Your weekly Elite: Dangerous newsletter: « The Outpost #87 » 🙂
→Thank you Phoenix452 for this fantastic image, illustrating the Thargoids and The Outpost with a Cobra next to this Structure! 🙂
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Frontier News
The Return of the Thargoids
Three days after the Update 2.4 has been released, many things have already taken place in-game. Let’s take a look at the latest developments, and more precisely about the Thargoids‘ intrigue, which is already making headway.
▲ The features
Improved navigation and routes by maximizing it up to 20,000 LY, missions generation enhanced, eased commanders customisations, new Aegis modules, Pilots Federation bounties and penalties, new inbox and synthesis, … content will develop further over the weeks in order to progress in the Elite: Dangerous 2.4 stories.
▲ The stories
As the Thargoids’ excursions into the Pleiades nebula multiply, we find more and more Federal combat fleets reported as mysteriously destroyed. The high-ranking officers were finally able to recover some black boxes and samples from the destroyed ships, and they quickly pointed their weapons and anger to the Thargoids race. Hey, 2.4, look who’s coming! 😉
Since this week, the discoveries are ramping up:
- Non-human signal sources (NHSS) are detected throughout the Pleiades, where two different landscapes are discovered with either Core Dynamics Federal vessels or Imperial Gutamaya vessels. These signals regularly contain Thargoids interceptors. Although generally peaceful, they request that we stay far from the debris so they can scan the ships and recover different containers quietly. Check HR 1185 if you want to be sure to meet them. – Full details and images.
- These Thargoids interceptors all have different markings on the front of their ships. We do not yet know their meanings but theories range from clan affiliations to even alien characters – Full details and images.
- Octal messages are sent to us via our scanners, the translation tells: « Hull Stress Factor Uncertain » – Full details and images.
- New AX modules are developed by Aegis Research to protect us and help us learn more about the Thargoids. Many pilots are use the new weapons offensively. For the time being, a Xeno Scanner and AX missiles are available while a kind of AX multicannon weapon is under development. – Full details and images.
- Research drones allow us to extract samples directly from the Interceptors. Obviously, they do not appreciate the approach and become hostile. These samples and materials will allow us to develop more new technologies – Full details and images.
- A large number of Barnacles arranged in a star with eight branches have been discovered. There is a great central one and some are sometimes emitting light. The interceptors come to « refuel » on the central barnacle. Many Scavengers maintain the site. Check out Hyades sector AQ-Y D81 C2, 9.3/-153.9 – Full details and images.
- Thargoids Scouts are found crashed on the surface. The analysis indicates a high concentration of Mycoid, the nasty old virus developed by the INRA in order to repel the former Thargoid invasion. The scout’s hull seems to be well damaged and eaten by the Mycoid. – Full details and images.
Humans want to arm themselves in order to defend their interests against these extremely resilient Thargoids. It is not yet possible to determine whether they want to harm us or not, even if they look pretty laid back for now and only respond to our attacks. Although the Empire and the Federation declared that they were being attacked by the Thargoids interceptors, very few commanders reported that they had been deliberately attacked without provocation by the Thargoids.
The superpowers’ leaders have not yet commented on this massive arrival and recent discoveries.
To learn more, read our Science and Thargoids recap!
▲ Interceptors’ outfit
The Interceptor is for the moment the only Thargoid ship known and active in flight: the Cyclop variant. The latter is well outfitted like a light combat vessel made for interception, hence its name:
- A shield – Very resistant to all types of weapons, it will take an imposing firepower to bring down these green alien shields.
- A regenerative hull – The latter regenerates extremely quickly if hearts are active. Once a regeneration heart is destroyed, a shield will activate while regenerating the hull. // Vidéo
- Four hearts – Acting as shield cells, they regenerate the interceptor’s hull, so they must be destroyed in the right order of use for the ship to get permanent damage.
- Thargons – These drones fly in swarms and act with the mother ship, just like our Ship Launched Fighters. They each have a kind of green multi-plasma weapon and they also can launch themselves as missiles to crash onto our ships, dealing heavy damage.
- The burst weapon – The interceptor’s main weapon. It is located above the cockpit, firing three red ammunition which inflict corrosive effects as well as damage on your shields and your hull at the same time.
