Thargoid Hive Ship - Yes, I'd be stunned if there wasn't at least one. It's been a big topic of speculation even before Jameson's logs and it would be an amazing thing to see in game. I imagine them to be the size of a Coriolis station or larger.



The destination is obvious (at least roughly), but the origin is not. Many people believe Thargoids might originate (in some way) in the Col70 Sector. However, if that's the case, why does the "origin" of the 'path of destruction' point out past the California Nebula? It's been suggested that the Thargoids are jumping in from elsewhere, and then heading towards the bubble. Again, entirely plausible/likely, however, if they're coming from Col70 they're making an 'L' Shaped journey.



There might be no "reason" for this, but let's assume there is for now. Humans tend to take the shorter and most direct path to the goal - so, for example if we wanted to invade the bubble from Col70, we wouldn't do it via the Pleiades, we'd just jump straight to the bubble from Col70, which would cut in from a very different angle than we're currently seeing.



The closest counter-example I can think of is that many people going to Beagle Point go via Colonia, but that's because it's the last place to repair and take a break in civilisation before the long trip onwards. We know from Lore sources that Thargoid jump ranges are supposedly far in advance of ours, and even ours can make very quick work of a trip directly from Col70 to the Bubble... so what's going on?



That made me think of fuel/resupply.



It's been suggested by many Commanders that Barnalces and nebula are "refuelling/resupply stops" for Thargoids. So, maybe they could make a direct jump from Col70 to the Bubble, but they'd arrive relatively empty with no way to resupply while in the Bubble, that makes the Pleiades the closest source of fuel to us doesn't it? (are there closer Nebula to the Bubble than the Pleiades?). Much like Colonia causes a dog-leg in the trips to Beagle Point for logistical reasons, the Pleiades does the same for Thargoids heading to the Bubble.



So, you jump your Hive ships to the Pleaides, then you set up your refuelling stations and clear up the area - or you set up your Hive Ship there as basically a starport for refuelling/repair. Then from there you make your move towards the Bubble.



That suggests that if there is a Hive Ship - it might be somewhere near where the first attacks on Starports appeared, which IIRC was Taygeta? Even if it moves, it makes sense it would stay relatively centralised.



That raises the question - if we can say that Nebula + Barnacles = Resupply locations. Then what's the Californa and Witch Head Nebula for? Future expansions - but to where? Maybe just fallback positions? Is there a hive ship in each of those lurking there and prepping the area?