What triggers Alenium research?

[Xintrosi]

Sorry if this is covered elsewhere, but I am curious because I took out 3 Corvettes before a Scout happened along my path. Once I raided the Scout, Alenium became available as a research option, but not from any of the Corvettes. Was I unlucky in components from the Corvette being too damaged to trigger the research? Or does only a Scout trigger Alenium research?

If the first, then I was unlucky in my collateral damage and that's fine (curse my overly effective aircraft!). If the second, then I was unlucky in my UFO spawns (which by itself is fine) but the research is oddly gated (which I don't like). Alenium is a very important research topic because it unlocks a lot of other stuff, and not being able to grab it from Corvettes really doesn't make much sense.

Once again, if there is an item on the Corvette that could trigger it and I destroyed it, then I have no complaint. But if Corvettes CANNOT trigger the research then I think that's silly. 30 Scientists sat there doing crap all nothing because the Corvette offered nothing for them to research.

[GizmoGomez]

This is an issue, I agree.

The datacore of the UFOs trigger the research topics.

[Xintrosi]

Ah, so it's the Scout Datacore? That's unfortunate. At least next time I can plan around this. Thanks for the info!

[Chris]

No, the Alien Power Source is what triggers Alenium. That appears in both the Corvette and the large Scout (it's the animated prop).

The datacores just trigger the fluff research description for that particular UFO type.

[Xintrosi]

Oh, so my aircraft accidentally destroyed three in a row. This is acceptable randomness that makes things entertaining. Thanks for weighing in, Chris!

[GizmoGomez]

Okay, that makes more sense. Thanks!