Day 591

Entry: five hundred ninety-one.

Today was the final timer for GE-8JV, a station timer. The -A- team was set as the defensive force, the DRF the attacking force.

Archie formed us up an hour early in a bomber fleet. Against All Authorities didn't show. FAIL and FAILP were the only alliances that even bothered to defend GE-. That said, we were seventy strong, and seventy weak at the same time.

After setting up bookmarks and pounce points, and having been told to fit scorch bombs, the DRF came for GE-. Our cover was blown, as the DRF quickly figured out that seventy uncloaked bombers meant a bomber defense. This is to say it wasn't meant to be a defense, but a killing spree if we could get one.

While the DRF handled the station, we warped to the TCU and cloaked. Having seen us, they had bubbled themselves at the station hoping to drag a a few foolish bombers. We didn't entertain them that way. Once done with the station, they warped to the TCU, and I had the privilege of seeing at least six supers and titans taking it out. They again bubbled their fleet, hoping for drags, but none came.

Archie ordered us to warp to a belt, and we all got decloaked. The DRF came after us, and a few bombers were destroyed while most got away.

Some time later, Archie got a warp-in on the DRF fleet, and told us to bomb the rather obvious target. He called out warp-ins by squad.

That didn't go well.

The warp-in may or may not have been good, but the calls for squads to warp in were too clustered together, and after the first squad's bombing run, the rest of the squads got caught in bubbles by the DRF fleet. Being in squad seven, I was literally half a second from warp when a bubble caught me, keeping me from warp, resulting in my Hound's destruction and my exposure to vacuum.

The headache I woke up with in FV- left me unable to think for a few minutes. Shock and pain were my world. 
 
Just before that last bombing run, I remember seeing a DRF TCU onlining.
 
Computer: terminate entry.

Day 589

Entry: five hundred eighty-nine.
 
Last night Maka called for a pre-timer op at the GE-8JV station. Basically the job was to repair the station before the DRF showed up. The op started thirty minutes before the station was to come out of reinforced mode.

Not long into the repair operation, the DRF dropped fifteen caps, consisting of titans and supers. The repair operation was obviously cancelled. At some point, the cap fleet jumped out.

An hour later, the full CTA fleet of about one hundred sixty for the -A- team had formed up on the titan and bridged into GE-.  Our immediate target was the DRF SBU, but when someone called out that there was a neutral hound at the station lighting a cyno, Maka ordered us to that cyno at zero and to open up on the NCdot forces that had bridged in.

It seemed that NCdot actually wanted a fight. No capitals of theirs had bridged in, just their subcapital fleet.

With our at zero warp-in on the enemy fleet, our Hellgeddon fleet seemed to be destroying the enemy arty Abaddon fleet. As a Logistics, I got the sense that we were doing ok in keeping the Geddons alive.

With that, Raiden dropped supers, and according to Maka, NCdot was not happy. Maka ordered us to withdraw. Those in fleet foolish and greedy enough to fit sensor boosters instead of cap boosters and microwarpdrives were destroyed as the fleet burned out of the bubbles.

Unable to fight supers, the -A- team withdrew from the field, the DRF putting the station in GE-8JV into reinforcement. I'm not clear if it was shield reinforce or armor reinforce, but I've been hearing that the next timer in GE-8JV for the station is the final one in two days.

Unless things change, GE-8JV is gone.
 
Computer: terminate recording.

Day 586

Entry: five hundred eighty-six. Continuous recording mode.
 

*****

System: 9CG6-H
Region: Querious
Time: 01:00

nut custard: "I'm taking out an assault frigate and interceptor roam. We'll leave at half past the hour."
???: "Where're we going?"
nut custard: "I'm thinking about going down into Delve."
???: "There's going to be a chance to kill DRF supers in LGK- in about forty-five minutes, you could go do that..."
nut custard: "Ehhh, you know, I'd rather not. It's not fun getting blobbed to hell all the time. I'm perfectly happy going down to Delve and doing some small gang stuff.
*I totally agree.*

*****

System: 9CG6-H
Region: Querious
Time: 01:30

nut custard: "Destination is in fleet, we're burning to four out."
Computer: "Programming route to 1DH-SX."

