Thargoid Sensor: Difference between revisions
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{{CommodityInfobox | {{Ambox|border = orange|type = Cleaning|info = This article needs cleaning. There is multiple misspellings, not using British English, vandalisations, and repeats words far too often.}}{{CommodityInfobox | ||
|image = Unknown artefact 001.png | |image = Unknown artefact 001.png | ||
|type = Salvage | |type = Salvage | ||
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|classification = Commodity}} | |classification = Commodity}} | ||
{{Quote|Only recently discovered, these mysterious artefacts currently have no designation. Despite much conjecture as to the nature of these objects, it appears that the scientific community is unwilling or unable to openly identify the artefacts' origins. Such mystery only serves to make these objects more widely sought after by wealthy individuals and organisations alike, no matter that their unidentified status automatically prohibits them from being sold on any legal market.|In-game description}} | {{Quote|Only recently discovered, these mysterious artefacts currently have no designation. Despite much conjecture as to the nature of these objects, it appears that the scientific community is unwilling or unable to openly identify the artefacts' origins. Such mystery only serves to make these objects more widely sought after by wealthy individuals and organisations alike, no matter that their unidentified status automatically prohibits them from being sold on any legal market.|In-game description}} | ||
The '''Unknown Artifacts''' ('''UAs | The '''Unknown Artifacts''' ('''UAs''') have been reported to look like a form of sentient life, far beyond what we humans are capable of creating. It is still unknown what the UA is meant for, some people are speculating that this is the work of [[Thargoids]], and there have been lots of other theories. It is speculated that the Unknown Artefacts and the Barnacles look like they were made by different races, and so Thargoids may not be the source of them. To date, none of these theories have been proven, it is 'exceedingly rare' and only a few pilots have been able to see one themselves, making it extremely challenging to carry out tests and theories. However, the rate at which the UAs are appearing have been rapidly increasing lately as of October 3301. In some systems, several UAs have been found within minutes of each other. | ||
Multiple groups of commanders are currently leading the effort to solve the mystery behind these objects. Unknown Artefacts are believed to have some relation to [[Alien Structure]]s (also known as "Barnacles") and [[Unknown Probe]]s. | |||
== What does it do? == | == What does it do? == | ||
As far as current tests and analysis show, it appears that the UA does a [[Wikipedia:Side-scan sonar|sonar scan]] of the closest celestial object or station and then sends out (chittering) sounds which are a highly distorted [[Wikipedia:Morse code|Morse code]] which represents that body.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=175726&p=2701750&viewfull=1#post2701750 UA Mystery Thread 3: The Canonn], Arcanonn, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-08-16, 19:58</ref> In 1.4, the UA will scan all ships within 1 | As far as current tests and analysis show, it appears that the UA does a [[Wikipedia:Side-scan sonar|sonar scan]] of the closest celestial object or station and then sends out (chittering) sounds which are a highly distorted [[Wikipedia:Morse code|Morse code]] which represents that body.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=175726&p=2701750&viewfull=1#post2701750 UA Mystery Thread 3: The Canonn], Arcanonn, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-08-16, 19:58</ref> In 1.4, the UA will scan all ships within 1 kilometre and is confirmed to point and align itself to Merope, a star system in the Pleiades Nebula that has been linked with Thargoid activity in Elite lore. Recordings and decoding of the UA also show that it produces a basic line drawing of the ship it scans, much like how the ships are displayed in the original Elite. | ||
== | == Features == | ||
It seems probable that the UA is non-human in origin, and was first discovered some 720 years ago (see 2280s entry in the Timeline below), although at the start of the Elite Dangerous game (3300) its origins are still unknown. | It seems probable that the UA is non-human in origin, and was first discovered some 720 years ago (see 2280s entry in the Timeline below), although at the start of the Elite Dangerous game (3300) its origins are still unknown. | ||
However, the following aspects have been tested and are known:[[File:Elite Dangerous UA Features|thumb|right|335 px]] | However, the following aspects have been tested and are known:[[File:Elite Dangerous UA Features|thumb|right|335 px]] | ||
