News: Pandemic Legion Secures BR-N97 Station for Providence Bloc

BR-N97 System, Catch region. On the 24th of September, 16:00 EVE Standard Time, HERO Coalition and Providence Bloc clashed once more over the final reinforcement timer of the station, in a battle that saw several surprising turns during the fighting, right until the very end of it.

Providence Bloc brought their usual Sentry Battleship\Battlecuriser fleet, around a hundred and ten pilots large, though numbers increased during the fighting. They were supported by a Stealth Bomber wing and Stain Wagon Coalition, who brought a hundred and ten pilot fleet as well, in Cerberus class Heavy Assault Cruisers.

Against them were arrayed HERO Coalition and several N3 Coalition entities, mostly Northern Coalition(dot) and The Unthinkables alliances. HERO Coalition was in their signature Eagle class Heavy Assault Cruiser fleet, supported by Ferox class Battlecruisers and Harpy class Assault Frigates mixed in, all total a hundred and fifty pilots. Northern Coalition(dot) and The Unthinkables each came in a Tengu class Strategic Cruiser fleet, seventy and fifty pilots respectively.

Pandemic Legion Alliance came in their Proteus\Legion mixed fleet, a hundred pilot strong, hoping to act as an honorable third party, much like in previous fights.

However, things did not go their usual way.

The fighting that broke up was truly chaotic, with Providence Bloc forces sitting around the station’s undock and engaging all hostiles, who warped in and out at ranges, as both Stain Wagon and Pandemic Legion forces proved to be the most mobile in the system, specifically the Cerberus who managed to kite the other fleets while spamming their missiles.

HERO Coalition attempted to stay on grid longer than in their previous assault on the station, but both Pandemic Legion and Stain Wagon seemed to have focused their attention on their Eagles, causing many losses and forcing the fleet to leave the field for most of the fighting. The Unthinkables themselves also seemed to have left the field early in the fighting, chased by both Pandemic Legion and Stain Wagon.

At some point the only opposing fleet left on the station grid were Providence Bloc and Northern Coalition(dot) who slugged it out, until Stain Wagon forces warped back to the station and started to focus their deadly missile payload on the Northern Coalition(dot) Logistic ships.

Before they could drive the Northern Coalition fleet off the field, the Pandemic Legion fleet managed to warp on top of the Cerberus, Within seconds much of the Cerberus fleet was bubbled, with many ships being pointed by the Pandemic Legion ships. Northern Coalition(dot) then joined the Pandemic Legion and together the two fleets closed in on the Stain Wagon Cerberus’, who were forced to retreat after losing roughly a third of their numbers.

By this time, it was expected that Providence Bloc will be forced to brawl once more with Northern Coalition(dot) alone, when Pandemic Legion warped on top of the Providence Bloc forces and started to engage them. Again, Northern Coalition(dot) joined Pandemic Legion in the task, and soon after both The Unthinkables and HERO Coalition fleets were seen on grid again, assisting in the destruction of Providence Bloc’s ships. Providence Bloc forces were unable to bear the punishment poured down on them by the four combined fleets and attempted to dock up what remained of their fleet in the station.

After this unexpected turn of events, Northern Coalition(dot) chose to lit a cynosural beacon on the station. At this point, both HERO Coalition, The Unthinkables and Pandemic Legion’s fleets left the grid, and Northern Coalition(dot) jumped in no less than twenty Aeon\Nyx class Motherships and ten Dreadnaughts, mainly Moros and Revelation class. This fleet quickly setup on the station and started grinding it down.

Northern Coalition(dot) fleet grinding the station

Seemingly unhappy with Northern Coalition(dot)’s actions, Pandemic Legion decided to jump into the system its own Mothership group, including the rare Revenant class. This force quickly attempted to remove the HERO Coalition Sovereignty Blockade Units in the system, managing to destroy the last one as the station had only one percent structure remaining. This caused the station, as well as the system, to become invulnerable again, effectively securing it for Providence Bloc.

With the station once more invulnerable, Northern Coalition(dot) forces seemed to have no choice but to retreat, along side HERO Coalition’s fleet, who did use Northern Coalition(dot)’s presence in the system to bring in new Sovereignty Blockade Units, and later anchor and online them before leaving. With most hostiles gone from the system, Pandemic Legion forces elected to extract as well, leaving Providence Bloc to lick its wounds.

Once it became apparent that no other threats to Providence Bloc’s fleet remained in the system, the fleet quickly left the system, re-shipped and came back in force, bringing a fresh batch of its Sentry Battleship\Battlecruisers, now reaching one hundred and forty pilots. They also brought two Capital squadrons, mainly Archon\Thanatos class Carriers who were quickly put to work repairing the station’s armor.

With the work progressing smoothly, Providence Bloc’s sub-Capital fleet set to work on removing the hostile Sovereignty Blockade Units in the system. Yet, as the Providence sub-Capital fleet was pre-occupied on the system’s gates, another strange turn of events occurred, with HERO Coalition jumping in no less than nine Capital ships, eight Dreadnaughts and one Carrier. The Capital group landed on the station, possibly in an attempt to interrupt the repair operations and maybe snag one of the Providence Bloc Carriers if they managed to bump it off the undock.

