Thargoid invasion - Next target systems?

[Aleks Zuno]

Victories in Aurus and Senocidi! HIP 20850 is progressing strongly enough, and HIP 23716 has pulled forward just enough to project very slightly above completion. Mind that these cases can vary wildly; it relies on some Commanders acting to help secure that investment, and also on other Commanders not withdrawing as the end of the cycle approaches!

Alert at 07:50 3rd May 3309:
HIP 20850 Alert 64% — Indra 27 Ly, 94 Ls planet

Slightly less risky than before:
HIP 23716 Alert 42% — Taranis 18 Ly, 2314 Ls starport, 2351 Ls outpost, 2354 Ls planet

Clean-up:
Hyades Sector ZZ-O b6-1 Control 28% — Taranis 26 Ly, empty
Col 285 Sector XN-Z b14-5 Alert 10% — Hadad 32 Ly, empty

So that's 11 controls cleared to match last week. There's a minor science opportunity here if you only clear at most one more control at Hadad this week (so 7 but not 8 total) and then are able to follow that up with at least 8 cleared the following week.
(As always: please don't let that stop you clearing 8 locally this week if necessary for local strategy)

Has this to do with the way that M. Hadad only placed four Alerts this week? I was considering possible explanations; the best I could imagine was that placing farther Alerts—as we have been forcing it to do using its turn-by-turn rules—expends more of its Alert capacity.

Either way it is quite good that you mentioned that, for I had planned two more open harvests, and probably could have completed one already were it not for the attempts to inspire it elsewhere! These are just to continue clearing that ten light-year sphere around Bagalya though, on which we were making a start now because there were so many of them. Will it be fine to take one more system there such as Col 285 Sector OB-D b13-2, then direct any extra time at a different Maelstrom?

We can also clear many more than eight in a cycle if you need; that is simply a case of clearing many empty systems rather than one strong inhabited system. Fotlandjera alone probably was worth eight empty Control systems!

 

[Ian Doncaster]

Has this to do with the way that M. Hadad only placed four Alerts this week? I was considering possible explanations; the best I could imagine was that placing farther Alerts—as we have been forcing it to do using its turn-by-turn rules—expends more of its Alert capacity.

If it was just distance related then Leigong and Thor are placing considerably further out than Hadad is on both LY distance and Index measures, as well as on separation between 1st and 5th Alert, so I think that's unlikely. Still not impossible, but you've been putting Hadad in similar "split" positions for a while now and it doesn't normally reduce their Alert count.

What I'm wondering about is whether hitting a Maelstrom extremely hard actually takes away from its attack capacity - it's been investigated before without any evidence found, but that was mainly looking at Alert or Invasion wins: stopping them taking further territory rather than taking it back. In terms of raw numbers of victories, Hadad last week wasn't unusual and there were more the previous week at Hadad and in an earlier week at Taranis - but it did have a record number of control recaptures, as did the week as a whole - 8 at Hadad, 11 total; previous records 7 at Hadad, 9 total.

So if you were to hit only 6 or 7 at Hadad again this week, but we had 11 or 12 total, and got the usual 40 Alerts, that would rule out the global total as the cause. (Everything seems to be per-Maelstrom, it's unlikely anyway, but it's an easy check at this stage as it requires doing less work)
Then if you got 8+ the following week, and only had 4 Alerts at Hadad the week after, that would be a strong hint that there's a threshold effect there and perhaps testable at another Maelstrom. And "8" would be a Thargoidy number to have a threshold effect apply at.
Or if that also got 5 Alerts we'd then have to look for something different.

(Of course, U15 might mess this all up anyway, chance we have to take...)

Will it be fine to take one more system there such as Col 285 Sector OB-D b13-2, then direct any extra time at a different Maelstrom?

Yes, one more to get to 7 should be fine - that would just equal the number from week 13 April, and we already know that didn't do anything unexpected.

 

[Aleks Zuno]

Victory in Gliese 753! HIP 20850 can just about make it with a little to spare, and personally I would not attempt to secure HIP 23716. Perhaps it will be another Wakata defence this time?

As a note for @Ian Doncaster, we decided to leave M. Hadad alone so as not to risk an unexpected eighth completion not of our doing. As a note more generally, we decided instead to visit M. Thor, and suffice to say that we have Auaker recaptured. It is at 16% at the moment from an early measurement, however we have already everything we need to complete it. The plan is to see if we can record a more accurate measurement first!

