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[[File:Elite-Dangerous-The-Return-2.4-Thargoids-Art.png|thumb|350px|Thargoids]]
[[File:Unknown-Ships-Group-Thargoids.png|thumb|300px|Thargoids]]
The '''Thargoids''' are an intelligent, highly advanced insectoid [[species]] that have existed for millions of years. They are the only known living sapient species in the Milky Way [[galaxy]] other than [[Human|humanity]].<ref>http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?p=38820#post38820</ref> Thargoids are highly territorial and seemingly rebuff all diplomatic overtures with unmitigated hostility, but are also known to be extremely slow to adapt.
The '''Thargoids''' are an intelligent, highly advanced insectoid [[species]] that have existed for millions of years. They are the only known living sapient species in the Milky Way [[galaxy]] other than [[Human|humanity]].<ref>http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?p=38820#post38820</ref> Thargoids are highly territorial and seemingly rebuff all diplomatic overtures with unmitigated hostility, but are also known to be extremely slow to adapt.


Approximately 1 to 2 million years ago, the Thargoids instigated a war with another intelligent species called the [[Guardian]]s over territory.<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> Although the Guardians eventually prevailed, the Thargoids only opted to retreat because they were unprepared for a protracted campaign against a rival civilization. Thargoids and humanity have been embroiled in two wars. The first occurred between 3125 and 3151, and is believed to have ended in a human victory with the [[Intergalactic Naval Reserve Arm]]'s successful deployment of the [[mycoid]] bioweapon. The second, ongoing conflict began in 3303 and has been rapidly escalating with no resolution in sight, affecting dozens of systems across the [[Pleiades Nebula]] and the [[Core Systems]].
Approximately 1 to 2 million years ago, the Thargoids instigated a war with another intelligent species called the [[Guardian]]s over territory.<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> Although the Guardians eventually prevailed, the Thargoids only opted to retreat because they were unprepared for a protracted campaign against a rival civilization. Thargoids and humanity have been embroiled in two wars. The first occurred between 3125 and 3151, and 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|second, ongoing conflict]] began in 3303 and has been rapidly escalating with no resolution in sight, affecting dozens of systems across the [[Pleiades Nebula]] and the [[Core Systems]].


==History==
==History==
The Thargoids are an ancient, sapient, insectoid species of enigmatic origin. Data obtained from [[Ancient Obelisk]]s built by the [[Guardian]]s indicates that the Thargoids are several millions of years old, and likely a far older species than the Guardians themselves.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> Professor [[Cora Shaw]] of the [[Palin Institute]] concluded that they were an established spacefaring species long before they encountered the Guardians. They have an affinity for [[Ammonia World|ammonia-based worlds]]. This suggests they may have evolved in a harsh, low-temperature environment, which might explain their overdeveloped survival instincts and aggressive nature. The Thargoids are experts in bioengineering, so they may have augmented their own biology to a point where natural evolutionary processes are meaningless.<ref name="GOTT" />
=== Origins ===
The Thargoids are an ancient, sapient, insectoid species of enigmatic origin. Data obtained from [[Ancient Obelisk]]s built by the [[Guardian]]s indicates that the Thargoids are several millions of years old, and likely a far older species than the Guardians themselves.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5ab383f5b709787d505dd1a2 GalNet: Thargoid Revelations]</ref> Professor [[Cora Shaw]] of the [[Palin Institute]] concluded that they were an established spacefaring species long before they encountered the Guardians. They have an affinity for [[Ammonia World|ammonia-based worlds]]. This suggests they may have evolved in a harsh, low-temperature environment, which might explain their overdeveloped survival instincts and aggressive nature. The Thargoids are experts in bioengineering, so they may have augmented their own biology to a point where natural evolutionary processes are meaningless.<ref name="GOTT" />


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. Since Thargoid vessels can hover in [[hyperspace]], it suggests that they could even originate from there, or that they may use hyperspace as a conduit from a dimensional plane entirely 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>
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. Since Thargoid vessels can hover in [[hyperspace]], it suggests that they could even originate from there, or that they may use hyperspace as a conduit from a dimensional plane entirely 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>


=== Guardian-Thargoid Conflict ===
=== Guardian-Thargoid conflict ===
[[File:Barnacle large cluster.png|thumb|250px|Barnacles]]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>
[[File:Barnacle large cluster.png|thumb|250px|Barnacles]]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 beginning of the war with the Thargoids, 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> The Guardians used drones, autonomous war machines that could target anything that utilised Thargoid engineering. Remarkably, Thargoid bio-mechanical technology was engineered to recognise anything of Guardian origin.<ref name=":1">[https://canonn.science/codex/guardians-codex/ 4/28 : Thargoid Log – The War Machine]</ref>
After the beginning of the war with the Thargoids, 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> The Guardians used drones, autonomous war machines that could target anything that utilised Thargoid engineering. Remarkably, Thargoid bio-mechanical technology was engineered to recognise anything of Guardian origin.<ref name=":1">[https://canonn.science/codex/guardians-codex/ 4/28 : Thargoid Log – The War Machine]</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>
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 with humans ===
=== Contact with humanity ===
[[File:First-Thargoid-Encounter-3125.png|thumb|250px|First Thargoid encounter in 3125]]
[[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 2810s.<ref name="EE">''[[Elite Encounters RPG]]''</ref> Between the 2810s and 2840s, 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>
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 2810s.<ref name="EE">''[[Elite Encounters RPG]]''</ref>


Between the 2810s and 2840s, 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>
=== First Thargoid War ===
Centuries later in the early 3120s, 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" />
Centuries later in the early 3120s, 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" />


[[File:Mycoid-Virus-Storage-Tank.png|thumb|250px|Mycoid-Virus-Storage-Tank.png|thumb|Mycoid virus storage tank]]
The events surrounding first contact with the Thargoids were mostly suppressed and forgotten, and by the 3300s 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>
 
The events surrounding first contact with the Thargoids were mostly suppressed and forgotten, and by the 3300s 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 the controversial [[mycoid]] 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>
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>
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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 3270s, 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" />
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 3270s, 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 ===
=== Second Thargoid War ===
 
{{Main|Second Thargoid War}}
[[File:Thargoid Interceptor Alien Crash Site 1.png|thumb|250px|Alien crash site with an ancient Thargoid Interceptor]]
[[File:Thargoid-Sensor-in-Space.png|thumb|250px|An Unknown Artefact/Thargoid Sensor, harbinger of the Thargoids' return]]
 
Humans began encountering signs of the Thargoids once again in early 3301 with the discovery of "[[Thargoid Sensor|Unknown Artefacts]]", strange devices of unknown origin found among the cargoes of secret [[Federation]] 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. [[Barnacles]] were also discovered in 3302 in the vicinity of the [[Pleiades Nebula]], but their even more pronounced organic appearance also stymied analysis.
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. [[Barnacles]] were also discovered in 3302, but their even more pronounced organic appearance also stymied analysis.
 