Regardless of their intention, the HERO Coalition Capital group was unsupported and vulnerable. Within seconds they were tackled, with Providence Bloc deploying interdiction probes to prevent them from jumping out. With the Providence Capital group safely docked in station, the sub-Capital fleet landed on top of the stranded Dreadnaughts and started to apply damage. In a few minutes, seven Capital wrecks were left on the field, with only two HERO Coalition Capitals managing to escape, an Archon class Carrier and a Revelation class Dreadnaught.

With that taken care of, Providence Bloc returned to the task at hand – removing the hostile Sovereignty Blockade Units and repairing the station. Managing to restore its armor to full, thus securing another reinforcement timer, they also managed to destroy the last Sovereignty Blockade Unit in the system unmolested. Then, they anchored their own, which at the time of writing are still there and online, effectively securing the system and delaying any attempts to contest it once more.

Fixed battle report for the BR-N97 System can be found here.

During the peak of the fighting, the system hosted more than eight hundred pilots, with Time Dilation being noticeable at its peak at forty percent, but not impacting the battle in any meaningful way. Though some random disconnects were observed, server performances seemed to be stable, unlike in previous fights. Some complains have been made about the grid itself, with many commenting its comparatively small size for a station grid. This seemed to concern mainly the Stain Wagon fleet, who relied on speed and distance as its main defense. Stealth Bomber activity during the fighting proved to be quite minimal compared to previous fights.

The final tally of the battle seems to be three hundred and eleven ships lost, with the total damage amounting to fifty seven billion ISK. This time, HERO Coalition suffered the lion’s share of the damage, though most of it is attributed to its failed Capital squadron drop.

As the conflict continues to escalate further, many questions arise. How far is Northern Coalition(dot) willing to go to secure HERO Coalition’s victory in this war? Why has HERO Coalition been relegated a secondary role in its own campaign? Why did Pandemic Legion decide to prevent the station’s take over? Can Providence Bloc stand up to the combined might of HERO Coalition and N3? Only the next few weeks will give us answers.

News: Providence Bloc Repels HERO Coalition Attempt to Caputre ZQ-Z3Y System

ZQ-Z3Y System, Catch region. On the 10th of September, Providence Bloc forces met HERO Coalition forces head on in the system in order to stop HERO Coalition’s attempt to reinforce it, resulting in one of the largest sub capital fights in recent memory.

Providence Bloc forces numbered three hundred and thirty pilots organized in four fleets, with the main fleet comprising of two hundred and fifty-six pilots in Battleships, two bomber wings and a sniping fleet comprised mostly of Battlecruisers. HERO Coalition, supported by The Unthinkables Alliance, had approximately two hundred pilots organized in two fleets, a one hundred and twenty pilot Eagle class Heavy Assault Cruiser fleet and a sixty pilot Ishtar class Heavy Assault Cruiser fleet.

The two forces clashed on the G-AOTH gate in the ZQ-Z3Y system, with Providence Bloc forces already sat up on the gate at close range, twenty kilometer off, to catch the incoming enemy fleet. As it turns out, HERO Coalition forces with their N3 allies entered the system as predicted and were immediately caught off by the battleships, with most of their Tech II Logistic ships being effected by the Providence Bloc’s Heavy Neutralizers fitted on their Battleships, unable to apply their remote repairers or even pull range in time.

In quick succession, most of the HERO Coalition and Unthinkables’ logistic wing was decimated, though Providence Bloc lost many Logistic ships as well, due to the sheer firepower of the two combined fleets. However, to add to the blow suffered by HERO Coalition and its allies in losing much of their logistics wing, a successful bombing run carried by Providence Bloc bomber wing managed to decimate The Unthinkables’ fleet, destroying most of their Ishtar class Heavy Assault Cruisers and forcing them to retreat from the battle permanently.

At this point, HERO Coalition forces attempted to carry on fighting, but with little to no logistics wing and mounting casualties, were forced to safe up, warping between celestial bodies in the system and safe spots, much to the chagrin of Providence Bloc which made half hearted attempts to give chase. Though catching a few stragglers, HERO Coalition managed to preserve the core of its fleet, giving time for them to gather reinforcement and attempt a second engagement along with a fifty-five Test Alliance Please Ignore Ishtar class Heavy Assault Cruiser fleet.

Yet in a repeat of the earlier engagement, the Test Alliance Please Ignore Tech II Logistics ships were easily destroyed, followed by several Ishtars. Unlike The Unthinkables though, Test Alliance Please Ignore managed to retreat with approximately half their fleet intact, though Providence Bloc did lose a few ships in the scrape. At this point HERO Coalition forces retreated from the system, allowing Providence Bloc forces to remove one of the Sovereignty Blockade Units.

Reports quickly came of a Pandemic Legion Tempest Fleet Issue class Battleship fleet, some seventy pilots large, bridging into the nearby system of 9UY4-H in the Providence region. Providence Bloc forces were already situated on the 9UY4-H gate in the system, about to remove the last HERO Coalition Sovereignty Blockade Unit. As the Pandemic Legion force jumped into the system, Providence Bloc forces held their fire, mainly due to confusion as in previous engagements Pandemic Legion has intervened on Providence Bloc’s side.

