The Crazy Colonia Corrosive Cargo Caravan
Submissions
Factabulous: 315 points, 720 points
Graelock: 416 points
Jmanis: 572 points
Commanders!
With the Thargoid incursion into human space once again ramping up, safe refuge for the scientific community to continue studies into Thargoid physiology and potential countermeasures are growing fewer.
However, Colonia remains an untouched bastion of Humanity, so far safe from Thargoid hostilities due to it's remote location. This aspect of Colonia is both a blessing and a curse, as it's locality provides no regular access to samples of Thargoid biotechnologies.
Enter the Colonia Corrosive Cargo Caravan. interested Commanders will ferry as many samples of Thargoid biotech as possible to the Colonia region to establish a remote "Center of Excellence" for Thargoid studies, providing a contingency should the worst happen to the Sol-bubble.
Details
Between 15th February (Today) until 1st April 3306, bring as many Thargoid cargoes as possible to Canonn Deep Space Research at Arcannon's Legacy, Canonnia (or, if you don't have Horizons, take them to Jacques Station in Colonia, and Jacques will facilitate transfer to Canonn Deep Space Research). Take a screenshot showing your docked at one of these two ports and score points for the cargo you've brought. Scoring is based on the difficulty to obtain the cargo, though I'm happy to take suggestions to change the scoring.
Thargoid Sensor - 4 points
Thargoid Probe - 7 points
Thargoid Link - 3 points
Thargoid Heart - 10 points
Thargoid Scout/Cyclops/Basilisk/Medusa/Hydra Tissue Samples - 5 points
Thargoid Biological Matter - 3 points
Thargoid Resin - 3 points
Thargoid Technology Samples - 3 points
Meta Alloys - 0.5 points
Guardian Technologies - 0.5 points
Obviously the non-corrosives earn you the least, but are good padding for your cargohold, so it's a balance of getting the right amount of corrosive resistance and the challenge of actually collecting the items without getting blatted.
There will be categories for highest scoring deliveries overall, and highest scoring single delivery. What's the winner get? Nothing! Glory! Bragging Rights! A couple hundred thousand from the receiving station! This isn't an official FD event... and truth is if Credits is what you're after, this is decidedly not the way to do it.
And now, the boring bits
Non-Human Signal Sources Threat 5+, around the Pleiades
These signal sources are most reliable for containing interceptor-only spawns, where Thargoid Sensors and Probes can be found. The various interceptors can also have their tissue sampled using Research limpets (see Tissue Sample Gathering for info on how to do this). Alternately, if you destroy the interceptors, you can harvest Thargoid Hearts, though this is the most dangerous activity.
Recommended location: Asterope, there are hundreds of NHSS in this system.
Thargoid Structures
In and around Thargoid Structures located throughout the Pleiades, you can find Thargoid Links, Resin, Biological Matter and Technology Samples. Note, you may need a Probe, Sensor or Link in order to access these structures and the contained materials. This is one of the safest ways to gather many materials, and arguably one of the least aggressive.
Recommended locations: Active sites: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...N0-mnS6BFqhe4va648J1wwnag/edit#gid=1625079279
Thargoid Wrecks
Around the Pleiades, there are various surface-wrecks of Interceptors and Scouts. At these sites, you can find Thargoid Resin, Biological Matter and Technology Samples. Although there are less materials around these sites, you do not need anything to access them.
Locations:
canonn.science
canonn.science
canonn.science
canonn.science
Barnacles
Barnacles around the Pleiades will yield Meta-Alloys, the only non-corrosive Thargoid cargo. Each barancle will provide two Meta-Alloys, while Barnacle Forests/Thargoid Structures may offer more. Barnies are present in Pleiades, Witch Head Nebula and California Nebula
Tissue Sample Gathering
IMPORTANT NOTE: Tissue sample gathering is highly bugged, and many limpets will return without a tissue sample recovered. This is a known issue, with no fix currently.
There are two ways to gather tissue samples, each with their own pros and cons: Tanking, or Silent Running.
Tanking: As is says on the label, you fit out the tankiest ship money can buy, but sacrifice as much tank as you're comfortable with for cargo space and research limpet controllers/limpets. Once you fire a research limpet at an Interceptor, it will become hostile and attack you.
The advantage of collecting this way is that the Thargoid will hang around permanently, allowing you time to do at least four launches of a single research limpet before the interceptor goes berserk.
The disadvantage is the need to tank the damage without much manouvering (otherwise limpets may expire/crash into you). In a heavy ship, this is dangerous against the more advanced Interceptor classes. This technique is recommended against the Cyclops and Basilisk variants.
Silent Running: If you engage Silent Running before attaching a research limpet on an Interceptor, while it will turn Hostile, it will ignore your ship unless you move within 500m of it. You can also drop heatsinks to maintain Silent Running as long as possible; the Thargoid will ignore this behaviour. Of course, if you accidentally go within 500m or have to panic-drop silent running, you'll be caught with your shields down which may-or-may-not be problematic.
