War Update: Large Fleet Engagement on the R3-K7K Station

On the second of May, 19:00 EVE Standard Time, a large fleet battle developed in R3-K7K system, Providence region, over a station exiting reinforced mode between Nulli Secunda Alliance and the Providence Bloc.

The timer for the first reinforce cycle was reaching its end when a large Nulli Secunda fleet entered the system and situated itself around the station. The fleet was comprised of a Harbinger class Battlecruiser wing with a large Augoror class Cruiser Logistics support force, and a Purifer class Stealth Bomber wing with Inquisitor class Frigate Logistic support, as well as a few more assorted Frigate class ships. In total the force was estimated at one hundred and seventy pilots strong.

The Nulli Secunda fleet

Providence Bloc forces were split between several fleets, with the main battle fleet re-shipping once, thus making it hard to give accurate numbers. It is estimated that more than three hundred and seventy pilots were fighting under the Providence Bloc banner at the peak of the battle, however, actual numbers may be even higher. The main battle fleet was a Rupture class Cruiser fleet supported by a mixed Naga and Tornado class Battlecruiser fleet and a mixed Caracal and Vexor gang, with a small Stealth Bomber wing carrying occasional bombing runs.

The first battle went badly for the Providence Bloc, as the main Rupture fleet warped to the station in order to engage the Nulli Secunda force, only to be caught by an interdiction probe deployed by Nulli Secunda and annihilated by the Nulli Secunda Purifier wing in a coordinated bombing run.

First engagement, just before the Nulli Secunda bombing run

The devastating effect of the bombing run

After this initial engagement, Providence Bloc carried only light harassment in the form of Stealth Bomber bombing runs for half an hour. However these proved ineffectual, with one Stealth Bomber squadron even getting caught and bombed as well by a Pasta Syndicate Alliance Stealth Bomber gang that was present in the system. During that time Nulli Secunda mainly focused its attention on the station.

                   R3-K7K station under attack by the Nulli Secunda Fleet

The second engagement kicked off exactly half an hour after the first encounter, with three Providence Bloc fleets engaging simultaneously. For a few minutes Providence Bloc was holding its ground, trading blows with the Nulli Secunda force and though losing far more ships than its opponent, was still committing to the fight. At some point though, Pasta Syndicate bombers managed to carry a successful bombing run on the Naga and Tornado fleet, decimating it. After that event, a total collapse occurred, with Providence Bloc forces deciding to dis-engage rather than continue fighting, conceding the field to Nulli Secunda.

 The second engagement unfolding

After the second fight, the Nulli Secunda fleet decided to leave the system without reinforcing the station again, allowing Providence Bloc forces to take stock of their losses. Though there is much confusion on the killboards, it is a conservative estimation that Providence Bloc lost approximately three hundred ships, mainly Cruiser and Battlecruiser class, with Nulli Secunda losing only twenty ships in return. 

Aftermath of the battle

The battle itself was plagued with Time Dilation fluctuations, reaching a peak of 26% Time Dilation at one point, with system housing more than seven hundred pilots at the height of the second engagement.

Only other notable incident after the main battle was a Razor Alliance Interceptor class Frigate gang, some twenty pilots strong, losing half its members to a bombing run carried by Pasta Syndicate.

With the fighting over, Providence Bloc forces repaired the station and cleared the field, as well as taken down the Nulli Secunda Sovereignty Blockade Units. As of time of writing, no new Sovereignty Blockade Units have been deployed in the system, however an Infrastructure Hub will be exiting reinforced mode at 16:00 EVE Standard Time. The EVE Scribe will be there to report on any further fighting.

War Update: R3-K7K Infrastructure Hub Saved, Nulli Secunda Re-Deploys Sovereignty Blockade Units

On the first of May, 11:00 EVE Standard time, a large fleet battle erupted on the Infrastructure Hub in the R3-K7K system, Providence region, between the Providence Bloc and Nulli Secunda Alliance.