However, when it became clear that the Pandemic Legion force was hostile, as it opened fire on Providence Bloc forces, retaliation was swift. Providence Bloc Battleships were unable to break the Tempest Fleet Issue tank, but were able to decimate the Machariel class Battleships mixed in the fleet, when one of the Providence Bloc bomber wings executed a flawless bombing run, destroying fifty-seven Tempest Fleet Issue ships in one fell swoop. With the bulk of their fleet destroyed, Pandemic Legion forces retreated.

https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/zVMljKt5iVU&source=uds

Pandemic Legion fleet getting bombed (Courtesy of Judiciary Pag, of W.A.S.P Corporation, Curatores Veritatis Alliance)

This did not mark the last engagement, as reports came of a combined Northern Coalition(dot) and HERO Coalition force making its way to the ZQ-Z3Y system. This time, though, the hostile force did not make it into the system, as Providence Bloc forces removed the last of the hostile Sovereignty Blockade Units and were making their way home, intercepting the N3\HERO Coalition fleet in the 9UY4-H system in Providence.

The fight flared up on the ZQ-Z3Y gate in that system, with Northern Coalition(dot) bringing a seventy pilot Tengu class Strategic Cruiser fleet and HERO Coalition contributing around a hundred pilots in a mix of Eagle class Heavy Assault Cruisers and Moa class Cruisers. It seems that the Northern Coalition(dot) warped to close to the Providence Bloc forces and thus was unable to pull range in time, which allowed Providence Bloc to annihilate its Logistics wing. Without their Tech II Logistics ships, and starting to lose Tengus, Northern Coalition(dot) decided to retreat. HERO Coalition attempted to help their allies, but suffered loses as well and this time retreated for good.

During and between the engagements HERO Coalition bombers proved a continued nuisance to Providence Bloc forces, but unlike previous engagements, were unable to deal any severe blow to Providence Bloc’s fleets.

According to killboards, more than four hundred and fifty-nine ships were destroyed in the five hour long engagement, representing a loss of more than seventy-two billion ISK. The ZQ-Z3Y system saw more than five hundred pilots occupy it at the height of the battle, with noticeable Time Dilation reaching upwards of sixty percent.

Fixed Battle Report can be found here (Courtesy of TheMittani.com).

Though the ZQ-Z3Y system has been saved, the question remains, whether this battle represents a second turning point in this war in favor of Providence Bloc, or will only a one-off success?

Providence Bloc Suffers Defeat in S25C-K

S25C-K system, Catch region. Following the fall of 7MD-S1 and UL-7I8 systems, Providence Bloc and HERO Coalition forces clashed over the control of the S25C-K system on the first of the two Infrastructure Hub timers at the 26th of August.

The system saw one of the largest sub capital engagements recently, with more than six hundred pilots in the system at the height of the fighting. Providence Bloc forces were organized in a hundred and eighty Battleship class fleet and set up on the BR-N97 gate in S25C-K system, expecting HERO Coalition forces to jump into them.

Instead, HERO Coalition forces opted to bridge into the system in three fleets: A hundred and forty Brave Collective mixed Moa class Cruisers and Eagle class Heavy Assault Cruisers with Ferox class Battlecruiser support, a hundred and ten The Unthinkables Tengu class Strategic Cruisers and a Test Alliance Please Ignore forty Ishtar class Heavy Assault Cruisers. All told, HERO Coalition forces had two hundred and ninety pilots on the field.

HERO Coalition forces decided to warp to the BR-N97 gate in order to engage Providence Bloc forces, but the Brave Collective fleet was caught by the mobile field disruptors set by Providence Bloc, while The Unthinkables’ Tengus managed to land at range. With both forces on the grid fighting quickly broke out.

While Brave Collective and Test Alliance Please Ignore exchanged losses with Providence Bloc, partly due to their bad positioning, The Unthinkables managed to tank the incoming damage, and with their help, Providence Bloc forces were soon being overwhelmed, losing ships at an alarming pace.

A fleet of sixty Pandemic Legion Proteus class Strategic Cruisers attempted to intervene on Providence Bloc’s behalf at the height of the battle (Though sources within Providence Bloc claim Pandemic Legion shot a few Providence Bloc ships as well) but was quickly brushed aside when its logistics wing was annihilated by the combined Unthinkables and HERO Coalition fleets. Thus Pandemic Legion was forced to retreat from the thick of the fighting, though it did continue and attempt to harass the combatants until the end.

However, the outcome was predictable, Providence Bloc forces were completely decimated by the superior numbers and doctrine fielded by HERO Coalition. Though struggling for almost an entire hour, Providence Bloc was forced to finally concede the field, after most of its fleet was destroyed, with many of the Fleet Commanders and logistics taken off the field during the fighting itself. This loss continues the chain of defeats experienced by Providence Bloc ever since the fall of 7MD-S1 on the 14th earlier this month.

