# \[ARC\] Large and Heavily Damaged Drifter Fleet Encountered in Hive Complex **URL:** \ **Category:** Intergalactic Summit\ **Created:** [February 17, 2018, 7:09am UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/arc-large-and-heavily-damaged-drifter-fleet-encountered-in-hive-complex/57796 "2018-02-17T07:09:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Makoto\_Priano](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/makoto_priano/32/383919_2.png) [@Makoto\_Priano](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Makoto_Priano)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 10:55pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/arc-large-and-heavily-damaged-drifter-fleet-encountered-in-hive-complex/57796/181 "2018-02-25T22:55:48Z")
So, Teinyhr, you’ve been attempting communication. Anything? And how long have you been attempting it? ---
**Author:** ![Teinyhr](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/teinyhr/32/374406_2.png) [@Teinyhr](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Teinyhr)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 11:06pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/arc-large-and-heavily-damaged-drifter-fleet-encountered-in-hive-complex/57796/183 "2018-02-25T23:06:26Z")
> [@Makoto\_Priano](#): > > So, Teinyhr, you’ve been attempting communication. Anything? And how long have you been attempting it? “_not having gotten any response doesn’t warrant much fanfare either._” For about a year now I’ve periodically set up modified mobile depots to monitor and attempt contact with Drifter vessels “near” (around 0.5-2 AU away where applicable) nearby unidentified wormholes and observatories. Working alone, my capabilities are quite limited in scope. ---
**Author:** ![Yoshitaka\_Moromuo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/yoshitaka_moromuo/32/66710_2.png) [@Yoshitaka\_Moromuo](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Yoshitaka_Moromuo)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 1:08am UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/arc-large-and-heavily-damaged-drifter-fleet-encountered-in-hive-complex/57796/184 "2018-02-26T01:08:52Z")
Just curious, but besides the deployment of depots as intermediaries, and attempts to simply approach without engagement, what has been attempted as far as communication initiation, and what have the results been? I’m admittedly out of the loop on at least those attempts… ---
**Author:** ![Teinyhr](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/teinyhr/32/374406_2.png) [@Teinyhr](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Teinyhr)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 1:53am UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/arc-large-and-heavily-damaged-drifter-fleet-encountered-in-hive-complex/57796/185 "2018-02-26T01:53:23Z")
Is this a question in general, or just towards me? Well, I have initiated broad spectrum messaging protocols when I’ve encountered Seekers/Lancers and the odd Drifter battleship outside of areas they don’t take kindly loitering in, depending what equipment I have had available at the time. “Primary Contact Vessel” I guess would be my Astero (in hindsight, perhaps not the best choice of ship) which has more extensive communications suites installed. When in less suitable and capable vessels really the most I can do is try to establish a standard fluid-router handshake with these vessels and units. More archaic yet as viable as ever, radio communications on a wide array of different frequency bands. Sometimes I’ve gotten inspired and tried to get a response by modulating LADAR pulses to correspond with binary code system as an impromptu version of truly archaic signal lamp communication. I have not managed to get a response to any of these, or have failed to interpret them if I have. It is widely assumed if not outright confirmed that Drifters can intrude in to fluid router transmissions so we’re fairly sure that they are listening. Getting them to respond is the hardest part. ---
**Author:** ![Yoshitaka\_Moromuo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/yoshitaka_moromuo/32/66710_2.png) [@Yoshitaka\_Moromuo](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Yoshitaka_Moromuo)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 1:54am UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/arc-large-and-heavily-damaged-drifter-fleet-encountered-in-hive-complex/57796/186 "2018-02-26T01:54:11Z")
It was more generalized, though your explanation was certainly appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Avio\_Yaken](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/avio_yaken/32/494184_2.png) [@Avio\_Yaken](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Avio_Yaken)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 3:14am UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/arc-large-and-heavily-damaged-drifter-fleet-encountered-in-hive-complex/57796/187 "2018-02-26T03:14:23Z")
