[Report published in the Einherjar Foundation’s high archives on August 9, YC128]
[View and possession authorized only to members of the Neo-Matar’s Creation Circle]
[Only House Brezia, the United Neopian Federation, Taayusaka Eskeitan, the Minmatar Republic and the upper echelons of the Foundation are allowed to know about what the Fafnir Guard have done, recovered and discovered during Operation Avalon.]
[An emergency measure to remove this report and associated reports from the Foundation’s servers is ready to be activated in the event of an outside investigation deemed too intrusive.]
Context:
From July 7 to July 20 YC128, warclones of various types and allegiances conducted attacks on the Upwell Consortium’s planetary facilities across New Eden. AEGIS collaborated with Upwell to repel these raids. Avalon forces, using intelligence obtained from the warclones assaulting Upwell planetside assets, discovered and investigated space assets controlled by both Upwell and AEGIS, providing the capsuleers with an opportunity to attack these assets. All these assets and facilities appeared to be linked to a mysterious and vast project.
Many of these warclones were members of the formerly Deathless-aligned Vanguard warclone army, now led by an assembly called the Lords of Avalon and allied with the also formerly Deathless-aligned Arkombine warclone group. This operation was dubbed “Operation Avalon” and aimed to steal materials and components from Upwell to complete the construction of a stolen Deathless Forward Operating Base of a seemingly different design, a bastion named Avalon. This is likely the same “Deathless Avalon” bastion whose existence we discovered during the Vanguard/Upwell conflict of YC127. Avalon is supposed to be accompanied by other ships, forming a nomadic flotilla travelling across New Eden.
The Republic Security Services have engaged various types of mercenary warclones, including Vanguards, to conduct clandestine operations at these targeted Upwell facilities. This is intended to disrupt the Consortium’s cohesion, possibly to reduce their effectiveness in repelling Vanguard attacks, or to curry favor with the Lords of Avalon or diminish the Upwell Consortium’s influence, or maybe both. The exact reason remains unknown. However, the Republic warclones’ assaults allowed Avalon to gather sufficient intelligence to discover the aforementioned space installations and enable Minmatar-loyal capsuleers to recover the Vanguard’s “Resonant Cyphers” by attacking ships found there. It seems these Cyphers were taken from defeated Vanguard forces.
Traders from the Avalon Flotilla were present in Minmatar Republic territory from July 7 to July 28, inciting local capsuleers to surrender previously lost Resonant Cyphers in exchange for various items. This gave the Republic and its capsuleer loyalists an opportunity to demonstrate their goodwill toward the Lords of Avalon by returning these Cyphers and encouraging them to live in Matari space, probably to gain access to their bastion’s advanced technology and power.
Between the arrival in the territories of other empires during the same period of other representatives of Vanguard traders with the same objectives as those within Matari space, the Upwell Consortium’s public announcement that the empires’ secret services are funding Vanguard operations to obtain tactical intel and strategic advantages, and the fact that it is crucial for the empires in this period of diplomatic instability and military escalation to build up their forces and acquire as many advantages as possible, we have concluded that the Amarr Empire, the Caldari State, and the Gallente Federation also wish to gain favor with Avalon in order to gain access to its technology and have therefore also organized clandestine attacks against Upwell’s facilities.
- An Aeon-class super-carrier belonging to Avalon traders. picture taken in Rens.
- An alleged and unconfirmed picture of Elyan Avalon under construction.
Report of the Dialectic Proving session concerning the involvement of the Einherjar Foundation with Operation Avalon:
Right after they discovered Operation Avalon started, Michael Minate I and Michael Minate II had the idea of involving the Foundation’s Fafnir Guard in this operation on behalf of the Minmatar Republic and convened a Dialectic Proving session with the Main Board of Directors, including Divisional General Skard Freir as a special participant, to gather their opinion and decides what should be done. The session took place that same day after a briefing on the situation and additional information gathered by the Foundation’s media informants and analysts were sent to the session’s participants.
Minate I and II presented their reasoning: although seemingly unfinished, Avalon appears to be a structure containing advanced technologies that could be of great use to the Republic and its wars. It is also very likely that the Vanguards possess useful information regarding Jovian technology and the Deathless Circle. Although they acknowledged that the prospect of collaborating with people complicit in terrible crimes against the Republic and New Eden and with a certain tendency to betray is rightly off-putting, the fact that the Empires and Avalon are willing to collaborate proves that there is a chance these potential alliances could work out well for both sides and that yet another rebellion could likely be easily suppressed, as the empires are well aware of the dangers posed by the Deathless Circle and their technology and would not reasonably take such risks if they weren’t worthwhile. Avalon, for its part, surely knows they must tread carefully if they wish to preserve their lives and freedom.