The butcher’s bill saw more than three hundred ships destroyed during the fighting, representing a forty-eight billion ISK loss by all parties. Time Dilation was a factor in the fighting, reaching upwards of more than sixty percent. Bomber activity was high as well, with both sides targeting each others’ logistics wings, though HERO Coalition saw much less success than usual with its bombing runs.

Fixed Battle Report can be found here.

Brave Collective’s Fleet Commander, Blue Ice, commented that The Unthinkables were present mainly in order to deal with any interference made by Stain Wagon forces, which intel indicated were suppose to show for the timer, but did not appear for the fight. Stain Wagon has been an active participant in the fighting since the beginning of the campaign, often aiding Providence Bloc against HERO Coalition.

Though Providence Bloc forces claimed it was overall a good fight, much resentment has been expressed by individuals in the coalition, mainly at the tactics continuously employed by HERO Coalition Fleet Commanders, specifically Blue Ice, such as decapitating Fleet Commanders and eavesdropping coms. These, they claim, run anathema to everything Brave Collective claims to hold dear, such as “Classiness” and “Fun-per-Hour”.

Regardless, since 7MD-S1 the tide of war seems to have shifted strongly in HERO Coalition’s favor, with two systems already captured and another one on the way. One must ask whether HERO Coalition is able to maintain this momentum or will Providence Bloc be able to stem the tide?

https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/CrmkB3xFPJ0&source=uds

a clip of the fighting from The Unthinkables perspective

Providence Fight Club: UL-7I8 7.8.2014

UL-7I8 System, Catch region. On the 7th of August Providence Bloc and HERO Coalition clashed for a second time over the control of the system, with entities such as N3, Stain-Wagon Coalition and Pandemic Legion getting involved as well in the fighting.

The first engagement saw an eighty pilot strong Harbinger class Battlecruiser fleet fielded by Providence Bloc, engage a similar sized HERO Coalition force in Moa class Cruisers, on the G-AOTH gate in the UL-7I8 system. The fight did not go well for Providence Bloc, as the loss of Fleet Commanders and logistics ships quickly forced them off the field, leaving the system in order to re-ship and re-group.

At the same time, Stain-Wagon Coalition entered the system, in a fifty pilot Ishtar class Heavy Assault Cruiser fleet. As with the previous battle in the system, Stain Coalition and Providence Bloc forces agreed to hold a mutual ceasefire so long as HERO Coalition forces were present in the system. This force effectively cut off HERO Coalition reinforcements in the form of a mixed Fraternity(dot) and The Unthinkables allainces gang, some thirty strong and mainly consisting of Ishtar and Cerberus class Heavy Assault Cruisers. As the two forces ran head first into each other on the ERVK-P gate in the UL-7I8 system.

While Providence Bloc forces were regrouping, scouts reported a sharp hostile spike in the D-GTMI system in the Providence region, which is under the control of Northern Coalition(dot) Alliance. With Pandemic Legion Alliance Fleet Commanders logging into the game it became clear that a hot drop was only a matter of time, as an Erebus class Titan was reported showing on the directional scan in the system. Within moments a cynosural beacon was reported in the UL-7I8 system, and a force of around sixty pilots, in assorted Strategic Cruisers, bridged into the system.

The force, comprising of both Northern Coalition(dot) and Pandemic Legion pilots, proceeded to brawl with the HERO Coalition force, quickly decimating a good chunk of their ships before they managed to disengage. After a short stay in the system, the Strategic Cruiser force departed. Providence Bloc took the opportunity and entered the system, focusing on the Sovereignty Blockade Unit located on the G-AOTH gate and erecting defensive bubbles around it. HERO Coalition attempted to brawl with the fleet a couple of times, but found themselves lacking in fire power, with each engagement ending with a few losses, while Providence Bloc forces took almost little to no damage.

A couple attempts were made to corner the HERO Coalition force, but with little tackle and almost no Interdictor class Destroyers, it was impossible for the heavier, slower Harbinger fleet to catch up to the nimbler and faster Moa fleet. Thus, it was decided to focus on the strategic objective, and trust Stain Wagon with keeping watch over the Infrastructure Hub.

After a while HERO Coalition received reinforcements from ERVK-P system, swelling its numbers to almost a hundred pilots. Emboldened by their new numbers, they attempted to engage Providence Bloc forces several times, however, Providence Bloc ships held under the fire, and instead it was the HERO Coalition ships who broke, with Moas and Scythes volleyed left and right. As the engagements lengthened, Stain Wagon forces joined in as well, trapping HERO Coalition on both sides and forcing it to disengage.

This ritual continued a few times, with HERO Coalition at one point attempting to to land on top of the Providence Bloc logistics wing, in order to re-create the scenario from the previous battle. However, this time the logistics ships were kept much closer to the fleet, and the Moas found themselves in the unenviable position of fighting close range with the Harbingers. Taking another bruising, the HERO Coalition fleet attempted at this point to harass the Stain Wagon forces, who kept on the field, helping Providence Bloc forces. Though they managed to destroy several of the Stain Wagon ships, the grid was strewn with wrecks, allowing Providence Bloc to warp on top of the HERO Coalition fleet and once more apply damage. Again, Moas and Scythes were destroyed in increasing numbers, slowly decimating HERO Coalition’s effective damage and logistics.

