A sort non-fictional story by Merinid Dormer

February 14th, Sunday. 19:00 New Eden Time.

Vessper was sitting in his Thanatos. “I am aligning and waiting for instructions” he said.

“10 more minutes to go” said Nictutu.

Quivering Palm with a steady voice continued, “ Guys, this is it. It’s now or never”.

“Let’s secure that tower and the stuff we have in it”, I added with a bit of a doubt in my voice. Hopefully no-one had noticed. Morale was not on the highest levels. Some minor fleet changes of the last minute, nothing i could notice while i was shacking. My fleet fight experience wasn’t helping either. All I could think were the Blueprints, Components and Minerals behind the damaged force field of our Production Tower, sitting just 0.54 AU away. Those were what I’ve been working on for the past few months. All the research and effort Eowarian and I have put on these…

“Everyone who has a cloak jump in, the rest stay in place”. He sounded confident. He was Alekseyev Karrde. The CEO of  one of the most notorious and experienced mercenary corporations in New Eden. NOIR. When a mercenary, like his kind, is in your side your only fear is that he might get more money than you gave him from the “enemy”. Alekseyev and NOIR weren’t  like this though, they had the reputation of honoring their contracts, regardless of money. “ Members of SI Radio Corp. you don’t have to worry about anything. We are here and we know how to do this. Follow our lead and we will secure your system again.

TechPalatinus was patient. He and his 30 pilots were ready. All of them, well trained and experienced pilots. “We are in place and waiting for orders as well”. Wormhole Space colonist feared his corporation. Capital Construction Research members were ruthless. They were known for destroying Towers and stealing whatever valuables they could find. They were on our side. They have been friends for quite some time now.

“1 minute 30 seconds” said Nictutu.

“TeaDaze jump in” Quivering ordered. Orders is not something that TeaDaze is supposed to take I thought. The guy is a legend. He was always in our side. What a pilot. He was a daredevil.

“There is a command ship that we can provide for you to fly TeaDaze” said Luminus Aardokay. “Well thanks a lot man” answered TeaDaze.

“SI Radio Corp. members, are you ready?” asked Quivering.

One by one, Luminus Aardokay, Nictutu, Vessper, Estar Tarns, Sengiria, Verona Black, Eowarian D, Viscious Hunter, Sir Keldron, Drapetis and myself replied “Here”. 20 seconds of silence followed, or was it like an hour? At that point I couldn’t make the difference.

“Mr Deaker reporting movement in the enemy tower”

“Reinforced is down in our tower” said Nictutu.

“Vessper you are clear to warp” went on Quivering.

“I see an Armageddon Navy Issue, 3 Proteus, 3 Legions, 2 Bhaalgorn, 2 Thanatos and one Megathron moving & aligning towards planet VIII” continued Mr Deaker.

“Let us know when they are on grid Vessper” said Alekseyev

10 seconds afterwards Vessper was already repairing the Shields of our Control Tower. “They are on grid. I got hostiles all over me.”

“Everyone jump in. Quivering move your fleet in.”

TechPalatinus followed. 20 of his best pilots inside Strategic Cruisers.

Rooks & Kings have failed to spot the trap. And they paid the price. The day was to be remembered as Valentine’s Day Massacre.

The fight over our system was over. We were once again the ones to control it. The Siege was over. Things were getting back on track. But I was left wondering. What was to come next?

It was clear to me that Wormhole Space systems are special. Not just another part of space just recently discovered, but the foundation on which the world we live in is going to grow into something greater. The 3rd generation of Cruiser Construction is the present. But scientist are working on different aspects of any technology discovered in wormhole space. Rumors are traveling about 3rd generation Frigates and Battleships. If those rumors are close to being truth one thing is for sure. Wormhole space is the future. This is where new challenges arise. Where money is made. And day by day more capsuleers dare to be bold. More people pack up their stuff and search for glory,  money inside wormhole space, setting up colonies. 3rd generation production is profitable. Scientist of all major factions are paying good money to get their hands on items saved from Sleeper wrecks. They call them “Blue Tags”. A single Anomaly once gave our corp “Tags” that worth more than 700 million ISK, the salvaged wrecked provided us with enough materials to build 2 3rd Generation Cruisers.

Pirates, Mercs, Spies, Industrialist, Mission Runners, Miners, Traders. They all want their cut. They will come to take it. And to do that they will need to take control of wormhole systems.

The Era Of Capital Fleet Fights Over Control Of Wormhole Systems Is Upon Us

Are The Colonies Prepared To Defend?