Thargoid: Difference between revisions

[[File:Unknown-Ships-Thargoid Interceptors Group-Thargoids.png|thumb|300px|Thargoid Interceptors]]

The '''Thargoids''' are ana intelligentsapient, highly advanced insectoid [[species]] that have existed for millions of years. They are the only known extant spacefaring alien species in the Milky Way [[galaxy]] other than [[Human|humanity]].<ref>http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?p=38820#post38820</ref> Thargoids are belligerent and highly territorial. and seeminglyThey rebuff allmost diplomatic overtures with unmitigated hostility,. butThey are alsocanonically knownvery slow to beadapt extremelyto slowtactical tochanges adaptand evolution. They inhabit the galaxy and [[hyperspace]], but their origin is a mystery.

In the distant past, the Thargoids instigated a [[Guardian-Thargoid War|war]] with another sapient species called the [[Guardian]]s over territory.<ref name=":5" /> Although the Guardians eventually prevailed, the Thargoids only opted to retreat because they were unprepared for a protracted campaign against athe rival civilisationspecies.

The Thargoids and [[Human|humanity]] were embroiled in two wars. The [[First Thargoid War]] (3125-3151) is believed to have ended in a human victory with the [[Intergalactic Naval Reserve Arm]]'s successful deployment of the [[mycoid]] bio-weapon. The [[Second Thargoid War]] began in 3303 (Over 152 years later) and rapidly escalated, disrupting dozens of systems across the [[Pleiades Nebula]], [[Witch Head Nebula]], [[Coalsack Nebula]], [[California Nebula]] and the [[Core Systems]]. Following the battle of [[HIP 22460]], [[Azimuth Biotech]] deployed the [[Anti-xeno superweapon|Proteus Wave]] which failed to cripple the Thargoid species in August 3308. The Thargoids responded by mobilizing invasion fleets via 8 [[Thargoid Maelstrom|Maelstroms]] that converged on the human inhabited [[Core Systems|bubble]]. It culminated with the invasion of [[Sol]] by the 8th [[Thargoid Titan|Titan Cocijo]]. The war caused billions of casualties.<ref name=":4">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/6761bcd5e15c2584700ec739 Titan Cocijo Destroyed, Sol Liberated] - 18 DEC 3310 (2024) - Galnet</ref> It concluded with a human victory after the destruction of Cocijo on 18 Dec 3310.<ref name=":4" />

The location of the Thargoid homeworld, if such a place exists, is unknown. Professor Shaw continued to speculate that it might be somewhere beyond known space or on the other side of the Milky Way [[galaxy]]. Alternatively, the Thargoids may have become a nomadic species, existing entirely in space or within fabricated hives. It is possible they journeyed across millions of light years, from [[Andromeda]] or beyond, like a swarm of locusts seeking fresh crops to consume. SinceThargoids Thargoidcan vesselssurvive, canmaneuver, and hoverreside ininside [[hyperspace]],. itThis suggests that they couldmight originate from there, or that they may use hyperspace as a conduit from a dimensional plane entirelythat is separate from real space. Thus, the Thargoids may not just be extragalactic in origin, but extra-universal.<ref name="GOTT">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5ac6383563e2f04e9a610f73 GalNet: Genesis of the Thargoids?]</ref>

