Bounty Hunter's Guild Safety Alert: Non-Human Encounters
28 Sep 2017Cartlidge1000
As many are aware, the number of Thargoid contact incidents have sharply increased in the past few days. These incidents seem to primarily consist of violent encounters between both Federal and Imperial military forces, and Thargoid ships. In response, the BHG has conducted field tests to assess the alien forces.Threat assessment:
Field tests have show that Thargoid ships largely do not attack independent pilots unless threatened. However, when aggressive these ships are extremely lethal, deploying an unknown number of smaller drones in their attack. These drones seem to bypass shields and use swarming tactics to overwhelm their target. Furthermore, the mother-ship may also fire upon the target, though they seem to take a more supportive role in a fight.
What makes these ships particularly dangerous is that BHG agents have confirmed sightings of Thargoids collecting ejected escape pods. The fate of these abducted persons is currently unknown. BHG recommends that independent pilots avoid close encounters with these ships, and search-and-rescue teams follow these guidelines to avoid aggression.
Thargoid warning signals:
Most BHG agents have agreed that Thargoid ships are largely passive towards independent pilots, so long as they do not agitate the specimen in question. In most circumstances, Thargoids will give off several "warning signals" before they attack. Knowing these signals can mean the difference between life and death.
Calm:
Largely, Thargoids seem to ignore independent ships, so long as they keep their distance and do not interfere. They are usually alone, and typically do not display any particular pattern. This is the most ideal situation in which one should attempt a rescue.
Interested:
When first entering an encounter, the Thargoid will likely scan one's ship, displaying green lights and patterns as it does so. This seems to be more of a gesture of curiosity than anything, and BHG recommends calmly firing reverse thrusters until it loses interest.
Irritated:
If one moves too close to the Thargoid ship, or stands their ground when it approaches, the Thargoid may become agitated, and will release a swarm of drones as a warning mechanism. These drones will fly passively around the alien ship, but the Thargoid itself will maintain focus on the pilot until one backs away. BHG cautions against attempting rescues while in this state.
Threatened:
This is the final warning signal a Thargoid sends before attacking. The Thargoid will display a red pattern and "Shout" at the pilot. BHG recommends that pilots turn away and fire afterburners to avoid irritating the Thargoid any further.
Aggressive:
If warnings are ignored, a pilot ventures too close for too long, or a pilot opens fire, the Thargoid will display a red pattern once more and shout in a seemingly more aggressive tone. The ship's drones may shift into a more synchronized pattern moments before attacking the offender. BHG recommends activating one's hyper-drive as soon as possible, as an aggressive Thargoid will not cease an attack once it becomes aggressive, and BHG agents have reported that the ship seems to mass lock even the largest of human vessels.
Conclusion:
Due to the Thargoid's resilience to most human weapons, tendency to abduct escape pods, and particularly dangerous weaponry, the Bounty Hunters Guild reaffirm their threat level of five, and recommend that research and search-and-rescue vessels exercise extreme caution, and independent pilots avoid close encounters with the alien ships.
For your own safety, DO NOT engage Thargoid ships in open fire.
--Guildmaster Cartlidge