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IKAME Emergency Report: Concerning Drifter aggression and capability
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Solu Terona
Alexylva Paradox
#1 - 2015-04-29 18:57:39 UTC  |  Edited by: Solu Terona
At ~04:53 New Eden time last night, one of our observation Pilgrims was attacked by Drifters in what appears to be a premeditated operation. The pilot in question, on a routine break from her observation post. decided to rid the system of a Guristas Den that had appeared on her scanners. The pilot committed immediately following warp bubble collapse, disabling her covert - ops cloak, and was met with 2 Drifter Battleships and 5 Circadian Seekers dropping out of warp mere seconds after engaging the pirates.

The full engagement lasted, as is common when facing Drifters unprepared, a mere 30 seconds (timed to the activation cycle of a mobile depot).

The following Killmail was generated:

///Beginning file transfer
///.......................................///
///Transfer complete, displaying:
/2015.04.29 04:53:00
/
/Victim: Solu Terona
/Corp: Itsukame-Zainou Hyperspatial Inquiries Ltd.
/Alliance: Unknown
/Faction: Unknown
/Destroyed: Pilgrim
/System: Isseras
/Security: 0.6
/Damage Taken: 4651
/
/Involved parties:
/
/Name: Artemis Tyrannos (laid the final blow)
/Security: 0.0
/Corp: Vigilant Tyrannos
/Alliance: None
/Faction: Drifters
/Ship: Drifter Battleship
/Weapon: Lux Kontos
/Damage Done: 3183
/
/Name: Drifter Battleship / Unknown
/Damage Done: 755
/
/Name: Scourge Rocket / Guristas Pirates
/Damage Done: 713
/
/Destroyed items:
/
/[Redacted for brevity]
/
/Dropped items:
/
/[Redacted for brevity]
/
///EOF

Careful analysis of the short engagement has revealed little save for three disturbing theories:

1) Drifters have begun to work with local pirates to fuel cadaver collection.

2) Drifters are now able to get an imprecise lock on cloaked ships as well as structures, with enough resolution to resolve a warp solution and follow it mere moments after the pilot themselves warp.

3) The meeting was involuntary coincidence and Drifters have started to ramp up Capsuleer hostilities, possibly taking a "shoot on sight" approach to any ship in active hostilities with any other.

Only theory three is mutually exclusive. Non affiliated pilots are urged to maintain caution in any system with noted drifter activity. Further testing of the above theories will be required and is currently underway.

Humans must eventually break out from the limits of biology, its not radical to accept the inevitable.
Gilan Isana
Science and Trade Institute
Caldari State
#2 - 2015-04-29 19:06:28 UTC
Did the pilot have a negative standing with the drifters? Have they ever fired upon a drifter or seeker previously?

This is important, particularly for any pilots with a neutral standing that have not been involved in aggression on drifters/seekers.

I have previously seen it reported that they MAY attack anyone with a negative standing to them.

would this negative standing apply at a corp level where they would attack a non offensive pilot if members of their corp have had aggressive encounters?
Diana Kim
State Protectorate
Caldari State
#3 - 2015-04-29 19:13:16 UTC
CONCORD recordings contain all offensive actions that took place with the ship withing the system in a given timeframe and shouldn't be attached as inaccurate.

As for the Drifter activity, I would advise avoid them for now and concentrate efforts on known, hostile and aggressive sources of threat: Gallente Federation and Sansha Nation.

Honored are the dead, for their legacy guides us.

In memory of Tibus Heth, Caldari State Executor YC110-115, Hero and Patriot.
Solu Terona
Alexylva Paradox
#4 - 2015-04-29 19:17:43 UTC  |  Edited by: Solu Terona
Gilan Isana wrote:
Did the pilot have a negative standing with the drifters? Have they ever fired upon a drifter or seeker previously?

This is important, particularly for any pilots with a neutral standing that have not been involved in aggression on drifters/seekers.

I have previously seen it reported that they MAY attack anyone with a negative standing to them.

would this negative standing apply at a corp level where they would attack a non offensive pilot if members of their corp have had aggressive encounters?


IKAME currently has a -1.20 status with the drifters according to CONCORD

I personally have never appeared uncloaked within range of drifter interests nor have I agressed drifters previously.

I am however, an Ex-Wormhole pilot, which begs consideration

Humans must eventually break out from the limits of biology, its not radical to accept the inevitable.
Aria Jenneth
Societas Imperialis Sceptri Coronaeque
Khimi Harar
#5 - 2015-04-29 19:18:02 UTC  |  Edited by: Aria Jenneth
Hm. About option three:

It would be sort of eerily symmetrical if the Drifters had analyzed the data from the observatories and their encounters with us, and concluded that the innocents of New Eden must be protected ... from marauding capsuleers.

Maybe, next to even the pirate factions, we look like something horrible. That view might be more pronounced if the Sleepers' experience with us is part of the Drifters' analysis.

