. I cannot recall the exact location for this now, but it was shortly after 1.4, and would have been near to Carnoeck, if not in Carnoeck itself. I didn't pick it up, basically because I was heading back to Bacon City in my Vulture with a large amount of bounties to cash in, and was dubious that its degradation would make me lose them. From this, I think it highly likely that its location was in the 1200Ls distance between Bacon City and the HiRES zone near to Mitchell/Midgeley outposts.

On hindsight if I had known this group research, I would have picked it up, and dropped it outside Bacon for other Mobius players to poke around whilst I went in. Never mind though. Does the Canonn group have a base that they like the UAs to be delivered to? Or is it just a matter of playing around with them? My first thought as to their purpose, was that they are interstellar beacons for Thargoids, that either marked a system for their arrival [like we are using Nav beacons], or that they were acting to re-direct any FTL Thargoid to the Morope system, so that this system would be the place they would either bring in a large fleet, or a moveable station like our Jaques terminal. I imagine hat these ideas will have been proposed many times before though, so please don't shoot me down for posting them; I just thought I would donate my 2 cents to the cause as a noob to Canonn!!

Anyway, thanks again for the clear and detailed explanation, it is much appreciated. If there are any particular 'missions' on researching the UA by Canonn, please can some one kindly point me in their direction, as I like having a 'storyline' of sorts running in the background; especially since I saw one of the research article in Galnet not too long ago. Can I also ask if the UA occurrence is the same whether people are playing in solo, open, or groups like Mobius? I only ask as I spend most of the time in Mobius, despite my shooting down a player the other day as he was stupidly flying around the HiRES with a big bounty on his head!!

Regards, CMDR A.S.Shat

EDIT: Ps - Do we know if the Ancient Artefacts are anything to do with the Thargoid theories yet, and are they in any way related to the UAs themselves? I have picked up and sold one before, but not paid any attention to the way it looked and so on, .... ?!

PPS - I have seen the INRA acronym about a lot, and although I roughly understand who it means, can someone kindly expand the acronym for me? Many thanks, and cheers for putting up with a pain in the noob!!

 

[who?]

A Brief Synopsis of The Canonn's Research into the Unknown Artefacts

Too Much Information. Can you summarise the summary?

Thanks for that.

I still think that old Galnet entry posted by some (non Canonn) scientist may be relevant. The one suggesting two civilisations may emerge in different places at different times, and appear to be different culture but are still part of the same civilisation. To me that strongly suggests - "there will be Thargoids, but they may not be anything like the Thargoids we've seen". We also know that the UAs not just scan local objects, but broadcast that data great distances.

There's nothing conclusive there, but together they do suggest:
- the UAs aren't "local".
- they're broadcasting to someone or something listening far away
- there is some divergent race/species/faction out there.
- if it's a branch off human civilisation, who are they, and why would they be scanning us?
- if it's a branch off another species, which one? To me the most likely reason for the Galnet entry above was to prep us that the Thargoids are returning, but not in a form we'd recognise.

Perhaps I'm joining dots that have no business being joined though!

 

[PsychoFish]

EDIT: Ps - Do we know if the Ancient Artefacts are anything to do with the Thargoid theories yet, and are they in any way related to the UAs themselves? I have picked up and sold one before, but not paid any attention to the way it looked and so on, .... ?!

Not that we know. We analysed the AA at the very beginning and found a recording of the moonlanding.

 

[Han_Zen]

@ andi.

INRA: Intergalactic Naval Research Arm or Intergalactic Naval Reserve Arm.

Both arms are part of the same organisation. The reserve arm is a pure combat unit.

 

[Popov Le Magnifique]

Be good to each other!
Cheers, Commanders

You're one of the nicest CMDRs I've met in Elite: Dangerous. Take care.

 

[DialBforBiscuit]

Been reading and following this. Is a really cool thing going on with these artifacts. I've just been flying around in my own little bubble while other CMDRs are solving the galaxy's riddles.

I'd love to poke around Merope, even if there may be nothing there till 1.5. Be awhile till I can though. You know, whenever I fuel scoop at a star. There's wiggity (scientific term) sounds going on. Anyone notice sounds close to/coming from Merope? Maybe if the UA's are pointing signals to it, something inside is responding? Hope not. Hate to think there's something out there with hulls that survive 200k+ Kelvins.

 

[rizal72]

Does the UA scan stations?

No. Just ships.

In 1.3 it transmitted the name of the nearest body in morse, also stations.
But without a visible scan like in 1.4 with ships.

BTW, how we could tell if it is scanning stations? We know that it's scanning our ships just because there is a scan alert.

 

[b_laiskiainen]

No. Just ships.

In 1.3 it transmitted the name of the nearest body in morse, also stations.
But without a visible scan like in 1.4 with ships.

BTW, how we could tell if it is scanning stations? We know that it's scanning our ships just because there is a scan alert.

If there's several pilots in the same instance, do they each get their own morse or do they all get the same one?

 

[fyo]

Good evening Commanders

p.s. So long, and thanks for all the rep!

Hail Derthek!

I've long wanted to take a long trip into the black (as opposed to the few kyllie jaunts I've taken thus far) and now I know what my destination must be:

Derthek's Folly.

See you on the other side.

-fyo

 

[SilentAeon]

Congrats to those who have made breakthroughs
I tip my tin foil hat to all the crazy theory crafters
I bow to those who found the UA when it was difficult
A slight wave to those who have trolled us
A thank-you to the devs
Everyone who hung out in TeamSpeak today, you're legends
And a special shout out to SilentAeon; It's been fun chilling with you the past couple of days. Good luck with that new DBx!

And finally, an invitation to anyone with an honest curiosity and a heart for mystery that would like to hang out in our TeamSpeak please click here for details. Check it out! It's themed like a Capital Ship!
Whether you have lurked, contributed, or discovered, you're all in the Canonn and apart of our canon. Check out are rare good thread here!

Be good to each other!
Cheers, Commanders

p.s. So long, and thanks for all the rep!

Bye Derthek! It was good knowing you! You've been a great asset to the Canonn and an awesome commander to fly with, even if it was for a short time. I'm sure if Debbie were still alive she'd say the same. :')

p.s. And thanks for the DBX!!

 

[mossfoot]

Is there any clue as to HOW they arrive in a system in the first place? How can a probe that small be capable of hyperspace jumps? How does it refuel?

Thoughts:

- They are left behind by a ship that passes through seeding them (unlikely as someone somewhere should have seen said ship)
- They have a tiny hyperdrive (smaller than a Class 1) and aren't restricted to stopping at stars, they simply hop slowly to their destination through interstellar space
- If the above, then they must have a power source that doesn't require hydrogen fuel for jumps.
- Maybe the creators have a kind of hyperspace "rail gun" capable of launching non-FSD capapble objects to a destination?

 

[nikos]

BTW, how we could tell if it is scanning stations? We know that it's scanning our ships just because there is a scan alert.

Well, if we saw a 2D drawing of a Coriolis we would know!

 

[Sausages]

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what happens next? I'm not sure if I want to keep this ua on board if there is nothing else to be done with it... is a trip out to merope/pleione a good idea? Don't want to be wasting my time if it's already been done or a pointless exercise...

 

[simulacrae]

Is there any clue as to HOW they arrive in a system in the first place?

Space Whales