I think Thargoid attacks need to be made a bit more "real time".
Maybe over the course of a week, it can escalate, with opportunities to prevent or slow the attack, and reduce damage, or risk total loss if nothing is done.
Improving the station can help defend against an attack (supply with anti Thargoid tech)
On day 1 (Thursday. Lol)
Thargoid Scout sightings in system increase.
Day 2.
Thargoid random attacks increase system wide.
Day 3.
Thargoid attack increase in close proximity to target station.
Day 4.
More dangerous Thargoids begin grouping up in various places in the system. (USSs).
Beating a pod of Thargoids really helps the system, but is incredibly difficult.
Day 5.
Random Thargoids will show up within 20km of the station and attack ships.
Day 6. Full scale attack on station.
Thargoids open fire, try to disable the station. Attack lasts 1 day.
This is a real time event. Hits on the station are logged, against Thargoid kills across all modes and instances.
Thargoids could use some sort of slow moving torpedo on station, you can shoot these down to reduce hit counter. Station defence level adds a bonus to results.
Tally up for results day tomorrow.
Day 7, results day!
Epic win. Station takes no major damage. All participants rewarded handsomely. Thargoids pushed from system for 4 weeks.
Win. Station damaged, but ok. Good rewards. Thargoids pushed from system for 2 weeks.
Neutral. Thargoids are destroyed but station is heavily damaged. Good reward. Thargoids pushed from system from 1 week.
Loss. Thargoids are still present in system, will attack next station in 1 week. Station almost destroyed, huge repair operation. No rewards, but good pay for repair materials.
Total loss. Station is left in ruins. Not repairable. Thargoids will attack next station tomorrow. No rewards.
CMDR Cosmic Spacehead