> [@Teinyhr](#): > > Getting them to respond is the hardest part. Do be cautious; If these creatures can communicate, It means they’re capable of lying. I’m beginning to wonder when these rats will start trying to convert their dear symapthizers do eager to talk to them. Maybe they already have? Sent them here to tell us that we should try and be friendly and co-exist with this filth… ---
**Author:** ![Makoto\_Priano](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/makoto_priano/32/383919_2.png) [@Makoto\_Priano](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Makoto_Priano)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 3:28am UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/arc-large-and-heavily-damaged-drifter-fleet-encountered-in-hive-complex/57796/188 "2018-02-26T03:28:28Z")
Mr. Yaken, calm. Calm. ---
**Author:** ![Avio\_Yaken](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/avio_yaken/32/494184_2.png) [@Avio\_Yaken](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Avio_Yaken)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 3:36am UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/arc-large-and-heavily-damaged-drifter-fleet-encountered-in-hive-complex/57796/189 "2018-02-26T03:36:20Z")
Apologies Ms.Priano. Allow me to just stay that my views on these Drifters are my own. I don’t trust these Drifters. Much like Rogue Drones, they were not born into nature like humanity was. They’re both twisted examples of what horrors technology is capable of. False sentience and reanimation, disgusting. These Drifters are far from human. They have no place in the Maker’s universe. ---
**Author:** ![Arrendis](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/arrendis/32/432594_2.png) [@Arrendis](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Arrendis)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 3:39am UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/arc-large-and-heavily-damaged-drifter-fleet-encountered-in-hive-complex/57796/190 "2018-02-26T03:39:51Z")
Been a busy week for a number of reasons, among them analyzing the image Makoto places such incredible emphasis on (as she knows ARC/Discourse weren’t the only ones to have received it, this is not news), so this is the first time I’ve looked in here. > [@Mizhara\_Del\_thul](#): > > With that technology and the justifications they have for their actions, any of our nations would have burned the other three to the ground by now. Hell, _I_ would have. With maybe 3000 hired schlubs. Giggling all the way. > [@Mizhara\_Del\_thul](#): > > Again, in a _single day_ we do more damage to each other than the Drifters have done in their entire known history with us. Frankly, in a single day we do more damage to the Drifters than they do to us. > [@Makoto\_Priano](#): > > What likelihood is there that Capsuleers will stop colonizing wormhole space, or collecting Sleeper salvage to construct advanced technology ships? What ability do we have to enforce such a thing, even if we attempted it? ‘What likelihood is there that the Amarr will give up their Divine Mandate to bring all of humanity into submission unto God? What ability would we have to force them to, even if we attempted it?’ Soooo, guess we should all just enslave ourselves? Really, Makoto, I’m all for attacking the Drifters so long as they continue to be an active threat, but we’ve seen a consistency in this new pattern of behavior ever since the CONCORD/Discovery Time Measurement Experiment incident. Sure, they’re behaving the same when you go into _their_ home with the express intent of busting up their stuff and looting and pillaging, but if they’re _not_ being aggressive out here… I dunno, I just Miz has a point: If you want this to _ever_ progress beyong ‘implacable foe who must be destroyed’ levels of mutual aggression, then it behooves us to demonstrate that if _they_ don’t shoot, _we_ won’t shoot. They have no reason to even begin to think there’s anything to be gained from communication right now. Maybe behaving like an actually _civilized_ race, instead of rabid wombats, might produce better results? I mean, what’s the worst-case scenario? They keep shooting back in K-space? If the _worst_ option is status quo… what’s the risk? Loss of profits? > [@Valerie\_Valate](#): > > Some stupid crap. Shut the hell up and stop wasting oxygen in my universe. > [@Aradina\_Varren](#): > > They assassinated a head of state(“But I didn’t like that one so it’s okay!”) and have directly attacked all four of the empires. The difference is that none of those groups are nearly as dangerous. More important is the ‘and now show a change in behavior that we don’t understand’. If they change behavior, we need to know why. If we don’t know why, we need to stop and analyze what’s going on and see what opportunities present themselves. Merely continuing to act the same way in the face of changing conditions is usually a _bad_ move. > [@Jandice\_Ymladris](#): > > They violate the Major power territories & have shown no interest in diplomacy nor negotiations. And neither CONCORD nor the