After a continuation of this cycle, HERO Coalition forces seemed to have been spent, allowing Providence Bloc to safely remove the Sovereignty Blockade Unit and effectively making the Infrastructure Hub invulnerable again. This meant the system’s sovereignty was safe, remaining firmly in Providence Bloc’s hands. The HERO Coalition fleet, failing its goal and suffering heavy casualties, chose to retreat. Without much tackle, Providence Bloc forces declined to chase, instead turning their attention to the Sovereignty Blockade Unit on the ERVK-P gate.

This turned to be a mistake, as this gate was not the site of much fighting, and lacked much in wrecks. Worse off, Providence Bloc was light on tackle, and had no more anchor-able bubbles to put a defensive perimeter against bombers. Within minutes, a bomber wing belonging to HERO Coalition performed a bombing run which was easily tanked by the Harbingers. However, after that another bombing run was performed, managing to destroy at least five Harbingers. Before Providence Bloc forces could rally or warp off, a third bombing run, this time carried by Northern Coalition(dot) was performed. This third run basically obliterated a large percentage of the Harbingers, forcing Providence Bloc to retreat in order to muster more ships and pilots.

Returning after a quick reform, Providence Bloc forces found the system mostly empty, with only a few opportunistic hostiles remaining in the system. Stain Wagon forces having left the system after the bombing run, when it was made clear that HERO Coalition forces were not going to re-group, choosing instead to schedule a low priority fleet later that night. Providence Bloc took the opportunity to lock down the system, eliminating many of the pirates around the system and quickly taking the other Sovereignty Blockade Unit down. This marked the end of large scale hostilities in the system, as well as insured it remained in Providence Bloc’s hands.

Though the second battle of UL-7I8 was both a strategic and tactical success for Providence Bloc, it is still too early in the campaign to say whether or not HERO Coalition’s expansion to Northern Catch is doomed to failure, or whether Providence Bloc will falter in its defense. What is certain though, is that the Northern Catch pocket is going to see a lot of action in the coming weeks.

The original battle report can be found here.
The fixed battle report can be found here.

Providence Fight Club: UL-7I8 3.8.2014

UL-7I8 system, Catch region. On the 3rd of August, the system saw a large battle between forces of the CFC, HERO Coalition, The Unthinkables Alliance and Providence Bloc, without a clear decisive winner.

The battle flared up when a Providence Bloc fleet, a hundred and ten pilot strong in Vexor class Cruisers entered the UL-7I8 system after reports of Sovereignty Blockade Units anchored by Brave Collective Alliance were received. Upon discovering the Sovereignty Blockade Units, the Providence Bloc force attempt to remove them, but was interrupted when a cynosural beacon was spotted in the system, allowing a HERO Coalition Harpy class Assault Frigate force, a hundred pilot strong, to bridge into the system.

Providence Bloc forces decided to retreat to a safe tower within the system, in order to assess the situation. Doing so allowed them to observe The Unthinkables Alliance Tengu class Strategic Cruiser fleet, around eighty pilots, enter the field. Both hostile fleets did not engage each other for the duration of the battle. Instead, they turned their attention to a CFC force, two hundred pilot big, in Harpy class Assault Frigates as well, which entered the system afterwards. At that point the system housed more than four hundred pilots.

With the entry of CFC forces, the battle flared on the ERVK-P gate, with both HERO Coalition and Providence Bloc performing bombing runs, albeit on different targets. After the bombs were dropped, the CFC and HERO Coalition, along with The Unthinkables started a sortie, with Providence Bloc forces entering the fray as well, and engaging The Unthinkables fleet, which they deemed the most dangerous of the three.

However, as the battle progressed, CFC forces decided to disengage, probably unhappy with the progress of the fighting, as The Unthinkables fleet did not seem to break, although the HERO Coalition fleet did lose most of its support. With the CFC opting out of the battle, Providence Bloc forces would not stand a chance against the combined might of the HERO Coalition and The Unthinkables fleet, and thus chose to retreat back to the safety of their tower instead.

Due to the nature of the fight, it appears that little losses were incurred to either side, as is evident in the battle reports.

This marked the end of large scale hostilities in the system, though several attempts later were made by Providence Bloc to dislodge the Sovereignty Blockade Units, with little success, due to the presence of HERO Coalition bombers. Thus the Infrastructure Hub in the system was made vulnerable, and later pushed into reinforced mode.

Original battle report can be found here.
Fixed battle report can be found here.

special thanks to Ristlin Wakefield, of Pentag Blade, Curatores Veritatis Alliance, for supplying the AAR

Providence Fight Club: UL-7I8 29.7.2014

UL-7I8 system, Catch region. On the 29th of July, Providence Bloc fought two long battles in order to secure the system from HERO Coalition forces, backed up by The Unthinkables Alliance.

