This is a continuation of previous threads, and is a collection of information from many sources and efforts by many people. If we have missed something important, please let us know and if suitable it will be added. All the information below is intended to be as factual as possible. It is up to you to make any mental leaps and connections. Underlined text is usually a link. In this new branch, we will try to analyze old knowledge and add new ones
The mystery of the Formidine Rift finds a genesis in Drew Wagar’s Oolite Saga. The third installment of this saga makes a reference to the ‘Formidine Rift’ where we read that, “Thargoid incursions into the Formidine rift appear to be increasing dramatically.” Oolite is an unofficial remake of the original 1984 game Elite and share similarities to the Elite: Dangerous universe. Though there are many similarities there are also plenty of differences. Drew Wagar readily admits that the Oolite Saga is a work of fan fiction. The Formidine Rift became an official part of the Elite: Dangerous universe when Drew was given the opportunity to write an official novel as a companion to the game. Drew has confirmed that the developers included the Rift and a mysterious something to be found inside it in the game and that this something has been present since it was initially released. Drew’s book, Reclamation follows the adventures of Lady Kahina Tijani Loren, third daughter to the prior imperial senator to Chione, Senator Algreb Loren. During the adventure Kahina, while suffering from amnesia and using the name ‘Salomé’, meets an old Elite Commander who tells her of a place known as “The Formidine Rift”. She didn’t disclose too many details… just the description that the Rift is located somewhere near the ‘edge of the galactic arm’ and a simple line in space drawn through the systems of Reorte and Riedquat and beyond points to the location of the Rift. Later in the novel Kahina hacks into a video archive made by the lady when she was younger and discovers that there is something out there that GalCop, the Federation and the Empire were all trying to keep secret from the rest of the galaxy.
"The Formidine Rifters are an unlikely collective of explorers from various backgrounds, systems and factional allegiances who have put aside their political differences to work together toward a common goal. For several months, they have been working together to map the region between the two farthest galactic arms just past the Heart and Soul Nebula. Commander Finn McMillan of the Earth Expeditionary Fleet, one of the many Rifters devoted to this project, addressed the galactic exploration community today: "We would like to invite all explorers dedicated to expanding human knowledge to join us in the Formidine Rift. We have reason to believe that there is something beyond the galactic arm that may change humanity's view of the cosmos, but we simply need more eyes, ears and minds to help us unravel this mystery.""
(Galnet 18 JUN 3302 – Freelance Report: Formidine Rifters Seek Help)
Drew Wagar - Elite: Reclamation
Underworld Theory: The Mythology Behind Salomé’s Descent
The story of Salomé tells of her "Dance of the Seven Veils" for King Herod, inspiring him to offer her any favor in return - to which she demanded, and later received, the head of John the Baptist on a platter. Kahina similarly offered her assistance to the Children of Raxxla in exchange for, ultimately, Senator Patreus' head on a platter. But the parallels to history and mythology go much deeper than this.
The Dance of the Seven Veils has been described as a striptease of sorts, a removal of seven garments to reveal the naked truth. The story is derived from the ancient Sumerian myth of Inanna (a.k.a. Ishtar), a goddess of fertility and vitality. Inanna's most well-known story is of her descent to the underworld in order to learn the mysteries of death. In preparation for her trip, she gathers seven garments symbolizing various aspects of humanity and civilized life. As she descends to the underworld she must pass seven gates, and is required to remove one article of clothing at each gate. Eventually she arrives, naked, before the queen of the underworld, who judges her and strikes her dead (teaching her the mysteries firsthand). She is eventually rescued by her highest servant who brings her the food and water of life, resurrecting her and allowing her to make her escape. The guardians of the underworld do not want to allow anyone to return to the land of the living, and so an arrangement is made to split the year, spending half in the underworld and half above. This myth explains the difference between the seasons - spring and summer when she is present, and fall and winter when she returns to the underworld.
A later variant of this same story is the Greek myth of Persephone (a.k.a. Kore or Cora), the goddess of fertility and plant life, who is kidnapped to the underworld by Pluto (a.k.a. Hades). She is eventually rescued by Hermes, but not before Pluto tricks her into eating a little bit of food there, which normally would doom her to remain in the underworld forever. Because it was such a small amount, however, she is allowed to leave - but must return to the underworld for a portion of every year, again as an explanation for the seasons.
Another Greek myth echoes these events in the story of Eurydice, wife of Orpheus. Upon her death, Orpheus sang and played mournful songs on his lyre, which moved the gods so strongly that they told him to go to the underworld and rescue his wife. In order to gain entrance, he had to pass the three-headed dog Cerberus, which he put to sleep with music from his lyre. Upon finding Eurydice, he is told that he may bring her back to the land of the living, but he must walk ahead of her and not look back until they had left the underworld. He did as he was told, but as soon as he reached the daylight he turned to look at his wife, who had not yet stepped out from the underworld. Because of this mistake, she vanished and returned to the underworld, where he would not see her again until his own death years later.
All of these myths have been heavily referenced in recent writings by our Architect. Names, locations, ships, and explicit hints have all been chosen to direct our attention to these stories. I fear that these references may have been too subtle and sparse for our members to see the pattern clearly, so I will attempt to highlight as many as possible in this document. I do not mean to state that every last one of these links is meaningful, or even intended, merely to establish patterns and provide context for future investigations and discoveries.
To begin, many of us are familiar with the significance of the name Salomé and her Clipper, the Seven Veils. In early 3301, Kahina took this ship on a diplomatic visit to the Sol system, where she was specifically noted to be visiting the outer gas giants of Sol (all of which are named after the Roman counterparts of Greek mythological figures), despite no official welcome or escort from the Federation. Returning to Empire space, she made her rendezvous with the Imperial Interdictor Lucius (a name meaning "light"), and described her trip to Sol as "most enlightening." Recently several more bodies have been found in the outer reaches of Sol, all matching current observations except the last, a distant "Planet Nine" which is conspicuously named Persephone.
Kahina then immediately began preparing her Seven Veils for what appeared to be a long-range exploration mission - specifically upgrading the drives, shields, frame-shift drive, fuel scoop, and a "custom built Gutamaya discovery scanner." This could be seen as a reference to Inanna's preparation for her descent. All of the modifications were performed at Persephone station in the Avalon system, another hint at the upcoming journey to the underworld. She was then summoned to Achenar, where she proceeded to vanish, shedding her Seven Veils; the ship modifications were revealed to be a ruse, and the ship had in fact been completely stripped down. Kahina left behind only her Imperial tiara, just as Inanna left her crown at the first gate to the underworld, and a Dark Wheel medallion bearing the name Salomé - a clue to her followers that she was abandoning her role as an Imperial senator and assuming a new identity and purpose.
As Children of Raxxla, we know the details of what happened next, though Galnet never reported them. Salomé, now, was picked up by her old friend Luko and taken to Tionisla Orbital Graveyard, truly the land of the dead. There she met with Dark Wheel member Elyssia Fields (whose name refers to the Greek equivalent of heaven, an afterlife separate from the underworld), echoing the meeting Alex Ryder had in the same location many years ago. Elyssia then introduced Salomé to our own CMDRs Thorn and Lestenio, who accepted her leadership knowing she could offer her diplomatic skills - her Dance of the Seven Veils - for which she would one day ask, in exchange, for "Senator Patreus' head on a platter." Salomé remained mostly in hiding, assisted by CoR and perhaps the Dark Wheel themselves, for nearly a year before her next public appearance - at Beagle Point, some 65,000 light years from home. She spoke of the knowledge gained by the explorers joining her in the void, "pushing the veil of the galaxy aside", and revealing the mysteries of the galaxy - mentioning Raxxla, the Rift, and permit locked sectors. It is clear that her journey to the underworld has the same motivations as Inanna's; she wishes to understand the mysteries of the darkness, though it has already cost her place in Imperial society.
Salomé then returned to the core worlds, ensuring the Cobra "Cor meum et animam" ("My heart and soul") found its place in Tionisla Orbital Graveyard, but was swiftly captured by Imperial forces accusing her of an attempt on Patreus' life. After being found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment, her prisoner convoy was mysteriously destroyed, right down to the escape pods. The ships of the convoy bore the Latin names "Diadem", "Cypripedium", "Velum", "Monile", and "Vestimenta"; these roughly translate to "tiara", "slipper", "veil", "necklace", and "clothing". Again it seems these are references to the garments removed by Inanna, and we may assume that Salomé has again descended to the underworld - whether literally, in death, or figuratively once more. And again we are reminded to look to the "core" of the problem, and warned that "winter is coming," as it does when Kore (Persephone) returns to the underworld.