On August 30, 3302, the first [[Alien Crash Site|alien crash site]] was discovered in a canyon by CMDR Noctrach and Ihazevich. The wreckage is an ancient [[Thargoid Interceptor]] in the [[Pleiades Nebula]] AB-W B2-4 system. An analysis by [[Aegis]] says it is a little over 100 years old.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59e0c4b16fc1d540d8703341 Galactic News: Speculation over Thargoid Ship]</ref><ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/57c69de19657ba060a46a7f2 Galnet News - Galactic News: Mysterious Wreckage Discovered]</ref>
 
[[File:Unknown-Ships-Group-Thargoids.png|thumb|250px|Thargoid Interceptors]]


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.
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.
[[File:Thargoid_Attack_Aftermath.png|thumb|250px|The destroyed Federal fleet in HIP 17044]]
 
Beginning in April, reports surfaced of Unknown Ships apparently attacking [[Federal Navy]] convoys in the Pleiades, although the mysterious vessels remained passive towards independent pilots. On June 12, 3303, [[Ishmael Palin|Professor Ishmael Palin]] issued a request for scan and wake signature data from Unknown Ships, which he compared to older Thargoid samples. Palin confirmed that Unknown Ships were Thargoid in origin. A Federal fleet seized Palin's research from Orcus Crag in Pleiades Sector OI-T c3-7, but was later found to have been destroyed by the Thargoids in the HIP 17044 system.<ref name="Return">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5943ed6837e29c184d38b29b Galactic News: The Thargoids have Returned]</ref>
On June 2, 3303, CMDR Mobiusetti documented the first known interaction between an Unknown Ship and a [[Barnacle]] 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>
 
[[Kelvin Masters]] of the [[Imperial Herald]] said the barnacles indicate that the Thargoids were in [[Maia]] and [[Merope]] long before we were. [[Humans|Humanity]] has expanded into what the Thargoids see as their territory.<ref name=":3" />
 
====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]] that 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> These contain functional thargoid Technology.<ref name=":3" />
 
==== 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 Oracle, an [[Ocellus]] station, 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 name=":3">[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 ===
==== Initial skirmishes ====
[[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 [[Barnacle]] 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>
 
[[File:Thargoid-Scout-Ship-Crash.png|thumb|250px|Thargoid Scout crash site]]
 
[[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>
 
[[File:Thargons-Medusa.png|thumb|250px|Thargons and a Medusa]]


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 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 another Federal fleet, 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, marking the formal start of mutual hostilities between humans and Thargoids. 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 the multinational xenological research group [[Aegis]], which had also analyzed data from the attack.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59c3a0e02468d745a72f97a0 Galactic News: Federation Addresses Rumours]</ref>


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>
[[File:Station Attack The Oracle.png|thumb|250px|The Oracle in the aftermath of a Thargoid attack]]
The Second Thargoid War entered a new phase on September 26, 3303, when independent pilots reported being attacked unprovoked by Thargoid Interceptors at [[Non-Human Signal Source]]s.<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> Aegis began producing various experimental AX modules to fight the Thargoids on an even footing, as conventional human weapons proved useless. The Thargoids responded by deploying more powerful variants of the Interceptor over the following weeks. The arrival of Medusae Interceptors on December 14, 3303 was accompanied by crippling attacks on three [[Starport]]s in the Pleiades: Titan's Daughter in Taygeta, The Oracle in Pleiades Sector IR-W d1-55, and Liman Legacy in HIP 16753.<ref name="GSABT">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a328aebaac37e273a5d4ea8 Galactic News: Starports Attacked by Thargoids]</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFLBnqxuATg YouTube: Commander Chronicles: Devastation - Elite Dangerous]</ref><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>


==== Operation Andronicus ====
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]], 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 civilization. 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 defense of the targeted systems and prevent many attacks from occurring.
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 ====
As of September 3304, the Second Thargoid War continued to rage in the Core Systems with no end in sight. While human pilots were able to hold their own against the Thargoids thanks to [[Guardian]]-human hybrid weapons and technologies developed by the [[Engineers|Engineer]] [[Ram Tah]], Thargoids ships still managed to overwhelm defense forces and strike stations. It was believed that the Thargoids viewed humanity's colonization of the Pleiades as an encroachment on their territory, and their hyper-aggressive nature compelled them to respond with unceasing hostility, but this, as well as the Thargoids' ultimate goal, remained unconfirmed.
[[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>
 
====The Pleiades aflame====
[[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 ====
[[File:ED-Thargoid-Attacked-Stations-Map.png|thumb|250px|The extent of Thargoid attacks on stations as of February 22, 3304]]
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>
 
[[File:Thargoid-Scouts-and-Interceptors.png|thumb|250px|Thargoid Scouts and Interceptors]]
 
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>
 
==== Eagle Eye ====
On March 9, Aegis unveiled a new initiative called [[Eagle Eye]]. Six orbital surveillance installations were set up in HIP 17225, HIP 17692, HIP 17892, HR 1185, Pleiades Sector IR-W d1-55, and Pleiades Sector KC-V c2-4 in order to monitor known [[Thargoid Surface Site]]s and collect data on Thargoid behavior outside of combat zones.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5aa12e112e30637590761b2c GalNet: Thargoid Surveillance in the Pleiades]</ref> By March 16, Aegis reported that Eagle Eye was already producing results. According to Admiral Tanner, the installations were able to track fluctuations in transmissions originating from Thargoid Surface Sites, and that these transmissions pointed to specific locations in human space which were likely future Thargoid attack targets. Tanner urged independent pilots to investigate a new set of signals detected by Eagle Eye to help thwart the Thargoids' plans.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5aab97a3bf2b063ade1cceca GalNet: Thargoid Surveillance Continues]</ref>
 
====War in the Core====
With the Thargoids now wreaking havoc well within the [[Core Systems]], [[Aegis]] began coordinating the first counterattack. On March 15, 3304, Aegis Core announced an anti-Thargoid campaign in its home system of Socho. The operation's goal was not only to expel Thargoid forces from Socho, but to obtain specific technological components from Thargoid Interceptors and Scouts for comparison research.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5aaa63d040365a4fab270033 GalNet: The Purge of Socho]</ref> The operation concluded successfully.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5ab38926b72505384d3d896a GalNet: Socho Operation Complete]</ref>
 
