Providence Fight Club: Blade Squad Tangles in K-Space

J213642 system, Wormhole space. On the 11th of November, Providence Bloc fought a battle with United System's Commonwealth [USYSC], resulting in the destruction of two Capital ships, as well as a few Strategic Cruisers.

The engagement began after Blade Squad, a small group within Providence Bloc which mainly specializes in small gang warfare and expensive asset usage, was hunting a wormhole group that had been moving several Orca Industrial Command Ships through the region, and even an Archon Carrier.

Sadly, lack of reliable information allowed that group to slip by. However, Providence Bloc confused a different wormhole group which was roaming the region at the same time with their initial targets, and proceeded to track them down. They managed to find the entrance to their wormhole in the U-HYMT system, and brought a gang of twenty Proteus Strategic Cruisers into the wormhole system, hoping to catch their prey unawares,

This was not the case though, as the wormhole Corporation had eyes both outside the system and within, and was quite aware of Providence Bloc's gang and its relative size. Though outnumbered, USYSC decided to engage the Providence Bloc fleet regardless, and a fight soon broke out on the entrance to the wormhole system, as Providence Bloc and USYSC fleets engaged each other.

The first round of fighting went well for USYSC's side. Outnumbered, they brought a triage Archon to provide remote repairs, as well as Legion Strategic Cruisers to put pressure on the Providence Bloc Guardians with their energy neutralizers, forcing them off the field. 

Yet, with the appearance of the Archon on field, Providence Bloc quickly pinged for reinforcements, and a steady stream of pilots arrived to the system, swelling Providence Bloc's ranks. Whats worse, USYSC's fleet quickly became split between the U-HYMT system and their home system, as they were persuing fleeing Providence Bloc ships.

Though Providence Bloc experienced difficulties at the start, especially with its Logistics, with swelling numbers and a Nidhoggur Carrier brought into the wormhole, it could tank the incoming damage and focus its own on the Archon, which was starting to give way. USYSC at this time was scrambling for a Dreadnaught in order to eliminate the new threat, and was too late in bringing a second Archon to support the first, which finally gave in to the relentless fire of Providence Bloc. Without the Carrier, it became impossible for USYSC's fleet to sustain fighting, and losses start mounting.

However, the entrance of the Nidhoggur caused the wormhole to collapse, trapping Providence Bloc within the system and cutting all reinforcements. Whats worse, USYSC were not done, and quickly reinforced their fleet. Two Archons were brought unto the field, along with a Naglfar Dreadnaught. and a Bhaalgorn Battleship. With the Bhaalgorn heavy energy neutralizers and the Dreadnaught's damage output, the Providence Bloc's Nidhoggur could do little to resist the combined onslaught and was subsequently destroyed.

Without their Carrier, Providence Bloc ships could do little to tank the reinvigorated assault of USYSC's fleet. After sustaining a few bruising losses, Providence Bloc conceded the field, bouncing between celestials in the system to keep safe. USYSC were gracious enough to offer Providence Bloc an exit wormhole for their capsules, which Providence Bloc accepted. However, the main fleet extracted under its own power, finding an exit to the Fountain region.

Now in Fountain, Providence Bloc forces made the long jounrey home, cutting through Low Security space and the Catch region, before reaching the safety of their staging system.

Battle report for the J213642 system can be found here.

Providence Bloc fielded by the end of the fight a forty-seven pilot fleet, inititally in Proteus Strategic Cruisers but later with an assortment of ships as reinforcements poured in. Losing ninteen ships, for a total of five billion ISK in damages.

USYSC for its part fielded at the peak of the battle fifteen pilots, mostly in Strategic Cruisers and Capital ships. Losing nine ships, for a total of eight billion ISK in damages.

All told, both sides agreed that it was a close and entertaining fight, with the flow of battle going back and forth. Another fight out of many to be had in busiest region in Null Security Space.

Special thanks to Jin'taan, of Volition Cult, The Volition Cult and Jay Joringer, of United System's Commonwealth, for granting interviews

News: Providence Bloc Destroys a 10 Bill ISK Wormhole Dreadnaught

J210750 system, E-R00028 region. On the 3rd of November, Providence Bloc forces managed to snag a Naglfar Dreadnaught clearing sites in the system, netting a ten billion ISK kill.

The story begins with Judiciary Pag, of W.A.S.P, Curatores Veritatis Alliance, scanning wormholes, a habit he picked recently due to the constant system camps by HERO Coalition. Exploring one of the wormholes, he saw in the system a Naglfar on his Directional Scanner, along with a gang comprising of six Basilisk Logistics, a Loki and two Tengu Strategic Cruisers.

Usually, Judiciary Pag would just dismiss it and continue on his travels, but encouragement from his fellow pilots made him a bit bolder. Finding the Naglfar and its escort fleet in a site, per-occupied and unaware of his presence, he had the information quickly relayed on coalition coms.

