Overview and Mission

Oracle Research is a paramilitary science and intelligence organization operating on the fringes of lawful space. Formed by civilian academics but hardened by catastrophe, Oracle is dedicated to recovering, studying, and preserving pre-human and Xeno artifacts and other classified technological relics. The group’s motto, “Veritas Ultra Omnia; Ex Tenebris, Scientia” (“Truth Above All; From Darkness, Knowledge”), reflects its core belief that humanity’s future lies hidden in the forgotten past. Oracle maintains strategic autonomy, with no formal ties to the United Empire of Earth (UEE) government and is considered a sovereign entity by its own design. This independence allows Oracle to pursue Xeno archaeological findings and unconventional research beyond the reach of UEE oversight – albeit at the cost of being labeled unsanctioned archivists (and occasional smugglers) by the authorities. To its supporters, Oracle are rogue scholars on the verge of profound discoveries; to its detractors, they are unsanctioned operatives meddling with dangerous artifacts, the best left buried.

Founding and Early Structure (2930–2945)

Oracle was founded in 2930 as a civilian research initiative, emerging from academia under a dual-governance model known internally as the Special Executive Committee and Executive Council (SEC/EC). In these early years, Oracle functioned much like an archaeological think tank. It emphasized academic neutrality and consensus-driven decision making, focused on investigating historical mysteries and lost technologies. This approach served well for research but proved ill-suited for long-term survival and field operations in hostile or unregulated space. Xenoarchaeology – the study of alien ruins and artifacts – was a core pursuit. Oracle teams mounted expeditions to graveyard worlds outside UEE claim, seeking clues to ancient civilizations. Notably, the Hades System drew Oracle’s attention for its rich archaeological promise and ominous mysteries. Hades is an abandoned star system renowned for the ruins of an ancient civilization (the Hadesians) that appears to have annihilated itself in a catastrophic internecine war. First discovered in 2515 by a smuggler’s tramp freighter, the system was officially chartered years later after its logbooks’ were sold, revealing a trove of scientific interest. Surveys found extinct cityscapes on multiple planets – evidence that the Hadesians had achieved interplanetary spaceflight before their extinction. Researchers determined that the Hadesian civil war occurred roughly 300,000 years ago, leaving the worlds decimated by massive weapons. One planet, Hades IV, was literally cracked in half, starkly illustrating the apocalyptic scale of the conflict. The system’s very name, Hades, stems from this almost unfathomable destruction.

For historians and scientists, Hades is a tantalizing enigma: an advanced society that erased itself, leaving behind charred cities and unrecognizable relics. Decades of research have yet to unlock the full truth of what happened. This has made Hades a magnet for xenoarchaeologists, tomb raiders, and rogue researchers alike. Thousands of crumbling structures have been identified on the lifeless planets, with countless more potentially buried underground. Artifacts from Hades are highly sought-after – and often illegally removed. In fact, countless Hadesian relics are taken or stolen from the system each year despite efforts to protect the sites. UEE law classifies any goods excavated from Hades without government approval as contraband, and preservationist groups vigilantly patrol the system to deter looters. Still, the temptation is great: rumors persist that ancient technologies or weapons responsible for Hades’ devastation could be recovered and studied. Even the UEE public remains fascinated by Hades – a few years ago, the discovery of a single Hadesian artifact on the black market ignited new popular intrigue into the puzzle of that lost civilization. It was into this murky mix of science and illicit exploration that Oracle initially stepped into. By the mid-2940s, Oracle had established itself as a small but dedicated outfit of scholar-explorers willing to operate on the fringes of UEE space for the sake of discovery. Their leadership structure (SEC/EC councils) emphasized debate over decisiveness, and Oracle’s field teams often relied on diplomacy or discretion to avoid conflict with local outlaws or UEE authorities. This would all change with the Hades Expedition of 2945, when Oracle’s quest for knowledge met with disaster.

