[ARC] Reporting abnormality in Drifter Primary Strike weapons

Fiction Portal Intergalactic Summit
1

Greetings fellow capsuleers and viewers of the IGS,

I am making this report on behalf of the Arataka Research Consortium (ARC) and with its consent.

I have led a Drifter Hive Fleet on behalf of ARC on the 4th of July, YC 128. During this operation, the fleet entered the Liberated Barbican Hive wormhole and succesfully got in position to engage the Drifter and sleeper forces at the Drifter Hive. During the engagement the fleet dealt with the Hikanta Tyrannos and 3 additional Drifter Battleships that were being piloted by a combination of Artemis Tyrannos and Apollo Tyrannos.

The fleet succesfully went through the steps to make the Primary Strike weapon or ‘Doomsday’ of these battleships miss its intented target. However upon destroying the overshield on each Drifter battleship, no charging or firing of their Primary Strike weapon was observed. I first observed this when the fleet dealt with the Hikanta Tyrannos. When dealing with the combination of Artemis Tyrannos and Apollo Tyrannos fleet members confirmed this observation.

I have reached out to one of my contacts who have corroborated these observations in their recent engagements at Drifter Hive(s). Another contact reported that this is also happening within Pochven.

At the time of writing this report it is unknown when this abnormality has begun, what is causing or triggering it or how much longer this abnormality will remain. I will support ARC in the upcomming weeks to gather more information to further investigate and report on this abnormality.

Other information I can share on the current situation regarding the Drifter Hives is this:

  • Besides the Hikanta Tyrannos, there are usually 2 or 3 additional Drifter battleships present at the Hive. ARC fleets recently encountered mostly 3 additional Drifter battleship but there has been one encounter that reported 4 additional Drifter battleships;
  • During recent ARC Drifter Hive Fleet operations, the damage output from the ‘regular’ weapons on the Drifter battleships seems to have increased, compared to the situation and time before the Drifter Crisis;
  • Besides Drifter battleships, one will usually encounter 2 Sleeper battleships and a several Sleeper cruisers;
  • Occasionally its also possible to run into a group or groups of Autothysian Lancers;
  • It has been observed that each Drifter battleship, group of Autothysian Lancers and Sleeper ships can select their own target.
  • This split aggression and increase of damage output have overwhelmed recent ARC fleet logistical ships several times, so anyone unprepared for this is in for a very brief and explosive experience;

ARC will continue to monitor and investigate this abnormality further and will provide relevant updates as time progresses. In other news regarding the Drifter Hives and ARC operations within it:

  • ARC is finalizing its updated fleet doctrine and tactics for the Hives within the Azdaja Redoubt, Liberated Barbican, Sanctified Vidette and Sentinel MZ;
  • ARC is getting closer to updating its fleet doctrine and tactics for the Conflux Eyrie;
  • The ARC updated fleet doctrine and tactics assumes that the abnormality in Drifter Pimary Strike weapons is temporary in nature.

Regards,

DutchGunner

8 Likes
Rumors! Gossip! Tabloids!
2

There has been another Drifter Hive Fleet on behalf of ARC on the 11th of July, YC 128. This fleet entered both the Azdaja Redoubt and Liberated Barbican and succesfully engaged the Drifter and Sleeper forces at the Hive in each system.

The engagement at the hive in the Azdaja Redoubt includes several abnormalities:

  • The fleet only encountered the Hikanta Tyrannos. There were no additional escorting Drifter battleships present.
  • The Sleeper ships were spread out in different groups and at a much greater distance from the warp-in point then usual;
  • One group of Sleeper ships was 280-300 km away from the warp-in point and ignored the fleet and the combat;
  • Upon destruction of the overshield, the Hikanta Tyrannos did not charge or fire it’s ‘doomsday’;
  • A single Apollo Tyrannos warped in some time after the Hikanta Tyrannos was destroyed;
  • Upon destruction of the overshield, the Apollo Tyrannos also did not charge or fire its 'doomsday.

The engagement at the hive in the Liberated Barbican was mostly in line with what was expected:

  • The Hikanta Tyrannos was being escorted by only a single Apollo Tyrannos instead of 3 additional Drifter battleships;
  • Both Hikanta Tyrannos and the Apollo Tyrannos did not charge or fire their ‘doomsday’ after their overshields were destroyed;
  • Some time after the destruction of Hikanta Tyrannos and the Apollo Tyrannos, a pair of Apollo Tyrannos warped in. Neither of these charged or fired their ‘doomsday’ after their overshields were destroyed.

In order to further look into this abnormality, the fleet has made multiple recordings of during its operation with in the Hives. I have made the recommendation to ARC to share these recordings with the relevant authorities.

The fleet on the 11th of July, YC 128, has confirmed the abnormality within the Drifter Hive systems. I have therefore started preperations to take a fleet into Pochven to confirm reports that this abnormality is also happening there.

Regards,

DG

1 Like