Intergalactic Summit

Galnet link to the paper.

TerminalDogma is seeking comment from the public regarding how to further explore its findings regarding Monoliths and their true nature.

Also FYI the entosis link has no effect on the monoliths. We tested this some time ago.

We can certainly verify that Entosis Links fail to engage on Monolith structures.

As for the Monolith itself, I can't comment on the report of a Drifter using a Monolith as a wormhole entry. Certainly, we know that Drifter systems appear to be focused on research or development of wormhole and spatial manipulation technology, given the sheer number of spatial rifts and violent wormholes in unusual configurations with Sleeper engineering equipment. The arrangement of structures around the Barbican Monolith imply that the Sleepers were at some point engaged in a comprehensive engineering effort involving the structure, as well.

With all due thanks to the comprehensive catalog of Drifter Hive structures by an ARC assistant, a complete summary of Monoliths present in Drifter systems:

Barbican, Beta Transfer zone;
Conflux, Alpha Access zone;
Conflux, anomaly with unknown probe;
Redoubt, Beta Transfer zone;
Redoubt, Split zone;
Sentinel, Beta Transfer zone;
Sentinel, anomaly with unknown probe;
Vidette, Alpha Access zone.

Now, there are three interesting things to note.

First, three of the eight monoliths don't have significant construction around them. Two monoliths are found outside of the Hives, and the one found immediately upon entering the Hive facility. The 'mysterious probes' are just that; the basic appearance is of the type familiar to most of us in New Eden, but the architecture is anomalous. It's possible that these are old Sleeper probes, or from other parties who have explored this space. What's more, we don't know if this is from initial discovery, for on-going monitoring of the Monoliths, or perhaps even part of a communications or mapping system.

Second, the structures in the Alpha Access or Beta Transfer zones all have significant Sleeper constructions around then, and they're of different designs. It would appear that whatever experiments or engineering work was being undertaken, each Hive's inhabitants were attempting a different approach to the task. Only Barbican and Sentinel appear to have engineering enclaves present in the same area, though, which is curious. This is likely something explained by the large amount of infrastructure elsewhere in these facilities.

Third, the positions are the same for five of these, relative to the general Hive complex. Let's begin with an explanation of ARC nomenclature. While there's been some debate on what exactly to call each stage of the Hive complex and how to accurately relay positions while coordinating fleets, we've ultimately settled on the terms used by spatial anomaly specialist Xindi Kraid in his functional mapping of the Hive sites. However, these functional maps are just that: they show relations of rooms, but not their absolute position within the Hive.

The actual Hive layout appears to be fixed, but the gate (and workflow?) patterning within each Hive varies. It is, therefore, not only possible but likely that the Alpha Access and Beta Transfer zones are, in real terms, identically located relative to the Hive and Nexus. We'd need to conduct a survey to verify this, mind.

Now, pulling back, we know of two landmark monoliths in known space outside of research facilities: the Dead End Monolith, and the Devil's Dig 'Sun Reader,' which we know is a standard monolith in other regards. One must wonder if the name 'Sun Reader' was one attributed to it by pilgrims, derived from information recovered from Talocan artifacts, or product of a functional analysis. We also know these appear frequently in Sleeper sites designated Perimeter Transponder Farms and Perimeter Gateways, and in certain rare ruins in null security space.

Unfortunately, while we know of a number of monoliths, known instances of Drifters transporting themselves via these objects are rather few. Honestly, aside from your report, I don't know of any verified.

What I'd argue is this: the Monoliths aren't in fact gateways of some sort, but Talocan navigational aids, given their presence in Dead End and the Devil's Dig. This implies, what's more, that the Drifter systems are possibly significant waypoints for the Talocan. Further yet, the fixed absolute location to the Hive and Nexus are likely not a coincidence, and I'd be surprised if they weren't of some use to the Sleepers or Drifters, given the extensiveness of the constructs in the Hive.

Now I'm going to go out on a limb. While investigating the Devil's Dig for this report, I recovered this device to activate an acceleration gate. The description is identical to that of these Drifter alignment sequences, and per reports is also the description of an algorithm passkey for an acceleration gate in Hjoramold, where a considerable cache of Sleeper artifacts may be found. It certainly seems like something the Talocan would use. Now, this is by no means certain, but what if the Hive itself, or the Nexus debris field at the least, aren't Drifter technology, but Talocan? While wormhole space is replete with examples of Sleeper and Sleeper-defended Talocan facilities, we haven't found much Talocan architecture in the Hive systems. What if it's been staring at us this entire time?

I'd like to comment on how pretty you look in those glasses.

Two thoughts come to mind, sorry if its repeating old questions...

Is there any thoughts on what the sleepers used the monoliths for?

Since entosis links have no effect, is their anything at this point that you know effects/possibly destroys them?

This isn't a conversation about killing PYRE while they served the State...

I believe the implication is that this has already been done.

We'd have to check with the assistant.

I tend to focus on coordination and overwatch work for ARC's hive excursions more than actually flying - another pilot in my corporation prefers to handle actual in-space work for those. If we don't have the values written down, I'm sure she could sort that out that over the next cycle of operations.

To stare into the void that is the mysteries facing our civilization is to understand the force with which that void stares right back into you. Some choose to look away, and pretend these matters do not affect them. TerminalDogma prefers to throw down a rope, throw on a helmet torch and camera, and rappel right down there to see what lurks behind the wall of darkness. If there's any good the Drifter threat has brought it is the undeniable truth that bygone civilizations are anything but bygone, and for our own safety must be understood.

The functional map has been publicized and is linked above; the archive of site imagery just references functional locations and not absolute. IKAME and TYRIN both independently have waypoints for each zone within a Hive complex, but I don't believe we've formally converted the maps over to absolute dimensions.

Given that these are the usual neocom waypoints, we'll need to do some additional work to get them in a publishable state. It's on the list now.