==== Revelations ====
On March 22, 3304, Aegis published a report containing significant insights into the Thargoids that had been gleaned with the help of [[Ram Tah]] and his [[Guardian]] research. The findings indicated that the Thargoids had warred with the Guardians because of the latter's perceived encroachment on territory that the Thargoids had seeded with [[Barnacles]] millennia earlier. Despite attempts by the Guardians to communicate with the Thargoids, the Thargoids' survival instincts were so strong that they refused to tolerate any potential threat and continued hostilities until the Guardians eventually expelled them using automated war machines. Professor Alba Tesreau commented that the Guardians' situation mirrored humanity's own: the Thargoids had long ago seeded territory that humans had unknowingly expanded into, and the current conflict was essentially a dispute over territory and resources. Tesreau asserted that the next step the Thargoids would take would be to aggressively mine mineral resources. Ram Tah noted that these revelations finally provided some answers about the Thargoids' overall goals and could ultimately aid humanity in the conflict.<ref name=":2">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5ab383f5b709787d505dd1a2 GalNet: Thargoid Revelations]</ref>
 
==== Onslaught and trepidation ====
[[File:Thargoid attacks May 10 3304.png|thumb|250px|The extent of Thargoid attacks on stations as of May 10, 3304]]
The same day as Aegis's report made waves in the media, the station Glazkov Terminal in Irandan was attacked by the Thargoids after a month of relative calm. Both Irandan and HIP 21559 had been identified as likely targets for imminent Thargoid attacks by [[Eagle Eye]], but only the latter system had seen a heavy influx of independent combat pilots come to its defense over the preceding week.
 
The attack on Glazkov Terminal would be only the first of a fresh wave of attacks that would strike deep within the Core Systems. On March 30, Doyle Landing in Lunguni fell victim of the Thargoids. On April 12, Guidoni Enterprise in HIP 9599 was attacked. On April 19, Weil Station in Kunuvii and Eyharts Enterprise in 32 c Piscium were attacked, along with six Bulk Cruiser Megaships found disabled across the LP 581-36, Chan Mina, Deriv-Dar, and Nankul systems. On April 26, Acton Dock in LP 581-36 was attacked. On May 3, Sturckow Port in SPOCS 253 was attacked. No stations were attacked during the weeks of May 10, May 17, May 24, May 31, June 7, and June 14 as pilots successfully rallied to the defense of the targeted systems.
 
Meanwhile, also on March 22, [[Yuri Grom]] of the EG Pilots launched a campaign led by the EG Union to construct a new shipyard in CPC 20 6743. A spokesperson for the EG Union explained that the shipyard would construct new [[Farragut Battle Cruiser]]s to bolster humanity's defenses against a Thargoid invasion.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5ab3831fb7097848e4581ed1 GalNet: EG Union Campaign]</ref> On March 30, Admiral Tanner formally debuted Aegis's two new military Megaships, the [[Acropolis]] and the [[Vanguard]], explaining that they would serve as mobile command centers for anti-Thargoid operations.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5aba59c254e40001335bcec8 GalNet: Anti-Thargoid Megaships Deployed by Aegis]</ref> On April 6, the Privateers Alliance and the Atlas Corporation both took similar approaches to fortifying the Core Systems against the Thargoids. The Privateers Alliance launched a campaign to build a military installation in HIP 33368,<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5ac5d40ace417a2962638d10 GalNet: Privateers Alliance Campaign]</ref> while the Atlas Corporation began work on the [[ACS Overwatch]] Megaship in Lambda Arae.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5ac5d322ce417a19346e147c GalNet: The ACS Overwatch]</ref>
 
Despite Aegis's proven successes in the conflict, Princess [[Aisling Duval]] controversially criticized the organization on April 6, stating that she and many other galactic citizens were concerned that Aegis lacked a clear, long-term strategy to combat the Thargoids and was being reactive rather than proactive.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5ac5d1a6ce417a1f6d04f2ae GalNet: Aisling Duval Criticises Aegis]</ref> While the Princess's opinion had its share of detractors who spoke out in defense of Aegis, others noted that Aegis lacked transparency and had done little to assuage the widespread fear of alien conquest among the public.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5acf23cdd6d6ba17992b3e6b Support for Aisling Duval]</ref>
 
On April 25, Simguru [[Pranav Antal]] of the [[Utopia]] movement addressed an even more controversial possibility: humanity could lose the war against the Thargoids. The Simguru urged galactic citizens to join Utopia and help protect the [[Sim-Archive]] to ensure that humanity could live beyond its potential extinction.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5adf3499b14e287e736eb6de GalNet: Utopia Plans for Humanity's Extinction]</ref> Pranav Antal's pessimism quickly triggered a backlash from such figures as [[Shadow President]] [[Felicia Winters]], [[Sirius Corporation]] CEO [[Li Yong-Rui]], and Admiral Tanner.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5aeae28e7d387844d650ef2e GalNet: Antal's Pessimism Triggers Backlash]</ref> Nonetheless, Utopia doubled down on the Simguru's statement on May 4, 3304 by launching a project to construct a military installation in its home system of Antal to defend the Sim-Archive from potential Thargoid attack.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5aeae37ed71b1a6f1923014d GalNet: Defending the Sim-Archive]</ref>
 
==== Thargoid worshipers ====
Meanwhile, as the Thargoid conflict wore on, journalists and scholars began noting the phenomenon of fringe doomsayer cults proliferating throughout the Core Systems. Independent reporter [[Gethin Okonkwo]] published an article on May 19 revealing that dozens of such cults had emerged, and while their natures varied, they were all adamant that the Thargoid conflict was a sign of an imminent apocalypse.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5afc3617b57fd80b460215ea GalNet: Fringe Doomsayer Cults on the Rise]</ref> On June 16, exotheologian [[Alfred Ulyanov|Dr. Alfred Ulyanov]] highlighted one [[Far God cult|unnamed cult that even worshiped the Thargoids]] as harbingers of an extra-dimensional, omnipotent being they called the Far God. The cult's followers believed that only they would survive the Far God's manifestation in this universe, and gathered in hive-chapels patterned after Thargoid vessel and structure designs.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5b23bc10e7c3870a79317183 GalNet: Worshipping the Thargoids]</ref>
 
The "Far God cult", as the sect came to be called, quickly garnered hostile reactions from the public despite local authorities' calls for tolerance and the cultists' own silent refusal to defend themselves or even plead for protection. Councillor Quinn Damico of the Aranbarahun system assured citizens that the cultists were harmless and reaffirmed that freedom of religion was protected in all systems where the cult had established itself.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5b34b357d2702c1ea8152862 GalNet: Thargoid-Worshipping Cult Garners Hostility]</ref> Mistrust of the cult only continued to grow, however, and on July 5 reporter [[Flint Lafosse|Flint "Firemaker" Lafosse]] stoked tensions further with speculation that the reclusive Thargoid cult was a "fifth column" of brainwashed abduction victims sent back to human systems as spies and saboteurs.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5b3dfd1321ffd9343218451a GalNet: A Thargoid Fifth Column?]</ref>
 
