Hm, you could be onto something there.
Could be they first attack the Cat in the left Portrait because it already looks so afraid... But then, the "Napoleon" looking one on the right might be seen as a Military Uniform and hence a potential Threat.
I thinking the Maia, Menrope Systems and Prof Palin's place will be ground zero as well as everything in a 200ly radius around Maia will be active Thargiod combat zones.