Elite Dangerous Wiki - User contributions [en-gb]

Eagle

2018-03-06T22:54:44Z

12.130.113.100: Improved sentence meaning that this means going without a Kill Warrant Scanner -> Which means going without a Kill Warrant Scanner.

{{ShipInfobox
| image = Eagle_MK_II_-_Profile2.png
| manufacturer = Core Dynamics
| cost = 44,800
| topspeed = 239
| boostspeed = 349
| manoeuvrability = 7
| shields = 78
| armour = 72
| hullmass = 50
| cargocapacity = 2
| fuelcapacity = 4
| jumprange = 8.47
| utility = 1
| small = 3
| medium =
| large =
| huge =
| size1 = 2
| size2 = 1
| size3 = 1
| size4 =
| size5 =
| size6 =
| size7 =
| size8 =
| landingpad = Small
|dimensions = 31.2L - 29.7W - 7.1H
|type = Combat
|maxjumprange = 25.37|masslock = 6|reservedic = 1x Size 2 [[Military Compartment]]
}}
{{Distinguish|Imperial Eagle}}
{{quote|The Eagle is a proven combat fighter with a distinguished history. It is one of the smallest fighters available with jump capability. It has the distinction of being the only ship that has been so successful, versions have been built for both the Federation and Imperial navies. This role has been superseded by the respective navies' short range fighter programmes, but the Eagle still sees extensive service across human space. Core Dynamics are no longer building these ships, but do still provide parts and servicing due to their popularity.|In-Game Description}}
The '''Eagle MkII''' is an agile fighter sporting 3 weapon [[hardpoint]]s. It is the most manoeuvrable ship currently in the game (excluding ship launched fighters), as well as being the cheapest combat-specialized vessel. However, it suffers from a short [[hyperspace]] range, as well as a tendency to overheat and run out of weapons power.

In September 2014 [[Frontier Developments|Frontier]] announced that the Eagle would become a second starting [[Ships|ship]] for all players who had pre-ordered [[Elite Dangerous]], including existing Beta and Kickstarter supporters. This starting Eagle (known as the "Freagle") is located in a [[Station]] outside of the player's starting system and can be flown once the commander travels to the station where it is stored. The Free Eagle can be found by opening the [[Galaxy Map]] and looking for a system with a blue ship icon next to it; the ship will be located in a station within the designated system.

Some players aspiring to be [[Bounty Hunter|bounty hunters]] may use the Eagle as a cheaper alternative to the [[Viper MkIII|Viper]]. While this is a valid strategy for bounty hunting, keep in mind that the Eagle, while very agile, has a very weak hull so fitting a shield booster is strongly advised for an Eagle wielding bounty hunter. The issue with this however is that Eagle has only one utility mount, which means going without a [[Kill Warrant Scanner]].

The weapon hardpoints are located as follows: 2 small hardpoints on the underside of main body of ship, 1 small hardpoint on the top of the ship behind the cockpit.

The Eagle MkII has an available 12 piece cosmetic ship kit that can be purchased from the [https://www.frontierstore.net Frontier store] which allows you to "remodel your ship in your personal style". The ship kit does not affect gameplay.

==Purchase Locations==
The Eagle is a very common ship and can be found at nearly any shipyard. If you are struggling to find it, the following (incomplete) list contains confirmed purchase locations.
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" border="1"
! System
! Station
! Date
!Notes
|-
|44 B Ophiuchi
|Feustel Gateway
|June 12, 2015
|10% discount
|-
|Abukunin
|Reilly Hub
|April 6, 2015
|
|-
|AC +26 37030
|Culbertson Port
|2015-12-27
|
|-
| Alioth
| Irkutsk
| 1.06
|
|-
|Arjung
|Hiyya Orbital
|10/3/2015
|
|-
| Asellus Primus
| Beagle 2 Landing
|
|
|-
| Aulin
| Aulin Enterprise
| June 16, 2016
|
|-
|Bolos
|Vizcaino Horizons
|16May15
|
|-
| Cao Yans
| Nordenskiold Hub
| Feb 26, 2015
|
|-
| Cauani
| Hardy City
| 1 Jan, 2015
|
|-
|Dangtei
|Harrington Station
|Aug 17, 2015
|
|-
| Eravate
| Ackerman Market
|Jan 24, 2015
|
|-
| G 180-18
| Alexandria Gateway
|
|
|-
| Gliese 563.1
| Matteucci Ring
| Jul 23, 2015
|
|-
| I Bootis
| Chango Dock
|
|
|-
|Ki Laufey
|Fiennes Orbital
|July 20, 2015
|
|-
|Lambda-1 Tucanea
|Riess Hub
|Aug 17, 2015
|
|-
|Liaedin
|Kohl Terminal
|March 22, 2015
|
|-
| Lo Pegasi
| Garcia Station
| 12 Dec, 2014
|
|-
| LP 445-22
| Trevithick Horizons
| Jul 23, 2015
|
|-
| Lwen
| Oliver Enterprise
| 1 Jan, 2015
|
|-
|Kelin Samba
|Bolkow City
|9 Aug, 2015
|
|-
|Kremainn
|Wohler Station
|23Mar15
|
|-
| Kurmodiae
| Virchow Dock
| Jul 23, 2015
|
|-
|Ross 780
|Aristotle Gateway
|August 20, 2017
|
|-
|Sol
|Daedalus
|May 12, 2016
|20% discount
|-
| Styx
| Chu Hub
|
|
|-
| Tauerni
| Rushworth Port
| 4 Jan, 2015
|
|-
|Ualapalor
|Preuss Station
|
|
|-
| Una
| Hoard Orbital
| Feb 19, 2015
|
|-
| Yanyan
| Morin City
|
|
|-
|Gateway
|Dublin Citadel
|July 29, 2015
|
|-
|Itza
|Ellison Station
|December 16, 2015
|
|-
|Freng
|Bear City
|April 03, 2016
|
|-
|Lethe
|Obruchev Bastion
|August 2, 2016
|
|-
|Shinrarta Dezhra
|Jameson Memorial
|January 26, 2018
|10% Discount, Founders Permit Needed
|}

==Outfitting==
{{main|Outfitting}}

All ships are highly customisable through the Outfitting menu of Station Services. Listed below is the default load-out for the Eagle MkII.

{| class="article-table" style="text-align: center;" border="1"
! style="text-align: center;" | Category
! style="text-align: center;" | Default System
! style="text-align: center;" | Default Rating
! style="text-align: center;" | Default Class
! style="text-align: center;" | Max Class
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Hardpoint|Small Hardpoint]]
| [[Pulse Laser]] (L) || F || 1 || 1
|-
| [[Pulse Laser]] (L) || F || 1 || 1
|-
| ''Empty'' || -- || -- || 1
|-
| Utility Mount
| ''Empty'' || -- || -- || 0
|-
| [[Bulkheads]]
| [[Lightweight Alloys]] || I || 1 || 8
|-
| Reactor Bay
| [[Power Plant]] || E || 2|| 2
|-
| Thrusters Mounting
| [[Thrusters]] || E || 3 || 3
|-
| Frame Shift Drive Housing
| [[Frame Shift Drive]] || E || 3 || 3
|-
| Environment Control
| [[Life Support]] || E || 1 || 1
|-
| Power Coupling
| [[Power Distributor]] || E || 2 || 2
|-
| Sensor Suite
| [[Sensors]] || E || 2 || 2
|-
| Fuel Store
| [[Fuel Tank]] [x4] || C || 2 || 2
|-
| rowspan="4" | [[Internal Compartment]]s
| [[Shield Generator]] || E || 3 || 3
|-
| [[Cargo Rack]] [x2] || E || 1 || 2
|-
|''Empty'' [m]
|<nowiki>--</nowiki>
|<nowiki>--</nowiki>
|2
|-
| [[Discovery Scanner|BDS]] || E || 1 || 1
|}
* ''(L) = Loaned''
* ''[x#] = Capacity''
* ''BDS = Basic Discovery Scanner''
* [m] = [[Military Compartment]] reserved for [[Hull Reinforcement Package]], [[Module Reinforcement Package]], or [[Shield Cell Bank]].

== Videos ==
<gallery>
Rivalry_-_Elite_Dangerous_Eagle
Eagle_MkII_-_Core_Dynamics_Elite_Dangerous
</gallery>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
TheCoreDynamicsEagleWithPolarCamoPaintjob.jpg
TheCoreDynamicsEagleWithPaintjob.jpg
freedom-03.jpg
Screenshot 0046.jpg
Screenshot 0090.jpg
Screenshot 0261.jpg
Eagle 2.png
Eagle 3.png
4uMicGN.png|Eagle landing
bZp6XCg.png|Eagle overheating
waJt57b.png|Eagle departing
EagleMkII.png|White Rail paint-job
File:Wings-of-fire-01.jpg |Eagle with Orange Ignition paint-job
Screenshot_0195.png|Eagle fitted with ship kit pieces
File:Debris_field_Eagle_MkII.jpg |Eagle found adrift at a signal source
20160825223650_1.jpg|White Rail Eagle among destroyed eagles at Trophy Camp
File:11951x1303.jpg |An Eagle MkII with ship kit
File:13667x4577.jpg |An Eagle MkII with ship kit
File:12566x1385.jpg |An Eagle MkII with ship kit
File:15884x1658.jpg |An Eagle MkII with ship kit
File:13795x9894.jpg |An Eagle MkII with ship kit
blueprint-eagle.png|Core Dynamics Eagle Mk II Blueprint
</gallery>

{{ShipNavbox}}
{{ShipTypeNavbox}}
[[ru:Eagle MkII]]
[[Category:Fighters]]
[[Category:Core Dynamics]]
[[Category:Pilotable]]

Thargoid

2018-03-05T18:24:56Z

12.130.113.100: /* Renewed activity */

[[File:Unknown-Ships-Group-Thargoids.png|thumb|300px|Thargoid Interceptors]]
The '''Thargoids''' are an intelligent, highly-advanced insectoid [[species]] that have existed for millions of years. They are one of only two known living sapient species in the Milky Way [[galaxy]] alongside [[Human|humans]].<ref>http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?p=38820#post38820</ref> Approximately 1 to 2 million years ago, they encountered and warred with the [[Guardian]]s.<ref name=":0">[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/81bhy0/guardians_vs_thargoid_war_confirmed/ Guardian Codex 3 Decrypted. Thargoid Log - Unsuccessful Truce]</ref> Thargoids are highly territorial and seemingly rebuff all diplomatic overtures with unmitigated hostility.

==History==
The Thargoids are an ancient sapient insectoid species several millions of years old.<ref name=":0" /> Their [[homeworld]] is unknown. It's assumed that they originate from outside of known space, maybe a different [[galaxy]]. Perhaps they exist in a parallel universe or spatial dimension.

=== Guardian-Thargoid Conflict ===
The [[Thargoids]] seeded a number of planets with [[barnacles]] in what eventually became Guardian space 1 to 2 million years ago.<ref>[https://canonn.science/codex/guardians-codex/ Guardian 1/28 : Thargoid Log – Barnacle Seeding]</ref><ref name=":0" /> Several thousand years later the Thargoids returned and discovered that the planets they had seeded were occupied by the Guardians. The Thargoids immediately launched an assault making no effort to communicate with the Guardians. This tallies with the Thargoids’ behaviour in [[human]] space.<ref>[https://canonn.science/codex/guardians-codex/ 2/28 : Thargoid Log – The War Begins]</ref>

After the war with the [[Thargoid|Thargoids]] began, the Guardians were forced to make a partial retreat. They were reluctant to take up arms with the Thargoids and kept communicating with them. Eventually they gained enough understanding of the Thargoid language to communicate. It didn't benefit the Guardians much, because the Thargoids were determined to continue hostilities.<ref name=":0" /> The Guardians were forced to employ more aggressive methods to address the Thargoid threat.<ref name=":5">[https://canonn.science/codex/guardians-codex/ Guardian Codex 3 Decrypted. Thargoid Log - Unsuccessful Truce]</ref> It appears the Thargoids entered Guardian space unprepared for a protracted military campaign, and after facing a relentless onslaught from the Guardians’ war machines they were forced to retreat.<ref>[https://canonn.science/codex/guardians-codex/ 5/28 : Thargoid Log – Victory]</ref>

=== First contact and conflict ===
[[File:First-Thargoid-Encounter-3125.png|thumb|250px|First Thargoid encounter in 3125]]
Officially, the first encounters between [[humans]] and Thargoids occurred around an [[Ammonia Planet|ammonia-based world]] in 3125,<ref name="GNTT">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/57ada8969657baeb6e876c6c Galactic News: The Thargoids]</ref><ref name="DW">[https://canonn.science/lore/drewwagar-the-thargoids/ Canonn Research - Drew Wagar's Lore: The Thargoids]</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX49v8zYutI The Return 2.4 Announcement - Elite Dangerous]</ref> but unverified incidents involving similar ships were reported as early as the 2810's.<ref name="EE">''[[Elite Encounters RPG]]''</ref> Between the 2810's and 2840's, the [[Galactic Cooperative]] documented a significant number of ship disappearances in its space and near the [[Pleiades Nebula]]. Investigations found no evidence of foul-play, but the disappearances and hyperdrive malfunctions continued intermittently, stoking anxiety among pilots. In 2849, the first footage surfaced of one of these "encounters", with one blurry image appearing to show an alien ship with the word "THARG" on its hull. The media immediately coined the term "Thargoid" as a name for the aliens. However, no conclusive proof of the Thargoids' existence was obtained, and they faded into folklore.<ref name="EE" /><ref>Data taken from Tourist Spot Beacon 0184, Lave system</ref><ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/53se4s/first_thargoid_contact_22_beacon/ First Thargoid Contact - 2.2 Beacon]</ref>

Centuries later in the early 3120's, new reports emerged of octagonal starships of unknown design and origin, as well as hyperdrive malfunctions. In 3123, GalCop discovered the wreckage of two ships in its space that had been destroyed by more powerful laser weapons than were known to exist at the time.<ref name="EE" /> In 3125, independent pilots claimed that they were being pulled out of [[hyperspace]] and attacked by octagonal ships. Those who survived the experience were convinced they had encountered an alien species, and named the aliens "Thargoids" after the 29th century incidents. As the news spread, leaked [[Federation|Federal]] intelligence reports indicated that the Thargoid attacks were likely provoked by human hostility; colonists in the Veliaze system had apparently come into contact with a Thargoid deputation and assaulted it out of ignorance shortly before the attacks began. Some years later, the Thargoids disappeared as mysteriously as they had arrived.<ref name="GNTT" /><ref name="EE" />

The events surrounding first contact with the Thargoids were mostly suppressed and forgotten, and by the 3300's the Thargoids themselves were generally regarded as fiction. According to [[Alliance]] [[Alliance Prime Minister|Prime Minister]] [[Edmund Mahon]], who is one of the few individuals with access to surviving records, the [[Intergalactic Naval Reserve Arm]], or INRA, fought a war against the Thargoids and eventually secured victory by deploying a bioweapon against the aliens. The Thargoids retreated, and for many years it was believed they had been driven to extinction or even never truly existed at all.<ref name="EDP">[[Elite Dangerous: Premonition]]</ref>

According to the logs of the [[Megaship]] GCS Sarasvati, the original war with the Thargoids ended in 3151. In the aftermath, the [[Galactic Cooperative]] set up a series of deep space monitoring stations, one of which was the GCS Sarasvati, to watch for a resurgent Thargoid threat. This initiative was called Project Equinox. However, by December 27, 3155, no Thargoid presence had been detected whatsoever and members of the project questioned its usefulness. By August 16, 3172, Galcop had become weakened and fractured, and Project Equinox was shut down. Unfortunately, this occurred just as project lead Dr. Cassandra Lockhart discovered that the Thargoids had been sowing the seeds for their future return all along, and her warnings were ignored.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/380074-GCS-Sarasvati-early-Thargoid-lookout-megaship?p=5961637&viewfull=1#post5961637 Frontier Forums: GCS Sarasvati - early Thargoid lookout megaship]</ref>

In the course of the war, a number of Thargoid ships were captured by the Galactic Cooperative, and later fell into the possession of the Alliance in the years after Galcop collapsed. By the 3270's, the Alliance was able to reverse-engineer Thargoid technology to produce the single most consequential hyperdrive innovation in centuries: the [[Frame Shift Drive]]. FSDs reduced travel times in [[Hyperspace]] from hours to mere seconds, opening the floodgates for human exploration and expansion. Due to the machinations of [[The Club]], however, the Alliance did not leverage FSD technology to gain superiority over the Federation and Empire; instead, the tech fell into the hands of [[Sirius Corporation]], which monopolized it and distributed it to all the powers and factions, ensuring no one gained an advantage. Afterward, [[The Club]] suppressed information about the Thargoids so that it became a myth among the public.<ref name="EDP" />

=== Renewed activity ===

[[File:Thargoid second ship crash.png|thumb|250px|A crashed Thargoid Scout]]

In early 3301, [[Unknown Artefact]]s were discovered among the cargoes of secret Federal convoys. Their discovery marked the first indication that Thargoids yet existed in the depths of space, though the Artefacts, as well as the similar [[Unknown Probe]]s that would be found orbiting ammonia worlds in 3302, would not be conclusively linked to the Thargoids until later. Some CMDRs believed that the Artefacts and Probes originated from an entirely unknown alien race, while others asserted that they were examples of experimental human technology. Disputes and speculation over the objects continued for months. [[Alien Structure]]s, or "Barnacles", were also discovered in 3302, but their even more pronounced organic appearance also stymied analysis.

On January 5, 3303, Commander DP Sayre reported the first known encounter with an [[Thargoid Interceptor|Unknown Ship]], which was later confirmed to be a type of Thargoid vessel and officially reclassified as a Thargoid Interceptor. The Unknown Ship interdicted the CMDR from [[hyperspace]] and apparently scanned him before departing to an untraceable destination. The acts of interdicting a target while in hyperspace and leaving an untraceable wake signature were both well beyond the capabilities of human technology. Previously, only the [[Alien Crash Site|wreckage of these ships]] had been documented.

Beginning April 11, 3303, reports surfaced of Unknown Ships apparently attacking [[Federation]] convoys. Upon dropping out of supercruise at the source of certain distress calls, Commanders arrived in a green, gaseous cloud and their ship was disabled. Multiple [[Federal Corvette]] wrecks, bearing luminescent green residue where they were damaged and with their crews apparently dead, were adrift in the cloud, and a single Unknown Ship could be seen jumping away. Presumably, the Unknown Ship destroyed all of the Corvettes on its own in each incident.

On June 2, 3303, CMDR Mobiusetti documented the first known interaction between an Unknown Ship and an [[Alien Structure]] on Pleiades Sector OI-T C3-7 A 6 at coordinates -42.77, -21.7. This confirmed suspicions that they were related.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8S-4Oq9Xvc</ref>

====Identification and escalation====

[[File:Thargoids-Return-Message.png|thumb|250px|CMDR Edward Lewis' message]]

On June 12, 3303, [[Professor Palin]] issued a request for scan and wake signature data from Unknown Ships to be delivered to Orcus Crag in Pleiades Sector OI-T c3-7. Palin compared the collected data to older Thargoid samples and confirmed that Unknown Ships were Thargoid in origin. Shortly afterward, [[Federation]] military forces seized Palin's research for transport to a Federal research facility, but the fleet never arrived at its destination.<ref name="Return">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5943ed6837e29c184d38b29b Galactic News: The Thargoids have Returned]</ref>

On June 13, wreckage was found with a transmitter which contained a recorded message:

''"This is an urgent message from Commander Edward Lewis. There are forces out there who do not want you to know the truth, but I have to make this public. I found a ship in HIP 17044. A Federal cap ship, shot to pieces. They were carrying the data the Feds stole from Professor Palin. The crew is dead, but they discovered something important about the Unknown Ships. There is a beacon in the wreckage broadcasting a message, over and over. It proves what we suspected. They are back. And the whole galaxy needs to know. The Thargoids have returned."''