*****

System: A-ELE2
Region: Delve
Time: 01:49

nut custard: "Everyone warp to 1DH- at...ten. I got us a fight, but it won't be one for long."
???: "In warp."
nut custard: "Gotta hurry guys..."
???: "Oh man, he's already like eighty off."
nut custard: "I knew I should have fit a microwarpdrive to this instead of AB."
???: "Well, they know we're here now..."

*****

System: A-ELE2
Region: Delve
Time: 01:50

Scout: "There's a Harbinger and a Malediction here at the gate. Coming back."
nut custard: "Alright, I need two suicidal guys to go into 1DH- for me."
Me: "I'll go in, anti amarr here."
Grim Starwind: "I'll go in."
Scout: "Harbinger warped out."
nut custard: "Grim and Truen1ght, jump in and get that Malediction."

*****

System: 1DH-SX
Region: Delve
Time: 01:51

01:51:44 ] Approaching Shit Nailer . Grim Starwind has started trying to warp scramble "EEPLURIBUS".
??? : "Hurricane just landed."
01:52:21 ] 150mm Light AutoCannon II deactivates as Shit Nailer begins to explode.
Grim Starwind: "Malediction is down!"
nut custard: "Get that Hurricane!"
01:52:32 ] Xelea Yauntyrr has started trying to warp scramble "Liberal Swan"
nut custard: "He's webbed!"
Legasti: "He's neuting me out."
nut custard: "Keep all DPS on the cane!"
???: "He's going down!"
01:53:21 ] 150mm Light AutoCannon II deactivates as K|||3R begins to explode.
nut custard: "Nice kill guys!"

*****

System: 1DH-SX
Region: Delve
Time: 02:03

nut custard: "Alright guys, we're take the long way around. I like coming down here for the truly awesome kills you can get, but I hate how Brick has to throw a hundred guys at a small gang like us. Destination is in fleet."
Computer: "Programming Route."
Me: "Display route."
Computer: "F2OY-X, 4-2UXV, RKM-GE, DG-L75, K4-RFZ, 8-YNBE, E-VKJV, 3-DMQT, N-8YET, 1DQ1-A, T5ZI-S, D-W7F0, 4K-TRB, QX-LIJ, O-IOAI, NOL-M9."

*****

System: QX-LIJ
Region: Delve
Time: 02:17

???: "He's gone."
???: "He was afk at a gate!"

*****

System: NOL-M9
Region: Delve
Time: 02:20

nut custard: "Everybody warp PR- and jump on contact."

*****

System: PR-8CA
Region: Delve
Time: 02:22

???: "The Rapier just warped to you, his gang is on the other side."
nut custard: "Everyone reapproach gate."
???: "Rapier landing."
nut custard: "Everyone jump and reapproach."

*****

System: NOL-M9
Region: Delve
Time: 02:25

nut custard: "Get that Rapier!"
02:25:46 ] "Approaching TACKLE ONE"
02:25:53 ] nut custard has started trying to warp scramble Appius. You have started trying to warp scramble Appius.
???: "He's jumping."
nut custard: "Yep..."
Scout: "His fleet is on the other side, drones out."
nut custard: "Yeah, they want to us to fight them on their terms, and we're not going to give that to them. For now, everyone reapproach and hold."
Scout: "They're approaching gate and pulling drones."
nut custard: "Everyone take the warp, everyone take the warp!"
???: "I didn't get a warp."
nut custard: "Everyone warp O-I, sorry about that, could have swore I got the warp...jump on contact. We're gonna head home for the night."

*****

System: O-IOAI
Region: Delve
Time: 02:29

nut custard: "Shit. Ok guys, calm down. Hold your cloaks. When I say, approach the gate and jump, no, not now...everyone approach!"
02:29:38 ] ...has started trying to warp scramble Xelea Yauntyrr.
02:29:53 ] SharkStomp3005 places an excellent hit on you, inflicting 822.7 damage.
02:29:55 ] ...has started trying to warp scramble suun Leeh.
02:30:00 ] Jumping to Stargate (O-IOAI) in NOL-M9 solar system.
02:30:00 ] Unorthodox Snake has started trying to warp scramble Legasti.
02:30:01 ] Fredrick Pirkibo has started trying to warp scramble nut custard.
02:30:02 ] Ajax33 has started trying to warp scramble Dadbbad.

