Anti-xeno superweapon: Difference between revisions

Whilst the weapon initially seemed successful in shutting down Thargoid vessels throughout the system upon activation, the site it was built upon released a 'counter wave' not long after the first, which 'reactivated' all of the incapacitated vessels. Aside from suggesting that the Thargoids have partially adapted and developed the ability to subvert Guardian technology (''cf.'' [[Unclassified Relic]]), possibly as a result of the prior superweapon incidents, the full ramifications of the weapon's use - beyond the initial loss of life and materiel - remain to be seen, though the Thargoids have seized control of the system and appear to be consolidating their forces there.

*<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pilots' Federation ALERT*<br/>The Alliance, Empire and Federation have confirmed that the remains of their anti-xeno taskforces have fully retreated from the HIP 22460 system. Fleet Admiral Tayo Maikori declared: ''“The Thargoids are now heavily entrenched in HIP 22460. Federal search and rescue teams are attempting to locate survivors, but our window of opportunity is closing as the enemy forces increase in number.”'' A similar statement came from Senator Denton Patreus, who admitted ''“The aliens have successfully established a stronghold within human-occupied space.”'' The Imperial Navy has been instructed to prioritise evacuating its own ships and crew. The Alliance Assembly and the Council of Admirals have been engaged in emergency discussions with representatives from Sirius Corporation. Early indications suggest a restructuring of anti-xeno operations is underway. Across the core systems, public fears of a mass Thargoid invasion are running high. Planetary security forces are on alert, with every spacegoing military preparing for the possibility of fighting Thargoid vessels. Many public figures have expressed their concerns, including Aegis’s former head of research Professor Alba Tesreau: ''“I am utterly horrified by events in HIP 22460. Many of us feared that Azimuth’s experiments would lead to catastrophe, but the widespread loss of life is still a sickening shock. Salvation critically underestimated the Thargoids’ ability to adapt, a failure rooted in his perception of them as purely reactive creatures. This tragedy is worsened by the fractured responses of the superpowers, which are reluctant to continue sharing information with external organisations. Without a dedicated research effort, we cannot analyse the Thargoid technology used in HIP 22460 or formulate a suitable defence.”''<ref>[https://www.elitedangerous.com/news/galnet/fleets-withdraw-thargoid-controlled-system Fleets Withdraw from Thargoid-Controlled System]</ref>

*<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pilots' Federation ALERT*<br/> The Proteus Wave’s failure has resulted in Thargoid forces overwhelming the coalition fleet in HIP 22460. Independent and military observers have confirmed that although Salvation’s anti-xeno superweapon was activated as scheduled, it had only a temporary effect on the Thargoids. Soon afterwards, human ships in the system found themselves without power following a second unknown energy pulse and were rapidly targeted by hostile Thargoid vessels. Vox Galactica announced that the reporter Jade Sanderlyn was able to jettison her escape pod before her drifting craft was destroyed. She delivered this summary: ''“It didn’t work. The Proteus Wave didn’t work. I saw its energies ripple out from the planet, I felt it, we all did. The Thargoids reeled and went dark, but only briefly. Then something else occurred, a noise which shook our bodies, screeching through our skulls. Something alien. Suddenly all systems went down: engines, comms, everything. All the flashing beams of capital ship weapons fire disappeared. Every human ship in our vicinity went dead, leaving us floating through space. I watched through the canopy as the Thargoids swarmed everywhere, more than I’d ever seen before. The Bright Sentinel was their first target, and they unleashed a blazing barrage against it. Nobody on board could have survived.”'' The superpowers have announced that HIP 22460 is off-limits to civilian traffic, and should now be considered Thargoid territory. The Alliance Defence Force, Federal Navy and Imperial Navy have each begun compiling official lists of every military ship deployed to the system which remains unaccounted for. Azimuth Biotech likewise issued a statement confirming that both the Bright Sentinel and Heart of Taurus megaships have been destroyed, with all Proteus Wave project engineers missing and presumed dead. No information on the status of Salvation has yet been offered by the corporation.<ref>[https://www.elitedangerous.com/news/galnet/thargoids-conquer-hip-22460 Thargoids Conquer HIP 22460]</ref>

*<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pilots' Federation ALERT*<br/> Communication with all ships in the HIP 22460 system has unexpectedly terminated, following the Proteus Wave’s activation. As intended, the energy pulse from Salvation’s Guardian-based superweapon disabled all Thargoids in the system. This was followed by a second pulse of similar intensity from an undetermined source, which rendered the Bright Sentinel megaship powerless. The Thargoid vessels displayed signs of returning to life, after which all comms channels fell silent. The Alliance Defence Force, Federal Navy and Imperial Navy have verified that they are no longer receiving signals from their capital ships. Azimuth Biotech has been unable to contact the Bright Sentinel or Heart of Taurus. There has been no word from Salvation or any Azimuth personnel within the system. Some newsfeeds have begun publishing eyewitness reports from independent pilots, claiming that the Thargoids have resumed attacking all human ships. These statements have not been independently verified. However, the superpowers are insisting on caution until the status of the Thargoid fleet can be ascertained. They have advised that non-military ships should avoid entering the HIP 22460 system until further notice.<ref>[https://www.elitedangerous.com/news/galnet/contact-lost-after-proteus-wave-fired Contact Lost After Proteus Wave Fired]</ref>