Perhaps some Drifter equivalent of CONCORD is paying out bounties? (If they even use money as we understand it....)
Makoto Priano
Kirkinen-Arataka Transhuman Zenith Consulting Ltd.
Arataka Research Consortium
#6 - 2015-04-29 19:23:15 UTC
Pilot Terona, I believe you had posted about this just as I was signing off after a long day.

Quick point of verification: seven Drifter battleships? Not two, three, or even four, but seven?

That said, corporate standings haven't resulted in engagement previously. Indeed, one of our pilots took a freighter past a pair of Drifter battleships scanning a customs team without so much as a glance from the drifters.

Itsukame-Zainou Hyperspatial Inquiries: exploring the edge of the known, advancing the state of the art. Would you like to know more?
Solu Terona
Alexylva Paradox
#7 - 2015-04-29 19:26:19 UTC  |  Edited by: Solu Terona
Makoto Priano wrote:
Pilot Terona, I believe you had posted about this just as I was signing off after a long day.

Quick point of verification: seven Drifter battleships? Not two, three, or even four, but seven?

That said, corporate standings haven't resulted in engagement previously. Indeed, one of our pilots took a freighter past a pair of Drifter battleships scanning a customs team without so much as a glance from the drifters.


I will fix the wording in the OP, in my observations i was following an exploration group around the system, consisting of 5 Circadian Seekers escorted by 2 Drifter Battleships. It was this group that found me in the den.

This is, incidentally, why I'm entertaining the third theory. If it were premeditated the only reason they would have for committing the Seekers is some currently unknown capability that must be completed immediately after ship destruction.

Humans must eventually break out from the limits of biology, its not radical to accept the inevitable.
Makoto Priano
Kirkinen-Arataka Transhuman Zenith Consulting Ltd.
Arataka Research Consortium
#8 - 2015-04-29 19:32:42 UTC
Hm! Alright. That sounds more reasonable.

I've noticed that the Drifters and Seekers are both capable of and willing to follow Capsuleers, though I'd not known they followed cloaked vessels. That they'd engage you in a circumstance when you were well away from an observatory, though, is interesting. I wonder if they initiate hostilities at any sign of weaponsfire on non-capsuleer vessels, what's more.

Itsukame-Zainou Hyperspatial Inquiries: exploring the edge of the known, advancing the state of the art. Would you like to know more?
Diana Kim
State Protectorate
Caldari State
#9 - 2015-04-29 20:07:09 UTC
Aria Jenneth wrote:
Hm. About option three:

It would be sort of eerily symmetrical if the Drifters had analyzed the data from the observatories and their encounters with us, and concluded that the innocents of New Eden must be protected ... from marauding capsuleers.

Maybe, next to even the pirate factions, we look like something horrible. That view might be more pronounced if the Sleepers' experience with us is part of the Drifters' analysis.

Perhaps some Drifter equivalent of CONCORD is paying out bounties? (If they even use money as we understand it....)

I am not sure I annoyed drifters, seekers or sleepers before. We could send them myself as a bait and see if they would engage.

Honored are the dead, for their legacy guides us.

In memory of Tibus Heth, Caldari State Executor YC110-115, Hero and Patriot.
Araikas Rhal
Hair-Trigger
#10 - 2015-04-30 10:21:37 UTC
I cannot currently provide the ship logs for this encounter; someone may be able to use the info however so here it is.

A Prolapse. pilot recently reported an incident where upon leaving ~20 corpses littered in the vicinity of a Seeker squad seemingly escorted by a Drifter, said Drifter began to collect the biomass offered. Ignoring the pilot who was uncloaked in a Hurricane Fleet Issue class battlecruiser. After the corpses had all been procured by the Drifter however, they turned their attention to our pilot and engaged in combat. To the point of chasing him in warp to finish our pilot off upon landing near a Customs office.

While following a target in warp is not news at this point, the priority of corpses over overt aggression with a capsuleer on field would lend credence to the Drifters being more concerned with their collection of corpses, rather then the elimination of pilots.

I would not be at all surprised if the Drifters are merely seeking to use our biomass to engineer new tech, implants, or as would seem, maybe the bodies that pilot these battleships.
This is not so different from our use of Sleeper tech and parts, via reverse engineering, in the production of high end ship hulls and technology.

Current research points to the Drifters bodies being similar on a genetic level to the Jovian race, while maintaining at least in form, if not function, the appearance of being near Human. Perhaps this "attack" on the Jove (If they were even attacked) and the attacks we are seeing are a sleeper attempt to reverse engineer or integrate themselves back into our world, and gain more freedom from current heavily virtual based existence.

I played other games in my past life. I must have done something wrong to be re-incarnated as an Eve player.
Jade Blackwind
#11 - 2015-04-30 13:48:41 UTC
For twelve years, the capsuleers treated all of New Eden as resources to be exploited.

Now, something appeared that offers them a taste of their own medicine.

The "immortal demigods" being hunted down, instapopped, and farmed for biomass!

