Thargoid invasion - Next target systems?

[Aleks Zuno]

Victories in Arietis Sector JM-W d1-56, HIPs 20741 and 19757, Vocovii, Vistnero and Hyades Sectors ST-Q b5-4, QN-T c3-12 and CV-O b6-3! Very well done securing those high-progress Alerts; I think that becomes sixty-four systems, although there were some quite late recaptures and may need checking for more.

Invasions upcoming should be at Njorog, Omumba, HIP 116360 and Arietis Sector MX-U c2-18!

 

[Aleks Zuno]

Week 43, 21st September 3309​

Report
Thirty-four Alerts repelled at Pegasi Sectors DG-X c1-6, NY-O a7-1, RE-N a8-0 and OI-S b4-4, Col 285 Sectors YT-F b12-6, NG-E b12-4, UH-C b13-2, NG-E b12-3, KW-M c7-31, PM-B b14-3, SH-B b14-5, RM-B b14-8, SS-H b11-0, ZE-P c6-10, ZT-F b12-8 and SH-B b14-2, Cephei Sectors AF-A c22 and AF-A c21, HIPs 19600, 6694, 10168, 7338, 38718 and 19157, Ebisu, Nu Guang, Hyades Sectors RO-R c4-20, GB-N b7-5 and FB-N b7-3, Arietis Sectors XJ-R b4-2, LM-V b2-3 and JR-V b2-1, Jeng and Ceti Sector ZU-Y b1.
Three Invasions defended at HIP 116360, Njorog and Arietis Sector MX-U c2-18.
Thirteen Control evictions at Arietis Sector LM-V b2-4, Scythia, 79 b Tauri, HIP 22566, Hyades Sectors IM-V c2-11 and ON-S b4-6, Pegasi Sectors TK-L a9-0, HH-U b3-2 and IH-U b3-8, Montioch, Col 285 Sectors RH-B b14-5 and RH-B b14-4, and 71 Tauri.
In addition to the defended Invasions, three recaptured systems starting Recovery are Scythia, HIP 22566 and Montioch.

Targets updated at 06:30 28th September 3309
Omumba Invasion 88% *88.3% — Hadad 14 Ly, 4 ports, 1836 Ls planet attack
HIP 20616 Alert 74% *74.9% — Indra 22 Ly, 176k Ls planet
HIP 25679 Alert 56% — Taranis 17 Ly, 76 Ls outpost, 1960 Ls planet
HIP 11111 Alert 48% *48.2% — Oya 24 Ly, 2567 Ls outpost, 2474 Ls planet, Invasion requested
HIP 8525 Control 34% — Oya 18 Ly, 6041 strength
HIP 20890 Alert 32% *33.9% — Indra 22 Ly, 1609 Ls outpost, 6876 Ls planet
Iduni Control 30% — Raijin 22 Ly, 2361 strength
Tougeir Control 6% — Oya 16 Ly, 12.1k strength
Kurumanit Control 4% *5.3% — Cocijo 20 Ly, 4247 strength
Modigi Control 2% *2.4% — Taranis 18 Ly, 8783 strength
Obamumbo Control 2% *2.4% — Indra 19 Ly, 7368 strength
HIP 20577 Control 2% *2.4% — Indra 18 Ly, 9168 strength
HIP 21261 Control 2% — Indra 20 Ly, 4393 strength
Vasupari Control 2% — Hadad 18 Ly, 8723 strength

Operations
Harvest for Chnemine is at 683 of 10000; deliver to Ascension Light KLW-52M at Pegasi Sector LC-U b3-2. Update
Harvest for Tougeir is at 386 of 6114 (~6000 pending delivery); deliver to [SNPX] Resolute at Muchihiks. Update

Notes
The Alert report lists predicted attackers which can be stopped this cycle.
Arietis Sector LM-V b2-4 was completed with 415 versus an estimated 414.6, with actual progress 100.7888% and projected strength 411.8, which appears unchanged.

