KBP7-G, Providence, Providence – In the past few days, Against All Authorities’ (commonly known as AAA) war against the Providence Holders has seen twelve systems captured from Sev3rance and Cold Steel Alliance [STEEL]. Sovereignty in the alliances’ former space has passed to AAA allies Sodalitas XX, Daisho Syndicate and Ushra’Khan (often called UK).

EvilPHish and Dany Danger of STEEL explained “It was expected of AAA to move swiftly and with full force. We had all systems jammed and all 307 moons occupied by control towers, so without setting up a staging [tower] they had to go for full force and take them all in one night… AAA had around 160 capitals, including Supercarrier and Titan-class vessels accompanied by between 300 and 400 conventional ships… They basically went from system to system dropping SBUs [and] reinforcing sovereignty structures as the SBUs went online.”

The STEEL sources said that this move was anticipated and preparations had already moved valuable assets out of harm’s way. “Even after they hit, we were still able to dismantle a large amount of towers… We basically only had towers and [fighting] ships in the Constellation.” According to evilPHish, these assets were moved to classified “backup systems” from which resistance will continue, with war declarations having been filed against the new Alliances entering the region – Sodalitas XX and Daisho Syndicate.

EvilPHish considered the new entrants as somewhat inexperienced in nullsec activities. “They have shown extreme lack of tactics or knowledge. Many of their pilots were actually killed by warping to the cynosural fields we used to extract some towers. They were blindly warping to zero, something you should not do if you can’t be sure what waits for you once you exit warp. Their ’spacetaking’ operations were lead by AAA so they are basically being ‘planted’… Until you live and breathe nullsec for a while you will be at a certain disadvantage. Let’s say it is already quite complicated getting your first ‘space’ and trying to understand all the [infrastructure] mechanics, timers… upgrades, station management, etc.

“Now if someone is constantly shooting at you it gets even harder and of course we try to use that to our advantage. It’s not like we were given a fair fight by AAA and it’s multitude of allies. We will return the favour. We spent 3 years in that space, we cultivated it and we built stations. I can’t imagine anyone just walking away after being driven from your home… We will stay here and fight for our stations until we get them back.”

Drakonido and FDXMadEva of Sev3rance commented that although there have been some noteworthy engagements, “The overwhelming power of the AAA block was nothing we could encounter head-on so in the end we lost the sovereignty over our systems but this was no surprise in the actual situation. The new Alliances entering this region need the backup of the big power blocs to be able to hold the sovereignty on their systems; this makes them vulnerable to attacks once the big blocs are out for big fights. It’s not that we want to take it back but there will for sure be people trying to take it and maybe we, who knows.” Asked to comment on eventual plans of adopting a more guerrilla warfare approach to the conflict, Drakonido commented “Guerilla warfare is an interesting kind of warfare… With the Black Op technology it can do a hell of damage without any warning ahead… We stand aside with our friends and fight our enemies, now without the limitations of having to care for space and its inhabitants.”

Sodalitas XX is one of the new alliances entering the region, currently with sovereignty over seven systems. Member Avernus said “We have friends [in AAA] that have done us a great favour. We were in the right place at the right time and knew the right people.” Avernus spoke about the operation to settle into their new systems. “It’s been a grind, which is to be fully expected. Now that the sovereignty issues are past us, we can focus on more enjoyable endeavours like killing the former residents. Amongst ourselves and our new neighbours Daisho Syndicate, with the aid of AAA and Atlas, as well as UK, we’ve taken on the simultaneous assault of 11 systems. It took a little while, but the numbers were very much in our favour.”

Avernus explained that for the moment, any neutrals entering the newly acquired constellation will find themselves engaged, but stated that his alliance is open to discussion regarding the future.

Daisho Syndicate is another new alliance to the region, currently holding sovereignty over four systems. Member Darth Sith described the offensive as a combined effort from AAA, Atlas, Sodalitas XX and Daisho Syndicate in what is believed as “the largest hostile station offensive since [the sovereignty infrastructure upgrades], if not for as long as I can remember and not involving spies or effective opposition.” Eleven systems were reported as having been assaulted over a one day period and according to Darth Sith the operation involved 8 Titans, 30 Supercarriers and ‘various’ Carriers and Dreadnaught class vessels. He added that “Sodalitas XX and Daisho Syndicate are not renters but alliances with long histories with AAA leadership and were invited to join the campaign. Other areas of Providence will be rented by AAA but the two constellations held as part of this assault are not based on rental agreements and no isk exchanged hands.”

The Daisho Syndicate currently plans to reinforce the new areas and then begin the assault on the remainder of the region, continuing their assistance to AAA. Darth Sith said the likely duration of the conflict was “hard to estimate at this time as [the Providence Holders] maintain sovereignty on 30 + systems in Providence including dozens of stations, but based on the resistance to date we anticipate a number of these mass assaults to clean up most of the remainder in the coming weeks… This campaign has shown that given overwhelming firepower, no station systems are safe [after the infrastructure upgrades], gone are the days where an alliance could hide behind the protective umbrella of a Sovereignty 4 constellation. In addition it has shown the power of the new Super Capitals and a return of them to the front lines of any effective combat group.”

