[Report published in the PAIRC’s high government archives on September 24, YC127]
[View and possession authorized only to the Founders, members of the Technocratic Council, and the Watcher]
On September 16, YC127, an unknown number of Vanguard-type warclones were deployed across the cluster and targeted operations of the Upwell Consortium. At the time of writing, this conflict is still ongoing.
Some of these vanguards are fulfilling contracts for third parties, including, to our knowledge, the Minmatar Republic and CONCORD’s Special Affairs for Regulations and Order special forces unit. It is likely that the Deathless Circle also employs vanguards, given the Circle’s interest in “Sealed Projects Containers” transported in unregistered Upwell convoys, which are being targeted by various capsuleers following leaks of their location due to vanguard assaults against the consortium.
Other factions, possibly other empires and states, criminal organizations, and mercenary agencies, may be involved in this conflict. It is not impossible that non-vanguard warclones are also involved and/or in the service of the aforementioned confirmed and hypothetical factions.
It is important to mention that the Upwell Consortium is partnering with EDENCOM in the study of Drifter technology in the Sentinel MZ system. It is possible that vanguard assaults and their hiring by third parties are motivated by the desire to seize or investigate Drifter technologies studied or developed as a result of this partnership. It is not impossible that factions that failed to develop the technologies necessary to begin annexing Drifter hive systems have or will try to make up for it by participating in this conflict.
We theorized that if Upwell is specifically targeted, it could be because they lack the resources or the inclination to properly ensure the security of their assets across the cluster, or at least because they give this impression to outside factions and individuals, which would motivate opportunistic factions and individuals to take advantage of it.
This could be corroborated by the fact that in November YC126, the appeal of Equinox colony administrators for additional security was rejected by the Consortium despite the theft of equipment from these colonies and the suspicion of coordinated operations caused by these thefts.
According to the testimony of Michael Minate II, the Minmatar Republic agents who hired him during this conflict to exploit Upwell’s losses to the Republic’s advantage described Upwell as “greedy” and “wasteful,” in addition to having "spread their forces too thinly”. While not everything they say should be believed, as these agents are possibly biased by the authoritarian and nationalistic nature of the Republican government, these statements are likely rooted in a certain reality, or at least an understandable impression of how the Consortium manages its forces.
Michael Minate II was deployed to conflict zones to investigate the third parties involved and the possible presence of vanguards hired by organizations hostile to the Republic or dangerous to the stability of the cluster as a whole, such as the Amarr Empire, pirate factions, and the Deathless Circle.
Another of his objectives was to investigate the possible presence of Drifter technology that may have motivated the attacks of other vanguards, and if possible, to seize it or obtain information about it for study and exploitation in the service of our cause. He also served the Minmatar Republic in the aforementioned operations.
Michael Minate I managed to obtain 10 Sealed Project Containers by purchasing them from several capsuleers at the Jita 4-4 trade hub. It is likely that these capsuleers obtained these containers illegally by attacking recently revealed Upwell convoys. These containers, and if possible their content, will be investigated as soon as possible.
Michael Minate II also worked for SARO during this conflict. SARO’s objective is to find a way to infiltrate a place named “Avalon”, the “first bastion” being built by the Deathless Circle.
Note: For clarity and to avoid confusion with Avalon as a concept or the Round Table Assembly’s independent and free confederacy of Avalon, this bastion will be referred to as “Deathless Avalon” in the rest of this report and future ones.
According to SARO members who contacted Minate II, it is a “marvel”, “a seat of power”, "something that will shape the cluster”. We theorize from this description that Deathless Avalon and bastions in general will be fortified bases equipped with advanced technology, maybe of precursor origin, that will allow them to have a significant impact on the cluster, since this is the Circle’s modus operandi. Perhaps a similar way to how Deathless forward operating bases are deployed during pirate insurgencies. Since Upwell is studying Drifter technology, and if sealed container are indeed linked to this, then this may be why the Circle wants to seize them, perhaps in order to further develop Deathless Avalon and its potential technologies. We don’t know where Deathless Avalon is yet.
We don’t yet have any information on these hypothetical technologies, but here’s what we assume they could be:
- Hacking technologies comparable to Trustbreakers arrays deployed in November YC127
- Space-time alteration technologies for troop and asset transportation or protection, similar to the Selective Hyperdimensional Event Horizon generated by the Fulcrum during the Siege of Zarzakh
- The use of cybernetic and biological modification technologies to create warclones and/or other types of military personnel more “powerful” than those employed by the Circle’s adversaries.
The study of Drifter technology by EDENCOM, the Upwell Consortium, the Minmatar Republic, the Caldari State, and the Amarr Empire could provide an advantage in combating the potential threat posed by Deathless Avalon. Although the Deathless-controlled Warden and its connection to the hyperspace network could represent a significant challenge, it is not impossible that the research conducted during the Drifter crisis, the possibility of remote hijacking of the Warden again, and the potential infiltration by SARO of the Circle and Deathless Avalon could provide a balance between the insurgent and legitimate forces of the cluster.
The use of the name Avalon suggests that this location could serve as a refuge and base for vanguards, or warclones associated with the Circle in general, inspired by the ideals behind the creation of Avalon as a concept and places. If so, we also believe that Arkombine may have some influence on it, given their history and purpose. Furthermore, given the discovery of the Deathless Avalon construction project, the use of the name “Warden” for the Jovian station decloaked on November 12, YC126 makes us wonder if this name might be inspired by the rank of “Warden of Avalon” of the Bosena Accords. If so, perhaps the Warden will be used to “power” or create the hypothetical technologies of Deathless Avalon.
All information about bastions and Deathless Avalon must be collected in order to prepare for their finalization and the impact they could have and to better fight the Circle and their allies, the potential technologies used there could be useful to us, the Republic and the rest of the cluster.