Alert at 00:50 4th May 3309:
HIP 20850 Alert 88% — Indra 27 Ly, 94 Ls planet

Quite unlikely:
HIP 23716 Alert 64% — Taranis 18 Ly, 2314 Ls starport, 2351 Ls outpost, 2354 Ls planet

Clean-up:
Hyades Sector ZZ-O b6-1 Control 42% — Taranis 26 Ly, empty

 

[CMDR Aldebaran]

Due to the recent invasion drought, I've been busy building a Clipper for rescues to help out at Alert systems. The first outing went well. I got it wedged in the slot at Wakata, due to me sacrificing a docking computer for a fuel scoop. The authorities weren't too happy about this and took no time in blasting me, my clipper, 60 refugees and 10 injured personnel to smithereens!! It's a cruel game...

After a detour to the Fountain of Penance, the fuel scoop has now been swapped back for a docking computer

 

[Aleks Zuno]

Victories in Auaker and HIP 20850! Short of a very late Research sale HIP 23716 will proceed to Invasion; unfortunately the drive for Alerts has also restored the late-cycle and Wednesday problem of withdrawing well before the end. Well done to those Commanders such as @Planewalker and @CMDR Aldebaran who were giving it a chance!

Despite being 35.54 Ly from M. Thor, the Auaker opening measurement was exactly the same as with Yukait at 26.15 Ly from M. Hadad, projecting up to 1800 units. A second sneaky Megaship run then raised the minimum from 1440 to 1600, after which the time taken to make a third measurement would contend with any potential reduction it might reveal, though we did capture such afterwards:

Units delivered	Progress display	Projected total
144	8%	1440–1800
288	16%	1600–1800
1600	92%	1703–1740
1882	100%

 

[Aleks Zuno]

Week 23, 4th May 3309​

Report
Eleven Alerts repelled at Arietis Sectors CQ-P b5-3 and UO-R b4-4, Gliese 9035, HIPs 6913 and 20485, Minawara, Poqomathi, Vukurbeh, Lahua, Garongxians, Vogulu.
Seven Invasions defended at Sukurbago, HIPs 23716 and 26274, Khwal, HR 1403, Col 285 Sector UD-G b12-2, Kalkaduna.
Eighteen Control evictions at Col 285 Sectors GL-O c6-15, GQ-O c6-21, GQ-O c6-22, HL-O c6-14, HL-O c6-22, JG-O c6-15, JG-O c6-18, LL-E b12-3, LL-E b12-5, QR-C b13-4, TS-Z b14-1 and CA-E b13-1, HIPs 21548 and 11134, Theemim, Arietis Sector AQ-P b5-3, Cephei Sectors DQ-Y b2 and ZE-A d69.
In addition to the defended Invasions, one recaptured system starting Recovery is Theemim.