In 3111, a planetary survey team led by Professor [[Penelope Carver]] and contracted by [[Azimuth Biochemicals]] of Chukchan discovered [[Thargoid Barnacle]]s and a [[Alien Crash Site|crashed]] [[Thargoid Interceptor]] on the surface of the third planet of the Musca Dark Region PJ-P b6-1 system, near the [[Coalsack Nebula]]. Azimuth diverted a [[megaship]], the [[Adamastor]], to retrieve Carver's team and the alien samples, but the vessel was forced to depart prematurely when the survey team's base, [[Geological Survey 23B]], apparently came under attack. However, Azimuth's personnel were unprepared for one object which was recovered from the crashed Interceptor and speculated to be the pilot or control system; the object emitted a deluge of signals that interfered with human technology, causing malfunctions in the Adamastor's hyperdrive despite attempts to contain it. As the ship passed through HIP 69200, its hyperdrive failed and more fighting broke out, andforcing anyall remaining survivors evacuatedto evacuate. The Adamastor consequently never reached its original destination, an undisclosed secure facility operated by Azimuth, and its autopilot steered it on an emergency return course to Chukchan at sublight speed, a journey that was not completed until 3306.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/the-stones.557446/page-2#post-8770066 Frontier Forums: "The Stones", post #24]</ref><ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/jkbz2p/crashed_sidewinder_in_system_hip_69200_logs/ reddit: Crashed Sidewinder in system HIP 69200. Logs linked to the "Ghost ship"]</ref><ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5f9aabdbc0aca338d54b3b26 GalNet: 'Ghost Ship' Arrives in Chukchan System]</ref><ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/jkeowd/secrets_of_the_adamastor_chukchan_local_news/ reddit: Secrets of the Adamastor (Chukchan local news article)]</ref><ref name="Adamastor Log">[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/the-stones.557446/page-2#post-8770151 Frontier Forums: "The Stones", post #36]</ref>

[[File:Unknown-Ships-Thargoid Interceptors Group-Thargoids.png|thumb|250px|Thargoid Cyclops Interceptors]]

[[File:Thargoid Scouts 3Beyond.1.pngjpg|thumb|250px|Thargoid Scouts]]

Over the course of 3304, the Thargoids continued to attack stations in a weekly cycle and also picked off remote [[settlement]]s, resulting in tens of thousands of human casualties. Initially, only stations in and around the [[Pleiades Nebula]], the Thargoids' beachhead, that were hosting Aegis research labs were targeted; at the time, the labs were analyzing Thargoid Sensors and Probes in an effort to decrypt Thargoid territorial data. The attacks steadily moved towards the [[Core Systems|core systems]], however, and on February 15, 3304, Gaiman Dock in 49 Arietis and Weyn Dock in 64 Arietis were hit, marking the Thargoids' arrival in the outer fringe of the heart of human civilisationcivilization. Sightings and encounters with hostile [[Thargoid Scout]]s followed, as well as attacks on stations with no association with Aegis. In response to this crisis, Aegis unveiled a new initiative on March 9 called [[Eagle Eye]] which used an array of six [[installation]]s to intercept and analyze Thargoid transmissions to determine their next probable targets. Independent pilots were able to concentrate their efforts in defence of the targeted systems and prevent many attacks from occurring.

On August 25, 3305, a fifth interceptor[[Thargoid Interceptor|Interceptor]] type designated the 'Orthrus Variant' was spotted by multiple pilots at the abandoned Palin Research Centre on Maia A 3 a.<ref name=":7">[https://www.sagittarius-eye.com/new-thargoid-variant-discovered/ New Thargoid Variant Discovered] - Sagittarius Eye - 26 August 3305</ref><ref name=":8" /> This variant did not engage in combat, and fled to hyperspace immediately upon being met by human ships.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":8" />

This tension began coming to a head in August of 3307 when the Aegis mega ship themegaship [[Alexandria]] disappeared and was presumed lost with all hands following a hyperspace jump, after several days fleeing from Thargoid forces. The Alexandria had recently been the recipient of a large quantity of [[Guardian]] technology (following a successful collection drive with independent pilots) and it was speculated thisthat concentration of materials from the Thargoid's ancient enemies drove their hostility. This resulted in a public inquiry into Aegis that suspended many of their day-to-day operations.