The fight started shortly after the server's scheduled downtime, with the Infrastructure Hub in the system reaching the end of its first reinforced mode. Nulli Secunda showed with a Harbinger class Battlecruiser fleet, approximately ninety pilots strong with a large Tech I Logistics Cruiser support. Providence Bloc fielded two separate fleets, with a large Naga and Tornado class Battlecruiser fleet, some hundred-fifty strong with a large Logistics and support wing, and a Stealth Bomber class Frigate fleet, around hundred pilots or so large. In total there were three hundred and twenty pilots on Providence Bloc's side.

As expected, the fight was quite one sided, with minimal losses incurred to the Providence Bloc side, and most if not all of the Nulli Secunda fleet lost.

The battle report can be found here.

After the destruction of the Nulli Secunda fleet, the Sovereignty Blockade Units were removed by the fleets, and the Infrastructure Hub safely exited reinforced mode. However later that day a second incursion by Nulli Secunda forces resulted in a vastly different result, as a second Harbinger class Battlecruiser fleet some sixty pilots strong deployed new Sovereignty Blockade Units in the R3-K7K system. 

That force was intercepted by a Providence Bloc fleet of Caracal and Rupture class Cruiser fleet, some eighty pilots strong. The Providence Bloc force was annihilated by the Nulli Secunda fleet, who sustained minimal losses.

As of yet, the Killboards are still slowly synching.
The zKillboard link can be found here.

With the Sovereignty Blockade Units replaced, it is only logical to assume a continuation of the hostilities between the Providence Bloc forces and Nulli Secunda Alliance. The EVE Scribe will keep covering these events in detail.

Breaking News: Nulli Secunda Deploys Sovereigny Blockade Units in R3-K7K

In the early hours of the thirtieth of April, a fleet belonging to Nulli Secunda Alliance deployed Sovereignty Blockade Units in the R3-K7K system, Providence region.

The fleet, comprising some seventy pilots, mainly in Harbinger class Battlecruisers with Logistic support and assorted Strategic class Cruisers, entered the R3-K7K system around 1:00 EVE Standard Time and deployed the Sovereignty Blockade Units. Providence Bloc forces which were assembled at the time in an eighty pilot strong Naga class Battlecruiser fleet with Logistic support quickly responded to the threat and moved to engage the Nulli Secunda force.

A battle developed with Providence Bloc forces taking heavy losses but incurring some losses in return for the Nulli Secunda side as well. In the end, however, Nulli Secunda managed to hold the field, allowing it to finish deploying the Sovereignty Blockade Units and force both the Infrastructure Hub and the Station in the system into reinforced mode.

This will mark the third time the Providence Bloc will be facing a defensive sovereignty war in the last year, with the first being the Northern Catch Pocket dispute between Against ALL Authorities Alliance and Providence Bloc. That war resulted in a loss for the Providence Bloc, as the ERVK-P system fell into the hands of Darkness of Despair Alliance, an ally of Against ALL Authorities at the time.

The second war was between the Providence Bloc and Insidious Empire Alliance, with the 9UY4-H system, Providence region, a major crossroad, being contested. Ultimately the system was saved and Insidious Empire forces retreated.

Whether this is mainly an attempt to illicit fights from the Providence Bloc or a precursor to a full scale invasion is still unclear at this point, but prudent pilots have already started evacuating non-essential ships and modules. Though at the time it seems that Nulli Secunda is operating independently, both Pandemic Legion and Northern Coalition(dot) Alliances have been known to operate in the neighboring regions of Catch and Curse, and have been observed moving both Titans and Mothership class ships around Low Security Space near the Providence region.

Until further notice, a full scale mobilization of the Coalition is in effect, with Call to Arms planned and announced to defend the region. The EVE Scribe will continue to update you as the situation unfolds.

Update: Catch Region 8/4/2014 - 21/4/2014

Continuing their previous momentum, H.E.R.O Coalition has kept taking more systems in the Catch region. With Against ALL Authorities Alliance seemingly offering no resistance, the only set backs to plague the operation have been the Black Pearl Alliance incident, and the controversial intervention of Pandemic Legion and Northern Coalition(dot) Alliances.