Targets updated at 06:40 11th May 3309
Kagutsuchi Alert 70% — Indra 22 Ly, 42 Ls starport, 55 Ls outpost, 42 Ls planet
Asletae Alert 60% — Cocijo 29 Ly, 16 Ls outpost, 93 Ls planet
Holvandalla Alert 44% — Raijin 21 Ly, 86 Ls starport, 19 Ls outpost, 43 Ls planet
Ebisu Alert 36% — Taranis 21 Ly, 358 Ls starport, 63 Ls outpost, 105 Ls planet
Hez Ur Invasion 34% — Cocijo 22 Ly, 2 ports, 236 Ls outpost attack
Muruidooges Alert 22% — Hadad 18 Ly, 1018 Ls starport
Isla Alert 12% — Raijin 24 Ly, 888 Ls starport, 2193 Ls outpost, 888 Ls planet
Hyades Sector AV-O b6-5 Alert 10% — Taranis 24 Ly, 22 Ls planet
Hyades Sector ZZ-O b6-1 Control 10% — Taranis 26 Ly, empty
Imeut Alert 10% — Taranis 19 Ly, 12 Ls outpost, 54k Ls planet
Pegasi Sector NN-S b4-3 Alert 10% — Raijin 24 Ly, empty
Unktety Alert 10% — Thor 25 Ly, 92 Ls outpost, 38 Ls planet
HIP 29596 Alert 8% — Hadad 18 Ly, 2098 Ls starport, 3015 Ls outpost
Laumas Alert 8% — Cocijo 29 Ly, 255 Ls starport, 255 Ls planet
Wolf 121 Alert 8% — Leigong 29 Ly, 1708 Ls starport, 4243 Ls outpost, 1666 Ls planet
Ceti Sector DB-X b1-0 Control 6% — Leigong 49 Ly, empty
HIP 20899 Alert 4% — Indra 23 Ly, 876 Ls outpost, 2988 Ls planet
HIP 25679 Control 4% — Taranis 17 Ly
HIP 26688 Alert 4% — Taranis 22 Ly, 230 Ls planet
Pegasi Sector NN-S b4-4 Alert 4% — Raijin 21 Ly, empty
65 Kappa Tauri Control 2% — Indra 25 Ly
Col 285 Sector XT-Q c5-2 Control 2% — Cocijo 25 Ly, empty
Col 285 Sector YT-F b12-2 Control 2% — Cocijo 24 Ly, empty
Col 285 Sector ZE-P c6-20 Control 2% — Cocijo 28 Ly, empty
Desurinbin Control 2% — Cocijo 25 Ly
HIP 116360 Alert 2% — Raijin 21 Ly, 649 Ls outpost, 462 Ls planet
HIP 20056 Control 2% — Indra 24 Ly
HIP 21724 Alert 2% — Thor 30 Ly, 263 Ls outpost
HIP 30158 Control 2% — Hadad 21 Ly
Mapon Control 2% — Cocijo 18 Ly
Pegasi Sector RE-N a8-4 Control 2% — Raijin 25 Ly, empty

Notes
The Alert report lists predicted attackers which can be stopped this cycle, noting that a few will help our knowledge if avoided.
There is a short-order Community Goal for advancing Maelstrom access.

Week 22, 27th April 3309​

Report
Sixteen Alerts repelled at Arietis Sector YU-P b5-1, Gliese 3050, Cabarci, HIPs 20527, 2422 and 20850, Muncheim, Cephei Sector EL-Y c23, 63 Eridani, Jaoi, Bi Dhorora, Awara, Ngolite, Pathamon, Aurus, Senocidi.
Four Invasions defended at Arietis Sector DQ-Y c18, Col 285 Sectors AF-E b13-5 and YT-F b12-3, HIP 18702.
Thirteen Control evictions at Cephei Sectors ZE-A c10 and FB-X b1-5, HIPs 28183, 28913 and 10616, Arietis Sector YJ-R b4-4, Fotlandjera, Col 285 Sectors RH-B b14-1, FQ-O c6-3 and OB-D b13-6, Gliese 9843, Gliese 753, Auaker.

 

[Retyu Ranger]

Week 23, 4th May 3309​

Targets updated at 08:40 4th May 3309
Hyades Sector ZZ-O b6-1 Control 10% — Taranis 26 Ly, empty

Previous cycle top targets
HIP 23716 Invasion (76%) — Taranis 18 Ly, 5 ports
HR 1403 Invasion (18%) — Indra 25 Ly, 5 ports
HIP 26274 Invasion (16%) — Taranis 24 Ly, 2 ports
Kalkaduna Invasion (16%) — Thor 39 Ly, 6 ports

Week 22, 27th April 3309​

Report
Sixteen Alerts repelled at Arietis Sector YU-P b5-1, Gliese 3050, Cabarci, HIPs 20527, 2422 and 20850, Muncheim, Cephei Sector EL-Y c23, 63 Eridani, Jaoi, Bi Dhorora, Awara, Ngolite, Pathamon, Aurus, Senocidi.
Four Invasions defended at Arietis Sector DQ-Y c18, Col 285 Sectors AF-E b13-5 and YT-F b12-3, HIP 18702.
Thirteen Control evictions at Cephei Sectors ZE-A c10 and FB-X b1-5, HIPs 28183, 28913 and 10616, Arietis Sector YJ-R b4-4, Fotlandjera, Col 285 Sectors RH-B b14-1, FQ-O c6-3 and OB-D b13-6, Gliese 9843, Gliese 753, Auaker.

