The Formidine Rift - Part 2

[Dommarraa]

It took long days to go through this forum, 1st comment so please be gentle.

This keeps me bugging:


Two questions:
1. Are the issues with the navigation computer (route planning within the Rift) a bug or is it intentional? Have someone experienced similar issues with it somewhere else in the galaxy?
2. If these worlds has been erased from the humanity's maps (incl. the map we have in our ships?) how could we found it?

1. I have been to the Rift near Beagle Point, and it seems pretty much the same, just a little thinner, so nothing unusual.
2. Our maps dont have any worlds on them, we have to scan them. If you take the statement at face value, some people had a map of inhabited worlds, and the worlds are no longer inhabited, or do not exist at all (Deathstar). Sounds like hyperbolae to me, just not true.

 

[Baron von Schnellenstein]

Hello all,

I'm a very recent follower of this Formidine Rift mystery, having been "put on the scent" as it were, by a fellow member of the group I'm in.

What has intrigued me the most is Drew's comment regarding analysis of Salome's travels as told via Galnet: "we know the _what_, but not the _why_"

Why all the fuss in that visit to Sol?
1. Got our attention, certainly
2. Audience with government officials? Maybe
3. Meeting up with "secret allies"/contacts? Maybe

Mars, Earth and Titan were visited.
Was Titan a red herring, or <extreme tinfoil> did Salome plant a clue/message on one or both of the Voyager probes? (yes, I realise these probes are now probably very hard to find) </extreme tinfoil>

Then, tonight a message from CMDR Salome:

Originally Posted by CMDR BeanSeller
[snip]

- "dark forces" are at play (in line with recent arcanon galnets)
- A great threat is on it's way, we must build up our ranks (in line with Children of Raxxla PDF)
- More information will follow "in the days to come".

I wonder if FD are tying some storylines together. This from another thread regarding Antares/SS1, UA's and INRA: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=177389&p=3630906&viewfull=1#post3630906
- Upshot of Antares/SS1: Feds built/building a new Farragut battlecruiser
- Days before another Salome Galnet article was supposed to be released: Admiral Patreus suddenly bobs up and asks us (Imperials) to help build an Interdictor. Hmmm.

So now I'm wondering:
(a) Is the threat out there beyond the rift and humanity led by the likes of INRA is to fight it off? (The _why_ of Salome's time in Achenar and Sol is to warn the great powers of humanity)
or
(b) Is the actual threat other humans in human space and the solution is out there beyond the rift? (The _why_ of Salome's time in Achenar and Sol is to identify the "dark forces")

My gut feel is (a), but I guess we need that promised Galnet article to potentially see where the threat lies

 

[Bungalo]

Apart from Rho cass, close by, and in the rift is HR 237 a K-type supergiant. Tried but couldn't reach it with a 36ly Asp. No Fsd boost on board.

a) Has anyone been to HR 237?

b)Has anyone found a third not random system nearby?

I have questions for your questions. How far was the jump (precisely if possible) as my asp is 37ly and i have boosts. When i head back toward the bubble I'll cross or attempt to cross near HR 237 and check it out...

Whats special about it minus the star type?


*Edit* Thanks for the response Baron, I decided I'd thank you here so I wouldn't spam another post. I must have missed it earlier in the thread or I've been exploring so long my memory is going a bit.

 

[Baron von Schnellenstein]

[snip]
Whats special about it minus the star type?

HR237 and Rho Cass' are non-procedurally-generated names, which is quite rare that far out - suggests those systems are deliberately put there, might have something 'special' in them
- I'm pretty sure this was covered/answered earlier in this thread - sorry for repeating

 

[Bungalo]

It took long days to go through this forum, 1st comment so please be gentle.

This keeps me bugging:


Two questions:
1. Are the issues with the navigation computer (route planning within the Rift) a bug or is it intentional? Have someone experienced similar issues with it somewhere else in the galaxy?
2. If these worlds has been erased from the humanity's maps (incl. the map we have in our ships?) how could we found it?

The quote you are pulling that from is a bit misleading as the only part referring to the rift was the initial part of the quote. The rest of it is the character speaking of "other" things he has seen. I beleive we have confirmation the entire quote is not about the rift... The jump plotting is borked in the rift thanks to the distances in some parts...

