We know that the Thargoid Probes are (or used to be) found almost exclusively around Ammonia worlds, and that they scan planets and send data on the composition - so this clearly indicates they are collecting planetary data. The data collected gives us an indication of what they're looking for - and therefore some insight into what they consider valuable:
They didn't collect data on anything like mineral composition, only grav, temp, radius, distance to Col70 and atmo type - are they "just" searching for suitable colony worlds? Maybe it doesn't matter about mineral composition because they can use the Barnacles to mine in many places (assuming the Barnacles are mines), but being able to walk (skitter?) around in the open is obviously valuable to them in some way or another.
Given that they seem capable of living in giant hive-ships, and that they can travel in FTL like we can and probably with a longer range, and given that the Thargoids are very probably an older race than us - that begs the question - why have Thargoid activities been so limited in the past?
Given the rate of expansion around the Pleiades shell, then they seem as capable as us in terms of travelling all over the Galaxy by now, and arguably more capable of establishing a new claim on territory (we tend to just concentrate on a single system at a time, Thargoids annexed a 150ly radius of stars all at once!).
Since they're not (presently visible elsewhere in the Galaxy), that implies that either they've just arrived (relatively speaking), or that there's another factor limiting their spread. Personally, I think they're extra-galactic and arrived in our Galaxy around 400 years ago, their first established colony here was in the Col70 area - but that's just my speculation. From this point, I will include the speculation of Thargoids being extra-galactic in origin as well as the speculation that they evolved in this galaxy:
If they aren't extra-galactic (and therefore evolved here just like us, and nearly next-door apparently), then what has been limiting their expansion?
Did they evolves at roughly the same time as us, maybe only 100 or so years more advanced? Maybe the first conflict 200 years ago was the first time our respective scouting parties met each other because of that statistically unlikely fluke of evolution.
Looking at comparisons to help understand Thargoid Territory:
Ever since the Thargoids showed up, I've felt like they are extremely comparable to Ants, but with each bit of a a hint we get I feel the analogy is even more fitting, and MB giving us the cheeky little hint that all Thargoids are Female really solidified that for me!: Wiki page on Ants https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ant and because I'm no antologist, this one is also helpful for me (it's for kids): https://askabiologist.asu.edu/explore/secrets-superorganism
Here's some extracts that deal with Territory:
If we're taking this analogy as a model, then could what's happening in the Pleiades be a new Queen establishing territory?
Could these "workers" be the flower ships? They certainly have been seen doing all the work - collecting salvage, defending territory, exploring and scouting, collecting resources (from the barnacles)...
It's been noted in the Canonn Discord that if the Thargoid "starmap" is blown up to the size of our galaxy, then the smaller blob-dots on that map represents an area approximately the size of the Merope shell (approx 150ly radius). There's bigger blobs too! In Thargoid terms, could each blob represent the territory of a Queen? Is it possible that the fainter dots represent territory that's been stripped bare, and is useless?
If we speculate that the starmap represents the home galaxy of the Thargoids, then might it show that it's been fully colonised? That's a good reason for expansion to other territories, and a fresh new galaxy might be a tempting target.
If the Starmap represents our Galaxy, then it might be a sort of "Colonisation Plan" showing the speculative areas where there's a concentration of desirable resources that a new Queen could use as a new territory - this data might have been built up a long time ago (remember those starmaps are almost certainly from at least 150+ years ago) - there's also reference to the possibility of the first Thargoid Sensor being found a long time ago (2280 - but unconfirmed http://elite-dangerous.wikia.com/wiki/Thargoid_Sensor), so it might have been an indication that the Thargoids were surveying the galaxy.
This quote from the Ant-info sites reminds me a lot of the Oresrians in OotD talking about the Klaxians: "Some species attack and take over neighbouring ant colonies. Others are less expansionist, but just as aggressive; they invade colonies to steal eggs or larvae, which they either eat or raise as workers or slaves."
Given the above speculation - what do Thargoids want? is it as simple as just more territory for new colonies/queens?
If that's the case, could they consider us resources to be farmed? or a dangerous Predator living next door? Or a potential slave race? Or maybe they even see us as a rival Ant colony? (we certainly share some characteristics). If they just want more territory, then might it be the case that we can come to some accord - there's a big Galaxy out there?
They didn't collect data on anything like mineral composition, only grav, temp, radius, distance to Col70 and atmo type - are they "just" searching for suitable colony worlds? Maybe it doesn't matter about mineral composition because they can use the Barnacles to mine in many places (assuming the Barnacles are mines), but being able to walk (skitter?) around in the open is obviously valuable to them in some way or another.
Given that they seem capable of living in giant hive-ships, and that they can travel in FTL like we can and probably with a longer range, and given that the Thargoids are very probably an older race than us - that begs the question - why have Thargoid activities been so limited in the past?
Given the rate of expansion around the Pleiades shell, then they seem as capable as us in terms of travelling all over the Galaxy by now, and arguably more capable of establishing a new claim on territory (we tend to just concentrate on a single system at a time, Thargoids annexed a 150ly radius of stars all at once!).