GalNet References

Recent Sovereignty Changes – Providence

Are you affected by the events in this article? Do you have information regarding another event in New Eden? If so, please contact us with any information that you may have.

Want to become a news correspondent with IC? We are recruiting.

KBP7-G, Providence – Atlas Alliance reinforced two Sev3rance [-7-] industrial structures in the KBP7-G system in what was declared as the first move in the full scale deployment to the Providence region.

“We are here to burn down Providence just like we did with Geminate” commented Tzuko1, an Atlas pilot, as the fleet engaged the second tower in the system. This is now a full scale deployment that started with just roaming gang participation in a similar manner to the previous Atlas deployment in the Geminate conflict. “We are looking for good fights” he added, again denying any interest in full territorial control: “We will split it to renters, Against ALL Authorities [AAA] and some other entities, in territory terms we are looking for moons.”

Asked to describe the outcome of these engagements Tzuko1 stated that besides the reinforcement of the two industrial structures, opposing casualties were counted as around 30 battleship class vessels and about the same number of support ships.

An anonymous source close to Sev3rance considered the moon resources as a “prepared argument to cover the real reasons for coming to our space. There are no juicy moons in this region or any nice minerals in the belts. You do not come to Providence because of the profit the systems give you by default. I think in their position as servants to AAA and the southern bloc, they will for sure take part in larger scale operations in this space… The real movements will be made soon and we will see what the complete plan of the southern bloc is like. At this moment it looks like [it is focused on] cutting off all exits in this region… It is motivated by AAA… There is for sure a plan… and ATLAS will have to play a part in this or is doing this as part of their relationship… this Drake fleet reinforced two industrial [towers] and nothing else… I’m looking forward to good fights.”

EvilPHish of Cold Steel Alliance [STEEL] affirmed his alliance’s commitment to their relationship with Sev3rance and willingness to do everything possible to aid in any possible way. “Sev3rance is like a sister alliance to us. STEEL and -7- go way back to the times when we were both helping Curatores Veritatis Alliance [CVA] drive Ushra’Khan from Northern Providence. It’s pretty obvious AAA got its… allies into the [conflict]. We will stay to fight until and beyond our last system if need be.”

CVA Executor Aralis commented that the situation was “pretty obvious” since “people like ATLAS do not come for good fights” and affirmed his belief that this move by ATLAS results from their relationship with AAA and is part of the greater offensive in Providence. “They think we are busy and they hope for some easy kills.”

GalNet References

Sev3rance Alliance Battle Records – KBP7-G
ATLAS Alliance Battle Records – KBP7-G

Are you affected by the events in this article? Do you have information regarding another event in New Eden? If so, please contact us with any information that you may have.

Want to become a news correspondent with IC? We are recruiting.

AY-YCU, Providence – Recent data suggests that Providence may be the most populous and industrially-developed region in null-sec, the so-called “outlaw space” beyond the control of CONCORD and the planetary governments. The strong alliance of so-called “Holders” who share sovereignty in the area and the “Not Red, Don’t Shoot” policy originally set in place by Curatores Veritatis Alliance [CVA] appear to be the driving force behind this economic boom.

Providence for many is seen as an accessible, “open to all” region with the chance of earning plenty of allies, and ISK, but CVA have rules in place to for those who wish to operate there. These mandates can vary between the “Holder” alliances (sovereignty holders in the region, named after the Amarr Holder caste) but one thing they must all share is the “Not Red Don’t Shoot Policy” or NRDS as it is known.

No alliance in the Providence Holder Network is permitted to initiate an attack in designated areas unless they are officially labelled as enemies, either for hostile politics or action in the region, or for crimes such as piracy or theft. If that rule is broken, that alliance will be forcibly removed from the region. The maintenance of such a policy requires a highly active diplomatic team and the continuous passing of intel, compared to the more popular policy of NBSI.

Alliances who accept the Holder’s Oath are offered improved access to CVA outposts in the region, and sometimes ceded sovereignty in an area and given permission to construct their own outposts and facilities. Current spaceholders in the region include CVA, Amarr loyalist alliance Aegis Militia, long-time CVA allies Sev3rance and Paxton Federation, Cold Steel Alliance, former Ushra’Khan allies Sylph who changed allegiance to CVA some years ago (Sylph suffered heavy blows in the last year and have a much-reduced presence in the region from their 109-110 heyday) and Libertas Fidelitas Alliance, who recently took a leading role in the Providence bloc’s assaults into Catch.

Mikella Ki’Theki, spokesperson for CVA, explained one of the reasons why she feels capsuleers are attracted to Providence. “Providence is all about working as a team. When an [outpost] is being defended or a hostile one attacked, it’s often the case that we all participate.”

