Located near the Umbral Shipyards orbiting Schatten IV (in the Schatten Star System / Sigma Tamelos Sector) it was created when Tal Ravis detonated the ALR-X Missile in the vicinity of the Umbral Shipyards, the resulting explosion tore a hole in subspace and opened up this rift as well as took out half of the Umbral Shipyards at the time. Further, the rift began to grow as it sucked in the spacial anomalies elsewhere in the system, which increased its gravitational pull on nearby objects. The rift itself is a collision between several antagonistic layers of subspace and began to throw off increasingly high amounts of intense subspace radiation and other forms of exotic energy.
The rift is now being managed from Umbral Station, which controls the containment satellites.
Communication
Much as the Pandoric Rift is able to be easily used for transmissions through space-time, the Umbral Rift can be used to provide two-way communication through the reality barriers. By specifically manipulating a subspace signal the rift can be used as a focal point from which to receive signals from other realities. It is still experimental as of April of 2386 but has a 90% success rate for sustained communications. The power requirements for communications devices sending message to the prime reality through the rift is high, but far lower than opening a wormhole.
At this point in time, a positive lock to a trans-dimensional beacon is required and transmission vectors need to be sent from Umbral Station, these vectors are designed to allow the station to pick out the signals amongst the significant subspace noise from the rift. The containment field is augmented using an array of subspace relay satellites that have been modified to alter the rifts containment in order to allow the network to pick out and relay communications signals through the rift.
Containment
Solas Tempus has configured several modified Phaser Defense Satellites, which have been altered to project a tachyon-lygon particle field at the rift. The satellites work together and the field is modulated in overlapping pulses which contain the intense radiation and exotic particles.
Closure
Experimental results indicate that closing the rift could cause a massive explosion which would possibly destroy Schatten IV when the rift finally closed. Thus, it was decided to leave the Rift open and work to instead contain it.
Research
Ongoing research is being performed to see if a matter-stream could be sent through the rift. As of April 2386 no attempts have been made as it is still deemed to unsafe for testing. Theoretical data suggests it might be possible.