Week 42, 14th September 3309​

Report
Thirty-four Alerts repelled at Col 285 Sectors ZE-P c6-15, ZE-P c6-16, SS-H b11-4, SS-H b11-5, OC-V d2-96, EA-Q c5-8, SM-C b13-0, VS-Z b14-0, RM-B b14-2 and KW-M c7-12, Cephei Sectors AV-Y b6 and AV-Y b0, Arietis Sectors KM-W c1-14, WJ-R b4-2 and WJ-R b4-3, Pegasi Sectors MN-S b4-2 and MN-S b4-0, HIPs 20492, 3006, 22203, 20741 and 19757, Hyades Sectors JN-K b8-4, PN-T c3-5 and PN-T c3-7, Gliese 9035, Trianguli Sectors CA-A c14 and EQ-Y b6, Holvandalla, Muruidooges, Luggerates, HR 1403, Vocovii and Vistnero.
Three Invasions defended at Unktety, Bi Dhorora and Vucumatha.
Twenty-seven Control evictions at HIPs 21125, 18705 and 18857, Col 285 Sectors KL-E b12-5, EA-Q c5-10, EA-Q c5-11, EA-Q c5-4, IG-O c6-17, KA-G b11-0, KV-F b11-0, EA-Q c5-3, KB-O c6-2 and VN-Z b14-0, Arietis Sectors NX-U c2-19, BQ-P b5-2, KM-W d1-94 and JM-W d1-56, Hyades Sectors GH-M b7-1, GH-M b7-2, GR-W d1-93, JN-K b8-1, ST-Q b5-4, QN-T c3-12 and CV-O b6-3, Nibelaako, Trianguli Sector CA-A c22 and Pegasi Sector OI-S b4-7.
In addition to the defended Invasions, four recaptured systems starting Recovery are HIP 18857, Nibelaako, Arietis Sector KM-W d1-94 and Hyades Sector ST-Q b5-4.

 

[Grimscrub]

With their arrival, little more detail to the rescue ships new locations -
Rescue ship Cavell - Orbiting Koleti A 1, ~385Ls from star.
Imperial Sanctum - Orbiting Hixkaramu A 1, ~25.3Ls from star
Rescue ship Bertschinger - Orbiting Haritanis 1, ~359Ls from star
Federal Haven - Orbiting Gera 1, ~410Ls from star
Rescue ship Kisseih - Orbiting Triteia 1, ~467Ls from star
Rescue ship Cornwallis - Orbiting Mac Cimi AB 1, 53.8Ls from star.

- precise distances can vary, Bertschinger was 230Ls from my arrival point when i jumped over.

Of the 6, Hixkaramu A1 is the smallest radius/lowest mass body, 2,137km and 0.0357 respectively... not quite a new Antai given that was 757km radius though.
So far seems rescue/evac missions still go to Bertschinger, Federal Haven et al, making it more of a 170-200Ly journey from Taranis efforts unfortunately, actively further than they were if they had stayed put. Hopefully their monopoly comes to an end soon.

 

[Kira Goto]

Maybe we should bug Frontier about the matter, so they actually make them all available as destinations(and not just useful as a sample delivery locations… and I guess for Titan pods once those come into play).

Politely, of course.

 

[Starsong]

For anyone who'd like to see another enjoyably-convenient Invasion in the future, I'm running an eviction in the Chnemine system. With guaranteed planetary CZs for the first two weeks of invasion (and space CZs during the eviction process, if you like those), it'll be a useful source of combat content once Hadad's systems are blocked. If you want to join in, samples can be sold to the Ascension Light (KLW-52M) parked in Pegasi Sector LC-U b3-2.
(Also, how hard exactly is a 17.66Ly system? I know it's about 10k samples and will take a while, but it would be nice to know the exact number.)

 

[Aleks Zuno]

Also, how hard exactly is a 17.66Ly system? I know it's about 10k samples and will take a while, but it would be nice to know the exact number.

9713 for Chnemine! If it helps with finding Control strengths in general, the quite sneaky INIV targets page shows that strength against each system, and also has a look-up for finding other systems which are not attacking that week. In this case, said 9713 is listed amongst the top attackers at M. Raijin.