Now THAT's a nice week for Humanity! NICE WORK EVERYONE!

Long Live Humanity!!! Death to the Thargoids!!

o7

 

[Aleks Zuno]

Victories in Arietis Sector CQ-P b5-3 and Col 285 Sector LL-E b12-3! Despite the ongoing Community Goal, which is very relevant to the Maelstroms and actually does need swift attention if it is to reach Tier 1, we still have a decent start with enough combined Invasion progress to match almost exactly the completion of all eight this week (projecting 797%).

Alerts are impacted a bit; excluding the empty Alert already completed (well done!), present progress suggests ten in a cycle with twenty-seven of them. We need the new Neutraliser though, so I suggest leaving that after the minimum needed to achieve Tier 1. As usual, I suggest also that harvest operations move into those nearby Control systems if possible—remember that Invasions span multiple cycles, such that it is quite fine to remove the attackers instead, even if that means leaving many present Alerts to become Invasions!

Invasions at 07:10 5th May 3309:
Sukurbago Invasion 28% — Cocijo 24 Ly, 7 ports, 1122 Ls outpost + 1121 Ls 0.18g planet attack
HIP 26274 Invasion 24% — Taranis 24 Ly, 2 ports, 4935 Ls 0.3g planet attack
HIP 23716 Invasion 20% — Taranis 18 Ly, 5 ports, 3051 Ls 0.14g planet + 2351 Ls outpost attack
HR 1403 Invasion 8% — Indra 25 Ly, 5 ports, 194 Ls 2.5g planet + 2483 Ls 0.13g planet attack

Alerts:
Gliese 9035 Alert 62% — Oya 20 Ly, 326 Ls planet
Lahua Alert 22% — Oya 19 Ly, 10 Ls outpost, 19 Ls planet
HIP 20485 Alert 16% — Indra 21 Ly, 27 Ls starport
Garongxians Alert 14% — Leigong 28 Ly
Vukurbeh Alert 12% — Taranis 24 Ly, 265 Ls starport, 1262 Ls outpost, 1737 Ls planet
Vogulu Alert 8% — Hadad 21 Ly, 336 Ls starport, 471 Ls outpost

Clean-up:
Hyades Sector ZZ-O b6-1 Control 10% — Taranis 26 Ly, empty

Now THAT's a nice week for Humanity! NICE WORK EVERYONE!

It is! We had forty systems once though, and were it not for the Community Goal I would have estimated this cycle as being likely to exceed that, based on:

• No shortage of Alerts, which many have become very swift at completing.
• Decent Invasion roster for activating the port defence capacity.
• My own upcoming clean-up at M. Thor this weekend—see Col 285 Sector LL-E b12-3 for one early eviction!

 

[Retyu Ranger]

It is! We had forty systems once though, and were it not for the Community Goal I would have estimated this cycle as being likely to exceed that, based on:

• No shortage of Alerts, which many have become very swift at completing.
• Decent Invasion roster for activating the port defence capacity.
• My own upcoming clean-up at M. Thor this weekend—see Col 285 Sector LL-E b12-3 for one early eviction!

Good luck this cycle. I will see all of you combat commanders at one of these systems: Sukurbago, HIP 26274, HIP 23716, or HR 1403. I haven't put together a sample gathering rig yet, let alone give it a go to see how to do it, so I just kill 'em. All of 'em.

LLH! DTT!!

o7

 

[Weps]

One of my greater questions at the moment is how will AX restore power missions play into the war simulation. Why would be going behind enemy lines to restore power to abandoned positions and what even happens to those positions after they are restored... ?

 

[Ned Flandalorian]

You'd think this would be a restoration activity - you know, the state where we currently have no useful way of contributing because it's entirely automated - rather than another offensive attack to take back systems.
Remember how we could fight around capital class ships in HIP 22460? Why was that mechanic seemingly completely abandoned? Wouldn't it make sense for some of these ships (we know there's more, they keep being mentioned in Galnet despite rarely actually showing up at battles - Sirius supposedly funded an entirely new fleet that hasn't even made an appearance) to pop up in control systems?

 

[Weps]

Now watching another video - it seems the reactivation is just a step in the scenario, the ultimate goal of the mission being actually some data or item retrieval. So it's a SpecOps mission. That makes more sense.

