The Jovian Stargates Were Found

CCP announced the search for hidden Jovian stargates, known as Operation Epiphany, last Tuesday. I really hope the devs didn't expect the activity to last a long time, because by Saturday players located all four gates. The efforts were led by Fraternity. and the Arataka Research Corp. Fraternity. pilots in the Winter Co. Research Group discovered gates in Turnur, a low sec system in Metropolis and G-0Q86 in Curse. Pilots crediting ARC for their open source data approach discovered hidden gates in Alsavoinon in low sec Placid and H-PA29 in Venal.

CCP is really pulling out all the stops in supporting the current live event arc as a new Scope video launched on Saturday as well.

At a ceremony at a Society of Conscious Thought station in the Venal system of FDZ4-A, the video appears to show the pilots involved in discovering the hidden gates receiving their rewards. A nice touch on the part of the video maker.

The video also laid out what is next for players as New Eden progresses through the story arc. During the ceremony, Elder Mentor Matshi Raish of the SoCT stated:

Preliminary findings from a survey of the first gate to be found indicater it has probably been recently reconnected with its destination system. However, it is clearly in a locked state and is almost certainly under control of a network rooted through its connection, likely at some central location. 

We speculate that the controlling location is that referred to by the name Zarzakh. This name appears to be an ancient Amar word meaning "at the edge". But it is currently unclear what this may refer to. We believe that the Deathless is controlling the state of this gate and any others that exist from this Zarzakh location. 

Rest assured that every effort will be made to gain further understanding of this remarkable discovery and make sure that the opportunities and knowledge it brings will be used to the benefit of all of New Eden. 

While the Society is made up of a bunch of idealists who the Jove made their heirs, the rest of the cluster had different ideas. Below are some selected items taken from the scroll bar at the bottom of the video.

• CONCORD warns of intelligence indicating large increase in pirate activity in militia warzones.
• SOCT specialists warn of high probability of local gravitational instabilities if ancient stargates activate
• Likely control of gates by Deathless Circle and pirate allies increases speculation on intent of criminal network
• Capsuleer alliances reported establishing citadels close to stargate despite SOCT warnings.
• Large Guristas fleet movements detected in Venal region following capsuleer discovery of Jovian stargate in H-PA29.
• Caldari State chief executive panel reported considering offensive to take Alsavoinon from Federation control.
• Angel comabt wings mobilizing across Cartel territory in Curse region after discovery of stargate in G-0Q86.
• Fears grow in Floseswin of new Amarr Empire effort to invade Eugidi Constellation due to presence of Jovian gate.
• EDENCOM chiefs and DED officers meet with CONCORD Inner Circle as alarm raised that stargates pose new invasion threat.

With less than a month to go until Fanfest 2023 in Reykjavik, I think I know some of what CCP will present to players during the convention.