The Null Meridian
The Null Meridian is a region of space, roughly elliptical, marked on Confederation charts as DO NOT TRANSIT - the only such entry in the public atlas.
Rules Reference
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Aesthetic | uncharted |
| Anchor System | NULL-MERIDIAN |
| Controlling Faction | none |
| Fold Bleed | high |
| Population | none |
| Role | anchor |
| Zone | Beyond |
Notes
Dangers: Long-baseline signals from the Meridian's interior have been recorded on systems two jumps out, in languages no Core linguistics database matches., Sublight probes that cross the boundary lose navigational reference within hours; their internal clocks continue, their position does not., There is no record of an exit.
Hooks: Eleven Fold-jumpers entered the Meridian in the last century; not one returned., An unlicensed sublight probe entered two years ago on a tight beam; it crossed the boundary and is still transmitting - its telemetry rearranged into a clock counting backward to a moment no longer ago than its own launch., Confederation charts list the Meridian as DO NOT TRANSIT - the only such entry in the public atlas.
Lore: The Null Meridian is a region of space, roughly elliptical, marked on Confederation charts as DO NOT TRANSIT - the only such entry in the public atlas. Eleven Fold-capable hulls are known to have entered the Meridian in the last century; not one returned. The Eleven are names known, hulls known, last signals preserved in a sealed Confederation file that is not open to the public. The file exists. A probe that crossed the boundary two years ago - sublight, on tight beam - is still transmitting. Its telemetry, decoded by a Drift Linguistics contractor, has been arranged by the probe's own logic into a clock, counting down to a moment no longer ago than its launch. Long-baseline signals have been recorded emanating from the Meridian's interior, on systems two jumps out, in no language any Core linguistics database matches. There is no record of an exit. The Confederation does not explain. The Families do not visit. The Rim tells stories.
Notable: Probe Kairos-Six - sublight, still transmitting, telemetry arranged as a clock counting backward., The Eleven - names known, hulls known, last signals preserved in a sealed Confederation file., The Pre-NULL broadcast band - signals emanating from inside the Meridian, recorded two jumps out, in no known language.