The Silent Fracture: Loss of the OSS Salomé (2945)

In early 2945, Oracle organized a flagship expedition to the Hades System. Their mobile base of operations was the OSS Salomé, a former Javelin-class destroyer that Oracle had acquired and heavily retrofitted into a deep-space research vessel. (Javelins are among the UEE Navy’s largest destroyers; decommissioned hulls occasionally find their way to private hands after military service.) The Salomé had been outfitted with advanced scanners, artifact containment labs, and modified jump drives – all the tools needed for a prolonged xenoarchaeological survey in Hades’ hostile environment. Oracle’s mission in Hades remains classified, but it likely involved investigating Hadesian ruins or recovering some significant relic. What is known is that in mid-2945, as the Salomé was maneuvering near Hades IV, tragedy struck.

During a routine orbital exit and jump maneuver, the Salomé encountered an anomalous energy surge – a sudden burst of power or spatial distortion that should not have been there. There was no hint of Vanduul raiders or any external attack; only a strange humming vibration was reported moments before the catastrophe. Without warning, the Javelin’s jump drive catastrophically malfunctioned. Whether triggered by a Hadesian technological remnant, the system’s inherent instability, or some other unknown phenomenon, the result was devastating. The Salomé suffered a massive jump bubble breach, tearing the ship apart as it attempted to quantum jump. In the words of Oracle’s Qaurtermaster, General Fa1lure,

“ there was no enemy. No warning. Just a hum — then dissolution.”

(This harrowing quote comes from a fragment of General Fa1lure’s debrief, now shrouded under Oracle’s highest classification—debrief fragment [CLASSIFIED: STN-D1-2945], and the incident would later be dubbed the “Silent Fracture.”)

The destruction of Oracle Research’s capital ship in Hades was total and utterly unexpected. Majority of the OSS Salomé’s crew and passengers were lost instantly. Only a handful of survivors made it into escape pods in time. These survivors experienced a bizarre twist of fate: the same anomaly that destroyed the ship also flung several escape pods and hull fragments into jump space. In an uncanny trajectory, the ejecta from Salomé emerged not back in Hades or its known jump points, but hundreds of light years away in the Stanton System. It was as if the dying jump drive had torn open a one-time wormhole connection along the Hades-Stanton corridor, depositing Oracle’s remnants on Stanton’s doorstep. Why Stanton? No one can say for sure – some in Oracle attribute it to sheer luck, others whisper that perhaps some ancient force in Hades “wanted” a few to survive and tell the tale. The truth remains as mysterious as Hades itself. What is clear is that the Silent Fracture left Oracle broken, traumatized, and stranded far from home.

Notably, the Hades incident remains unexplained to this day. Oracle has never publicly released a full account (both to avoid UEE scrutiny and because they themselves lack answers). Independent scientists theorize the cause could have been a localized spatial anomaly or a triggered relic from the Hadesian war – recall that the Hadesians wielded weapons capable of cracking planets, and residual energy or devices on Hades IV might still be active in unpredictable ways. Hades is also infamous for eerie experiences; for example, one navjumper recounted seeing a blue-veined humanoid apparition aboard his ship in Hades III’s orbit, a “presence” his mind could not fully comprehend. Whether such ghostly tales are hallucinations or hints of something real, they underscore Hades’ reputation as a place where the normal rules of physics (and sanity) seem to fray. Oracle Research’s leadership quietly suspects that something about Hades – perhaps an ancient quantum distortion field or a dormant artifact awakened by their activities – was behind the Salomé’s demise. However, lacking concrete proof, Oracle has recorded the event in their own lore as the “Silent Fracture” – a solemn reminder of the risks they face at the edge of the unknown.

Rebirth in Stanton (2946–2950)

The handful of Oracle personnel who survived the Salomé found themselves marooned in the Stanton System by late 2945. Stanton, while technically UEE territory, is a unique system: it was sold off to megacorporation’s in 2865, and by the 30th century each of its four planets is controlled by a different corporate entity. The UEE’s presence in Stanton is minimal, law enforcement is largely left to the private security forces of Hurston Dynamics, ArcCorp, Crusader Industries, and MicroTech. In practice, Stanton is a quasi-lawless corporate zone, where as long as one stays out of trouble with the local company, UEE authorities aren’t hovering overhead. For Oracle’s purposes, this was a blessing in disguise: they could regroup, resupply, and rebuild without immediately drawing the attention of the UEE Advocacy (the federal law enforcement agency) or the Department of Xenoarchaeology.