*In terms of size, it is roughly the same size as a human, and not much bigger. | *In terms of size, it is roughly the same size as a human, and not much bigger. | ||
*From a distance away it makes a loud whale like sound with some muttering and can be spotted by some sparkling and some purple/green gas-like | *From a distance away it makes a loud whale like sound with some muttering and can be spotted by some sparkling and some purple/green gas-like colours. | ||
*It seems to be made of three parts, the head (it looks like a giant egg with an place at the top where it seems like it can open up but some parts glow when the whale noise happens), the stalk or spine (it seems to have four parts to it and lights up too to the whale noise), the pods or capsules (there are twelve of these). | *It seems to be made of three parts, the head (it looks like a giant egg with an place at the top where it seems like it can open up but some parts glow when the whale noise happens), the stalk or spine (it seems to have four parts to it and lights up too to the whale noise), the pods or capsules (there are twelve of these). | ||
*When close to it you can clearly see it giving off a distortion field of some kind which has sparks appearing and disappearing in it with a gas in the entire area, either green or purple. However in the debug camera you can get close enough to the point where the field isn't in the way and you can get a clear view of the UA. | *When close to it you can clearly see it giving off a distortion field of some kind which has sparks appearing and disappearing in it with a gas in the entire area, either green or purple. However in the debug camera you can get close enough to the point where the field isn't in the way and you can get a clear view of the UA. | ||
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*They can be shoot e.g. by pulse laser to produce Unknown Fragment (each scooped canister contains 3 fragments). Collect 25 units of Unknown Fragments to unlock Professor Palin (engineer). | *They can be shoot e.g. by pulse laser to produce Unknown Fragment (each scooped canister contains 3 fragments). Collect 25 units of Unknown Fragments to unlock Professor Palin (engineer). | ||
*They are illegal salvage, so if you have it in your ship and a NPC System Authority scans you, you get a fine of 55,000cr. If stolen, your fine jumps to at least 161,000cr. | *They are illegal salvage, so if you have it in your ship and a NPC System Authority scans you, you get a fine of 55,000cr. If stolen, your fine jumps to at least 161,000cr. | ||
*They can be sold for up to 274,953 cr, according to EDDB.io, though 180-220k cr is an average figure. The best place to sell them is Phillips Terminal in CD-72 190, however, it would probably fetch a few million to sell it to one of the Player Groups focused on science | *They can be sold for up to 274,953 cr, according to EDDB.io, though 180-220k cr is an average figure. The best place to sell them is Phillips Terminal in CD-72 190, however, it would probably fetch a few million to sell it to one of the Player Groups focused on science. | ||
*The UA 'Spores' or 'glitter' don't appear to do any damage. | *The UA 'Spores' or 'glitter' don't appear to do any damage. | ||
* Occasionally they 'explode' sending a cloud of particulates out around them. Extremely slowed down video reveals a strange graphical glitch when this happens (or a tear in the space time continuum, similar to that seen when in frame shift jumping) | * Occasionally they 'explode' sending a cloud of particulates out around them. Extremely slowed down video reveals a strange graphical glitch when this happens (or a tear in the space time continuum, similar to that seen when in frame shift jumping) | ||
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** They degrade over time in space (while ejected) and have a life of about 5 minutes max outside the ship, but reset to 100% health when back inside the cargo hold. | ** They degrade over time in space (while ejected) and have a life of about 5 minutes max outside the ship, but reset to 100% health when back inside the cargo hold. | ||
== Finding them == | == Finding them == | ||
One could originally find Unknown | One could originally find Unknown Artefacts in [[System Signal Sources|Strong Signal Sources]]. As of 2.1, they're detectable in [http://elite-dangerous.wikia.com/wiki/Unidentified_Signal_Source Unidentified Signal Sources] as a Threat 4 Anomaly. There are several systems (see below) where they spawn, Timocani and 109 Virginis are the two systems where they have most recently been found and [[Michael Brookes]] has stated that they are 'exceedingly rare' and that they are only available in certain regions of the galaxy,<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=141038&page=71&p=2179457#post2179457 Soontill Relics, the Regor Permit Sector and DB's cryptic hints....], Michael Brookes, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-05-02 10:28 GMT</ref> which would suggest that they are in other systems too. Since v1.3 the number of UA discoveries were low but as of August they seem to have increased significantly. | ||