- Les caustic missiles – Large green missiles that nobody wants to see, they are invulnerable to our electromagnetic charges and deal a lot of damage while applying a very long lasting caustic effect to your ship // Vidéo
- The IEM Pulse – The interceptor will load, turn green and then release a large IEM pulse disabling our ships. Meanwhile, if you took the effect right in the mug, the Thargons attack you easily with burst of their weapons + missiles. // Vidéo
- Short-range electric weapon – A large yellow flash fires between 200 and 700 meters and inflicts heavy damage to your shields, your hull while having a chance to disable your thrusters twice due to overload. // Vidéo
Developers and Community
A dedicated space to Devs’ messages from the forums and social Medias.
Three questions will pop in our Quizz box each week, so you can learn more about Elite: Dangerous while having fun!
~ 
Recent communications ~
- [Missions] A quick update on the issue of high mission payouts. Please be aware that this issue is a known bug and the development team are currently working on a fix for this. Please be aware that as of now, accepting missions that are not Ram Tah or Long Range missions with a reward of over 30 million will result in a disconnection from the game. Accepting a Ram Tah or Long Range missions with a payout more than 100 million reward will also result in a disconnection. Should anyone already have a mission of this payout value accepted but not handed in yet, the 30 million cap will be awarded on completion. We will be investigating any extremely inflated mission rewards that have been redeemed and action may be taken to reverse the effects of this bug. – Source – Dale Emasiri, Community Manager
- [Gameplay] he pilots federation is no longer a faction, they are now a superpower. They still own assets, though. Like Jameson Memorial. I think they own the starter stations (Trevithick Dock and Beagle 2 Landing) now, too. – Source – Dominic Corner, Programmer Missions
- The developers and the community team continue to assist the Elite: Dangerous players, collect our feedbacks, and communicate with us regarding the next steps for the game. We heard some large improvements regarding the Engineers and the Exploration. On every lips: 7 October Frontier Expo
~ Weekly Quizz ~
- Where can we find the « Ancient Orbs »? The Guardians Sites
- What is the name of the possible incoming ship? The Type 10 Defender
- Who is the Expert Engineer in Explosives, currently working on experimental missiles? Liz Ryder
- What is the name of the Thargoids ships with whom we are mainly interacting at the moment, in normal space and via the hyperdictions?
- Interceptor variant Cyclop
- Scout variant Mycoid
- Thargon variant INRA
- Cyclop variant Interceptor
- Which item is easily recoverable after the destruction of a Thargoid Interceptor?
- A propulsor
- A heart
- A core
- A shield fragment
- What is the new experimental scanner name, to scan the Thargoids ships?
- Discovery Scanner
- Surface Scanner
- Xeno Scanner
- Thargoid Scanner
Powerplay and Lore
Powerplay is an ongoing battle for interstellar conquest and control. Players can choose a Power, help guide their strategy, and take on special objectives to advance their shared cause. Player choices and actions have a direct and visible impact on the balance of galactic power.
Arissa Lavigny-Duval +1
Aisling Duval +1
Edmund Mahon -2
Zachary Hudson =
Zemina Torval +2
Li Yong-Rui -1
Felicia Winters -1
Pranav Antal =
Archon Delaine +2
Denton Patreus -1
Yuri Grom -1
Cycle 121. Currently cycle 122.
◘ 28 september – A spokesperson for Aegis has announced that its appeal for Thargoid-related materials has reached a successful conclusion. Huge quantities of material were delivered to Awyra Flirble and Obsidian Orbital over the past week, following an enthusiastic response from the galactic community. They will now be delivered to the engineers Liz Ryder and Ishmael Palin so they can start work on new technologies to address the mounting Thargoid threat. As the campaign drew to a close, the spokesperson issued a brief statement:
“Initiatives of this kind are a mainstay of the galactic economy, but this campaign is of singular importance. Humanity is faced with a clear threat to its safety, and we must do everything we can to oppose it. Furthermore, if we are to successfully resist the Thargoids, we will need to develop more advanced technologies. This will not be the last campaign of this kind.”
◘ 28 september – Last week, Aegis started developing weapons and technologies to address the rising Thargoid threat. While some were dismayed to see Aegis shift to a military focus, the general consensus was that the move was necessary. Following news that Aegis is to embark on a second development initiative, Aegis’ military liaison Admiral Aden Tanner released the following statement:
“The Thargoids represent a very real threat, and their hostility demands that we take appropriate action. As with our previous initiative, our intention is to collaborate with some of the galaxy’s foremost engineers to develop efficient anti-Thargoid technologies.”
◘ 29 september – Many independent pilots have already taken to their ships to test the anti-Thargoid weaponry recently developed by Aegis. Meanwhile, Aegis has assembled a team of specialists to analyse the results of these encounters and determine the new weapons’ efficacy.