The first engagement took place near the ERVK-P gate, where Providence Bloc forces, numbering around a hundred and sixty pilots in Vexor class Cruisers, were taking down one of the Sovereignty Blockade Units deployed by Brave Collective Alliance in the system. HERO Coalition itself arrived in a one hundred and ten Moa class Cruiser fleet, and a fight developed.

While the two forces exchanged fire, and the fight was leaning ever more steadily towards Providence Bloc’s victory, The Unthinkables Ishtar class Heavy Assault Cruiser gang, numbering fifty ships, joined the fray on HERO Coalition’s side, and quickly set to work destroying Providence Bloc’s logistics wing. With their logistics gone, Providence Bloc forces started losing ground, and a decision was made to retreat in order to re-ship and re-supply.

The fixed battle report can be found here.
The summary of the battle can be found here.

Upon returning to the system, Providence Bloc forces discovered it was nearly empty, with only a hostile bomber gang around to harass them. However, information was received that The Unthinkables were planning a return to the system, re-shipping to Tengu class Strategic Cruisers, alongside HERO Coalition forces. In order to counter this threat, Providence Bloc forces decided to change their fleet composition and retreat from the system. After a second re-form, Providence Bloc returned to the system in a one hundred and thirty Prophecy class Battlecruiser fleet, only to find the enemy already waiting in it.

The decision was made to engage the enemy regardless, and Providence Bloc entered the system through the OXIY-V gate, where the second battle soon flared up. In order to help in the work of logistics, two Thanatos class Carriers were brought into the system by Providence Bloc. With the battle raging on the gate, Providence Bloc forces found themselves losing ground again, their Carriers tackled. The Unthinkables Tengu fleet, backed up by HERO Coalition’s Moa fleet, managed to destroy the two Carriers, leaving the Providence Bloc without the backbone of its logistics capabilities. Thus, the Providence Bloc fleet was quickly decimated.

The fixed battle report can be found here.
The summary of the battle can be found here.

This second battle saw the end of hostilities in the system, allowing Providence Bloc forces to remove the Sovereignty Blockade Units using bombers, thus securing the system again. All in all, it is estimated that Providence Bloc lost more than a hundred and ten ships, and received a total of twelve billion ISK in damages. This is in some ways a repeat of the T-RPFU battle, in which the strategic objective was secured, but at the cost of two tactical defeats.

This battle joins a long list of engagements in which Providence Bloc found itself outnumbered by HERO Coalition and The Unthinkables team up, which in turn led many people within Providence to criticize HERO Coalition, calling it an extension of the N3 Coalition.

Though HERO Coalition and N3 Coalition are diplomatically neutral, sources within HERO Coalition have confirmed collaborations between certain Fleet Commanders in Brave Collective Alliance and N3 entities, calling them abnormalities and laying the blame at the feet of those Fleet Commanders, whom they claim, are not in any way representing of HERO Coalition’s diplomatic stance.

Regardless, this battle, alongside the T-RPFU engagement a few days before it, seem to be souring HERO Coalition’s reputation in the Providence region, and making many wonder at what the future may hold for the two coalitions.

Providence Fight Club: T-RPFU 26.7.2014

T-RPFU system, Providence region. On the 26th of July the system saw large scale engagements from no less than four different entities, culminating in an hour long battle with more than six hundred participants, and resulting in five hundred ships destroyed, and at least thirty billion ISK in damages.

The battle was prompted when Sovereignty Blockade Units belonging to Brave Collective Alliance were deployed in the T-RPFU system, forcing Providence Bloc to organize a Call to Arms (CTA) fleet, managing to muster a hundred and sixty pilots in Rupture class Cruisers with some logistics backing. Racing to the system in order to remove the Sovereignty Blockade Units before they online, Providence Bloc forces were expecting to meet a Brave Collective fleet, instead reports of a RvB Zealot class Heavy Assault Cruiser force, some two hundred pilots large with strong logistics backbone (Nearly a quarter of the fleet) were received.

Realizing that the RvB fleet was headed to the system, and that it would interfere with the removal of the Sovereignty Blockade Units, Providence Bloc forces prepared to engage the hostile force on the D-GTMI gate. The initial exchange looked promising, as the Providence Bloc fleet was able to destroy almost twenty percent of the enemy’s Logistics ships. However, with mounting casualties and the enemy’s ability to handle the incoming fire, Providence Bloc forces decided to retreat from the fleet, preserving more than half their fleet and re-forming for a second attempt.

During the fight, the system saw more than three hundred and thirty-four pilots, with Time Dilation reaching twenty-eight percent.

The original battle report can be found here.
The fixed battle report can be found here (Due to EVE Kill Report Repair Tool, most of the RvB fleet cannot be shown due to settings).
The summary of the battle can be found here.

Image of the fighting on the D-GTMI gate between RvB and Brave Collective Alliance

After a quick reform, and with more hostiles getting into the system, a temporary cease fire was struck with The Unthinkables Alliance, who promised to aid Providence Bloc forces with their seventy pilot Tengu class Strategic Cruiser fleet, as well as securing neutrality from the Brave Collective Alliance’s one hundred and ten Harpy Assault Frigate fleet for the duration of the engagement with RvB. With those promises in mind, Providence Bloc went in for a second engagement, this time choosing to warp directly on top of the RvB fleet.