Kahina/Salomé is not the only one in our galaxy whose story hints at ancient mythology. Our own Alessia Verdi, whose family background calls to mind the events of a Greek tragedy, flies a ship named "Eurydice," referencing the myth of Orpheus. I hypothesize that even the "Dark Wheel" name may refer back to this myth; when Orpheus went to the underworld, his lyre stopped the "wheel of fire" that tortured the fallen king Ixion. Virgil's telling of this myth in Georgics IV even uses the Latin word "formidine" ("fear"), in the phrase "caligantem nigra formidine lucum", translated as "the grove dim with dark fear," which Orpheus must pass through along his journey to the underworld. Perhaps, then, the Formidine Rift is (or was) a gateway to this underworld, symbolically or otherwise.
A number of suspicious "accidental" deaths have also been peppered with mythological references. In January 3301, Federal Vice President Nigel Smeaton was found dead at his apartment "on the foothills of Mount Olympus" on Mars. In early August 3301, just a few months after the disappearance of Starship One, two independent shuttle accidents killed two of the primary investigators into the case - one in Sirius, and one in Artemis (Greek goddess of the hunt). Weeks later, a Federal Times reporter named Elaine Boyd, who had been seeking information on these deaths and the Starship One incident itself, was found dead at a hotel in Wyrd (Old English goddess of fate). She was a suspect in the murder of her romantic partner Susan Monroe, a member of the Presidential Protection Detail who had been assigned to Nigel Smeaton's guard at the time of his death. Elaine Boyd's death also revealed evidence that Nigel Smeaton was investigating the similar incident that resulted in the loss of the Highliner Antares.
Another mythological parallel was brought up when the Cobra in Tionisla emitted a signal that decoded to "The vain queen rides a giraffe that remembers her daughter's hero." This was determined to refer to the constellations Cassiopeia, Camelopardalis, Andromeda, and ultimately Perseus. The Perseus constellation depicts the hero holding the head of Medusa, which was described in Ovid's Metamorphoses as "formidine," striking fear into the hearts of enemies who saw it. This again echoes the themes of beheading from Salomé's myth, and was Perseus' weapon against Cetus - the great whale - when saving Andromeda.
Additionally, Professor Ishmael Palin seems to be named for the narrator of Moby-, a famous tale of hunting a great whale covered in barnacles. He was leading research into the unknown artefacts, barnacles, and meta-alloys when he was kidnapped and infected with a strain of the Cerberus plague. This is an obvious reference to the hound of Hades, the three-headed dog guarding the underworld, which Orpheus' lyre soothed; the plague may be analogous to the poison foam Cerberus spit out when he was taken from the underworld, which landed on the ground and caused poisonous plants to grow. Though Professor Palin has since retired, the current director of the Palin Institute is now one Cora Shaw, perhaps also named after Persephone. This suggests the possibility that their work is closely tied to the knowledge sought by Salomé, the mysteries of the underworld.
It also hints at the identity of the group working to keep these secrets from being exposed; just as Cerberus guards the underworld, the Sirius Corporation - named for the "Dog Star," and allied with all three "heads" of the major powers - guards much of the information we wish to discover. Sirius has long been associated with mythological references to dogs, inhabiting locations such as Sothis, Egyptian name for the Dog Star; Takurua, Maori name for the Dog Star; Ceos, a Greek island whose inhabitants worshiped the Dog Star; and Robigo, a Roman deity whose festivals featured the ritual sacrifice of a dog. Even their pledged government leader, Li Yong-Rui, is often referred to by the initials LYR, evoking the lyre of Orpheus. Given Sirius Corp's constant research into experimental hyperspace technologies, even the most distant mysteries could be within their grasp before we have a chance to discover them. And with the recent launch of deep space probes for "exploration" purposes, potentially with defensive capabilities, this dog may indeed have teeth.
Again, it is not my intent to state that every reference within this document should be taken as gospel or pursued in depth. In particular, there are many obscure mentions of Greek myths that may only be coincidences due to the way our stars and constellations are named. I have tried, to some extent, to filter out those which seem most spurious or irrelevant, but I am happy to provide further details if desired. For the most part, the events described here were documented in galaxy-wide articles published in Galnet, along with Alessia Verdi's writings for the Children of Raxxla, though my research into these references included readings of earlier works, namely: The Dark Wheel, And Here The Wheel, Elite: Reclamation, and various ancient writings of Greek, Roman, Sumerian, Irish, and other Earth civilizations' mythology. All references will gladly be provided upon request, and I welcome further questions and investigations on any of the topics covered here.
The Dance of the Seven Veils has been described as a striptease of sorts, a removal of seven garments to reveal the naked truth. The story is derived from the ancient Sumerian myth of Inanna (a.k.a. Ishtar), a goddess of fertility and vitality. Inanna's most well-known story is of her descent to the underworld in order to learn the mysteries of death. In preparation for her trip, she gathers seven garments symbolizing various aspects of humanity and civilized life. As she descends to the underworld she must pass seven gates, and is required to remove one article of clothing at each gate. Eventually she arrives, naked, before the queen of the underworld, who judges her and strikes her dead (teaching her the mysteries firsthand). She is eventually rescued by her highest servant who brings her the food and water of life, resurrecting her and allowing her to make her escape. The guardians of the underworld do not want to allow anyone to return to the land of the living, and so an arrangement is made to split the year, spending half in the underworld and half above. This myth explains the difference between the seasons - spring and summer when she is present, and fall and winter when she returns to the underworld.
A later variant of this same story is the Greek myth of Persephone (a.k.a. Kore or Cora), the goddess of fertility and plant life, who is kidnapped to the underworld by Pluto (a.k.a. Hades). She is eventually rescued by Hermes, but not before Pluto tricks her into eating a little bit of food there, which normally would doom her to remain in the underworld forever. Because it was such a small amount, however, she is allowed to leave - but must return to the underworld for a portion of every year, again as an explanation for the seasons.
Another Greek myth echoes these events in the story of Eurydice, wife of Orpheus. Upon her death, Orpheus sang and played mournful songs on his lyre, which moved the gods so strongly that they told him to go to the underworld and rescue his wife. In order to gain entrance, he had to pass the three-headed dog Cerberus, which he put to sleep with music from his lyre. Upon finding Eurydice, he is told that he may bring her back to the land of the living, but he must walk ahead of her and not look back until they had left the underworld. He did as he was told, but as soon as he reached the daylight he turned to look at his wife, who had not yet stepped out from the underworld. Because of this mistake, she vanished and returned to the underworld, where he would not see her again until his own death years later.
All of these myths have been heavily referenced in recent writings by our Architect. Names, locations, ships, and explicit hints have all been chosen to direct our attention to these stories. I fear that these references may have been too subtle and sparse for our members to see the pattern clearly, so I will attempt to highlight as many as possible in this document. I do not mean to state that every last one of these links is meaningful, or even intended, merely to establish patterns and provide context for future investigations and discoveries.
To begin, many of us are familiar with the significance of the name Salomé and her Clipper, the Seven Veils. In early 3301, Kahina took this ship on a diplomatic visit to the Sol system, where she was specifically noted to be visiting the outer gas giants of Sol (all of which are named after the Roman counterparts of Greek mythological figures), despite no official welcome or escort from the Federation. Returning to Empire space, she made her rendezvous with the Imperial Interdictor Lucius (a name meaning "light"), and described her trip to Sol as "most enlightening." Recently several more bodies have been found in the outer reaches of Sol, all matching current observations except the last, a distant "Planet Nine" which is conspicuously named Persephone.
Kahina then immediately began preparing her Seven Veils for what appeared to be a long-range exploration mission - specifically upgrading the drives, shields, frame-shift drive, fuel scoop, and a "custom built Gutamaya discovery scanner." This could be seen as a reference to Inanna's preparation for her descent. All of the modifications were performed at Persephone station in the Avalon system, another hint at the upcoming journey to the underworld. She was then summoned to Achenar, where she proceeded to vanish, shedding her Seven Veils; the ship modifications were revealed to be a ruse, and the ship had in fact been completely stripped down. Kahina left behind only her Imperial tiara, just as Inanna left her crown at the first gate to the underworld, and a Dark Wheel medallion bearing the name Salomé - a clue to her followers that she was abandoning her role as an Imperial senator and assuming a new identity and purpose.