Ugleb, member of Ushra’Khan [UNITY] admitted that CVA have pushed the growth of Providence: “Their operation, Deliverance, has been a driving force in developing the region. When our two alliances first entered Providence it had no stations. The first was built by the CVA.”

Enemies of CVA and their support of slavery, Ushra’Khan formerly held sovereignty in Providence with two outposts, Unity Station in 9UY4-H and Karishal’s Defiance in QR-K85. After years of conflict, the systems fell to CVA three years ago; Karishal’s Defiance – named after leader of the Defiants, Karishal Muritor, whose body was housed there after his execution (some would say “assassination”) by the Minmatar Republic – was renamed “Karishal’s Folly” by the conquering forces. Unity station fell 3 months later, becoming “Deliverance Reclaimed.”

Hostilities still continue between CVA and the Ushra’Khan to this day, with Providence representing a free-fire zone to its former UNITY residents. The decision to adopt an NBSI (“Not Blue, Shoot It”) engagement policy in Providence and its neighbour, Catch, was taken by the otherwise NRDS UNITY alliance as a way of conducting economic warfare (some would say “terrorism”) in a region where all sovereignty holders are tied through both economics and politics to the Amarr loyalist, pro-slavery CVA.

While the region certainly attracts conflict, it has experienced many years of relatively-stable governance. Mikella described the environment that stability has generated. “Hundreds of capsuleers pass through Providence every day. Ratting in anomalies, mining in hidden belts and trading at any one of the market hubs in the region. They generate a massive economic turnover; they make themselves wealthy and make others wealthy.”

It is not all about making money, as in Providence pilots will be thrown into the thick of fighting almost immediately. With UNITY and allies Against ALL Authorities [.-A-.] attacking Providence from Catch, Star Fraction’s Operation Black Lustrum striking at Sev3rance’s territories on the Assah and Dital entry-pipes, bored fleets from the Tribal Liberation Force (and indeed the Amarr-affiliated 24th Imperial Crusade) wandering in for combat and piracy and raids from other 0.0 powerblocs such Goonswarm, Triumvirate. or other groups just looking for a fight, there is always the danger of a pilot becoming a target for the simple aim of attracting a larger force.

CVA maintain that Providence is an “open to all” region, whereas UNITY argue that they are simply dictating code and rules of engagement to their neighbours. The fighting in the region looks set to continue as more pilots enter outlaw space in search of glory and ISK, while also choosing the pro-slavery laws of CVA or the direct opposition methods of UNITY and their allies.

At present, Providence is involved in its largest-scale conflict for years. In retribution for the expansion of “Operation Deliverance” (the CVA-backed operation to “reclaim” space for the Amarr Empire) into their home space in Catch, Against ALL Authorities and Ushra’Khan have launched a literally titanic offensive against the Paxton Federation-held system of D-GTMI, with fleets numbering well over 1,000 being typical. Just after midnight on the 29.01.112, following several days of brutal fighting and heavy loses for Providence, Paxton lost sovereignty over the system and the station was claimed by .-A-.

Virtuozzo, of Against ALL Authorities explained a little about the D-GTMI attack. “We got pushed, so we push back and go the extra mile.” The battle for D-GTMI will be examined in greater depth in a forthcoming article.

With more pilots than ever before expressing an interest in the local lifestyle, Providence could grow to match some regions of high security space in population and activity, but the effect of the recent wars upon its popularity remain to be seen.

Are you affected by the events in this article? Do you have information regarding another event in New Eden? If so, please contact us with any information that you may have.

Want to become a news correspondent with IC? We are recruiting.

P6N8-J, Providence – Cold STEEL Alliance [STEEL] have announced the completion of their two newest outposts which they hope will provide better combat and infrastructure support for them in the Providence region.

[STEEL]’s CEO, evilPHish, revealed why the two newest outposts, Magrathea and Patria Aquilla (in N-RMSH and DNR-7M, respectively) would help the region: “It is easier for allies, friends and guests alike to store things, take cover or conduct market activities.”

To support the building of the outposts, [STEEL] shut down the constellation and called in a watchful guard of over 100 battle-ready ships, and more than 20 capital-class ships, including a Nyx-class mothership, to protect the massive construction sites, along with the stores of materials needed to finish the projects quickly.

An outspoken opponent of [STEEL], Karn Mithralia, commented that “Two more outposts are just a drop in the ocean among the on-going pro-Amarrian colonization efforts in Providence.” The leader of Ushra’Khan continued, “It changes nothing for us, we come for our people.”

Now that the P6N8-J constellation has an outpost in each system, [STEEL] has set their sights on securing the region, and making it safer for friendly and neutral targets alike. As for the immediate future of [STEEL] in Providence, evilPHish finished by stating: “We will stay, we will fight and we will prevail. Amarr victory!”

Are you affected by the events in this article? Do you have information regarding another event in New Eden? If so, please contact us with any information that you may have.

Want to become a news correspondent with IC? We are recruiting.