*****

System: NOL-M9
Region: Delve
Time: 02:32

nut custard: "I'm dead guys, you'll have to make your way back home without me now. x up with who survived."
Me: "Survived."
Jessba: "x Sabre alive."
Neok1337: "survived."
Me: "Computer, set destination P-ZMVZ, take the back route."
Computer: "Route Programmed."
Me: "Display route."
Computer: "HM-XR2, AJI-MA, Q-HESZ, 1-SMEB, 6Q-R50, A-ELE2, Z3V-1W, ... P-ZMVZ."
Computer: "Warning, TEST fleet is in pursuit."

*****

System: P-ZMVZ
Region: Querious
Time: 02:52

Computer: "Destination reached." 
Me: "Computer, terminate recording."

Day 585

Entry: five hundred eighty-five.

I was in a Hound at the time. I had joined a fleet to go bomb some DRF subcaps, fighters, and fighter bombers, ie cost them a great deal of ISK. After the formup, I found out that the op was cancelled because the DRF wasn't coming. There was a glitch in something invulnerable being destroyed, and CCP ie CONCORD somehow intervened.

I know, I don't get it either.

Op cancelled, I was returning to P-Z in Querious to find out that Kil2 was in a Drake and had entered 5V- from 49-U. I and several others gave hot pursuit.

We chased him through 5V- and into 3-JCJT and found him setting up a drag bubble forty off the L3-I3K gate. A friendly Eris and a Nemesis engaged Kil2 on the gate with me. I set up the target painter and sensor dampener while aligning out, microwarpdrive active. I got off four volleys of torpedoes before his first and last volley of missiles hit me, taking me into high armor. I warped out immediately. The Eris and Nemesis were not so lucky.

More reinforcements incoming, Kil2 jumped into L3- and then into the next system, K-L I think. After a few minutes, Kil2 jumped back into L3- and was engaged by a Cynabal, Armageddon, Drake, and two Hounds, of which I was one of. Kil2 appeared to be fit into a nano Drake, as he was outpacing the other nano Drake that had accompanied us.

I aligned at an asteroid belt behind him, microwarpdrive on, and activated everything. Target painter, sensor damp, torps, all on Kil2's nano Drake. It didn't take long for him to target me yet again, apparently having given up on taking out the nano Drake, Cynabal, or Armageddon. Another volley of missiles slammed into me as his Warrior II's rushed at me and then strangely returned to him.

The armor alarm went off. I warped out, twenty-seven percent armor remaining. Once at the belt, I cloaked up and burned straight down. After a few moments, I considered warping back in to engage yet again when Rumless reported Kil2's drake was destroyed.
 
Computer: terminate recording.

Day 584

Entry: five hundred eighty-four.

Shortly after the DRF receeded from GE-8JV, redeployment orders were given. Against All Authorities and Cascade Imminent were to redeploy to LGK-, five jumps from GE-8JV. LGK- is Sansha controlled space in Stain. Shortly after that, Cascade was given new redeployment orders to P-Z, two jumps from 9CG6-H.

From the standpoint of a grunt sub-capital pilot, this move by Against All Authorities is signalling the end of real resistance against the DRF. At the same time, the move by Cascade is signalling the end of aiding -A-, changing strategies to support Morsus, RAZOR, and Brick.

As I lack leadership roles, or the ability to use capitals, I can't provide those standpoints.

-A- claims that it will keep up the pressure, that it will continue the war, but I myself find this a little skeptical since the staging system chosen by -A- leadership has no cloning services. On the other hand, I find this believable, as Morsus and RAZOR continue to exist, and will soon be fighting the DRF the way things are going. To further support my belief that they will continue the fight, if -A- doesn't get it's space back, they'll have no renters to fund the combat they want to engage in.

It's a confusing situation, time will tell the truth of the matter soon enough I suppose. I just wonder what is in store for Cascade at this point however, as it's been discussed that we ourselves might need to pull back to Stain to reclaim our space.

Computer: terminate recording.

Day 582

Entry: five hundred eighty-two.

HED-GP fell today to the DRF. It was a no-contest takeover. GE- is also currently under siege. It seems that the whole of the DRF have turned their ire towards us, as opposed to only NCdot and White Noise.