Throughout 2946, the survivors of Oracle Research reassembled on Stanton’s fringes. They were traumatized by the Hades incident, mourning lost colleagues and knowledge. Yet they were also resolute: Oracle’s mission would continue, phoenix-like, from the ashes of Hades. Recognizing that their old academic-style governance had not prepared them for the dangers they now experienced, Oracle’s members established a new leadership body called the Oracle High Council. This council composed of the most experienced and resourceful survivors combined strategic command with philosophical guidance. Dr. Dorian Quest, one of Oracle’s founders and a noted lore analyst, stepped up as lead strategist and de facto spokesperson. He was joined by others like Lum-Sais (archivist and systems encryption specialist), FunnyAsteroid (logistics coordinator), Europa27 (tech recovery lead), and General Fa1lure (a retired UEE Navy quartermaster). Under the High Council’s direction, Oracle shifted from a collegial research collective to a leaner paramilitary organization. Survival, secrecy, and adaptability became as important as scholarship.

With Stanton as a temporary haven, Oracle began reconstructing its operations. Lacking a capital ship, they scavenged what they could. Some wreckage of the OSS Salomé had indeed emerged in Stanton alongside the escape pods; Oracle managed to covertly recover certain fragments of the destroyed Javelin. These, along with equipment purchased discreetly on the Stanton black market (often through shell companies and middlemen), were used to refit a small fleet of ships. By 2947, Oracle had acquired or built a handful of vessels to serve as mobile labs and transports – nothing on the scale of a Javelin destroyer, but enough to get back in the field. A mix of converted freelancers, former militia gunships, and stealth-modified haulers now formed Oracle’s fleet, each equipped with sensor suites and secure databanks. They also established safehouses and data nodes on out-of-the-way locales in Stanton (for example, hidden facilities in the asteroid belts or underused storage depots on ArcCorp’s platform city-world, where nearly anything or anyone can hide in plain sight).

Crucially, Stanton’s thriving trade in tech and resources provided opportunities for Oracle. The industrial giant ArcCorp (Stanton III), known to lease space to virtually anyone, became a place to quietly source advanced components for Oracle’s projects. Meanwhile, MicroTech (Stanton IV), a hub of cutting-edge software and sensor research, allowed Oracle operatives to obtain high-grade scanning and encryption tech among the many startups and electronics expos there. All of this was done discreetly, of course – Oracle Research masqueraded as just another private outfit or independent contractor to avoid unwanted attention. By the end of 2947, Oracle Research had adapted to its new reality. It was smaller and more cautious, but also more hardened and cunning. This period of quiet rebuilding set the stage for Oracle’s return to the wider galaxy in the coming years.

Evolution and Expansion (2950–2955)

In the late 2940s and into the 2950s, Oracle slowly shifted from pure survival mode back to initiative-taking investigation and intelligence-gathering. The traumatic lessons of Hades were not forgotten; Oracle became far more selective about missions, and far more security conscious. They also broadened their scope. Rather than exclusively mounting archaeological digs, Oracle invested in what they term “Networked Intelligence” monitoring spectrum for clues of interest, intercepting signals, and gathering data on events that might relate to advanced or alien technologies. By 2950, Oracle had formed a dedicated Signal Intercept Division focused on open-source intelligence and covert comms monitoring. This was, in part, a response to the changing landscape of the UEE in the 2950s: new threats and mysteries were emerging that called for eyes and ears everywhere.

One such development was the so-called “Regen Crisis.” In 2951 and onward, the UEE public began experiencing failures in their medical regeneration technology normally a reliable system that allows citizens to be “reborn” after death via imprint and cloning techniques. By 2955, these failures had grown into a full-blown crisis, with panic rising as some people could no longer be revived properly. The situation was dire enough that it spurred political discourse about loosening long-standing research restrictions in order to find a solution. This backdrop is important: since the post-Messer era, the UEE has imposed strict laws (like the Artificial Intelligence Research and Production Restriction Act) that ban or severely limit experimentation in certain fields. Now, with regeneration faltering, even the UEE government was considering easing regulations to allow more “fringe” research in biotechnology and AI to resolve the crisis. Oracle Research found itself operating in an environment where mainstream institutions were finally admitting the need to think creatively. In a sense, the UEE’s scientists were being dragged closer to the kind of unorthodox, frontier-spirited research that Oracle had been conducting all along. This only reinforced Oracle’s conviction in their mission: “We decrypt. Preserve. Illuminate.” If the Empire was too slow or cautious to uncover critical truths, Oracle would continue to do it their own way.

