Gonna throw this out there, but I think the seeds for Solution 9 were mentioned a long time ago, back when we learned about the lore for the Xaela tribes, specifically for the Haragin.

The legends of this coastal tribe tell of a group of their ancestors who crafted a giant ship and sailed out across the endless eastern ocean. The explorers are said to have returned with tales of a terrible island covered in massive grey monoliths and inhabited by fire-breathing steel demons.
East for them would have them land on the New World, unless they encountered another isle along the way. Leads me to believe that Solution 9 has been around for a while, though that doesn't necessarily mean they've been very active.