[[File:Thargoid Attack Aftermath.png|thumb|250px|The destroyed Federal fleet]]

Two unnamed [[Farragut Battle Cruiser]]s were located at an [[Unregistered Comms Beacon]] approximately 11,000 ls in the direction of the Asterope system from planet 2 in the HIP 17044 system. The capital ships and an accompanying fleet of smaller Federal ships were all heavily damaged, their crews presumably dead, and adrift in the same green, gaseous cloud noted to be a signature of previous Unknown Ship attacks. A transmitter satellite was found among the debris. One Farragut was also discovered to be broadcasting a recording in Morse code in a small, 30-meter zone around its antenna array: "UNKNOWN VESSELS DETECTED. SERVER PURGE FAILED. SHIP ASSETS LIQUIDATED. PAYLOAD DESTROYED. SHIP STATUS LOST."<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/355713-Alien-archeology-and-other-mysteries-Thread-10-The-Canonn?s=7ddc1608a90a6581ce734397295c8a08&p=5611753&viewfull=1#post5611753 Frontier Forums: Alien archeology and other mysteries: Thread 10 - The Canonn]</ref>

Following the incident, on June 19, the leaders of the Federation, [[Empire]], and [[Alliance]] responded to the news that the aliens encountered in the Pleiades Nebula were Thargoids. President [[Zachary Hudson]] confirmed that the Federal military had been expanding in recent months in preparation for such a possibility. Emperor [[Arissa Lavigny-Duval]] urged calm and reminded the public that humanity had overcome seemingly insurmountable odds in the past. Prime Minister [[Edmund Mahon]] called for caution, arguing that it had not yet been proven that the destroyed Federal ships were the victims of Thargoid attacks, and that much could be learned from an advanced alien race like the Thargoids.<ref name="LeadersRespond">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5947bb8ef0522a25d9666976 Galactic News: Galactic Leaders Address Thargoid Discovery]</ref>

==== Thargoid Surface Sites ====

[[File:Thargoid_Surface_Site_above.png|thumb|250px|Thargoid Surface Site]]

Following the incident, CMDRs identified an unknown signal at a listening post in [[Maia]] this lead to heavily guarded relay posts. The final listening post had a Caesar Cypher encrypted location for the "nest". They traced it to planet B 1 C in HIP 19026. There, CMDR Lightningwing of [[The Canonn]] discovered the first known [[Thargoid Surface Site]].<ref name="Mystery">[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/6jmzs7/a_mystery_is_afoot/ /r/EliteDangerous: A mystery is afoot]</ref><ref name="Found">[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/6jnvjf/spoilers_mysterious_structures_found_by_cannon/ /r/EliteDangerous: (SPOILERS) Mysterious Structures Found By Cannon group]</ref>

==== Pleiades buildup and research efforts ====
In the wake of the earlier discoveries concerning the Thargoids, numerous state-sponsored and independent initiatives were launched to expand humanity's presence in the [[Pleiades Nebula]]. The Indra, a Wells-class Carrier [[Megaship]], was built and deployed by the [[Empire]] to HR 1185.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/595e07ff82824f10a91fc919 Galactic News: New Superpower Bases in the Pleiades]</ref> The [[Federation]] established Blackmount Orbital and Blackmount Habitation in HIP 17692 to monitor Thargoid activity.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/595e51e1478524147370660a Community Goal: New Federal Outpost]</ref> The [[Ocellus]] station The Oracle was relocated to Pleiades Sector IR-W d1-55 to serve as an independent hub for scientific research on the Thargoids.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59675dff6d63ab788e4904da Galactic News: New Research Centre at Thargoid Site]</ref> Abroin Universal Plc led a campaign to establish their own Thargoid research base in the Pleiades.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5970b899dc4a6940976694d7 Community Goal: Pleiades Research Outpost]</ref> The Federation, Empire, and [[Alliance]] jointly funded the creation of [[Aegis]], a research organization intended to pool the scientific expertise of the three superpowers to coordinate investigations of the Thargoids; Aegis deployed a station named Donar's Oak to Pleiades Sector IR-W d1-55.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59844fbe301ce614455222a1 Galactic News: Joint Superpower Initiative Announced]</ref> [[Sirius Corporation]] established two outposts in the [[Merope]] system, the station Reed's Rest and the surface port Omega Prospect.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/11-AUG-3303 Galactic News: Sirius Corporation Enters Merope]</ref>

On August 11, 3303, the Alliance launched a research initiative to build a range of state-of-the-art instruments to analyze various Thargoid materials, such as Unknown Ship Signatures and other objects recovered from Thargoid Surface Sites.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/598c793e3c5e0e1cf8555859 Community Goal: Alliance Research Initiative]</ref> The campaign was a success, but due to the nature of the research it would take some time for any results to be achieved.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5995b0d377678f36dc69b72f Galactic News: Alliance Campaign Concludes]</ref>

With events unfolding at a rapid pace, the superpowers had until recently struggled to formulate appropriate responses to the Thargoid situation. While Aegis' establishment suggested that the galaxy's leaders were beginning to address the issue, journalist Kelvin Masters offered a more frank analysis in an Imperial Herald article on August 25, 3303: "The barnacles seem to indicate that the Thargoids were in Maia and Merope long before we were. For all we know, humanity has expanded into what the Thargoids see as their territory. I have no interest in scaremongering, but my belief is that a Thargoid attack could be imminent – their behaviour certainly seems to suggest they are probing us for weaknesses."<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/599e9f98c10d1126640e8902 Galactic News: The Thargoid Situation]</ref>

==== Enemies of the Federation ====
On September 15, 3303, Chief of Federal Security Admiral Aden Tanner announced that another Thargoid attack had recently occurred in Pleiades Sector IR-W D1-55 which resulted in the destruction of multiple Federal vessels, including one Farragut Battle Cruiser. While the motives for this attack were unknown, Admiral Tanner confirmed that the Thargoids were now officially considered enemies of the Federation. President Hudson gave Tanner full authority over the [[Federal Navy]] to deal with the Thargoid threat.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59bb9793d5777560b7216455 Galactic News: Federal Capital Ship Destroyed by Thargoids]</ref> Amid speculation that Federal forces had provoked the attack, the Federation insisted that black box data from the wreckage indicated no provocation on their part; this was confirmed by Aegis, which had also analyzed data from the attack.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59c3a0e02468d745a72f97a0 Galactic News: Federation Addresses Rumours]</ref>

The incident spurred all three superpowers to widen Aegis' remit to focus on both research and defence on September 21, 3303. The organization's budget was dramatically increased, and it recruited the [[Engineers]] [[Liz Ryder]] and [[Professor Palin]] to produce a new anti-Thargoid weapon and a scanner for Thargoid ships, respectively.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59c3a108ced3ff7f807f54b7 Galactic News: Aegis to Widen Remit]</ref><ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59c3cb9dffff1a05c9770bdd Community Goal: Engineers Appeal for Thargoid Material]</ref>

=== The Return ===
==== Skirmishes and discoveries ====

[[File:Thargoid Attack Aftermath Imperial.png|thumb|250px|A destroyed Imperial fleet above planet A 1 in HR 1185]]

On [[Elite Dangerous: Horizons#The Return - v2.4|September 26, 3303]], independent pilots reported being attacked unprovoked by Thargoid Interceptors at Non-Human Signal Sources. At least one of these attacks, in which CMDR Sapphire Horizons was the victim, occurred at a site with wreckage from an Imperial convoy, which was believed to have been destroyed by the Thargoid ship.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/72lzxb/so_i_just_got_killed_by_a_thargoid/ r/EliteDangerous: So I just got killed by a Thargoid]</ref><ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59cd17dcf030a91ca721e243 Galactic News: Further Thargoid Attacks]</ref> In addition, Interceptors have demonstrated extreme hostility against any [[Guardians|Guardian]] artefacts jettisoned in their vicinity, using their weapons to destroy them.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/72mjyw/they_seriously_dont_like_guardian_stuff_monkas/ r/EliteDangerous: They seriously don't like Guardian stuff monkaS]</ref> New [[Alien Structure]] sites have also been identified, with a greater concentration of the Structures and an octagonal formation that resembles a nascent [[Thargoid Surface Site]].<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/72wjsi/the_new_barnacle_site_grows_in_a_familiar/ r/EliteDangerous: The new barnacle site grows in a familiar pattern...credit to CMDR PinPiper]</ref>

[[Aegis]] released the [[AX Missile Rack]] and [[AX Xeno Scanner]] on September 28, 3303. These new devices allowed CMDRs to both scan Interceptors and successfully penetrate their defenses for the first time, a major milestone.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/731ex8/psa_ax_missile_rack_and_ax_xeno_scanner_now/ PSA: AX Missile Rack and AX Xeno Scanner Now Available]</ref><ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/731oxn/thargoid_down_sdc/ Thargoid Down! - SDC!]</ref> However, it was also discovered that the Thargoids had begun attacking independent civilian vessels. A heavily-damaged [[Megaship]] identified as Samson Class Bulk Cargo Ship BTG-237 was found in Pleiades Sector IR-W d1-55, near planet A 5, the victim of Thargoid aggression.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/72zzvw/spoiler_something_new_has_happened_in_pleiades/ Something new has happened in pleiades Sector IR-W D1-55..]</ref> To cap off a day filled with new developments, wreckage from a new type of Thargoid vessel, the [[Thargoid Scout]], was also discovered on planet A 3 A in the HIP 17125 system.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/733mmb/elite_dangerous_24_new_unknown_ship_crashed_hip/ r/EliteDangerous: Elite Dangerous 2.4 new Unknown Ship (crashed) Hip 17125 A 3 A -65.8193 | 48.8662]</ref>

Despite early successes against the Thargoids in battle thanks to the AX Missile Rack, by October 3rd the Thargoid vessels had adapted by developing a resistance to the damaging compound within the missiles. Reports also indicated that countermeasures like chaff could no longer prevent Interceptors from locking on, that the Interceptors had begun evading long-range attacks more effectively, and that [[Thargon]] drone swarms had become much more accurate.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59d3b59f493e8e3727091ead Galactic News: Thargoids Adapting Rapidly]</ref> On October 5th, the [[AX Multi-cannon]] was released. Combined with an AX Missile Rack to expose Thargoid Hearts on Interceptors, this new weapon was able to circumvent the Thargoid's adaptation. Two other anti-Thargoid countermeasures, the [[Remote Release Flak Launcher]] and [[Shutdown Field Neutraliser]], were made available over the following weeks, making human pilots more effective against their alien adversaries.

On October 6, 3303, Aegis' military liaison Admiral [[Aden Tanner]] confirmed that in recent days, Federal, Imperial, and civilian ships alike had been targeted and destroyed by Thargoids, and that the aliens were scanning the wreckage and seizing escape pods. Tanner reaffirmed that Aegis was dedicated to unraveling the Thargoids' motives.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59d7523d7f2d0f16da5fbf78 Galactic News: Thargoid Threat Continues to Escalate]</ref> On October 12, an Aegis spokesperson confirmed that as well as adapting their defenses to human weapons technology, the Thargoids were also rapidly adapting to human strategies and tactics.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59df892030484d21ea3c3ec5 Galactic News: Thargoids Continuing to Adapt]</ref> On October 27, as losses of Federal [[Farragut Battle Cruiser]]s and Imperial [[Majestic Class Interdictor]]s continued to mount, Admiral Tanner noted that although recent developments like the Shutdown Field Neutraliser had proven effective in protecting conventional spacecraft from Thargoid attacks, difficulties had been encountered in adapting the technology to larger spacecraft. As a result of capital ships' continued vulnerability, Tanner warned that deploying such vessels to protect stations and outposts was not a viable defensive strategy against Thargoids for the time being.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59f30dd4826c1776ca623242 Galactic News: Capital Ships Vulnerable to Thargoid Attack]</ref>

====Operation Andronicus====

On November 2, 3303, Aegis launched Operation Andronicus, the first military operation intended to curb Thargoid aggression in the Pleiades Nebula. Admiral Tanner stated that Aegis would be offering substantial monetary rewards to independent pilots for confirmed Thargoid kills.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59fb5178adf339781710741f Community Goal: Operation Andronicus]</ref> While Operation Andronicus was in effect, the Alliance organization Cooper Research Associates also announced they would reward pilots for the recovery of personal effects and escape pods from Thargoid attack sites.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59fb51f4adf3397051674b5d Community Goal: Rescue Operation in the Pleiades]</ref> The operation concluded a week later, and both campaigns were hailed as successes.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a04628c7c8ea44d3104a3d2 Galactic News: Operation Andronicus Concludes]</ref><ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a046323cd1bcd187d490e8e Galactic News: Pleiades Rescue Operation Concludes]</ref>

====Enter the Basilisks====

[[File:Thargoid Interceptor Basilisk Variant 2.png|thumb|250px|A close-up of a Basilisk Variant]]

On November 13, 3303, the first sightings of a new variant of Thargoid Interceptor were reported by independent pilots in the Electra system. Classified as the "Basilisk Variant" by the [[Pilots Federation]], these heavily scarred Interceptors possessed demonstrably more powerful offensive and defensive capabilities.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a0c1121b9e40e708759f664 Galactic News: Previously Unseen Thargoid Ships in Electra]</ref> Prior to this, only Cyclops Variant Thargoid Interceptors had been encountered. As Basilisk Variants and Cyclops Variants have yet to demonstrate any hostility towards each other, it is unknown if the presence of Basilisk Variants represents an escalation in the ongoing conflict between Thargoids and humans, or the arrival of a second Thargoid faction in the region.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/7cnxqj/threat_6_uss_in_electra_spoilers/ /r/EliteDangerous: Threat 6 USS in Electra]</ref>

With casualties from Thargoid attacks continuing to mount, President Zachary Hudson and Emperor Arissa Lavigny-Duval issued statements to reassure the public, insisting that the Thargoid presence would likely remain limited to the Pleiades Nebula and that the combined forces of the Federation and Empire could overcome any threat. Despite this optimism, Admiral Aden Tanner stated it was premature to assert that the Thargoids would not advance beyond the Pleiades, but that Aegis was actively investigating the Thargoids' long-term plans.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a0eba46528d3924954cf324 Galactic News: Galactic Authorities Call for Calm]</ref>

====Station attacks and Medusae====
[[File:Station Attack The Oracle.png|thumb|250px|The Oracle in the aftermath of an attack]]
December 14, 3303 marked the most serious escalation of the Thargoid conflict yet. The stations Titan's Daughter in Taygeta, The Oracle in Pleiades Sector IR-W d1-55, and Liman Legacy in HIP 16753 were attacked and severely damaged by Thargoids, disrupting services and making the stations dangerously unstable.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFLBnqxuATg YouTube: Commander Chronicles: Devastation - Elite Dangerous]</ref> [[Station#Emergency Protocol|Emergency evacuation protocols]] were activated, and the Pilots Federation extracted the ships of the independent pilots docked at the affected Stations and transferred them to [[Rescue Vessel]]s. Pilots were encouraged to aid the ongoing evacuation of the stations' inhabitants.<ref name="Station Attack">[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/7jqg5p/so_the_thargoids_attacked_a_station_images/?st=jb6b35m0&sh=f42ecad9 /r/EliteDangerous: So the Thargoids(?) Attacked a Station. Images Courtesy of CMDR Bad_Player]</ref>

[[File:Thargoid Interceptor Medusa Variant.png|thumb|250px|A close-up of a Medusa Variant]]
The attacks were confirmed to have been carried out by a new variant of Thargoid Interceptor classified as the "Medusa Variant".<ref name="GSABT">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a328aebaac37e273a5d4ea8 Galactic News: Starports Attacked by Thargoids]</ref> These ships also began interdicting pilots from hyperspace and appearing in Threat 7 Non-Human Signal Sources. Medusae surpass the capabilities of Basilisk Variant Interceptors, possessing even stronger defenses, more powerful weapons, and the ability to direct an even larger swarm of Thargon drones.<ref name="Medusa">[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/7jqg5p/so_the_thargoids_attacked_a_station_images/dr8epgz/ /r/EliteDangerous: So the Thargoids(?) Attacked a Station. Images Courtesy of CMDR Bad_Player - Comment by ChristianM]</ref>

The death toll from the station attacks was believed to be in the thousands, but could have been far worse. Starport security feeds indicate that the Medusa Interceptors used their shutdown fields to disable station defenses before targeting the main reactor. An eyewitness speculated that the Thargoids' intent was to cripple the stations, not destroy them outright.<ref name="GSABT" /> While it was not clear why the Thargoids had targeted these three stations specifically and not others, Aegis was investigating the issue.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a3a4ffbd27df13ee220cc2f Galactic News: Authorities Urge Public Not to Panic]</ref>

The following week on December 21, as the three stations were stabilized and repair work began on them, further attacks were reported at Bao Landing in HIP 17497, Cavalieri in Electra, and Hudson Observatory in HIP 17694.<ref>[https://i.imgur.com/hxTJhqt.png Imgur: Galactic News: Starport Status Update, December 21, 3303]</ref> Medusa Interceptors were once again confirmed to be the culprits, and hundreds more human casualties were tallied.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a3ceced6a3e8049274181c5 Galactic News: More Starports Attacked]</ref> Three more attacks occurred two weeks later on January 4, 3304 at Copernicus Observatory in Asterope, Cyllene Orbital in Atlas, and Artemis Lodge in Celaeno, followed by two attacks on January 11 at Obsidian Orbital in Maia and Reed's Rest in Merope.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a58d52808925a374348ba63 GalNet: Thargoid Assault Continues]</ref>

====The Liberation of HIP 17692====
Also on January 11, the Federation and Empire announced a joint initiative to counter Thargoid activity in the HIP 17692 system and attempt to reduce the Thargoids' presence in the Pleiades. The Empire-aligned Merope Expeditionary Fleet took charge of military operations, while the Federation-aligned Pleiades Resource Enterprise coordinated the rescue of attack survivors, personal effects, and data. Fleet Admiral [[Denton Patreus]] stated, "Starports throughout the Pleiades have been attacked. Thousands of lives have been lost. And we have failed to deliver an effective response. That changes now."<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a578660b34e4b5d3c0ae199 The Liberation of HIP 17692]</ref>

The operation marked just over a year since the first encounter with an active Thargoid Interceptor. Political commentator Daxton Sung offered an analysis: "The situation continues to escalate and our leaders continue to offer the same tired platitudes – militaristic bombast from Hudson, noncommittal banalities from Lavigny-Duval and earnest sympathising from Mahon. It's clear that they have no idea how to counter the Thargoid threat, beyond pumping more money into Aegis's weapons programme."<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a5787708a640c638d6d781d One Year On]</ref>

====Advance on the Core Systems====
While the HIP 17692 operation proved to be a success,<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a60b60073f627733619d852 GalNet: HIP 17692 Operation Concludes]</ref> Thargoid attacks on stations continued unabated on January 18, striking Kipling Orbital in Pleiades Sector KC-V c2-11 and Malthus Terminal in Pleiades Sector HR-W d1-41. After these attacks, a member of Kipling Orbital's starport personnel noted that the Thargoids seemed to be sweeping the region and slowly moving towards the [[Core Systems]].<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a6a0ea379a7530bc462fb3f Starport Attacks Continue]</ref>

On January 25, Borrego's Vision in Pleiades Sector IH-V c2-7 and Kamov Survey in HIP 17892 were hit. On February 1, Asami Orbital in Pleiades Sector JC-V d2-62 and Cleaver Prospect in Pleiades Sector HR-W d1-57 suffered attacks; both stations were significantly closer to the Core Systems that the targets of the previous attacks. On February 8, Bennington's Restin 42 n Persei and Exodus Point in Hyades Sector AB-W b2-2 were attacked, continuing the trend of the Thargoids' movements. President [[Zachary Hudson]] and Emperor [[Arissa Lavigny-Duval]] both issued fresh appeals for aid for the affected stations, and the Emperor also confirmed that [[Aegis]] was actively investigating the Thargoids' shift toward the Core Systems.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a7c2524b2837d57693651ee Galactic Leaders Renew Appeals for Aid]</ref>

On February 15, Gaiman Dock in 49 Arietis and Weyn Dock in 64 Arietis were hit, marking the Thargoids' arrival in the outer fringe of the Core Systems. As the public questioned the lack of an effective military response to the Thargoids, Imperial Senator [[Gianna Tachibana]] asserted that humanity was being reactive rather than proactive, and that the Pleiades were at risk of becoming a no-go zone even with the assistance of independent pilot militias and Aegis's research.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a85a1361b13ca3edb048d1c Galactic News: Proactive or Reactive?]</ref> Meanwhile, the Federation launched the Bulwark Project, an initiative to develop autonomous military hardware to combat the Thargoids. While Imperial commentators criticized the initiative as a circumvention of long-standing conventions against the development of artificial intelligence, Federal [[Shadow President]] [[Felicia Winters]] dismissed those concerns, claiming that the Bulwark Project's purpose was to "investigate alternate defence strategies, not to develop machine intelligence".<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a859fd09dd29d74a968382e Galactic News: The Bulwark Project]</ref> The Bulwark Project campaign was later successful, but Winters was careful to note that the Project's initial remit was merely to determine the economic and military feasibility of the creation of a fully-automated defence force.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a8ee6340f36064f752cd607 GalNet: Federal Initiative Concludes]</ref>

On February 22, Armstrong Enterprise in Bhal and Beaufoy Vision in Nauni, both locations within the Core Systems, suffered Thargoid attacks. Coinciding with these latest incidents, Fleet Admiral Patreus coordinated a second Federal-Imperial joint operation against the Thargoids, this time centered on the Pleiades Sector OI-T c3-7 and Arietis Sector XE-Z b4 systems.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a8ee5d25f3da10323076fbf GalNet: Anti-Thargoid Operation]</ref> The operation was subsequently declared a success.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a9824bf78da4a2abd3af6d8 GalNet: Federal-Imperial Operation Concludes]</ref> Notably, no additional Thargoid attacks occurred on March 1, marking the first lull in the incursion, although sightings and encounters with [[Thargoid Interceptor]]s began occurring at various locations within the Core Systems, with hostile [[Thargoid Scout]] Marauders now appearing as well.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a9960a7049802427b2b41cd GalNet: Week in Review (March 3, 3304)]</ref>

== Biology ==

Thargoids are an insectoid species. Little is known about their physical appearance and biology. Their chemistry is carbon-based, but with ammonia as the solvent rather than water.<ref>http://www.rollingstone.com/glixel/features/elite-dangerous-creator-talks-sci-fi-politics-and-whats-next-w492781</ref> If the rumors are true that they come from [[Ammonia Planet|Ammonia-based planets]] then their physiology is drastically different from humans. For example, ammonia boils at -33 degrees C. Thargoids may well be acclimatised to temperatures far lower than humans.<ref>https://www.drewwagar.com/lore/elite-dangerous-lore-the-thargoids/</ref> They are presumed to be highly intelligent, more than the average human due to their superior technological capabilities. Descriptions based on encounters centuries ago have yet to be verified.

According to [[The Club]], what humans consider to be a singular Thargoid species actually consists of two distinct "dynasties": the Oresrians and the Klaxians. How Oresrians and Klaxians differ biologically, if at all, is unknown.<ref name="EDP" />

==Society==

[[File:Thargoid-and-Diamondback-Ships.png|thumb|250px|Thargoid ship confronting a Diamondback Scout]]

Not much information has been obtained about Thargoid society or culture. The only known fact is that the society is hive based, with no sense of close family. It is thought that the society is divided into colonies, possibly along the lines of ant colonies. The Oresrian and Klaxian dynasties may be two such colonies.<ref name="EDP" />

Thargoids are thought to have a natural affinity with space, and with [[Hyperspace]] in particular. This is due to the fact that Thargoid warriors seem to spend a large amount of time in space. Naval pilots and crews report that the warships in the war zones are encountered on repeated occasions over a period of months often without respite.

At some point, the Oresrian and Klaxian dynasties became embroiled in a civil war. Prior to 3303, the Klaxians gained the upper hand in this conflict and forced the Oresrians into a slow, continuous retreat across the galaxy, a retreat which will take them directly through human space. [[The Club]] has learned that the Oresrians planned to use human civilization as a "bullet shield" to occupy the Klaxians' attention while they escape deeper into space. This poses a potentially apocalyptic threat to humanity's survival.<ref name="EDP" />

==Politics==
Nothing is known about internal Thargoid politics or government, or why the Oresrians and Klaxians have come into conflict.

Thargoid relations with other species, as far as what is currently known, was frighteningly simple: war. The Thargoid invasions usually seemed to be prompted by the need for either agricultural or mineral resources, rather than a sociological or anthropological need to expand or colonise. In fact, the animal life on an invaded world was largely ignored unless it poses a threat to Thargoids.

