Thargoid Probe
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Thargoid Probes, formerly known as Unknown Probes, are devices of unknown purpose created by the Thargoids. They appear to point to Merope 5 C, the planet where "Barnacles" were first found. Scanning an Unknown Probe will cause it to emit an EMP wave and burst of noise.
On June 26, 3303, it was discovered that Thargoid Probes could be used to open doors in Thargoid Surface Sites, linking the objects to the Thargoids for the first time.
Locations
Thargoid Probes spawn in the vicinity of ammonia worlds, in signal sources identified as Degraded Emissions (Threat 2). If none spawn after 20 minutes, high-wake out of the system and then return to the planet to seek out a new signal source.[1]
They have been found in Convoy Dispersal Patterns (USS) with a Threat Level 4 in the following systems:
- Ross 47
- Wolf 294
- G 99-49
Convoys carrying the Thargoid Probe will usually have a Python called "Military Transport" and various strange comms chatter, as well as Anacondas of varying combat ranks. The convoy will most often also carry Meta Alloys and Reactive Armour.
They have also been found orbiting planets with ammonia atmospheres in the Pleiades Sector, at locations marked as Anomalous Signals with Threat Level 2. Systems with such planets include:
- Pleiades Sector KC-U b3-1 (Planet #8) (Found 9/20/2017)
Timeline
On July 18, 3302 CMDR Rizal made use of the Advanced Discovery Scanner in the presence of an Unknown Probe after targeting it. The Unknown Probe responded by turning on its lights, charging and releasing an EMP shockwave, which in turn briefly knocked out CMDR Rizal's HUD (supposedly to grab his attention). This was accompanied by an audio burst; the Unknown Probe finally "spoke".
The forums were quick to respond, decoding the audio from the video and suggesting various experiments.A map has been drawn from the audio, showing a globe and possible coordinates. With the Unknown Probe pointing at Merope 5 C, many CMDRs are now on the hunt to find the next clue.
On August 17, 3302, the first free-floating Unknown Probe was discovered orbiting Pleiades Sector KC-U b3-1 8, a planet with an ammonia atmosphere, at an "Anomalous Signal" point of interest. This was quickly followed by additional Unknown Probe finds above other ammonia worlds in nearby systems. Finding the Probes above ammonia worlds is significant because it potentially ties the Probes to the Thargoids, who are believed to have originated on an ammonia world.
On August 20, 3302, the Unknown Probe transmission was fully decoded and revealed to contain planetary data such as radius, surface temperature, gravity and atmospheric composition. This transmission was directed at an unknown receiver on Merope 5C. In addition, the transmission included distance data that, when triangulated, was found to have been measured from the star system Col 70 Sector FY-N C21-3, which is within a group of permit-locked systems that players cannot currently access. It is believed Col 70 Sector FY-N C21-3 may be the origin point of all Unknown Probes, and contain the homeworld of their creators.
On September 26, 3303, Unknown Probes were officially reclassified as Thargoid Probes.