 

[Grimscrub]

Q - far as that targets page, is the dotted line for Oya, Thor and Taranis a kind of, Confidence line, 'above is quite likely, below - things may get peculiar' for our less behaved maelstroms?

Just had it noted to me in the last hour, so grew curious myself. Page overall's been solid and quite useful, thank you again, and apologies for any steadily inflating server costs.

 

[Carpets]

Hey guys, I'm slowly making my way through a couple of control systems getting some more accurate data. Here's the first two to come in. They're previously inhabited control.

Col 285 Sector BA-P c6-19		Nyani
Cocijo (5.19 Ly)		Cocijo (7.06 Ly)
Time	Action/Progress	Time	Action/Progress
21:37:18	0.000000	22:59:31	0.000000
22:11:47	16 scouts	23:25:36	16 scouts
22:34:47	4 scouts	23:49:18	2 scouts
22:50:28	100 samples	00:03:56	100 samples
00:12:36	0.000850	01:33:14	0.001056
progress per sample =	0.000008483033932		0.00001054102615
samples to clear =	117882.3529		94867.42424

I have assumed in my "per sample" number that one scout is worth 0.01 of one sample or 100 scouts = 1 sample. (This was the observed ratio from alert systems, I have no reason to believe it is different to any other system) So the progress per sample is the observed progress divided by 100.2 and 100.18 to account for the 100 samples and 20/18 scouts killed.

For reference the predicted samples to clear from the https://dev.iniv.space/targets/ site for Col 285 Sector BA-P c6-19 is 117669 and for Nyani is 94882 these figures are within 0.2% of mine, which is nice.

 

[Carpets]

Another system, this time previously unpopulated. I've tested this sort of thing before, but I've upped the number of samples this time. Particularly for the unpopulated controlled systems. Looking to confirm some numbers that I collected last time within 5 LY.

Pegasi Sector IH-U b3-2
Raijin (1.88 Ly)
Time	Action/Progress
03:43:42	0.000000
03:45:00	3 scouts
04:20:30	11 scouts
04:35:12	100 samples
06:03:27	0.000861
progress per sample =	0.000008597962852
samples to clear	116306.6202

https://dev.iniv.space/targets/ shows 116280 required for this system. This is the same as my previous testing.
We see a slightly larger number this time, 116307 will be more accurate as the amount of samples collected is greater and I have included the progress from scouts at the rate from my previous post.

 

[Aleks Zuno]

Victories in Arietis Sector LM-V b2-4, Scythia (that was fast!), Col 285 Sector YT-F b12-6 and Pegasi Sector DG-X c1-6!

Invasion attention is a bit divided, but by far the most is at Njorog, being highest proportionally and also among the more difficult pair. One-sixth thus far is great; it should be quite fine to complete it along with the single-port Arietis Sector MX-U c2-18. At present a one-week defence of Omumba should be considered unlikely, although depending on weekend activity HIP 116360 may be realistic.

Invasions at 06:30 22nd September 3309:
Njorog Invasion 16% *16.5% — Taranis 15 Ly, 5 ports, 107 Ls planet + 371 Ls outpost attack
Arietis Sector MX-U c2-18 Invasion 12% *12.9% — Leigong 24 Ly, 1 port, 25k Ls planet attack
Omumba Invasion 8% *9% — Hadad 14 Ly, 4 ports, 1836 Ls planet attack
HIP 116360 Invasion 8% — Raijin 21 Ly, 4 ports, 861 Ls 0.3g planet attack

Alerts:
Nu Guang Alert 26% *26.5% — Raijin 19 Ly, 44 Ls starport, 1040 Ls outpost
HIP 7338 Alert 8% *8.6% — Oya 19 Ly, 2426 Ls outpost, 1660 Ls planet
HIP 20890 Alert 4% *4.7% — Indra 22 Ly, 1609 Ls outpost, 2983 Ls planet

Clean-up:
Cephei Sector AF-A c21 Alert 84% *84.7% — Oya 21 Ly, empty
Cephei Sector AF-A c22 Alert 68% — Oya 21 Ly, empty
79 b Tauri Control 42% — Indra 19 Ly, empty, 759 strength

Q - far as that targets page, is the dotted line for Oya, Thor and Taranis a kind of, Confidence line, 'above is quite likely, below - things may get peculiar' for our less behaved maelstroms?
Just had it noted to me in the last hour, so grew curious myself. Page overall's been solid and quite useful, thank you again, and apologies for any steadily inflating server costs.