On July 11, 3304, the [[Church of the Eternal Void]], another doomsayer cult that worshiped the [[Guardian]]s, publicly denounced the Far God cult and declared a holy war against it. In response, security forces in multiple systems issued reminders that the Thargoid cult was a legally-recognized religion.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5b45cb098c932974af7b1815 GalNet: Fringe Religion Condemns Far God Cult]</ref> This did not deter the Church from inciting numerous attacks against the Far God cult across multiple systems. Several of the sect's places of worship were firebombed, resulting in dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries. The Far God cultists offered no resistance to the aggression, and even refused to leave their burning hive-chapels.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5b5049d6f04e92310f589369 GalNet: Far God Cult Attacked]</ref> On July 25, after hundreds of cultists had been killed, the Church of the Eternal Void was declared illegal by local authorities in every system where it operated, and the Church's leadership was arrested for inciting violence against the Far God cult. Councillor Damico praised the declaration, while critics of the Far God cult condemned it.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5b584f982ee69f18c0286234 GalNet: Guardian-Worshipping Church Declared Illegal]</ref>
 
Only days later on August 3, the [[Federal Intelligence Agency]] launched an investigation into the Far God cult. Several members of the sect were arrested for interrogation, which FIA Senior Agent [[Micah Whitefield]] declared was a necessary action to confirm that they were no in contact with Thargoid forces or being influenced by them.<ref name="FGCUI">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5b6424655f3a2a34d36e5af0 GalNet: Far God Cult under Investigation]</ref> As the focus of the arrests expanded to the entire cult, Senior Agent Whitefield insisted that the operation was a security matter that was justified under Federal law in wartime. Media channels reported a division in public opinion regarding the FIA's actions.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5b6c223117176930b724e953 GalNet: Further Arrests of Far God Cultists]</ref> On August 17, [[Alfred Ulyanov|Dr. Alfred Ulyanov]] and his family were arrested at their home in the Rana system by FIA agents. Senior Agent Whitefield  explained that Dr. Ulyanov's research had made him a valid person of interest, and that various international religious freedom organisationswere also under investigation for supporting the Far God cult.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5b742b15f059cf715d082f11 GalNet: Ulyanov Arrested]</ref>
 
On August 23, the Federal Intelligence Agency reported that Far God cult members were disappearing in large numbers. Hive-chapels in Federal space raided by the FIA were found empty, and reports from independent systems stated that entire chapters of the cult were disappearing overnight. Senior Agent Whitefield believed that the cultists were attempting to leave the cult and return to normal life, but here were no known cases of Far God cultists returning to their friends or family, and the disappearances remained a mystery.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5b7ebc7cfc113a671578a7bd GalNet: Far God Cultists Vanishing]</ref>
 
==== A fleeting victory ====
On June 21, 3304, the Thargoids ended humanity's string of victories with an attack on Hennepin Prospect in Assinda. The attack appeared to be an outlier rather than an indication of Thargoid resurgence, however, as Eagle Eye did not intercept any new signals from Thargoid sites, and all Eagle Eye installations began transmitting the same message: "no new signal detected thargoid activity unknown initiate protocol xeno 55". That same day, Aegis also declared that the Thargoids were retreating from the Core Systems and had been pushed back to their original beachhead of Bhal. Admiral Tanner thanked Commanders for their efforts in defending the Core Systems, but noted that while Thargoid incursions had been reversed in many regions, the Thargoids remained entrenched in the Pleiades Nebula.<ref name="TRFCS">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5b28ebb3b98e8528935995c6 GalNet: Thargoids Repelled from Core Systems]</ref>
 
[[File:Thargoid Scouts 3.1.png|thumb|250px|A Thargoid Scout Berserker (center), Regenerator (left), and Inciter (right)]]
On [[Elite Dangerous: Beyond#Chapter Two - v3.1|June 28]], Aegis reported that Eagle Eye had detected a massive surge in Thargoid transmissions. Admiral Tanner asserted that the previous week's lull in activity in the Core Systems must have been only a brief delay while the Thargoids regrouped and summoned reinforcements from the Pleiades. Tanner issued an emergency call for aid for Garay Terminal in Deciat, which Eagle Eye identified as the Thargoids' main target; a number of disabled megaships had already been found in the system. A transmission from an unknown Commander in the Deciat system also indicated that a new type of [[Thargoid Scout]] was present among the invading force.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5b34b13246fe331e2f6ca222 GalNet: Thargoid Assault on the Deciat System]</ref> Three new types of Scouts were subsequently identified: the Berserker, the Regenerator, and the Inciter. The Berserker is a more powerful and aggressive variant of the Marauder, while the Regenerator possesses the ability to restore the hull of other damaged Scouts and the Inciter can enhance their weaponry.
 
While Deciat was successfully defended against the Thargoid assault, Eagle Eye confirmed on July 5, 3304 that the Thargoids had resumed their original pattern of activity, targeting systems for an eventual attack and massing their forces there in preparation for it. Parise Station in Tembala was attacked on July 12, followed by Metcalf Station in HIP 44811 on July 19, both Preuss Terminal in Di Jian and Zudov Hub in RMK 6 on July 26, and Plucker Enterprise in Dhanhopi on August 2.
 
==== Settlement attacks and crash sites ====
Meanwhile, independent pilots patrolling the Pleiades Nebula discovered various [[listening post]]s that were monitoring certain planetside locations in various systems. Upon investigation, each site was found to be either a surface settlement or a crashed ship that had been attacked by Thargoids shortly after their return. Among the sites were the settlements Dominic's Corner, Scrump Landing, Sharpe Works, Site 94, Betterton Outpost, Penal Colony BV-2259, Comms Facility 89563, Research Base LV 8, Research Base KG-3362, and a crashed [[Anaconda]] named "The Bug Killer". While some of the settlements managed to evacuate before they were attacked, others were not so lucky, and recovered logs indicated that some survivors may have been abducted by the Thargoids. Peculiarly, a number of the logs also noted abrupt, widespread temperature decreases that preceded or coincided with the Thargoid attacks.
 
