So you want to know about the Formidine Rift? (Part 3)

[Jaiotu]

I just posted the following to the player submitted Galnet thread:

Spoiler

TITLE: EEF Joins Call for Exploration Professionalism
Location: Galnet / Alt: Sol, Okinura, Beta Hydri, HR 6421
Time: Anytime before first-contact

Recent statements from Karl Devene of the Federal Astrocartography Department urging the curtailment of amateur exploration of space has been met with criticism by the majority of the galaxy's explorer community. An exception to this criticism has been voiced by the Earth Expeditionary Fleet, the exploration arm of the Earth Defense Fleet, Federation minor faction headquartered in Okinura.

"Someone had to say it," said EEF pilot Finn McMillan. "There is an independent faction, the Children of Raxxla, encouraging explorers to meticulously map every system in the EAFOTS sector. This kind of search could lead to mankind finding some form of pre-sentient or primitive sentient life.”

McMillan recently returned to Okinura from the EAFOTS sector where he has been observing the activities of the numerous explorers currently mapping the sector.

"The EEF would love to see Federal Astrocartography establish a support outpost in EAFOTS to help coordinate what is currently an anarchic search and to provide education to explorers regarding proper first-contact etiquette."

The point of the article isn't to be deliberately antagonistic toward the EAFOTS exploration effort. The last sentence of the article it the actual point: a nudge toward establishing SOME kind of outpost near the RIFT. I don't really care if the outpost is Federal, Imperial, Alliance or independent. We really could use someplace near the H&S nebulae with at least basic repair services to promote long-term exploration.

 

[Zeeman]

Have you read the Oolite saga from Drew? This is the plot basically. (Spoilers) Raxxla is some kind of interdimensional worm-hole that the Thargoids + other races use to escape to "galaxy 2" or "sector 2" (http://www.crimsonforge.co.uk/cloister/OOmap_G2.pdf) except it was at a different point in time. Basically there is a second bubble (maybe not in our galaxy) that the different races escaped to.

Personally I think this is close to what we're looking for. Seems like he's giving hints all over the place to this. Tinfoil hat time:

-Formidine means "with fear" or something close. All of these other races wanted to escape Galcop, they're afraid.
-Drew hinting that it's "not just a point of interest"
-Drew telling us to "focus on the core of the problem"
-The coordinates at the end of Rebecca Weston's message "Right on, Commander" seem like a hint to look at the old games.

I have not read it - but I think I now will. Sounds like my kind of book!

Interesting set of clues (along with the others), I will be curious to see how we resolve it.

Z...

 

[Atebits]

I've wondered for ages why areas that are colonized seem to have a lot more red dwarves than not. Partly I believe this is just my bad luck in plotting course routes. Today I ran into something that changed my mind a bit.

http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net...io-Ship.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20111007154210

That image above looks like this: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CqZeSs_WcAAkzhQ.jpg

sort of like this: http://www.canadream.com/uploadedImages/Blog/Canadream_Blog/tofinosquidtofinobeachjosie.jpg

The search process that began this was in the verse. First I was looking for creatures online that could be convincingly spaceship-like, then I went, "oh it's a crab!". Except I couldn't find a three legged crab. Then I saw the squid and how they flatten out. Next came the warhammer creature.

Next came these videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pyclsaSpQk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5l5WoSiN1U


I don't play warhammer, but it keeps coming up in my searches a lot. I thought I'd share in case it is relevant.

 

[Aekzo]

I just posted the following to the player submitted Galnet thread:

Spoiler

TITLE: EEF Joins Call for Exploration Professionalism
Location: Galnet / Alt: Sol, Okinura, Beta Hydri, HR 6421
Time: Anytime before first-contact

Recent statements from Karl Devene of the Federal Astrocartography Department urging the curtailment of amateur exploration of space has been met with criticism by the majority of the galaxy's explorer community. An exception to this criticism has been voiced by the Earth Expeditionary Fleet, the exploration arm of the Earth Defense Fleet, Federation minor faction headquartered in Okinura.

"Someone had to say it," said EEF pilot Finn McMillan. "There is an independent faction, the Children of Raxxla, encouraging explorers to meticulously map every system in the EAFOTS sector. This kind of search could lead to mankind finding some form of pre-sentient or primitive sentient life.”

McMillan recently returned to Okinura from the EAFOTS sector where he has been observing the activities of the numerous explorers currently mapping the sector.

"The EEF would love to see Federal Astrocartography establish a support outpost in EAFOTS to help coordinate what is currently an anarchic search and to provide education to explorers regarding proper first-contact etiquette."