Such is all by @CMDR Vulkarius! The lines will be the edge of a Maelstrom in terms of its most-distant Control system, beyond which any further attacks work differently.

We induced this deliberately at M. Thor last week, as did others at M. Taranis; this can be done either by stopping attacks within that range or by removing Control systems to reduce the range, such that five targets will exceed it. Following the ongoing analysis, not every possible case is explained fully yet, but almost all work loosely like this:

• Choose the closest available Control system C, as opposed to the closest available Alert target.
• Use C to attack as far out as it can, but only if that would not exhaust all five attacks.
• Attack other targets within range of C, if other Control systems are nearby to do so.

Mind that the systems after that line seem still arranged by target distance!


Thank you @Carpets for the extended strength testing! I will compare those at some point over the weekend, and definitely propose a very slight slope adjustment, for its purpose is to lie very slightly above all known cases. It is fine for Nyani of course, but for Col 285 Sector BA-P c6-19 and Pegasi Sector IH-U b3-2 I would much prefer that the estimates become ~0.2% above the real amount!

 

[Carpets]

Just finished another sub 5LY previously unpopulated system.

Pegasi Sector IH-U b3-2		HIP 113695
Raijin (1.88 Ly)		Raijin (4.42 Ly)
Time	Action/Progress
03:43:42	0.000000	06:05:10	0.000000
03:45:00	3 scouts	06:24:33	11 scouts
04:20:30	11 scouts	06:52:46	5 scouts
04:35:12	100 samples	07:16:40	100 samples
06:03:27	0.000861	08:32:16	0.000861
progress per sample =	0.000008597962852		0.000008596246006
samples to clear	116306.6202		116329.849

Progress is the same after 100 samples plus a few scouts which is expected as they're both within 5LY.

A small difference of around 5 samples in the clearance figure here which is as a result of one calculation including 14 scout kills and the second including 16 scout kills. I should probably do another 900 samples to eek out another decimal place in the warprogress figure but I think I'll move onto other systems for now.

 

[CMDR Vulkarius]

Q - far as that targets page, is the dotted line for Oya, Thor and Taranis a kind of, Confidence line, 'above is quite likely, below - things may get peculiar' for our less behaved maelstroms?

Just had it noted to me in the last hour, so grew curious myself. Page overall's been solid and quite useful, thank you again, and apologies for any steadily inflating server costs.

Yep, that's the new perimeter line
Above that line we have months of evidence that says you'll get the top 5 attacks.
Below gets tricky but we're almost there - crossing it deposits an attack, the nearest attacker hits as far as it can*, and hitting a skipped target gets the deposit back.
*with some weird exceptions - I just posted a(nother...) theory in the analysis thread which seems to work for now, where reach is based on budget.

Don't worry about the server, I think all of INTRA (mission BGS + full war scans) is less than a single bounty-hunting video

 

[Aleks Zuno]

Victories in Cephei Sectors AF-A c22 and AF-A c21, and Pegasi Sectors NY-O a7-1 and RE-N a8-0!

Njorog is doing very well to have reached a quarter already, and we have exactly that for which I hoped—a heavy strike upon Montioch! Especially if it continues, the easier strength is enough that we will cease stockpiling and commit to a one-week recapture, delivering after each session instead. We have some 10% awaiting delivery from yesterday, which will occur along with any added this evening!