At this point the system hosted more than six hundred and eighty-nine pilots, with four major fleets assembled as well as assorted gangs and bomber wings. While Providence Bloc forces engaged the RvB fleet, The Unthinkables, true to their word, warped in to aid, but Brave Collective did not hold their fire, but instead engaged Providence Bloc, taking down all the Fleet Commanders off the field. Thus, Providence Bloc fleet quickly fell apart, with each new member stepping up to take charge of the fleet only to be instantly destroyed by Brave Collective forces, prompting members of Providence Bloc to level allegations of espionage at Brave Collective Alliance.

The
fixed battle report can be found here (Due to EVE Kill Report Repair
Tool, most of the RvB fleet cannot be shown due to settings).
The summary of the battle can be found here.

With the fleet decimated, Providence Bloc forces retreated back to their staging system in order to re-form a second time, switching to Vexor class Cruisers. By the time Providence Bloc forces re-entered the T-RPFU system, most of the hostiles have already extracted, allowing Providence Bloc forces to safely destroy the Sovereignty Blockade Units and removing the threat from the system.

Though Providence Bloc achieved the strategic objective, securing the system again, it is indisputable that in both rounds of fighting it definitely lost, with the last one proving to be a crushing defeat.

Many have questioned whether or not the deployment of Sovereignty Blockade Units was done deliberately to draw a fight by Brave Collective, or was it the work of rogue elements in the employ of RvB within the Alliance, as their fleet made way to the T-RPFU system directly after its form up. Regardless, no official response was given by Brave Collective Alliance’s leadership until time of publication.

Providence Fight Club: V-3YG7 24.7.2014

V-3YG7 system, Catch region. On the 24th of July, a large scale battle took place on GE-8JV gate in the system between HERO Coalition, The Unthinkables Alliance and Providence Bloc, which saw more than two hundred ship lost and at least twenty billion ISK in damages.

Providence Bloc mustered a hundred and sixty strong Navy Issue Vexor class Cruiser fleet, with adequate logistics support, and made its way to the Catch region. The fleet arrived to HERO Coalition’s new staging system, GE-8JV, where it set a camp on the station and harassed HERO Coalition forces, as well as a thirty strong Honorable Third Party Alliance Talwar class Destroyer gang. While waiting on the station for HERO Coalition to form up, news came of The Unthinkables fleet, some seventy pilot strong, mostly in Navy Issue Apocalypse class Battleships with light logistics support, holding in the V-3YG7 system on the GE-8JV gate.

After a few minutes when it became clear that the enemy was not going to jump into the system, Providence Bloc forces decided instead to take the fight to The Unthinkables, jumping into the V-3YG7 system and re-approaching the GE-8JV gate, when The Unthinkables force landed at range and a fight developed, during which The Unthinkables lit Cynosural beacons and brought into the field two Archon class Carriers, which immediately went into Triage mode in order to supply logistics for The Unthinkables fleet. At the same time, a large HERO Coalition force, a hundred and thirty pilot strong, mainly in Moa class Cruisers jumped into the system as well and joined the fray.

Video of the engagement can be viewed here.

What started as a possible victory for Providence Bloc forces over The Unthinkables fleet quickly turned into defeat as HERO Coalition threw its might alongside The Unthinkables, targeting the Providence Bloc ships. Against the combined might of the two fleets, Providence Bloc forces could not stand, yet they attempted to fight until the last ship, however, with most of the Fleet Commanders removed from the field, and mounting casualties, the remnants of the fleet attempted to extract back into GE-8JV, where a secondary battle between Yulai Federation Alliance bomber wing, led by the Oscura Simmetria Corporation and Honorable Third Party Alliance was raging on the V-3YG7 gate.

Original battle report for the V-3YG7 system can be found here.
Fixed battle report for the V-3YG7 system can be found here.
Summary of the V-3YG7 battle can be found here.

Though the Yulai Federation force managed to destroy the Honorable Third Party fleet in a successful bombing run, it was itself later destroyed by HERO Coalition forces, as smaller skirmishes developed across the two systems between stragglers and remnants of the fighting fleets. Though HERO Coalition forces and The Unthinkables fleet exchanged brief fire on the GE-8JV gate, it seems both fleets decided to disengage, thus ending hostilities for the day.

Original battle report for the GE-8JV system can be found here.
Fixed battle report for the GE-8JV system can be found here.

It is estimated that the losses throughout the battle amount to twenty-six billion ISK in total, with more than two hundred and fifty ships destroyed, as V-3YG7 system saw more than four hundred and thirty-nine pilots in its peak. Though most of these pilots were concentrated on the grid of the GE-8JV gate, Time Dilation did not play any factor in the fighting and no noticeable slowdown was recorded.

Special thanks to Einstei9 Gengod of The Silent Few, The Volition Cult Alliance for supplying the video of the fight.