The advantage of collecting this way is that there is no need for a heavy tank, nor even an expensive fit; this is doable in a stock-sidewinder if needed, caveated with the risks mentioned above. No tank requirement means you can fit lots of research limpets... your whole optional fitout sans one slot for limpets/cargo if you want. This makes it ideal for collection from the more dangerous Interceptor variants.
The disadvantage is, once the Interceptor has finished scanning things in the NHSS, it will jump away. This means you can usually only get one cycle of your research limpets through... perhaps none if you are unlucky and the limpets suffer from bad pathfinding. You can dump junk cargo (biowaste, limpets) to give it more items to scan, but beware as the Interceptor will move towards that cargo to scan it, which may put it within 500m of you unless you move.
This technique is recommended against Medusa and Hydra variants, as you're unlikely to tank more than one research cycle using the tank method against these types anyway.
These signal sources are most reliable for containing interceptor-only spawns, where Thargoid Sensors and Probes can be found. The various interceptors can also have their tissue sampled using Research limpets (see Tissue Sample Gathering for info on how to do this). Alternately, if you destroy the interceptors, you can harvest Thargoid Hearts, though this is the most dangerous activity.
Recommended location: Asterope, there are hundreds of NHSS in this system.
Thargoid Structures
In and around Thargoid Structures located throughout the Pleiades, you can find Thargoid Links, Resin, Biological Matter and Technology Samples. Note, you may need a Probe, Sensor or Link in order to access these structures and the contained materials. This is one of the safest ways to gather many materials, and arguably one of the least aggressive.
Recommended locations: Active sites: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...N0-mnS6BFqhe4va648J1wwnag/edit#gid=1625079279
Thargoid Wrecks
Around the Pleiades, there are various surface-wrecks of Interceptors and Scouts. At these sites, you can find Thargoid Resin, Biological Matter and Technology Samples. Although there are less materials around these sites, you do not need anything to access them.
Locations:
Crashed Thargoid Scout #1 | Canonn Research Group
A crashed Thargoid Scout can be found on HIP 17125 body A 3 a, located at -65.1570, 47.4684 (in Live/4.0) or at -65.8248, 48.8649 (in Legacy/3.8). The crash site is surrounded by Thargoid Technology Samples, Thargoid Biological Matter, and Thargoid Resin. The buried nature of the ship makes it...
canonn.science
Second Crashed Thargoid Scout | Canonn Research Group
Crashed Thargoid Scout Pleiades Sector LN-T c3-4
canonn.science
Crashed Thargoid Ship #2 | Canonn Research Group
The second Crashed Thargoid Ship can be found on HIP 17862 body 6 c a, located at 30.3456, -98.5880 (in Live/4.0 and Legacy/3.8). The Thargoid Ship at this crash site impacted in the ground and appears to have been carrying a number of Thargoid Sensors, mostly dead ones can be found scattered on...
canonn.science
Crashed Thargoid Ship #3 | Canonn Research Group
The third Crashed Thargoid Ship can be found on HIP 17403 body A 4 a, located at -7.3362, -6.2770 (in Live/4.0) or at -35.0120, -141.3890 (in Legacy/3.8). It was discovered by following the clues beginning at the Sol, Achenar, and Gateway Numbers Beacons and specifically the Unregistered Comms...
canonn.science
Barnacles
Barnacles around the Pleiades will yield Meta-Alloys, the only non-corrosive Thargoid cargo. Each barancle will provide two Meta-Alloys, while Barnacle Forests/Thargoid Structures may offer more. Barnies are present in Pleiades, Witch Head Nebula and California Nebula
Tissue Sample Gathering
IMPORTANT NOTE: Tissue sample gathering is highly bugged, and many limpets will return without a tissue sample recovered. This is a known issue, with no fix currently.
There are two ways to gather tissue samples, each with their own pros and cons: Tanking, or Silent Running.
Tanking: As is says on the label, you fit out the tankiest ship money can buy, but sacrifice as much tank as you're comfortable with for cargo space and research limpet controllers/limpets. Once you fire a research limpet at an Interceptor, it will become hostile and attack you.
The advantage of collecting this way is that the Thargoid will hang around permanently, allowing you time to do at least four launches of a single research limpet before the interceptor goes berserk.
The disadvantage is the need to tank the damage without much manouvering (otherwise limpets may expire/crash into you). In a heavy ship, this is dangerous against the more advanced Interceptor classes. This technique is recommended against the Cyclops and Basilisk variants.
Silent Running: If you engage Silent Running before attaching a research limpet on an Interceptor, while it will turn Hostile, it will ignore your ship unless you move within 500m of it. You can also drop heatsinks to maintain Silent Running as long as possible; the Thargoid will ignore this behaviour. Of course, if you accidentally go within 500m or have to panic-drop silent running, you'll be caught with your shields down which may-or-may-not be problematic.
The advantage of collecting this way is that there is no need for a heavy tank, nor even an expensive fit; this is doable in a stock-sidewinder if needed, caveated with the risks mentioned above. No tank requirement means you can fit lots of research limpets... your whole optional fitout sans one slot for limpets/cargo if you want. This makes it ideal for collection from the more dangerous Interceptor variants.