Invasions at 18:00 22nd September 3309:
Njorog Invasion 24% *25.7% — Taranis 15 Ly, 5 ports, 107 Ls planet + 371 Ls outpost attack
HIP 116360 Invasion 20% *20.8% — Raijin 21 Ly, 4 ports, 861 Ls 0.3g planet attack
Arietis Sector MX-U c2-18 Invasion 18% — Leigong 24 Ly, 1 port, 25k Ls planet attack
Omumba Invasion 12% *12.5% — Hadad 14 Ly, 4 ports, 1836 Ls planet attack

Alerts:
Nu Guang Alert 40% — Raijin 19 Ly, 44 Ls starport, 1040 Ls outpost
HIP 7338 Alert 16% — Oya 19 Ly, 2426 Ls outpost, 1660 Ls planet
HIP 20890 Alert 6% *7.4% — Indra 22 Ly, 1609 Ls outpost, 2983 Ls planet

Eviction:
Montioch Control 14% *15.3% — Hadad 13 Ly, 25.3k strength

Clean-up:
79 b Tauri Control 42% *42.2% — Indra 19 Ly, empty, 756 strength
Col 285 Sector SS-H b11-0 Alert 26% — Cocijo 23 Ly, empty
Col 285 Sector ZE-P c6-10 Alert 24% — Cocijo 20 Ly, empty

A small difference of around 5 samples in the clearance figure here which is as a result of one calculation including 14 scout kills and the second including 16 scout kills. I should probably do another 900 samples to eek out another decimal place in the warprogress figure but I think I'll move onto other systems for now.

Thank you, and no worries about getting that much precision; your new measurements narrow the real strength within around 100, or about a quarter of a single round with a harvest wing. Spending 900 on a test would be so much that I would suggest using it to win a ~21.5 Ly system instead!

 

[Kira Goto]

Montioch

Now, I’m not trying to put a spanner into the recapture and guarding enthusiasm, but would a single outpost system at a distance of 13.34 ly, to attempt safeguarding a 15ly system with a more viable port defense location(providing it is cleared when the ground port is hit), be wise as an investment?

I’m not sure I’d fancy the system[Montioch]’s chances, were it to reach the invasion stage. But if there’s a goal to turn Hadad into the first Titan to no longer hold any inhabited systems, I guess it’s kind of worth pursuing? However long it might last…

 

[Aleks Zuno]

Now, I’m not trying to put a spanner into the recapture and guarding enthusiasm, but would a single outpost system at a distance of 13.34 ly, to attempt safeguarding a 15ly system with a more viable port defense location(providing it is cleared when the ground port is hit), be wise as an investment?

I’m not sure I’d fancy the system[Montioch]’s chances, were it to reach the invasion stage. But if there’s a goal to turn Hadad into the first Titan to no longer hold any inhabited systems, I guess it’s kind of worth pursuing? However long it might last…

For as long as we are around, Montioch will never enter Invasion! It goes quite a bit beyond simply guarding HR 2204; take a look at the systems nearby:

That entire group of systems nearby is marked for eviction, which will guard Montioch itself as well as freeing from attack HR 2204, HIP 29596, Muruidooges, Vogulu, Bi Dhorora—and Omumba, as it happens! I had not considered restoring all inhabited systems specifically, but that would follow as a result of a sensible continuation; HIP 29226 is the main bridge system above, which cannot be helped because HIP 30439 has a Matrix (and indeed has over 100000 strength), but Col 285 Sector PM-B b14-0 above leads up to HIP 30502 and Vasupari, all quite Matrix-free and can be cleared gradually without any Alerts fighting back.

Operation Redacted established that Titans are dormant, we used that information to make a M. Leigong district, and just as soon as we finished there a Col 285 Sector VN-Z b14-0 was cleared over at M. Hadad! The 10000 for keeping HIP 29226 clear is a bit more steep, but there are many more systems on our side of that bridge, and I think we have a real opportunity to carve a wide arc of space.

 

[Kira Goto]

For as long as we are around, Montioch will never enter Invasion! It goes quite a bit beyond simply guarding HR 2204; take a look at the systems nearby:

View attachment 368123​

That entire group of systems nearby is marked for eviction, which will guard Montioch itself as well as freeing from attack HR 2204, HIP 29596, Muruidooges, Vogulu, Bi Dhorora—and Omumba, as it happens! I had not considered restoring all inhabited systems specifically, but that would follow as a result of a sensible continuation; HIP 29226 is the main bridge system above, which cannot be helped because HIP 30439 has a Matrix (and indeed has over 100000 strength), but Col 285 Sector PM-B b14-0 above leads up to HIP 30502 and Vasupari, all quite Matrix-free and can be cleared gradually without any Alerts fighting back.