In January of 3308 Aegis was dealt a death blow by the [[Paul Baumann|Baumann Report]], published at the conclusion of the independent inquiry. The Federation, Empire and Alliance all moved to create their own anti-xeno defence forces while contributing funds previously reserved for Aegis to Salvation and his corporate partners, Taurus Mining Ventures. Despite this there was some disquiet following the engineer Ram Tah's discovery that Salvation's anti-xeno superweapon was based on data and technology from the Azimuth Biochemicals ship the [[Proteus]], and that the long defunct company had engaged in unethical research as a subcontractor for [[Intergalactic Naval Reserve Arm|INRA]], perfecting the [[Mycoid|Mycoid virus]]. Concerns were raised that the superweapons were actively drawing Thargoids into systems they were constructed in, needlessly endangering lives. Salvation claimed he was working towards the next generation of his superweapon, one which could seemingly eliminate the Thargoid threat once and for all. During this time many officers and pilots from the Federal, Sirius and Imperial Navies, as well as the [[Alliance Defence Force]], began resigning their commissions to join Salvation's cause.

Later that month it was revealed that Azimuth Biochemicals had survived in some form and were responsible for the disappearance of the Alexandria and the theft of its cargo. Azimuth had also been implicated in horrific experiments to interface captured test subjects with Thargoid crafts. The pleas of former Aegis head-researchers to reform their organisation fell on deaf ears however, as the superpowers had determined Salvation's methods were far more effective strategically. Aegis was formally shut down on January 18, 3308, with its military and xenological research responsibilities assumed by the superpowers' navies and universities. Full demobilisation of Aegis's staff, ships, and resources was expected to take several months to complete.

As of mid-August 3308, HIP 22460 has been declared a Hazardous Environment, having been conquered by the Thargoids who aggressively track, persuepursue and destroy any human vessel in the system. The Proteus Wave (still active and visible from high-orbit around moon 10 b) has become the site of a major, unidentified anomaly. Guardian technology brought into the system rapidly degrades to the point of non-functionality, while human systems appear to glitch constantly in either [[Supercruise]] or normal space. Numerous debris fields from the massacre of the human fleet dot the system, along with the wrecks of [[Megaship|megaships]] and Federal and Imperial capital ships. Salvation has disappeared (presumed dead) and Azimuth Biotech has confirmed all engineers of the Proteus Wave have been slain. The superpowers and Sirius have been focused on the withdrawal of their forces and there is no longer a united front against the Thargoids, leading many to speculate the attempt to end the Second Thargoid War has instead escalated it to new heights.

onOn August 25 3308, independent rescue teams confirmed that Salvation was killed during the HIP 22460 incident, having been present on The Bright Sentinel when the Proteus Wave activated, and the subsequent destruction of the megaship.

Throughout September and October 3308, independent explorers began tracking eight mysterious anomalies which were travelling at speeds faster than light. They were named '[[Rogue Signal Source|Rogue Signal Sources']], and determined to be converging on the core systems by 4 November 3308.

In December 3308, Professor Alba Tesreau callscalled for Aegis to be reformed in order to fight the Thargoids, as more research is needed into research and defencedefense projects against the Thargoids so that humanity can successfully repel them.

On the 13 February 3309, Aegis iswas reformed by the Alliance, Federation, and the Empire in order to ensure more cooperation, and increase research and development of anti-xeno weaponry. They begin researching into countermeasures against the Maelstrom caustic cloud. By 20 February they beginbegan testing a prototype version of a [[Caustic Sink Launcher]], designed to protect against the caustic environment witthinwithin the Maelstrom.

By the end of February, a total of 634 systems have been overrun by the Thargoids, while only 61 systems have been liberated by humanity from Thargoid control. Fierce fighting also broke out in the enclaves in the California Nebula and Witch Head Nebulas,Nebula. It's speculated that the Thargoids are trying to secure control of the Barnacle sites they created millennia ago.

By April 3309, Thethe Thargoid fleets occupyoccupied well over a thousand systems, withand the conflict has no end in sight to the conflict.

On 9 May 3309, the [[Thargoid Pulse Neutraliser]] iswas released to independent ships, being able to successfully negate the Thargoid Pulse released from the center of the Maelstrom. Combined with the Caustic Sink Launcher, it is now possible to successfully penetrate into the core of the Maelstrom. On the 10 May, Aegis sendssent armed ships equipped with Thargoid Pulse Neutralisers into each Maelstrom, on a mission to gather as much tactical and environmental data as possible about the Thargoids.