Providence Fight Club: B-3QPD 18.7.2014

B-3QPD system, Catch region. On the 18th of July, Providence Bloc forces fought a battle with The Unthinkables Alliance, decimating a third of their fleet and inflicting more than five billion ISK in damages.

Providence Bloc forces were organized in a hundred and fourteen pilot Rupture class Cruiser fleet, and made their way to the V-3YG7 system in the Catch region, HERO Coalition’s staging system in the region, in order to entice a fight from said coalition. Upon reaching the system, Providence Bloc forces proceeded to deploy bubbles around the station and snipe any undocking ships, hoping for a repeat of the day before, when HERO Coalition responded in force with a large Moa class Cruiser fleet.

However, their wait was interrupted by a hundred strong CFC Interceptor class Frigate fleet, which entered the system and warped at range of Providence Bloc forces. Quickly following was The Unthinkables fleet, A Tengu class Strategic Cruiser fleet numbering fifty pilots. Providence Bloc forces decided not to engage on the station and instead warped to the B-3QPD gate. Upon landing on the gate, they were met with The Unthinkables fleet. Both fleets jumped into the B-3QPD system almost simultaneously.

What happened next could only be described as a brutal fight on the V-3YG7 gate, as Providence Bloc forces de-cloaked and sat on the gate, waiting for The Unthinkables to do the same. Once they did de-cloak, Providence Bloc forces started hitting The Unthinkables’ Logistic wing, decimating it completely, but incurring heavy losses in return (Approximately thirty ships).

The original battle report can be found here.

With their Logistic support gone, The Unthinkables fleet decided to disengage and attempted to retreat, with Providence Bloc forces in hot pursuit. The fight spilled into the U-QVWD system, with a few more Tengu class Strategic Cruisers destroyed, but at a moderate price, as most of Providence Bloc Interceptors class Frigates and Interdictor class Destroyers were lost at this point, nullifying the ability of Providence Bloc forces to tackle any of the remaining Tengus. Part of the reason for the high casualty rate was the fact that though devoid of Logistic support, the local tank on the Tengus proved to be quite formidable still.

The original battle report can be found here.

After the second engagement, no attempt was made to pursue the fleeing The Unthinkables fleet, and instead Providence Bloc forces made their way back home, to their staging system. Of the hundred and fourteen ships that left it, only half that number returned, representing one point seventy-two billion ISK in damages sustained by the Providence Bloc. However, The Unthinkables themselves lost approximately seventeen ships, which represented a third of their fleet, and suffered five billion ISK in damages.

This represented the third battle in a row that Providence Bloc forces have contended with The Unthinkables Alliance in the Catch region.

Providence Fight Club: V-3YG7 17.7.2014

V-3YG7 system, Catch region. On the 17th of July, Providence Bloc forces fought a battle with HERO Coalition and The Unthinkables Alliance, resulting in more than two hundred destroyed ships and nine billion ISK in damages.

Providence Bloc forces were organized in a Rupture class Cruiser fleet numbering seventy-seven pilots and made their way towards V-3YG7 system in the Catch region, which serves as HERO Coalition’s staging system in that region. On their way towards their target, the fleet encountered a Southern Federation Alliance Caracal class Cruiser gang, numbering twenty ships, running away from The Unthinkables Alliance Ishtar class Heavy Assault Cruiser gang of a similar size in the SV5-8N system.

A fight broke out on the WD-VTV gate, with Providence Bloc forces decimating twenty percent of the enemy fleet and only receiving light damage in return. However, the Southern Federation Alliance gang did not try to fight and instead burned away from Providence Bloc forces, retreating from the system. No attempt was made to go after The Unthinkables fleet, as it was situated in a far better position, thus deeming engagement unfavorable.

The original battle report can be found here.

After this incident, Providence Bloc forces entered the V-3YG7 system, and sat about bubbling the V-3YG7 station. The force camped the station for a long stretch of time, managing to destroy individual ships, though suffering continued harassment from bombers. Finally, a large HERO Coalition Moa class Cruiser fleet undocked from the station, and a fight developed between the two fleets.

The HERO Coalition fleet managed to inflict moderate casualties to the Providence Bloc forces, but was itself nearly decimated, thanks in part to a coordinated Yulai Federation Alliance bombing run, carried by the Oscura Simmetria Corporation, which destroyed most of its Logistic ships.

With reports of The Unthinkables’ Ishtar fleet advancing to the system, reinforced by fifteen more ships, a decision was made to disengage, in order to concentrate on the Ishtar fleet. As the Ishtar fleet entered the V-3YG7 it encountered the Providence Bloc fleet sitting on the B-3QPD gate. A chaotic fight quickly ensued, with Yulai Federation bombers managing to score another successful bombing run on the Ishtar fleet, destroying five Ishtars but also inflicting friendly casualties.

The original battle report can be found here.
The fixed battle report can be found here.

At this point, with almost half the fleet lost, and much damage caused, Providence forces decided to retreat. A token HERO Coalition force attempted to give chase, managing to inflict some more losses, but in the end, remnants of the original force managed to reach the safety of Providence’s staging system. Out of the original fleet, it is estimated that thirty to forty pilots survived the entire conflict.