Thargoid Barnacle

2017-12-20T16:00:28Z

2A02:C7D:846D:9B00:2912:D4C4:C97E:22C2: /* Small clusters */ entered the area , no turrets/skippers and was exhausted.

[[File:Barnacle.jpeg|thumb|300px|The Alien structure or "Barnacle" and its surrounding organic growths]]

An '''Alien Structure''' (colloquially referred to as a "Barnacle") consists of an organic growth with a central, ribbed peak surrounded by [[Organic Structure]]s. They are related in some capacity to [[Thargoids]].

== Appearance ==
At first sight the central column looks very much like a regular, sea-based barnacle sitting on the ground. However, closer up, it appears to consist of a number of individual obelisks making up the structure. At ground level the obelisks do not quite meet, leaving gaps through which a more organic looking material can be seen which radiates a blue-green light. It is approximately twice the height of a [[Scarab]] [[SRV]].

[[File:Alien-Structure-Barnacle.png|thumb|250px|Alien Structure Barnacle]]

The peaks of each obelisk is coloured a creamy white, with a strange symbol visible on the side. This is currently the cause of much speculation amongst commanders with many believing it to be a reference to Barnard's Loop, an emission nebula in the Orion constellation.

== Large Clusters ==
[[File:Barnacle large cluster above.png|thumb|250px|A large cluster seen from above]]

After September 26, 3303, CMDRs began discovering much larger clusters of Alien Structures. These clusters had grown into a roughly octagonal shape, with crystal-like formations erupting from the ground and linking them together. It is possible that these large clusters are the precursors of future [[Thargoid Surface Site]]s. It's also called a Barnacle Forest due to the large scale.

== Interaction ==
The barnacle appears to be fairly benign, and has so far been unresponsive to interaction. The central column seems to be impervious to damage, with commanders having tried firing on it with a wide range of weapon types.{{Cite}} It also cannot be targeted by ship or SRV systems, and doesn't show up on scanners.

There have been reported anomalies near these objects,{{Cite}} with ship scanner glitches being fairly common. When nearby, a strange sound can be heard coming from it, which sounds similar to an [[Unknown Artefact|Unknown Artefacts]], but rather sounds more like an animal noise.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8CW2U5IJGc Elite dangerous: Barnacles sound]</ref>

Unknown Artefacts (UA) interact with the barnacle via a sort of tractor beam. The barnacle gives off visual and sound effects as any nearby debris slowly rises within the beam towards the UA, only to be dropped back onto the barnacle, having no obvious effect on anything in the end.

===Connection to Thargoids===
[[File:Unknown Ship Barnacle Laser.png|thumb|250px|Unknown Ship Barnacle laser]]
On June 2, 3303, CMDR Mobiusetti documented the first known interaction between a [[Thargoid Interceptor]] and Alien Structures on Pleiades Sector OI-T C3-7 A 6 at coordinates -42.77, -21.70, confirming the two are related. The Unknown Ship approached one Alien Structure, incapacitating any nearby ships and SRVs. The craft then rotated until its propulsion array faced and was aligned with the Alien Structure, before drawing a pulsing beam of light or energy from it for a brief period. The Unknown Ship then departed as rapidly as it arrived. It is possible that Alien Structures serve as refueling stations of some kind for Unknown Ships, and the [[Meta-Alloys]] they produce are fuel or repair materials for them, but this is currently only conjecture.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8S-4Oq9Xvc YouTube: They're Here...]</ref>

[[File:Thargoid-Interceptor-Particle-Cloud-Barnacles.png|thumb|250px|Thargoid Interceptor Particle Cloud at Barnacles]]

It's been observed when a Thargoid Interceptor visits a Barnacle site it releases a cloud of green "particles" This could be a shield that they enable or disable. Or maybe a chemical compound to trigger something such as growth in the Barnacles.<ref name=":0">https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/749fzs/discussion_green_particle_cloud_from_thargoids_at/</ref>

The Interceptor has a similar shield in combat when it takes too much damage. That usually happens when one of its petals (hearts) gets destroyed. The Thargoid ship may need to disable its shields before it can refuel/fire the green beam at the barnacles.<ref name=":0" />