The centers of each Maelstrom iswere revealed to contain a [[Thargoid Titan]], gigantic motherships which act as command centers for the Thargoids. These contain lotsa vast quanitity of Interceptors and Scouts, which are deployed to invade human star systems. The surroundings of the Thargoid Titans are permanently surrounded by a caustic cloud, protecting the center from intruders. The caustic cloud is kept replenished by the Caustic Generators, while Interceptors patrol around the area and attack anyall human craft on sight.

The first [[Thargoid BarnacleSpire|Thargoid Spires]] were discovered on October 16, 3309.

[[Thargoid Titan|TanarisTaranis]] was the first Titan to be destroyed by commanders on March 2, 3310.,<ref name=":0">[https://x.com/EliteDangerous/status/1764002790194418151 A monumental victory for humanity! The first Titan, Taranis, has fallen!] -https://twitter.com/EliteDangerous/status/1764002790194418151 (MarchX - 2, March 2024)</ref><ref>Titan Tanaris Boom (March 2, 2024) - https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/1b4vu3f/titan_taranis_boom/</ref> It'sone aof the first of many major victoryvictories for humanity.<ref name=":0" /> Salvaging efforts occur after the impenetrable caustic cloud dissipates.,<ref name=":0" /> which took several weeks to fully disappear. <gallery>

===Wreckage Organic vessels ===

NotThere muchis informationlittle has been obtaineddata about Thargoid society orand culture. The[[Intergalactic onlyNaval knownReserve factArm|INRA]] isresearchers thatdescribed thetheir society isto hivebe organized in vast basedhives, with no sense of close family.<ref name=":9" /> The larger groups are thought to be overlapping hives.<ref name=":9" /> A hive has 3 categories: Queens, Princesses and Drones.<ref name=":9" /> It is thought that the society is divided into colonieshives, possibly along the lines of ant colonies.<ref name=":9" /> The OresrianKlaxian and KlaxianOresrian dynasties may be two such colonieshives.<ref name="EDP" /><ref name=":9" />

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 in comparison to humans. Naval pilots and crews report that the warships in the war zones are encountered on repeated occasions over a period of several months often without respite.

At some point, the OresrianKlaxian and KlaxianOresrian 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 civilisationcivilization as a "bullet shield" to occupy the Klaxians' attention while they escapeescaped deeper into space. This poses a potentially apocalyptic threat to humanity's survival.<ref name="EDP" />

Nothing is known about internal Thargoid politics or government, or why the OresriansKlaxians and Klaxians haveOresrians comecame 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, anthropological need to expand or colonisecolonize, or simply for the fun of it. In fact, the animal life on an invaded world was largely ignored unless it posesposed a threat to Thargoids.

The above one-sided view has come under severe criticism lately; human -Thargoid advocates are pointing out that the actions taken by the Thargoids have always been purely defensive in spite of their obvious technological capability. Conflict has typically arisen from other races (first Guardians, lately humans) moving into territory with existing Thargoid sites and seedings (see Barnacles), stealing and destroying Thargoid property.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/they-arent-here-to-kill-us-an-overly-long-analysis-of-thargoid-behaviour.610643/ Frontier Forums: They aren't here to kill us (an overly-long analysis of Thargoid behaviour)]</ref>

Thargoid technology is extremely advanced and predicated on a unique melding of organic and inorganic components. [[INRA]] chief scientist [[Bexley Prince]] asserted that Thargoid technology is far ahead of humans.; Understandingunderstanding it could open up all kinds of possibilities., The applications arewith potentially limitless applications. 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/ reddit: INRA Planetary Base found on Hermitage 4 A]</ref>

It is unclear whether Thargoids are a Type II or [[Elite Universe#Type III Civilizations|Type III civilisationcivilization]] based on the Kardashev scale. Their lack of control over the Milky Way galaxyindicates indicatesthat they areshould be Type II. However, since Thargoids may originate from another galaxy, parallel [[universe]], or spatial dimension they could be considered Type III or even Type IV.