Since they're not (presently visible elsewhere in the Galaxy), that implies that either they've just arrived (relatively speaking), or that there's another factor limiting their spread. Personally, I think they're extra-galactic and arrived in our Galaxy around 400 years ago, their first established colony here was in the Col70 area - but that's just my speculation. From this point, I will include the speculation of Thargoids being extra-galactic in origin as well as the speculation that they evolved in this galaxy:
If they aren't extra-galactic (and therefore evolved here just like us, and nearly next-door apparently), then what has been limiting their expansion?
Did they evolves at roughly the same time as us, maybe only 100 or so years more advanced? Maybe the first conflict 200 years ago was the first time our respective scouting parties met each other because of that statistically unlikely fluke of evolution.
Looking at comparisons to help understand Thargoid Territory:
Ever since the Thargoids showed up, I've felt like they are extremely comparable to Ants, but with each bit of a a hint we get I feel the analogy is even more fitting, and MB giving us the cheeky little hint that all Thargoids are Female really solidified that for me!: Wiki page on Ants https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ant and because I'm no antologist, this one is also helpful for me (it's for kids): https://askabiologist.asu.edu/explore/secrets-superorganism
Here's some extracts that deal with Territory:
- Ants form colonies that range in size from a few dozen predatory individuals living in small natural cavities to highly organised colonies that may occupy large territories and consist of millions of individuals.
- Larger colonies consist of various castes of females, most of which are workers, as well as soldiers and other specialised groups.
- Ants have colonised almost every landmass on Earth. [except extreme cold and extreme heat].
- Ants always put their families first. Each colony is a close-knit family, usually including a mother (queen), her adult daughters (workers), and brood (eggs, larvae, pupae).
- Some species attack and take over neighbouring ant colonies. Others are less expansionist, but just as aggressive; they invade colonies to steal eggs or larvae, which they either eat or raise as workers or slaves.
- Ants are very loyal to their own colony, but they can be quite nasty toward outsiders. Competition among colonies for food and other resources often leads to aggression. Many species establish a territory around their nest that is off-limits to neighboring ants. If members of a rival colony invade, all-out war can erupt. Workers sometimes sting, spray, and/or bite to the death during these battles. Thus, the worst enemy of ants is other ants, not humans
- Larger colonies consist of various castes of females, most of which are workers, as well as soldiers and other specialised groups.
- Ants have colonised almost every landmass on Earth. [except extreme cold and extreme heat].
- Ants always put their families first. Each colony is a close-knit family, usually including a mother (queen), her adult daughters (workers), and brood (eggs, larvae, pupae).
- Some species attack and take over neighbouring ant colonies. Others are less expansionist, but just as aggressive; they invade colonies to steal eggs or larvae, which they either eat or raise as workers or slaves.
- Ants are very loyal to their own colony, but they can be quite nasty toward outsiders. Competition among colonies for food and other resources often leads to aggression. Many species establish a territory around their nest that is off-limits to neighboring ants. If members of a rival colony invade, all-out war can erupt. Workers sometimes sting, spray, and/or bite to the death during these battles. Thus, the worst enemy of ants is other ants, not humans
If we're taking this analogy as a model, then could what's happening in the Pleiades be a new Queen establishing territory?
"An ant colony begins in the founding stage. After mating, the queen(s) starts a new nest and raises her first worker offspring. This is the only time in a queen’s life that she does work in addition to laying eggs. During the growth stage, the colony grows larger by producing more workers. The workers now perform all the colony’s jobs except laying eggs. This period may last for several years."
Could these "workers" be the flower ships? They certainly have been seen doing all the work - collecting salvage, defending territory, exploring and scouting, collecting resources (from the barnacles)...
It's been noted in the Canonn Discord that if the Thargoid "starmap" is blown up to the size of our galaxy, then the smaller blob-dots on that map represents an area approximately the size of the Merope shell (approx 150ly radius). There's bigger blobs too! In Thargoid terms, could each blob represent the territory of a Queen? Is it possible that the fainter dots represent territory that's been stripped bare, and is useless?
If we speculate that the starmap represents the home galaxy of the Thargoids, then might it show that it's been fully colonised? That's a good reason for expansion to other territories, and a fresh new galaxy might be a tempting target.
If the Starmap represents our Galaxy, then it might be a sort of "Colonisation Plan" showing the speculative areas where there's a concentration of desirable resources that a new Queen could use as a new territory - this data might have been built up a long time ago (remember those starmaps are almost certainly from at least 150+ years ago) - there's also reference to the possibility of the first Thargoid Sensor being found a long time ago (2280 - but unconfirmed http://elite-dangerous.wikia.com/wiki/Thargoid_Sensor), so it might have been an indication that the Thargoids were surveying the galaxy.
This quote from the Ant-info sites reminds me a lot of the Oresrians in OotD talking about the Klaxians: "Some species attack and take over neighbouring ant colonies. Others are less expansionist, but just as aggressive; they invade colonies to steal eggs or larvae, which they either eat or raise as workers or slaves."
Given the above speculation - what do Thargoids want? is it as simple as just more territory for new colonies/queens?
If that's the case, could they consider us resources to be farmed? or a dangerous Predator living next door? Or a potential slave race? Or maybe they even see us as a rival Ant colony? (we certainly share some characteristics). If they just want more territory, then might it be the case that we can come to some accord - there's a big Galaxy out there?