== Known Locations ==
=== Small clusters ===
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" border="1"
! System
! Planet
! Surface Coordinates
! Notes
|-
| Merope
| 5 C
| -26.35, -156.40
| First Alien Structure discovered on Jan. 15, 3302 by CMDR Octo86.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5698e0529657ba4b5ba11205 Alien 'Barnacles' Discovered in the Pleiades], GalNet, 15 Jan 3302</ref><br />Exhausted (Found 2 Meta-Alloys, Sept. 23)
|-
| Pleiades Sector JC-U B3-2
| 1
| 22.79, 94.08
| Exhausted
|-
| Pleiades Sector JC-U B3-2
| 1
| 21.91, 96.97
| Exhausted
|-
| Pleiades Sector JC-U B3-2
| 1
| -8.80, -13.36
| Exhausted
|-
| Pleiades Sector OI-T C3-7
| A 6
| -42.77, -21.70
| First sighting on Unknown Ship interaction on Jun. 2, 3303 by CMDR Mobiusetti.<br />Active
|-
|Pleiades Sector IX-S B4-4
|B 1
|<nowiki>-40.46, 25.81</nowiki>
|Active (3 Dec 2017)
Not guarded
|}

=== Large clusters ===
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" border="1"
! System
! Planet(s)
! Surface Coordinates
! Notes
|-
| Witch Head Sector GW-W c1-4
| A 4
|
| Planet A 4 features 14 different sites
|-
| Witch Head Sector LC-V c2-10
|
|
| 84 sites in system
|-
| Witch Head Sector FB-X c1-11
|
|
| 73 sites in system
|-
| Witch Head Sector DL-Y d17
|
|
| 36 sites in system
|-
| Witch Head Sector HW-W c1-7
|
|
| 31 sites in system
|-
| Pleiades Sector JC-U b3-2
|
|
| 51 sites in system
|-
| Pleiades Sector IH-V c2-16
|
|
| 41 sites in system
|-
| California Sector DL-Y d4
|
|
| 36 sites in system
|-
| Hyades Sector AQ-Y D81 C 2
| C 2
| 9.29, -153.98
|
|-
|Pleiades Sector PN-T b3-0
|A5
|Lat: -4.4946, Long: 145.6557
|
|-
|}

==Notes==
*The existence of Alien Structures was first hinted at during a trailer for [[Elite Dangerous: Horizons]] released on December 15th 2015.<ref>[https://youtu.be/VKWIJ-H-WxI?t=1m Elite Dangerous: Horizons Launch Trailer]</ref>

==Videos==
<gallery>
Elite_Dangerous_-_Mega_Barnacle_Site_Found
</gallery>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Alien-Structure-Barnacle.png|Alien Structure Barnacle
Alien-Structure-Barnacle-SRV-Anaconda.png|Alien Structure Barnacle SRV Anaconda
File:Barnacles_and_Python.png|Barnacles and a Python
File:Barnard's_Loop?.png|Symbol on the side of the barnacle
File:Barnacle anaconda crash.jpg|View of the barnacle reported at the Anaconda crash site ([https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5697c9829657ba153248c09b GalNet article]). This one does not seem to be persistent, and is not visible to all Commanders.
File:Unknown Ship Alien Structure interaction.png|A Thargoid Interceptorinteracting with an Alien Structure
Unknown Ship Barnacle Laser.png|Thargoid Interceptor Barnacle laser
Thargoid-Interceptor-Particle-Cloud-Barnacles.png|Thargoid Interceptor Particle Cloud at Barnacles
Barnacle large cluster.png|An Alien Structure in a large cluster
Barnacle large cluster above.png|Barnacle Forest
</gallery>

== References ==
<references />
{{clr}}
{{Thargoids}}
{{MaterialsNavbox}}[[Category:Surface Points of Interest]]
[[Category:Alien life]]
[[Category:Points of Interest]]
[[Category:Thargoids]]
[[Category:Technology]]

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Thargoid Barnacle