==Technology==
[[File:Thargoid-Wormhole.png|thumb|250px|Thargoid wormhole]]
Thargoid technology is vastly different from [[human]] technology. Not only are their ships currently invulnerable to conventional weapons, but they possess the ability to interdict human ships that are traveling through hyperspace, a feat previously believed to be impossible, as well as the ability to make untraceable hyperspace jumps and stymie any pursuers. Despite their advanced hyperspace capabilities, there is yet to be evidence of Thargoid ships moving in [[Supercruise]], perhaps suggesting they do not have short-range FTL abilities.

Thargoids can create stable wormholes to [[hyperspace]] (witch-space). This is used to e.g. travel astronomical distances in seconds and interdict vessels. They're believed to be able to hover in witch-space. It's rumored that they can also reside in this higher dimensional region.<ref>https://www.sharoma.com/frontierverse/thargoids.htm</ref><ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/7b3eyk/elite_dangerous_another_inra_base_found_linked_to/ /r/EliteDangerous: Elite: Dangerous: Another INRA Base Found, Linked To Hyperdrive Research]
</ref><ref>https://canonn.science/lore/drewwagar-the-thargoids/</ref>

[[INRA]] chief scientist Bexley Prince asserted that Thargoid technology is far ahead of humans. Understanding it could open up all kinds of possibilities. The applications are potentially limitless. His logs were found at the INRA base Hollis Gateway.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/75axlh/inra_planetary_base_found_on_hermitage_4_a/</ref>

Analysis of the [[Scavenger]] shows that it contains organic and mechanical elements such as [[Thargoid Organic Circuitry]]. This discovery has lead many to question whether the Scavengers are sentient creatures or simple mechanical drones created by the Thargoids as workers.<ref>[http://elite-dangerous.wikia.com/wiki/Thargoid_Organic_Circuitry Thargoid Organic Circuitry] in-game description</ref> The [[Thargoid Interceptor]] also has intricate technological and biological elements<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/395094-Medusa-Tissue-Sample-Tissue-Sample-Prices Thargoid Medusa Tissue Sample]</ref> such as "Thargoid Hearts" which can repair hull damage.

Thargoid weaponry has proven to be very powerful, resulting in numerous destroyed Federal and Imperial vessels, including capital ships. CMDRs who reported being attacked by [[Thargoid Interceptor]]s have noted they lost their ships very quickly under an onslaught of powerful missiles and [[Thargon]] drone swarms.

There's speculation of a [[Thargoid Mothership]] which, according to recovered logs, attacked the [[INRA]] site Carmichael Point in HIP 16824.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mB36F-rLlkI Elite: Dangerous: INRA Base Attacked By Thargoids]</ref>

[[Alien Structure]]s, so-called "barnacles", are known to be related to the Thargoids and their ships. As the structures produce [[Meta-Alloys]], it is possible that Meta-Alloys are an important resource used by Thargoid Interceptors. After September 26, 3303, CMDRs reported sightings of larger fields of Alien Structures in a shape reminiscent of Thargoid Surface Sites, and are also patrolled by [[Scavenger]]s.

[[Thargoid Surface Site]]s demonstrate the Thargoids construct and utilize vast surface installations. Passive drone-like devices called Scavengers were first encountered at these locations. [[Thargoid Egg]]s can be found around and inside these sites. It's unknown what produces and lays these eggs.

[[Thargoid Sensor]]s and [[Thargoid Probe]]s were also confirmed to be related to Thargoids after it was discovered that carrying them allowed doors at Thargoid Surface Sites to open. The other functions of these objects remain an enigma, however. Thargoid Interceptors have been witnessed retrieving them after September 26, 3303.

It's unclear whether Thargoids are a Type II or [[Elite Universe#Type III Civilizations|Type III civilization]] based on the Kardashev scale. Their lack of control over the Milky Way galaxy indicates they are Type II. However, since Thargoids may originate from another galaxy, parallel universe, or spatial dimension they could be Type III.

==Notes==
*Initially, it was only confirmed that Thargoids would eventually make an appearance in Elite Dangerous, and the specifics of that encounter were unknown.<ref>http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?p=160991#post160991</ref><ref>https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1461411552/elite-dangerous/posts/377497#comment-2014816</ref><ref>https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=77358&p=1262252&viewfull=1#post1262252</ref>
*Frontier Development staff have previously commented that all Thargoids are female.<ref>https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1461411552/elite-dangerous/comments?cursor=2332567#comment-2332566</ref>
*David Braben hinted that should peace have ever been found with Thargoids, it would be a temporary measure.<ref>https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1461411552/elite-dangerous/comments?cursor=1970411#comment-1970410</ref>
*It has been rumoured that Thargoids could be capable of building large artificial structures which could possibly be on a scale with planets, and certainly large enough to negate a ship's warp ability.<ref>http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?p=85034#post85034</ref>

==Trivia==
*The name "Thargoid" is believed to have come from the regular skit ''Captain Kremmen'' performed by radio and TV personality Kenny Everett on both his radio shows and, in animated form, on TV.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Kremmen</ref> The animated skits show the Thargoids as a species of tall, transparent creatures who are part of a highly-wealthy monarchical society.<ref>http://youtu.be/pyjKPbkkW9k?t=2m26s</ref> It is assumed that their main source of income is profiting from the sale of natural resources taken from planets they have colonised stretching thousands of light years.

==Videos==
<gallery>
Elite_Dangerous_-_The_Return_2.4
The_Return_2.4_Announcement_-_Elite_Dangerous
The_Return_(Elite_Dangerous)
Elite_Dangerous_-_Where_are_the_Thargoids?_(And_what_are_they?)
DISTANT STORMS - Does Humanity Now Stand On The Brink Of A 2nd Thargoid War?
Elite_Dangerous_2.4_Teaser_-_Frontier_Expo_2017
Commander_Chronicles_Retaliation_-_Elite_Dangerous
Commander_Chronicles_Devastation_-_Elite_Dangerous
</gallery>

==Gallery==
<gallery hideaddbutton="true">
Elite Dangerous Unknown Ship HD.png|A Thargoid Interceptor Cyclops Variant in ''Elite Dangerous''
Evolution-of-the-Thargoids.png|Evolution of the Thargoids
First-Thargoid-Encounter-3125.png|An early Thargoid encounter circa 3125
Thargoids-Return-Message.png|Thargoids Return message
Thargoid-and-Diamondback-Ships.png|Thargoid and Diamondback ships
Thargoid Attack Aftermath.png|The destroyed Federal fleet
Unknown-Ships-Group-Thargoids.png|Thargoid Interceptors
Thargoid-Scouts.png|Thargoid Scouts
Thargoid Surface Site above.png|A Thargoid Surface Site
Thargoid-Surface-Site.png|Thargoid Surface Site
Thargoid Surface Site Scavenger close.png|A Scavenger
Thargoid-Wormhole.png|Thargoid wormhole
Thargoid Interceptor Basilisk Variant.png|A Thargoid Interceptor Basilisk Variant
Thargoid Interceptor Basilisk Variant 2.png|A close-up of a Basilisk Variant
Thargoid Interceptor Medusa Variant.png|A Thargoid Interceptor Medusa Variant
Thargoid Interceptor Medusa Variant 2.png|A Medusa Variant with its petals extended
</gallery>

==References==
<references />

{{Thargoids}}
{{SpeciesNavbox}}
[[Category:Lore]]
[[Category:Alien life]]
[[Category:Thargoids]]
[[Category:Species]]

Thargoid

2018-03-05T18:23:34Z

12.130.113.100: /* Renewed activity */

[[File:Unknown-Ships-Group-Thargoids.png|thumb|300px|Thargoid Interceptors]]
The '''Thargoids''' are an intelligent, highly-advanced insectoid [[species]] that have existed for millions of years. They are one of only two known living sapient species in the Milky Way [[galaxy]] alongside [[Human|humans]].<ref>http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?p=38820#post38820</ref> Approximately 1 to 2 million years ago, they encountered and warred with the [[Guardian]]s.<ref name=":0">[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/81bhy0/guardians_vs_thargoid_war_confirmed/ Guardian Codex 3 Decrypted. Thargoid Log - Unsuccessful Truce]</ref> Thargoids are highly territorial and seemingly rebuff all diplomatic overtures with unmitigated hostility.

==History==
The Thargoids are an ancient sapient insectoid species several millions of years old.<ref name=":0" /> Their [[homeworld]] is unknown. It's assumed that they originate from outside of known space, maybe a different [[galaxy]]. Perhaps they exist in a parallel universe or spatial dimension.

=== Guardian-Thargoid Conflict ===
The [[Thargoids]] seeded a number of planets with [[barnacles]] in what eventually became Guardian space 1 to 2 million years ago.<ref>[https://canonn.science/codex/guardians-codex/ Guardian 1/28 : Thargoid Log – Barnacle Seeding]</ref><ref name=":0" /> Several thousand years later the Thargoids returned and discovered that the planets they had seeded were occupied by the Guardians. The Thargoids immediately launched an assault making no effort to communicate with the Guardians. This tallies with the Thargoids’ behaviour in [[human]] space.<ref>[https://canonn.science/codex/guardians-codex/ 2/28 : Thargoid Log – The War Begins]</ref>

After the war with the [[Thargoid|Thargoids]] began, the Guardians were forced to make a partial retreat. They were reluctant to take up arms with the Thargoids and kept communicating with them. Eventually they gained enough understanding of the Thargoid language to communicate. It didn't benefit the Guardians much, because the Thargoids were determined to continue hostilities.<ref name=":0" /> The Guardians were forced to employ more aggressive methods to address the Thargoid threat.<ref name=":5">[https://canonn.science/codex/guardians-codex/ Guardian Codex 3 Decrypted. Thargoid Log - Unsuccessful Truce]</ref> It appears the Thargoids entered Guardian space unprepared for a protracted military campaign, and after facing a relentless onslaught from the Guardians’ war machines they were forced to retreat.<ref>[https://canonn.science/codex/guardians-codex/ 5/28 : Thargoid Log – Victory]</ref>

=== First contact and conflict ===
[[File:First-Thargoid-Encounter-3125.png|thumb|250px|First Thargoid encounter in 3125]]
Officially, the first encounters between [[humans]] and Thargoids occurred around an [[Ammonia Planet|ammonia-based world]] in 3125,<ref name="GNTT">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/57ada8969657baeb6e876c6c Galactic News: The Thargoids]</ref><ref name="DW">[https://canonn.science/lore/drewwagar-the-thargoids/ Canonn Research - Drew Wagar's Lore: The Thargoids]</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX49v8zYutI The Return 2.4 Announcement - Elite Dangerous]</ref> but unverified incidents involving similar ships were reported as early as the 2810's.<ref name="EE">''[[Elite Encounters RPG]]''</ref> Between the 2810's and 2840's, the [[Galactic Cooperative]] documented a significant number of ship disappearances in its space and near the [[Pleiades Nebula]]. Investigations found no evidence of foul-play, but the disappearances and hyperdrive malfunctions continued intermittently, stoking anxiety among pilots. In 2849, the first footage surfaced of one of these "encounters", with one blurry image appearing to show an alien ship with the word "THARG" on its hull. The media immediately coined the term "Thargoid" as a name for the aliens. However, no conclusive proof of the Thargoids' existence was obtained, and they faded into folklore.<ref name="EE" /><ref>Data taken from Tourist Spot Beacon 0184, Lave system</ref><ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/53se4s/first_thargoid_contact_22_beacon/ First Thargoid Contact - 2.2 Beacon]</ref>

Centuries later in the early 3120's, new reports emerged of octagonal starships of unknown design and origin, as well as hyperdrive malfunctions. In 3123, GalCop discovered the wreckage of two ships in its space that had been destroyed by more powerful laser weapons than were known to exist at the time.<ref name="EE" /> In 3125, independent pilots claimed that they were being pulled out of [[hyperspace]] and attacked by octagonal ships. Those who survived the experience were convinced they had encountered an alien species, and named the aliens "Thargoids" after the 29th century incidents. As the news spread, leaked [[Federation|Federal]] intelligence reports indicated that the Thargoid attacks were likely provoked by human hostility; colonists in the Veliaze system had apparently come into contact with a Thargoid deputation and assaulted it out of ignorance shortly before the attacks began. Some years later, the Thargoids disappeared as mysteriously as they had arrived.<ref name="GNTT" /><ref name="EE" />

The events surrounding first contact with the Thargoids were mostly suppressed and forgotten, and by the 3300's the Thargoids themselves were generally regarded as fiction. According to [[Alliance]] [[Alliance Prime Minister|Prime Minister]] [[Edmund Mahon]], who is one of the few individuals with access to surviving records, the [[Intergalactic Naval Reserve Arm]], or INRA, fought a war against the Thargoids and eventually secured victory by deploying a bioweapon against the aliens. The Thargoids retreated, and for many years it was believed they had been driven to extinction or even never truly existed at all.<ref name="EDP">[[Elite Dangerous: Premonition]]</ref>

According to the logs of the [[Megaship]] GCS Sarasvati, the original war with the Thargoids ended in 3151. In the aftermath, the [[Galactic Cooperative]] set up a series of deep space monitoring stations, one of which was the GCS Sarasvati, to watch for a resurgent Thargoid threat. This initiative was called Project Equinox. However, by December 27, 3155, no Thargoid presence had been detected whatsoever and members of the project questioned its usefulness. By August 16, 3172, Galcop had become weakened and fractured, and Project Equinox was shut down. Unfortunately, this occurred just as project lead Dr. Cassandra Lockhart discovered that the Thargoids had been sowing the seeds for their future return all along, and her warnings were ignored.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/380074-GCS-Sarasvati-early-Thargoid-lookout-megaship?p=5961637&viewfull=1#post5961637 Frontier Forums: GCS Sarasvati - early Thargoid lookout megaship]</ref>

In the course of the war, a number of Thargoid ships were captured by the Galactic Cooperative, and later fell into the possession of the Alliance in the years after Galcop collapsed. By the 3270's, the Alliance was able to reverse-engineer Thargoid technology to produce the single most consequential hyperdrive innovation in centuries: the [[Frame Shift Drive]]. FSDs reduced travel times in [[Hyperspace]] from hours to mere seconds, opening the floodgates for human exploration and expansion. Due to the machinations of [[The Club]], however, the Alliance did not leverage FSD technology to gain superiority over the Federation and Empire; instead, the tech fell into the hands of [[Sirius Corporation]], which monopolized it and distributed it to all the powers and factions, ensuring no one gained an advantage. Afterward, [[The Club]] suppressed information about the Thargoids so that it became a myth among the public.<ref name="EDP" />

=== Renewed activity ===

[[File:Thargoid second ship crash.png|thumb|250px|A crashed Thargoid Scout]]

In early 3301, [[Unknown Artefact|Unknown Artefacts]] were discovered among the cargoes of secret Federal convoys. Their discovery marked the first indication that Thargoids yet existed in the depths of space, though the Artefacts, as well as the similar [[Unknown Probe]]s that would be found orbiting ammonia worlds in 3302, would not be conclusively linked to the Thargoids until later. Some CMDRs believed that the Artefacts and Probes originated from an entirely unknown alien race, while others asserted that they were examples of experimental human technology. Disputes and speculation over the objects continued for months. [[Alien Structure]]s, or "Barnacles", were also discovered in 3302, but their even more pronounced organic appearance also stymied analysis.

On January 5, 3303, Commander DP Sayre reported the first known encounter with an [[Thargoid Interceptor|Unknown Ship]], which was later confirmed to be a type of Thargoid vessel and officially reclassified as a Thargoid Interceptor. The Unknown Ship interdicted the CMDR from [[hyperspace]] and apparently scanned him before departing to an untraceable destination. The acts of interdicting a target while in hyperspace and leaving an untraceable wake signature were both well beyond the capabilities of human technology. Previously, only the [[Alien Crash Site|wreckage of these ships]] had been documented.

Beginning April 11, 3303, reports surfaced of Unknown Ships apparently attacking [[Federation]] convoys. Upon dropping out of supercruise at the source of certain distress calls, Commanders arrived in a green, gaseous cloud and their ship was disabled. Multiple [[Federal Corvette]] wrecks, bearing luminescent green residue where they were damaged and with their crews apparently dead, were adrift in the cloud, and a single Unknown Ship could be seen jumping away. Presumably, the Unknown Ship destroyed all of the Corvettes on its own in each incident.

On June 2, 3303, CMDR Mobiusetti documented the first known interaction between an Unknown Ship and an [[Alien Structure]] on Pleiades Sector OI-T C3-7 A 6 at coordinates -42.77, -21.7. This confirmed suspicions that they were related.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8S-4Oq9Xvc</ref>

====Identification and escalation====

[[File:Thargoids-Return-Message.png|thumb|250px|CMDR Edward Lewis' message]]

On June 12, 3303, [[Professor Palin]] issued a request for scan and wake signature data from Unknown Ships to be delivered to Orcus Crag in Pleiades Sector OI-T c3-7. Palin compared the collected data to older Thargoid samples and confirmed that Unknown Ships were Thargoid in origin. Shortly afterward, [[Federation]] military forces seized Palin's research for transport to a Federal research facility, but the fleet never arrived at its destination.<ref name="Return">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5943ed6837e29c184d38b29b Galactic News: The Thargoids have Returned]</ref>

On June 13, wreckage was found with a transmitter which contained a recorded message:

''"This is an urgent message from Commander Edward Lewis. There are forces out there who do not want you to know the truth, but I have to make this public. I found a ship in HIP 17044. A Federal cap ship, shot to pieces. They were carrying the data the Feds stole from Professor Palin. The crew is dead, but they discovered something important about the Unknown Ships. There is a beacon in the wreckage broadcasting a message, over and over. It proves what we suspected. They are back. And the whole galaxy needs to know. The Thargoids have returned."''

[[File:Thargoid Attack Aftermath.png|thumb|250px|The destroyed Federal fleet]]

Two unnamed [[Farragut Battle Cruiser]]s were located at an [[Unregistered Comms Beacon]] approximately 11,000 ls in the direction of the Asterope system from planet 2 in the HIP 17044 system. The capital ships and an accompanying fleet of smaller Federal ships were all heavily damaged, their crews presumably dead, and adrift in the same green, gaseous cloud noted to be a signature of previous Unknown Ship attacks. A transmitter satellite was found among the debris. One Farragut was also discovered to be broadcasting a recording in Morse code in a small, 30-meter zone around its antenna array: "UNKNOWN VESSELS DETECTED. SERVER PURGE FAILED. SHIP ASSETS LIQUIDATED. PAYLOAD DESTROYED. SHIP STATUS LOST."<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/355713-Alien-archeology-and-other-mysteries-Thread-10-The-Canonn?s=7ddc1608a90a6581ce734397295c8a08&p=5611753&viewfull=1#post5611753 Frontier Forums: Alien archeology and other mysteries: Thread 10 - The Canonn]</ref>

Following the incident, on June 19, the leaders of the Federation, [[Empire]], and [[Alliance]] responded to the news that the aliens encountered in the Pleiades Nebula were Thargoids. President [[Zachary Hudson]] confirmed that the Federal military had been expanding in recent months in preparation for such a possibility. Emperor [[Arissa Lavigny-Duval]] urged calm and reminded the public that humanity had overcome seemingly insurmountable odds in the past. Prime Minister [[Edmund Mahon]] called for caution, arguing that it had not yet been proven that the destroyed Federal ships were the victims of Thargoid attacks, and that much could be learned from an advanced alien race like the Thargoids.<ref name="LeadersRespond">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5947bb8ef0522a25d9666976 Galactic News: Galactic Leaders Address Thargoid Discovery]</ref>

==== Thargoid Surface Sites ====

[[File:Thargoid_Surface_Site_above.png|thumb|250px|Thargoid Surface Site]]

Following the incident, CMDRs identified an unknown signal at a listening post in [[Maia]] this lead to heavily guarded relay posts. The final listening post had a Caesar Cypher encrypted location for the "nest". They traced it to planet B 1 C in HIP 19026. There, CMDR Lightningwing of [[The Canonn]] discovered the first known [[Thargoid Surface Site]].<ref name="Mystery">[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/6jmzs7/a_mystery_is_afoot/ /r/EliteDangerous: A mystery is afoot]</ref><ref name="Found">[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/6jnvjf/spoilers_mysterious_structures_found_by_cannon/ /r/EliteDangerous: (SPOILERS) Mysterious Structures Found By Cannon group]</ref>

==== Pleiades buildup and research efforts ====
In the wake of the earlier discoveries concerning the Thargoids, numerous state-sponsored and independent initiatives were launched to expand humanity's presence in the [[Pleiades Nebula]]. The Indra, a Wells-class Carrier [[Megaship]], was built and deployed by the [[Empire]] to HR 1185.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/595e07ff82824f10a91fc919 Galactic News: New Superpower Bases in the Pleiades]</ref> The [[Federation]] established Blackmount Orbital and Blackmount Habitation in HIP 17692 to monitor Thargoid activity.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/595e51e1478524147370660a Community Goal: New Federal Outpost]</ref> The [[Ocellus]] station The Oracle was relocated to Pleiades Sector IR-W d1-55 to serve as an independent hub for scientific research on the Thargoids.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59675dff6d63ab788e4904da Galactic News: New Research Centre at Thargoid Site]</ref> Abroin Universal Plc led a campaign to establish their own Thargoid research base in the Pleiades.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5970b899dc4a6940976694d7 Community Goal: Pleiades Research Outpost]</ref> The Federation, Empire, and [[Alliance]] jointly funded the creation of [[Aegis]], a research organization intended to pool the scientific expertise of the three superpowers to coordinate investigations of the Thargoids; Aegis deployed a station named Donar's Oak to Pleiades Sector IR-W d1-55.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59844fbe301ce614455222a1 Galactic News: Joint Superpower Initiative Announced]</ref> [[Sirius Corporation]] established two outposts in the [[Merope]] system, the station Reed's Rest and the surface port Omega Prospect.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/11-AUG-3303 Galactic News: Sirius Corporation Enters Merope]</ref>

On August 11, 3303, the Alliance launched a research initiative to build a range of state-of-the-art instruments to analyze various Thargoid materials, such as Unknown Ship Signatures and other objects recovered from Thargoid Surface Sites.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/598c793e3c5e0e1cf8555859 Community Goal: Alliance Research Initiative]</ref> The campaign was a success, but due to the nature of the research it would take some time for any results to be achieved.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5995b0d377678f36dc69b72f Galactic News: Alliance Campaign Concludes]</ref>

