Die Wilde Jagd Earhart Mechanism Research

[Chronicron]

Earhart Mechanism - Dark Matter Cloud Study

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Research Entry .005.1 - Dark Matter Report

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Survey Asset "Haferbock" was successful in its mission in reaching the Crossroads. We've ventured into the Dark Matter Cloud alone as to avoid unwanted attention. As soon as the survey area was reached, the sensor arrays were jammed with severe interference. Suffice to say it is impractical or impossible to record any readings of the cloud itself from within.

Visibility conditions are extreme, without any open space pockets found within the cloud. Presence of static reactions is confirmed. Upon exiting the cloud, it was revealed that the hull of "Haferbock" - both its internal and external parts - has been greatly degraded and heavily contaminated, which suggests that highly concentrated radioactive emissions are, also, present. In our pre-flight check, the radiation detectors aboard were given a rundown, and they appeared to be functioning as intended. However, given how they failed to report the hazardous presence in the first place, in coup with extreme navigational hazards, it is suffice to conclude that conducting any further studies of the cloud in lighter vessels is impractical. Prolonged presence in fortified vessels is also inadvisable.

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Research Entry .005.2 - Lost Doorway

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As stated by the initial survey report, the Doorways of the Crossroads are aligned in an octagonal pattern, with only seven of them being visible, and as was theorized, the eighth Doorway could have been located inside of the cloud. Though, with extreme visibility conditions in place, we have still been successful in proving that theory - there are indeed eight Doorways, and one of them has indeedly been submerged within the Dark Matter Cloud.

We were able to cross-reference the shape of the cloud and the position of the Doorway itself relevant to it, and it appears that the theorized origin of it is also correct. A catastrophic event, which brought about the existence of this cloud on one end, has somehow connected to the Crossroads, with the Dark Matter seeping in through the opening. The irregularity observed in the pattern of the Doorways suggests that the Earhart Mechanism was in a perfect working condition before this catastrophe has occurred, and that the Dark Matter is somehow responsible for irregularities in its work. It is possible that the Mechanism relies on an octagonal network of Doorways to function properly, for it to be able to define specific destinations and for them all to function at once without any interference. However, the Dark Matter would certainly work as a metaphorical "resistor" to cut the current of the Doorways, especially if it surrounds one of them. Alternatively, it could be blocking any incoming requests from the Mechanism to the Doorway itself, causing a Mechanism to enter a state of a paradox, as it probably has not been designed with such conditions in mind.

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Research Entry .005.3 - Clues of Origin

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Following the vector of the Doorway's designated exit towards the Mechanism, we were able to locate ship wreckages within the cloud. Aforementioned poor visibility conditions and scanner interferences made the process of identification quite problematic. Surface observations revealed the found vessels to be of Libertonian Corporate origin. The vessels appear to have been heavily corroded by radiation, narrowing down the time window of theirs - and the Cloud's - appearance. It is possible that the origin of the Dark Matter Cloud is related to the Dallas Incident. A probable theory is that the Supergate Project has somehow linked to the Crossroads, but it could not handle the working capacity of the Mechanism, which caused the Supergate to rupture from within, resulting in the following catastrophe.

In summary, we were able to discern that the Dark Matter has an effect on the Earhart Mechanism's functionality. Namely, it has a critical design flaw - it needs to link to all eight doorways to function properly. If at least one of the Doorways remains unresponsive, it will cause the Mechanism to enter a stage of paradox, in which it may not direct the rest of them. Alternatively, the eight Doorways represent a current, which is necessary to support the Mechanism's capability in creating Rifts to designated locations. An interruption in the current by external conditions, like Dark Matter, may cause irregularities in directional input, leading the Doorways to "flare up" at random without any cohesive designations. Determining which theory is right is imperative in our understanding of the Mechanism, yet so is considering all the options laid in front of us.

Further study of the Dark Matter Cloud is deemed unnecessary. Henceforth, Project File 005 may be considered as "completed".