Operation Redacted established that Titans are dormant, we used that information to make a M. Leigong district, and just as soon as we finished there a Col 285 Sector VN-Z b14-0 was cleared over at M. Hadad! The 10000 for keeping HIP 29226 clear is a bit more steep, but there are many more systems on our side of that bridge, and I think we have a real opportunity to carve a wide arc of space.

Well, that does work, I suppose. I guess the Imperial side of the Maelstrom front is going to be pleased whenever the whole plan is completed.

Honestly a bit surprised the Thargoids are so uncaring that they don’t bother taking any systems within a 10ly perimeter around the Titan back(or make no attempts to, comes out to the same thing). Or, the less interesting explanation, Frontier maybe didn’t expect people to bother trying to push in that far, especially for uninhabited space.

Going to hop back to my otherwise mostly uninformed observation corner until otherwise prompted now, since there is no real matter of concern to be had regarding Montioch’s status following (eventual) recapture.

 

[Aleks Zuno]

Victories in Pegasi Sector OI-S b4-4 and HIP 19600! Invasions are progressing well given their high strength, although their activity gradient could benefit from being a little steeper with more focus on Njorog; present projection is around 7% short of completing all four. Ebisu joins the top few Alert systems, Montioch is moving wonderfully, and just a little more at 79 b Tauri will clear it!

Invasions at 07:40 23rd September 3309:
Njorog Invasion 36% *37.8% — Taranis 15 Ly, 5 ports, 107 Ls planet + 371 Ls outpost attack
HIP 116360 Invasion 32% *32.8% — Raijin 21 Ly, 4 ports, 861 Ls 0.3g planet attack
Arietis Sector MX-U c2-18 Invasion 28% *28.6% — Leigong 24 Ly, 1 port, 25k Ls planet attack
Omumba Invasion 18% *18.9% — Hadad 14 Ly, 4 ports, 1836 Ls planet attack

Alerts:
Nu Guang Alert 54% — Raijin 19 Ly, 44 Ls starport, 1040 Ls outpost
HIP 7338 Alert 18% *19.2% — Oya 19 Ly, 2426 Ls outpost, 1660 Ls planet
Ebisu Alert 12% *13% — Taranis 21 Ly, 358 Ls starport, 63 Ls outpost, 105 Ls planet

Eviction:
Montioch Control 48% *48.3% — Hadad 13 Ly, 15.4k strength

Clean-up:
79 b Tauri Control 82% — Indra 19 Ly, empty, 236 strength
Col 285 Sector SS-H b11-0 Alert 26% — Cocijo 23 Ly, empty
Col 285 Sector ZE-P c6-10 Alert 24% — Cocijo 20 Ly, empty

Going to hop back to my otherwise mostly uninformed observation corner until otherwise prompted now, since there is no real matter of concern to be had regarding Montioch’s status following (eventual) recapture.

Feel free to point out potential missteps! Your concern was perfectly valid; it would have needed quite a bit of reading further back to notice that we planned to keep the new foothold at Col 285 Sector VN-Z b14-0 by taking both Montioch and Col 285 Sector RH-B b14-2, and a bit of inference that we are then going to guard the new strongest and closest systems from being attacked again.

If I may ask, is this region of space your home? It neighbours ours, and the only thing keeping us from pushing closer to M. Hadad was knowing that the attacks can be stopped completely¹!

1. Almost; the bridge at HIP 29226 will need holding, and at that time I intend to offer that it becomes Control again, so we visit it every six weeks rather than every three.

 

[Kira Goto]

If I may ask, is this region of space your home? It neighbours ours, and the only thing keeping us from pushing closer to M. Hadad was knowing that the attacks can be stopped completely¹!

Not particularly. I used to be set up closer to the center of the Bubble. Then I got a fleet carrier and turned a bit into one of those roamers that can generally be found wherever it is(or usually not too far from it, unless I’m way out there).