More recent attack sites were found on August 30: The Prophet and The Sanctum, two compounds that belonged to the [[Far God cult]].
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" border="1"
! Location Name
! System
! Planet
! Surface<br>Coordinates
! Description
! Notes
|-
| The Bug Killer
| HIP 16613
| 1 a
| -11.00, -95.67
| Crash site of a Thargoid-hunting [[Anaconda]]
| Discovered on June 28, 3304
|-
| Dominic's Corner
| Pleiades Sector GW-W c1-15
| 12 a
| 5.55, -115.69
| Factory contracted by [[Aegis]] to produce AX weapons
| Discovered on June 28, 3304
|-
| Scrump Landing
| Pleiades Sector JN-S b4-3
| 2
| -0.34, 12.92
| Scrapyard and trading post
| Discovered on June 28, 3304
|-
| Sharpe Works
| Pleiades Sector IC-U b3-1
| 1
| -4.95, 85.7
| Independent colony
| Discovered on June 28, 3304
|-
| Site 94
| HIP 19284
| A 2 d
| -19.06, -99.45
| Mining operation that unearthed an "alien monument", possibly Thargoid tech
| Discovered on June 28, 3304
|-
| Betterton Outpost
| HIP 19792
| C 2
| -24.70, 6.55
| Independent colony
| Discovered on June 29, 3304
|-
| Penal Colony BV-2259
| HIP 16217
| AB 1 a
| -54.99, 30.33
| Penitentiary
| Discovered on June 29, 3304
|-
| Comms Facility 89563
| HR 1172
| A 5 b
| -0.25, -67.67
| Military outpost
| Discovered on June 29, 3304
|-
| Research Base LV 8
| HIP 17403
| A 4 a
| -51.19, 14.21
| Research center studying a [[Thargoid Probe]]
| Discovered on June 29, 3304
|-
| Research Base KG-3362
| Pleiades Sector HR-W d1-17
| 1 a
| 58.11, 19.45
| Agricultural research center
| Discovered on June 29, 3304
|-
| The Prophet
| Etain
| 4 c
|
| [[Far God cult]] compound
| Discovered on August 30, 3304
|-
| The Sanctum
| Etain
| 4 a
|
| Far God cult compound
| Discovered on August 30, 3304
|}
 
==== Hydras emerge ====
 
[[File:Thargoid-Hydra-Interceptor.png|thumb|right|250px|Thargoid Hydra]]
 
A fourth Thargoid Interceptor type, the "Hydra Variant", began appearing on August 28, 3304 in Threat Level 9 [[Non-Human Signal Source]]s.<ref name="Dundux">[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/9azyls/new_thargoid_interceptors_threat_9/ r/EliteDangerous: New thargoid interceptors (Threat 9)]</ref> The Hydra exhibited even more complex structural features than the Medusa, most notably four additional rotating petals behind the standard eight petals, as well as a vivid green coloration. Following the trend of the previous Interceptor variants, the Hydra's offensive and defensive capabilities demonstrated a significant increase over its predecessors, making it the Thargoids' most fearsome weapon yet.<ref>[https://xboxdvr.com/gamer/ishootpoop13/video/59404587 XboxDVR: NEW INTERCEPTOR - HYDRA CONFIRMED]</ref> The Hydras' emergence coincided with the sudden and unexplained disappearance of all [[Thargoid Scout]]s from the [[Core Systems]] and the [[Pleiades Nebula]] that week.<ref>[https://canonn.science/news/eagle-eye-special-report-week-26-01093304/ Canonn Research: Special Eagle Eye Report Week 26 – 01/09/3304]</ref>
 
The [[Pilots Federation]] confirmed independent pilots' reports of the new ship the following day. Admiral [[Aden Tanner]] also provided [[Aegis]]'s preliminary findings: "We can confirm that this new ship – classified as the Hydra – is a variant of the Thargoid Interceptor. It is structurally stronger than the Cyclops, Basilisk or Medusa, and releases a larger swarm of Thargon drones." In response to this development, the Pilots Federation sealed off the Cone Sector FN-J b9-0 system, which was believed to contain high concentrations of Hydra Interceptors. Despite this, [[The Gnosis]], flagship of the [[The Canonn|Canonn Interstellar Research Group]], confirmed that it would still attempt to jump into the now permit-locked system as scheduled on September 6.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5b86af3f5efed618853e99c3 GalNet: New Thargoid Interceptor Encountered]</ref>
 
Shortly after The Gnosis began the jump to Cone Sector FN-J b9-0 from Outotz ST-I d9-4 on September 6, it was interrupted by a Thargoid attack. Captain Mathius Leander of the Gnosis command crew transmitted the following emergency message: "We were a short way into our journey when the Gnosis was hyperdicted by a group of Thargoid vessels. The wrench back into real space caused severe internal damage to multiple systems, including the frame shift drive. There's no doubt that we would have been destroyed if not for some of the Commanders travelling with us. They lured the Thargoids away while ejecting meta-alloys from their holds. The aliens were more interested in scooping up the meta-alloys than attacking us. The Commanders later reported that the Thargoid vessels were the recently identified Hydra Interceptors. The Gnosis is currently adrift close to the eighth planet of the Outotz ST-I d9-6 system. We have begun essential repairs, but there is a risk that the Thargoids may return before we can escape the system."<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5b8fbf113bbf4567ff6e1c22 GalNet: Gnosis Stranded]</ref>


== Biology ==
== 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.
Thargoids are an insectoid species. Little is known about their physical appearance and biology, and descriptions based on encounters centuries ago have yet to be verified. 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.


This indicates they may have evolved in a harsh, low-temperature environment, which might explain their overdeveloped survival instincts and aggressive nature. Since the Thargoids are experts in bioengineering, they could have augmented their own biology and superseded natural evolutionary processes.<ref name="GOTT" />
This indicates they may have evolved in a harsh, low-temperature environment, which might explain their overdeveloped survival instincts and aggressive nature. Since the Thargoids are experts in bioengineering, they could have augmented their own biology and superseded natural evolutionary processes.<ref name="GOTT" />


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" />
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" />
Descriptions based on encounters centuries ago have yet to be verified.


==Society==
==Society==
Line 304: Line 72:


==Technology==
==Technology==
[[File:Thargoid-Wormhole.png|thumb|250px|Thargoid wormhole]]
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. 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>
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 no evidence of Thargoid ships moving in [[Supercruise]], perhaps suggesting they do not have short-range FTL capabilities.


Thargoid ships can create stable wormholes to [[hyperspace]] (witch-space). This is used to e.g. travel astronomical distances in seconds and interdict vessels. Their vessels can hover in hyperspace so they may be comfortable with residing 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]
It is 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.
</ref><ref>https://canonn.science/lore/drewwagar-the-thargoids/</ref><ref name="GOTT" />


[[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>
The decoded [[Guardian]] logs reveal that Thargoids engineered their bio-mechanical technology to recognise 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 decoded Guardian logs reveal that Thargoids engineered bio-mechanical technology to recognise anything of [[Guardian]] origin. This is why millions of years after the conflict, Thargoid devices still react aggressively to the presence of Guardian technology.<ref name=":1" />[[File:Thargoid_Surface_Site_Scavenger_close.png|thumb|250px|Scavenger]]
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 utilized in both solid and liquid forms. Destroyed Thargoid ships vent a cloud of the vaporized form of the 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.