Oh, the irony.
Evi Polevhia
Phoenix Naval Operations
Phoenix Naval Systems
#12 - 2015-04-30 14:20:29 UTC
Jade Blackwind wrote:
For twelve years, the capsuleers treated all of New Eden as resources to be exploited.

Now, something appeared that offers them a taste of their own medicine.

The "immortal demigods" being hunted down, instapopped, and farmed for biomass!

Oh, the irony.

Capsuleers farmed sleepers for parts.
Sleepers farm Capsuleers for parts.

Seems about right.

Also I doubt they are actively teaming up with Gurista or anyone else. They both simply saw you as a threat. The Gurista were smart enough not to anger the Drifters, and the Drifters needed nothing from the Gurista. Though it would be terribly amusing if the Drifters started killing Capsuleers for sport. Most of you deserve a taste of your own medicine.
Gilan Isana
Science and Trade Institute
Caldari State
#13 - 2015-04-30 21:50:38 UTC
Araikas Rhal wrote:
I cannot currently provide the ship logs for this encounter; someone may be able to use the info however so here it is.

A Prolapse. pilot recently reported an incident where upon leaving ~20 corpses littered in the vicinity of a Seeker squad seemingly escorted by a Drifter, said Drifter began to collect the biomass offered. Ignoring the pilot who was uncloaked in a Hurricane Fleet Issue class battlecruiser. After the corpses had all been procured by the Drifter however, they turned their attention to our pilot and engaged in combat. To the point of chasing him in warp to finish our pilot off upon landing near a Customs office.

While following a target in warp is not news at this point, the priority of corpses over overt aggression with a capsuleer on field would lend credence to the Drifters being more concerned with their collection of corpses, rather then the elimination of pilots.

I would not be at all surprised if the Drifters are merely seeking to use our biomass to engineer new tech, implants, or as would seem, maybe the bodies that pilot these battleships.
This is not so different from our use of Sleeper tech and parts, via reverse engineering, in the production of high end ship hulls and technology.

Current research points to the Drifters bodies being similar on a genetic level to the Jovian race, while maintaining at least in form, if not function, the appearance of being near Human. Perhaps this "attack" on the Jove (If they were even attacked) and the attacks we are seeing are a sleeper attempt to reverse engineer or integrate themselves back into our world, and gain more freedom from current heavily virtual based existence.




Again, did the pilot attacked have a negative standing with the drifters?

I think this seems to be the common theme. Have spent some time tonight chasing drifters and seekers across 2 systems ( seekers in one drifters in next one - no WH or observatory).

I have neutral standing with them, sat around visible with defensive mods on, got within 5 km of them, no Aggro. flew alongiside - no aggro, followed them in warp. nothing. didnt even scan me, while they scanned customs ships, gate, billboard.
Jev North
Doomheim
#14 - 2015-04-30 22:22:55 UTC
Color me impressed with their scanning prowess.

Makes you wonder if the old rumor that they can see through cloaks, but are just too savvy to let us know holds any merit.

Even though our love is cruel; even though our stars are crossed.
Aria Jenneth
Societas Imperialis Sceptri Coronaeque
Khimi Harar
#15 - 2015-05-01 00:47:19 UTC
Jev North wrote:
Color me impressed with their scanning prowess.

Makes you wonder if the old rumor that they can see through cloaks, but are just too savvy to let us know holds any merit.

Well ... here's a thought:

Supposing they've brought the Observatories under their control, and have partially repurposed them for combat scanning?
Araikas Rhal
Hair-Trigger
#16 - 2015-05-01 02:34:16 UTC  |  Edited by: Araikas Rhal
[/quote]
Again, did the pilot attacked have a negative standing with the drifters?

I think this seems to be the common theme. Have spent some time tonight chasing drifters and seekers across 2 systems ( seekers in one drifters in next one - no WH or observatory).

I have neutral standing with them, sat around visible with defensive mods on, got within 5 km of them, no Aggro. flew alongiside - no aggro, followed them in warp. nothing. didnt even scan me, while they scanned customs ships, gate, billboard.[/quote]


Im sure he did have negative standings, if not then being part of a group that actively lives and kill in Anoikis may be enough. You did bring something to mind however. They are not attacking you you say? Would it be a terrible bother if you loaned me your body for a day or so? Even an old body would do as long as it is yours. I wonder if the Drifters will take a nuetral body before the corpse of someone they dislike....... or vis a versa.

PS: I broke the quote thingy.... can someone bring it back or offer it to the Drifters please?

I played other games in my past life. I must have done something wrong to be re-incarnated as an Eve player.
Soldarius
Dreddit
Test Alliance Please Ignore
#17 - 2015-05-04 15:00:03 UTC
Araikas Rhal wrote:
PS: I broke the quote thingy.... can someone bring it back or offer it to the Drifters please?


Remove the forward slash from the open quote code. That will fix it.

http://youtu.be/YVkUvmDQ3HY