Luckily, Jin'taan, of Volition Cult, The Volition Cult, was in the process of forming for a scheduled brawl with Specter Fleet. Upon hearing the news, he re-formed his fleet, picking Ishtar Heavy Assault Cruisers instead, and made haste to where the wormhole entrance lay, in the 3D-CQU system, only a jump away from Providence Bloc's main staging system

The intention was to attempt and snag the entire fleet, but a mistake committed by one of its members, who jumped into the wormhole against orders, alerted the gang to their presence. It became a now-or-never situation, and the decision was made to try and salvage the operation, and at least catch the Naglfar if possible. The fleet quickly warped to Judiciary Pag, who was situated near the Naglfar, proceeded to tackle the ship, and whatever of its escorts that could be caught.

The Naglfar was apparently in Siege mode, which made sure it couldn't leave the site, thus tackle was spread over, managing to snatch a Basilisk and a Loki, while interdiction probes were deployed. However, it seems the rest of the gang managed to escape. 

Once the escort fleet was off the field, Providence Bloc turned its attention to the Naglfar, which melted away under the combined damage. Quickly scooping the loot, Providence Bloc extracted from the system, fearing immediate retaliation as the gang belonged to Lazerhawks, a known wormhole PvP corporation. The entire affair took only ten minutes altogether.

Battle report for the J210750 system can be found here.

It seems that the drop mechanics were extremely generous to Providence Bloc, as most of the expensive modules survived the wreckage, netting four billion ISK in profit, which were handed to Judiciary Pag as a reward. Judiciary Pag, though, has said that he intends to donate the loot to the Providence Ship Replacement Program, rather than keep it or sell it for personal gain.

In total, Providence Bloc incurred ten billion ISK in damages, suffering one loss, and walking out with one very expensive kill. 

Special thanks to Judiciary Pag, of W.A.S.P, Curatores Veritatis Alliance, for granting an interview.

Article: The Great Wormhole Heist

Wormhole residents learn the hard way the price of being KOS to Providence

Providence residents are all too familiar with wormholes. It is a common occurrence in the region, and usually, an irritating one. Not once do wormhole corporations descend from unknown space to harass and pillage the region’s systems. At other times, unfriendly groups from remote sectors of space use these wormholes to travel to the region and raise hell. Certainly, no decent, hardworking Providence pilot wants to see one in his system.

However, two nights ago, a group of Apocalypse Now. pilots tipped the Karma scales back a bit by executing a brilliant heist, netting them approximately 10 billion ISK in ships, modules and loot. This incredible feat proves once more how a little bit of luck, and a lot of boredom result in a fantastic tale of theft and, ultimately, profit.

A Prober Probes a Hole

All great stories start innocently enough, and this one is no different. Araikas Rhal, of Helghan Imperial Armada, Apocalypse Now. Alliance probed a wormhole in 08Z-JJ. He bookmarked it in the corporate tab and thought no more of it. Findrahis, his corpmate, was bored at the time and decided to explore said wormhole. Flying in, he might have expected to get an easy kill, do a site maybe, but not to find an offlined POS, and one with a Ship Maintenance Array to boot belonging to a KOS corporation.

Without hesitation, Findrahis got on the Apoc TeamSpeak server and called all available pilots. In a few moments, seven brave pilots were willing to go into the unknown and wreck some revenge on the wormhole residents. They warped to the offlined POS and started popping modules. When they blew up the Corporate Hangar Array and found nothing in it they must have thought that their operation will result only in a few killmails and a well deserved feeling of revenge. And then they killed the Ship Maintenance Array…

Cash Pinata

I am sure that as the Ship Maintenance Array exploded and they examined its wreck, there was a moment of sheer disbelief followed by a dawning realization and then a flurry of activity. The structure yielded its bounty, and it was plentiful indeed. two billion ISK in ships alone was found in the wreck!

However, more surprises awaited the Apoc pilots as they boarded the Orca and Chimera in a plan to smuggle them out of the wormhole and into Providence. Seven fully fitted Tengus were discovered in the carrier’s hold, estimated worth close to five billion ISK, as well as approximately one point six billion ISK in salvage, loot and skillbooks.

The last, but not least, surprise was the Chimera itself, which was fully faction fitted, and carrying a full drone bay, estimated at three billion ISK, hull, fittings and drones.

 

Aftermath

All told, Apocalypse Now. managed to steal ten billion ISK in assets from the wormhole residents, who were taught a valuable lesson about starbases and refueling. The Tengus themselves were divided between the raid’s participants, while all other ships and assets were donated towards the Apocalypse Now. SRP fund*.

All in all a happy ending to an unexpected adventure, well, except for the original owners of said tower..

*If you are interested in purchasing any of the ships or materials shown in the article, please contact JedsZero ingame.