The Nav computer isn't very bright, I tried to get him to enroll in Nav computer masters course but he wouldnt do it...

Also, welcome to the madness of the rift thread

 

[James Helios]

How far was the jump (precisely if possible) as my asp is 37ly and i have boosts. When i head back toward the bubble I'll cross or attempt to cross near HR 237 and check it out...

Whats special about it minus the star type?.

IIRC the closest i got was 40-45 ly away, approaching from above it. As for what's special about it, Baron was spot on.

 

[Bungalo]

How close was Salome/Kahina to Polaris, anyone happen to check on that front? Just thinking what would compel a VIP to travel from the bubble toward the direction of the rift...

 

[lorrad]

Erimus tells stories. This is fiction. That UA was not found there.

I've re-imagined him with an eye-patch and a parrot, telling tales to tourists in spacer bars that last exactly as long as it take to drink a pint and order the next round. The pint is the primary measure of English literature at a rate of 20 mins/pint or 40 mins/pint so Shakespeare wrote 6 pint plays. It's always about getting the punters to pay for next round; "So the priest says to the barman, 'buy my dead donkey a beer',,," The punchline is gonna cost you a pint, the origin of the cliffhanger.

--------

Looking at Luckyluke's most excellent timeline sheet I note an avenue that may have been missed in the efforts getting coordinates from Good Luck and Right on Commander. ie 44,3352,10. In all the different results people said they're all too small, but what if they arn't coordinates but a vector?

The vector is the difference between two 3D points ie the R-R line (x2-x1,y2-y1,z2-z1) -6.90645,0,-5.40625 which also is the line as if the origin was 0,0,0 Sol. If you look at that as coordinates they look useless but as a vector all you have to do is multiply by any number say 1000, -6906.45,0,-5406.25, and add that one of your known points to get a point on the extended line.

Sure we don't get the distance on the line or sign out of GLAROC that way but we already know we're in the minus,minus,minus quadrant.

I'm sure other numbers than 44,3352,10 have been extracted from GLAROC I just don't recall seeing them being used as vectors?

 

[Kleitias]

Have just spoken with Salome. She has given me permission to share what she said..

http://imgur.com/k2Qt5UJ

Enjoy!

Thanks for sharing that!

 

[Belthize]

I hate to imagine what Salome's chat tab looks like in game. I'm picturing a 2nd Epilogue to Reclamation:

Hassan: Salome, you about ready with those coordinates ? We need to make the jump before the Feds show up.
Salome: Give me some time, I have 437 more messages to respond to.
Hassan: Ok, but if we die here while you're on EliteBook I'm going to be annoyed.

 

[Jaiotu]

And ... another video on my journey beyond the Formidine Rift.

The next one should be interesting. I just got my copy of "The Alien World - The Complete Illustrated Guide" by Steven Eisler. From what I can tell this contains the earliest references to "Raxxla". I'll be departing from my regular 'in-character' presentation in order to summarize what the book says about the Oisir-Raxxla. Its all very interesting stuff that probably has absolutely ZERO relevance to Elite, the Rift or Raxxla in-game. The author, Steven Eisler, is actually Robert Holdstock - the same author who have us Elite's Raxxla in "The Dark Wheel" novella that was included with the Original "Elite".

[video=youtube_share;jD5U18J5h60]https://youtu.be/jD5U18J5h60[/video]

 

[Cmdr Delmonte[VR]]

Redacted.....

Lurk mode engaged....

 

[Eisen]

Greetings to all rifters!

Celebrations are underway at Serebrov Terminal / HR 6421 for the homecoming of CMDR Salomé, who has recently been out in the Formidine Rift again. The Children of Raxxla have been made aware of an important task out in the Rift by the senator turned freedom-fighter. There`s a palpable sense amongst the members that something big is coming and lots of pilots are getting their ships outfitted in advance of any further instructions. These are very thrilling days that lie ahead!

 

[Elementalist]

Greetings to all rifters!