I just pay a bit of attention to the state of the war and different fronts as a whole, though obviously cannot act on all of them, so I originally chose Oya as where I ‘stayed’ the most. Been contained pretty well for the most part, though, freeing me up to do as I would… which isn’t that much in the grand scheme of things, being me acting in independent fashion and all that buzz.

Also not been too active around the war theater lately as it is, other than finding some of those matrix sites around Indra(plus a bit of work in isolated/unfavorable alerts, and when HIP 25679 went into invasion).

Anyway, while I have a squad, the investment is mostly there on a ‘What it stands for’ level, and not so much BGS/system holdings… plus, while at the edge of the Bubble, it has its home space at about a hundred ly from the closest Titan/Maelstrom(Oya, coincidentally).

So unless one of those decides to plonk down over there, I’ll happily work wherever*. But to answer your implied question, you’re free to do at Hadad as you please, whether that is to stop attacks entirely or leave them be, with minimal impact on me personally either way.

*If you would ask for my support in controlled space, while I could, I’m afraid my value there would be limited. My brain could not tolerate an activity such as tissue sampling due to the boredom it involves, and due to various circumstances combat is off the list too(mostly RP based, but still). Hence I tend to remain focused on invasions and (more rarely) alerts.

Anyhow, that’s probably enough of my ramblings for you.

 

[Aleks Zuno]

Also not been too active around the war theater lately as it is, other than finding some of those matrix sites around Indra(plus a bit of work in isolated/unfavorable alerts, and when HIP 25679 went into invasion).

I remember the Matrix hunt—thank you for helping with that! That reminds me, last I knew there were 45 of them with around 100 systems not yet proven to be normal, and I am a little curious regarding movement of either of those numbers since.

It is true that a bit more care may be needed regarding the last couple of inhabited systems at M. Hadad, so I am also quite thankful for having reviewed it more closely. For the moment I think we will end up with Col 285 Sector PM-B b14-0 as another bridge; we can take HIP 30502 and the next group of systems, although the eventual result then will be the Matrix at HIP 30439 distributing Alerts as if we had three bridges to hold.

That is quite a while away for the moment, though—and at this rate, said result actually would leave Commanders here with a lack of targets on alternate weeks!

 

[Kira Goto]

I remember the Matrix hunt—thank you for helping with that! That reminds me, last I knew there were 45 of them with around 100 systems not yet proven to be normal, and I am a little curious regarding movement of either of those numbers since.

As far as I am aware - and based on the Canonn sheet - no new ones have yet been discovered since more or less early August. I believe this to be accurate, as I did spend a bit more time surveying a few of the Maelstroms(Raijin, Oya and Thor) for more potential finds, but at least when I was still looking, it merely confirmed existing discoveries throughout the entire control sphere.

Also started at Taranis at some point but lost motivation a little. Still, I would assume that, seeing how there seems to have been no movement for weeks, we won’t be finding any new ones too soon*.

Especially as the number of placed sites correlated to the size of the control sphere at time of placement, to some degree(looking at how Indra has the most with 8, followed by Raijin and - before recapture work hit it - Taranis with 7). Since they haven’t taken any space in a few months… doubtful they’ll have put down any more of those things.

A potential point of concern for the sites - for me - is that they could be used for further Thargoid expansion, in case of some of the ones placed further out, acting somewhat like a forward operating base of their own, such that the Titans are no longer the only deployment and return point for Thargoid vessels. In a more effective way than they are now, where it’s a standard control with budget for one alert.

The other ideas I favor more currently are either a ship construction site, or a generator for a portal to bring in a ‘mini-Titan’(so to speak), or a processing center for captured humans. Suppose it could also be a combination of either of the three… only thing that’s certain is it won’t be good.

*Worth noting, I personally was not actively communicating my findings of the search at the time. While I do use discord, I am only active in a few select servers, none of which had a particular involvement in the barnacle matrix hunt. And, as above, the possibility of my findings no longer being accurate - slim as it may be - remains. Motivation is also not too high to keep looking at the moment, but it might return following U17.

Edit - And speaking of things to do, I might see about running some evacs out of Leigong’s invasion. It would be a bit of a shame to have it fall when it was specifically allowed to pass for players to have a port defense scenario.