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.
===Interstellar travel===
[[File:Thargoid-Wormhole.png|thumb|250px|Thargoid wormhole]]
Thargoids 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 no evidence of Thargoid ships moving in [[Supercruise]], perhaps suggesting they do not have short-range FTL capabilities.


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.
Thargoid ships can create stable wormholes to [[hyperspace]] (witch-space). This is used to e.g. travel astronomical distances in seconds and interdict vessels. Their vessels can hover in hyperspace so they may be comfortable with residing 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><ref name="GOTT" />


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>
===Ships===
The [[Thargoid Interceptor]] 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 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.


The Thargoids seed planets with [[Alien Structure]]s, so-called "barnacles". The barnacles extract resources from a [[Planets|planet]] and transform them into [[meta-alloys]]. This is an essential ingredient in the creation of Thargoid ships and technologies. The seeding of an area with barnacles is an important process to prepare it for Thargoid occupation.<ref>[https://canonn.science/codex/guardians-codex/ Guardian Codex 1/28 : Thargoid Log – Barnacle Seeding]</ref>
Thargoid ship-based 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 Interceptors have noted they lost their ships very quickly under an onslaught of powerful missiles and [[Thargon]] drone swarms.


After September 26, 3303, CMDRs reported sightings of larger fields of "[[barnacle]] forests" in a shape reminiscent of Thargoid Surface Sites, and also patrolled by [[Scavenger]]s.<ref>https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/355713-Alien-archeology-and-other-mysteries-Thread-10-The-Canonn?p=5952184&viewfull=1#post5952184</ref>
[[Thargoid Mothership]]s are believed to exist. According to recovered [[INRA]] logs, one such vessel attacked the INRA base Carmichael Point in HIP 16824.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mB36F-rLlkI Elite: Dangerous: INRA Base Attacked By Thargoids]</ref>


===Thargoid Surface Sites===
[[File:Thargoid-Surface-Site.png|thumb|250px|Thargoid Surface Site]]
[[File:Thargoid-Surface-Site.png|thumb|250px|Thargoid Surface Site]]
[[Thargoid Surface Site]]s demonstrate the Thargoids construct vast surface installations. The purpose of these sites are unknown, but the interiors of several have been found to contain machines classified as Unknown Devices in a centralized chamber. [[Thargoid Egg]]s can be found around and inside these sites. It is unknown what produces these eggs or what gestates inside them.
[[File:Thargoid_Surface_Site_Scavenger_close.png|thumb|250px|Scavenger]]
Passive drone-like devices called [[Scavenger]]s were first encountered at these locations. Analyses of Scavengers showed that they contains organic and mechanical elements such as [[Thargoid Organic Circuitry]]. This discovery led many to question whether the Scavengers were sentient creatures or simple mechanical drones created by the Thargoids as workers.<ref>[[Thargoid Organic Circuitry]] in-game description</ref>


[[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 confirmed to be related to Thargoids after it was discovered that carrying them allowed doors at Thargoid Surface Sites to open. Inserting a Thargoid Sensor, a Thargoid Probe, and a [[Thargoid Link]] into an Unknown Device caused it to activate and display a holographic star map, perhaps a visual representation of how Thargoids catalogued geographical data. The other functions of these objects remain an enigma, however. Thargoid Interceptors have been witnessed retrieving them after September 26, 3303.


[[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.
===Barnacles===
The Thargoids seed planets with organic structures called [[Barnacles]], which extract resources from a [[Planets|planet]] and transform them into [[Meta-Alloys]]. This is an essential ingredient in the creation of Thargoid ships and technologies. The seeding of a region with Barnacles is a precursor to a future Thargoid invasion and occupation.<ref>[https://canonn.science/codex/guardians-codex/ Guardian Codex 1/28 : Thargoid Log – Barnacle Seeding]</ref>


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.
After September 26, 3303, CMDRs reported sightings of larger fields of so-called "Barnacle forests" in a shape reminiscent of Thargoid Surface Sites. Some of these clusters were patrolled by Scavengers.<ref>https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/355713-Alien-archeology-and-other-mysteries-Thread-10-The-Canonn?p=5952184&viewfull=1#post5952184</ref>


==Notes==
==Notes==
[[File:Evolution-of-the-Thargoids.png|thumb|250px|Evolution of the Thargoids]]
*The Thargoids first appeared in the original [[Elite]] video game in 1984. The ships have drastically evolved in ED with much more details while maintaining the iconic shapes.
*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>
*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 Developments staff commented that all Thargoids are female.<ref>https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1461411552/elite-dangerous/comments?cursor=2332567#comment-2332566</ref> However, this is not confirmed in the lore of Elite Dangerous.
*Frontier Developments staff commented that all Thargoids are female.<ref>https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1461411552/elite-dangerous/comments?cursor=2332567#comment-2332566</ref> However, this is not confirmed in the lore of Elite Dangerous.
Line 360: Line 132:
==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery hideaddbutton="true">
<gallery hideaddbutton="true">
Elite-Dangerous-The-Return-2.4-Thargoids-Art.png|The Return - Thargoids Art
Elite Dangerous Unknown Ship HD.png|A Thargoid Interceptor Cyclops Variant in ''Elite Dangerous''
Thargoid Interceptor Cyclops Front HD.png|A Thargoid Interceptor Cyclops Variant in ''Elite Dangerous''
Evolution-of-the-Thargoids.png|Evolution of the Thargoids
Evolution-of-the-Thargoids.png|Evolution of the Thargoids
First-Thargoid-Encounter-3125.png|An early Thargoid encounter circa 3125
First-Thargoid-Encounter-3125.png|An early Thargoid encounter circa 3125
Line 377: Line 148:
Thargoid Interceptor Medusa Variant.png|A Thargoid Interceptor Medusa Variant
Thargoid Interceptor Medusa Variant.png|A Thargoid Interceptor Medusa Variant
Thargoid Interceptor Medusa Variant 2.png|A Medusa Variant with its petals extended
Thargoid Interceptor Medusa Variant 2.png|A Medusa Variant with its petals extended
Thargoid-Hydra-Interceptor.png|A Hydra Variant
</gallery>
</gallery>


Revision as of 00:33, 19 September 2018

File:Unknown-Ships-Group-Thargoids.png
Thargoids

The Thargoids are an intelligent, highly advanced insectoid species that have existed for millions of years. They are the only known living sapient species in the Milky Way galaxy other than humanity.[1] Thargoids are highly territorial and seemingly rebuff all diplomatic overtures with unmitigated hostility, but are also known to be extremely slow to adapt.

