The War Part One

Been on a couple of alliance operations now with IT alliance and it's been fun, informative and at times, exhilarating and boring. Sometimes, all at the same time.

Have refitted most of my ships according to the alliance setups and I am joining in with as many operations as I can, there are daily operations across most time zones. It is clear that IT alliance has the Goons and Pandemic Legion in their sights and they've been attacking the high-end R64 moons of both these alliance over the last couple of weeks. Since I am not a dread pilot (am a carrier pilot, minus a carrier!) - I have been placed either in the heavy or light support gangs.

In one mission, I was in a close-range thorax and we went deep into enemy territory, harassing enemy shipping and having a blast but only for it to end when the FC warped the fleet into the welcome embrace of a station complete with a bubble and dozens and dozens of angry battle ships. I managed to escape but one third of the fleet did not.

A second operation had me in a fleet-fit brutix and we engaged a large Agony Unleashed gang - it was the third such engagement I believe and we eventually held the field.

Anyway, it is 11/11 and I will take a minutes silence in respect.

Stuff

Been moving my stuff (again) to another system; been about three major relocations in as many months. While I have sold most of my stuff; I have had to buy and more much more as per corporation guidance. PvP ships in Stain all set up and then the order to relocate.

Oh well, no big deal, I just want to get back into the war. Plenty of ops now being arranged. Let's go.

What is IT?

Finally with some time to update this blog. I haven't dropped off the face of the earth but the last three months in New Eden has been very busy with change upon change. I joined Dark-Rising when I was with the Federal Defence Union and followed DR into Minmatar space and fought alongside the Matari against yet another bunch of fascists, the Amarr.

It went well but the corp had ideas and ambitions beyond just fighting for bunkers and factional warfare and with some secrecy, we were ordered to liquidate as much of our assets as possible and have big, fat wallets and make ready for a trip.

The relocation to Stain was leaked to the various forums but DR arrived into Stain and immediately started hostile actions against Brick-Squad. Most of us had thought that DR would be here to stay in Stain and there was much rejoicing.

Below I include the various jottings during this time, it was never released to the blog but here it is:

The blog has been quiet for a number of reasons of security: Dark-Rising left Faction Warfare and we were sworn to secrecy about our relocation and the organising around it. Suffice it to say, DR along with Rekeiko (RKK) left Minmater space and relocated to Stain. The movement of our ships and equipment was done with as much secrecy as possible using jump freighters from corporations not aligned with DR or RKK. One cannot underestimate the effort that the logistic team in moving millions of tonnes of equipment halfway around the universe.

The journey started with an order by Mitch Taylor to liquidate as much of our assets for isk. We were told to have fat wallets and skinny hangars. It was a good opportunity for spring cleaning and after a semi-fire sale (where most things had to go); I convened at Dabrid as ordered and waited for the first of many titan bridges to Stain.

On the day of the operation, DR pilots gathered together and waited. RKK would be performing the titan bridges and when the Erebus-class titan arrived most of the chatter on the comms went quiet. While the titan class was now a regular feature of most null-sec alliances; it was still something else to see such a magnificient vessel up front and close. Awe-inspiring.

The plan was for Dianabolic in his Erebus Titan to jump bridge us into a target system and then a final jump. However, there was a problem and eventually, the FC decided that the fleet of 60-odd ships was to travel towards 5-J in Stain, through the traditional method. It would be 58 jumps.

So we jumped and jumped; with scouts racing ahead and skirmishers on either side and behind the main fleet - the armada moved steadily through Empire space, then we bade a farewell to Concord and raced through low-sec. Another dozen or so jumps later; low-sec was waved a fond good-bye and we were in null-sec space. Vast, sprawling and lawless. Opportunities await. We still had to keep radio silence for the time being but we got stuck into this particular corner of the galaxy. Fights with BrickSquad and their friends started immediately. We were given a target system to take and we marshalled our resources as best as we could. It looked like a long-term home for us and we all made ready to stay.