As Children of Raxxla, we know the details of what happened next, though Galnet never reported them. Salomé, now, was picked up by her old friend Luko and taken to Tionisla Orbital Graveyard, truly the land of the dead. There she met with Dark Wheel member Elyssia Fields (whose name refers to the Greek equivalent of heaven, an afterlife separate from the underworld), echoing the meeting Alex Ryder had in the same location many years ago. Elyssia then introduced Salomé to our own CMDRs Thorn and Lestenio, who accepted her leadership knowing she could offer her diplomatic skills - her Dance of the Seven Veils - for which she would one day ask, in exchange, for "Senator Patreus' head on a platter." Salomé remained mostly in hiding, assisted by CoR and perhaps the Dark Wheel themselves, for nearly a year before her next public appearance - at Beagle Point, some 65,000 light years from home. She spoke of the knowledge gained by the explorers joining her in the void, "pushing the veil of the galaxy aside", and revealing the mysteries of the galaxy - mentioning Raxxla, the Rift, and permit locked sectors. It is clear that her journey to the underworld has the same motivations as Inanna's; she wishes to understand the mysteries of the darkness, though it has already cost her place in Imperial society.
Salomé then returned to the core worlds, ensuring the Cobra "Cor meum et animam" ("My heart and soul") found its place in Tionisla Orbital Graveyard, but was swiftly captured by Imperial forces accusing her of an attempt on Patreus' life. After being found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment, her prisoner convoy was mysteriously destroyed, right down to the escape pods. The ships of the convoy bore the Latin names "Diadem", "Cypripedium", "Velum", "Monile", and "Vestimenta"; these roughly translate to "tiara", "slipper", "veil", "necklace", and "clothing". Again it seems these are references to the garments removed by Inanna, and we may assume that Salomé has again descended to the underworld - whether literally, in death, or figuratively once more. And again we are reminded to look to the "core" of the problem, and warned that "winter is coming," as it does when Kore (Persephone) returns to the underworld.
Kahina/Salomé is not the only one in our galaxy whose story hints at ancient mythology. Our own Alessia Verdi, whose family background calls to mind the events of a Greek tragedy, flies a ship named "Eurydice," referencing the myth of Orpheus. I hypothesize that even the "Dark Wheel" name may refer back to this myth; when Orpheus went to the underworld, his lyre stopped the "wheel of fire" that tortured the fallen king Ixion. Virgil's telling of this myth in Georgics IV even uses the Latin word "formidine" ("fear"), in the phrase "caligantem nigra formidine lucum", translated as "the grove dim with dark fear," which Orpheus must pass through along his journey to the underworld. Perhaps, then, the Formidine Rift is (or was) a gateway to this underworld, symbolically or otherwise.
A number of suspicious "accidental" deaths have also been peppered with mythological references. In January 3301, Federal Vice President Nigel Smeaton was found dead at his apartment "on the foothills of Mount Olympus" on Mars. In early August 3301, just a few months after the disappearance of Starship One, two independent shuttle accidents killed two of the primary investigators into the case - one in Sirius, and one in Artemis (Greek goddess of the hunt). Weeks later, a Federal Times reporter named Elaine Boyd, who had been seeking information on these deaths and the Starship One incident itself, was found dead at a hotel in Wyrd (Old English goddess of fate). She was a suspect in the murder of her romantic partner Susan Monroe, a member of the Presidential Protection Detail who had been assigned to Nigel Smeaton's guard at the time of his death. Elaine Boyd's death also revealed evidence that Nigel Smeaton was investigating the similar incident that resulted in the loss of the Highliner Antares.
Another mythological parallel was brought up when the Cobra in Tionisla emitted a signal that decoded to "The vain queen rides a giraffe that remembers her daughter's hero." This was determined to refer to the constellations Cassiopeia, Camelopardalis, Andromeda, and ultimately Perseus. The Perseus constellation depicts the hero holding the head of Medusa, which was described in Ovid's Metamorphoses as "formidine," striking fear into the hearts of enemies who saw it. This again echoes the themes of beheading from Salomé's myth, and was Perseus' weapon against Cetus - the great whale - when saving Andromeda.
Additionally, Professor Ishmael Palin seems to be named for the narrator of Moby-, a famous tale of hunting a great whale covered in barnacles. He was leading research into the unknown artefacts, barnacles, and meta-alloys when he was kidnapped and infected with a strain of the Cerberus plague. This is an obvious reference to the hound of Hades, the three-headed dog guarding the underworld, which Orpheus' lyre soothed; the plague may be analogous to the poison foam Cerberus spit out when he was taken from the underworld, which landed on the ground and caused poisonous plants to grow. Though Professor Palin has since retired, the current director of the Palin Institute is now one Cora Shaw, perhaps also named after Persephone. This suggests the possibility that their work is closely tied to the knowledge sought by Salomé, the mysteries of the underworld.
It also hints at the identity of the group working to keep these secrets from being exposed; just as Cerberus guards the underworld, the Sirius Corporation - named for the "Dog Star," and allied with all three "heads" of the major powers - guards much of the information we wish to discover. Sirius has long been associated with mythological references to dogs, inhabiting locations such as Sothis, Egyptian name for the Dog Star; Takurua, Maori name for the Dog Star; Ceos, a Greek island whose inhabitants worshiped the Dog Star; and Robigo, a Roman deity whose festivals featured the ritual sacrifice of a dog. Even their pledged government leader, Li Yong-Rui, is often referred to by the initials LYR, evoking the lyre of Orpheus. Given Sirius Corp's constant research into experimental hyperspace technologies, even the most distant mysteries could be within their grasp before we have a chance to discover them. And with the recent launch of deep space probes for "exploration" purposes, potentially with defensive capabilities, this dog may indeed have teeth.
Again, it is not my intent to state that every reference within this document should be taken as gospel or pursued in depth. In particular, there are many obscure mentions of Greek myths that may only be coincidences due to the way our stars and constellations are named. I have tried, to some extent, to filter out those which seem most spurious or irrelevant, but I am happy to provide further details if desired. For the most part, the events described here were documented in galaxy-wide articles published in Galnet, along with Alessia Verdi's writings for the Children of Raxxla, though my research into these references included readings of earlier works, namely: The Dark Wheel, And Here The Wheel, Elite: Reclamation, and various ancient writings of Greek, Roman, Sumerian, Irish, and other Earth civilizations' mythology. All references will gladly be provided upon request, and I welcome further questions and investigations on any of the topics covered here.
What has been worked out so far: Dynasty Expedition of 3270
(Galnet 17 NOV 3302 – Community Goal: Competing Appeals for Exploration Data)
"The Federal astrocartography department has issued a public request for exploration data. Mark Devene, head of the department, elaborated on the nature of the appeal:
"We are looking for data from three specific zones in order to verify certain hypotheses. We want high-quality information on system configurations, planet types, spectral classes and compositions."
"We are looking at the following coordinates: PLAA AEC IZ-N C20-1, PRU AESCS DL-W C15-37 and EAFOTS EU-R C4-1. Explorers might be more familiar with the colloquial names for these areas – Hawkin's Gap, the Conflux and the Formidine Rift. Pilots should travel to one of these locations and investigate out to a radius of 200 light years."
The Tau Ceti Crimson Legal Solutions has volunteered to coordinate the Federal operation. Meanwhile, mysterious organisation The Children of Raxxla has issued an identical request, claiming the data will be used to prove the innocence of the group's leader, Kahina Loren.
Both campaigns begin on the 17th of November 3302 and will run for two weeks."
From the competing Federation and Children Of Raxxla Community Goals in November 3302.
Beacons were found in the following systems with coded messages being transmitted every hour.
These messages were brute-force decoded using the key word "EXODUS".
Beacons that link to Alpha sites broadcast on the hour. Beta sites at 15 past, Gamma sites half past, and Delta sites 45 past the hour.
The messages include a rally point for each system which is always a landable planet.
All 12 of these settlements have been found on these planets.