With events unfolding at a rapid pace, the superpowers had until recently struggled to formulate appropriate responses to the Thargoid situation. While Aegis' establishment suggested that the galaxy's leaders were beginning to address the issue, journalist Kelvin Masters offered a more frank analysis in an Imperial Herald article on August 25, 3303: "The barnacles seem to indicate that the Thargoids were in Maia and Merope long before we were. For all we know, humanity has expanded into what the Thargoids see as their territory. I have no interest in scaremongering, but my belief is that a Thargoid attack could be imminent – their behaviour certainly seems to suggest they are probing us for weaknesses."<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/599e9f98c10d1126640e8902 Galactic News: The Thargoid Situation]</ref>

==== Enemies of the Federation ====
On September 15, 3303, Chief of Federal Security Admiral Aden Tanner announced that another Thargoid attack had recently occurred in Pleiades Sector IR-W D1-55 which resulted in the destruction of multiple Federal vessels, including one Farragut Battle Cruiser. While the motives for this attack were unknown, Admiral Tanner confirmed that the Thargoids were now officially considered enemies of the Federation. President Hudson gave Tanner full authority over the [[Federal Navy]] to deal with the Thargoid threat.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59bb9793d5777560b7216455 Galactic News: Federal Capital Ship Destroyed by Thargoids]</ref> Amid speculation that Federal forces had provoked the attack, the Federation insisted that black box data from the wreckage indicated no provocation on their part; this was confirmed by Aegis, which had also analyzed data from the attack.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59c3a0e02468d745a72f97a0 Galactic News: Federation Addresses Rumours]</ref>

The incident spurred all three superpowers to widen Aegis' remit to focus on both research and defence on September 21, 3303. The organization's budget was dramatically increased, and it recruited the [[Engineers]] [[Liz Ryder]] and [[Professor Palin]] to produce a new anti-Thargoid weapon and a scanner for Thargoid ships, respectively.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59c3a108ced3ff7f807f54b7 Galactic News: Aegis to Widen Remit]</ref><ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59c3cb9dffff1a05c9770bdd Community Goal: Engineers Appeal for Thargoid Material]</ref>

=== The Return ===
==== Skirmishes and discoveries ====

[[File:Thargoid Attack Aftermath Imperial.png|thumb|250px|A destroyed Imperial fleet above planet A 1 in HR 1185]]

On [[Elite Dangerous: Horizons#The Return - v2.4|September 26, 3303]], independent pilots reported being attacked unprovoked by Thargoid Interceptors at Non-Human Signal Sources. At least one of these attacks, in which CMDR Sapphire Horizons was the victim, occurred at a site with wreckage from an Imperial convoy, which was believed to have been destroyed by the Thargoid ship.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/72lzxb/so_i_just_got_killed_by_a_thargoid/ r/EliteDangerous: So I just got killed by a Thargoid]</ref><ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59cd17dcf030a91ca721e243 Galactic News: Further Thargoid Attacks]</ref> In addition, Interceptors have demonstrated extreme hostility against any [[Guardians|Guardian]] artefacts jettisoned in their vicinity, using their weapons to destroy them.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/72mjyw/they_seriously_dont_like_guardian_stuff_monkas/ r/EliteDangerous: They seriously don't like Guardian stuff monkaS]</ref> New [[Alien Structure]] sites have also been identified, with a greater concentration of the Structures and an octagonal formation that resembles a nascent [[Thargoid Surface Site]].<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/72wjsi/the_new_barnacle_site_grows_in_a_familiar/ r/EliteDangerous: The new barnacle site grows in a familiar pattern...credit to CMDR PinPiper]</ref>

[[Aegis]] released the [[AX Missile Rack]] and [[AX Xeno Scanner]] on September 28, 3303. These new devices allowed CMDRs to both scan Interceptors and successfully penetrate their defenses for the first time, a major milestone.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/731ex8/psa_ax_missile_rack_and_ax_xeno_scanner_now/ PSA: AX Missile Rack and AX Xeno Scanner Now Available]</ref><ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/731oxn/thargoid_down_sdc/ Thargoid Down! - SDC!]</ref> However, it was also discovered that the Thargoids had begun attacking independent civilian vessels. A heavily-damaged [[Megaship]] identified as Samson Class Bulk Cargo Ship BTG-237 was found in Pleiades Sector IR-W d1-55, near planet A 5, the victim of Thargoid aggression.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/72zzvw/spoiler_something_new_has_happened_in_pleiades/ Something new has happened in pleiades Sector IR-W D1-55..]</ref> To cap off a day filled with new developments, wreckage from a new type of Thargoid vessel, the [[Thargoid Scout]], was also discovered on planet A 3 A in the HIP 17125 system.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/733mmb/elite_dangerous_24_new_unknown_ship_crashed_hip/ r/EliteDangerous: Elite Dangerous 2.4 new Unknown Ship (crashed) Hip 17125 A 3 A -65.8193 | 48.8662]</ref>

Despite early successes against the Thargoids in battle thanks to the AX Missile Rack, by October 3rd the Thargoid vessels had adapted by developing a resistance to the damaging compound within the missiles. Reports also indicated that countermeasures like chaff could no longer prevent Interceptors from locking on, that the Interceptors had begun evading long-range attacks more effectively, and that [[Thargon]] drone swarms had become much more accurate.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59d3b59f493e8e3727091ead Galactic News: Thargoids Adapting Rapidly]</ref> On October 5th, the [[AX Multi-cannon]] was released. Combined with an AX Missile Rack to expose Thargoid Hearts on Interceptors, this new weapon was able to circumvent the Thargoid's adaptation. Two other anti-Thargoid countermeasures, the [[Remote Release Flak Launcher]] and [[Shutdown Field Neutraliser]], were made available over the following weeks, making human pilots more effective against their alien adversaries.

On October 6, 3303, Aegis' military liaison Admiral [[Aden Tanner]] confirmed that in recent days, Federal, Imperial, and civilian ships alike had been targeted and destroyed by Thargoids, and that the aliens were scanning the wreckage and seizing escape pods. Tanner reaffirmed that Aegis was dedicated to unraveling the Thargoids' motives.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59d7523d7f2d0f16da5fbf78 Galactic News: Thargoid Threat Continues to Escalate]</ref> On October 12, an Aegis spokesperson confirmed that as well as adapting their defenses to human weapons technology, the Thargoids were also rapidly adapting to human strategies and tactics.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59df892030484d21ea3c3ec5 Galactic News: Thargoids Continuing to Adapt]</ref> On October 27, as losses of Federal [[Farragut Battle Cruiser]]s and Imperial [[Majestic Class Interdictor]]s continued to mount, Admiral Tanner noted that although recent developments like the Shutdown Field Neutraliser had proven effective in protecting conventional spacecraft from Thargoid attacks, difficulties had been encountered in adapting the technology to larger spacecraft. As a result of capital ships' continued vulnerability, Tanner warned that deploying such vessels to protect stations and outposts was not a viable defensive strategy against Thargoids for the time being.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59f30dd4826c1776ca623242 Galactic News: Capital Ships Vulnerable to Thargoid Attack]</ref>

====Operation Andronicus====

On November 2, 3303, Aegis launched Operation Andronicus, the first military operation intended to curb Thargoid aggression in the Pleiades Nebula. Admiral Tanner stated that Aegis would be offering substantial monetary rewards to independent pilots for confirmed Thargoid kills.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59fb5178adf339781710741f Community Goal: Operation Andronicus]</ref> While Operation Andronicus was in effect, the Alliance organization Cooper Research Associates also announced they would reward pilots for the recovery of personal effects and escape pods from Thargoid attack sites.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59fb51f4adf3397051674b5d Community Goal: Rescue Operation in the Pleiades]</ref> The operation concluded a week later, and both campaigns were hailed as successes.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a04628c7c8ea44d3104a3d2 Galactic News: Operation Andronicus Concludes]</ref><ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a046323cd1bcd187d490e8e Galactic News: Pleiades Rescue Operation Concludes]</ref>

====Enter the Basilisks====

[[File:Thargoid Interceptor Basilisk Variant 2.png|thumb|250px|A close-up of a Basilisk Variant]]

On November 13, 3303, the first sightings of a new variant of Thargoid Interceptor were reported by independent pilots in the Electra system. Classified as the "Basilisk Variant" by the [[Pilots Federation]], these heavily scarred Interceptors possessed demonstrably more powerful offensive and defensive capabilities.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a0c1121b9e40e708759f664 Galactic News: Previously Unseen Thargoid Ships in Electra]</ref> Prior to this, only Cyclops Variant Thargoid Interceptors had been encountered. As Basilisk Variants and Cyclops Variants have yet to demonstrate any hostility towards each other, it is unknown if the presence of Basilisk Variants represents an escalation in the ongoing conflict between Thargoids and humans, or the arrival of a second Thargoid faction in the region.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/7cnxqj/threat_6_uss_in_electra_spoilers/ /r/EliteDangerous: Threat 6 USS in Electra]</ref>

With casualties from Thargoid attacks continuing to mount, President Zachary Hudson and Emperor Arissa Lavigny-Duval issued statements to reassure the public, insisting that the Thargoid presence would likely remain limited to the Pleiades Nebula and that the combined forces of the Federation and Empire could overcome any threat. Despite this optimism, Admiral Aden Tanner stated it was premature to assert that the Thargoids would not advance beyond the Pleiades, but that Aegis was actively investigating the Thargoids' long-term plans.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a0eba46528d3924954cf324 Galactic News: Galactic Authorities Call for Calm]</ref>

====Station attacks and Medusae====
[[File:Station Attack The Oracle.png|thumb|250px|The Oracle in the aftermath of an attack]]
December 14, 3303 marked the most serious escalation of the Thargoid conflict yet. The stations Titan's Daughter in Taygeta, The Oracle in Pleiades Sector IR-W d1-55, and Liman Legacy in HIP 16753 were attacked and severely damaged by Thargoids, disrupting services and making the stations dangerously unstable.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFLBnqxuATg YouTube: Commander Chronicles: Devastation - Elite Dangerous]</ref> [[Station#Emergency Protocol|Emergency evacuation protocols]] were activated, and the Pilots Federation extracted the ships of the independent pilots docked at the affected Stations and transferred them to [[Rescue Vessel]]s. Pilots were encouraged to aid the ongoing evacuation of the stations' inhabitants.<ref name="Station Attack">[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/7jqg5p/so_the_thargoids_attacked_a_station_images/?st=jb6b35m0&sh=f42ecad9 /r/EliteDangerous: So the Thargoids(?) Attacked a Station. Images Courtesy of CMDR Bad_Player]</ref>

[[File:Thargoid Interceptor Medusa Variant.png|thumb|250px|A close-up of a Medusa Variant]]
The attacks were confirmed to have been carried out by a new variant of Thargoid Interceptor classified as the "Medusa Variant".<ref name="GSABT">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a328aebaac37e273a5d4ea8 Galactic News: Starports Attacked by Thargoids]</ref> These ships also began interdicting pilots from hyperspace and appearing in Threat 7 Non-Human Signal Sources. Medusae surpass the capabilities of Basilisk Variant Interceptors, possessing even stronger defenses, more powerful weapons, and the ability to direct an even larger swarm of Thargon drones.<ref name="Medusa">[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/7jqg5p/so_the_thargoids_attacked_a_station_images/dr8epgz/ /r/EliteDangerous: So the Thargoids(?) Attacked a Station. Images Courtesy of CMDR Bad_Player - Comment by ChristianM]</ref>

The death toll from the station attacks was believed to be in the thousands, but could have been far worse. Starport security feeds indicate that the Medusa Interceptors used their shutdown fields to disable station defenses before targeting the main reactor. An eyewitness speculated that the Thargoids' intent was to cripple the stations, not destroy them outright.<ref name="GSABT" /> While it was not clear why the Thargoids had targeted these three stations specifically and not others, Aegis was investigating the issue.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a3a4ffbd27df13ee220cc2f Galactic News: Authorities Urge Public Not to Panic]</ref>

The following week on December 21, as the three stations were stabilized and repair work began on them, further attacks were reported at Bao Landing in HIP 17497, Cavalieri in Electra, and Hudson Observatory in HIP 17694.<ref>[https://i.imgur.com/hxTJhqt.png Imgur: Galactic News: Starport Status Update, December 21, 3303]</ref> Medusa Interceptors were once again confirmed to be the culprits, and hundreds more human casualties were tallied.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a3ceced6a3e8049274181c5 Galactic News: More Starports Attacked]</ref> Three more attacks occurred two weeks later on January 4, 3304 at Copernicus Observatory in Asterope, Cyllene Orbital in Atlas, and Artemis Lodge in Celaeno, followed by two attacks on January 11 at Obsidian Orbital in Maia and Reed's Rest in Merope.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a58d52808925a374348ba63 GalNet: Thargoid Assault Continues]</ref>

====The Liberation of HIP 17692====
Also on January 11, the Federation and Empire announced a joint initiative to counter Thargoid activity in the HIP 17692 system and attempt to reduce the Thargoids' presence in the Pleiades. The Empire-aligned Merope Expeditionary Fleet took charge of military operations, while the Federation-aligned Pleiades Resource Enterprise coordinated the rescue of attack survivors, personal effects, and data. Fleet Admiral [[Denton Patreus]] stated, "Starports throughout the Pleiades have been attacked. Thousands of lives have been lost. And we have failed to deliver an effective response. That changes now."<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a578660b34e4b5d3c0ae199 The Liberation of HIP 17692]</ref>

The operation marked just over a year since the first encounter with an active Thargoid Interceptor. Political commentator Daxton Sung offered an analysis: "The situation continues to escalate and our leaders continue to offer the same tired platitudes – militaristic bombast from Hudson, noncommittal banalities from Lavigny-Duval and earnest sympathising from Mahon. It's clear that they have no idea how to counter the Thargoid threat, beyond pumping more money into Aegis's weapons programme."<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a5787708a640c638d6d781d One Year On]</ref>

====Advance on the Core Systems====
While the HIP 17692 operation proved to be a success,<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a60b60073f627733619d852 GalNet: HIP 17692 Operation Concludes]</ref> Thargoid attacks on stations continued unabated on January 18, striking Kipling Orbital in Pleiades Sector KC-V c2-11 and Malthus Terminal in Pleiades Sector HR-W d1-41. After these attacks, a member of Kipling Orbital's starport personnel noted that the Thargoids seemed to be sweeping the region and slowly moving towards the [[Core Systems]].<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a6a0ea379a7530bc462fb3f Starport Attacks Continue]</ref>

On January 25, Borrego's Vision in Pleiades Sector IH-V c2-7 and Kamov Survey in HIP 17892 were hit. On February 1, Asami Orbital in Pleiades Sector JC-V d2-62 and Cleaver Prospect in Pleiades Sector HR-W d1-57 suffered attacks; both stations were significantly closer to the Core Systems that the targets of the previous attacks. On February 8, Bennington's Restin 42 n Persei and Exodus Point in Hyades Sector AB-W b2-2 were attacked, continuing the trend of the Thargoids' movements. President [[Zachary Hudson]] and Emperor [[Arissa Lavigny-Duval]] both issued fresh appeals for aid for the affected stations, and the Emperor also confirmed that [[Aegis]] was actively investigating the Thargoids' shift toward the Core Systems.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a7c2524b2837d57693651ee Galactic Leaders Renew Appeals for Aid]</ref>

On February 15, Gaiman Dock in 49 Arietis and Weyn Dock in 64 Arietis were hit, marking the Thargoids' arrival in the outer fringe of the Core Systems. As the public questioned the lack of an effective military response to the Thargoids, Imperial Senator [[Gianna Tachibana]] asserted that humanity was being reactive rather than proactive, and that the Pleiades were at risk of becoming a no-go zone even with the assistance of independent pilot militias and Aegis's research.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a85a1361b13ca3edb048d1c Galactic News: Proactive or Reactive?]</ref> Meanwhile, the Federation launched the Bulwark Project, an initiative to develop autonomous military hardware to combat the Thargoids. While Imperial commentators criticized the initiative as a circumvention of long-standing conventions against the development of artificial intelligence, Federal [[Shadow President]] [[Felicia Winters]] dismissed those concerns, claiming that the Bulwark Project's purpose was to "investigate alternate defence strategies, not to develop machine intelligence".<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a859fd09dd29d74a968382e Galactic News: The Bulwark Project]</ref> The Bulwark Project campaign was later successful, but Winters was careful to note that the Project's initial remit was merely to determine the economic and military feasibility of the creation of a fully-automated defence force.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a8ee6340f36064f752cd607 GalNet: Federal Initiative Concludes]</ref>

On February 22, Armstrong Enterprise in Bhal and Beaufoy Vision in Nauni, both locations within the Core Systems, suffered Thargoid attacks. Coinciding with these latest incidents, Fleet Admiral Patreus coordinated a second Federal-Imperial joint operation against the Thargoids, this time centered on the Pleiades Sector OI-T c3-7 and Arietis Sector XE-Z b4 systems.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a8ee5d25f3da10323076fbf GalNet: Anti-Thargoid Operation]</ref> The operation was subsequently declared a success.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a9824bf78da4a2abd3af6d8 GalNet: Federal-Imperial Operation Concludes]</ref> Notably, no additional Thargoid attacks occurred on March 1, marking the first lull in the incursion, although sightings and encounters with [[Thargoid Interceptor]]s began occurring at various locations within the Core Systems, with hostile [[Thargoid Scout]] Marauders now appearing as well.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a9960a7049802427b2b41cd GalNet: Week in Review (March 3, 3304)]</ref>

== Biology ==

Thargoids are an insectoid species. Little is known about their physical appearance and biology. Their chemistry is carbon-based, but with ammonia as the solvent rather than water.<ref>http://www.rollingstone.com/glixel/features/elite-dangerous-creator-talks-sci-fi-politics-and-whats-next-w492781</ref> If the rumors are true that they come from [[Ammonia Planet|Ammonia-based planets]] then their physiology is drastically different from humans. For example, ammonia boils at -33 degrees C. Thargoids may well be acclimatised to temperatures far lower than humans.<ref>https://www.drewwagar.com/lore/elite-dangerous-lore-the-thargoids/</ref> They are presumed to be highly intelligent, more than the average human due to their superior technological capabilities. Descriptions based on encounters centuries ago have yet to be verified.

According to [[The Club]], what humans consider to be a singular Thargoid species actually consists of two distinct "dynasties": the Oresrians and the Klaxians. How Oresrians and Klaxians differ biologically, if at all, is unknown.<ref name="EDP" />

==Society==

[[File:Thargoid-and-Diamondback-Ships.png|thumb|250px|Thargoid ship confronting a Diamondback Scout]]

Not much information has been obtained about Thargoid society or culture. The only known fact is that the society is hive based, with no sense of close family. It is thought that the society is divided into colonies, possibly along the lines of ant colonies. The Oresrian and Klaxian dynasties may be two such colonies.<ref name="EDP" />

Thargoids are thought to have a natural affinity with space, and with [[Hyperspace]] in particular. This is due to the fact that Thargoid warriors seem to spend a large amount of time in space. Naval pilots and crews report that the warships in the war zones are encountered on repeated occasions over a period of months often without respite.

At some point, the Oresrian and Klaxian dynasties became embroiled in a civil war. Prior to 3303, the Klaxians gained the upper hand in this conflict and forced the Oresrians into a slow, continuous retreat across the galaxy, a retreat which will take them directly through human space. [[The Club]] has learned that the Oresrians planned to use human civilization as a "bullet shield" to occupy the Klaxians' attention while they escape deeper into space. This poses a potentially apocalyptic threat to humanity's survival.<ref name="EDP" />

==Politics==
Nothing is known about internal Thargoid politics or government, or why the Oresrians and Klaxians have come into conflict.

Thargoid relations with other species, as far as what is currently known, was frighteningly simple: war. The Thargoid invasions usually seemed to be prompted by the need for either agricultural or mineral resources, rather than a sociological or anthropological need to expand or colonise. In fact, the animal life on an invaded world was largely ignored unless it poses a threat to Thargoids.

==Technology==
[[File:Thargoid-Wormhole.png|thumb|250px|Thargoid wormhole]]
Thargoid technology is vastly different from [[human]] technology. Not only are their ships currently invulnerable to conventional weapons, but they possess the ability to interdict human ships that are traveling through hyperspace, a feat previously believed to be impossible, as well as the ability to make untraceable hyperspace jumps and stymie any pursuers. Despite their advanced hyperspace capabilities, there is yet to be evidence of Thargoid ships moving in [[Supercruise]], perhaps suggesting they do not have short-range FTL abilities.

Thargoids can create stable wormholes to [[hyperspace]] (witch-space). This is used to e.g. travel astronomical distances in seconds and interdict vessels. They're believed to be able to hover in witch-space. It's rumored that they can also reside in this higher dimensional region.<ref>https://www.sharoma.com/frontierverse/thargoids.htm</ref><ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/7b3eyk/elite_dangerous_another_inra_base_found_linked_to/ /r/EliteDangerous: Elite: Dangerous: Another INRA Base Found, Linked To Hyperdrive Research]
</ref><ref>https://canonn.science/lore/drewwagar-the-thargoids/</ref>

[[INRA]] chief scientist Bexley Prince asserted that Thargoid technology is far ahead of humans. Understanding it could open up all kinds of possibilities. The applications are potentially limitless. His logs were found at the INRA base Hollis Gateway.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/75axlh/inra_planetary_base_found_on_hermitage_4_a/</ref>

Analysis of the [[Scavenger]] shows that it contains organic and mechanical elements such as [[Thargoid Organic Circuitry]]. This discovery has lead many to question whether the Scavengers are sentient creatures or simple mechanical drones created by the Thargoids as workers.<ref>[http://elite-dangerous.wikia.com/wiki/Thargoid_Organic_Circuitry Thargoid Organic Circuitry] in-game description</ref> The [[Thargoid Interceptor]] also has intricate technological and biological elements<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/395094-Medusa-Tissue-Sample-Tissue-Sample-Prices Thargoid Medusa Tissue Sample]</ref> such as "Thargoid Hearts" which can repair hull damage.

Thargoid weaponry has proven to be very powerful, resulting in numerous destroyed Federal and Imperial vessels, including capital ships. CMDRs who reported being attacked by [[Thargoid Interceptor]]s have noted they lost their ships very quickly under an onslaught of powerful missiles and [[Thargon]] drone swarms.