Republic Navy decided that situation was one that warranted violence. So maybe the capsuleers should’ve butted the hell out and not decided to claim to be acting in the defense of mankind when the groups with an actual _mandate_ to do that were on-scene and things were peaceful? > [@Avio\_Yaken](#): > > If they can get a gate to shut off they would have free reign in that sector For all of maybe 20 minutes until the Republic Fleet lit a few cynos and started jumping in capitals and supercapitals to belch out fighters and baseliner RF ships. Holy carp, I know we don’t see them often, but the Navies _do_ have capitals, people—ones that are much better protected now than _Seraph_ was when she was destroyed. > [@Makoto\_Priano](#): > > Enough navel-gazing, and back to the important matter. I dunno, I kinda think ‘IF THEY’VE STOPPED SHOOTING, MAYBE YOU IDIOTS SHOULD TRY IT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS’ is kinda important on its own. As for the image itself, I think it’s probably someone trying to get noticed and act like they know more than they do. They routed it to a number of news feeds (including Discourse) through the Confidential Data Services Division of Intaki Bank, only a few hours before Makoto posted it here. The ‘star’ symbols all over it are clearly artifacts of the CDIA’s filing system, or intended by the distributor to emphasis ‘LOOK! THIS IS A **CONCORD** SECRET!!!’, because they’re just being _soooo_ damned subtle in general about it. Beyond that, the star itself (as it clearly is one, through time-lapse based on the activity in the corona) isn’t interesting. And no, it’s not a wormhole. It’s not a singularity. It’s _emitting_ light, and not just a couple of x-ray flares at the poles. And no, that is not a wormhole. It’s normal coronal activity with a bit of freaking lens flare. Not everything is amazingly super-duper hypercomplex OMG HIDDEN MESSAGE! crap. Whatever causes the changes on the left side of the image, however, _is_. Analysts are still working to determine if that’s a recording/camera artifact, or light reflecting off of something obscene large and in motion. One theory is indeed a hive, with the camera _behind_ the hive, at a distance of 1-2 light-minutes from the star, observing the star as a 2nd-order reflection. Without more information on the method of recording itself, there’s not really a lot that can be said with any real surety. > [@Yoshitaka\_Moromuo](#): > > I’ve still found no meaning behind the ID string itself… Well, then you’re an idiot, because the final sequence of Y120/02 is _this month_. The rest of it would be the file’s ID: T897R-4I-86G-78L-A1V564I18168A777899N. Presumably, each segment would tell us something important _if_ we had access to CONCORD’s file system. But we don’t. So the best you can probably get is that the first chunks are the incident’s ID, (itself multi-part), followed by the file type or image number in a series and an encrypted title. Honestly, if all you could come up with was ‘Triglavian’… ugh. > [@Makoto\_Priano](#): > > ARC commits genocide? I wouldn’t have said so before, but you know, now that you’ve taken to shooting first _and_ attacking clearly damaged, non-aggressive ships _en masse_? You’re getting closer. > [@Kalaratiri](#): > > Name one good thing they’ve done. Inb4MizSaysKilledTheEmpress? Still scrolling. > [@Evi\_Polevhia](#): > > Killed the Empress. Oh, snap, it wasn’t Miz. > [@Lasairiona\_Raske](#): > > Don’t you have anything better to do? Yeah, but I’ve been doing that all week and finally gotten a break, so I’m here for a bit. 😉 > [@Makoto\_Priano](#): > > I’m not one to think, without reason, “But this time will finally be different.” Yes, because them not being aggressive all of a sudden and not firing off their superweapons… that’s not a reason to think something’s different, right? > [@Jaret\_Victorian](#): > > Mizhara, do you really you compare us to suicide gankers in Uedama? Well, if you’re using cheap-ass crap that you know will get destroyed against high-value non-aggressive targets, even though there’s a relatively reliable way to do things that uses more expensive crap that’ll live… yeah, I’d say that puts you right into the CODE/Miniluv territory. For the record, given the amount of damage the superweapon puts out, properly tanked Damnations or Legions, with the right implants, can take the hit and survive. The Legions can even repair one another up, between shots, no problem. As for this ‘the Coercers are crewless’ crap… you’re liars. All of you. The crew on a Coercer aren’t there to ‘tighten bolts’. You don’t have people managing the systems, you don’t get the performance you need, not even for 30 seconds. And I say this as someone whose job it is to put absolute idiots in command of every goddamned hull in New Eden and get results. Don’t try to pass your crap off here. > [@Makoto\_Priano](#): > > With due respect, the hostility is because, for years, the same criticism has been levied by seemingly the same parties Well, now it’s being levied by me, and