 

[Aleks Zuno]

Victories in Col 285 Sector GL-O c6-15 and HIP 21548! Besides helping to test some loose hypotheses related to multiple evictions at one Maelstrom, that also leaves Mangwutja safe from attack next cycle. The Community Goal for the new Neutraliser module has now reached Tier 1, after which I am hoping to see at least a partial return to system defence!

Invasions at 09:00 6th May 3309:
Sukurbago Invasion 64% — Cocijo 24 Ly, 7 ports, 1122 Ls outpost + 1121 Ls 0.18g planet attack
HIP 26274 Invasion 54% — Taranis 24 Ly, 2 ports, 4935 Ls 0.3g planet attack
HIP 23716 Invasion 50% — Taranis 18 Ly, 5 ports, 3051 Ls 0.14g planet + 2351 Ls outpost attack
HR 1403 Invasion 22% — Indra 25 Ly, 5 ports, 194 Ls 2.5g planet + 2483 Ls 0.13g planet attack
Khwal Invasion 22% — Cocijo 22 Ly, 4 ports, 89 Ls 0.15g planet attack

Alerts:
Gliese 9035 Alert 90% — Oya 20 Ly, 556 Ls planet
Vukurbeh Alert 42% — Taranis 24 Ly, 265 Ls starport, 1262 Ls outpost, 1737 Ls planet
Lahua Alert 38% — Oya 19 Ly, 10 Ls outpost, 19 Ls planet
Garongxians Alert 30% — Leigong 28 Ly
Vogulu Alert 26% — Hadad 21 Ly, 336 Ls starport, 471 Ls outpost
HIP 20485 Alert 24% — Indra 21 Ly, 27 Ls starport

Clean-up:
Hyades Sector ZZ-O b6-1 Control 10% — Taranis 26 Ly, empty
Col 285 Sector CA-E b13-1 Control 4% — Cocijo 26 Ly, empty

 

[Aleks Zuno]

Victories in Col 285 Sectors HL-O c6-22 and JG-O c6-18, and Gliese 9035!

Invasions at 18:20 6th May 3309:
Sukurbago Invasion 86% — Cocijo 24 Ly, 7 ports, 1122 Ls outpost + 1121 Ls 0.18g planet attack
HIP 26274 Invasion 60% — Taranis 24 Ly, 2 ports, 4935 Ls 0.3g planet attack
HIP 23716 Invasion 58% — Taranis 18 Ly, 5 ports, 3051 Ls 0.14g planet + 2351 Ls outpost attack
Khwal Invasion 30% — Cocijo 22 Ly, 4 ports, 89 Ls 0.15g planet attack
HR 1403 Invasion 28% — Indra 25 Ly, 5 ports, 194 Ls 2.5g planet + 2483 Ls 0.13g planet attack

Alerts:
Vukurbeh Alert 54% — Taranis 24 Ly, 265 Ls starport, 1262 Ls outpost, 1737 Ls planet
Lahua Alert 50% — Oya 19 Ly, 10 Ls outpost, 19 Ls planet
Garongxians Alert 34% — Leigong 28 Ly, 5998 Ls starport
HIP 20485 Alert 32% — Indra 21 Ly, 27 Ls starport
Vogulu Alert 30% — Hadad 21 Ly, 336 Ls starport, 471 Ls outpost

Clean-up:
Hyades Sector ZZ-O b6-1 Control 10% — Taranis 26 Ly, empty
Col 285 Sector CA-E b13-1 Control 4% — Cocijo 26 Ly, empty

 

[Aleks Zuno]

Victories in Col 285 Sectors JG-O c6-15 and QR-C b13-4, HIP 6913 and Sukurbago! Definitely the activity is returning now, with those planetary defences doing very well (no Wakata for them!) and Minawara seeing an especially strong Alert drive.

Speaking for INIV, our M. Thor evictions have been based around protecting Auaker and moving towards Theemim and Almar, coincidentally also an investment in future protection for Kalkaduna. Almar will be more tricky because it requires an open harvest, but we would like to win at least one of those this cycle along with the clean-up, so a land harvest later at Theemim sounds appropriate!