There's speculation of a [[Thargoid Mothership]] which, according to recovered logs, attacked the [[INRA]] site Carmichael Point in HIP 16824.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mB36F-rLlkI Elite: Dangerous: INRA Base Attacked By Thargoids]</ref>

[[Alien Structure]]s, so-called "barnacles", are known to be related to the Thargoids and their ships. As the structures produce [[Meta-Alloys]], it is possible that Meta-Alloys are an important resource used by Thargoid Interceptors. After September 26, 3303, CMDRs reported sightings of larger fields of Alien Structures in a shape reminiscent of Thargoid Surface Sites, and are also patrolled by [[Scavenger]]s.

[[Thargoid Surface Site]]s demonstrate the Thargoids construct and utilize vast surface installations. Passive drone-like devices called Scavengers were first encountered at these locations. [[Thargoid Egg]]s can be found around and inside these sites. It's unknown what produces and lays these eggs.

[[Thargoid Sensor]]s and [[Thargoid Probe]]s were also confirmed to be related to Thargoids after it was discovered that carrying them allowed doors at Thargoid Surface Sites to open. The other functions of these objects remain an enigma, however. Thargoid Interceptors have been witnessed retrieving them after September 26, 3303.

It's unclear whether Thargoids are a Type II or [[Elite Universe#Type III Civilizations|Type III civilization]] based on the Kardashev scale. Their lack of control over the Milky Way galaxy indicates they are Type II. However, since Thargoids may originate from another galaxy, parallel universe, or spatial dimension they could be Type III.

==Notes==
*Initially, it was only confirmed that Thargoids would eventually make an appearance in Elite Dangerous, and the specifics of that encounter were unknown.<ref>http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?p=160991#post160991</ref><ref>https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1461411552/elite-dangerous/posts/377497#comment-2014816</ref><ref>https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=77358&p=1262252&viewfull=1#post1262252</ref>
*Frontier Development staff have previously commented that all Thargoids are female.<ref>https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1461411552/elite-dangerous/comments?cursor=2332567#comment-2332566</ref>
*David Braben hinted that should peace have ever been found with Thargoids, it would be a temporary measure.<ref>https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1461411552/elite-dangerous/comments?cursor=1970411#comment-1970410</ref>
*It has been rumoured that Thargoids could be capable of building large artificial structures which could possibly be on a scale with planets, and certainly large enough to negate a ship's warp ability.<ref>http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?p=85034#post85034</ref>

==Trivia==
*The name "Thargoid" is believed to have come from the regular skit ''Captain Kremmen'' performed by radio and TV personality Kenny Everett on both his radio shows and, in animated form, on TV.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Kremmen</ref> The animated skits show the Thargoids as a species of tall, transparent creatures who are part of a highly-wealthy monarchical society.<ref>http://youtu.be/pyjKPbkkW9k?t=2m26s</ref> It is assumed that their main source of income is profiting from the sale of natural resources taken from planets they have colonised stretching thousands of light years.

==Videos==
<gallery>
Elite_Dangerous_-_The_Return_2.4
The_Return_2.4_Announcement_-_Elite_Dangerous
The_Return_(Elite_Dangerous)
Elite_Dangerous_-_Where_are_the_Thargoids?_(And_what_are_they?)
DISTANT STORMS - Does Humanity Now Stand On The Brink Of A 2nd Thargoid War?
Elite_Dangerous_2.4_Teaser_-_Frontier_Expo_2017
Commander_Chronicles_Retaliation_-_Elite_Dangerous
Commander_Chronicles_Devastation_-_Elite_Dangerous
</gallery>

==Gallery==
<gallery hideaddbutton="true">
Elite Dangerous Unknown Ship HD.png|A Thargoid Interceptor Cyclops Variant in ''Elite Dangerous''
Evolution-of-the-Thargoids.png|Evolution of the Thargoids
First-Thargoid-Encounter-3125.png|An early Thargoid encounter circa 3125
Thargoids-Return-Message.png|Thargoids Return message
Thargoid-and-Diamondback-Ships.png|Thargoid and Diamondback ships
Thargoid Attack Aftermath.png|The destroyed Federal fleet
Unknown-Ships-Group-Thargoids.png|Thargoid Interceptors
Thargoid-Scouts.png|Thargoid Scouts
Thargoid Surface Site above.png|A Thargoid Surface Site
Thargoid-Surface-Site.png|Thargoid Surface Site
Thargoid Surface Site Scavenger close.png|A Scavenger
Thargoid-Wormhole.png|Thargoid wormhole
Thargoid Interceptor Basilisk Variant.png|A Thargoid Interceptor Basilisk Variant
Thargoid Interceptor Basilisk Variant 2.png|A close-up of a Basilisk Variant
Thargoid Interceptor Medusa Variant.png|A Thargoid Interceptor Medusa Variant
Thargoid Interceptor Medusa Variant 2.png|A Medusa Variant with its petals extended
</gallery>

==References==
<references />

{{Thargoids}}
{{SpeciesNavbox}}
[[Category:Lore]]
[[Category:Alien life]]
[[Category:Thargoids]]
[[Category:Species]]

Thargoid

2018-03-05T18:22:19Z

12.130.113.100: /* Renewed activity */

[[File:Unknown-Ships-Group-Thargoids.png|thumb|300px|Thargoid Interceptors]]
The '''Thargoids''' are an intelligent, highly-advanced insectoid [[species]] that have existed for millions of years. They are one of only two known living sapient species in the Milky Way [[galaxy]] alongside [[Human|humans]].<ref>http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?p=38820#post38820</ref> Approximately 1 to 2 million years ago, they encountered and warred with the [[Guardian]]s.<ref name=":0">[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/81bhy0/guardians_vs_thargoid_war_confirmed/ Guardian Codex 3 Decrypted. Thargoid Log - Unsuccessful Truce]</ref> Thargoids are highly territorial and seemingly rebuff all diplomatic overtures with unmitigated hostility.

==History==
The Thargoids are an ancient sapient insectoid species several millions of years old.<ref name=":0" /> Their [[homeworld]] is unknown. It's assumed that they originate from outside of known space, maybe a different [[galaxy]]. Perhaps they exist in a parallel universe or spatial dimension.

=== Guardian-Thargoid Conflict ===
The [[Thargoids]] seeded a number of planets with [[barnacles]] in what eventually became Guardian space 1 to 2 million years ago.<ref>[https://canonn.science/codex/guardians-codex/ Guardian 1/28 : Thargoid Log – Barnacle Seeding]</ref><ref name=":0" /> Several thousand years later the Thargoids returned and discovered that the planets they had seeded were occupied by the Guardians. The Thargoids immediately launched an assault making no effort to communicate with the Guardians. This tallies with the Thargoids’ behaviour in [[human]] space.<ref>[https://canonn.science/codex/guardians-codex/ 2/28 : Thargoid Log – The War Begins]</ref>

After the war with the [[Thargoid|Thargoids]] began, the Guardians were forced to make a partial retreat. They were reluctant to take up arms with the Thargoids and kept communicating with them. Eventually they gained enough understanding of the Thargoid language to communicate. It didn't benefit the Guardians much, because the Thargoids were determined to continue hostilities.<ref name=":0" /> The Guardians were forced to employ more aggressive methods to address the Thargoid threat.<ref name=":5">[https://canonn.science/codex/guardians-codex/ Guardian Codex 3 Decrypted. Thargoid Log - Unsuccessful Truce]</ref> It appears the Thargoids entered Guardian space unprepared for a protracted military campaign, and after facing a relentless onslaught from the Guardians’ war machines they were forced to retreat.<ref>[https://canonn.science/codex/guardians-codex/ 5/28 : Thargoid Log – Victory]</ref>

=== First contact and conflict ===
[[File:First-Thargoid-Encounter-3125.png|thumb|250px|First Thargoid encounter in 3125]]
Officially, the first encounters between [[humans]] and Thargoids occurred around an [[Ammonia Planet|ammonia-based world]] in 3125,<ref name="GNTT">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/57ada8969657baeb6e876c6c Galactic News: The Thargoids]</ref><ref name="DW">[https://canonn.science/lore/drewwagar-the-thargoids/ Canonn Research - Drew Wagar's Lore: The Thargoids]</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX49v8zYutI The Return 2.4 Announcement - Elite Dangerous]</ref> but unverified incidents involving similar ships were reported as early as the 2810's.<ref name="EE">''[[Elite Encounters RPG]]''</ref> Between the 2810's and 2840's, the [[Galactic Cooperative]] documented a significant number of ship disappearances in its space and near the [[Pleiades Nebula]]. Investigations found no evidence of foul-play, but the disappearances and hyperdrive malfunctions continued intermittently, stoking anxiety among pilots. In 2849, the first footage surfaced of one of these "encounters", with one blurry image appearing to show an alien ship with the word "THARG" on its hull. The media immediately coined the term "Thargoid" as a name for the aliens. However, no conclusive proof of the Thargoids' existence was obtained, and they faded into folklore.<ref name="EE" /><ref>Data taken from Tourist Spot Beacon 0184, Lave system</ref><ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/53se4s/first_thargoid_contact_22_beacon/ First Thargoid Contact - 2.2 Beacon]</ref>

Centuries later in the early 3120's, new reports emerged of octagonal starships of unknown design and origin, as well as hyperdrive malfunctions. In 3123, GalCop discovered the wreckage of two ships in its space that had been destroyed by more powerful laser weapons than were known to exist at the time.<ref name="EE" /> In 3125, independent pilots claimed that they were being pulled out of [[hyperspace]] and attacked by octagonal ships. Those who survived the experience were convinced they had encountered an alien species, and named the aliens "Thargoids" after the 29th century incidents. As the news spread, leaked [[Federation|Federal]] intelligence reports indicated that the Thargoid attacks were likely provoked by human hostility; colonists in the Veliaze system had apparently come into contact with a Thargoid deputation and assaulted it out of ignorance shortly before the attacks began. Some years later, the Thargoids disappeared as mysteriously as they had arrived.<ref name="GNTT" /><ref name="EE" />

The events surrounding first contact with the Thargoids were mostly suppressed and forgotten, and by the 3300's the Thargoids themselves were generally regarded as fiction. According to [[Alliance]] [[Alliance Prime Minister|Prime Minister]] [[Edmund Mahon]], who is one of the few individuals with access to surviving records, the [[Intergalactic Naval Reserve Arm]], or INRA, fought a war against the Thargoids and eventually secured victory by deploying a bioweapon against the aliens. The Thargoids retreated, and for many years it was believed they had been driven to extinction or even never truly existed at all.<ref name="EDP">[[Elite Dangerous: Premonition]]</ref>

According to the logs of the [[Megaship]] GCS Sarasvati, the original war with the Thargoids ended in 3151. In the aftermath, the [[Galactic Cooperative]] set up a series of deep space monitoring stations, one of which was the GCS Sarasvati, to watch for a resurgent Thargoid threat. This initiative was called Project Equinox. However, by December 27, 3155, no Thargoid presence had been detected whatsoever and members of the project questioned its usefulness. By August 16, 3172, Galcop had become weakened and fractured, and Project Equinox was shut down. Unfortunately, this occurred just as project lead Dr. Cassandra Lockhart discovered that the Thargoids had been sowing the seeds for their future return all along, and her warnings were ignored.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/380074-GCS-Sarasvati-early-Thargoid-lookout-megaship?p=5961637&viewfull=1#post5961637 Frontier Forums: GCS Sarasvati - early Thargoid lookout megaship]</ref>

In the course of the war, a number of Thargoid ships were captured by the Galactic Cooperative, and later fell into the possession of the Alliance in the years after Galcop collapsed. By the 3270's, the Alliance was able to reverse-engineer Thargoid technology to produce the single most consequential hyperdrive innovation in centuries: the [[Frame Shift Drive]]. FSDs reduced travel times in [[Hyperspace]] from hours to mere seconds, opening the floodgates for human exploration and expansion. Due to the machinations of [[The Club]], however, the Alliance did not leverage FSD technology to gain superiority over the Federation and Empire; instead, the tech fell into the hands of [[Sirius Corporation]], which monopolized it and distributed it to all the powers and factions, ensuring no one gained an advantage. Afterward, [[The Club]] suppressed information about the Thargoids so that it became a myth among the public.<ref name="EDP" />

=== Renewed activity ===

[[File:Thargoid second ship crash.png|thumb|250px|A crashed Thargoid Scout]]

In early 3301, [[Unknown Artefact|Unknown Artifacts]] were discovered among the cargoes of secret Federal convoys. Their discovery marked the first indication that Thargoids yet existed in the depths of space, though the Artefacts, as well as the similar [[Unknown Probe]]s that would be found orbiting ammonia worlds in 3302, would not be conclusively linked to the Thargoids until later. Some CMDRs believed that the Artefacts and Probes originated from an entirely unknown alien race, while others asserted that they were examples of experimental human technology. Disputes and speculation over the objects continued for months. [[Alien Structure]]s, or "Barnacles", were also discovered in 3302, but their even more pronounced organic appearance also stymied analysis.

On January 5, 3303, Commander DP Sayre reported the first known encounter with an [[Thargoid Interceptor|Unknown Ship]], which was later confirmed to be a type of Thargoid vessel and officially reclassified as a Thargoid Interceptor. The Unknown Ship interdicted the CMDR from [[hyperspace]] and apparently scanned him before departing to an untraceable destination. The acts of interdicting a target while in hyperspace and leaving an untraceable wake signature were both well beyond the capabilities of human technology. Previously, only the [[Alien Crash Site|wreckage of these ships]] had been documented.

Beginning April 11, 3303, reports surfaced of Unknown Ships apparently attacking [[Federation]] convoys. Upon dropping out of supercruise at the source of certain distress calls, Commanders arrived in a green, gaseous cloud and their ship was disabled. Multiple [[Federal Corvette]] wrecks, bearing luminescent green residue where they were damaged and with their crews apparently dead, were adrift in the cloud, and a single Unknown Ship could be seen jumping away. Presumably, the Unknown Ship destroyed all of the Corvettes on its own in each incident.

On June 2, 3303, CMDR Mobiusetti documented the first known interaction between an Unknown Ship and an [[Alien Structure]] on Pleiades Sector OI-T C3-7 A 6 at coordinates -42.77, -21.7. This confirmed suspicions that they were related.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8S-4Oq9Xvc</ref>

====Identification and escalation====

[[File:Thargoids-Return-Message.png|thumb|250px|CMDR Edward Lewis' message]]

On June 12, 3303, [[Professor Palin]] issued a request for scan and wake signature data from Unknown Ships to be delivered to Orcus Crag in Pleiades Sector OI-T c3-7. Palin compared the collected data to older Thargoid samples and confirmed that Unknown Ships were Thargoid in origin. Shortly afterward, [[Federation]] military forces seized Palin's research for transport to a Federal research facility, but the fleet never arrived at its destination.<ref name="Return">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5943ed6837e29c184d38b29b Galactic News: The Thargoids have Returned]</ref>

On June 13, wreckage was found with a transmitter which contained a recorded message:

''"This is an urgent message from Commander Edward Lewis. There are forces out there who do not want you to know the truth, but I have to make this public. I found a ship in HIP 17044. A Federal cap ship, shot to pieces. They were carrying the data the Feds stole from Professor Palin. The crew is dead, but they discovered something important about the Unknown Ships. There is a beacon in the wreckage broadcasting a message, over and over. It proves what we suspected. They are back. And the whole galaxy needs to know. The Thargoids have returned."''

[[File:Thargoid Attack Aftermath.png|thumb|250px|The destroyed Federal fleet]]

Two unnamed [[Farragut Battle Cruiser]]s were located at an [[Unregistered Comms Beacon]] approximately 11,000 ls in the direction of the Asterope system from planet 2 in the HIP 17044 system. The capital ships and an accompanying fleet of smaller Federal ships were all heavily damaged, their crews presumably dead, and adrift in the same green, gaseous cloud noted to be a signature of previous Unknown Ship attacks. A transmitter satellite was found among the debris. One Farragut was also discovered to be broadcasting a recording in Morse code in a small, 30-meter zone around its antenna array: "UNKNOWN VESSELS DETECTED. SERVER PURGE FAILED. SHIP ASSETS LIQUIDATED. PAYLOAD DESTROYED. SHIP STATUS LOST."<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/355713-Alien-archeology-and-other-mysteries-Thread-10-The-Canonn?s=7ddc1608a90a6581ce734397295c8a08&p=5611753&viewfull=1#post5611753 Frontier Forums: Alien archeology and other mysteries: Thread 10 - The Canonn]</ref>

Following the incident, on June 19, the leaders of the Federation, [[Empire]], and [[Alliance]] responded to the news that the aliens encountered in the Pleiades Nebula were Thargoids. President [[Zachary Hudson]] confirmed that the Federal military had been expanding in recent months in preparation for such a possibility. Emperor [[Arissa Lavigny-Duval]] urged calm and reminded the public that humanity had overcome seemingly insurmountable odds in the past. Prime Minister [[Edmund Mahon]] called for caution, arguing that it had not yet been proven that the destroyed Federal ships were the victims of Thargoid attacks, and that much could be learned from an advanced alien race like the Thargoids.<ref name="LeadersRespond">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5947bb8ef0522a25d9666976 Galactic News: Galactic Leaders Address Thargoid Discovery]</ref>

==== Thargoid Surface Sites ====

[[File:Thargoid_Surface_Site_above.png|thumb|250px|Thargoid Surface Site]]

Following the incident, CMDRs identified an unknown signal at a listening post in [[Maia]] this lead to heavily guarded relay posts. The final listening post had a Caesar Cypher encrypted location for the "nest". They traced it to planet B 1 C in HIP 19026. There, CMDR Lightningwing of [[The Canonn]] discovered the first known [[Thargoid Surface Site]].<ref name="Mystery">[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/6jmzs7/a_mystery_is_afoot/ /r/EliteDangerous: A mystery is afoot]</ref><ref name="Found">[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/6jnvjf/spoilers_mysterious_structures_found_by_cannon/ /r/EliteDangerous: (SPOILERS) Mysterious Structures Found By Cannon group]</ref>

==== Pleiades buildup and research efforts ====
In the wake of the earlier discoveries concerning the Thargoids, numerous state-sponsored and independent initiatives were launched to expand humanity's presence in the [[Pleiades Nebula]]. The Indra, a Wells-class Carrier [[Megaship]], was built and deployed by the [[Empire]] to HR 1185.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/595e07ff82824f10a91fc919 Galactic News: New Superpower Bases in the Pleiades]</ref> The [[Federation]] established Blackmount Orbital and Blackmount Habitation in HIP 17692 to monitor Thargoid activity.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/595e51e1478524147370660a Community Goal: New Federal Outpost]</ref> The [[Ocellus]] station The Oracle was relocated to Pleiades Sector IR-W d1-55 to serve as an independent hub for scientific research on the Thargoids.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59675dff6d63ab788e4904da Galactic News: New Research Centre at Thargoid Site]</ref> Abroin Universal Plc led a campaign to establish their own Thargoid research base in the Pleiades.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5970b899dc4a6940976694d7 Community Goal: Pleiades Research Outpost]</ref> The Federation, Empire, and [[Alliance]] jointly funded the creation of [[Aegis]], a research organization intended to pool the scientific expertise of the three superpowers to coordinate investigations of the Thargoids; Aegis deployed a station named Donar's Oak to Pleiades Sector IR-W d1-55.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59844fbe301ce614455222a1 Galactic News: Joint Superpower Initiative Announced]</ref> [[Sirius Corporation]] established two outposts in the [[Merope]] system, the station Reed's Rest and the surface port Omega Prospect.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/11-AUG-3303 Galactic News: Sirius Corporation Enters Merope]</ref>

On August 11, 3303, the Alliance launched a research initiative to build a range of state-of-the-art instruments to analyze various Thargoid materials, such as Unknown Ship Signatures and other objects recovered from Thargoid Surface Sites.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/598c793e3c5e0e1cf8555859 Community Goal: Alliance Research Initiative]</ref> The campaign was a success, but due to the nature of the research it would take some time for any results to be achieved.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5995b0d377678f36dc69b72f Galactic News: Alliance Campaign Concludes]</ref>

With events unfolding at a rapid pace, the superpowers had until recently struggled to formulate appropriate responses to the Thargoid situation. While Aegis' establishment suggested that the galaxy's leaders were beginning to address the issue, journalist Kelvin Masters offered a more frank analysis in an Imperial Herald article on August 25, 3303: "The barnacles seem to indicate that the Thargoids were in Maia and Merope long before we were. For all we know, humanity has expanded into what the Thargoids see as their territory. I have no interest in scaremongering, but my belief is that a Thargoid attack could be imminent – their behaviour certainly seems to suggest they are probing us for weaknesses."<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/599e9f98c10d1126640e8902 Galactic News: The Thargoid Situation]</ref>

==== Enemies of the Federation ====
On September 15, 3303, Chief of Federal Security Admiral Aden Tanner announced that another Thargoid attack had recently occurred in Pleiades Sector IR-W D1-55 which resulted in the destruction of multiple Federal vessels, including one Farragut Battle Cruiser. While the motives for this attack were unknown, Admiral Tanner confirmed that the Thargoids were now officially considered enemies of the Federation. President Hudson gave Tanner full authority over the [[Federal Navy]] to deal with the Thargoid threat.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59bb9793d5777560b7216455 Galactic News: Federal Capital Ship Destroyed by Thargoids]</ref> Amid speculation that Federal forces had provoked the attack, the Federation insisted that black box data from the wreckage indicated no provocation on their part; this was confirmed by Aegis, which had also analyzed data from the attack.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59c3a0e02468d745a72f97a0 Galactic News: Federation Addresses Rumours]</ref>

The incident spurred all three superpowers to widen Aegis' remit to focus on both research and defence on September 21, 3303. The organization's budget was dramatically increased, and it recruited the [[Engineers]] [[Liz Ryder]] and [[Professor Palin]] to produce a new anti-Thargoid weapon and a scanner for Thargoid ships, respectively.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59c3a108ced3ff7f807f54b7 Galactic News: Aegis to Widen Remit]</ref><ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59c3cb9dffff1a05c9770bdd Community Goal: Engineers Appeal for Thargoid Material]</ref>

=== The Return ===
==== Skirmishes and discoveries ====

[[File:Thargoid Attack Aftermath Imperial.png|thumb|250px|A destroyed Imperial fleet above planet A 1 in HR 1185]]

On [[Elite Dangerous: Horizons#The Return - v2.4|September 26, 3303]], independent pilots reported being attacked unprovoked by Thargoid Interceptors at Non-Human Signal Sources. At least one of these attacks, in which CMDR Sapphire Horizons was the victim, occurred at a site with wreckage from an Imperial convoy, which was believed to have been destroyed by the Thargoid ship.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/72lzxb/so_i_just_got_killed_by_a_thargoid/ r/EliteDangerous: So I just got killed by a Thargoid]</ref><ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59cd17dcf030a91ca721e243 Galactic News: Further Thargoid Attacks]</ref> In addition, Interceptors have demonstrated extreme hostility against any [[Guardians|Guardian]] artefacts jettisoned in their vicinity, using their weapons to destroy them.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/72mjyw/they_seriously_dont_like_guardian_stuff_monkas/ r/EliteDangerous: They seriously don't like Guardian stuff monkaS]</ref> New [[Alien Structure]] sites have also been identified, with a greater concentration of the Structures and an octagonal formation that resembles a nascent [[Thargoid Surface Site]].<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/72wjsi/the_new_barnacle_site_grows_in_a_familiar/ r/EliteDangerous: The new barnacle site grows in a familiar pattern...credit to CMDR PinPiper]</ref>

[[Aegis]] released the [[AX Missile Rack]] and [[AX Xeno Scanner]] on September 28, 3303. These new devices allowed CMDRs to both scan Interceptors and successfully penetrate their defenses for the first time, a major milestone.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/731ex8/psa_ax_missile_rack_and_ax_xeno_scanner_now/ PSA: AX Missile Rack and AX Xeno Scanner Now Available]</ref><ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/731oxn/thargoid_down_sdc/ Thargoid Down! - SDC!]</ref> However, it was also discovered that the Thargoids had begun attacking independent civilian vessels. A heavily-damaged [[Megaship]] identified as Samson Class Bulk Cargo Ship BTG-237 was found in Pleiades Sector IR-W d1-55, near planet A 5, the victim of Thargoid aggression.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/72zzvw/spoiler_something_new_has_happened_in_pleiades/ Something new has happened in pleiades Sector IR-W D1-55..]</ref> To cap off a day filled with new developments, wreckage from a new type of Thargoid vessel, the [[Thargoid Scout]], was also discovered on planet A 3 A in the HIP 17125 system.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/733mmb/elite_dangerous_24_new_unknown_ship_crashed_hip/ r/EliteDangerous: Elite Dangerous 2.4 new Unknown Ship (crashed) Hip 17125 A 3 A -65.8193 | 48.8662]</ref>

Despite early successes against the Thargoids in battle thanks to the AX Missile Rack, by October 3rd the Thargoid vessels had adapted by developing a resistance to the damaging compound within the missiles. Reports also indicated that countermeasures like chaff could no longer prevent Interceptors from locking on, that the Interceptors had begun evading long-range attacks more effectively, and that [[Thargon]] drone swarms had become much more accurate.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59d3b59f493e8e3727091ead Galactic News: Thargoids Adapting Rapidly]</ref> On October 5th, the [[AX Multi-cannon]] was released. Combined with an AX Missile Rack to expose Thargoid Hearts on Interceptors, this new weapon was able to circumvent the Thargoid's adaptation. Two other anti-Thargoid countermeasures, the [[Remote Release Flak Launcher]] and [[Shutdown Field Neutraliser]], were made available over the following weeks, making human pilots more effective against their alien adversaries.