The point of the article isn't to be deliberately antagonistic toward the EAFOTS exploration effort. The last sentence of the article it the actual point: a nudge toward establishing SOME kind of outpost near the RIFT. I don't really care if the outpost is Federal, Imperial, Alliance or independent. We really could use someplace near the H&S nebulae with at least basic repair services to promote long-term exploration.

I've been thinking the same, a station would be nice, an outpost would do too. I've been wondering how to suggest the creation of one. Good initiative!

Also, if needed for a settlement, there's an Earth-like in Eafots QK-A c16-0 (a bit further and quite above H&S): https://i.imgur.com/mw1IWm2.png

 

[Jim Dangerous]

I have been thinking along these sort of lines too after the blue white star/power link.

It could be an alien (or whatever) version of those new prelogistics support outposts. On their own you would sail on by and not notice, or not even consider they form part of a chain, but together they form a conduit into the Pleiades. I didn't even know they were there until Gamescom announced them and had flew past them twice.

What we are looking for could be as simple as a string of blue whites that form a power highway through that part of galaxy. This would fit into Drew's comments about only seeing aspects of it, or it could be easily missed. Which it would as we wouldn't be tuned into looking for something like that.

I do agree, I didn't feel exactly terrified out there. Creeped out yes, but ended up getting cabin fever so bad I had to go back to the bubble and am now out near Maia.

Not sure if I spent too much time looking at the Galaxy Map while heading out to H&S Nebula but I think there is a chain of White "00" class stars which all have system names ending with the designation "-g0". There is one chain that passes from H&S nebula and arcs to the right through the Rift, and another chain that arcs from H&S to the left. Try bookmarking these systems to see what I'm talking about;

Right-Arc;
PHAA AIN AA-A G0
SCHEAU PHOE YE-A G0
SCHEE EAEC YE-A G0
HYPOAE AIM AA-A G0
PHRIO HYPA CL-Y G0
PHOO AEB FG-Y G0
PHROOE HYPOOE DL-Y GO

Left-Arc;
MYDIFOE BA-A G0
SCHEE HYPUE DL-Y G0
DRYAO AIM FG-Y G0
GONGEIA DL-Y GO

Ok so my crack-pot theory is that we are seeing a pathway of extremely high-energy stars that is converging through the H&S area!

Perhaps this is used for refuelling or a jump technology more advanced than our own?

I am still heading out to H&S and haven't had then time to visit these system (just found them from carefully examining the Galactic Map).

Anyone think there is aomething in this, or have I gone space crazy!

Fly-Safe,
Cmdr Jim Dangerous

 

[Jim Dangerous]

Not sure if I spent too much time looking at the Galaxy Map while heading out to H&S Nebula but I think there is a chain of White "00" class stars which all have system names ending with the designation "-g0". There is one chain that passes from H&S nebula and arcs to the right through the Rift, and another chain that arcs from H&S to the left. Try bookmarking these systems to see what I'm talking about;

Right-Arc;
PHAA AIN AA-A G0
SCHEAU PHOE YE-A G0
SCHEE EAEC YE-A G0
HYPOAE AIM AA-A G0
PHRIO HYPA CL-Y G0
PHOO AEB FG-Y G0
PHROOE HYPOOE DL-Y GO

Left-Arc;
MYDIFOE BA-A G0
SCHEE HYPUE DL-Y G0
DRYAO AIM FG-Y G0
GONGEIA DL-Y GO

Ok so my crack-pot theory is that we are seeing a pathway of extremely high-energy stars that is converging through the H&S area!

Perhaps this is used for refuelling or a jump technology more advanced than our own?

I am still heading out to H&S and haven't had then time to visit these system (just found them from carefully examining the Galactic Map).

Anyone think there is aomething in this, or have I gone space crazy!

Fly-Safe,
Cmdr Jim Dangerous

Damnit typo;
MYDIFOE BA-A G0 -> MYOIFOE BA-A G0

 

[[Diplomacy] Carnegie]

Not sure if I spent too much time looking at the Galaxy Map while heading out to H&S Nebula but I think there is a chain of White "00" class stars which all have system names ending with the designation "-g0". There is one chain that passes from H&S nebula and arcs to the right through the Rift, and another chain that arcs from H&S to the left. Try bookmarking these systems to see what I'm talking about;

Right-Arc;
PHAA AIN AA-A G0
SCHEAU PHOE YE-A G0
SCHEE EAEC YE-A G0
HYPOAE AIM AA-A G0
PHRIO HYPA CL-Y G0
PHOO AEB FG-Y G0
PHROOE HYPOOE DL-Y GO

Left-Arc;
MYDIFOE BA-A G0
SCHEE HYPUE DL-Y G0
DRYAO AIM FG-Y G0
GONGEIA DL-Y GO

Ok so my crack-pot theory is that we are seeing a pathway of extremely high-energy stars that is converging through the H&S area!

