Aether Rifts
When the invaders options is active, systems may be discovered that contain Aether Rifts. Aether Rifts may also form in existing systems, although this is rare. A rift is a passageway from dimensions beyond the Aether and appears as a black zone surrounded by an indigo border.
Aether Rifts will generally start at 10m kilometres in diameter and will grow each construction phase at the rate of: (Construction Phase Length / Year Length) * 10%. The rate of growth can be slowed down or reversed by active Ancient Constructs - see previous post.
Any system body that is inside an Aether Rift after orbital movement will suffer radiation damage equal to: (Rift Diameter / 10000) * (Construction Phase Length / Year Length). For example, a system body spending a single 5-day phase inside a rift with a 20m km diameter will suffer 27 radiation damage. A system body spending a month (six phases) inside a 200m km diameter rift will suffer 1643 radiation damage.
As time passes, raiding forces will emerge from the Rift and attack any targets they can find. The size of the raiding force will be heavily influenced by the size of the rift, while the technology of the raiding force will depend on time passed. As a Rift grows over time, raiding forces will become larger and more effective. Raiding forces will include gravitational survey ships and possibly stabilisation ships. Rare specialised stabilisation ships may be able to open additional rifts, although there will be considerable effort involved. Future raids will retain the knowledge of earlier raids.
The only way to prevent the raids is to close the rift by activating ancient constructs. Once sufficient ancient constructs are active, new rifts will be unable to form..
Here is an example of a Aether Rift in Sol which is 50m km is diameter, which would take about 18 years from initial formation.