CMDR Wishblend, one of the original UA finders, gives this advice: | CMDR Wishblend, one of the original UA finders, gives this advice: | ||
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The first kind is made up of numerous ships and includes a Vulture, two Anacondas, the Type-9 and other ships. If you get this one, bear in mind that the Type-9 will probably charge its FSD and jump out of the system on its own. You can either choose to follow it (using a wake scanner) or attack it. | The first kind is made up of numerous ships and includes a Vulture, two Anacondas, the Type-9 and other ships. If you get this one, bear in mind that the Type-9 will probably charge its FSD and jump out of the system on its own. You can either choose to follow it (using a wake scanner) or attack it. | ||
[[File:Ua-convoyA.jpg|thumb|220x220px|This is the first kind of UA carrying convoy. The Type-9 will eventually jump out of the system]] | [[File:Ua-convoyA.jpg|thumb|220x220px|This is the first kind of UA carrying convoy. The Type-9 will eventually jump out of the system]] | ||
The second is made up of four anacondas and the Type-9. This convoy will stop in space and the Anacondas will do a dance around the Type-9. It may be the case that the Type-9 is not a part of the Anaconda wing. It has been reported as the one where the Unknown | The second is made up of four anacondas and the Type-9. This convoy will stop in space and the Anacondas will do a dance around the Type-9. It may be the case that the Type-9 is not a part of the Anaconda wing. It has been reported as the one where the Unknown Artefact will eat its way out of the Type-9's cargo hold without you firing a shot, but this has yet to be corroborated by other commanders. | ||
The third kind was discovered by redditor /u/Boblit67 on the Xbox One in HR 1185 after entering a Strong Signal Source. This historic discovery was not only the first publicly confirmed UA to be found on the Xbox, but also marks the first time a UA had been documented being found floating in normal space, alone, with no convoy. The UA did not degrade, behaving like 'normal' salvage that can be found in signal sources.<ref>[http://xboxdvr.com/gamer/Boblit67/video/6970550 Unknown Artefact], Boblit67, XboxDVR, 2015-08-15 01:51 GMT</ref> | The third kind was discovered by redditor /u/Boblit67 on the Xbox One in HR 1185 after entering a Strong Signal Source. This historic discovery was not only the first publicly confirmed UA to be found on the Xbox, but also marks the first time a UA had been documented being found floating in normal space, alone, with no convoy. The UA did not degrade, behaving like 'normal' salvage that can be found in signal sources.<ref>[http://xboxdvr.com/gamer/Boblit67/video/6970550 Unknown Artefact], Boblit67, XboxDVR, 2015-08-15 01:51 GMT</ref> | ||
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[[File:Ua-convoyB.jpg|thumb|220x220px|This is the second version of the UA carrying convey. This one will hang around and conveniently drop the UA off for you to pick up]] | [[File:Ua-convoyB.jpg|thumb|220x220px|This is the second version of the UA carrying convey. This one will hang around and conveniently drop the UA off for you to pick up]] | ||
== Capturing the Unknown | == Capturing the Unknown Artefact == | ||
So you found a convoy with the Unknown | So you found a convoy with the Unknown Artefact onboard, what now? | ||
The best strategy to capture the | The best strategy to capture the artefact seems to be the following: | ||
* Wing up, three or four commanders | * Wing up, three or four commanders | ||
* Set hyperspace destination to another system. This will help you bail out without the Anacondas mass-lock interfering | * Set hyperspace destination to another system. This will help you bail out without the Anacondas mass-lock interfering | ||
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* As soon as the T-9 is bagged, jump out. Keep in mind you are now wanted in the system and the UA carrier will get a fine whenever scanned | * As soon as the T-9 is bagged, jump out. Keep in mind you are now wanted in the system and the UA carrier will get a fine whenever scanned | ||
== The mystery of the Unknown | == The mystery of the Unknown Artefact == | ||