Perhaps this is used for refuelling or a jump technology more advanced than our own?

I am still heading out to H&S and haven't had then time to visit these system (just found them from carefully examining the Galactic Map).

Anyone think there is aomething in this, or have I gone space crazy!

Fly-Safe,
Cmdr Jim Dangerous

G0 stars are all going to be at roughly the same point in each sector - since the final number in the name is indicative of how 'deep' into the sector you are.
Seems logical that these would form lines, due to the way the sectors are laid out.

 

[Jim Dangerous]

G0 stars are all going to be at roughly the same point in each sector - since the final number in the name is indicative of how 'deep' into the sector you are.
Seems logical that these would form lines, due to the way the sectors are laid out.

Awww, damn!

But O stars are rare and the distribution seems a litte odd out here?

Or maybe it's just a quirk of the galaxy generation! :-(

Fly-Safe,
Cmdr Jim Dangerous

 

[ledg]

G0 stars are all going to be at roughly the same point in each sector - since the final number in the name is indicative of how 'deep' into the sector you are.
Seems logical that these would form lines, due to the way the sectors are laid out.

I can't make any sense of how sectors are laid out. The characters seem random to me. Is there a good explanation somewhere?

 

[Lord_Va_Der]

Hey, I saw mention of the wormhole theory to the LMC, and while they may not be in the game, I find that the Heart and Soul Nebulas do look alarmingly similar to the Magellenic Clouds when superimposed over one another, and the area of space that allow them to line up correctly is the eafots sector. It would certainly be more big picture than checking star systems. Perhaps were looking for something on that scale

 

[hammerreborn]

Hey, I saw mention of the wormhole theory to the LMC, and while they may not be in the game, I find that the Heart and Soul Nebulas do look alarmingly similar to the Magellenic Clouds when superimposed over one another, and the area of space that allow them to line up correctly is the eafots sector. It would certainly be more big picture than checking star systems. Perhaps were looking for something on that scale

What doesn't make sense to me is how the answer it isn't a point of interest. Even if you go with the wormhole line up theory...then what? You would presumably have to travel to a certain "launch point" or you know, a point of interest.

Even if it's a region like the Pleiades nebula with the barnacles, those still are just a plurality of points of interest. Since we know that this has been in place since gamma, it can't be on any particular planet like the barancles, so it has to be an object in space.

Which makes me worry immensely, because we know barnacles don't show up as scannable POIs, so we could be having to look for some space station floating around a gas giant ring for all we know.

 

[[Diplomacy] Carnegie]

What doesn't make sense to me is how the answer it isn't a point of interest. Even if you go with the wormhole line up theory...then what? You would presumably have to travel to a certain "launch point" or you know, a point of interest.

Even if it's a region like the Pleiades nebula with the barnacles, those still are just a plurality of points of interest. Since we know that this has been in place since gamma, it can't be on any particular planet like the barancles, so it has to be an object in space.

Which makes me worry immensely, because we know barnacles don't show up as scannable POIs, so we could be having to look for some space station floating around a gas giant ring for all we know.

It's always been my feeling that there's no point in running around the Rift looking for something, until we know the meaning behind what we're seeing. At this point, we don't have enough information (or we do and we just haven't figured it out) to conduct any kind of useful search.
On the plus side, those people who have system information for the Rift areas are going to have a better chance of working out where they need to go then the rest of us who'll be flying blind.

 

[Atrox Lux]

Not sure if I spent too much time looking at the Galaxy Map while heading out to H&S Nebula but I think there is a chain of White "00" class stars which all have system names ending with the designation "-g0". There is one chain that passes from H&S nebula and arcs to the right through the Rift, and another chain that arcs from H&S to the left. Try bookmarking these systems to see what I'm talking about;

Right-Arc;
PHAA AIN AA-A G0
SCHEAU PHOE YE-A G0
SCHEE EAEC YE-A G0
HYPOAE AIM AA-A G0
PHRIO HYPA CL-Y G0
PHOO AEB FG-Y G0
PHROOE HYPOOE DL-Y GO

Left-Arc;
MYDIFOE BA-A G0
SCHEE HYPUE DL-Y G0
DRYAO AIM FG-Y G0
GONGEIA DL-Y GO

Ok so my crack-pot theory is that we are seeing a pathway of extremely high-energy stars that is converging through the H&S area!

Perhaps this is used for refuelling or a jump technology more advanced than our own?

I am still heading out to H&S and haven't had then time to visit these system (just found them from carefully examining the Galactic Map).