Hawkin's Gap:
System: PLAA AEC IZ-N C20-1
Beacon around: A
Rally Point (settlement) on: A1A
ALPHA SETTLEMENT FOUND by CMDR Raktavijan 15th Jan 3303:
25.0029, 21.5814 Logistical outpost
Message Logs:
System: PLAA AEC XZ-Z B41-0
Beacon around: A1
Rally Point (settlement) on: 2
BETA SETTLEMENT FOUND by CMDR Britain 27th Jan 3303
36.38, -12.71 Agricultural outpost
Message Logs:
System: PLAA AEC TT-B B41-3
Beacon around: B1
Rally Point (settlement) on: B2
GAMMA SETTLEMENT FOUND by CMDR Nodus Cursorius 21st Jan 3303
-9.3229, -103.8591 Agricultural outpost
Message Logs:
System: PLAA AEC RY-B B41-1
Beacon around: A
Rally Point (settlement) on: 2B
DELTA SETTLEMENT FOUND by CMDR Baton on 18th Jan 3303
50.9203, -155.0895 Research outpost
Message Logs:
Conflux:
System: PRU AESCS TY-J A64-1
Beacon around: 1
Rally Point (settlement) on: 3
ALPHA SETTLEMENT FOUND by CMDR Robbie Junior 23rd Feb 3303:
-66.47, -56.13
Message Logs:
System: PRU AESCS HW-S B31-2
Beacon around: A
Rally Point (settlement) on: CD1
BETA SETTLEMENT FOUND by CMDR TheTick 13th Jan 3303:
-7.2989, -35.9180
Message Logs:
System: PRU AESCS OI-K A64-0
Beacon around: 1
Rally Point (settlement) on: 1A
GAMMA SETTLEMENT FOUND by CMDR Sajime Chent-Shi 11th Feb 3303
64.2, 74.4
Message Logs:
System: PRU AESCS NC-M D7-192
Beacon around: A2A or A
Rally Point (settlement) on: A3A
DELTA SETTLEMENT FOUND by CMDR's Goliat and Baton 7th Feb 3303
-53.36 -48.91
Message Logs:
Formidine Rift:
System: EAFOTS EU-R C4-1
Beacon around: A
Rally Point (settlement) on: C2
ALPHA SETTLEMENT FOUND by CMDR Eadghe on 19th Jan 3303
-34.2057, -77.6673
Message Logs:
System: EAFOTS LZ-H B10-0
Beacon around: D
Rally Point (settlement) on: D1
BETA SETTLEMENT FOUND: by CMDR JesusRocks1988 13th Jan 3303
-23.0844, -174.8980
Message Logs:
System: EAFOTS RA-G B11-0
Beacon around: 3
Rally Point (settlement) on: 3
GAMMA SETTLEMENT FOUND by CMDR Sajime Chent-Shi 22nd Jan 3303
-17.8731, -76.0522
Message Logs:
System: EAFOTS GL-Y E2
Beacon around: A1
Rally Point (settlement) on: 6
DELTA SETTLEMENT FOUND: by CMDR AvvieXB1 26th Jan 3303
21.2838, 19.0682
Message Logs:
"The Federal astrocartography department has issued a public request for exploration data. Mark Devene, head of the department, elaborated on the nature of the appeal:
"We are looking for data from three specific zones in order to verify certain hypotheses. We want high-quality information on system configurations, planet types, spectral classes and compositions."
"We are looking at the following coordinates: PLAA AEC IZ-N C20-1, PRU AESCS DL-W C15-37 and EAFOTS EU-R C4-1. Explorers might be more familiar with the colloquial names for these areas – Hawkin's Gap, the Conflux and the Formidine Rift. Pilots should travel to one of these locations and investigate out to a radius of 200 light years."
The Tau Ceti Crimson Legal Solutions has volunteered to coordinate the Federal operation. Meanwhile, mysterious organisation The Children of Raxxla has issued an identical request, claiming the data will be used to prove the innocence of the group's leader, Kahina Loren.
Both campaigns begin on the 17th of November 3302 and will run for two weeks."
From the competing Federation and Children Of Raxxla Community Goals in November 3302.
Beacons were found in the following systems with coded messages being transmitted every hour.
These messages were brute-force decoded using the key word "EXODUS".
Beacons that link to Alpha sites broadcast on the hour. Beta sites at 15 past, Gamma sites half past, and Delta sites 45 past the hour.
The messages include a rally point for each system which is always a landable planet.
All 12 of these settlements have been found on these planets.
Hawkin's Gap:
System: PLAA AEC IZ-N C20-1
Beacon around: A
Rally Point (settlement) on: A1A
ALPHA SETTLEMENT FOUND by CMDR Raktavijan 15th Jan 3303:
25.0029, 21.5814 Logistical outpost
Message Logs:
Hawkins Gap Alpha Mission 1/4
Expedition Log: 21/08/3270
"Damn we've come a long way. I really should have looked at the galactic map before I signed up for this. Weeks of endless travel and hyperspace jumps just to get into the vicinity of the place, and that's before we get down to the work."
Hawkins Gap Alpha Mission 2/4
Expedition Log: 29/08/3270
"Cargo hold is rammed full of strange tech. Looks like a bunch of satellites to me, but it's all hush hush. Normal crew like me ain't allowed anywhere near them. Don't know what they're for, other than we have to drop them off in very specific locations. Weird, eh?"
Hawkins Gap Alpha Mission 3/4
Expedition Log: 15/09/3270
"Bored rigid now, can't wait to turn around and go home. I don't care how good the money is, nothing is worth this tedium. We haven't even started the return journey yet... Randomius Factoria - save me!"
Hawkins Gap Alpha Mission 4/4
Expedition Log: 13/10/3270
"Still, it could be worse! I could have pulled the Formidine Rift gig. Rumour is they're having to double up on ships for that one as the crews are going void-mad and ejecting themselves into space becuase they've seen ghosts. Word is there's something out there."
Expedition Log: 21/08/3270
"Damn we've come a long way. I really should have looked at the galactic map before I signed up for this. Weeks of endless travel and hyperspace jumps just to get into the vicinity of the place, and that's before we get down to the work."
Hawkins Gap Alpha Mission 2/4
Expedition Log: 29/08/3270
"Cargo hold is rammed full of strange tech. Looks like a bunch of satellites to me, but it's all hush hush. Normal crew like me ain't allowed anywhere near them. Don't know what they're for, other than we have to drop them off in very specific locations. Weird, eh?"
Hawkins Gap Alpha Mission 3/4
Expedition Log: 15/09/3270
"Bored rigid now, can't wait to turn around and go home. I don't care how good the money is, nothing is worth this tedium. We haven't even started the return journey yet... Randomius Factoria - save me!"
Hawkins Gap Alpha Mission 4/4
Expedition Log: 13/10/3270
"Still, it could be worse! I could have pulled the Formidine Rift gig. Rumour is they're having to double up on ships for that one as the crews are going void-mad and ejecting themselves into space becuase they've seen ghosts. Word is there's something out there."
System: PLAA AEC XZ-Z B41-0
Beacon around: A1
Rally Point (settlement) on: 2
BETA SETTLEMENT FOUND by CMDR Britain 27th Jan 3303
36.38, -12.71 Agricultural outpost
Message Logs:
Hawkin's Gap Beta Mission 1/4
Expedition Log: 30/08/3270
"Strange mission this, though the pay is good. Nobody seems to know who's footing the bill, but Sirius Corp is favourite. Whatever this trip is, it's expensive. It's also hush hush. Even the captain doesn't know what we're carrying and he's not happy about it."
Hawkin's Gap Beta Mission 2/4
Expedition Log: 12/09/3270
"Big bust up today. Apparently this ship is flying without shields and without guns! We had an escort for the first few hundred light years, but then they peeled off and we're on our own out here in the void! If we do come across anything nasty we're going to have to hope we can run..."
Hawkin's Gap Beta Mission 3/4
Expedition Log: 18/09/3270
"Not a happy ship. Crew is grumbling. Captain hasn't been seen for weeks. Cargo bay is guarded by these very unfriendly types. Don't know what they're protecting, but it's enough to get a man killed over, that's for sure."
Hawkin's Gap Beta Mission 4/4
Expedition Log: 1/10/3270
"Cargo dropped. Turned about and on our way back to civilisation. What it was, nobody knows and nobody is asking. It's a bit more relaxed now, whatever that cargo was it was something important. Can't see what use it would be this far out, but maybe someone knows something we don't..."
Expedition Log: 30/08/3270
"Strange mission this, though the pay is good. Nobody seems to know who's footing the bill, but Sirius Corp is favourite. Whatever this trip is, it's expensive. It's also hush hush. Even the captain doesn't know what we're carrying and he's not happy about it."
Hawkin's Gap Beta Mission 2/4
Expedition Log: 12/09/3270
"Big bust up today. Apparently this ship is flying without shields and without guns! We had an escort for the first few hundred light years, but then they peeled off and we're on our own out here in the void! If we do come across anything nasty we're going to have to hope we can run..."