The decoded [[Guardian]] logs reveal that Thargoids engineered their bio-mechanical technology to recogniserecognize anything of Guardian origin during the Guardian-Thargoid conflict. Millions of years after the conflict, Thargoid devices and ships still react aggressively to the presence of Guardian technology.<ref name=":1" />

The Thargoids construct most of their structures and ships using [[Meta-Alloys]], [[Thargoid Resin]], and [[Thargoid Biological Matter]]. The Meta-Alloys serve as a base that provides structural integrity and counters the caustic effects of the versatile Resin, which is utilisedutilized in both solid and liquid forms. Destroyed Thargoid ships vent a cloud of the vaporised form of thevaporized Resin, which is highly corrosive. The Biological Matter's purpose in Thargoid structures is unknown, but it might be used as an analogue to wiring and electronic systems in human ships and serve as the "nerves" of a Thargoid vessel.

Thargoids possess the ability to interdict human ships that are travellingtraveling through hyperspace, a feat previously believed to be impossible, as well as the ability to makeperform untraceable hyperspace jumps and stymie any pursuers. They are also capable of some form of supercruise, as they can be spotted in supercruise in Thargoid controlled systems near the surfaces of planets (orbital cruise), having aan orange-ish tint to the light they emit instead of the normal blue from human ships.

Thargoid ships can create stable wormholes to [[hyperspace]] (wytchwitch-space). This is used to travel astronomical distances in seconds and interdict vessels. Their vesselsships canalso have the capability to hover in hyperspace so they may be comfortable with residing in this higher dimensional region.<ref>[https://www.sharoma.com/frontierverse/thargoids.htm Sharoma: Thargoids]</ref><ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/7b3eyk/elite_dangerous_another_inra_base_found_linked_to/ reddit: Elite: Dangerous: Another INRA Base Found, Linked To Hyperdrive Research]

The [[Thargoid Interceptor]] has intricate technological and biological elements,<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/medusa-tissue-sample-tissue-sample-prices.395094/ Frontier Forums: Medusa Tissue Sample, Tissue Sample Prices]</ref> such as [[Thargoid Heart]]s which can repair hull damage. [[Thargoid Scout]]s lack these Hearts and are vulnerable to conventional human weapons, but the Regenerator variant of the Scout can remotely repair damage to other Thargoid ships.

Thargoid ship-based weaponry has proven to be very powerful, resulting in numerous destroyed Federal and Imperial vessels, includingas well as capital ships. Commanders who reported being attacked by Thargoid Interceptors have noted they lost their ships very quickly under an onslaught of powerful missiles and [[Thargon]] drone swarms.

| [[File:Thargoid Titan 13310.jpgpng|200px]]

| -

[[Thargoid Surface Site]]s demonstrate the Thargoids' canability to construct vast structures. The purpose of these sites is unknown, but the interiors of several have been found to contain machines classified as Unknown Devices in a centralisedcentralized chamber. [[Thargoid Egg]]s can be found around and inside these sites. It is unknown what produces these eggs or what gestates inside them.

|[[Pleiades Nebula|PleaidesPleiades]], [[Witch Head Nebula|Witch Head]] and [[Coalsack Nebula]]

|[[Pleiades Nebula|PleaidesPleiades]], [[Witch Head Nebula|Witch Head]] and [[Coalsack Nebula]]

|[[Core Systems|Bubble]], [[Pleiades Nebula|PleaidesPleiades]], [[Witch Head Nebula|Witch Head]] and [[Coalsack Nebula]]

|[[Pleiades Nebula|PleaidesPleiades]], [[Witch Head Nebula|Witch Head]] and [[Coalsack Nebula]]

Unknown-Ships-Thargoid Interceptors Group-Thargoids.png|Thargoid Interceptors Group