Approximately 1 to 2 million years ago, the Thargoids instigated a war with another intelligent species called the Guardians over territory.[2] Although the Guardians eventually prevailed, the Thargoids only opted to retreat because they were unprepared for a protracted campaign against a rival civilization. Thargoids and humanity have been embroiled in two wars. The first occurred between 3125 and 3151, and 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, ongoing conflict began in 3303 and has been rapidly escalating with no resolution in sight, affecting dozens of systems across the Pleiades Nebula and the Core Systems.

History

Origins

The Thargoids are an ancient, sapient, insectoid species of enigmatic origin. Data obtained from Ancient Obelisks built by the Guardians indicates that the Thargoids are several millions of years old, and likely a far older species than the Guardians themselves.[2][3] Professor Cora Shaw of the Palin Institute concluded that they were an established spacefaring species long before they encountered the Guardians. They have an affinity for ammonia-based worlds. This suggests they may have evolved in a harsh, low-temperature environment, which might explain their overdeveloped survival instincts and aggressive nature. The Thargoids are experts in bioengineering, so they may have augmented their own biology to a point where natural evolutionary processes are meaningless.[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. Since Thargoid vessels can hover in hyperspace, it suggests that they could even originate from there, or that they may use hyperspace as a conduit from a dimensional plane entirely separate from real space. Thus, the Thargoids may not just be extragalactic in origin, but extra-universal.[4]

Guardian-Thargoid conflict

File:Barnacle large cluster.png
Barnacles

The Thargoids seeded a number of planets with barnacles in what eventually became Guardian space 1 to 2 million years ago.[5][2] 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.[6]

After the beginning of the war with the Thargoids, 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.[2] The Guardians were forced to employ more aggressive methods to address the Thargoid threat.[7] The Guardians used drones, autonomous war machines that could target anything that utilised Thargoid engineering. Remarkably, Thargoid bio-mechanical technology was engineered to recognise anything of Guardian origin.[8]

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.[9]

Contact with humanity

File:First-Thargoid-Encounter-3125.png
First Thargoid encounter in 3125

Officially, the first encounters between humans and Thargoids occurred around an ammonia-based world in 3125,[10][11][12] but unverified incidents involving similar ships were reported as early as the 2810s.[13]

Between the 2810s and 2840s, 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.[13][14][15]

First Thargoid War

Centuries later in the early 3120s, 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.[13] 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 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.[10][13]

The events surrounding first contact with the Thargoids were mostly suppressed and forgotten, and by the 3300s the Thargoids themselves were generally regarded as fiction. According to Alliance 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.[16]

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.[17]

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 3270s, 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.[16]

Second Thargoid War

Main article: Second Thargoid War
File:Thargoid-Sensor-in-Space.png
An Unknown Artefact/Thargoid Sensor, harbinger of the Thargoids' return

Humans began encountering signs of the Thargoids once again in early 3301 with the discovery of "Unknown Artefacts", strange devices of unknown origin found among the cargoes of secret Federation 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 Probes 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. Barnacles were also discovered in 3302 in the vicinity of the Pleiades Nebula, but their even more pronounced organic appearance also stymied analysis.

On January 5, 3303, Commander DP Sayre reported the first known encounter with an 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 wreckage of these ships had been documented.

File:Thargoid Attack Aftermath.png
The destroyed Federal fleet in HIP 17044

Beginning in April, reports surfaced of Unknown Ships apparently attacking Federal Navy convoys in the Pleiades, although the mysterious vessels remained passive towards independent pilots. On June 12, 3303, Professor Ishmael Palin issued a request for scan and wake signature data from Unknown Ships, which he compared to older Thargoid samples. Palin confirmed that Unknown Ships were Thargoid in origin. A Federal fleet seized Palin's research from Orcus Crag in Pleiades Sector OI-T c3-7, but was later found to have been destroyed by the Thargoids in the HIP 17044 system.[18]

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 another Federal fleet, 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, marking the formal start of mutual hostilities between humans and Thargoids. President Hudson gave Tanner full authority over the Federal Navy to deal with the Thargoid threat.[19] 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 the multinational xenological research group Aegis, which had also analyzed data from the attack.[20]

File:Station Attack The Oracle.png
The Oracle in the aftermath of a Thargoid attack

The Second Thargoid War entered a new phase on September 26, 3303, when independent pilots reported being attacked unprovoked by Thargoid Interceptors at Non-Human Signal Sources.[21][22] Aegis began producing various experimental AX modules to fight the Thargoids on an even footing, as conventional human weapons proved useless. The Thargoids responded by deploying more powerful variants of the Interceptor over the following weeks. The arrival of Medusae Interceptors on December 14, 3303 was accompanied by crippling attacks on three Starports in the Pleiades: Titan's Daughter in Taygeta, The Oracle in Pleiades Sector IR-W d1-55, and Liman Legacy in HIP 16753.[23][24][25]

Over the course of 3304, the Thargoids continued to attack stations in a weekly cycle and also picked off remote Settlements, 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, 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 civilization. Sightings and encounters with hostile Thargoid Scouts 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 Installations to intercept and analyze Thargoid transmissions to determine their next probable targets. Independent pilots were able to concentrate their efforts in defense of the targeted systems and prevent many attacks from occurring.

As of September 3304, the Second Thargoid War continued to rage in the Core Systems with no end in sight. While human pilots were able to hold their own against the Thargoids thanks to Guardian-human hybrid weapons and technologies developed by the Engineer Ram Tah, Thargoids ships still managed to overwhelm defense forces and strike stations. It was believed that the Thargoids viewed humanity's colonization of the Pleiades as an encroachment on their territory, and their hyper-aggressive nature compelled them to respond with unceasing hostility, but this, as well as the Thargoids' ultimate goal, remained unconfirmed.

Biology

Thargoids are an insectoid species. Little is known about their physical appearance and biology, and descriptions based on encounters centuries ago have yet to be verified. Their chemistry is carbon-based, but with ammonia as the solvent rather than water.[26] If the rumors are true that they come from 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.[27] They are presumed to be highly intelligent, more than the average human due to their superior technological capabilities.

This indicates they may have evolved in a harsh, low-temperature environment, which might explain their overdeveloped survival instincts and aggressive nature. Since the Thargoids are experts in bioengineering, they could have augmented their own biology and superseded natural evolutionary processes.[4]

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.[16]

Society

File:Thargoid-and-Diamondback-Ships.png
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.[16]

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.[16]

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

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. Understanding it could open up all kinds of possibilities. The applications are potentially limitless. His logs were found at the INRA base Hollis Gateway.[28]

It is unclear whether Thargoids are a Type II or 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.