Provi-Bloc

The Volition Cult - 1 system, 1 station  
Apocalypse Now. - 1 system, 1 station  
Curatores Veritatis Alliance - 4 systems, 1 station

Total: 6 systems (6%), 3 stations (7%)

RUS Coalition

Against ALL Authorities - 43 systems, 17 stations  
AAA Citizens - 8 systems

Total: 51 systems (47%), 17 stations (41%)

H.E.R.O Coalition

Brave Collective - 16 systems, 4 station
Spaceship Samurai - 19 systems, 8 station
 
Total: 35 systems (32%), 12 stations (29%) 

N3 Coalition

Pandemic Legion - 1 system, 1 station
Northern Coalition. - 4 systems, 1 station

Total: 5 systems (5%), 2 stations (5%)

Unaligned

P-A-T-R-I-O-T-S - 1 system, 1 station
Black Pearl Alliance - 6 systems, 4 stations
The Initiative. - 1 system
 
Total: 8 systems (7%), 5 stations (12%)

Unclaimed

F4R2-Q, V-3YG7, J-ODE7

Total: 3 systems (3%), 2 stations (5%)

8/4/2014 - Spaceship Samurai Alliance claims sovereignty over the A-VILQ system, with Against ALL Authorities Alliance losing sovereignty over the CB4-Q2 system.

9/4/2014 - The CB4-Q2 system is gained by Spaceship Samurai Alliance. Against ALL Authorities Alliance loses sovereignty over three systems: 3-OKDA, 36N-HZ and J6QB-P, with the P-A-T-R-I-O-T-S Alliance claiming the 3-OKDA system later that day.

10/4/2014 - Northern Coalition(dot) Alliance gains sovereignty over the 36N-HZ system. Brave Collective Alliance claims sovereignty over the J6QB-P system.

12/10/2014 - Against ALL Authorities Alliance loses sovereignty over the KW-I6T and G-7WUF systems.

13/4/2014 - Spaceship Samurai Alliance takes sovereignty over the KW-I6T and G-7WUF systems. Against ALL Authorities loses sovereignty over the 3-SFWG and CNC-4V systems, with the 3-SFWG system later claimed by Spaceship Samurai Alliance. AAA Citizens Alliance loses its sovereignty over the N-8BZ6 system.

14/4/2014 - Black Pearl Alliance claims its first system in the Catch region, CNC-4V. AAA Citizens Alliance loses its sovereignty over the 6-MM99 and FZ-6A5 systems, with the FZ-6A5 system later gained by Spaceship Samurai Alliance, which claims the N-8BZ6 system as well. Agaisnt ALL Authorities Alliance loses sovereignty over the 25S-6P and Y-PNRL systems.

15/4/2014 - Black Pearl Alliance claims sovereignty over the 25S-6P and Y-PNRL systems. Spaceship Samurai Alliance gains sovereignty over the 6-MM99 system, but loses later that day sovereignty over the 3-SFWG system. Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers Alliance loses its sovereignty over the JW22-V system, later claimed by Brave Collective Alliance. Against ALL Authorities Alliance loses sovereignty over three systems: S-U2VD, W9-DID and WQH-4K, with AAA Citizens Alliance losing its sovereignty over the JBY6-F system as well.

16/4/2014 - Spaceship Samurai Alliance claims the S-U2VD, W9-DID and JBY6-F systems, with Northern Coalition(dot) Alliance claiming the 3-SFWG system and Brave Collective Alliance taking sovereignty over the WQH-4K system. Rookie Empire Alliance loses its sovereignty over the R-K4QY system. Against ALL Authorities manage to lose five systems in one day: GE-94X, I-8D0G, 2J-WJY, A-803L and GMLH-K.

17/4/2014 - Brave Collective Alliance claims four systems in one day: A-803L, R-K4QY, 2J-WJY and I-8D0G. Spaceship Samurai Alliance takes two sovereignty over two more systems: GMLH-K and GE-94X. Against ALL Authorities loses its sovereignty over the 6BPS-T system.