They announced their will to deploy the Fafnir Guard, whose unparalleled expertise within the Foundation would allow for maximum efficiency and discretion, helping securing a significant strategic advantage while minimizing the risk of their involvement in the Operation leaking out, and causing a scandal within the PAIRC, tarnishing the Foundation’s attempt to portray itself as protectors of the people. They also suggested that the Vanguards could potentially become allies in the fight against Shakor’s junta, although they acknowledged that the Republic should make sure that they no longer pose a threat to the stability of the cluster or to a potential revolution beforehand.
Director Ladonssund Sklor seemed disturbed by Minate I and II’s plea but judged that the Foundation’s participation could be beneficial, at least technologically, and that it might be worthwhile despite all the potential risks. She continued, saying that it would be wise to take advantage of the situation to recover Upwell’s assets and data targeted by the Lords of Avalon during this operation in order to learn more about the Vanguards’ objectives regarding the construction of Avalon and other potentially advantageous uses. She added that the Foundation should also investigate the secret project seemingly being developed by Upwell and AEGIS in order to better understand the plans of this organization, certainly dedicated to the protection of humanity, but whose zeal can prove dangerous and counterproductive. Furthermore, it would be an opportunity to learn more about what the Fafnir Guard might eventually recover from Upwell’s planetside facilities, given the transits between targeted planetary and space installations, and to recover Vanguard Resonant Cyphers. The rest of the Board and Freir approved these remarks.
Director Alderid Nurn Adestur was clearly not satisfied with this proposal. He acknowledged that acquiring Avalon could offer an advantage to the Republic, but he strongly insisted that the Vanguards must first be tried and arrested, or purged if no other option are available, and their technology seized, arguing that they couldn’t and shouldn’t be trusted given their propensity for treason and the heinous crimes they have done. He was therefore also firmly opposed to allying with them, both during a potential revolution against Shakor and during calmer times. This remark was acknowledged by the rest of the Board.
Representative Ludetulf Ronuken approved the Minates’ decision and proposal but firmly insisted that the Foundation’s involvement in all of this must remain absolutely secret, especially given the recent rise in influence of the political opposition within the PAIRC, which he believed would surely seize the opportunity to accuse the Foundation of collaborating with “a vile enemy of the Minmatar people.” He added that it would be even worse to openly ally with the Vanguard, even to lead a revolution against Shakor, given the negative consequences this could have on the Foundation’s reputation. He proposed that, should an alliance with the Lords of Avalon ever become necessary and risk exposure, the Technocratic Council’s propaganda should be steered toward an even more pragmatic approach, aiming to convince as many people as possible that allying with former members of the Deathless Circle isn’t inherently immoral or dangerous while simultaneously escalating the struggle against their opponents or even resorting to authoritarian methods if their influence became too detrimental to the colony’s cohesion.
Adestur rejected this proposal, describing it as scandalous, immoral, and contrary to the Foundation’s values. He argued that it would be more damaging to the Foundation’s reputation than anything else, regardless of the amount of propaganda the Technocratic Council produced, reiterating that all the Vanguards deserves are to be tried and imprisoned, or annihilated if the situation demand it. Starting from this premise, he reaffirmed that it would be pointless, dangerous, and misguided to ally with them. Ronuken countered that he had said this hypothetically and that he would only reluctantly support these policies if there were no other possible means. Adestur asserted that simply mentioning these practices as being viable and effective is already a problem in itself. Ronuken’s proposal was not met with great enthusiasm by the rest of the Board and Freir, with Adestur’s remark on the subject being better received.
Divisional General Skard Freir accepted the mission of Minate I and II without hesitation. She added that although she didn’t entirely trust the Vanguards’ ability to be honorable guests or allies, she believed it would be relatively easy for the empires to keep them in check and affirmed that the Guard would be ready to help subdue them if necessary and if the Minates ordered it. This remark was acknowledged by the rest of the Board.
With the session concluded, Michael Minate II officially relinquished his position as supervisor of the joint post-Warpath conflict/Starkmanir Restoration criminal investigation and pacification campaign. Instead, he were to oversee assaults and investigations on Upwell Consortium planetary installations with Freir’s assistance, while Michael Minate I supervised investigations of Upwell and AEGIS space installations as well as the Vanguards’ presence across space. Discussions regarding further collaboration with the Vanguards and preparations for such a project were put on hold for the time being.
Nemesis Protocol Investigation Report:
The Lords of Avalon’s investigations and capsuleer raids enabled the Fafnir Guard to discover and explore abandoned Upwell Consortium and AEGIS stations and bases. Members of the Guard were advised to avoid engaging AEGIS forces at all costs, although some battles between them inevitably occured. Given the extent of the research effort for this project and its apparent novelty, Michael Minate I, II and Freir presumed that it was part of the black budget research projects whose existence was reported in late June and that the Vanguards decided to investigate and attack Upwell and AEGIS following its report.
