This oddity seems to be only one way, however, because scouting parties have returned to make reports. Each gate on any world on the other end is solely linked to the Chaos gate. To date there have been no repeats, making each sortie a one-time affair.
Each world so far encountered through the Chaos Gate is vastly different. Some will be devoid of life entirely, while others may have life, but no intelligent animals. Some have sentient creatures both humanoid and of other odd make-ups. But, the vast majority seem to have a human presence.
Reports abound, ranging from colonies that have barely colonized the planet to large, singular planetary societies. Some have the unique boasting of being part of larger star empires, claiming means other than gates to travel the vast distances in the void. In some cases, or so reported, the arrival of Mech forces proved a complete surprise to the locals, who had no knowledge of the gate's existence or function.
Technology is equally wild with some planets boasting far inferior technology while others are on a par, and yet others are bafflingly superior. Some are well defended with machines other than Mechs. Some are poorly defended with far inferior Mechs. The variety is endless.
Many of the tales coming back from the other end cannot be verified beyond the unanimous testimony of the scouting parties. Early sorties were so poorly documented that serious scientists and scholars only have eye-witness accounts to go off. Hard camera footage from the early missions is either lost, or generally up for sale to the highest bidder.
The trend is changing. After the nature of the gate was established, clans and other major parties lost interest, turning the chaos gate into more of a curiosity. With no way to guarantee any assets deposited on the other can be reached again, the gate is deemed strategically worthless.
Anymore, the gate is the focus for the curious. Many small research firms have established a presence in the community around the gate. Mercenaries of all sorts hop at the chance for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, if only once. With funding and support from researchers, more scouting missions set out with a focus on taking in details.
Some interesting observations have been surfacing that lead to many more questions but seem to illuminate the nature of the gate further. It has been confirmed that each world seen at the other end of the gate has the same star patters at night. Theories have arisen that the gate isn't linked to multiple worlds in the galaxy, but to one world across multiple universes. It is hard to say if this is entirely the case, because data from the earlier missions is so poor that the possibility of unique cases cannot be ruled out. However, each world since serious study has begun has maintained the pattern.
Current science cannot explain how the gate functions, let along if the phenomena can be controlled. Whatever energies or byproducts that make the gate work cannot be detected by current means. It is believed that until any control can be established, if at all, there is a strong likelihood that the planets at the other end will never 'recycle'. An infinite number of alternate universes means an infinite supply of unique encounters. In spite of this, some experts still hope or expect that there might be some random recurrences. There's just no way to tell.
Each sortie through the gate is not without risks. Some parties never come back, generally assumed to have met a hostile end. Some come back decimated by hostile forces. Sometimes there's only a lone survivor limping off the platform in a tattered, barely functional machine. Some of the recountings can be horrific, and those jocks are never seen on-planet again, disappearing into the clan wars and the regular gate system.
But, others keep on coming back, thrilled with what they've encountered on the other side.
Submitted by Ben Parker#712090