While things have been turbulent in Elite Dangerous: Odyssey for a while, politically or otherwise, the latest report of the ongoing alien war is extremely serious. The in-universe Galnet news network reports that the Thargoid forces have invaded Shinrarta Dezhra, the headquarters of the Pilot Federation, and significantly damaged the Jameson Memorial trading outpost.
“The massive alien force quickly struck ports in the system,” reads. “Jameson Memorial remains online but damaged, with local AX forces rallying to protect the famous megamarket. An urgent call for aid by local governors has been made.”
Later, it notes, “With Jameson Memorial unavailable for regular trade, two other megamarkets remain available: I Sola Prospect in Brestla, and Attilius Orbital in CD-43 11917.”
Due to the need for reinforcements, all Commanders (read: players) will be permitted into the Shinrarta Dezhra system, normally restricted to Pilots with the Elite rank in their specialization (or who had a tier for access via Kickstarter), for two weeks during this fight. Several corporations and organizations will be sending supplies and support, including Azimuth Corporation, which will be giving “further incentives for pilots heading to the region”— basically, it seems you’ll be rewarded for joining the fray.
“Pilots looking to assist the AX efforts should first sign up to the defence fleet by visiting Rescue Ship Cornwallis in the V886 Centauri system before progressing into Shinrarta Dezhra,” the article reads.
Unfortunately, as previously outlined, Jameson Memorial is currently down, so players won’t be able to leverage the slight discounts there.
In the past, the dev team has encouraged players of all experience levels to keep an eye on the Thargoid War—and join if they really want to. Since that declaration, the universe has seen multiple assaults by the Thargoids. Other clippings since our last report including one not long after the interview, an observed shift in tactics by the Thargoids, a shift in tactics that held back scouting not long after players kept pressure on the enemy, and the explosion of the “dragon” mothership.
This long-standing pressure on the enemy force has not discouraged it, and this invasion into Shinrarta Dezhra is probably the most impactful yet, and that’s saying a lot.