Celebrations are underway at Serebrov Terminal / HR 6421 for the homecoming of CMDR Salomé, who has recently been out in the Formidine Rift again. The Children of Raxxla have been made aware of an important task out in the Rift by the senator turned freedom-fighter. There`s a palpable sense amongst the members that something big is coming and lots of pilots are getting their ships outfitted in advance of any further instructions. These are very thrilling days that lie ahead!

As someone who uses the X1 HoloFac system, how would I be able to help with whatever you all are preparing for?

 

[Erimus Kamzel]

Hi guys, CoR don't have a lot to go on, but they have been entrusted to follow an initial plan that is hinted will develop over a period of time (possibly spanning months). There is no rush to arms. This is the early stages of a very long term plan - the full details of which remain unknown. Other groups are obviously free to follow it too, as well as individuals, but with Salome's connection to CoR she has entrusted CoR will remain committed to it long after others have drifted off to do other stuff Plus the area of operation for CoR is to patrol Rift borders and not explore the Rift itself, that's being left down to you good folks

Following on from Eisen's post, here is the announcement in full..


Attention Children of Raxxla :

Due to recent events, the following information has been declassified and is to be passed on to all CoR Pilots immediately.

We have received a directive from Salomé.

We have been tasked to set up a permanent CoR presence between two specific locations on the outer edges of the Perseus arm, Upper 2nd Quadrant. This is speculated to be the near edge of what has become known as the Formidine Rift.

We have been tasked to patrol this region.

We have been informed that this is likely to be a long term commitment, possibly spanning many months. This is phase 1 of a 3-phase operation. Phase 3 remains classified information at this time and will be relayed to us by Salomé when the time is right.

We have no information on what we are looking for during Phase 1, other than to patrol this ‘Rift Border Region’ until told otherwise.

We are to report any unusual traffic activity coming across the Rift, unidentified signals, or other events, immediately and directly to CoR Command should we detect them.

– The primary directive is to set up and maintain a permanent and long term presence of armed CoR Wings in this region.. for reasons currently unknown.
– The secondary directive is to scout and prospect for ‘Green Systems’ – systems within the patrol area that contain all Jumponum materials needed for future Rift surveys. These ‘fuel depots systems’ shall be logged with the CoR Exploration department, and will be marked on future maps by the Cartography team.

The two basecamp locations have been termed, “Listening Post Alpha”, and” “Listening Post Beta”. CoR Wings will use the two designated systems as bases of operations from which weekly patrols will be launched. The CoR Cartography team has been busy working with the information supplied and has produced a map of the patrol zone and basecamp location guides for the mission.

CoR wings will be recruited from within its ranks and will begin patrolling the region between these listening posts once the Rift Wing recruitment process has been finalized and wing leaders chosen.

CMDR Eisen will be organizing the Rift Wing recruitment and will set up a ‘tour of duty’ rota for them. CMDR Erimus will liaise with CMDR Eisen on all Rift-related activities.

This is a voluntary role open to CoR Pilots and one tour is expected to last 4 weeks.

More information on this directive including Maps, CoR basecamp locations and patrol waypoints will be posted within the CoR Discord Comms network and on the CoR website in due course.

Message Ends.

---

How this fits in with the Rift mystery, or ties in with Drew's missing GalNet post, we have no idea.

 

[Cyalope]

Greetings to all rifters!

Celebrations are underway at Serebrov Terminal / HR 6421 for the homecoming of CMDR Salomé, who has recently been out in the Formidine Rift again. The Children of Raxxla have been made aware of an important task out in the Rift by the senator turned freedom-fighter. There`s a palpable sense amongst the members that something big is coming and lots of pilots are getting their ships outfitted in advance of any further instructions. These are very thrilling days that lie ahead!

And therefore, is it worth selling cartographics data from the Rift to Serebrov terminal, or is it useless?
I mean, would it be useful to concretely move things forward?