Hawkin's Gap Beta Mission 3/4
Expedition Log: 18/09/3270
"Not a happy ship. Crew is grumbling. Captain hasn't been seen for weeks. Cargo bay is guarded by these very unfriendly types. Don't know what they're protecting, but it's enough to get a man killed over, that's for sure."
Hawkin's Gap Beta Mission 4/4
Expedition Log: 1/10/3270
"Cargo dropped. Turned about and on our way back to civilisation. What it was, nobody knows and nobody is asking. It's a bit more relaxed now, whatever that cargo was it was something important. Can't see what use it would be this far out, but maybe someone knows something we don't..."
System: PLAA AEC TT-B B41-3
Beacon around: B1
Rally Point (settlement) on: B2
GAMMA SETTLEMENT FOUND by CMDR Nodus Cursorius 21st Jan 3303
-9.3229, -103.8591 Agricultural outpost
Message Logs:
Hawkin's Gap Gamma Mission 1/4
Expedition Log: 30/08/3270
"Beautiful part ofthe galaxy this, really dense clusters of stars, pretty much halfway to the core. Been one long trip though. We're out here dropping off a series of beacons. Randomius knows what for, but they're paying, so no questions asked!"
Hawkin's Gap Gamma Mission 2/4
Expedition Log: 12/09/3270
"Funny Thing is, I've asked a few of the other hands about this mission and no one seems to know who's behind it. We all picked up bulletin board adverts promising big credits for a long haul and kind of just ended up on board. Not sure it it's the Feds, the Imps or the Alliance. Still, credits are credits!"
Hawkin's Gap Gamma Mission 3/4
Expedition Log: 18/09/3270
"Arrived on site today. Bunch of guys had to go EVA to drop off the beacons. We're jumping around a bunch of systems here in the gap. One of the Beacons activated all on its own, started squawking some weird code before it got switched off. We were told we hadn't heard anything."
Hawkin's Gap Gamma Mission 4/4
Expedition Log: 01/10/3270
"I'm logging this, but I shouldn't be. Bunch of guys were talking about the beacons yesterday and then there was a mysterious accident in the airlock - they're all dead! Feeling aboard is mutinous. Just want to get back home. I ain't doing no top secret missions again, that's for sure."
Expedition Log: 30/08/3270
"Beautiful part ofthe galaxy this, really dense clusters of stars, pretty much halfway to the core. Been one long trip though. We're out here dropping off a series of beacons. Randomius knows what for, but they're paying, so no questions asked!"
Hawkin's Gap Gamma Mission 2/4
Expedition Log: 12/09/3270
"Funny Thing is, I've asked a few of the other hands about this mission and no one seems to know who's behind it. We all picked up bulletin board adverts promising big credits for a long haul and kind of just ended up on board. Not sure it it's the Feds, the Imps or the Alliance. Still, credits are credits!"
Hawkin's Gap Gamma Mission 3/4
Expedition Log: 18/09/3270
"Arrived on site today. Bunch of guys had to go EVA to drop off the beacons. We're jumping around a bunch of systems here in the gap. One of the Beacons activated all on its own, started squawking some weird code before it got switched off. We were told we hadn't heard anything."
Hawkin's Gap Gamma Mission 4/4
Expedition Log: 01/10/3270
"I'm logging this, but I shouldn't be. Bunch of guys were talking about the beacons yesterday and then there was a mysterious accident in the airlock - they're all dead! Feeling aboard is mutinous. Just want to get back home. I ain't doing no top secret missions again, that's for sure."
System: PLAA AEC RY-B B41-1
Beacon around: A
Rally Point (settlement) on: 2B
DELTA SETTLEMENT FOUND by CMDR Baton on 18th Jan 3303
50.9203, -155.0895 Research outpost
Message Logs:
HAWKIN'S GAP DELTA MISSION 1/4
Expedition Log: 30/08/3270
"This is a bigger operation than I thought it was. A massive fleet of Anacondas all prepped for long endurance travel out to the edge of beyond. No ships have markings, no emblems, no political affiliation. Somebody with deep pockets must be paying for this, but who ?"
HAWKIN'S GAP DELTA MISSION 2/4
Expedition Log: 12/09/3270
"Judging by the way the fleet deployed I would say there were three main destinations, all a long way outside of the core worlds. We got our orders today, we're making for a zone called "Hawkin's Gap". It's a seriously long way, not even the explorers have been out this way before. Strange mission."
HAWKIN'S GAP DELTA MISSION 3/4
Expedition Log: 18/09/3270
"Our little armada split up today, so we're on our own now. Just us and the void. Still a lot of speculations as to what we're doing. Cargo hold is full, that I don't know. My guess is some kind of deep space survey, but I can't figure out why we'd need to be so far out ..."
HAWKIN'S GAP DELTA MISSION 4/4
Expedition Log: 01/10/3270
"Cargo is being deployed. A series of artefacts of some kind. The handling bods aren't part of the ship's crew, so we don't know what they're doing. Captain has told us to turn a blind eye and wait for them to be done."
Expedition Log: 30/08/3270
"This is a bigger operation than I thought it was. A massive fleet of Anacondas all prepped for long endurance travel out to the edge of beyond. No ships have markings, no emblems, no political affiliation. Somebody with deep pockets must be paying for this, but who ?"
HAWKIN'S GAP DELTA MISSION 2/4
Expedition Log: 12/09/3270
"Judging by the way the fleet deployed I would say there were three main destinations, all a long way outside of the core worlds. We got our orders today, we're making for a zone called "Hawkin's Gap". It's a seriously long way, not even the explorers have been out this way before. Strange mission."
HAWKIN'S GAP DELTA MISSION 3/4
Expedition Log: 18/09/3270
"Our little armada split up today, so we're on our own now. Just us and the void. Still a lot of speculations as to what we're doing. Cargo hold is full, that I don't know. My guess is some kind of deep space survey, but I can't figure out why we'd need to be so far out ..."
HAWKIN'S GAP DELTA MISSION 4/4
Expedition Log: 01/10/3270
"Cargo is being deployed. A series of artefacts of some kind. The handling bods aren't part of the ship's crew, so we don't know what they're doing. Captain has told us to turn a blind eye and wait for them to be done."
Conflux:
System: PRU AESCS TY-J A64-1
Beacon around: 1
Rally Point (settlement) on: 3
ALPHA SETTLEMENT FOUND by CMDR Robbie Junior 23rd Feb 3303:
-66.47, -56.13
Message Logs:
Conflux Alpha Mission 1/4
Expedition Log: 21/08/3270
"So we've hauled right out into unexplored territory. Heading corewards, doubt anyone has been this far before. Star density is rising fast, the galaxy looks pretty amazing from this vantage point".
Conflux Alpha Mission 2/4
Expedition Log: 30/08/3270
"We've been tasked with dropping off these beacons. New tech it would seem. Looks like long range comms stuff to me, but I'm no expert. Can't see why anyone would want a beacon this far out."
Conflux Alpha Mission 3/4
Expedition Log: 17/09/3270
"Reckon I have it figured. We're dropping these beacons around Earth-like worlds. Can't be a coincidence. I guess it's some kind of long term planning by someone. Not sure who's paying for this gig. Best not to ask too many questions. They're paying a proper wedge."
Conflux Alpha Mission 4/4
Expedition Log: 14/10/3270
"Well, we're done. Dropped off the last beacon today. It's going to be a long old trip back to the core worlds. We're thousands of light years out. Kind of wish we could keep going all the way to the core. Guess someone else will have that little bit of glory."
Expedition Log: 21/08/3270
"So we've hauled right out into unexplored territory. Heading corewards, doubt anyone has been this far before. Star density is rising fast, the galaxy looks pretty amazing from this vantage point".
Conflux Alpha Mission 2/4
Expedition Log: 30/08/3270
"We've been tasked with dropping off these beacons. New tech it would seem. Looks like long range comms stuff to me, but I'm no expert. Can't see why anyone would want a beacon this far out."
Conflux Alpha Mission 3/4
Expedition Log: 17/09/3270
"Reckon I have it figured. We're dropping these beacons around Earth-like worlds. Can't be a coincidence. I guess it's some kind of long term planning by someone. Not sure who's paying for this gig. Best not to ask too many questions. They're paying a proper wedge."
Conflux Alpha Mission 4/4
Expedition Log: 14/10/3270
"Well, we're done. Dropped off the last beacon today. It's going to be a long old trip back to the core worlds. We're thousands of light years out. Kind of wish we could keep going all the way to the core. Guess someone else will have that little bit of glory."
