The Tickling of Cocky-Joe
12 Dec 2024Oxforth
We’ve done it. The core of GUGNIR and the GalVik Command team have stared death in the face and lived to share the tale. Titan Cocijo—dubbed “Cocky-Joe” among us Vikings—has been struck, its defenses shattered, and its arrogance humbled.Here’s how the operation played out:
The Gauntlet Run
Getting into Sol used to be routine. Not anymore. Hyperdictions are a certainty now, a constant prelude to every jump into the system. And the journey from Sol to Earth, where Cocky-Joe lurks, is a trial in itself.
At just 500 light-seconds, the trip sounds easy. But those 500 LS are a minefield of Thargoid interdictions. Submitting to them is now standard protocol—boost out fast and drop back into supercruise. It’s a teeth-gritting loop. Some of us counted upwards of a dozen interdictions just to reach the Titan. But with persistence, the journey becomes manageable.
Approaching the Titan
Dropping from supercruise near the Titan is a delicate art. The window is small, and overshooting will send you back to the Thargoid swarm for yet more interdictions.
Once you make the drop, you’re in the caustic cloud. Visibility is poor, and the hull starts corroding immediately—shielded or not. A caustic sink launcher is a must here.
Pushing deeper, the environment grows even more hostile. Asteroids are scattered through the haze, and Thargoid star-mines glow ominously among them, ready to cripple any ship that strays too close or generates too much heat. As the oppressive atmosphere deepens, you’ll spot the heart of the cloud glowing faintly—a warning of the Titan’s repelling wave.
Breaking Through
The Titan’s pulse wave is no joke. It will fling you back into the asteroid field if it catches you, undoing all your progress. The TG Pulse Neutraliser is essential. Time it right to ride the wave without being tossed aside, then boost straight into the dense heart of the cloud.
Inside, the battlefield reveals itself—a hollow cylinder of debris encircling the Titan. Cocijo sits in the middle like the eye of a storm, monstrous and unmoving.
Engaging Cocijo
The Titan’s underside is a writhing mass of spiked structures and glowing veins. These veins shift colors with the Titan’s state—green when calm, red when angered.
The top is where your first targets lie: heat vents. Timing is everything here. Fire your nanite torpedoes into the vents. There are eight in total, but scoring hits on more than five in a single run is a feat only the best achieve.
Once you’ve struck, the Titan reacts. Turrets roar to life, and any scouts or interceptors in the area converge. Ignore them. Focus on your mission. The vents are priority one.
The Core Strike
After the vents are neutralized, it’s time to go for the Titan’s belly. At its center, a massive heat sink emerges, glowing brilliantly. Unleash every ounce of firepower you’ve brought. When it starts to retract, disengage immediately.
The Titan will emit a pulse wave as it resets its defenses. There’s no blocking this one—just escape. Boost down and away, putting as much distance as possible between you and the Titan’s center.
Repeat and Destroy
Once the wave subsides, regroup in the asteroid field and prepare for another run. Cocijo’s defenses reset, but so do your opportunities. Keep the pressure on, and with enough persistence, the Titan will fall.
Acknowledging the Greater Effort
As much as I’d love to revel in the small victories of GUGNIR and the Viking crew, it would be unjust to frame this as anything more than what it is—a contribution, not the whole.
Out here, we’re just one pebble in an ocean of effort. The AX initiative against Cocijo isn’t a Viking victory. It’s a testament to the combined skill, courage, and relentless determination of countless pilots, crews, and support teams.
The real heroes? The AX-pilots who’ve logged untold hours honing their craft, risking life and limb in the thick of Thargoid-controlled space. The fleet carriers that serve as mobile lifelines, keeping us supplied and ready for action. The support commanders who run evacuation and repair operations in the shadows of danger, never seeking glory. The engineers and researchers behind every advanced module, weapon, and system we rely on.
The Vikings may have our moments of glory, but we stand on the shoulders of a much larger community. We’re here to do our part, to contribute what we can, and to honor the collective effort. If Cocijo falls, it won’t be to the hand of any one pilot or squadron—it will be to the united might of humanity.
Here’s to all the unsung warriors out there. You inspire us. You make us better. And you remind us that no matter how small we feel, together we’re unstoppable. For all of you: Skål!
For Sol. For humanity. For vengeance.