There is apparently some kind of mystery to be solved around these items, and certain people close to Frontier Developments have said that there are clues in the game, but nobody has spotted them yet. They even went as far to say that they are so obvious that to give any more clues would make it too easy. Despite this, no one has solved the mystery to date. During the period after the first find, some commanders created GalNet content related to the UA which was published, and these are included below but marked with ''[player submitted]''. | There is apparently some kind of mystery to be solved around these items, and certain people close to Frontier Developments have said that there are clues in the game, but nobody has spotted them yet. They even went as far to say that they are so obvious that to give any more clues would make it too easy. Despite this, no one has solved the mystery to date. During the period after the first find, some commanders created GalNet content related to the UA which was published, and these are included below but marked with ''[player submitted]''. | ||
===Timeline of events=== | ===Timeline of events=== | ||
====2280's==== | ====2280's==== | ||
Discovery of first non-human relic in space. Origin still unknown in 3300. The original timeline stated "Origin still unknown in 3200", and has been updated by Frontier to match the Unknown | Discovery of first non-human relic in space. Origin still unknown in 3300. The original timeline stated "Origin still unknown in 3200", and has been updated by Frontier to match the Unknown Artefact storyline in Elite Dangerous, which begins in the year 3300. In Lave Radio Allen Stroud discussed alien life within the Elite: Dangerous universe and specifically mentions the Unknown Artefact and its links to Frontier: Elite II's lore.<ref>[https://www.frontier.co.uk/games/older/frontier_elite_ii/ Frontier: Elite II], Frontier Developments</ref><ref>[http://lotf.co.uk/fe2_gazetteer.html Frontier: Elite II - Gazetteer], Ian Bell, David Braben, Kathy Dickinson, David Massey, 1992</ref><ref>[http://laveradio.com/writers-interview-3-dave-hughes/ Writers Interview 3 – Dave Hughes], Event occurs at 41min, Lave Radio, 2013-03-20</ref> | ||
====3301==== | ====3301==== | ||
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'''28 January''': Federal Congressman George Fallside is revealed to have sent condolences to Smeaton's family 30 minutes before his death was announced.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/75ed632ad84c5abb08d6d6ec717104b90218fcdd Congressman Had Early Knowledge of VP’s Death?], GalNet News, 3301-01-28</ref> | '''28 January''': Federal Congressman George Fallside is revealed to have sent condolences to Smeaton's family 30 minutes before his death was announced.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/75ed632ad84c5abb08d6d6ec717104b90218fcdd Congressman Had Early Knowledge of VP’s Death?], GalNet News, 3301-01-28</ref> | ||
'''10 February''': Soontill Alien | '''10 February''': Soontill Alien Artefacts are mentioned in GalNet. Subsequently confirmed by FD that these Artefacts are not Unknown Artefacts.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/e3650db48fcce4488905b3e13763eebad65735b8 Soontill Alien Artefacts to be Auctioned at Ngurii], GalNet News, 3301-02-10</ref> | ||
'''10 March''': v1.2 is released. Includes "- Adding valuable salvage convoys to three permitted systems: LFT 509, Isinor, Witch's Reach".{{Cite}} | '''10 March''': v1.2 is released. Includes "- Adding valuable salvage convoys to three permitted systems: LFT 509, Isinor, Witch's Reach".{{Cite}} | ||
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'''20 July''': CMDR Branch loses his second UA through a scooping incident by another commander.{{Cite}} | '''20 July''': CMDR Branch loses his second UA through a scooping incident by another commander.{{Cite}} | ||
'''23 July''': CMDR Britain finds an Unknown | '''23 July''': CMDR Britain finds an Unknown Artefact.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&page=279&p=2583760#post2583760], bitstorm, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-07-23 22:57 GMT</ref> | ||
'''25 July''': CMDR Branch finds another UA, bringing the known possessed count back up to 3. This is also the third UA Branch has recovered.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&p=2593742&viewfull=1#post2593742 Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn], mrtree, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-07-26 03:05 GMT</ref> | '''25 July''': CMDR Branch finds another UA, bringing the known possessed count back up to 3. This is also the third UA Branch has recovered.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&p=2593742&viewfull=1#post2593742 Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn], mrtree, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-07-26 03:05 GMT</ref> | ||
'''28 July:''' CMDR Blain Crighton & his wing manage to obtain two Unknown | '''28 July:''' CMDR Blain Crighton & his wing manage to obtain two Unknown Artefacts from the same convoy.<ref group="nb">Obtaining two Unknown Artefacts from the same convoy may be the result of a P2P bug</ref> One of theirs was accidentally crushed after being released in a station, the other was sold at Leonard Nimoy Memorial Station.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_J6apLfs1I Selling UA at LNS], Blain Crighton, YouTube, 2015-07-28</ref> | ||