The decoded Guardian logs reveal that Thargoids engineered their bio-mechanical technology to recognise 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.[8]

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 utilized in both solid and liquid forms. Destroyed Thargoid ships vent a cloud of the vaporized form of the 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.

Interstellar travel

File:Thargoid-Wormhole.png
Thargoid wormhole

Thargoids 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 no evidence of Thargoid ships moving in Supercruise, perhaps suggesting they do not have short-range FTL capabilities.

Thargoid ships can create stable wormholes to hyperspace (witch-space). This is used to e.g. travel astronomical distances in seconds and interdict vessels. Their vessels can hover in hyperspace so they may be comfortable with residing in this higher dimensional region.[29][30][31][4]

Ships

The Thargoid Interceptor has intricate technological and biological elements[32] such as Thargoid Hearts which can repair hull damage. Thargoid Scouts 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, including capital ships. CMDRs 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.

Thargoid Motherships are believed to exist. According to recovered INRA logs, one such vessel attacked the INRA base Carmichael Point in HIP 16824.[33]

Thargoid Surface Sites

File:Thargoid-Surface-Site.png
Thargoid Surface Site

Thargoid Surface Sites demonstrate the Thargoids construct vast surface installations. The purpose of these sites are unknown, but the interiors of several have been found to contain machines classified as Unknown Devices in a centralized chamber. Thargoid Eggs can be found around and inside these sites. It is unknown what produces these eggs or what gestates inside them.

File:Thargoid Surface Site Scavenger close.png
Scavenger

Passive drone-like devices called Scavengers were first encountered at these locations. Analyses of Scavengers showed that they contains organic and mechanical elements such as Thargoid Organic Circuitry. This discovery led many to question whether the Scavengers were sentient creatures or simple mechanical drones created by the Thargoids as workers.[34]

Thargoid Sensors and Thargoid Probes were confirmed to be related to Thargoids after it was discovered that carrying them allowed doors at Thargoid Surface Sites to open. Inserting a Thargoid Sensor, a Thargoid Probe, and a Thargoid Link into an Unknown Device caused it to activate and display a holographic star map, perhaps a visual representation of how Thargoids catalogued geographical data. The other functions of these objects remain an enigma, however. Thargoid Interceptors have been witnessed retrieving them after September 26, 3303.

Barnacles

The Thargoids seed planets with organic structures called Barnacles, which extract resources from a planet and transform them into Meta-Alloys. This is an essential ingredient in the creation of Thargoid ships and technologies. The seeding of a region with Barnacles is a precursor to a future Thargoid invasion and occupation.[35]

After September 26, 3303, CMDRs reported sightings of larger fields of so-called "Barnacle forests" in a shape reminiscent of Thargoid Surface Sites. Some of these clusters were patrolled by Scavengers.[36]

Notes

  • Initially, it was only confirmed that Thargoids would eventually make an appearance in Elite Dangerous, and the specifics of that encounter were unknown.[37][38][39]
  • Frontier Developments staff commented that all Thargoids are female.[40] However, this is not confirmed in the lore of Elite Dangerous.
  • David Braben hinted that should peace have ever been found with Thargoids, it would be a temporary measure.[41]
  • 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.[42]

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.[43] The animated skits show the Thargoids as a species of tall, transparent creatures who are part of a highly-wealthy monarchical society.[44] 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

References

  1. ↑ http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?p=38820#post38820
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Guardian Codex 3 Decrypted. Thargoid Log - Unsuccessful Truce
  3. ↑ GalNet: Thargoid Revelations
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 GalNet: Genesis of the Thargoids?
  5. ↑ Guardian 1/28 : Thargoid Log – Barnacle Seeding
  6. ↑ 2/28 : Thargoid Log – The War Begins
  7. ↑ Guardian Codex 3 Decrypted. Thargoid Log - Unsuccessful Truce
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 4/28 : Thargoid Log – The War Machine
  9. ↑ 5/28 : Thargoid Log – Victory
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Galactic News: The Thargoids
  11. ↑ Canonn Research - Drew Wagar's Lore: The Thargoids
  12. ↑ The Return 2.4 Announcement - Elite Dangerous
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Elite Encounters RPG
  14. ↑ Data taken from Tourist Spot Beacon 0184, Lave system
  15. ↑ First Thargoid Contact - 2.2 Beacon
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 Elite Dangerous: Premonition
  17. ↑ Frontier Forums: GCS Sarasvati - early Thargoid lookout megaship
  18. ↑ Galactic News: The Thargoids have Returned
  19. ↑ Galactic News: Federal Capital Ship Destroyed by Thargoids
  20. ↑ Galactic News: Federation Addresses Rumours
  21. ↑ r/EliteDangerous: So I just got killed by a Thargoid
  22. ↑ Galactic News: Further Thargoid Attacks
  23. ↑ Galactic News: Starports Attacked by Thargoids
  24. ↑ YouTube: Commander Chronicles: Devastation - Elite Dangerous
  25. ↑ /r/EliteDangerous: So the Thargoids(?) Attacked a Station. Images Courtesy of CMDR Bad_Player
  26. ↑ http://www.rollingstone.com/glixel/features/elite-dangerous-creator-talks-sci-fi-politics-and-whats-next-w492781
  27. ↑ https://www.drewwagar.com/lore/elite-dangerous-lore-the-thargoids/
  28. ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/75axlh/inra_planetary_base_found_on_hermitage_4_a/
  29. ↑ https://www.sharoma.com/frontierverse/thargoids.htm
  30. ↑ /r/EliteDangerous: Elite: Dangerous: Another INRA Base Found, Linked To Hyperdrive Research
  31. ↑ https://canonn.science/lore/drewwagar-the-thargoids/
  32. ↑ Thargoid Medusa Tissue Sample
  33. ↑ Elite: Dangerous: INRA Base Attacked By Thargoids
  34. ↑ Thargoid Organic Circuitry in-game description
  35. ↑ Guardian Codex 1/28 : Thargoid Log – Barnacle Seeding
  36. ↑ https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/355713-Alien-archeology-and-other-mysteries-Thread-10-The-Canonn?p=5952184&viewfull=1#post5952184
  37. ↑ http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?p=160991#post160991
  38. ↑ https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1461411552/elite-dangerous/posts/377497#comment-2014816
  39. ↑ https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=77358&p=1262252&viewfull=1#post1262252
  40. ↑ https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1461411552/elite-dangerous/comments?cursor=2332567#comment-2332566
  41. ↑ https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1461411552/elite-dangerous/comments?cursor=1970411#comment-1970410
  42. ↑ http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?p=85034#post85034
  43. ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Kremmen
  44. ↑ http://youtu.be/pyjKPbkkW9k?t=2m26s

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