Admiral Aden Tanner, Aegis’ military liaison, said:
“The weapons are working as intended, but the Thargoid vessels are highly resilient. Even with specialised weaponry, it appears their ships can be destroyed only through collective efforts. We have received reports of lone pilots, and even small groups, being utterly annihilated by the Thargoids. This tragic news illustrates that although the new weapons are effective, more work must be done if we are to achieve military parity.”
◘ 29 september – As Aegis’ first campaign to address the Thargoid threat concludes, reports have reached the core systems of further Thargoid attacks in the Pleiades.On this occasion, a number of Imperial and civilian ships were targeted, with the strikes taking place in HIP 17962, HR 1185, IH-V C2-5 and the Pleiades Sector IR-W D1-55. The violence is believed to have resulted in a number of human fatalities. As with the recent attack in the Pleiades Sector IR-W D1-55 system, data recovered from the sites indicates that the Thargoids attacked without provocation. Although some of the ships returned fire, none succeeded in destroying or damaging the Thargoid vessels.
Professor Cora Shaw, director of the Palin Institute and an authority on xeno biology, commented on the news:
“If the Thargoids believe they have some claim to the Pleiades, then what we’re seeing could be territorialism. But it’s equally possible that they see humanity as an enemy, irrespective of where they encounter us. At this stage it’s hard to draw any definite conclusions.”
Community Goals
Community Goals allow the community to work together on an ongoing project within a system. Fight, trade, smuggle, explore and help the factions and super powers to achieve their goals. There is no good or bad CG, write your & Elite’s stories while earning credits!
◘ Second Aegis Initiative (Transport)
- Location: Chelbin Service Station | Wolf 397
- Objective: Deliver Tantalum, Thargoid Cyclops Tissue Samples and CMM Composites
- Rewards: Credits
- Progress: 4/8
- Until: 5 October
- Description: In support of this aim, Aegis’s corporate partners Wolf 397 Independents have pledged to reward pilots who deliver the commodities to Chelbin Service Station in the Wolf 397 system.
◘ Setting up the candy shop (Transport)
- Location: Bella Port | Irusan
- Objective: Deliver Palladium, Titanium and Robotics
- Rewards: Credits
- Progress: 4/8
- Until: 5 October
- Description: The Candy Crew Guild, an independent corporate organisation based in the Irusan system, has announced plans to establish a capital shipyard and a scientific-research vessel in its home system, and has placed an open order for various commodities for use in the construction.Commander Raijiin, head of the organisation, elaborated on the nature of the campaign:
« We need quantities of palladium, titanium and robotics, and we encourage all able and willing pilots to assist us. We are expecting the initiative to attract agitators, but security in the system has been increased, and many of our own wings are patrolling the trade lanes, to ensure no crime goes unpunished. »
◘ Winged Hussars Appeal (Transport)
- Location: Zander Dock | HIP 110028
- Objective: Deliver rare liquors (Lavian Brandy, Eranin Pearl Whisky, Kongga Ale, Leestian Evil Juice, Indi Bourbon and Bast Snake Gin)
- Rewards: Credits
- Progress: 4/8
- Until: 5 October
- Description: The Winged Hussars have announced plans to establish a recreational installation and a tourist beacon in the HIP 110028 system, next to a little-visited Earth-like world. The organisation has said it hopes to attract wealthy tourists from core systems such as Sol and Achenar – people who want to relax, but who also want to experience some adventure. The Winged Hussars are providing the materials for the new installation, but to cater to the tastes of their future clients they have asked for quantities of Lavian Brandy, Eranin Pearl Whisky, Kongga Ale, Leestian Evil Juice, Indi Bourbon and Bast Snake Gin. Pilots who deliver these intoxicants to Zander Dock in HIP 110028 system will be handsomely rewarded.A spokesperson for the group said: “This is a great opportunity to bring new business to one of the galaxy’s border colonies. We are asking independent pilots for help, and we are prepared to offer very competitive prices for the liquors we have requested.”
Pics of the Week
New and fantastic images taken by the Elite: Dangerous community this week. Obviously, the Thargoids are under the spotlight!
Feel free to send your best images via Twitter, Discord or in the comments.
Videos of the Week
A Thargoid jump portal bugged and remained open. Our opportunity to check what’s on the other side! – M0rgtr0n
Isokix offers an excellent video of the Barnacles forest, with a Thargoid interaction
The Smiling Dog Crew PvP team is the first to have destroyed a Thargoid ship, we can see the tactics used in their video as well as here for the SeaTurtles and here for DarthDev.
Written strategy by GluttonyFang.
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