18/4/2014 - Black Pearl Alliance claims sovereignty over the 6BPS-T system, while Against ALL Authorities Alliance loses sovereignty over the GJ0-OJ system.

19/4/2014 - The GJ0-OJ system is claimed by Brave Collective Alliance. Against ALL Authorities and AAA Citizens alliances lose sovereignty over the RR-D05 and M8-NKE systems respectively.

20/4/2014 - The RR-D05 and M8-NKE systems are picked by Brave Collective and Spaceship Samurai alliances respectively. Rookie Empire Alliance loses its sovereignty over the OGL8-Q system, while Against ALL Authorities Alliance loses its sovereignty over the QBQ-RF and 4-07MU systems.

21/4/2014 - The Initiative(dot) Alliance loses its sovereignty over the QSM-LM system, later claimed by Brave Collective Alliance alongside the OGL8-Q and QBQ-RF systems. Black Pearl Alliance gains sovereignty over the 4-07MU system. Northern Coalition(dot) Alliance claims sovereignty over the FAT-6P and HP-64T systems, which were lost earlier the same day by Against ALL Authorites and AAA Citizens alliances respectively. Rookie Empire Alliance loses sovereignty over the J-ODE7 system, with Against ALL Authorities losing two more systems that day: F4R2-Q and V-3YG7.

Providence Fight Club: T-RPFU 4.4.2014

On the fourth of April, a Providence Bloc force met its demise by the hands of The Unthinkables Alliance at the T-RPFU system, Providence region, in what marked the second battle in a series of skirmishes between the two entities.

Providence Bloc forces were organized in a Rupture class Cruiser fleet, consisting of around a hundred pilots, and led by corebloodbrothers, of Volition Cult, The Volition Cult Alliance. The force was mainly occupied with border patrol at the time, with mixed success.

During the operation, reports came of a large Unthinkables force entering the Providence region through the F9E-KX system, Catch region. The force, some eighty pilots in total, mainly in Muninn class Heavy Assault Cruisers with a sizable Logistics Cruiser support, entered the D-GTMI system in the Providence region and was reported as making its way towards the T-RPFU system.

Using the Providence region Jump Bridge network, Providence Bloc's fleet managed to intercept the enemy fleet, reaching the T-RPFU system before it and setting to engage them on the D-GTMI gate, where it was situated.

At first, the battle seemed to be going well for the Providence Bloc, with several of The Unthinkables' Heavy Assault Cruisers succumbing to the damage output of the Providence Bloc fleet, disregarding their Logistic Cruiser support entirely. However as the battle continued, the tide turned, with The Unthinkables being able to sustain the Providence Bloc volleys and quickly diminish them, as losses mounted on the Providence Bloc's side.

In the end, The Providence Bloc was forced to retreat, conceding the field to The Unthinkables. Several reasons were given for the defeat, mostly centered around pilot errors. Fleet members were unable to focus fire due to the need to re-load ammunition, being further away than their guns' range allows, or unaware of any target switches due to not setting up proper filters for the fleet broadcast system, thus being overwhelmed by useless information, and even difficulty understanding the Fleet Commander.

Though at first it seemed that at least on the ISK value alone of the destroyed ships Providence Bloc could claim some sort of victory, but as days passed and the Killboards updated, it was apparent that on that front, Providence Bloc has suffered a defeat as well. Regardless, one must ask will the Providence Bloc be forced to deal with the efficiencies uncovered by this engagement, or continue its losing streak?

Fixed Battle Report.

Providence Fight Club: F-YH5B 3.4.2014

On the third of April, a skirmish in the F-YH5B system, Providence region was decided in favor of Providence Bloc forces, after Red Alliance forces abandoned the field.

The fight started when a large Red Alliance gang, some sixty strong mainly in Naga class Battlecruisers, entered the Providence region through an unknown entry point, and made its way to Providence Bloc's staging system, F-YH5B. The gang set camp in said system, looking for targets of opportunity.