'''13 October:''' Canonn Interstellar Research Group Announces Breakthrough.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/561b89a49657bac839202698 Canonn Interstellar Research Group Announces Breakthrough], GalNet, 3301-10-13</ref> | '''13 October:''' Canonn Interstellar Research Group Announces Breakthrough.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/561b89a49657bac839202698 Canonn Interstellar Research Group Announces Breakthrough], GalNet, 3301-10-13</ref> | ||
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=== Hypotheses proposed === | === Hypotheses proposed === | ||
* The Sound (When Michael Brookes said "Have you listened to them", this was taken as a most significant clue') | * The Sound (When Michael Brookes said "Have you listened to them", this was taken as a most significant clue') | ||
** The UAs do indeed make an unusual sound. It appears to be made up of three main elements: The Honk (sounds like a whale noise), The Chitter (recently discovered to be a garbled Morse code of the closest celestial body or station) and The Purr (When sped up x3 sounds like a trombone).<ref name=":1" /> '''There is a fourth element''', a constant buzzing noise which has yet to be | ** The UAs do indeed make an unusual sound. It appears to be made up of three main elements: The Honk (sounds like a whale noise), The Chitter (recently discovered to be a garbled Morse code of the closest celestial body or station) and The Purr (When sped up x3 sounds like a trombone).<ref name=":1" /> '''There is a fourth element''', a constant buzzing noise which has yet to be analysed fully, but also appears to have Morse code embedded ...- .. -.. ---.. (VID8).<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&page=202&p=2563545&viewfull=1#post2563545 Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn], rizal72, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-07-19 19:31 GMT</ref> Another "4th signal" theory based on an examination of the audio proposes that there is a continuous S.O.S. signal being emitted by the probe that can be heard on most recordings.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=175726&p=2707702&viewfull=1#post2707702], Fractux, Elite Dangerous Forums, 2015-08-19 00:53 GMT</ref> | ||
*** ''However'', this "4th signal" is ''not present'' when the UA was recorded in HR1185 (Free floating UA) & HIP63835D (UA Deployed & degrading), for reasons unknown.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdS3U2j1c9Y Elite: Dangerous - Unknown Artefact @ HR 1185 B (15 Aug)], Cmdr Zenith Ddraiglas, YouTube, 2015-08-15</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hb7fM6FRyrU?t=8m37s Elite: Dangerous Testing UA with black hole nearby Part 2], Ratking15, YouTube, 2015-05-24</ref> | *** ''However'', this "4th signal" is ''not present'' when the UA was recorded in HR1185 (Free floating UA) & HIP63835D (UA Deployed & degrading), for reasons unknown.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdS3U2j1c9Y Elite: Dangerous - Unknown Artefact @ HR 1185 B (15 Aug)], Cmdr Zenith Ddraiglas, YouTube, 2015-08-15</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hb7fM6FRyrU?t=8m37s Elite: Dangerous Testing UA with black hole nearby Part 2], Ratking15, YouTube, 2015-05-24</ref> | ||
** The UAs do sound very similar to the in-ship basic discovery scanner, along with some other strange noises that could be similar to galactic noises heard in the galactic map or in space. | ** The UAs do sound very similar to the in-ship basic discovery scanner, along with some other strange noises that could be similar to galactic noises heard in the galactic map or in space. | ||
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** There was a suggestion that it was a Thargoid Escape Pod, possibly from events which occurred at Peregrina at the end of, part of the new ED lore. [http://www.tjames.info/#!outofthedarkness/c1tpn T. James Elite: Out of the Darkness] | ** There was a suggestion that it was a Thargoid Escape Pod, possibly from events which occurred at Peregrina at the end of, part of the new ED lore. [http://www.tjames.info/#!outofthedarkness/c1tpn T. James Elite: Out of the Darkness] | ||
** There was an idea that it looks like an egg/seeding pod, the beginning of a invasion. | ** There was an idea that it looks like an egg/seeding pod, the beginning of a invasion. | ||
* The Leviathan Theory | * The Leviathan Theory | ||