On October 6, 3303, Aegis' military liaison Admiral [[Aden Tanner]] confirmed that in recent days, Federal, Imperial, and civilian ships alike had been targeted and destroyed by Thargoids, and that the aliens were scanning the wreckage and seizing escape pods. Tanner reaffirmed that Aegis was dedicated to unraveling the Thargoids' motives.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59d7523d7f2d0f16da5fbf78 Galactic News: Thargoid Threat Continues to Escalate]</ref> On October 12, an Aegis spokesperson confirmed that as well as adapting their defenses to human weapons technology, the Thargoids were also rapidly adapting to human strategies and tactics.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59df892030484d21ea3c3ec5 Galactic News: Thargoids Continuing to Adapt]</ref> On October 27, as losses of Federal [[Farragut Battle Cruiser]]s and Imperial [[Majestic Class Interdictor]]s continued to mount, Admiral Tanner noted that although recent developments like the Shutdown Field Neutraliser had proven effective in protecting conventional spacecraft from Thargoid attacks, difficulties had been encountered in adapting the technology to larger spacecraft. As a result of capital ships' continued vulnerability, Tanner warned that deploying such vessels to protect stations and outposts was not a viable defensive strategy against Thargoids for the time being.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59f30dd4826c1776ca623242 Galactic News: Capital Ships Vulnerable to Thargoid Attack]</ref>

====Operation Andronicus====

On November 2, 3303, Aegis launched Operation Andronicus, the first military operation intended to curb Thargoid aggression in the Pleiades Nebula. Admiral Tanner stated that Aegis would be offering substantial monetary rewards to independent pilots for confirmed Thargoid kills.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59fb5178adf339781710741f Community Goal: Operation Andronicus]</ref> While Operation Andronicus was in effect, the Alliance organization Cooper Research Associates also announced they would reward pilots for the recovery of personal effects and escape pods from Thargoid attack sites.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59fb51f4adf3397051674b5d Community Goal: Rescue Operation in the Pleiades]</ref> The operation concluded a week later, and both campaigns were hailed as successes.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a04628c7c8ea44d3104a3d2 Galactic News: Operation Andronicus Concludes]</ref><ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a046323cd1bcd187d490e8e Galactic News: Pleiades Rescue Operation Concludes]</ref>

====Enter the Basilisks====

[[File:Thargoid Interceptor Basilisk Variant 2.png|thumb|250px|A close-up of a Basilisk Variant]]

On November 13, 3303, the first sightings of a new variant of Thargoid Interceptor were reported by independent pilots in the Electra system. Classified as the "Basilisk Variant" by the [[Pilots Federation]], these heavily scarred Interceptors possessed demonstrably more powerful offensive and defensive capabilities.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a0c1121b9e40e708759f664 Galactic News: Previously Unseen Thargoid Ships in Electra]</ref> Prior to this, only Cyclops Variant Thargoid Interceptors had been encountered. As Basilisk Variants and Cyclops Variants have yet to demonstrate any hostility towards each other, it is unknown if the presence of Basilisk Variants represents an escalation in the ongoing conflict between Thargoids and humans, or the arrival of a second Thargoid faction in the region.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/7cnxqj/threat_6_uss_in_electra_spoilers/ /r/EliteDangerous: Threat 6 USS in Electra]</ref>

With casualties from Thargoid attacks continuing to mount, President Zachary Hudson and Emperor Arissa Lavigny-Duval issued statements to reassure the public, insisting that the Thargoid presence would likely remain limited to the Pleiades Nebula and that the combined forces of the Federation and Empire could overcome any threat. Despite this optimism, Admiral Aden Tanner stated it was premature to assert that the Thargoids would not advance beyond the Pleiades, but that Aegis was actively investigating the Thargoids' long-term plans.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a0eba46528d3924954cf324 Galactic News: Galactic Authorities Call for Calm]</ref>

====Station attacks and Medusae====
[[File:Station Attack The Oracle.png|thumb|250px|The Oracle in the aftermath of an attack]]
December 14, 3303 marked the most serious escalation of the Thargoid conflict yet. The stations Titan's Daughter in Taygeta, The Oracle in Pleiades Sector IR-W d1-55, and Liman Legacy in HIP 16753 were attacked and severely damaged by Thargoids, disrupting services and making the stations dangerously unstable.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFLBnqxuATg YouTube: Commander Chronicles: Devastation - Elite Dangerous]</ref> [[Station#Emergency Protocol|Emergency evacuation protocols]] were activated, and the Pilots Federation extracted the ships of the independent pilots docked at the affected Stations and transferred them to [[Rescue Vessel]]s. Pilots were encouraged to aid the ongoing evacuation of the stations' inhabitants.<ref name="Station Attack">[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/7jqg5p/so_the_thargoids_attacked_a_station_images/?st=jb6b35m0&sh=f42ecad9 /r/EliteDangerous: So the Thargoids(?) Attacked a Station. Images Courtesy of CMDR Bad_Player]</ref>

[[File:Thargoid Interceptor Medusa Variant.png|thumb|250px|A close-up of a Medusa Variant]]
The attacks were confirmed to have been carried out by a new variant of Thargoid Interceptor classified as the "Medusa Variant".<ref name="GSABT">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a328aebaac37e273a5d4ea8 Galactic News: Starports Attacked by Thargoids]</ref> These ships also began interdicting pilots from hyperspace and appearing in Threat 7 Non-Human Signal Sources. Medusae surpass the capabilities of Basilisk Variant Interceptors, possessing even stronger defenses, more powerful weapons, and the ability to direct an even larger swarm of Thargon drones.<ref name="Medusa">[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/7jqg5p/so_the_thargoids_attacked_a_station_images/dr8epgz/ /r/EliteDangerous: So the Thargoids(?) Attacked a Station. Images Courtesy of CMDR Bad_Player - Comment by ChristianM]</ref>

The death toll from the station attacks was believed to be in the thousands, but could have been far worse. Starport security feeds indicate that the Medusa Interceptors used their shutdown fields to disable station defenses before targeting the main reactor. An eyewitness speculated that the Thargoids' intent was to cripple the stations, not destroy them outright.<ref name="GSABT" /> While it was not clear why the Thargoids had targeted these three stations specifically and not others, Aegis was investigating the issue.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a3a4ffbd27df13ee220cc2f Galactic News: Authorities Urge Public Not to Panic]</ref>

The following week on December 21, as the three stations were stabilized and repair work began on them, further attacks were reported at Bao Landing in HIP 17497, Cavalieri in Electra, and Hudson Observatory in HIP 17694.<ref>[https://i.imgur.com/hxTJhqt.png Imgur: Galactic News: Starport Status Update, December 21, 3303]</ref> Medusa Interceptors were once again confirmed to be the culprits, and hundreds more human casualties were tallied.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a3ceced6a3e8049274181c5 Galactic News: More Starports Attacked]</ref> Three more attacks occurred two weeks later on January 4, 3304 at Copernicus Observatory in Asterope, Cyllene Orbital in Atlas, and Artemis Lodge in Celaeno, followed by two attacks on January 11 at Obsidian Orbital in Maia and Reed's Rest in Merope.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a58d52808925a374348ba63 GalNet: Thargoid Assault Continues]</ref>

====The Liberation of HIP 17692====
Also on January 11, the Federation and Empire announced a joint initiative to counter Thargoid activity in the HIP 17692 system and attempt to reduce the Thargoids' presence in the Pleiades. The Empire-aligned Merope Expeditionary Fleet took charge of military operations, while the Federation-aligned Pleiades Resource Enterprise coordinated the rescue of attack survivors, personal effects, and data. Fleet Admiral [[Denton Patreus]] stated, "Starports throughout the Pleiades have been attacked. Thousands of lives have been lost. And we have failed to deliver an effective response. That changes now."<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a578660b34e4b5d3c0ae199 The Liberation of HIP 17692]</ref>

The operation marked just over a year since the first encounter with an active Thargoid Interceptor. Political commentator Daxton Sung offered an analysis: "The situation continues to escalate and our leaders continue to offer the same tired platitudes – militaristic bombast from Hudson, noncommittal banalities from Lavigny-Duval and earnest sympathising from Mahon. It's clear that they have no idea how to counter the Thargoid threat, beyond pumping more money into Aegis's weapons programme."<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a5787708a640c638d6d781d One Year On]</ref>

====Advance on the Core Systems====
While the HIP 17692 operation proved to be a success,<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a60b60073f627733619d852 GalNet: HIP 17692 Operation Concludes]</ref> Thargoid attacks on stations continued unabated on January 18, striking Kipling Orbital in Pleiades Sector KC-V c2-11 and Malthus Terminal in Pleiades Sector HR-W d1-41. After these attacks, a member of Kipling Orbital's starport personnel noted that the Thargoids seemed to be sweeping the region and slowly moving towards the [[Core Systems]].<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a6a0ea379a7530bc462fb3f Starport Attacks Continue]</ref>

On January 25, Borrego's Vision in Pleiades Sector IH-V c2-7 and Kamov Survey in HIP 17892 were hit. On February 1, Asami Orbital in Pleiades Sector JC-V d2-62 and Cleaver Prospect in Pleiades Sector HR-W d1-57 suffered attacks; both stations were significantly closer to the Core Systems that the targets of the previous attacks. On February 8, Bennington's Restin 42 n Persei and Exodus Point in Hyades Sector AB-W b2-2 were attacked, continuing the trend of the Thargoids' movements. President [[Zachary Hudson]] and Emperor [[Arissa Lavigny-Duval]] both issued fresh appeals for aid for the affected stations, and the Emperor also confirmed that [[Aegis]] was actively investigating the Thargoids' shift toward the Core Systems.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a7c2524b2837d57693651ee Galactic Leaders Renew Appeals for Aid]</ref>

On February 15, Gaiman Dock in 49 Arietis and Weyn Dock in 64 Arietis were hit, marking the Thargoids' arrival in the outer fringe of the Core Systems. As the public questioned the lack of an effective military response to the Thargoids, Imperial Senator [[Gianna Tachibana]] asserted that humanity was being reactive rather than proactive, and that the Pleiades were at risk of becoming a no-go zone even with the assistance of independent pilot militias and Aegis's research.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a85a1361b13ca3edb048d1c Galactic News: Proactive or Reactive?]</ref> Meanwhile, the Federation launched the Bulwark Project, an initiative to develop autonomous military hardware to combat the Thargoids. While Imperial commentators criticized the initiative as a circumvention of long-standing conventions against the development of artificial intelligence, Federal [[Shadow President]] [[Felicia Winters]] dismissed those concerns, claiming that the Bulwark Project's purpose was to "investigate alternate defence strategies, not to develop machine intelligence".<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a859fd09dd29d74a968382e Galactic News: The Bulwark Project]</ref> The Bulwark Project campaign was later successful, but Winters was careful to note that the Project's initial remit was merely to determine the economic and military feasibility of the creation of a fully-automated defence force.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a8ee6340f36064f752cd607 GalNet: Federal Initiative Concludes]</ref>

On February 22, Armstrong Enterprise in Bhal and Beaufoy Vision in Nauni, both locations within the Core Systems, suffered Thargoid attacks. Coinciding with these latest incidents, Fleet Admiral Patreus coordinated a second Federal-Imperial joint operation against the Thargoids, this time centered on the Pleiades Sector OI-T c3-7 and Arietis Sector XE-Z b4 systems.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a8ee5d25f3da10323076fbf GalNet: Anti-Thargoid Operation]</ref> The operation was subsequently declared a success.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a9824bf78da4a2abd3af6d8 GalNet: Federal-Imperial Operation Concludes]</ref> Notably, no additional Thargoid attacks occurred on March 1, marking the first lull in the incursion, although sightings and encounters with [[Thargoid Interceptor]]s began occurring at various locations within the Core Systems, with hostile [[Thargoid Scout]] Marauders now appearing as well.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a9960a7049802427b2b41cd GalNet: Week in Review (March 3, 3304)]</ref>

== Biology ==

Thargoids are an insectoid species. Little is known about their physical appearance and biology. Their chemistry is carbon-based, but with ammonia as the solvent rather than water.<ref>http://www.rollingstone.com/glixel/features/elite-dangerous-creator-talks-sci-fi-politics-and-whats-next-w492781</ref> If the rumors are true that they come from [[Ammonia Planet|Ammonia-based planets]] then their physiology is drastically different from humans. For example, ammonia boils at -33 degrees C. Thargoids may well be acclimatised to temperatures far lower than humans.<ref>https://www.drewwagar.com/lore/elite-dangerous-lore-the-thargoids/</ref> They are presumed to be highly intelligent, more than the average human due to their superior technological capabilities. Descriptions based on encounters centuries ago have yet to be verified.

According to [[The Club]], what humans consider to be a singular Thargoid species actually consists of two distinct "dynasties": the Oresrians and the Klaxians. How Oresrians and Klaxians differ biologically, if at all, is unknown.<ref name="EDP" />

==Society==

[[File:Thargoid-and-Diamondback-Ships.png|thumb|250px|Thargoid ship confronting a Diamondback Scout]]

Not much information has been obtained about Thargoid society or culture. The only known fact is that the society is hive based, with no sense of close family. It is thought that the society is divided into colonies, possibly along the lines of ant colonies. The Oresrian and Klaxian dynasties may be two such colonies.<ref name="EDP" />

Thargoids are thought to have a natural affinity with space, and with [[Hyperspace]] in particular. This is due to the fact that Thargoid warriors seem to spend a large amount of time in space. Naval pilots and crews report that the warships in the war zones are encountered on repeated occasions over a period of months often without respite.

At some point, the Oresrian and Klaxian dynasties became embroiled in a civil war. Prior to 3303, the Klaxians gained the upper hand in this conflict and forced the Oresrians into a slow, continuous retreat across the galaxy, a retreat which will take them directly through human space. [[The Club]] has learned that the Oresrians planned to use human civilization as a "bullet shield" to occupy the Klaxians' attention while they escape deeper into space. This poses a potentially apocalyptic threat to humanity's survival.<ref name="EDP" />

==Politics==
Nothing is known about internal Thargoid politics or government, or why the Oresrians and Klaxians have come into conflict.

Thargoid relations with other species, as far as what is currently known, was frighteningly simple: war. The Thargoid invasions usually seemed to be prompted by the need for either agricultural or mineral resources, rather than a sociological or anthropological need to expand or colonise. In fact, the animal life on an invaded world was largely ignored unless it poses a threat to Thargoids.

==Technology==
[[File:Thargoid-Wormhole.png|thumb|250px|Thargoid wormhole]]
Thargoid technology is vastly different from [[human]] technology. Not only are their ships currently invulnerable to conventional weapons, but they possess the ability to interdict human ships that are traveling through hyperspace, a feat previously believed to be impossible, as well as the ability to make untraceable hyperspace jumps and stymie any pursuers. Despite their advanced hyperspace capabilities, there is yet to be evidence of Thargoid ships moving in [[Supercruise]], perhaps suggesting they do not have short-range FTL abilities.

Thargoids can create stable wormholes to [[hyperspace]] (witch-space). This is used to e.g. travel astronomical distances in seconds and interdict vessels. They're believed to be able to hover in witch-space. It's rumored that they can also reside in this higher dimensional region.<ref>https://www.sharoma.com/frontierverse/thargoids.htm</ref><ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/7b3eyk/elite_dangerous_another_inra_base_found_linked_to/ /r/EliteDangerous: Elite: Dangerous: Another INRA Base Found, Linked To Hyperdrive Research]
</ref><ref>https://canonn.science/lore/drewwagar-the-thargoids/</ref>

[[INRA]] chief scientist Bexley Prince asserted that Thargoid technology is far ahead of humans. Understanding it could open up all kinds of possibilities. The applications are potentially limitless. His logs were found at the INRA base Hollis Gateway.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/75axlh/inra_planetary_base_found_on_hermitage_4_a/</ref>

Analysis of the [[Scavenger]] shows that it contains organic and mechanical elements such as [[Thargoid Organic Circuitry]]. This discovery has lead many to question whether the Scavengers are sentient creatures or simple mechanical drones created by the Thargoids as workers.<ref>[http://elite-dangerous.wikia.com/wiki/Thargoid_Organic_Circuitry Thargoid Organic Circuitry] in-game description</ref> The [[Thargoid Interceptor]] also has intricate technological and biological elements<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/395094-Medusa-Tissue-Sample-Tissue-Sample-Prices Thargoid Medusa Tissue Sample]</ref> such as "Thargoid Hearts" which can repair hull damage.

Thargoid weaponry has proven to be very powerful, resulting in numerous destroyed Federal and Imperial vessels, including capital ships. CMDRs who reported being attacked by [[Thargoid Interceptor]]s have noted they lost their ships very quickly under an onslaught of powerful missiles and [[Thargon]] drone swarms.

There's speculation of a [[Thargoid Mothership]] which, according to recovered logs, attacked the [[INRA]] site Carmichael Point in HIP 16824.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mB36F-rLlkI Elite: Dangerous: INRA Base Attacked By Thargoids]</ref>

[[Alien Structure]]s, so-called "barnacles", are known to be related to the Thargoids and their ships. As the structures produce [[Meta-Alloys]], it is possible that Meta-Alloys are an important resource used by Thargoid Interceptors. After September 26, 3303, CMDRs reported sightings of larger fields of Alien Structures in a shape reminiscent of Thargoid Surface Sites, and are also patrolled by [[Scavenger]]s.

[[Thargoid Surface Site]]s demonstrate the Thargoids construct and utilize vast surface installations. Passive drone-like devices called Scavengers were first encountered at these locations. [[Thargoid Egg]]s can be found around and inside these sites. It's unknown what produces and lays these eggs.

[[Thargoid Sensor]]s and [[Thargoid Probe]]s were also confirmed to be related to Thargoids after it was discovered that carrying them allowed doors at Thargoid Surface Sites to open. The other functions of these objects remain an enigma, however. Thargoid Interceptors have been witnessed retrieving them after September 26, 3303.

It's unclear whether Thargoids are a Type II or [[Elite Universe#Type III Civilizations|Type III civilization]] based on the Kardashev scale. Their lack of control over the Milky Way galaxy indicates they are Type II. However, since Thargoids may originate from another galaxy, parallel universe, or spatial dimension they could be Type III.

==Notes==
*Initially, it was only confirmed that Thargoids would eventually make an appearance in Elite Dangerous, and the specifics of that encounter were unknown.<ref>http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?p=160991#post160991</ref><ref>https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1461411552/elite-dangerous/posts/377497#comment-2014816</ref><ref>https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=77358&p=1262252&viewfull=1#post1262252</ref>
*Frontier Development staff have previously commented that all Thargoids are female.<ref>https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1461411552/elite-dangerous/comments?cursor=2332567#comment-2332566</ref>
*David Braben hinted that should peace have ever been found with Thargoids, it would be a temporary measure.<ref>https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1461411552/elite-dangerous/comments?cursor=1970411#comment-1970410</ref>
*It has been rumoured that Thargoids could be capable of building large artificial structures which could possibly be on a scale with planets, and certainly large enough to negate a ship's warp ability.<ref>http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?p=85034#post85034</ref>

==Trivia==
*The name "Thargoid" is believed to have come from the regular skit ''Captain Kremmen'' performed by radio and TV personality Kenny Everett on both his radio shows and, in animated form, on TV.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Kremmen</ref> The animated skits show the Thargoids as a species of tall, transparent creatures who are part of a highly-wealthy monarchical society.<ref>http://youtu.be/pyjKPbkkW9k?t=2m26s</ref> It is assumed that their main source of income is profiting from the sale of natural resources taken from planets they have colonised stretching thousands of light years.

