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.
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.
Great report! Though I shudder how many Provi pilots actually evacuate their assets every time something like this happens. Very likely just Nulli looking for a fight, or staging a distraction for a CSAA destruction somewhere else. A real sov invasion looks quite different.
ReplyDeleteIt seems provi is the last region where people can have fights without a major allergic reaction from one of the big alliances... it's training up provi pilots at least ;)
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