System: PRU AESCS HW-S B31-2
Beacon around: A
Rally Point (settlement) on: CD1
BETA SETTLEMENT FOUND by CMDR TheTick 13th Jan 3303:
-7.2989, -35.9180
Message Logs:
Conflux Beta Mission 1/4
Expedition Log: 01/10/3270
"Witch-space once again. We're almost to our destination in the Conflux area now. That's odd... looks like... can't be!
You can't be interdicted in witch-space... that's impossible! We're back in normal space. Systems off-line, no power, what in Randomius is that..."
Conflux Beta Mission 2/4
Expedition Log: 30/08/3270
"Signed on for this one as I had the exploration bug, but we're just jumping and jumping. We're not staying in systems to survey, just refuelling as fast as we can and then it's back into witch-space. We're spending more time there than in real space. Someone is in a hurry."
Conflux Beta Mission 3/4
Expedition Log: 12/09/3270
"Reminds me of what my father told me about witch-space. it's haunted. There's weird lights, shifting clouds, who knows what they are. Makes you wonder whether we should be out here at all. So much stuff we just don't understand."
Conflux Beta Mission 4/4
Expedition Log: 18/09/3270
"Witch-space is different out here, there's something odd, those lights we were seeing are less frequent now, but they seem to be hanging around, almost as if they're following us. Maybe I'm going nuts."
Expedition Log: 01/10/3270
"Witch-space once again. We're almost to our destination in the Conflux area now. That's odd... looks like... can't be!
You can't be interdicted in witch-space... that's impossible! We're back in normal space. Systems off-line, no power, what in Randomius is that..."
Conflux Beta Mission 2/4
Expedition Log: 30/08/3270
"Signed on for this one as I had the exploration bug, but we're just jumping and jumping. We're not staying in systems to survey, just refuelling as fast as we can and then it's back into witch-space. We're spending more time there than in real space. Someone is in a hurry."
Conflux Beta Mission 3/4
Expedition Log: 12/09/3270
"Reminds me of what my father told me about witch-space. it's haunted. There's weird lights, shifting clouds, who knows what they are. Makes you wonder whether we should be out here at all. So much stuff we just don't understand."
Conflux Beta Mission 4/4
Expedition Log: 18/09/3270
"Witch-space is different out here, there's something odd, those lights we were seeing are less frequent now, but they seem to be hanging around, almost as if they're following us. Maybe I'm going nuts."
System: PRU AESCS OI-K A64-0
Beacon around: 1
Rally Point (settlement) on: 1A
GAMMA SETTLEMENT FOUND by CMDR Sajime Chent-Shi 11th Feb 3303
64.2, 74.4
Message Logs:
Conflux Gamma Mission 1/4
Expedition Log: 30/08/3270
"I'm just the navigator ouboard this ship. Never flown an Anaconda before, but it's quite a beast. This one is stripped right down, just cargo space and jump capability. Nothing else. We had an escort to the edge of inhabited space, but our destination is right out there..."
Conflux Gamma Mission 2/4
Expedition Log: 12/09/3270
"Thousands of light years! Fortunately the ship has behaved itself. We've passed countless systems, but we're not stopping to survey anything. I've just been asked to plot on as fast as we can go. We're aiming for a zone known as the Conflux. It's sure a long way out. Can't help wondering why we're doing this."
Conflux Gamma Mission 3/4
Expedition Log: 18/09/3270
"So, we're here now. Took as five months to reach this part of the galaxy. A team of hired spacers are out there now, dropping off some kind of cargo. Looks like beacons from what I can see, but some guy in uniform came and switched off the scanner. Best not ask too many questions. Might not be wise to be logging this to be honest..."
Conflux Gamma Mission 4/4
Expedition Log: 10/10/3270
"On our way back home again. Just dropped off whatever it was, turned about and started back. Five months out... probably five months back again. Managed a quick scan of the site when no one was looking. Definitely beacons. Why would anyone want a beacon right out here in the void is beyond me. Not my problem though!"
Expedition Log: 30/08/3270
"I'm just the navigator ouboard this ship. Never flown an Anaconda before, but it's quite a beast. This one is stripped right down, just cargo space and jump capability. Nothing else. We had an escort to the edge of inhabited space, but our destination is right out there..."
Conflux Gamma Mission 2/4
Expedition Log: 12/09/3270
"Thousands of light years! Fortunately the ship has behaved itself. We've passed countless systems, but we're not stopping to survey anything. I've just been asked to plot on as fast as we can go. We're aiming for a zone known as the Conflux. It's sure a long way out. Can't help wondering why we're doing this."
Conflux Gamma Mission 3/4
Expedition Log: 18/09/3270
"So, we're here now. Took as five months to reach this part of the galaxy. A team of hired spacers are out there now, dropping off some kind of cargo. Looks like beacons from what I can see, but some guy in uniform came and switched off the scanner. Best not ask too many questions. Might not be wise to be logging this to be honest..."
Conflux Gamma Mission 4/4
Expedition Log: 10/10/3270
"On our way back home again. Just dropped off whatever it was, turned about and started back. Five months out... probably five months back again. Managed a quick scan of the site when no one was looking. Definitely beacons. Why would anyone want a beacon right out here in the void is beyond me. Not my problem though!"
System: PRU AESCS NC-M D7-192
Beacon around: A2A or A
Rally Point (settlement) on: A3A
DELTA SETTLEMENT FOUND by CMDR's Goliat and Baton 7th Feb 3303
-53.36 -48.91
Message Logs:
Conflux Delta Mission 1/4
Expedition Log: 30/08/3270
"I'm just the engineer on this particular jaunt. I was advised to prep the ship for a seriously long haul into the void, so I'm loaded up with as many hyperdrive spares as I can cram in. When I asked why, the captain just responded with 'Don't ask'."
Conflux Delta Mission 2/4
Expedition Log: 12/09/3270
"It's putting a strain on the ship, that I can tell you. I've asked for some downtime so I can run some maintenance, but the captain says we have to hit a schedule. What can be quite so important a thousand light years from the nearest inhabited planet I can't say, but we're in a mighty rush."
Conflux Delta Mission 3/4
Expedition Log: 18/09/3270
"I warned 'em. We blew the hyperdrive initiator coil jumping in today. Caused a right mess down here. Lots of collateral damage. Scanners are offline and the main generator is running hot. Can't figure out why, looks like we're in empty space, but the heat is fierce!"
Conflux Delta Mission 4/4
Expedition Log: 01/10/3270
"We figured it out. Gravity. We've dropped out near a neutron star. Can't see it, but we can feel it. The ship is cooking around us. No way we can jump out before it gets us. We're being pulled in. Odds are even as to whether the heat, gravity or magnetism kills us first. We're jettisoning the logs, if anyone ever finds this... save yourselves! Beware the neutron star."
Expedition Log: 30/08/3270
"I'm just the engineer on this particular jaunt. I was advised to prep the ship for a seriously long haul into the void, so I'm loaded up with as many hyperdrive spares as I can cram in. When I asked why, the captain just responded with 'Don't ask'."
Conflux Delta Mission 2/4
Expedition Log: 12/09/3270
"It's putting a strain on the ship, that I can tell you. I've asked for some downtime so I can run some maintenance, but the captain says we have to hit a schedule. What can be quite so important a thousand light years from the nearest inhabited planet I can't say, but we're in a mighty rush."
Conflux Delta Mission 3/4
Expedition Log: 18/09/3270
"I warned 'em. We blew the hyperdrive initiator coil jumping in today. Caused a right mess down here. Lots of collateral damage. Scanners are offline and the main generator is running hot. Can't figure out why, looks like we're in empty space, but the heat is fierce!"
Conflux Delta Mission 4/4
Expedition Log: 01/10/3270
"We figured it out. Gravity. We've dropped out near a neutron star. Can't see it, but we can feel it. The ship is cooking around us. No way we can jump out before it gets us. We're being pulled in. Odds are even as to whether the heat, gravity or magnetism kills us first. We're jettisoning the logs, if anyone ever finds this... save yourselves! Beware the neutron star."
Formidine Rift:
System: EAFOTS EU-R C4-1
Beacon around: A
Rally Point (settlement) on: C2
ALPHA SETTLEMENT FOUND by CMDR Eadghe on 19th Jan 3303
-34.2057, -77.6673
Message Logs:
Expedition Log: 21/08/3270
"Why the hell are we out here? No one seems to know. It's taken months and still we're not there. Wherever 'there' is. We're dropping these beacons. Supposedly nobody knows what they're for. If they do they ain't telling. Makes no sense, there's nothing out there... and who would come all this way anyway?"