==Videos==
<gallery>
Elite_Dangerous_-_The_Return_2.4
The_Return_2.4_Announcement_-_Elite_Dangerous
The_Return_(Elite_Dangerous)
Elite_Dangerous_-_Where_are_the_Thargoids?_(And_what_are_they?)
DISTANT STORMS - Does Humanity Now Stand On The Brink Of A 2nd Thargoid War?
Elite_Dangerous_2.4_Teaser_-_Frontier_Expo_2017
Commander_Chronicles_Retaliation_-_Elite_Dangerous
Commander_Chronicles_Devastation_-_Elite_Dangerous
</gallery>

==Gallery==
<gallery hideaddbutton="true">
Elite Dangerous Unknown Ship HD.png|A Thargoid Interceptor Cyclops Variant in ''Elite Dangerous''
Evolution-of-the-Thargoids.png|Evolution of the Thargoids
First-Thargoid-Encounter-3125.png|An early Thargoid encounter circa 3125
Thargoids-Return-Message.png|Thargoids Return message
Thargoid-and-Diamondback-Ships.png|Thargoid and Diamondback ships
Thargoid Attack Aftermath.png|The destroyed Federal fleet
Unknown-Ships-Group-Thargoids.png|Thargoid Interceptors
Thargoid-Scouts.png|Thargoid Scouts
Thargoid Surface Site above.png|A Thargoid Surface Site
Thargoid-Surface-Site.png|Thargoid Surface Site
Thargoid Surface Site Scavenger close.png|A Scavenger
Thargoid-Wormhole.png|Thargoid wormhole
Thargoid Interceptor Basilisk Variant.png|A Thargoid Interceptor Basilisk Variant
Thargoid Interceptor Basilisk Variant 2.png|A close-up of a Basilisk Variant
Thargoid Interceptor Medusa Variant.png|A Thargoid Interceptor Medusa Variant
Thargoid Interceptor Medusa Variant 2.png|A Medusa Variant with its petals extended
</gallery>

==References==
<references />

{{Thargoids}}
{{SpeciesNavbox}}
[[Category:Lore]]
[[Category:Alien life]]
[[Category:Thargoids]]
[[Category:Species]]

Thargoid

2018-03-05T18:19:23Z

12.130.113.100: /* Renewed activity */

[[File:Unknown-Ships-Group-Thargoids.png|thumb|300px|Thargoid Interceptors]]
The '''Thargoids''' are an intelligent, highly-advanced insectoid [[species]] that have existed for millions of years. They are one of only two known living sapient species in the Milky Way [[galaxy]] alongside [[Human|humans]].<ref>http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?p=38820#post38820</ref> Approximately 1 to 2 million years ago, they encountered and warred with the [[Guardian]]s.<ref name=":0">[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/81bhy0/guardians_vs_thargoid_war_confirmed/ Guardian Codex 3 Decrypted. Thargoid Log - Unsuccessful Truce]</ref> Thargoids are highly territorial and seemingly rebuff all diplomatic overtures with unmitigated hostility.

==History==
The Thargoids are an ancient sapient insectoid species several millions of years old.<ref name=":0" /> Their [[homeworld]] is unknown. It's assumed that they originate from outside of known space, maybe a different [[galaxy]]. Perhaps they exist in a parallel universe or spatial dimension.

=== Guardian-Thargoid Conflict ===
The [[Thargoids]] seeded a number of planets with [[barnacles]] in what eventually became Guardian space 1 to 2 million years ago.<ref>[https://canonn.science/codex/guardians-codex/ Guardian 1/28 : Thargoid Log – Barnacle Seeding]</ref><ref name=":0" /> Several thousand years later the Thargoids returned and discovered that the planets they had seeded were occupied by the Guardians. The Thargoids immediately launched an assault making no effort to communicate with the Guardians. This tallies with the Thargoids’ behaviour in [[human]] space.<ref>[https://canonn.science/codex/guardians-codex/ 2/28 : Thargoid Log – The War Begins]</ref>

After the war with the [[Thargoid|Thargoids]] began, the Guardians were forced to make a partial retreat. They were reluctant to take up arms with the Thargoids and kept communicating with them. Eventually they gained enough understanding of the Thargoid language to communicate. It didn't benefit the Guardians much, because the Thargoids were determined to continue hostilities.<ref name=":0" /> The Guardians were forced to employ more aggressive methods to address the Thargoid threat.<ref name=":5">[https://canonn.science/codex/guardians-codex/ Guardian Codex 3 Decrypted. Thargoid Log - Unsuccessful Truce]</ref> It appears the Thargoids entered Guardian space unprepared for a protracted military campaign, and after facing a relentless onslaught from the Guardians’ war machines they were forced to retreat.<ref>[https://canonn.science/codex/guardians-codex/ 5/28 : Thargoid Log – Victory]</ref>

=== First contact and conflict ===
[[File:First-Thargoid-Encounter-3125.png|thumb|250px|First Thargoid encounter in 3125]]
Officially, the first encounters between [[humans]] and Thargoids occurred around an [[Ammonia Planet|ammonia-based world]] in 3125,<ref name="GNTT">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/57ada8969657baeb6e876c6c Galactic News: The Thargoids]</ref><ref name="DW">[https://canonn.science/lore/drewwagar-the-thargoids/ Canonn Research - Drew Wagar's Lore: The Thargoids]</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX49v8zYutI The Return 2.4 Announcement - Elite Dangerous]</ref> but unverified incidents involving similar ships were reported as early as the 2810's.<ref name="EE">''[[Elite Encounters RPG]]''</ref> Between the 2810's and 2840's, the [[Galactic Cooperative]] documented a significant number of ship disappearances in its space and near the [[Pleiades Nebula]]. Investigations found no evidence of foul-play, but the disappearances and hyperdrive malfunctions continued intermittently, stoking anxiety among pilots. In 2849, the first footage surfaced of one of these "encounters", with one blurry image appearing to show an alien ship with the word "THARG" on its hull. The media immediately coined the term "Thargoid" as a name for the aliens. However, no conclusive proof of the Thargoids' existence was obtained, and they faded into folklore.<ref name="EE" /><ref>Data taken from Tourist Spot Beacon 0184, Lave system</ref><ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/53se4s/first_thargoid_contact_22_beacon/ First Thargoid Contact - 2.2 Beacon]</ref>

Centuries later in the early 3120's, new reports emerged of octagonal starships of unknown design and origin, as well as hyperdrive malfunctions. In 3123, GalCop discovered the wreckage of two ships in its space that had been destroyed by more powerful laser weapons than were known to exist at the time.<ref name="EE" /> In 3125, independent pilots claimed that they were being pulled out of [[hyperspace]] and attacked by octagonal ships. Those who survived the experience were convinced they had encountered an alien species, and named the aliens "Thargoids" after the 29th century incidents. As the news spread, leaked [[Federation|Federal]] intelligence reports indicated that the Thargoid attacks were likely provoked by human hostility; colonists in the Veliaze system had apparently come into contact with a Thargoid deputation and assaulted it out of ignorance shortly before the attacks began. Some years later, the Thargoids disappeared as mysteriously as they had arrived.<ref name="GNTT" /><ref name="EE" />

The events surrounding first contact with the Thargoids were mostly suppressed and forgotten, and by the 3300's the Thargoids themselves were generally regarded as fiction. According to [[Alliance]] [[Alliance Prime Minister|Prime Minister]] [[Edmund Mahon]], who is one of the few individuals with access to surviving records, the [[Intergalactic Naval Reserve Arm]], or INRA, fought a war against the Thargoids and eventually secured victory by deploying a bioweapon against the aliens. The Thargoids retreated, and for many years it was believed they had been driven to extinction or even never truly existed at all.<ref name="EDP">[[Elite Dangerous: Premonition]]</ref>

According to the logs of the [[Megaship]] GCS Sarasvati, the original war with the Thargoids ended in 3151. In the aftermath, the [[Galactic Cooperative]] set up a series of deep space monitoring stations, one of which was the GCS Sarasvati, to watch for a resurgent Thargoid threat. This initiative was called Project Equinox. However, by December 27, 3155, no Thargoid presence had been detected whatsoever and members of the project questioned its usefulness. By August 16, 3172, Galcop had become weakened and fractured, and Project Equinox was shut down. Unfortunately, this occurred just as project lead Dr. Cassandra Lockhart discovered that the Thargoids had been sowing the seeds for their future return all along, and her warnings were ignored.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/380074-GCS-Sarasvati-early-Thargoid-lookout-megaship?p=5961637&viewfull=1#post5961637 Frontier Forums: GCS Sarasvati - early Thargoid lookout megaship]</ref>

In the course of the war, a number of Thargoid ships were captured by the Galactic Cooperative, and later fell into the possession of the Alliance in the years after Galcop collapsed. By the 3270's, the Alliance was able to reverse-engineer Thargoid technology to produce the single most consequential hyperdrive innovation in centuries: the [[Frame Shift Drive]]. FSDs reduced travel times in [[Hyperspace]] from hours to mere seconds, opening the floodgates for human exploration and expansion. Due to the machinations of [[The Club]], however, the Alliance did not leverage FSD technology to gain superiority over the Federation and Empire; instead, the tech fell into the hands of [[Sirius Corporation]], which monopolized it and distributed it to all the powers and factions, ensuring no one gained an advantage. Afterward, [[The Club]] suppressed information about the Thargoids so that it became a myth among the public.<ref name="EDP" />

=== Renewed activity ===

[[File:Thargoid second ship crash.png|thumb|250px|A crashed Thargoid Scout]]

In early 3301, [[Unknown Artefact|Unknown Artifact]]s were discovered among the cargoes of secret Federal convoys. Their discovery marked the first indication that Thargoids yet existed in the depths of space, though the Artefacts, as well as the similar [[Unknown Probe]]s that would be found orbiting ammonia worlds in 3302, would not be conclusively linked to the Thargoids until later. Some CMDRs believed that the Artefacts and Probes originated from an entirely unknown alien race, while others asserted that they were examples of experimental human technology. Disputes and speculation over the objects continued for months. [[Alien Structure]]s, or "Barnacles", were also discovered in 3302, but their even more pronounced organic appearance also stymied analysis.

On January 5, 3303, Commander DP Sayre reported the first known encounter with an [[Thargoid Interceptor|Unknown Ship]], which was later confirmed to be a type of Thargoid vessel and officially reclassified as a Thargoid Interceptor. The Unknown Ship interdicted the CMDR from [[hyperspace]] and apparently scanned him before departing to an untraceable destination. The acts of interdicting a target while in hyperspace and leaving an untraceable wake signature were both well beyond the capabilities of human technology. Previously, only the [[Alien Crash Site|wreckage of these ships]] had been documented.

Beginning April 11, 3303, reports surfaced of Unknown Ships apparently attacking [[Federation]] convoys. Upon dropping out of supercruise at the source of certain distress calls, Commanders arrived in a green, gaseous cloud and their ship was disabled. Multiple [[Federal Corvette]] wrecks, bearing luminescent green residue where they were damaged and with their crews apparently dead, were adrift in the cloud, and a single Unknown Ship could be seen jumping away. Presumably, the Unknown Ship destroyed all of the Corvettes on its own in each incident.

On June 2, 3303, CMDR Mobiusetti documented the first known interaction between an Unknown Ship and an [[Alien Structure]] on Pleiades Sector OI-T C3-7 A 6 at coordinates -42.77, -21.7. This confirmed suspicions that they were related.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8S-4Oq9Xvc</ref>

====Identification and escalation====

[[File:Thargoids-Return-Message.png|thumb|250px|CMDR Edward Lewis' message]]

On June 12, 3303, [[Professor Palin]] issued a request for scan and wake signature data from Unknown Ships to be delivered to Orcus Crag in Pleiades Sector OI-T c3-7. Palin compared the collected data to older Thargoid samples and confirmed that Unknown Ships were Thargoid in origin. Shortly afterward, [[Federation]] military forces seized Palin's research for transport to a Federal research facility, but the fleet never arrived at its destination.<ref name="Return">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5943ed6837e29c184d38b29b Galactic News: The Thargoids have Returned]</ref>

On June 13, wreckage was found with a transmitter which contained a recorded message:

''"This is an urgent message from Commander Edward Lewis. There are forces out there who do not want you to know the truth, but I have to make this public. I found a ship in HIP 17044. A Federal cap ship, shot to pieces. They were carrying the data the Feds stole from Professor Palin. The crew is dead, but they discovered something important about the Unknown Ships. There is a beacon in the wreckage broadcasting a message, over and over. It proves what we suspected. They are back. And the whole galaxy needs to know. The Thargoids have returned."''

[[File:Thargoid Attack Aftermath.png|thumb|250px|The destroyed Federal fleet]]

Two unnamed [[Farragut Battle Cruiser]]s were located at an [[Unregistered Comms Beacon]] approximately 11,000 ls in the direction of the Asterope system from planet 2 in the HIP 17044 system. The capital ships and an accompanying fleet of smaller Federal ships were all heavily damaged, their crews presumably dead, and adrift in the same green, gaseous cloud noted to be a signature of previous Unknown Ship attacks. A transmitter satellite was found among the debris. One Farragut was also discovered to be broadcasting a recording in Morse code in a small, 30-meter zone around its antenna array: "UNKNOWN VESSELS DETECTED. SERVER PURGE FAILED. SHIP ASSETS LIQUIDATED. PAYLOAD DESTROYED. SHIP STATUS LOST."<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/355713-Alien-archeology-and-other-mysteries-Thread-10-The-Canonn?s=7ddc1608a90a6581ce734397295c8a08&p=5611753&viewfull=1#post5611753 Frontier Forums: Alien archeology and other mysteries: Thread 10 - The Canonn]</ref>

Following the incident, on June 19, the leaders of the Federation, [[Empire]], and [[Alliance]] responded to the news that the aliens encountered in the Pleiades Nebula were Thargoids. President [[Zachary Hudson]] confirmed that the Federal military had been expanding in recent months in preparation for such a possibility. Emperor [[Arissa Lavigny-Duval]] urged calm and reminded the public that humanity had overcome seemingly insurmountable odds in the past. Prime Minister [[Edmund Mahon]] called for caution, arguing that it had not yet been proven that the destroyed Federal ships were the victims of Thargoid attacks, and that much could be learned from an advanced alien race like the Thargoids.<ref name="LeadersRespond">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5947bb8ef0522a25d9666976 Galactic News: Galactic Leaders Address Thargoid Discovery]</ref>

==== Thargoid Surface Sites ====

[[File:Thargoid_Surface_Site_above.png|thumb|250px|Thargoid Surface Site]]

Following the incident, CMDRs identified an unknown signal at a listening post in [[Maia]] this lead to heavily guarded relay posts. The final listening post had a Caesar Cypher encrypted location for the "nest". They traced it to planet B 1 C in HIP 19026. There, CMDR Lightningwing of [[The Canonn]] discovered the first known [[Thargoid Surface Site]].<ref name="Mystery">[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/6jmzs7/a_mystery_is_afoot/ /r/EliteDangerous: A mystery is afoot]</ref><ref name="Found">[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/6jnvjf/spoilers_mysterious_structures_found_by_cannon/ /r/EliteDangerous: (SPOILERS) Mysterious Structures Found By Cannon group]</ref>

==== Pleiades buildup and research efforts ====
In the wake of the earlier discoveries concerning the Thargoids, numerous state-sponsored and independent initiatives were launched to expand humanity's presence in the [[Pleiades Nebula]]. The Indra, a Wells-class Carrier [[Megaship]], was built and deployed by the [[Empire]] to HR 1185.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/595e07ff82824f10a91fc919 Galactic News: New Superpower Bases in the Pleiades]</ref> The [[Federation]] established Blackmount Orbital and Blackmount Habitation in HIP 17692 to monitor Thargoid activity.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/595e51e1478524147370660a Community Goal: New Federal Outpost]</ref> The [[Ocellus]] station The Oracle was relocated to Pleiades Sector IR-W d1-55 to serve as an independent hub for scientific research on the Thargoids.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59675dff6d63ab788e4904da Galactic News: New Research Centre at Thargoid Site]</ref> Abroin Universal Plc led a campaign to establish their own Thargoid research base in the Pleiades.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5970b899dc4a6940976694d7 Community Goal: Pleiades Research Outpost]</ref> The Federation, Empire, and [[Alliance]] jointly funded the creation of [[Aegis]], a research organization intended to pool the scientific expertise of the three superpowers to coordinate investigations of the Thargoids; Aegis deployed a station named Donar's Oak to Pleiades Sector IR-W d1-55.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59844fbe301ce614455222a1 Galactic News: Joint Superpower Initiative Announced]</ref> [[Sirius Corporation]] established two outposts in the [[Merope]] system, the station Reed's Rest and the surface port Omega Prospect.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/11-AUG-3303 Galactic News: Sirius Corporation Enters Merope]</ref>

On August 11, 3303, the Alliance launched a research initiative to build a range of state-of-the-art instruments to analyze various Thargoid materials, such as Unknown Ship Signatures and other objects recovered from Thargoid Surface Sites.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/598c793e3c5e0e1cf8555859 Community Goal: Alliance Research Initiative]</ref> The campaign was a success, but due to the nature of the research it would take some time for any results to be achieved.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5995b0d377678f36dc69b72f Galactic News: Alliance Campaign Concludes]</ref>

With events unfolding at a rapid pace, the superpowers had until recently struggled to formulate appropriate responses to the Thargoid situation. While Aegis' establishment suggested that the galaxy's leaders were beginning to address the issue, journalist Kelvin Masters offered a more frank analysis in an Imperial Herald article on August 25, 3303: "The barnacles seem to indicate that the Thargoids were in Maia and Merope long before we were. For all we know, humanity has expanded into what the Thargoids see as their territory. I have no interest in scaremongering, but my belief is that a Thargoid attack could be imminent – their behaviour certainly seems to suggest they are probing us for weaknesses."<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/599e9f98c10d1126640e8902 Galactic News: The Thargoid Situation]</ref>

==== Enemies of the Federation ====
On September 15, 3303, Chief of Federal Security Admiral Aden Tanner announced that another Thargoid attack had recently occurred in Pleiades Sector IR-W D1-55 which resulted in the destruction of multiple Federal vessels, including one Farragut Battle Cruiser. While the motives for this attack were unknown, Admiral Tanner confirmed that the Thargoids were now officially considered enemies of the Federation. President Hudson gave Tanner full authority over the [[Federal Navy]] to deal with the Thargoid threat.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59bb9793d5777560b7216455 Galactic News: Federal Capital Ship Destroyed by Thargoids]</ref> Amid speculation that Federal forces had provoked the attack, the Federation insisted that black box data from the wreckage indicated no provocation on their part; this was confirmed by Aegis, which had also analyzed data from the attack.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59c3a0e02468d745a72f97a0 Galactic News: Federation Addresses Rumours]</ref>

The incident spurred all three superpowers to widen Aegis' remit to focus on both research and defence on September 21, 3303. The organization's budget was dramatically increased, and it recruited the [[Engineers]] [[Liz Ryder]] and [[Professor Palin]] to produce a new anti-Thargoid weapon and a scanner for Thargoid ships, respectively.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59c3a108ced3ff7f807f54b7 Galactic News: Aegis to Widen Remit]</ref><ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59c3cb9dffff1a05c9770bdd Community Goal: Engineers Appeal for Thargoid Material]</ref>

=== The Return ===
==== Skirmishes and discoveries ====

[[File:Thargoid Attack Aftermath Imperial.png|thumb|250px|A destroyed Imperial fleet above planet A 1 in HR 1185]]

On [[Elite Dangerous: Horizons#The Return - v2.4|September 26, 3303]], independent pilots reported being attacked unprovoked by Thargoid Interceptors at Non-Human Signal Sources. At least one of these attacks, in which CMDR Sapphire Horizons was the victim, occurred at a site with wreckage from an Imperial convoy, which was believed to have been destroyed by the Thargoid ship.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/72lzxb/so_i_just_got_killed_by_a_thargoid/ r/EliteDangerous: So I just got killed by a Thargoid]</ref><ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59cd17dcf030a91ca721e243 Galactic News: Further Thargoid Attacks]</ref> In addition, Interceptors have demonstrated extreme hostility against any [[Guardians|Guardian]] artefacts jettisoned in their vicinity, using their weapons to destroy them.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/72mjyw/they_seriously_dont_like_guardian_stuff_monkas/ r/EliteDangerous: They seriously don't like Guardian stuff monkaS]</ref> New [[Alien Structure]] sites have also been identified, with a greater concentration of the Structures and an octagonal formation that resembles a nascent [[Thargoid Surface Site]].<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/72wjsi/the_new_barnacle_site_grows_in_a_familiar/ r/EliteDangerous: The new barnacle site grows in a familiar pattern...credit to CMDR PinPiper]</ref>

[[Aegis]] released the [[AX Missile Rack]] and [[AX Xeno Scanner]] on September 28, 3303. These new devices allowed CMDRs to both scan Interceptors and successfully penetrate their defenses for the first time, a major milestone.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/731ex8/psa_ax_missile_rack_and_ax_xeno_scanner_now/ PSA: AX Missile Rack and AX Xeno Scanner Now Available]</ref><ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/731oxn/thargoid_down_sdc/ Thargoid Down! - SDC!]</ref> However, it was also discovered that the Thargoids had begun attacking independent civilian vessels. A heavily-damaged [[Megaship]] identified as Samson Class Bulk Cargo Ship BTG-237 was found in Pleiades Sector IR-W d1-55, near planet A 5, the victim of Thargoid aggression.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/72zzvw/spoiler_something_new_has_happened_in_pleiades/ Something new has happened in pleiades Sector IR-W D1-55..]</ref> To cap off a day filled with new developments, wreckage from a new type of Thargoid vessel, the [[Thargoid Scout]], was also discovered on planet A 3 A in the HIP 17125 system.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/733mmb/elite_dangerous_24_new_unknown_ship_crashed_hip/ r/EliteDangerous: Elite Dangerous 2.4 new Unknown Ship (crashed) Hip 17125 A 3 A -65.8193 | 48.8662]</ref>

Despite early successes against the Thargoids in battle thanks to the AX Missile Rack, by October 3rd the Thargoid vessels had adapted by developing a resistance to the damaging compound within the missiles. Reports also indicated that countermeasures like chaff could no longer prevent Interceptors from locking on, that the Interceptors had begun evading long-range attacks more effectively, and that [[Thargon]] drone swarms had become much more accurate.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59d3b59f493e8e3727091ead Galactic News: Thargoids Adapting Rapidly]</ref> On October 5th, the [[AX Multi-cannon]] was released. Combined with an AX Missile Rack to expose Thargoid Hearts on Interceptors, this new weapon was able to circumvent the Thargoid's adaptation. Two other anti-Thargoid countermeasures, the [[Remote Release Flak Launcher]] and [[Shutdown Field Neutraliser]], were made available over the following weeks, making human pilots more effective against their alien adversaries.

