After reading this
The idea is that we create a series of "missions" ourselves, that kind of act out the story. Obviously, we as players don't have the power to create in-game missions of our own. However, we could set up a website or some other tracking resource (maybe interfacing with Inara or EDSM's API?) and use that to track "objectives" for a player to complete. These could be things like "collect 5 Guardian Technology Component", or "Take down a Thargoid Cyclops".
Then, this website could reveal sections of "narrative text" that explains the Salvation story. I'm envisioning something similar to Community Goals, but on a much much smaller scale that a single player could easily accomplish in an hour (per milestone). For example, first the player has to scan an NHSS, which unlocks a bit of narrative about the first Thargoid attacks (like the original Elite attacks). Then, they have to take down a Marauder Variant Scout, which unlocks some lore about the more recent wave of attacks. Then maybe they have to find a Guardian Site, which unlocks some lore about the Guardians and their tech/how they fought the Thargoids.
What do you guys think of this idea? I think we as a community are definitely capable of implementing something like this, and it could even allow us to generate our own mini-storylines wherever we want in the galaxy.
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/wfpxiu/an_idea_i_had_about_the_story/