EVE General Discussion

There are a few things that can be deduced from the Drifters depiction by CCP that give us a short insight into the design concept and the general art direction that CCP took with these guys (and apparently gals).

1. Heavy Cybernetic Modification
One of their most striking feature.
We know the Jove favored or better said adored genetic modification. The Drifters seem to have the same obsession - only they'd rather stick pliers and motherboards in their heads rather than grow an extra set of muscles.
Genetic modification usually indicates a need or will to transcend the limitations of the biological.
On the other hand cybernetic modification is indicative of a more efficiency oriented way of thinking and the realization that the biological no matter how genetically augmented has it's limitations (in theory), or to facilitate a man-machine interaction.
Also so far there is no indication that they might use capsules - their Jove lineage may support this as we know that the Jove don't use them either. Therefore we can assume that the principal role of these cybernetic modifications is to achieve a more efficient and direct connection with their ship's systems and to augment the computing power of their brains (think Kharan S'Jet). There is no evidence of being more than one Drifter in their battleships so a lot of cybernetic integration would be necessary to be able to simultaneously compute all the calculations necessary to fly a ship of that size without a crew and a capsule. Somehow I doubt that all that hard-wiring in their heads is there to make them solve crosswords faster.

2. Although heavily modified a special interest has been taken to keep the face "screw-free".
One can argument that this has been done by CCP in order to have a way for them to express emotions. After all a toaster-faced humanoid conveys little emotion apart from "I wanna burn your toast". Facial expressions are after all one of the primary ways through which social interaction can be achieved. If there are plans for more interactions with these guys (through cinematics for example) there needs to be a way to dramatize this interaction with them and body language is never enough in this cases.
Lore-wise it can also be argued that the Drifters do this consciously and having a recognizable face is something that has some degree of importance (After all if efficiency is what you're looking for, nostrils are not that much of power-up so there must be a reason as to why they don't have rebreathers instead of noses and mouths).

3. Dat gender difference!
A lot of work has been put in by CCP into creating the female Drifter.
Somehow I doubt that this was done simply to appease the feminazis. After all I didn't hear much complaining about not seeing a female Sansha or female Blood Raider or for all intents and purposes even a female Jove! The only ones on which gender difference plays a role (theoretically) are the playable races.
Will the Drifters someday be a playable race? Possible or probable.
Lore-wise the gender difference seems to have some importance (otherwise why would there be one ?) Maybe female Drifters have different roles and responsibilities in their society. (and I don't imply "shut up and go make me a hyper-euclidian sandwich!")
So far in-game there hasn't been any instance in which it mattered if you shot at a female or a male character. So maybe in this case there will be one.
However my money's on them being at a later point playable (and then the choice between male or female would have some significance).
It can also be argued that the gender difference is there simply for the sake of diversity but I find that argument rather shallow.

4. Dem names!
Apollo and Artemis. They have and "old-but-powerfull" ring to them seing as their are names taken from the Greek pantheon.
Even Startegos (also taken from Greek) reflects a position of out-most importance - the Strategos was the highest military leader in Classical Greece and even nowadays the highest function in the Greek Army is that of Startegos (something akin to Marshal).
Greek naming is thus heavily used. And this, combined with their outrageously powered weaponry, helps in conveying them a certain unseen yet recognizable level of power. Like the gods they are named after.
Vigilant Tyrannos is also a weird combination.
Vigilance defines a heightened state of attention and alertness.
The world vigil also defines a period of purposeful and willing state of sleeplessness (usually devotional watching, although nowadays it's synonymous to a wake).
I very much doubt that (here) it is related to "vigilante" which defines a person that takes law into his won hands.
Tyrannos defines the role of the leader. Although nowadays considered a pejorative term in pre-classical Greece it meant simply leader, ruler of the polis (city).
So in Drifter it may be a way of saying the Awake Rulers/Lords, Sleepless Rulers/Lords or Watchful Rulers/Lords.
Lastly their faction name: Drifters.
It may indicate a nomadic lifestyle (they drift, never settling in one place) which could be tied to why they are present in Thukker tribe territory (which are a nomadic Minmatar tribe). Maybe they found a common ground with the Thukkers.
Or it may indicate their way of navigating space. As their ships do no seem to use what we have come to think of as normal propulsion. They instead use propulsion rods which seem to distort the fabric of space time thus allowing them to "drift" through space.
Or maybe both.

Personally I'm getting a weird "The Machine Crusade" vibe. Waiting on the Agamemnon Tyrannos :D

The Jovian Disease argument is still uncertain as it depends when exactly they have separated from the main Jove Empire.
It may be that they seceded (if this is the case) from the True Jove before the emergence of the Jovian Disease.
Until we know for certain when exactly the Drifters became stand-alone (again, if this is the case) we cannot say with a degree of certainty that they are or are not affected by the Jovian Disease.
It still remains a speculation.

Not to worry, "Apollo" and "Artemis" will become available when they permadie.

I'm a bit bored with greek names for things in scifi.

FTFY

Wrong bait... eh'hem... chum.

That just summons a tired CCL member.

Also, stop that.

With regards to the Cybernetics. Just because they have them doesn't prove how far removed they are from the main Jove race. It's been states that the Jove made extensive use of cybernetics and implants. Given most of our (very limited) interaction with the Jove was those sent to meet with us, makes sense they had less implants than say, their military forces. (Cause it could creep us out..).

As for so much work into making a Female form.. I think that's less an issue.. Most likely they did it now cause the quality of the game has gone up much more than when they were introducing the other pirate factions. Not that it looks like *THAT* much work to make. I mean lets face it, the hard work was done with the character creator. I mean there are lots of female NPC's already.. Hell they even have their own faction, The Sisters :p

My 2 cents:

Drifters have yellow eyes as the Jove do (did).