On October 6, 3303, Aegis' military liaison Admiral [[Aden Tanner]] confirmed that in recent days, Federal, Imperial, and civilian ships alike had been targeted and destroyed by Thargoids, and that the aliens were scanning the wreckage and seizing escape pods. Tanner reaffirmed that Aegis was dedicated to unraveling the Thargoids' motives.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59d7523d7f2d0f16da5fbf78 Galactic News: Thargoid Threat Continues to Escalate]</ref> On October 12, an Aegis spokesperson confirmed that as well as adapting their defenses to human weapons technology, the Thargoids were also rapidly adapting to human strategies and tactics.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59df892030484d21ea3c3ec5 Galactic News: Thargoids Continuing to Adapt]</ref> On October 27, as losses of Federal [[Farragut Battle Cruiser]]s and Imperial [[Majestic Class Interdictor]]s continued to mount, Admiral Tanner noted that although recent developments like the Shutdown Field Neutraliser had proven effective in protecting conventional spacecraft from Thargoid attacks, difficulties had been encountered in adapting the technology to larger spacecraft. As a result of capital ships' continued vulnerability, Tanner warned that deploying such vessels to protect stations and outposts was not a viable defensive strategy against Thargoids for the time being.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59f30dd4826c1776ca623242 Galactic News: Capital Ships Vulnerable to Thargoid Attack]</ref>

====Operation Andronicus====

On November 2, 3303, Aegis launched Operation Andronicus, the first military operation intended to curb Thargoid aggression in the Pleiades Nebula. Admiral Tanner stated that Aegis would be offering substantial monetary rewards to independent pilots for confirmed Thargoid kills.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59fb5178adf339781710741f Community Goal: Operation Andronicus]</ref> While Operation Andronicus was in effect, the Alliance organization Cooper Research Associates also announced they would reward pilots for the recovery of personal effects and escape pods from Thargoid attack sites.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59fb51f4adf3397051674b5d Community Goal: Rescue Operation in the Pleiades]</ref> The operation concluded a week later, and both campaigns were hailed as successes.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a04628c7c8ea44d3104a3d2 Galactic News: Operation Andronicus Concludes]</ref><ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a046323cd1bcd187d490e8e Galactic News: Pleiades Rescue Operation Concludes]</ref>

====Enter the Basilisks====

[[File:Thargoid Interceptor Basilisk Variant 2.png|thumb|250px|A close-up of a Basilisk Variant]]

On November 13, 3303, the first sightings of a new variant of Thargoid Interceptor were reported by independent pilots in the Electra system. Classified as the "Basilisk Variant" by the [[Pilots Federation]], these heavily scarred Interceptors possessed demonstrably more powerful offensive and defensive capabilities.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a0c1121b9e40e708759f664 Galactic News: Previously Unseen Thargoid Ships in Electra]</ref> Prior to this, only Cyclops Variant Thargoid Interceptors had been encountered. As Basilisk Variants and Cyclops Variants have yet to demonstrate any hostility towards each other, it is unknown if the presence of Basilisk Variants represents an escalation in the ongoing conflict between Thargoids and humans, or the arrival of a second Thargoid faction in the region.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/7cnxqj/threat_6_uss_in_electra_spoilers/ /r/EliteDangerous: Threat 6 USS in Electra]</ref>

With casualties from Thargoid attacks continuing to mount, President Zachary Hudson and Emperor Arissa Lavigny-Duval issued statements to reassure the public, insisting that the Thargoid presence would likely remain limited to the Pleiades Nebula and that the combined forces of the Federation and Empire could overcome any threat. Despite this optimism, Admiral Aden Tanner stated it was premature to assert that the Thargoids would not advance beyond the Pleiades, but that Aegis was actively investigating the Thargoids' long-term plans.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a0eba46528d3924954cf324 Galactic News: Galactic Authorities Call for Calm]</ref>

====Station attacks and Medusae====
[[File:Station Attack The Oracle.png|thumb|250px|The Oracle in the aftermath of an attack]]
December 14, 3303 marked the most serious escalation of the Thargoid conflict yet. The stations Titan's Daughter in Taygeta, The Oracle in Pleiades Sector IR-W d1-55, and Liman Legacy in HIP 16753 were attacked and severely damaged by Thargoids, disrupting services and making the stations dangerously unstable.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFLBnqxuATg YouTube: Commander Chronicles: Devastation - Elite Dangerous]</ref> [[Station#Emergency Protocol|Emergency evacuation protocols]] were activated, and the Pilots Federation extracted the ships of the independent pilots docked at the affected Stations and transferred them to [[Rescue Vessel]]s. Pilots were encouraged to aid the ongoing evacuation of the stations' inhabitants.<ref name="Station Attack">[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/7jqg5p/so_the_thargoids_attacked_a_station_images/?st=jb6b35m0&sh=f42ecad9 /r/EliteDangerous: So the Thargoids(?) Attacked a Station. Images Courtesy of CMDR Bad_Player]</ref>

[[File:Thargoid Interceptor Medusa Variant.png|thumb|250px|A close-up of a Medusa Variant]]
The attacks were confirmed to have been carried out by a new variant of Thargoid Interceptor classified as the "Medusa Variant".<ref name="GSABT">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a328aebaac37e273a5d4ea8 Galactic News: Starports Attacked by Thargoids]</ref> These ships also began interdicting pilots from hyperspace and appearing in Threat 7 Non-Human Signal Sources. Medusae surpass the capabilities of Basilisk Variant Interceptors, possessing even stronger defenses, more powerful weapons, and the ability to direct an even larger swarm of Thargon drones.<ref name="Medusa">[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/7jqg5p/so_the_thargoids_attacked_a_station_images/dr8epgz/ /r/EliteDangerous: So the Thargoids(?) Attacked a Station. Images Courtesy of CMDR Bad_Player - Comment by ChristianM]</ref>

The death toll from the station attacks was believed to be in the thousands, but could have been far worse. Starport security feeds indicate that the Medusa Interceptors used their shutdown fields to disable station defenses before targeting the main reactor. An eyewitness speculated that the Thargoids' intent was to cripple the stations, not destroy them outright.<ref name="GSABT" /> While it was not clear why the Thargoids had targeted these three stations specifically and not others, Aegis was investigating the issue.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a3a4ffbd27df13ee220cc2f Galactic News: Authorities Urge Public Not to Panic]</ref>

The following week on December 21, as the three stations were stabilized and repair work began on them, further attacks were reported at Bao Landing in HIP 17497, Cavalieri in Electra, and Hudson Observatory in HIP 17694.<ref>[https://i.imgur.com/hxTJhqt.png Imgur: Galactic News: Starport Status Update, December 21, 3303]</ref> Medusa Interceptors were once again confirmed to be the culprits, and hundreds more human casualties were tallied.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a3ceced6a3e8049274181c5 Galactic News: More Starports Attacked]</ref> Three more attacks occurred two weeks later on January 4, 3304 at Copernicus Observatory in Asterope, Cyllene Orbital in Atlas, and Artemis Lodge in Celaeno, followed by two attacks on January 11 at Obsidian Orbital in Maia and Reed's Rest in Merope.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a58d52808925a374348ba63 GalNet: Thargoid Assault Continues]</ref>

====The Liberation of HIP 17692====
Also on January 11, the Federation and Empire announced a joint initiative to counter Thargoid activity in the HIP 17692 system and attempt to reduce the Thargoids' presence in the Pleiades. The Empire-aligned Merope Expeditionary Fleet took charge of military operations, while the Federation-aligned Pleiades Resource Enterprise coordinated the rescue of attack survivors, personal effects, and data. Fleet Admiral [[Denton Patreus]] stated, "Starports throughout the Pleiades have been attacked. Thousands of lives have been lost. And we have failed to deliver an effective response. That changes now."<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a578660b34e4b5d3c0ae199 The Liberation of HIP 17692]</ref>

The operation marked just over a year since the first encounter with an active Thargoid Interceptor. Political commentator Daxton Sung offered an analysis: "The situation continues to escalate and our leaders continue to offer the same tired platitudes – militaristic bombast from Hudson, noncommittal banalities from Lavigny-Duval and earnest sympathising from Mahon. It's clear that they have no idea how to counter the Thargoid threat, beyond pumping more money into Aegis's weapons programme."<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a5787708a640c638d6d781d One Year On]</ref>

====Advance on the Core Systems====
While the HIP 17692 operation proved to be a success,<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a60b60073f627733619d852 GalNet: HIP 17692 Operation Concludes]</ref> Thargoid attacks on stations continued unabated on January 18, striking Kipling Orbital in Pleiades Sector KC-V c2-11 and Malthus Terminal in Pleiades Sector HR-W d1-41. After these attacks, a member of Kipling Orbital's starport personnel noted that the Thargoids seemed to be sweeping the region and slowly moving towards the [[Core Systems]].<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a6a0ea379a7530bc462fb3f Starport Attacks Continue]</ref>

On January 25, Borrego's Vision in Pleiades Sector IH-V c2-7 and Kamov Survey in HIP 17892 were hit. On February 1, Asami Orbital in Pleiades Sector JC-V d2-62 and Cleaver Prospect in Pleiades Sector HR-W d1-57 suffered attacks; both stations were significantly closer to the Core Systems that the targets of the previous attacks. On February 8, Bennington's Restin 42 n Persei and Exodus Point in Hyades Sector AB-W b2-2 were attacked, continuing the trend of the Thargoids' movements. President [[Zachary Hudson]] and Emperor [[Arissa Lavigny-Duval]] both issued fresh appeals for aid for the affected stations, and the Emperor also confirmed that [[Aegis]] was actively investigating the Thargoids' shift toward the Core Systems.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a7c2524b2837d57693651ee Galactic Leaders Renew Appeals for Aid]</ref>

On February 15, Gaiman Dock in 49 Arietis and Weyn Dock in 64 Arietis were hit, marking the Thargoids' arrival in the outer fringe of the Core Systems. As the public questioned the lack of an effective military response to the Thargoids, Imperial Senator [[Gianna Tachibana]] asserted that humanity was being reactive rather than proactive, and that the Pleiades were at risk of becoming a no-go zone even with the assistance of independent pilot militias and Aegis's research.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a85a1361b13ca3edb048d1c Galactic News: Proactive or Reactive?]</ref> Meanwhile, the Federation launched the Bulwark Project, an initiative to develop autonomous military hardware to combat the Thargoids. While Imperial commentators criticized the initiative as a circumvention of long-standing conventions against the development of artificial intelligence, Federal [[Shadow President]] [[Felicia Winters]] dismissed those concerns, claiming that the Bulwark Project's purpose was to "investigate alternate defence strategies, not to develop machine intelligence".<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a859fd09dd29d74a968382e Galactic News: The Bulwark Project]</ref> The Bulwark Project campaign was later successful, but Winters was careful to note that the Project's initial remit was merely to determine the economic and military feasibility of the creation of a fully-automated defence force.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a8ee6340f36064f752cd607 GalNet: Federal Initiative Concludes]</ref>

On February 22, Armstrong Enterprise in Bhal and Beaufoy Vision in Nauni, both locations within the Core Systems, suffered Thargoid attacks. Coinciding with these latest incidents, Fleet Admiral Patreus coordinated a second Federal-Imperial joint operation against the Thargoids, this time centered on the Pleiades Sector OI-T c3-7 and Arietis Sector XE-Z b4 systems.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a8ee5d25f3da10323076fbf GalNet: Anti-Thargoid Operation]</ref> The operation was subsequently declared a success.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a9824bf78da4a2abd3af6d8 GalNet: Federal-Imperial Operation Concludes]</ref> Notably, no additional Thargoid attacks occurred on March 1, marking the first lull in the incursion, although sightings and encounters with [[Thargoid Interceptor]]s began occurring at various locations within the Core Systems, with hostile [[Thargoid Scout]] Marauders now appearing as well.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a9960a7049802427b2b41cd GalNet: Week in Review (March 3, 3304)]</ref>

== Biology ==

Thargoids are an insectoid species. Little is known about their physical appearance and biology. Their chemistry is carbon-based, but with ammonia as the solvent rather than water.<ref>http://www.rollingstone.com/glixel/features/elite-dangerous-creator-talks-sci-fi-politics-and-whats-next-w492781</ref> If the rumors are true that they come from [[Ammonia Planet|Ammonia-based planets]] then their physiology is drastically different from humans. For example, ammonia boils at -33 degrees C. Thargoids may well be acclimatised to temperatures far lower than humans.<ref>https://www.drewwagar.com/lore/elite-dangerous-lore-the-thargoids/</ref> They are presumed to be highly intelligent, more than the average human due to their superior technological capabilities. Descriptions based on encounters centuries ago have yet to be verified.

According to [[The Club]], what humans consider to be a singular Thargoid species actually consists of two distinct "dynasties": the Oresrians and the Klaxians. How Oresrians and Klaxians differ biologically, if at all, is unknown.<ref name="EDP" />

==Society==

[[File:Thargoid-and-Diamondback-Ships.png|thumb|250px|Thargoid ship confronting a Diamondback Scout]]

Not much information has been obtained about Thargoid society or culture. The only known fact is that the society is hive based, with no sense of close family. It is thought that the society is divided into colonies, possibly along the lines of ant colonies. The Oresrian and Klaxian dynasties may be two such colonies.<ref name="EDP" />

Thargoids are thought to have a natural affinity with space, and with [[Hyperspace]] in particular. This is due to the fact that Thargoid warriors seem to spend a large amount of time in space. Naval pilots and crews report that the warships in the war zones are encountered on repeated occasions over a period of months often without respite.

At some point, the Oresrian and Klaxian dynasties became embroiled in a civil war. Prior to 3303, the Klaxians gained the upper hand in this conflict and forced the Oresrians into a slow, continuous retreat across the galaxy, a retreat which will take them directly through human space. [[The Club]] has learned that the Oresrians planned to use human civilization as a "bullet shield" to occupy the Klaxians' attention while they escape deeper into space. This poses a potentially apocalyptic threat to humanity's survival.<ref name="EDP" />

==Politics==
Nothing is known about internal Thargoid politics or government, or why the Oresrians and Klaxians have come into conflict.

Thargoid relations with other species, as far as what is currently known, was frighteningly simple: war. The Thargoid invasions usually seemed to be prompted by the need for either agricultural or mineral resources, rather than a sociological or anthropological need to expand or colonise. In fact, the animal life on an invaded world was largely ignored unless it poses a threat to Thargoids.

==Technology==
[[File:Thargoid-Wormhole.png|thumb|250px|Thargoid wormhole]]
Thargoid technology is vastly different from [[human]] technology. Not only are their ships currently invulnerable to conventional weapons, but they possess the ability to interdict human ships that are traveling through hyperspace, a feat previously believed to be impossible, as well as the ability to make untraceable hyperspace jumps and stymie any pursuers. Despite their advanced hyperspace capabilities, there is yet to be evidence of Thargoid ships moving in [[Supercruise]], perhaps suggesting they do not have short-range FTL abilities.

Thargoids can create stable wormholes to [[hyperspace]] (witch-space). This is used to e.g. travel astronomical distances in seconds and interdict vessels. They're believed to be able to hover in witch-space. It's rumored that they can also reside in this higher dimensional region.<ref>https://www.sharoma.com/frontierverse/thargoids.htm</ref><ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/7b3eyk/elite_dangerous_another_inra_base_found_linked_to/ /r/EliteDangerous: Elite: Dangerous: Another INRA Base Found, Linked To Hyperdrive Research]
</ref><ref>https://canonn.science/lore/drewwagar-the-thargoids/</ref>

[[INRA]] chief scientist Bexley Prince asserted that Thargoid technology is far ahead of humans. Understanding it could open up all kinds of possibilities. The applications are potentially limitless. His logs were found at the INRA base Hollis Gateway.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/75axlh/inra_planetary_base_found_on_hermitage_4_a/</ref>

Analysis of the [[Scavenger]] shows that it contains organic and mechanical elements such as [[Thargoid Organic Circuitry]]. This discovery has lead many to question whether the Scavengers are sentient creatures or simple mechanical drones created by the Thargoids as workers.<ref>[http://elite-dangerous.wikia.com/wiki/Thargoid_Organic_Circuitry Thargoid Organic Circuitry] in-game description</ref> The [[Thargoid Interceptor]] also has intricate technological and biological elements<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/395094-Medusa-Tissue-Sample-Tissue-Sample-Prices Thargoid Medusa Tissue Sample]</ref> such as "Thargoid Hearts" which can repair hull damage.

Thargoid weaponry has proven to be very powerful, resulting in numerous destroyed Federal and Imperial vessels, including capital ships. CMDRs who reported being attacked by [[Thargoid Interceptor]]s have noted they lost their ships very quickly under an onslaught of powerful missiles and [[Thargon]] drone swarms.

There's speculation of a [[Thargoid Mothership]] which, according to recovered logs, attacked the [[INRA]] site Carmichael Point in HIP 16824.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mB36F-rLlkI Elite: Dangerous: INRA Base Attacked By Thargoids]</ref>

[[Alien Structure]]s, so-called "barnacles", are known to be related to the Thargoids and their ships. As the structures produce [[Meta-Alloys]], it is possible that Meta-Alloys are an important resource used by Thargoid Interceptors. After September 26, 3303, CMDRs reported sightings of larger fields of Alien Structures in a shape reminiscent of Thargoid Surface Sites, and are also patrolled by [[Scavenger]]s.

[[Thargoid Surface Site]]s demonstrate the Thargoids construct and utilize vast surface installations. Passive drone-like devices called Scavengers were first encountered at these locations. [[Thargoid Egg]]s can be found around and inside these sites. It's unknown what produces and lays these eggs.

[[Thargoid Sensor]]s and [[Thargoid Probe]]s were also confirmed to be related to Thargoids after it was discovered that carrying them allowed doors at Thargoid Surface Sites to open. The other functions of these objects remain an enigma, however. Thargoid Interceptors have been witnessed retrieving them after September 26, 3303.

It's unclear whether Thargoids are a Type II or [[Elite Universe#Type III Civilizations|Type III civilization]] based on the Kardashev scale. Their lack of control over the Milky Way galaxy indicates they are Type II. However, since Thargoids may originate from another galaxy, parallel universe, or spatial dimension they could be Type III.

==Notes==
*Initially, it was only confirmed that Thargoids would eventually make an appearance in Elite Dangerous, and the specifics of that encounter were unknown.<ref>http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?p=160991#post160991</ref><ref>https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1461411552/elite-dangerous/posts/377497#comment-2014816</ref><ref>https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=77358&p=1262252&viewfull=1#post1262252</ref>
*Frontier Development staff have previously commented that all Thargoids are female.<ref>https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1461411552/elite-dangerous/comments?cursor=2332567#comment-2332566</ref>
*David Braben hinted that should peace have ever been found with Thargoids, it would be a temporary measure.<ref>https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1461411552/elite-dangerous/comments?cursor=1970411#comment-1970410</ref>
*It has been rumoured that Thargoids could be capable of building large artificial structures which could possibly be on a scale with planets, and certainly large enough to negate a ship's warp ability.<ref>http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?p=85034#post85034</ref>

==Trivia==
*The name "Thargoid" is believed to have come from the regular skit ''Captain Kremmen'' performed by radio and TV personality Kenny Everett on both his radio shows and, in animated form, on TV.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Kremmen</ref> The animated skits show the Thargoids as a species of tall, transparent creatures who are part of a highly-wealthy monarchical society.<ref>http://youtu.be/pyjKPbkkW9k?t=2m26s</ref> It is assumed that their main source of income is profiting from the sale of natural resources taken from planets they have colonised stretching thousands of light years.

==Videos==
<gallery>
Elite_Dangerous_-_The_Return_2.4
The_Return_2.4_Announcement_-_Elite_Dangerous
The_Return_(Elite_Dangerous)
Elite_Dangerous_-_Where_are_the_Thargoids?_(And_what_are_they?)
DISTANT STORMS - Does Humanity Now Stand On The Brink Of A 2nd Thargoid War?
Elite_Dangerous_2.4_Teaser_-_Frontier_Expo_2017
Commander_Chronicles_Retaliation_-_Elite_Dangerous
Commander_Chronicles_Devastation_-_Elite_Dangerous
</gallery>

==Gallery==
<gallery hideaddbutton="true">
Elite Dangerous Unknown Ship HD.png|A Thargoid Interceptor Cyclops Variant in ''Elite Dangerous''
Evolution-of-the-Thargoids.png|Evolution of the Thargoids
First-Thargoid-Encounter-3125.png|An early Thargoid encounter circa 3125
Thargoids-Return-Message.png|Thargoids Return message
Thargoid-and-Diamondback-Ships.png|Thargoid and Diamondback ships
Thargoid Attack Aftermath.png|The destroyed Federal fleet
Unknown-Ships-Group-Thargoids.png|Thargoid Interceptors
Thargoid-Scouts.png|Thargoid Scouts
Thargoid Surface Site above.png|A Thargoid Surface Site
Thargoid-Surface-Site.png|Thargoid Surface Site
Thargoid Surface Site Scavenger close.png|A Scavenger
Thargoid-Wormhole.png|Thargoid wormhole
Thargoid Interceptor Basilisk Variant.png|A Thargoid Interceptor Basilisk Variant
Thargoid Interceptor Basilisk Variant 2.png|A close-up of a Basilisk Variant
Thargoid Interceptor Medusa Variant.png|A Thargoid Interceptor Medusa Variant
Thargoid Interceptor Medusa Variant 2.png|A Medusa Variant with its petals extended
</gallery>

==References==
<references />

{{Thargoids}}
{{SpeciesNavbox}}
[[Category:Lore]]
[[Category:Alien life]]
[[Category:Thargoids]]
[[Category:Species]]