- AEGIS’s Nemesis Command Center. Picture taken in Bongveber.
- AEGIS Joint Operation Site. Picture taken in Fredagod.
After examining these sites, it was concluded that the project’s is focused on a SARO protocol named “Nemesis” and that it is a secret military research and manufacturing project with the goal to exterminate the Vanguards and possibly other rogue warclones, explaining the Lords of Avalon’s interest in it. This project appeared to involve AI, robotics, and drone warfare.
A large number of Vanguard Resonant Cyphers were recovered from explored stations and looted convoy wrecks transiting between targeted Upwell and AEGIS installations, or purchased within the Hek, Rens, and Jita trade hubs. Most were given to Avalon traders within Minmatar territory, but 206 were retained for study at the PAIRC.
Information obtained by the forces led by Michael Minate II and Skard Freir were far more conclusive.
Planetary command buildings often contained what appeared to be large military drone hulls prototypes.
Hacking the command zone’s terminals generally permitted the Guard to “unlock” of some of these prototypes and to recovery their components. Three components of seemingly great importance, along with data about them, were recovered and sent to the PAIRC for analysis. These drones and components were linked to Project Nemesis.
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Nemesis Cores: a military resource comprised of an advanced AI computing core hosting intelligences that simulate deeply predatory and mortally sadistic behaviors.
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Resonant Conduits: an engineering resource comprised of a complex circuit woven around a network core designed to mediate the infomorphic flow of data to something called “Resonant Garden.” We do not yet know the nature of this Garden, but it could be the same “watching” Garden mentioned in Lord Warden Elyan’s missive to the Vanguards of New Eden from January 16th YC128, and we assume it is an entity that oversees the Vanguards’ infomorph management.
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Resonant Firecores: a military resource comprised of a series of sequentially linked neural processors. They also possess autonomous combat data processing systems that border on cognizance.
Attacks on towers used to ship assets from planets to space led to the discovery of a fourth important component of the Nemesis project, which was also sent to the PAIRC for study.
- Nemesis Logics: an engineering resource possessing advanced sub-quantum circuitry. This is the foundation of a twisted simulation of monstrous cunning and pathological aggression intended to be housed within drones.
Personnel assigned to the study and hauling of Nemesis Cores and Logics were strongly advised to proceed with extreme caution when handling these components while following the list of expected minimum precautions provided by the United Neopian Federation. They were also advised to prepare to use our Bulwark cyberwarfare and containment AI against any out of control and dangerous Nemesis element.
The results of research on recovered components are to be shared with House Brezia, the United Neopian Federation, Taayusaka Eskeitan and the Minmatar Republic.
Conclusion: AEGIS and the Upwell Consortium are collaborating to develop a new generation of military drones simulating highly violent and dangerous behaviors with the purpose to exterminate the Vanguards, using “Resonant” and possibly Jovian technologies related to infomorph transfer in this the process. It has been theorized that these “Nemesis drones” could capture infomorphs from downed warcones to obtain further intel, or even interface with Avalon’s infomorph transfer networks to disrupt them. It is also theorized that the retrieval and transport of Vanguard Resonant Cyphers by AEGIS and Upwell is crucial for developing these drones.
This is a disturbing turn of event that could easily degenerate and requires close monitoring. It reminded Michael Minate I and II of a conspiracy theory concerning “The Radius” a supposed secret group comprised of CONCORD’s CDIA, SARO, and Inner Circle which allegedly operates “black labs” and conducts “forbidden experiments” according to the Pharos of Thera whistleblower group. Although this theory was denied by CONCORD, it would be wise to re-examine it in light of the discoveries of the Fafnir Guard.
Detailed investigation reports.
The apparent finality of Operation Avalon:
On August 6 YC128, AEGIS accused the Caldari State of harboring the Avalon Flotilla, stating that “Raids were carried out by capsuleers on AEGIS facilities across the cluster during the Vanguard’s recent Operation Avalon. Stolen assets from those raids have been discovered across the cluster, but by far the largest number have been traced to Caldari space.” It is likely that these assets were Resonant Cyphers and that it was through them that the State was able to obtain Avalon’s favor and presence in its space. Although the State denied these accusations, given that it is very likely interested in Avalon in light of the current diplomatic and military situation and the presence of Avalon representatives within their space during and shortly after Operation Avalon, it is likely that AEGIS is correct. Furthermore, we have received no new information from the Republic regarding the possible arrival of Avalon in our space.
- Alleged and unconfirmed picture of the Elyan Avalon Flotilla. The source is an anonymous photography amateur.