Invasions at 08:50 7th May 3309:
HIP 23716 Invasion 90% — Taranis 18 Ly, 5 ports, 3051 Ls 0.14g planet + 2351 Ls outpost attack
HIP 26274 Invasion 78% — Taranis 24 Ly, 2 ports, 4935 Ls 0.3g planet attack
Khwal Invasion 46% — Cocijo 22 Ly, 4 ports, 89 Ls 0.15g planet attack
HR 1403 Invasion 42% — Indra 25 Ly, 5 ports, 194 Ls 2.5g planet + 2483 Ls 0.13g planet attack
Col 285 Sector UD-G b12-2 Invasion 20% — Cocijo 26 Ly, 3 ports, 2187 Ls 0.14g planet attack
Kalkaduna Invasion 14% — Thor 39 Ly, 6 ports, 93 Ls outpost + 2514 Ls 0.7g planet attack

Alerts:
Vukurbeh Alert 70% — Taranis 24 Ly, 265 Ls starport, 1262 Ls outpost, 1737 Ls planet
Lahua Alert 68% — Oya 19 Ly, 10 Ls outpost, 19 Ls planet
Minawara Alert 58% — Oya 23 Ly, 412 Ls outpost, 412 Ls planet
Garongxians Alert 50% — Leigong 28 Ly, 5998 Ls starport
HIP 20485 Alert 38% — Indra 21 Ly, 27 Ls starport
Vogulu Alert 36% — Hadad 21 Ly, 336 Ls starport, 471 Ls outpost

Clean-up:
Hyades Sector ZZ-O b6-1 Control 10% — Taranis 26 Ly, empty
Col 285 Sector CA-E b13-1 Control 8% — Cocijo 26 Ly, empty

 

[Aleks Zuno]

Victories in Col 285 Sectors HL-O c6-14 and LL-E b12-5, HIP 23716 and Minawara!

Invasions at 17:50 7th May 3309:
HIP 26274 Invasion 92% — Taranis 24 Ly, 2 ports, 4935 Ls 0.3g planet attack
Khwal Invasion 58% — Cocijo 22 Ly, 4 ports, 89 Ls 0.15g planet attack
HR 1403 Invasion 52% — Indra 25 Ly, 5 ports, 194 Ls 2.5g planet + 2483 Ls 0.13g planet attack
Col 285 Sector UD-G b12-2 Invasion 24% — Cocijo 26 Ly, 3 ports, 2187 Ls 0.14g planet attack
Kalkaduna Invasion 16% — Thor 39 Ly, 6 ports, 93 Ls outpost + 2514 Ls 0.7g planet attack
Hez Ur Invasion 12% — Cocijo 22 Ly, 2 ports, 236 Ls outpost attack

Alerts:
Vukurbeh Alert 82% — Taranis 24 Ly, 265 Ls starport, 468 Ls outpost, 1737 Ls planet
Lahua Alert 72% — Oya 19 Ly, 10 Ls outpost, 19 Ls planet
Garongxians Alert 54% — Leigong 28 Ly, 5998 Ls starport
HIP 20485 Alert 46% — Indra 21 Ly, 27 Ls starport
Poqomathi Alert 40% — Oya 24 Ly, 14 Ls outpost, 14 Ls planet
Vogulu Alert 40% — Hadad 21 Ly, 336 Ls starport, 471 Ls outpost

Clean-up:
Arietis Sector UO-R b4-4 Alert 54% — Leigong 31 Ly, empty
HIP 11134 Control 46% — Leigong 29 Ly, empty
Hyades Sector ZZ-O b6-1 Control 10% — Taranis 26 Ly, empty
Col 285 Sector CA-E b13-1 Control 8% — Cocijo 26 Ly, empty

 

[Aleks Zuno]

Victories in Theemim, Arietis Sectors AQ-P b5-3 and UO-R b4-4, HIPs 11134 and 26274, Khwal, Poqomathi and Vukurbeh! On the Invasion front, Hez Ur is possible but could also become surplus then followed with completion next cycle when its starport is attacked.

