Sanctified Vidette Research Facility, origin of Conquest research.
Conquest Revealed and Banned
A long-running series of Inner Circle sessions has come to an end with an agreement not to activate a theoretical technology. The technology in question is called “Conquest”. Based on Drifter Hyperspace Network research, Conquest devices could be the most powerful weapons ever developed, even though they do not involve the firing of any shots or dropping of any bombs. That is because Conquest technology unlocks the power to take control of an entire star system at once.
Conquest is extrapolated from Drifter hyperspace communication technology, the same technology believed to have been used to damage the gates surrounding Jita earlier this year. These devices, known as “Conquest Engines”, would require significant time to configure to local variables, but once activated would send out a pulse across hyperspace that executes a higher-dimensional cyber attack on every military complex and planetary defense grid within the gravity well of a star. This will grant the group in control of the activated device total control over the system for an extended period of time before conventional warfare can resume in the area.
The Amarr were the first major faction to begin investigating the theoretical possibility of Conquest technology, but shortly thereafter, the Caldari and Minmatar redirected their own Drifter Technology research programs towards developing their own devices. According to Head of Inner Circle Irhes Angireh, “CONCORD became aware of these research programs in late September. We immediately called for an Inner Circle meeting to try and negotiate the ban that is being announced today”.
CONCORD’s swift action was a result of concerns raised by their own science teams over the possible collateral damage these Conquest Engines could unleash. Conquest by design is about control rather than destruction. However, it is a brute-force communication attack that extends down from higher dimensions in a controlled collapse guided by gravitational forces, requiring extremely complex engineering and relying on a connection to the poorly understood Drifter Network. In space, theoretically, it should have minimal interference and be able to pinpoint its intended targets. Deep within local gravity wells, such as those around large moons or planets, any system could be at risk.
That means airborne transports could fall out of the sky, entire cities could suddenly go offline, or even medical facilities could fail. CONCORD estimates that within the average warzone system, tens of thousands of civilian lives could be lost after every Conquest attack. Losses would be exponentially higher within more populated systems. Shielding infrastructure from these attacks is beyond any known current technology. In fact, the only theorized method for stopping a Conquest Engine is another Conquest Engine.
Angireh has stated that, “It was a hard-fought agreement, but all four Empires have signed a pact stating that they will not deploy any Conquest device first in a conflict.” The specificity of this wording was the result of weeks of negotiations. In theory, no empire can ever deploy a Conquest Engine so long as this agreement holds; however, it also means that the moment one empire deploys a device, it opens the way for all others to deploy their own. Political pundits have called this a “tenuous agreement at best”, and many fear it is only a matter of time before this dangerous technology changes the nature of war forever.
No one is more aware of the dangers of this future than the Gallente Federation. As the only major power without control over a Drifter wormhole system, the Federation is unable to develop any technologies based on the Drifter Hyperspace Network. If the Caldari State were to field a Conquest Engine unopposed, the Gallente would be defenseless. When asked about the potential threat, President Alix Moreau told the Scope, “This technology is extremely dangerous. There is no denying that when faced with the facts.” When asked how they planned to deal with a potential Conquest attack, they responded, “We cannot disclose the nature of our operations at this time. The Federation is entering a golden age of innovation, and we will stop at nothing to develop the means our people need not only to survive, but to flourish.”
The Origin of Conquest
The theory behind Conquest technology was first developed by a young but already lauded Amarrian scientist, Choralmaster Sitareh Lex. She is part of a little-known order of empirical-theologians called The Chorus of the Echoing Word. Made up of experts from Hedion University and the Royal Amarr Institute, as well as members of the Council of Theology, these empirical-theologians are dedicated to scientific study as a path to revealing sacred truth. Their name itself reflects a religious perspective on a scientific event. The Echoing Word holds that our universe began with the first word of God, and that reality as we know it is but the echoes of that word. This is a description of the event secular scientists would call the Big Bang.
Sitareh Lex was part of the science team that first experimented with the Drifter Network in Sanctified Vidette following the resolution of the Drifter Crisis. That research led her to write a paper, which she submitted for publication on YC128.09.21. In this paper, she described how the communication capabilities of the network could be guided by the deformation of space caused by gravity. It also broke down how the Jita incident had demonstrated that it would be a simple matter to overpower complex devices.
The paper was not approved for publication and was quickly flagged as classified intelligence by the Royal Amarr Institute, which passed it on to the high commanders of the Imperial Navy and the Empress herself. Working with Lex, they reworked her theories into a practical military framework they codenamed “Conquest”.
Despite the initial paper never being published, rumors of the theoretical framework behind it began to circulate. It was not long before the Caldari and Minmatar began working on their own versions of the project in their respective Drifter wormholes. With all of this activity, it was inevitable that CONCORD would become aware of the research and seek to intervene.
With Conquest technology now revealed, Sitareh Lex’s involvement has also become public knowledge. Reactions to her have been varied, with some reviling her as a villain responsible for unleashing untold destruction, and others celebrating her as New Eden’s first hyperspace genius. She is known to have found great favor with Captain Marshal Xer Qosh, who has called her “blessed with the Lord’s true vision.” She is even known to have been summoned to numerous private meetings with the Empress herself.
Born a commoner and raised in a backwater holding in Anath, Lex could not have grown up further from the seat of power in the Empire. Her sudden rise to prominence is rumored to be a source of unrest amongst the Holders, while it is causing her to quickly gain popularity amongst her fellow commoners.
When interviewed, Lex refuses to comment on political matters. She told the Amarr Certified News, “I am a humble student of our Lord’s creation. All I have done is reveal one fraction of its glory, great and terrible as it may be.”
News in Brief
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New swathe of Federation Rogue Drone research facilities pushed through by Presidential Executive Order.
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Totality Day celebrated with destruction as battle against Blood Raider assault continues.
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SOCT’s Matshi Raish rumored to have abstained from Conquest tech Inner Circle vote.
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Hetman General Filmir assures Republic clans “Conquest is only a deterrent”.
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Provost Marshal Valkanir on unpaid leave amidst closed-door EDENCOM investigation.
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Executive General Torigo blames Conquest tech ban on “Gallente cowardice”.
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Battle in Obe between Snuffed Out and Winter Co leads to destruction of 35 titans.
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First Vanquisher lost since YC126 after Kalayavan Medellin taken down by 748 pilots.
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Turboencabulator Repairman led battle logistics efforts with 996,299 HP repaired.
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JADE DRAG0NESS's Avatar led destruction efforts with 4.15M HP damage dealt.