you know damned well I haven’t been throwing this at you for years, and I _have_ been a part of these efforts, if not with ARC. Seriously. Just because Miz says 1+1=2 that doesn’t mean it’s suddenly 3. She raised a very valid point: Their behavior has changed. Conditions have changed. You should take this opportunity to see if something OTHER than violence can get any results, before you go proving that to _them_ that there can be no peace. It being Miz doesn’t make her wrong. Getting your back up because you can’t _actually_ defend continuing the ceaseless aggression-in-the-name-of-science when confronted with ‘you know, this is the chance to do some _non-violent_ science’ doesn’t make you right. Conditions in space have changed. _Adapt_ to them. If they go back to shooting, you can always go back to shooting, _too_. ---
**Author:** ![Avio\_Yaken](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/avio_yaken/32/494184_2.png) [@Avio\_Yaken](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Avio_Yaken)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 3:43am UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/arc-large-and-heavily-damaged-drifter-fleet-encountered-in-hive-complex/57796/191 "2018-02-26T03:43:48Z")
> [@Arrendis](#): > > For all of maybe 20 minutes until the Republic Fleet lit a few cynos and started jumping in capitals and supercapitals to belch out fighters and baseliner RF ships. Holy carp, I know we don’t see them often, but the Navies do have capitals, people—ones that are much better protected now than Seraph was when she was destroyed If the Nation could install system wide cynosurial jamming fields in constellations they’re operating in. You don’t think Drifters would be capable of such a simple counter to keep republic capital fleets out? Hell, Capsuleers alone have access to that kind of tech - albeit not as powerful as we’ve seen it. ---
**Author:** ![Yoshitaka\_Moromuo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/yoshitaka_moromuo/32/66710_2.png) [@Yoshitaka\_Moromuo](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Yoshitaka_Moromuo)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 3:45am UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/arc-large-and-heavily-damaged-drifter-fleet-encountered-in-hive-complex/57796/192 "2018-02-26T03:45:25Z")
> [@Arrendis](#): > > Well, then you’re an idiot, because the final sequence of Y120/02 is this month. The rest of it would be the file’s ID: T897R-4I-86G-78L-A1V564I18168A777899N. Presumably, each segment would tell us something important if we had access to CONCORD’s file system. But we don’t. So the best you can probably get is that the first chunks are the incident’s ID, (itself multi-part), followed by the file type or image number in a series and an encrypted title. Honestly, if all you could come up with was ‘Triglavian’… ugh. That was day one of my review of it. Also, the date stamp was assumed and I didn’t consider it remarkable to bring up as it had already been mentioned in joint analyses. I’d show respect for your opinion… but you see fit to attack however much of one I have. Hardly professional behavior. ---
**Author:** ![Aradina\_Varren](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/aradina_varren/32/398702_2.png) [@Aradina\_Varren](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Aradina_Varren)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 3:48am UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/arc-large-and-heavily-damaged-drifter-fleet-encountered-in-hive-complex/57796/193 "2018-02-26T03:48:07Z")
It isn’t a star. Quick edit: Not really going to bother with anything else in the post. No ■■■■ there’s a timestamp. Good job. Gold star. A sticker, not an actual star which the object (clearly) isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Mizhara\_Del\_thul](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/mizhara_del_thul/32/486150_2.png) [@Mizhara\_Del\_thul](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Mizhara_Del_thul)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 3:52am UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/arc-large-and-heavily-damaged-drifter-fleet-encountered-in-hive-complex/57796/194 "2018-02-26T03:52:17Z")
It’s a tradehub. Well, tries to be at any rate. I can assure you, the Navies are already in place. ---
**Author:** ![Avio\_Yaken](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/avio_yaken/32/494184_2.png) [@Avio\_Yaken](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Avio_Yaken)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 3:58am UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/arc-large-and-heavily-damaged-drifter-fleet-encountered-in-hive-complex/57796/195 "2018-02-26T03:58:06Z")
Yes and whatever the Republic fleet has garrisons there would surely be enough to take on the Drifters should they make their move. Afterall…Just allowing them to freely scan Gates, Capsuleer ships and republic security vessels isn’t at all allowing them to gain intel on doctrines, right? Learning every little weak point in a vessels fitting to maximize the effcenicy of their mini doomsday cannons. They aren’t at all keeping an eye on the garrisons and determining how sizeable of a force they would need to wipe out any defenders?. Once those cynsoural fields go down along with Gates? No reinforcements to be had when the show starts. ---