Invasions at 12:40 8th May 3309:
HR 1403 Invasion 74% — Indra 25 Ly, 5 ports, 194 Ls 2.5g planet + 2483 Ls 0.13g planet attack
Col 285 Sector UD-G b12-2 Invasion 32% — Cocijo 26 Ly, 3 ports, 2187 Ls 0.14g planet attack
Kalkaduna Invasion 28% — Thor 39 Ly, 6 ports, 93 Ls outpost + 2514 Ls 0.7g planet attack
Hez Ur Invasion 16% — Cocijo 22 Ly, 2 ports, 236 Ls outpost attack

Alerts:
Lahua Alert 96% — Oya 19 Ly, 10 Ls outpost, 19 Ls planet
Garongxians Alert 64% — Leigong 28 Ly, 5998 Ls starport
HIP 20485 Alert 58% — Indra 21 Ly, 27 Ls starport, 27 Ls planet
Vogulu Alert 52% — Hadad 21 Ly, 336 Ls starport, 471 Ls outpost
Kagutsuchi Alert 32% — Indra 22 Ly, 42 Ls starport, 55 Ls outpost, 42 Ls planet
Holvandalla Alert 24% — Raijin 21 Ly, 86 Ls starport, 19 Ls outpost, 43 Ls planet
Asletae Alert 20% — Cocijo 29 Ly, 16 Ls outpost, 93 Ls planet

Clean-up:
Cephei Sector DQ-Y b2 Control 28% — Oya 22 Ly, empty
Col 285 Sector CA-E b13-1 Control 12% — Cocijo 26 Ly, empty
Hyades Sector ZZ-O b6-1 Control 10% — Taranis 26 Ly, empty


Some measurements for inhabited Control systems thus far are:

System	Maelstrom	Distance	Index size	Index progress	Projected size
Fotlandjera	Hadad	19.69 Ly	4404	72%	5952–6117
Yukait	Hadad	26.15 Ly	504	28%	1680–1800
Theemim	Thor	30.15 Ly	1725, 1740	98%, 98%	1741–1761
Auaker	Thor	35.54 Ly	1600	92%	1703–1740

Unlike empty Control systems which seem to reach a minimum requirement of 360 at around 30 Ly away (or closer if Sol-facing), Auaker and Theemim seem to indicate that inhabited systems are following a curve that far out. Given the Auaker result first and supposing that it had reached a minimum already (apparently not!), the Imperial Navy mathematics department had the great idea of closing in upon 12³ = 1728 to check for a possible pattern involving highly-composite numbers, but Theemim seemed to require more than that.

If anyone has a reasonable measure by now, I am interested to know approximately how many Interceptor pieces are needed to complete some example Alert systems, without worrying too much if a few non-harvest actions also occurred. This is primarily in the inhabited context, though uninhabited measurements are also welcome!

 

[Aleks Zuno]

Victories in Col 285 Sectors GQ-O c6-21, GQ-O c6-22, TS-Z b14-1, Cephei Sector DQ-Y b2, HR 1403 and Lahua!

I will see if I can check progress just before the update interval tomorrow, after which it would be well to remember that anything can change or break. Progress actions may change in value and the means of checking progress may need work to restore, and more generally please remember to make a copy of your controls!

Invasions at 00:20 9th May 3309:
Kalkaduna Invasion 50% — Thor 39 Ly, 6 ports, 93 Ls outpost + 2514 Ls 0.7g planet attack
Col 285 Sector UD-G b12-2 Invasion 46% — Cocijo 26 Ly, 3 ports, 2187 Ls 0.14g planet attack
Hez Ur Invasion 18% — Cocijo 22 Ly, 2 ports, 236 Ls outpost attack

Alerts:
Garongxians Alert 78% — Leigong 28 Ly, 5998 Ls starport, 5999 Ls planet
HIP 20485 Alert 70% — Indra 21 Ly, 27 Ls starport, 27 Ls planet
Vogulu Alert 64% — Hadad 21 Ly, 336 Ls starport, 471 Ls outpost
Kagutsuchi Alert 36% — Indra 22 Ly, 42 Ls starport, 55 Ls outpost, 42 Ls planet

Risky:
Asletae Alert 26% — Cocijo 29 Ly, 16 Ls outpost, 93 Ls planet
Ebisu Alert 24% — Taranis 21 Ly, 358 Ls starport, 63 Ls outpost, 2987 Ls planet
Holvandalla Alert 24% — Raijin 21 Ly, 86 Ls starport, 19 Ls outpost, 43 Ls planet

Clean-up:
Col 285 Sector CA-E b13-1 Control 12% — Cocijo 26 Ly, empty
Hyades Sector ZZ-O b6-1 Control 10% — Taranis 26 Ly, empty

 

[yttrbio]

I have confirmed that samples continue to work the way they did before U15 (at least in unpopulated control systems). The new journal information may give better information for those folks trying to calibrate.