Expedition Log: 28/08/3270
"We're still travelling. Jump drive malfunctioned today, that made an interesting diversion. It's going to take a while to fix. This area of space is g me out. Could have I heard some weird voices in the last jump. We are a long way from home. We're struggling to plot a course now, we're leaving the galactic arm and the jumps are getting longer."
Expedition Log 07/09/3270
"Finally fixed the drive, more monotony. Can't believe it's nearly six months sice we set out from Riedquat. Did I say Riedquat? I meant Reorte. It's getting to me, this endless emptiness. The guys are showing the strain. Three more months before we can turn and head back. The stars are thinning out, you can the whole galaxy just hanging there..."
Expedition Log 22/09/3270
"The darkness grows. The galaxy is faint and dim behind us. I'm told this place has been nicknamed the Formidine Rift. Apparently that means fear in some old Earth language. It's an apt name, some of the guys are going space crazy out here in the void. We had to sedate one guy, he went completely doolally. We've not seen another soul for weeks. Just us and this ship... alone... in the darkness..."
Expedition Log 07/10/3270
"I'm scared... help me someone... I can't bear another jump. The lights in witch-space are coming for me. The lights... always the lights... they're calling to me... a siren song... I must join them..."
Expedition Log 08/10/3270
AUTOMATED TELEMETRY REPORT: CANOPY BLAST BOLTS ACTIVATED. LIFE SUPPORT MALFUNCTION. CREW VITAL SIGNS TERMINATED. SHIP SYSTEMS ENGAGING STANDBY MODE. DISTRESS BEACON ACTIVATED.
"Why the hell are we out here? No one seems to know. It's taken months and still we're not there. Wherever 'there' is. We're dropping these beacons. Supposedly nobody knows what they're for. If they do they ain't telling. Makes no sense, there's nothing out there... and who would come all this way anyway?"
Expedition Log: 28/08/3270
"We're still travelling. Jump drive malfunctioned today, that made an interesting diversion. It's going to take a while to fix. This area of space is g me out. Could have I heard some weird voices in the last jump. We are a long way from home. We're struggling to plot a course now, we're leaving the galactic arm and the jumps are getting longer."
Expedition Log 07/09/3270
"Finally fixed the drive, more monotony. Can't believe it's nearly six months sice we set out from Riedquat. Did I say Riedquat? I meant Reorte. It's getting to me, this endless emptiness. The guys are showing the strain. Three more months before we can turn and head back. The stars are thinning out, you can the whole galaxy just hanging there..."
Expedition Log 22/09/3270
"The darkness grows. The galaxy is faint and dim behind us. I'm told this place has been nicknamed the Formidine Rift. Apparently that means fear in some old Earth language. It's an apt name, some of the guys are going space crazy out here in the void. We had to sedate one guy, he went completely doolally. We've not seen another soul for weeks. Just us and this ship... alone... in the darkness..."
Expedition Log 07/10/3270
"I'm scared... help me someone... I can't bear another jump. The lights in witch-space are coming for me. The lights... always the lights... they're calling to me... a siren song... I must join them..."
Expedition Log 08/10/3270
AUTOMATED TELEMETRY REPORT: CANOPY BLAST BOLTS ACTIVATED. LIFE SUPPORT MALFUNCTION. CREW VITAL SIGNS TERMINATED. SHIP SYSTEMS ENGAGING STANDBY MODE. DISTRESS BEACON ACTIVATED.
System: EAFOTS LZ-H B10-0
Beacon around: D
Rally Point (settlement) on: D1
BETA SETTLEMENT FOUND: by CMDR JesusRocks1988 13th Jan 3303
-23.0844, -174.8980
Message Logs:
Formidine Rift Beta Mission 1/6
Expedition Log: 30/08/3270
"Been travelling for weeks. Passed this amazing twin nebula just recently, about the only interesting sight on this whole trip. We are a long way out now. I don't think anyone else has been this far. Still, pay is good!"
Formidine Rift Beta Mission 2/6
Expedition Log: 12/09/3270
"Stars have thinned out and we've started dropping our cargo. Looks like some kind of long-range beacon to me. It's all hush-hush, no questions asked stuff. Heard some of the senior bods talking about a Dynasty project. Careless talk and all that..."
Formidine Rift Beta Mission 3/6
Expedition Log: 18/09/3270
"Nothing prepared me for the boredom. It's very dark out here. Really dark... darker than normal space. There's hardly any stars ahead of us, it's just blackness... the void."
Formidine Rift Beta Mission 4/6
Expedition Log: 01/10/3270
"Picked up some kind of signal yesterday and it looks like the crew weren't expecting it. Got them proper rattled. There's definitely something very strange about this area of space. Won't be sad to turn around and head home.
Formidine Rift Beta Mission 5/6
Expedition Log: 11/11/3270
"Last batch of cargo due today, but the hyperdrive has malfunctioned. We tried jumping and got yanked straight back out. So we're stuck here, Randomius know where..."
Formidine Rift Beta Mission 6/6
Expedition Log: 29/11/3270
"We can't fix it. Hyperdrive is dead. Lucky we're in a system with a habitable world. We've sent a distress call but who knows if anyone will here it. We're going to abandon ship. If anyone finds this, we're in..." AUTOMATED TELEMETRY REPORT: POWER FAILURE.
Expedition Log: 30/08/3270
"Been travelling for weeks. Passed this amazing twin nebula just recently, about the only interesting sight on this whole trip. We are a long way out now. I don't think anyone else has been this far. Still, pay is good!"
Formidine Rift Beta Mission 2/6
Expedition Log: 12/09/3270
"Stars have thinned out and we've started dropping our cargo. Looks like some kind of long-range beacon to me. It's all hush-hush, no questions asked stuff. Heard some of the senior bods talking about a Dynasty project. Careless talk and all that..."
Formidine Rift Beta Mission 3/6
Expedition Log: 18/09/3270
"Nothing prepared me for the boredom. It's very dark out here. Really dark... darker than normal space. There's hardly any stars ahead of us, it's just blackness... the void."
Formidine Rift Beta Mission 4/6
Expedition Log: 01/10/3270
"Picked up some kind of signal yesterday and it looks like the crew weren't expecting it. Got them proper rattled. There's definitely something very strange about this area of space. Won't be sad to turn around and head home.
Formidine Rift Beta Mission 5/6
Expedition Log: 11/11/3270
"Last batch of cargo due today, but the hyperdrive has malfunctioned. We tried jumping and got yanked straight back out. So we're stuck here, Randomius know where..."
Formidine Rift Beta Mission 6/6
Expedition Log: 29/11/3270
"We can't fix it. Hyperdrive is dead. Lucky we're in a system with a habitable world. We've sent a distress call but who knows if anyone will here it. We're going to abandon ship. If anyone finds this, we're in..." AUTOMATED TELEMETRY REPORT: POWER FAILURE.
System: EAFOTS RA-G B11-0
Beacon around: 3
Rally Point (settlement) on: 3
GAMMA SETTLEMENT FOUND by CMDR Sajime Chent-Shi 22nd Jan 3303
-17.8731, -76.0522
Message Logs:
FORMIDINE RIFT GAMMA MISSION 1/6
Expedition Log: 30/80/3270
Looks like I drew a short straw somewhere along the line. These long range missions pay well, but it's a year out in the void. A year ! We're out far beyond the frontier. The boys call this place the "Formidine Rift". Apparently that means "terror" in some old earth language. Nice. Just looks like more space to me.
FORMIDINE RIFT GAMMA MISSION 2/6
Expedition Log: 12/09/3270
Finally arrived in place after five months of hyperspace travel. Now we have two months of laying a bunch of beacons before another five months travel back home. At least I'll have enough credits to retire by then.
FORMIDINE RIFT GAMMA MISSION 3/6
Expedition Log: 18/09/3270
Supposedly there are a bunch of other ships out here doing the same job as us, but no comms allowed. All a bit strange. it's vast and lonely out here, pretty much the whole galaxy is behind us. It's getting to some of the crew.
FORMIDINE RIFT GAMMA MISSION 4/6
Expedition Log: 01/10/3270
We picked up some kind of bizarre signal yesterday. Whatever it was wasn't human. At least, that's the scuttlebutt going around the decks. Everyone is looking out of the canopies now. We're seeing some strange lights during hyperspace transits. Terror ? Yeah, we got some of that ...
