The Cluster wide Drifter crisis and its consequences

[Michael_Minate]

Since July 8, the Arataka Research Consortium has observed changes in the combat and deployment patterns of Drifter forces within the hive systems they formerly controlled and across New Eden, and most notably concerning the fact that Drifter units deployed in hive systems and high-security systems no longer appear to be using their Doomsday Weapons.

Here is an interesting and good thread detailing these changes.

[ARC] Reporting abnormality in Drifter Primary Strike weapons

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…

I also put forward hypotheses regarding the potential reasons for these shifts in Drifter behavior.

[ARC] Reporting abnormality in Drifter Primary Strike weapons

All these reports are very interesting. Some explorers sent by my corporation have also noticed these changes. We mainly believe this is a new combat and manufacturing strategy adopted by the Drifters to cope with their new situation. Having lost systems, and key infrastructures within them, we theorize that they have had to adapt and develop guerrilla tactics focused on rapid, efficient strikes, while also scaling back Doomsday Weapons production, possibly due to a loss of industrial capacity…