However, since it was peak time for the European Time Zone pilots in the Providence Bloc, a large force manged to hastily organize itself in the station under the command of corebloodbrothers, of Volition Cult, The Volition Cult Alliance. The fleet, mainly in Naga and Tornado class Battlecruisers as well, reached more than a hundred and ten pilots.

The Providence Bloc fleet undocked from the station and both forces began to skirmish, with each fleet warping in and out in order to get into an optimal position and quickly volley the other force's ships off the field before disengaging and starting the whole cycle again across the system. 

After a few exchanges, with both sides losing a few ships but not incurring any major losses, the Red Alliance fleet disengaged, and made its way towards the Assah system, Derelik region, in order to extract from the Providence region. 

Due to a Sansha Nation incursion in the G2E-RJ Constellation at the time, Providence Bloc forces could not use the Jump Bridge network in order to cut off the retreat of the Red Alliance fleet, and it managed to safely extract from the region.

While not a decisive victory, the fight proved that Providence Bloc can and will respond quickly to a large hostile presence in its region.

Complete Battle Report.

News: N3 Coalition Destroys a Providence Bloc Capital Ship Assembly Array in H-GKI6

In the early hours of the seventeenth of April, an N3 Coalition force destroyed a Tower belonging to Silent Infinity Alliance, a sovereignty holder in the Providence Bloc, which held a Capital Ship Assembly Array in the H-GKI6 system, Providence region.

The attacking force, some hundred and fifty pilots strong, mainly in Armor Strategic Cruisers, bridged into the system and proceeded to attack the Tower. They were accompanied by ten Capital ships, mainly Dreadnaughts and one Archon class Carrier. The Dreadnaughts quickly entered Siege mode and annihilated the Tower and its modules, including the Capital Ship Assembly Array. Only token resistance was offered, mainly by Silent Infinity Alliance Stealth Bombers, who did little to no damage to the attacking force. Once the Tower and all its modules were destroyed, the N3 Coalition force safely extracted from the system. 

A screenshot of the attacking force on the Tower in the H-GKI6 system 

According to Nero Draconian, of Forging Industries, Silent Infinity Alliance, the Capital Ship Assembly Array was empty at the time of its destruction.

The response given by the N3 Coalition to this event by Travis Musgrat, of BURN EDEN, Northern Coalition(dot) Alliance, was that the aim of the attack was to provoke a fight from the Providence Bloc.

However, contrary to these official responses, a claim was raised that the Capital Ship Assembly Array in question was not, in fact, lying idle until the moment of its destruction, but was actually in the process of producing an unknown ship, either a Mothership or Titan class ship. An information leak allowed the owners of the Tower to empty the Capital Ship Assembly Array well before the time of the attack, thus saving the materials from being lost.

Further more, it has been speculated that the ship in production was not intended for a pilot who is a part of the Providence Bloc, but a client outside the coalition, possibly either from the CFC or a former member alliance of the RUS Coalition. This theory can be given credence by the fact that there is little to no use for this class of ships by members of the Providence Bloc, nor readily available capital to purchase one easily.

If so, the operation may have been a warning shot aimed at the Providence Bloc, cautioning its members not to trade with the CFC or any of its allies. It may even be considered a prologue of the anticipated war between the N3 Coalition and the CFC, with the N3 Coalition attempting to limit any source of Capital ships for the CFC, including neutral entities such as the Providence Bloc.

Regardless, there has been little to no confirmation of such claims, and both sides maintain this was done mainly for the sake of a good fight, which did not appear to have materialized.

Complete Battle Report.

Special thanks to Nero Draconian, of Forging Industries, Silent Infinity Alliance and Travis Musgrat, of BURN EDEN, Northern Coalition(dot) Alliance for granting interviews, as well as Dragoshi, of Asturm Fidelis, Apocalypse Now(dot) Alliance, for supplying screenshots of the battle.