Thargoid Maelstrom

Thargoid Maelstroms are mysterious nebulae-like formations deployed by the Thargoids. While little is currently known of their exact composition and function, they act as beachheads for invading Thargoid forces in adjacent systems and it is speculated that they obscure some sort of mothership, or maybe something else entirely.

Several Maelstroms arrived to the core systems in November 3308 after having traveled thousands of light years at superluminal speeds, bringing about devastating Thargoid attacks.

History

In mid 3308, Salvation and Azimuth Biotech, with the assistance from all three superpowers (who had been left defenseless following the shutdown of Aegis), attempted to eradicate all Thargoid forces in human space through use of an anti-xeno superweapon dubbed the Proteus Wave. Built into a Thargoid Structure and based on Guardian weapon technology discovered by the lost Azimuth ship of the same name, the device operated on the principle of attracting as much of the Thargoid Fleet to HIP 22460 as possible before emitting a pulse that would shutdown the bio-mechanical components of Thargoid craft within radius. Many condemned this as an attempt at genocide, though given the strategic significance of ending the Thargoid threat within human inhabited space once and for all, the leaders of the Alliance, Empire and Federation provided portions of their naval fleets to ensure the device was completed.

On the 9th of August 3308, the fully charged Proteus Wave was deployed. While seemingly initially successful in shutting down all Thargoid Vessels in the system, an unknown energy buildup of Thargoid origin was detected in the Surface Site the device had been built into. Moments later, a second pulse was autonomously triggered, shutting down all human technology and severing communication with the system. In the following moments the Thargoid fleet seemingly "woke up" and began slaughtering the disabled human fleet.

Survivors who were lucky enough to avoid the wrath of the Thargoids long enough to regain power and flee the system all reported an unusual Thargoid 'scream' that could be heard in all regions of HIP 22460. Initially the superpowers classified all data on this phenomenon, until copies of the recordings were leaked to the press by a cult that worships the Thargoids as harbingers of the end times. The 'scream' was composed of a wide range of indecipherable electromagnetic signatures that was speculated by many to be some manner of distress signal from the Thargoid forces in HIP 22460. In later months, this theory would partially confirmed; Seo Jin-ae, an escaped Azimuth test subject of the monstrous Project Seraph was able to to identify call-response aspects within the scream and partially translated the response portion.

We see them. We are coming.

— Seo Jin-Ae's partial translation of the 'Thargoid Scream'

The Rogue Signal Sources

Following humanity's defeat in HIP 22460, an unusual anomaly appeared near Barnard's Loop in the Orion Complex, more than 1,000 light years from Sol. Focusing a ships FSS scanner at a particular point near the nebula would pick up an unknown, non-natural sound amongst the usual background signal noises. Commanders also reported Thargoid Hyperdictions in the area; these were unusual as they were significantly further away from known Thargoid territories than previously reported. Approaching the source of this anomaly, a faintly visible 'flare' could be distinguished from the background stars. Upon closer examination, it was confirmed the object was visibly moving (albeit through interstellar space at speeds too high to intercept), and appeared to admit light at 8 points around itself.

Upon discovery, the independent Canonn Research and Anti-Xeno Initiative groups issued red alerts and an effort was made to track the object (dubbed by many as the 'Stargoid'). After days of observation, the objects apparent course was extrapolated to be heading directly for the Core Systems.

Over the coming weeks, 7 more anomalies were detected, in a large semicircle around the core systems, all of their courses converging on human inhabited space.

Notes

• Thargoid Maelstrom were introduced in Elite Dangerous: Odyssey, update 14.