** Influenced by possible clues in the Wings 1.2 Trailer, this theory picks up many references which appear to point towards the word 'Leviathan' and whales.<ref name=":3" /><ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&p=2568833&viewfull=1#post2568833 Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn], Han_Zen, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-07-20 21:48 GMT</ref> In Frontier First Encounters, The Leviathan was a 200 meter long fish or whale which inhabited the planet New California in the Liaququ system, and could travel in space as a ship. Unfortunately, that system doesn't appear to exist in the game. Another version of this theory involves Junior the intelligent dolphin and his companion, also from Frontier First Encounters.{{Cite}} | ** Influenced by possible clues in the Wings 1.2 Trailer, this theory picks up many references which appear to point towards the word 'Leviathan' and whales.<ref name=":3" /><ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&p=2568833&viewfull=1#post2568833 Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn], Han_Zen, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-07-20 21:48 GMT</ref> In Frontier First Encounters, The Leviathan was a 200 meter long fish or whale which inhabited the planet New California in the Liaququ system, and could travel in space as a ship. Unfortunately, that system doesn't appear to exist in the game. Another version of this theory involves Junior the intelligent dolphin and his companion, also from Frontier First Encounters.{{Cite}} | ||
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** On 14 July a Galnet article mentioned an outbreak of disease, which mentioned a three pronged 'phage like' organism' which led people to make the connection that the UA could be a Phage of some sorts, as it looks similar in some ways.<ref name=":4" /><ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&p=2551422&viewfull=1#post2551422 Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn], Cmdr Clade, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-07-16 09:11 GMT</ref><ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&p=2569753&viewfull=1#post2569753 Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn], simulacrae, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-07-21 04:24 GMT</ref> Earth Phages are microscopic organisms, so the UA's host would have to be enormous, which is a scary thought. | ** On 14 July a Galnet article mentioned an outbreak of disease, which mentioned a three pronged 'phage like' organism' which led people to make the connection that the UA could be a Phage of some sorts, as it looks similar in some ways.<ref name=":4" /><ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&p=2551422&viewfull=1#post2551422 Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn], Cmdr Clade, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-07-16 09:11 GMT</ref><ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&p=2569753&viewfull=1#post2569753 Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn], simulacrae, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-07-21 04:24 GMT</ref> Earth Phages are microscopic organisms, so the UA's host would have to be enormous, which is a scary thought. | ||
* Discharge upon final decay | * Discharge upon final decay | ||
** Once a UA reaches 0% in open space, it explosively discharges green sparks from the 12 "pods" while emitting a screaming howl, and fires what appears to be an energy or plasma pulse rapidly away from the "head" of the | ** Once a UA reaches 0% in open space, it explosively discharges green sparks from the 12 "pods" while emitting a screaming howl, and fires what appears to be an energy or plasma pulse rapidly away from the "head" of the artefact.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhpdLsLgsWc Unknown Artifact Oddity], SetaX9, YouTube, 2015-05-04</ref> What is the purpose of this explosive ending?<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edvUqVgAcY0 Elite Dangerous Unknown Artifact], Trent Gman, YouTube, 2015-07-18</ref> Is the UA going off like a bomb? Is it delivering a payload of some kind? Some speculate that the UAs might be used to counter the so-called "Cerberus Plague" in some manner. Others speculate that the Cerberus Plague is being spread by the UAs. Further research is needed to determine the nature and character of a UA's decay and demise. | ||
* The Decoy Beacon Theory | * The Decoy Beacon Theory | ||
** Along the lines of President Halsey's mysterious disappearance, her ship jumped and never arrived at the point it was expected. This theory proposes that the UA acts as a decoy nav beacon, drawing its unlucky victim into a waiting ambush instead of the usual arrival point.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&p=2611454&viewfull=1#post2611454 Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn], Grumbleweed, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-07-30 08:18 GMT</ref> | ** Along the lines of President Halsey's mysterious disappearance, her ship jumped and never arrived at the point it was expected. This theory proposes that the UA acts as a decoy nav beacon, drawing its unlucky victim into a waiting ambush instead of the usual arrival point.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&p=2611454&viewfull=1#post2611454 Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn], Grumbleweed, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-07-30 08:18 GMT</ref> | ||