**Author:** ![Mizhara\_Del\_thul](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/mizhara_del_thul/32/486150_2.png) [@Mizhara\_Del\_thul](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Mizhara_Del_thul)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 4:01am UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/arc-large-and-heavily-damaged-drifter-fleet-encountered-in-hive-complex/57796/196 "2018-02-26T04:01:59Z")
You think they need to sit there and scan the gates for that ■■■■? We’ve got every bit of tactical data publicly available as it is. They know our capabilities probably as well as we do at this point. Their behavior doesn’t match intel gathering at all. This is search and retrieval stuff. They’re looking for _something_. Invasion preparations look very different. ---
**Author:** ![Arrendis](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/arrendis/32/432594_2.png) [@Arrendis](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Arrendis)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 4:18am UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/arc-large-and-heavily-damaged-drifter-fleet-encountered-in-hive-complex/57796/197 "2018-02-26T04:18:45Z")
> [@Yoshitaka\_Moromuo](#): > > Hardly professional behavior. I have a profession. Happily it is not ‘respecting the opinions of fools’. ---
**Author:** ![Makoto\_Priano](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/makoto_priano/32/383919_2.png) [@Makoto\_Priano](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Makoto_Priano)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 4:25am UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/arc-large-and-heavily-damaged-drifter-fleet-encountered-in-hive-complex/57796/198 "2018-02-26T04:25:34Z")
Winds, but the bloviating. ---
**Author:** ![Arrendis](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/arrendis/32/432594_2.png) [@Arrendis](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Arrendis)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 4:34am UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/arc-large-and-heavily-damaged-drifter-fleet-encountered-in-hive-complex/57796/199 "2018-02-26T04:34:32Z")
Quips and dismissive evasion don’t change the facts. Conditions have changed. Adapt, or you waste an opportunity. ---
**Author:** ![Makoto\_Priano](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/makoto_priano/32/383919_2.png) [@Makoto\_Priano](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Makoto_Priano)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 4:47am UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/arc-large-and-heavily-damaged-drifter-fleet-encountered-in-hive-complex/57796/200 "2018-02-26T04:47:36Z")
Alright. You advise changed tactics, not just ‘blow them up.’ As usual, when conditions change, we attempt all manners of scans, observation, Entosis prodding, etc. Drifters have never responded to NeoCom traffic, and effort at ladar, radio, and other communication clearly hasn’t resulted in anything. What other efforts should be made? Preparation for an engagement of this sort isn’t instantaneous, so we usually have some time where our pilots are attempting to interact in a non-violent way, and observing Drifter behavior. Suggestions are appreciated. We _do_ run a gamut of tests to see if we observe a changed reaction. I would like to know: what methods do you advise for attempting to open communication? What are we missing? Because according you, Ms. Del’thul, Teinyhr, our efforts are insufficient. So; what efforts would pass muster? What’s the bar to surpass? And what would you consider adequate proof that the Drifters are a hazard that requires dealing with? Clearly, random death of unprepared Capsuleers isn’t sufficient, so-- what’s the bar there? ---
**Author:** ![Avio\_Yaken](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/avio_yaken/32/494184_2.png) [@Avio\_Yaken](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Avio_Yaken)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 5:04am UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/arc-large-and-heavily-damaged-drifter-fleet-encountered-in-hive-complex/57796/201 "2018-02-26T05:04:36Z")
> [@Arrendis](#): > > Adapt, or you waste an opportunity. Well, I certainly see an opportunity to thin their horde out by finishing off these crippled fleets. [Previous page](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/arc-large-and-heavily-damaged-drifter-fleet-encountered-in-hive-complex/57796.md?page=9) [Next page](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/arc-large-and-heavily-damaged-drifter-fleet-encountered-in-hive-complex/57796.md?page=11)