A few changes in behavior in open space when dropping into normal space to wait for Thargoids, though:

1. Thargoids jump in significantly farther away than they used to. No more "turkey shoot."
2. Only 3 Thargoids seem to jump in at a time (as opposed to 5 before)
3. Scouts are much more powerful in some contexts, but I don't think it's entirely clear which contexts they are, so I'm not sure it applies here.

 

[Aleks Zuno]

Victories in Garongxians, HIP 20485 and Cephei Sector ZE-A d69! There seems to be room for two more Invasions and two more Alerts this cycle, although Kagutsuchi and Asletae are competing for that second Alert place, so those need either a single strong choice or a bit of extra help. Hez Ur is a tricky case; in a sense it may be better next cycle when its starport is attacked, however next cycle will also be much more crowded, so it may be that all one can do is push it past the 33% surplus and hope to give it a decent start.

I see some post-update eviction tests in HIPs 20056 and 25679!

Targets at 07:10 10th May 3309:
Vogulu Alert 88% — Hadad 21 Ly, 336 Ls starport, 471 Ls outpost
Col 285 Sector UD-G b12-2 Invasion 84% — Cocijo 26 Ly, 3 ports, 2187 Ls 0.14g planet attack
Kalkaduna Invasion 70% — Thor 39 Ly, 6 ports, 93 Ls outpost + 2514 Ls 0.7g planet attack

Probably one:
Kagutsuchi Alert 44% — Indra 22 Ly, 42 Ls starport, 55 Ls outpost, 42 Ls planet
Asletae Alert 42% — Cocijo 29 Ly, 16 Ls outpost, 93 Ls planet

Unlikely:
Holvandalla Alert 30% — Raijin 21 Ly, 86 Ls starport, 19 Ls outpost, 43 Ls planet
Ebisu Alert 26% — Taranis 21 Ly, 358 Ls starport, 63 Ls outpost, 105 Ls planet
Hez Ur Invasion 22% — Cocijo 22 Ly, 2 ports, 236 Ls outpost attack

Clean-up:
Col 285 Sector CA-E b13-1 Control 22% — Cocijo 26 Ly, empty
Hyades Sector ZZ-O b6-1 Control 10% — Taranis 26 Ly, empty


I visited Cephei Sector ZE-A d69 around M. Oya to check whether open-space harvests can still be performed and whether they still work as well. I found that:

• Cyclops pieces still work as before; the previous estimate for Cephei Sector ZE-A d69 was around 442 normally (or 402 for Sol-facing, which it is not), and 360 gave us 78%, which projects 450–462.
• With very few tests thus far, Cyclops arrivals seem to be more common, which is very helpful if true.
• Open-space harvests can not be performed the way we were doing them before; the Cyclops now just continues attacking other vessels after losing its immediate target.
• There seems to be another way to do open-space harvests which is slightly slower, though also more simple in some ways, possibly to the extent of being preferred.

I want to be sure everything can be done reliably before suggesting that anyone else tries it, but it was an enjoyable puzzle to solve, and the Cephei Sector ZE-A d69 completion was a lovely result at least! I have not yet tried a landfall harvest; despite being generally superior, it is more important that the trickier open harvests can still be performed.

Thargoids jump in significantly farther away than they used to.

I can confirm this! It also worked in our favour after the harvest started, ultimately resulting in an isolated Cyclops with two Scouts appearing occasionally but not attacking.

Scouts are much more powerful in some contexts, but I don't think it's entirely clear which contexts they are, so I'm not sure it applies here.

I noticed an immediate weapon rate increase in a space Conflict Zone; I am unsure outside of that yet as noted above, though I imagine I will have a better idea after trying a landfall harvest. That said, with only two appearing outside of Conflict Zones, it seems to me that:

• The non-C.Z. total Scout damage may be the same, if not less.
• One Scout kill is now worth a lot more respite from said damage, and destroying both can actually afford some repair/regeneration time now.