Anyone think there is aomething in this, or have I gone space crazy!

Fly-Safe,
Cmdr Jim Dangerous

On the previous couple of pages, myself and Helfar were discussing the exact same thing. The chain of pre-logistics outposts fulfill the same need.

It is very plausible and fits in with what we now know about "them" and the Pleiades

edit...I only just noticed you quoted me earlier. I'm tired and should probably go to bed

 

[hammerreborn]

It's always been my feeling that there's no point in running around the Rift looking for something, until we know the meaning behind what we're seeing. At this point, we don't have enough information (or we do and we just haven't figured it out) to conduct any kind of useful search.
On the plus side, those people who have system information for the Rift areas are going to have a better chance of working out where they need to go then the rest of us who'll be flying blind.

I feel like we should go smash the jail cell salome is in, because that seems to be the only way we get any information even remotely useful. And that's super remote at best.

 

[[Diplomacy] Carnegie]

I feel like we should go smash the jail cell salome is in, because that seems to be the only way we get any information even remotely useful. And that's super remote at best.

If Salome knows something she's not telling us, it's either not very helpful, or she's dumb as a bag of rocks, because she doesn't have a clue what's out there either.
That said, I have a plan for the prison thing...

 

[Jaiotu]

If Salome knows something she's not telling us, it's either not very helpful, or she's dumb as a bag of rocks, because she doesn't have a clue what's out there either.
That said, I have a plan for the prison thing...

I'm sure that we, in the Federation, would love to assist in any attempts to liberate CMDR Salome. All we ask is that we have access to Salome for a brief 48 hour debriefing after which she will be returned to CoR with no permanant injuries. Just 48 hours and we'll get those coordinates from the end of the old woman's message

 

[verminstar]

Found a couple ELW so far...just about every system I hit, no sign of another soul, no tags nothing...but...nah nothin just being paranoid and this place does that to me while my brain is susceptible but dammit I can't shake this weird sense of deja vu.

A feeling perhaps...like a splinter in my mind...like gaming deja vu...but never more than today have I ever felt truly alone out here in the black. I almost hate ye fer makin me curious enough to make a detour fer this place and give it a few days...original plan meant this was simply on the way, could have gone through it in an hour and thought nothin more of it, but noooo...I just had to give it a few days before getting back to the original plan, and now?

Ever get that feeling when the hair goes up on the back of yer neck and ye look to see who's behind ye to find there's nobody there?

Nah...lotta hype over nuthin...publicity stunt...

But...

This place feels wrong...can't put my finger on exactly why, but it feels wrong. The planets are all messed up, and there's a high concentration of systems with multiple stars...higher than normal? I dunno but this feeling of "wrong" just won't go away.

It's like that feeling ye get after stomping all over hallowed ground and having the elders just stare at you...not saying a word because they don't have to...that's the part where ye get that deja vu feeling..."like someone walked over yer grave" as we say round these parts.

I dunno if there's aliens here or feds trying to cover them up...but either way, I can't help but get the feeling that we are somehow trespassing.

I said I'd give this place a couple days just fer the kicks and the lols...so far, the only feeling I have is setting a course straight outta here and not looking back.

Just can't shake that feeling even though I do still think this is all scripted to happen soon anyway...the skeptic in me.

But still...that feeling won't go away...I hate this game fer doing that to me...truly.

Ye get another day and I'm outta here...this is either a huge waste of time, a publicity stunt, a scripted event or a joke. It's also a spot of role play that I've somehow managed to con myself into.

I don't like this region...but I'm curious enough to stay nonetheless.

Cyas in the black cmdrs ^^

 

[[Diplomacy] Carnegie]

I'm sure that we, in the Federation, would love to assist in any attempts to liberate CMDR Salome. All we ask is that we have access to Salome for a brief 48 hour debriefing after which she will be returned to CoR with no permanant injuries. Just 48 hours and we'll get those coordinates from the end of the old woman's message

The Independent Rift Explorers Alliance thanks the Federation for its kind and generous offer. However, we must, on this occasion, decline their assistance. The Federation, together with rest of humanity, will be informed of the outcome of Salome's discussions with the IREA.

 

[Jaiotu]

The Independent Rift Explorers Alliance thanks the Federation for its kind and generous offer. However, we must, on this occasion, decline their assistance. The Federation, together with rest of humanity, will be informed of the outcome of Salome's discussions with the IREA.

Understood. We'll just have to try and liberate her first then

 

[[Diplomacy] Carnegie]

Understood. We'll just have to try and liberate her first then

Liberate away - the IREA will liberate her from the Federation just as happily as we would from the Empire