Courser Protocol

	Emits an encrypted communication pulse, calling for aid.
–ingame tooltip

Courser Protocol is an ability earned by completing A Promise. It allows the player to call in an escort fleet commanded by Outrider-Annex-Courser, a Dustkeeper Contingency hunter-killer.

The ability can only be used while in a star system, and not while in the Abyss. After triggering it, the player fleet will emit a series of large aquamarine pulses, and within a day or two Courser will warp into the system with fleet in tow. Upon use, the ability immediately goes on a 180 day cooldown.

Courser's fleet will follow the player for the next 45 days, automatically joining them in combat if within 2000 range. Courser will generally join the player against all of their enemies, excluding:

• Automated defenders of salvage objects
• Dustkeeper fleets
• Independent fleets that incur a full relationship penalty when attacked (such as traders and patrols, but not scavengers or smugglers)
• Certain mod-added bounty fleets

The escort fleet that Courser brings will scale to be approximately the size of the player's own, with 30% of its total power in the form of proxies. It otherwise follows standard Dustkeeper doctrine.

Usage While Hostile

Activating Courser Protocol while hostile to the Dustkeeper Contingency results in Courser refusing to appear.

Wendigo Hunt

Main article: Wendigo Hunt

The first time this is done, the player becomes tagged for an ambush by Wintry-Annex-Wendigo, who will intercept them in the fringe of the Sector at a later time with an elite Dustkeeper hunter-killer flotilla.

If the player is not under the effect of Dustkeeper hatred from having committed an atrocity, they can strike a deal with Wendigo to gain a one-time amnesty in exchange for a valuable "gift" or by agreeing to perform a mission on Wendigo's behalf.