FORMIDINE RIFT GAMMA MISSION 5/6
Expedition Log: 11/11/3270
More strange lights. We've got equipment malfunctions, scanners dropping in and out, systems restarting. Ship is limping on. Everyone wants to turn about, but if we don't complete the mission we don't get paid. No one wants to give up those credits either. You expect to turn around and see ...
FORMIDINE RIFT GAMMA MISSION 6/6
Expedition Log: 29/11/3270
We're done and we're heading home. We picked up some heat signature in the last system. Definitely something there and it wasn't any profile I had seen before. Something was watching us. There's something evil out here, and it doesn't like company !
Expedition Log: 30/80/3270
Looks like I drew a short straw somewhere along the line. These long range missions pay well, but it's a year out in the void. A year ! We're out far beyond the frontier. The boys call this place the "Formidine Rift". Apparently that means "terror" in some old earth language. Nice. Just looks like more space to me.
FORMIDINE RIFT GAMMA MISSION 2/6
Expedition Log: 12/09/3270
Finally arrived in place after five months of hyperspace travel. Now we have two months of laying a bunch of beacons before another five months travel back home. At least I'll have enough credits to retire by then.
FORMIDINE RIFT GAMMA MISSION 3/6
Expedition Log: 18/09/3270
Supposedly there are a bunch of other ships out here doing the same job as us, but no comms allowed. All a bit strange. it's vast and lonely out here, pretty much the whole galaxy is behind us. It's getting to some of the crew.
FORMIDINE RIFT GAMMA MISSION 4/6
Expedition Log: 01/10/3270
We picked up some kind of bizarre signal yesterday. Whatever it was wasn't human. At least, that's the scuttlebutt going around the decks. Everyone is looking out of the canopies now. We're seeing some strange lights during hyperspace transits. Terror ? Yeah, we got some of that ...
FORMIDINE RIFT GAMMA MISSION 5/6
Expedition Log: 11/11/3270
More strange lights. We've got equipment malfunctions, scanners dropping in and out, systems restarting. Ship is limping on. Everyone wants to turn about, but if we don't complete the mission we don't get paid. No one wants to give up those credits either. You expect to turn around and see ...
FORMIDINE RIFT GAMMA MISSION 6/6
Expedition Log: 29/11/3270
We're done and we're heading home. We picked up some heat signature in the last system. Definitely something there and it wasn't any profile I had seen before. Something was watching us. There's something evil out here, and it doesn't like company !
System: EAFOTS GL-Y E2
Beacon around: A1
Rally Point (settlement) on: 6
DELTA SETTLEMENT FOUND: by CMDR AvvieXB1 26th Jan 3303
21.2838, 19.0682
Message Logs:
Formidine Rift Delta Mission 1/6
Expedition Log: 30/08/3270
"I should have paid a bit more attention to the mission description. I just saw the credit count and signed up there and then. More money than I've ever earned and all in one go, just for taking a year out. What's a poor girl got to do? A bit of jaunt into the void, how bad could it be? Didn't read the bit about several thousand light years. I've been past Leesti before! Get rich scheme - let's go!
Formidine Rift Delta Mission 2/6
Expedition Log: 12/09/3270
"It's pretty out there, we've seen a gorgeous double nebula called Heart and Soul. You should see it, lots of bright blue stars nearby, wish we could divert to have a closer look, but our mission is beyond apparently. Really brings back how big the galaxy is. Make you feel real small and insignificant.
Formidine Rift Delta Mission 3/6
Expedition Log: 18/09/3270
"My job is the EVA. Taking out one of out two Sidewinders and dropping beacons out in the void and then making sure they are activated. Not sure what these things are for. Who needs a beacon this far out anyway? Weird, they all have this code in their BIOS - 'Exodus'. Still, at least I now have something to do. The journey was so dull! Months of travel to get here.
Formidine Rift Delta Mission 4/6
Expedition Log: 01/10/3270
"Something weird happened today. Unloaded another beacon and set it up, then everything went offline - and I mean everything! Life support too! No comms, nothing. Stayed that way for about two minutes. Then everything was back to normal. Affected our support ship too. No idea what caused it. Going to need new underwear when I get back. Rumours are there is something odd about this area of space.
Formidine Rift Delta Mission 5/6
Expedition Log: 11/11/3270
"Oh my God ... someone help me. Where are they ... please ... this can't be happening.
Formidine Rift Delta Mission 6/6
Expedition Log: 29/11/3270
"I've had time to accept it now. I went out as normal with one of the beacons, set it up. Had that weird power loss again. I waited and it all came back online like before. Signalled my support ship - no response. Flew back and it was gone, just debris. No survivors. Don't know what happened. It's just me and this crappy Sidewinder a zillion miles from home. Should have known it wasn't going to work out. If it's too good to be true.... There's an Earth-like world here, going to try and reach it ... you never know.
Expedition Log: 30/08/3270
"I should have paid a bit more attention to the mission description. I just saw the credit count and signed up there and then. More money than I've ever earned and all in one go, just for taking a year out. What's a poor girl got to do? A bit of jaunt into the void, how bad could it be? Didn't read the bit about several thousand light years. I've been past Leesti before! Get rich scheme - let's go!
Formidine Rift Delta Mission 2/6
Expedition Log: 12/09/3270
"It's pretty out there, we've seen a gorgeous double nebula called Heart and Soul. You should see it, lots of bright blue stars nearby, wish we could divert to have a closer look, but our mission is beyond apparently. Really brings back how big the galaxy is. Make you feel real small and insignificant.
Formidine Rift Delta Mission 3/6
Expedition Log: 18/09/3270
"My job is the EVA. Taking out one of out two Sidewinders and dropping beacons out in the void and then making sure they are activated. Not sure what these things are for. Who needs a beacon this far out anyway? Weird, they all have this code in their BIOS - 'Exodus'. Still, at least I now have something to do. The journey was so dull! Months of travel to get here.
Formidine Rift Delta Mission 4/6
Expedition Log: 01/10/3270
"Something weird happened today. Unloaded another beacon and set it up, then everything went offline - and I mean everything! Life support too! No comms, nothing. Stayed that way for about two minutes. Then everything was back to normal. Affected our support ship too. No idea what caused it. Going to need new underwear when I get back. Rumours are there is something odd about this area of space.
Formidine Rift Delta Mission 5/6
Expedition Log: 11/11/3270
"Oh my God ... someone help me. Where are they ... please ... this can't be happening.
Formidine Rift Delta Mission 6/6
Expedition Log: 29/11/3270
"I've had time to accept it now. I went out as normal with one of the beacons, set it up. Had that weird power loss again. I waited and it all came back online like before. Signalled my support ship - no response. Flew back and it was gone, just debris. No survivors. Don't know what happened. It's just me and this crappy Sidewinder a zillion miles from home. Should have known it wasn't going to work out. If it's too good to be true.... There's an Earth-like world here, going to try and reach it ... you never know.
Drew Wagar - Clues
Cast
CMDR Salomé
CMDR Drew Wagar
CMDR Erimus Kamzel
CMDR Acaelus Thorn
CMDR Jaiotu
CMDR Zach
CMDR Jackie Silver
CMDR Raktavijan
CMDR Britain
CMDR Nodus Cursorius
CMDR Baton
CMDR Robbie Junior
CMDR TheTick
CMDR Sajime Chent-Shi
CMDR Goliat
CMDR Eadghe
CMDR JesusRocks1988
CMDR AvvieXB1
CMDR Stonn Mrogg
CMDR Drew Wagar
CMDR Erimus Kamzel
CMDR Acaelus Thorn
CMDR Jaiotu
CMDR Zach
CMDR Jackie Silver
CMDR Raktavijan
CMDR Britain
CMDR Nodus Cursorius
CMDR Baton
CMDR Robbie Junior
CMDR TheTick
CMDR Sajime Chent-Shi
CMDR Goliat
CMDR Eadghe
CMDR JesusRocks1988
CMDR AvvieXB1
CMDR Stonn Mrogg
Useful links
The Formidine Rift Expedition 3302
Drew Wagar Youtube
Galnet Collection Formidine Rift
Formidine Rift Canonn Research Codex
Salomé and the Children of Raxxla
The Zurara
Decryption tools
Keyed Caesar Cipher
ROT13 Dicryption
Details of the old branch can be found here:
The Formidine Rift - Part 2
So you want to know about the Formidine Rift? (Part 3)
THE FORMIDINE RIFT MYSTERY (Part 4)
Hawkin’s Gap, the Conflux and the Formidine Rift unregistered probe info post
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