Around 2954-2955, Oracle made two major strategic moves. First, they initiated covert operations into the Pyro System, and second, they activated a specialized semi-autonomous AI known as “Mr. Query.” The Pyro System is a notoriously lawless sector adjacent to Stanton, characterized by an unstable star and a complete lack of UEE presence. Pyro has long been a haven for pirates and outlaws; in fact, as of 2947 the extremist outlaw group XenoThreat had seized control of Pyro’s main station (Ruin Station), making themselves the de-facto power in the system. Despite the dangers, Pyro’s chaos also provides perfect cover for an organization like Oracle Research. Throughout the 2950s, Oracle operatives quietly slipped into Pyro, establishing listening posts and scouting derelict facilities. They were not there to compete with pirates for territory, but rather to scavenge technology and gather intelligence on any emerging threats or opportunities. Pyro’s history contains abandoned corporate stations, old mining tunnels (some with spooky local legends like the “Prophet of Pyro” voice in the mines, and constant warfare between gangs – a chaotic stew that might conceal valuable data or artifacts overlooked by others. Oracle’s Signal Intercept and Intelligence division’s began covertly monitoring pirate communications and studying groups like XenoThreat from the shadows, compiling reports on their activities.

(One such internal analysis, the “Stormbreaker Report,” was circulated within Oracle Research in 2955, summarizing the potential threat of organized Pyro warbands spilling into UEE space. It remains classified, but its conclusions undoubtedly informed Oracle’s contingency plans.)

Perhaps the boldest step for Oracle was the development of “Mr. Q̵͔̑u̴̝̍e̸͗̾r̴̊͛y̷̓̎” pronounced “Mr. Query” in 2955. This adaptive artificial intelligence was designed to assist Oracle’s analysts by sifting encrypted communications, managing vast troves of archival data, and providing strategic forecasts. In functionality, Mr. Query behaves like a highly advanced decision-support AI. However, its creation defied UEE law. True AI is officially banned within the UEE due to legislation dating back to the 23rd century after a series of AI-related catastrophes (from the Mars Tragedy to the disappearance of the colony ship Artemis). The AI Research & Production Restriction Act (the so-called “AI ban”) makes unsanctioned AI development punishable by imprisonment. Oracle Research, being an extralegal entity, skirted these laws. Mr. Query was developed in secret, pieced together from code fragments and Xeno-derived algorithms that Oracle unearthed over years of research. The AI’s activation marked a pivotal shift – Oracle now had a self-learning ally to augment their human decision-makers. Mr. Query’s presence is heavily guarded; Oracle employs layers of quantum encryption and air-gapped networks to ensure the AI remains hidden from any prying eyes or unwanted signals. Within the organization, Mr. Query serves as a sort of oracle in its own right: it analyzes intercepts, flags promising leads, and even simulates scenarios, giving the High Council a predictive edge. In Oracle’s view, this fusion of human instinct with AI analysis is the next evolution of their mission to “decrypt, preserve, illuminate.”

By mid 2955, Oracle Research had transformed into a far more resilient and multifaceted organization than its original 2930 incarnation. It possessed cells operating in multiple systems (from Stanton’s gray markets to Pyro’s anarchic expanse), a fleet of repurposed ships, an integrated AI, and a dedicated network of agents, scientists, and pilots all unified by the singular goal of uncovering lost truths. They had also begun disseminating select findings through discreet channels for instance, Signal Intercept Vol. 1 was an anonymously published journal of sorts, recounting strange data broadcasts and suppressed historical clues that Oracle deemed the public should know (without revealing Oracle’s hand in the matter). The galaxy was edging into uncertain times: the Vanduul War still loomed on distant fronts, the new Imperator’s regime was grappling with scientific challenges like the regen crisis, and unrest simmered on the fringes. Oracle positioned itself as an observer and occasional actor from the shadows, determined to ensure that vital knowledge (be it ancient alien or cutting-edge human) did not disappear into bureaucratic vaults or get lost in violent upheavals.

