Intergalactic Summit

So, give you money and then scram. Sounds like you're turning help away.

Accepting help that people can usually provide.

You don't see us running around and conscripting people as data analysts. Those who wish to help in that regard, usually find us on their own.

Thank you. We'll keep progress updates posted. A lot of equipment is arriving right now - phase one will be up and running in no time at this rate.

Of course, a full list of contributors - unless some wish to remain anonymous, in this case I'd appreciate that information - will be published for credit.

So-- I see lots of Sleeper, Talocan, and Takmahl materials. What's actually doing the communication? And do you have any leads about the communication protocol?

Also, in keeping with the Arek'jalaan styling, do you plan on publishing material as you go?

Please clarify if the Talocan and the Takmahl civilisations exist about the same time as the Sleepers. If they do, perhaps they had communicated with one another and the materials may shed light about how inter-civilisation communication was done.

As New Eden's greatest living Takmahl archaeologist, I would have to say that the inclusion of the Takmahl items, being several of their scientific texts, at first look, is somewhat unexpected, as the Takmahl were, as everyone should know if they've read my great works on the subject, active in the cluster between 1500 and 2000 years before present, and were not really contemporaries of the "Sleeper" civilisation, or the Talocan, whose activity in New Eden was several thousand years prior.

However, the content may pique the interest of the Drifters, as it includes a large amount of abstract mathematics.

Let's look back in time. Trying to get a broader view of the picture.

It started with the Caroline's Star event. Then Jovian listening towers started decloaking around the cluster. Then we met the Circadian Seekers, who were peacefully scanning around, looking for something. They did not attack anyone, even those of us that started shooting at them. So many of us kept shooting these sleeper drones, until they began to retaliate. Obviously these Seekers were looking for something, but they did not represent a threat... not until they interfered with our interests to study the Jovian listening towers.

Even with those circumstances at hand, can you just commit to an aggressive behaviour to something that you haven't seen before, something or someone that you know nothing about?

Aggression against the Seekers brought the Drifrters. Or so it seems. Maybe the events are not actually connected? Who knows... They are more than capable to put up a fight against us. In the meantime we utilized some sleeper tech for a new line of ships. I have no idea what Amarrians did to provoke the Drifter agression upon their empire.

Can you sense the irony in this? We provoke someone that we know nothing about and when they retaliate, we declare them as the aggressor... And we start defending ourselves. The Drifters are a threat to us just as much as we are a threat to them.

So trying to communicate is the obvious thing. This doesn't mean that we will still collaborate with them even if we establish a contact. Well, guns will not settle the conflict, as you may already see. But I guess whatever we do it will be completely natural. We gotta deal with the consequences...

The inclusion of Takmahl mostly came from people dropping by with various amounts of Takmahl stuff. The biggest focus of this operation is on Sleeper data, then on Talocan.

As Talocan wreckage is often found among Sleeper within Anoikis, it's possible that they co-existed for a period of time or one discovered the ruins of the other. If that's the case, documents from one may contain references to the other - and we may be able to fill in the blanks.

There are a few leads and theories as to how the communication protocol works - but, I can't really step up and say "this is how it works" at this point. Still need to commit some time to analysis. As it is an Arek'Jaalan venture, yep - we will publish reports from each phase.

And Kimmie, your... input is appreciated, but I think at this point the situation has escalated beyond just brutish, aggressive behavior. You should focus your effort on the Federation and Sansha you hate so much, wrap up the other two before you open up a third front.

Ms. Priano, with all due respect, I believe you are being a bit myopic in this case. If you take issue with entrusting Viriel with research materials - which is, of course, your prerogative - there are alternative contacts, namely this Gravonere fellow. Whether or not I agree with any character evaluations made is irrelevant, he is uniquely suited to assist in this project, mild cowardice aside.

As for you, Diana... Any who know me personally are well aware that my preferred means of dealing with problems of this scale is to look my opponent in the eye, face-to-face, and then empty their brainpan with a slugthrower. It's brutish and primitive but also effective and decisive. That said, it's simply not viable in this situation and I for one would love to see what happens when you attempt to do that which you advocate for the rest of us. After all, hypocrisy is hardly becoming of a soldier.

Absolutely agreed. Neutral objectivity is paramount in an endeavor such as this; there can be no room for even the appearance of bias.