The disadvantage is, once the Interceptor has finished scanning things in the NHSS, it will jump away. This means you can usually only get one cycle of your research limpets through... perhaps none if you are unlucky and the limpets suffer from bad pathfinding. You can dump junk cargo (biowaste, limpets) to give it more items to scan, but beware as the Interceptor will move towards that cargo to scan it, which may put it within 500m of you unless you move.
This technique is recommended against Medusa and Hydra variants, as you're unlikely to tank more than one research cycle using the tank method against these types anyway.
Corrosive Cargo Racks
As usual, Thargoid Cargo (except Meta-Alloys) are highly corrosive. Your best bet is to fit Corrosive-Resistant Cargo Racks (CRCRs) to prevent damage. There are three types of CRCR available.
Your best bet is to get the Class 4 CRCR. Unlocking it at a Human tech broker requires the following materials/cargo:
16 Meta-Alloys (cargo, from Barnacles)
26 Iron (raw material)
18 Chemical Manipulators (manufactured material)
22 Radiation Baffle (cargo, specific locations only: https://eddb.io/commodity/292)
12 Neofabric Insulation (cargo, Mission Rewards or hatch-breaking Megaship wrecks)
Hazards
Thargoid Cargo is very corrosive, much more than Toxic Waste/other human corrosive cargo types. There are two significant risks when carrying Thargoid Cargo without any CRCRs
The latter is just annoying and will waste your time and effort if it happens. The former puts you on the clock, and can be fatal. For reference, if you are hauling 20 or more tonnes of corrosive Thargoid cargo, it will one-shot your canopy which puts you on the clock. You can survive longer by synthesizing oxygen and fitting the best life-support, but you need to get to a station for repair ASAP. You can avoid damage to your ship if you're fast with jumps, but for long-distance journeys this can require specialised fittings and techniques. Read here if you want to know more: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/index.php?threads/10t-of-corrosive-cargo-22-000ly-no-crcr-afmu.389751/
For the purposes of this activity, it's recommended you don't carry more materials than your CRCRs can manage.
As usual, Thargoid Cargo (except Meta-Alloys) are highly corrosive. Your best bet is to fit Corrosive-Resistant Cargo Racks (CRCRs) to prevent damage. There are three types of CRCR available.
- Class 1, 1 or 2t CRCRs available from Professor Palin (https://inara.cz/galaxy-engineer/3/)
- Class 4, 16t CRCR, available from Human Tech Brokers
Your best bet is to get the Class 4 CRCR. Unlocking it at a Human tech broker requires the following materials/cargo:
16 Meta-Alloys (cargo, from Barnacles)
26 Iron (raw material)
18 Chemical Manipulators (manufactured material)
22 Radiation Baffle (cargo, specific locations only: https://eddb.io/commodity/292)
12 Neofabric Insulation (cargo, Mission Rewards or hatch-breaking Megaship wrecks)
Hazards
Thargoid Cargo is very corrosive, much more than Toxic Waste/other human corrosive cargo types. There are two significant risks when carrying Thargoid Cargo without any CRCRs
- Destruction of your Canopy; this cannot be repaired in the field once it reaches 0%
- Malfunction of your Cargo Hatch in supercruise, causing you to lose precious cargo.
The latter is just annoying and will waste your time and effort if it happens. The former puts you on the clock, and can be fatal. For reference, if you are hauling 20 or more tonnes of corrosive Thargoid cargo, it will one-shot your canopy which puts you on the clock. You can survive longer by synthesizing oxygen and fitting the best life-support, but you need to get to a station for repair ASAP. You can avoid damage to your ship if you're fast with jumps, but for long-distance journeys this can require specialised fittings and techniques. Read here if you want to know more: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/index.php?threads/10t-of-corrosive-cargo-22-000ly-no-crcr-afmu.389751/
For the purposes of this activity, it's recommended you don't carry more materials than your CRCRs can manage.
10t of Corrosive Cargo, 22,000LY, no CRCR/AFMU
Somewhat obfuscatedly (and sadly, not taking anyone's fancy) I recently made a covert post about my intent to do this, and today I completed that task. Today I arrived in Colonia with 10t of assorted Thargoid Materials (everything except a Thargoid Heart), which I shipped there from the bubble...
Participation
Anyone can participate, regardless of mode, group or background; this is all about giving Humanity a fighting chance against the Thargoids, and because SCIENCE! It would be good to track how many cargoes get delivered, so as you arrive at Arcannon's Legacy/Jacques Station, take a screenshot of the cargoes you're delivering and post it here. Honesty system obviously, but there's no rewards, medals or awards for this, just the warm-fuzzy feeling in your heart from exposure to hazardous xenomaterials... so no point to be dishonest, just lots of reason to visit your nearest doctor afterwards
RP Hat off: The challenge here isn't dodging PvP and stuff, but rather, maximising your gathering and delivery of hazardous cargo which can melt your ship apart. How you fitout and plan for this is really important.
Good luck, and have fun!
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