 

[Kitty]

Well, well, well. Awesome and many thanks for the updates

 

[Cmdr Delmonte[VR]]

So are 90% of the player base being excluded ? I thought that whatever is in the rift can be found now ! Or are we all wasting time .... Hmm

 

[Crassus]

I'm drifting through the New Outer Arm and thinking of answers to some crucial questions. And I must admit, that I personally really missed one obvious answer on the maybe most important question for our search. But let me pose this again and some more:

1. What was the old lady searching for?
2. Why is Lady Kahina as "Salome", the leader of the Children of Raxxla hurrying to the edge of the Formidine Rift and even faster back - and not as "Kahina"? And combined with that: why is a voyage to a completely different region of space (with the DWE) that much enlightening, that it justifies a message like that she gave us at Beagle Point?
3. By the way: was everybody paying attention at school, when it came to some basic knowledge about our little galaxy und our universe as such?
4. And has anyone an idea, how rogue planets may evolve? I - at least - thought just yet seriously about it ...

If you want to know my ideas on this, read on.

Spoiler

1. I really cannot believe, that I missed that reason: Raxxla, or not really Raxxla but it's origins. You may ask why Raxxla could be the reason, because she just talked about serious sh**, she found there. For a better reasoning see 4)
2. The edge of the galaxy must have characteristics, that are the same all around. That means, you must find inspiration everywhere on the outer arms regarding the question Salome seeks to answer. More again in 4)
3. As I'm no astronomer, there are people, who can explain this better than me. But what I recall, regarding the age of the galaxy, the numbers are vague. 13.8 Billion years for the universe seems to be consensus - the milky way formed later than some other galaxies, so there must be older galaxies around us.
4. It also seems quiet sure, that the Milky Way absorbed smaller galaxies in her vicinity. If these galaxies formed earlier than the Milky Way, their star systems should be older than the usual systems formed originally in the Milky Way. So, if we find older star systems in the Milky Way, they must be the result of an absorption of an other galaxy. Raxxla is rumored to be the home of artefacts of an alien race, that do not belong to our galaxy - so much for a first evidence for an absorption. By absorbing a smaller, older galaxy, the gravitational distortions may have torn Raxxla out of its home system and converted it to a rogue planet - that could be another evidence for my theory. If it's right, it makes for some interesting conclusions:

• The old lady wasn't looking for Raxxla, but for the originating system. And she seems to have found it - with remnants of anxient alien technology. I was still wondering, why should there be something important to find, when the Federation and the Empire knows it and would be able to recover it. But she was hexedited, so that noone should find these place again and discover import things.
• Salome may have found on her way to Beagle Point more systems with unusual ages - I guess they are scattered throughout the outer arms of the Milky Way. That would prove the collision/absorption theory and give her hints for what to look for on the edge of the Formidine Rift. It might even explain her interests in astronomy and her visits in Sol before her departure. And as the story unfolds and the bad powers rise, she is in a hurry to prove her findings at the Formidine Rift and bring the knowledge back.
• Star systems with unusual ages would even explain the "Silenced Erimus Riddle" . Erimus was the first out here and may have found star systems with unusual ages - older than the presumptions about the age of the Milky Way. I'm pretty sure, he knows his astronomy - maybe he filed a bug report and got the answer: "no, it's part of a plot, but don't tell anyone!"

Bearing that in mind I will change my personal search strategy:

• I guess, we're not looking for a single star system, but for a cluster of very old star systems. This is something to stumble upon, if you don't know, what you're looking for. You just have to look in the right place ("who goes looking")
• And if Salome sells her data, we even have breadcrumbs, that give us direction!

So much from my side
best regards,
Crassus

[Update]    ? You even cannot arrange one's ideas and write them down and being instantly superseded by history. Modern times *sigh*
[Update2] *rofl* The first three letters from my first update have been magically removed ...

 

[Erimus Kamzel]

So are 90% of the player base being excluded ? I thought that whatever is in the rift can be found now ! Or are we all wasting time .... Hmm

No one is excluded. The maps and waypoints will be made public once the mission is given the green light. As for what's in the Rift, apparently its been there since Gamma, but with possibly 10,000,000 star systems to search, there's little hope of someone stumbling across it by chance in my honest opinion. Many people have been looking for it for over a year.

Now that the Rift mystery is scheduled to be making a reappearance on GalNet, things may change with the coming clues.


Edit: Just to clarify, the CoR patrols (from what we're lead to believe), are not a search for "it", but to simply establish a permanent and mobile presence this side of the Rift... for reasons unknown.