Honestly, I didn't see it coming, even though I should have. Ever since taking their first timer, they steamrolled the remaining timers by simply outblobbing us. After taking the timer, they began bringing six hundred and eight hundred man fleets. Simply put, we do not have the manpower to deal with it.

This could change, if the entire south bands together. Right now, Against All Authorities and Cascade are the most of the allied forces. Remaining forces that could be deployed are Atlas, Red Overlord, and Nulli. With Evoke and Ewoks attacking Morsus, RAZOR, and Brick, they are not really able to leave their space to help push back the DRF.

GE- has been sieged for four hours now, the station in GE- just being put into shield reinforcement a few minutes ago. While six hundred of their pilots sieged GE-, the DRF took HED.

So much for conservative estimates about holding off the DRF for another month. They're already in GE-. We'll just have to see if we can hold the line at GE-, but firesale spikes in the market seem to indicate a loss of faith by residents. Given that, I'd say it'll be a short wait before the DRF sieges CZK-.
  
I think we'll still be trying to retake HED and hold the line at GE- despite these rather major setbacks.
  
Computer: terminate recording.

Day 581

Entry: five hundred eighty-one.

Today was interesting, to say the least.

Hakawu broadcast a call for an AHAC fleet. Twelve Guardians were required to take the fleet out. Formup was CZK-. 

After approximately an hour, we'd reached the requisite number for an AHAC fleet, ie twelve Guardians, a Blackbird, and the rest in Armored Heavy Assault Cruisers. We moved locations to 8QT-, and ended up being bridged by a Morsus Mihi titan to 1DH-, territory technically owned by the Blood Raider Covenant though truly controlled by Morsus, Brick, and RAZOR.

After the way we had denied the former Northern Coalition space so steadfastly, I had thought the day would never come that we would end up going so far as to use their titans for bridges.

The fight itself was Cascade, Brick, and Morsus against Evoke and Ewoks with a dash of NCdot at the station in 1DH-. Having been piloting a Guardian, I wasn't able to watch the fight play out or pay close attention to orders over comms, but my sense was that we'd lost a good warp-in when our Cov Ops got decloaked, and despite this, the AHAC portion of the fleet burned towards the enemy logistics line composed of Guardians and essentially destroyed it.

At one point, about five minutes into the fight, the Cascade logistics were unable to keep up with incoming damage. It was determined after the fight that this was due to standings issues between Brick and Morsus with Cascade Probable and Cascade Associates. 
 
Cascade Imminent is the main alliance, Probable is just as it sounds, and Associates are renters.

Because of this standings issue, our fleet was being fired upon by Evoke, Ewoks, Brick, and Morsus. Our logistics line encountered heavy jamming along with occasional alpha striking while the AHAC portion largely encountered raw alpha strikes. To top it off, Evoke and Ewoks jumped in their super capitals, capitals, and Titans.
 
To say Cascade was wiped out is a severe understatement. I was one of two surviving Guardians, and only five AHACs of fifty-two were spared from destruction.

During and after Cascade's annihilation, a protracted fight took place between the two opposing coalitions. Not having a fleet to repair, I locked random Brick and Morsus vessels and repaired them as needed. As this happened, Morsus and Brick activated their super-capital, capital, and titan pilots. Having intelligence of who these pilots are, Evoke and Ewoks surrendered the field, departing as quickly as they could for a dead end system two or three jumps away, Z3X-, where they promptly docked up. Stragglers were eliminated as per the usual while Brick and Morsus looted the field.

After the fight, and the looting nearly complete, Trader John of Morsus Mihi bridged what few members of our fleet were still in 1DH-. He made clear, while waiting for a cyno in 49-U, that he and his would much rather have us around to fight than the Drone Russian Federation.

To top off this strange day, it seems that the CTA that had been called off the other day was the DRF's second timer win. My figures on time spent by the DRF to take the first timer were corrected over comms as three weeks instead of two, and they were given the second timer as we didn't have the forces to fight them. 

Tomorrow is the final station timer for HED-GP. The DRF is sure to show, no matter what time it is, and so must we. I'd heard that the HED Infrastructure Hub was already destroyed, so it seems like this it.

Tomorrow, the fate of HED-GP may well decided for the rest of the war.
 
Computer: terminate recording.