Intergalactic Summit

Following a series of investigations into drifter technology I have decided to abandon my post in the State Protectorate and accompany a group of like-minded individuals from separate militaries to further our goals of better understanding these Jovian craft. (I would suggest you do the same, but more on that later.)

Our original investigation began in the Akora region on the outskirts of The Forge. Situated outside of one of the infamous spires that have begun to appear across the cluster, my colleagues began to make close observations on the activities of the circadian seekers. My initial thoughts on the matter are as follows:

Quote:

A minor report from the field... Though I'm hard pressed to call it a formal report so much as fool-hearty attempt by myself and my colleage to elicit a noteworthy response from these Drifters. Going off the work of several independent capsuleers operating across the cluster we have managed to locate one of these structures that has appeared in the Akora system. After laying siege to a small flight of seeker drones over an extended period of time I was incapable of forcing conflict with these drifters to aid in the defense of the spire.

I'm certain there are plenty out there who are capable of adequately explaining the behavior and tactics of these drones from a scientific perspective rather than what small sliver of behavior I was able to observe at close range, but I'm certain I experienced a substantial amount of harmonic radio chatter from these craft. The tune was unsettling at best and was more than enough to scare one of my yeomen into terminating his contract on board my vessel the moment we pulled into dock to rearm and regroup for a second attack on the structure.

I've arrived at the conclusion that even after the destruction of several of these vanguard drones whatever forces are capable of scrambling these advanced battleships simply refuse to see a small groups of capsuleers as a significant threat. We're treated like ants at a roadside picnic, and are hardly bothered when we occasionally lash out in force.

Following this report, it became evident that to secure a sizable amount of intelligence on these beings we would need to extend our research beyond borders and work in tandem to form a common understanding on their activity and combat doctrine. After successfully rallying around an identified sleeper-created wormhole in the Ordize system, our strike team began to open fire on the structural supports of the anomaly to prompt a response. Sure enough, a drifter battleship began to attack our fleet by immediately destroying our logistics ships, then focusing their fire on our support frigates via their secondary cannons. Once I had arrived on station in a Caldari-built Drake the battleship began to halt combat as I initiated my missile bombardment. My notes from the confrontation are as follows:

1) The Drifter Battleship broke from combat and instead began to focus it's on-board energy into some sort of shield booster, as identified by a separate blue ring on my vessel's damage assessment display.

2) I attributed this halt in aggression as the work of my ECM drones and continued my assault on battleship, dealing massive damage in the process.

3) Once the battleship's shields were stripped, the vessel unleashed a powerful direct energy weapon that instantly vaporized my ship. After the release of this superweapon the battleship's shields were at full charge and the secondary turrets once again began to engage my escort frigates.

I regret to admit that all hands aboard the drake-class battlecruiser CN Baku were lost that day, but their death will not be in vain so long as we apply a level of critical analysis into the drifter's weapon capabilities. As far as we can gather, this energy weapon absorbed the energy from any damage inflicted upon it to charge a primary weapon stored within the vessel itself. While this weapon is being charged the ship will willingly accept damage to increase the charge speed before firing and returning to its secondary defensive mode. Rather than periodically in timed increments as once thought, the on board commander will not rely on their primary defensive armament unless absolutely necessary as it leaves the craft vulnerable for several minutes after weapon release.

Therefore the only effective way to adequately engage these targets is to draw their attention to what they perceive is a primary target, willingly accept the inevitability of your destruction, then respond in kind with the deployment of several equally deadly battle cruisers rigged for dealing massive damage in a short amount of time while the Drifter is force to fight in its secondary configuration. Drifter craft are purely combat focused, and will be largely susceptible to any electronic warfare teams that warp in to support this cruiser fleet to quickly dispose of the threat.

While several capsuleers have succeed in the destruction of Drifter battleships, few have yet to create a brutally efficient method of carrying out the act that allows for rapid destruction at a minimal cost. While there's little point in poking these craft in the eye currently, we anticipate a greater importance will be placed on successfully combating these threats in the future. For now all we can hope to do is organize, train, and equip multiple quick reaction forces that are specialized in this form of combat. Therefore I openly invite my fellow capsuleers to rendezvous in the Ordize system to take part in Operation Snake Pit to help us further refine our tactics while keeping a close observation on these Seeker anomalies.

Regardless of nationally, these Jove prove a threat to us all. While our Empires squander their resources and CONCORD continues to prove their ignorance, we shall be remembered as those chosen few who held their ground in the face of a Drifter incursion.

Broadcasting a warning to any and all pilots in the area, there has been an Incursion in the Ordize system prompting a major halt to the planned Operation Snake Pit. I have successfully made a number of vital observations on local activity in the area and hope to deliver a full report within 24 hours.

The replacement battle cruiser for the CN Baku was lost early in a confrontation with Nation forces, having only been outfitted for the specific task of assaulting Drifter battleships in asymmetric hit-and-run warfare. I am currently in my pod orbiting Ordize II, attempting to remain cloaked from Nation sensors until allied reinforcements can arrive.

To reiterate, I have had the opportunity to observe a number of fascinating observations between suspected Jovian and Sansha craft and fully plan on reporting my findings once convenient. In the mean time I intend on holding my ground to continue observation.