However, we were wrong about the long-term stay. In the background, the scattered remnants of BoB/Kenzoku were coalescing and DR has a long history with RKK, one of the founders of BoB/KenZoku alliance. It was with some surprise that a little over two months later, we were given an update: DR was joining up with a new alliance. It had no name nor did we have any idea who were the members but in the following weeks, it was becoming obvious who the other members were. The alliance was christened 'IT' with a sinister looking clown(s) as our motif. i was initiailly unsure whether being associated with clowns is a good idea but with the rebranding and the lovely, eye-catching imagery - most of DR embraced IT.


IT alliance was born and counted Viborg Odyssey, Evolution, Dark-Rising, The Executives (the core from Executive Outcomes) & x13. RKK also joined and it began to look like BoB was back. A quick glance and the alliance pilot total was quite an impressive number - we've become a medium sized alliance quite quickly.

So, the last few missions I had to jump clone back down to Empire to assist with the new alliance mates in removing some troublesome POS. Our orders are to remain in Stain for the time being but there's a strong feeling that the alliance is building up its resources and energies for 'something'. Thank Goodness for jump clones...

Taking the fight and getting it back

The last month has been thrills and spills. Interestingly, DR decided to change tact and we went into capturing Amarr plexes and we helped the TLF secure Helmah. No idea how long we could keep it secured but at the moment, DR are on a break and enjoying the sun and drinks but we should be back in a week or so.

Dark Rising

The last few weeks has seen some epic moments: I was involved in the titantic struggle over DR's POS in Taff, this reported by ISD and yes, it was even more epic and fun than the report suggests. Have also been taking part in the Militia fleets, not much plexing but more PvP as the TLF struggles to hold back the Amarr slaver scum, now allied with the Caldari Fascists - who, fresh from 'winning' the low-sec Black-Rise area is now increasingly helping out the rascist Amarr. Bring them on I say. I can't wait.

I was mainly using my taranis for my combat patrols but had to get a new set of ships once we put up a forward base in Amamake. Got a hatful of kills but lost the taranis to a war target, smartbombing scorpion on a gate. It had eight smart bombs and I was pulverised in short order.

DR has a goal, a great leader with a strong supporting cast of directors and an energetic user base.

Enjoying it and looking forward to more fights.

New Horizons

Reluctantly, I tendered my resignation from The Water Margin (-TWA-) and by extension, the Federal Defence Union (FDU). The militia war would continue but my own objectives had changed throughout the conflict. The fascists had 'captured' all the available bunkers that were held by the FDU and had declared victory. The FDU showed, once again, their disdain for the fascists position and continued to fight the pilots directly rather than contest bunkers that guarded non-essential environments.

However, I wanted something else and realised that my experience in the whole Faction Warfare was down to the presence of a few corporations and pilots and now, many were taking their leave of the FDU and moving on; taking pilots with them. Dark-Rising [-DARK] was one such corp and having flown with and under many of their pilots in my time at the -TWA- / FDU - I decided to follow and now found myself in Minmatar space. They have decided to join up with the Tribal Liberation Force (TLF) - and fight the Amarr slavers; so Dark-Rising and their pilots are not sick of Faction Warfare just the grind of the Gallente/Caldari war. Personally, I think Dark has their own reasons for switching and it is part of a longer term plan. I am not privvy to it but we're changing one bunch of fascists for another and I don't mind a bit.

Luckily, I worked a lot in the Heimatar region before coming back into Empire space and had many ships and equipment stored in this region of low-sec space. Moving into the new home system of Taff was relatively straight forward if not back-breaking: I don't have any jump freighters handy and had to do it manually. Very dull.

Have moved most of my gear and began to refit my ships according to the prescribed fleet setups that Mitch Taylor has laid down. Plenty of T2 goodness I see.

Anyway, a new chapter becomes - my colleague Votrian Gamma is looking after Union Aerospace though many of my dearest friends have long since left New Eden. All except TFAce who I have asked to come in and join us here at -DARK. Like I said, a new chapter and I look forward to the next installment.

Losing some ground, gaining in others

Due to illness and injury I had to take a step back from the ongoing skirmish (I can't call it war as it doesn't feel like it) - and on returning, I find that OMS and Tama are now 'captured' by the Fascists and they're moving into Placid region at the moment. Checking the kb, nothing has changed much; The Gallente are still killing the squiddies in PvP engagements while the Squiddies continue to roll through and 'capture' system after system.

Well, at least we don't have to wait long until all of contested space is 'captured' by the Fascists...then what?