Relationship with the UEE and Legacy

Officially, Oracle Research does not exist in any UEE registry. The organization’s activities are, by necessity, covert and often contravene UEE laws. Their refusal to turn over Hadesian artifacts or report xenoarchaeological finds to the government has drawn the ire of the UEE Advocacy. From the UEE’s perspective, Oracle’s hoarding of potentially dangerous xenotech – not to mention the illegal creation of an AI – makes them suspicious at best, and outlaws at worst. Advocacy agents have attempted to investigate or subpoena Oracle operatives in the past, but with little success. Oracle’s communications are shielded behind Mr. Query’s encryption, and its corporate front companies tangle any legal trail in layers of deniability. Furthermore, Oracle Research benefits from the jurisdictional voids in places like Stanton and Pyro; as noted, Stanton’s security is run by corporations who care more about profit than artifact smuggling and illicit research, given many of Stanton’s corporations skirt this line themselves and Pyro is outright lawless. This gives Oracle Research room to maneuver. The UEE could mount a dedicated operation to root them out, but so far Oracle’s profile has been low enough and its contributions occasionally beneficial enough that a full crackdown hasn’t happened. It is worth noting that not everyone in the UEE views Oracle Research with hostility; within the Department of Xenoarchaeology (and even some segments of the military), there are those who begrudgingly respect Oracle Research’s resourcefulness. After all, the UEE has benefited from independent discoveries before. And as the Galactapedia reminds us, many university graduates and researchers flock to Hades each year hoping to solve its mysteries. Oracle Research’s members are cut from that same cloth of curiosity, only far less constrained.

Culturally, Oracle Research is something of a whispered legend in both academic and underground circles. They are rarely seen openly, but their symbol – a single eye over a collapsed triangle – occasionally surfaces as a graffiti tag or discreet holo-mark. This emblem, paired with their Latin motto, signifies Oracle’s self-image: ever watchful, uncovering truth from the ruins. Stories about Oracle circulate in the bars of Nyx and the libraries of Terra alike. Some say Oracle scavengers pulled impossible relics from Hades that could power a city. Others claim Oracle has a vault of Precursor artifacts (even hints of Artefact from the mythical First Civilization) though such talk veers into conspiracy. Oracle itself neither confirms nor denies such tales. They prefer to let results speak quietly. For example, when a dangerous alien bioweapon surfaced on the black market a few years back, rumors say Oracle agents intercepted it and turned it over to a medical research team (minus a sample they kept to study, of course). And when a spectral signal believed to be Tevarin in origin echoed through the Ka’ua nebula, it was an Oracle Research listening post that first caught it, alerting academics to a potential find.

In the end, Oracle Research exists in the shadows of the ’verse, striving to balance knowledge and danger. They walk a delicate line, pushing the boundaries of discovery without triggering catastrophic events (or authoritarian crackdowns). The Hadesian ruins, perhaps Oracle’s greatest obsession, remain a central focus – the lessons of that dead race could be a warning or a boon for humanity, depending on how they’re handled. Oracle Research’s people truly believe that “from darkness, knowledge” – Ex Tenebris, Scientia – is worth the risk. Their journey from 2930 to 2955 has been marked by adversity: founded in hope, nearly destroyed by the Silent Fracture, reborn in exile, and now ascendant in capability if not in public fame. As Star Citizen’s universe marches forward, Oracle Research stands as a testament to those who operate on the margins for the sake of truth. In an era when the mystery of Hades still endures and new enigmas like the Regen Crisis challenge the status quo, organizations like Oracle ensure that someone is always peering behind the curtain, decrypting secrets, preserving knowledge, and illuminating the dark corners of history for the good of us all.

Timeline of Key Events

Related Entries

• Associated Sciences & Development
• Hadesians
• Hades System
• Javelin-Class Destroyer
• Regen Crisis
• Mr. Q̵͔̑u̴̝̍e̸͗̾r̴̊͛y̷̓̎.
• OSS Salomé
• Pyro I
• Pyro IV
• UEES Flyssa