Fighting in TVN – Paying the price

Not sure what day it is. We have been patrolling the space lanes constantly in the system called TVN. It’s deep in the hearth of Hydra Space. Have not had a good night sleep in a while. Powering down the ship and spending the night in a pod is not my idea of fun.

There are pod pilots that spend weeks on end in their pod hooked up to the internal systems of their ship. It is not healthy and many fall victim to drugs and some even inject boosters directly into their pods. There are side effects of such abuse of course and seeing the human wrecks wandering about aimlessly in stations is a horrible sight.

We hit the Hydra Cyno Jammers constantly in hit and run tactics. We are outnumbered 1:3 at most times but occasionally we are at pair in numbers. There have been grumblings in the Hydra High Command that they are victims of spies that pass on vital Intel to us.

Spies is a risk we all have to run, but actually Hydra have far less spies than they believe. Those they have on the other hand are the worst kind. They would sell their own home planet for a few ISK. In the beginning we were contacted daily if we were interested in buying this and that information.
Many think that because we have a titan we would like to use it in the most disrespectful way imaginable. The full annihilation of a fleet inside a POS force field. But we don’t play that way, or as some would claim, at that level. On the other hand we would not stand back to use the titan on any other occasion and last night was such a night. We did however not have any vital Intel inside Hydra at that point. That honor of superb Intel befell our Recon pilots.

There was heavy fighting in TVN. From early morning to late night we fight. We all feel the fatigue.
Mistakes are bound to happen, but not that night. I joined the battle at a stage where we were outnumbered by a fleet 3 times the size of ours. Our fleet was happily busy taking down the Cyno Jammer once again. The TVN Station was bubbled so Hydra could not just undock and warp in on us.
More than once we had to pull out as the Hydra fleet undocked and got aligned for our location.
We had many cloaked Recon and Covert OP ships in the system. As I have mentioned earlier we have very good Recon pilots.

The Cyno Jammer had the full attention of two Recon pilots, the station had one, our own POS had one and another Hydra POS they seem to use a lot also had a pilot sitting and watching.
We know Hydra employ Recon pilots them self but they are not as effective in conveying information.

The fighting had reached a critical stage and the Hydra fleet started warp procedures to the Cyno Jammer. We in turn warped to the station and caught a straggler. Keydan of the DEFCON. Corporation and was first to fall victim, caught in the bubble at the station, he missed the gang warp of the Hydra Fleet and was caught and reported by our light support fleet.

His battle cruiser was reduced to a wreck of twisted metal in the blink of an eye, but for some reason my 425mm rails did disappointing little damage. The crew was reprimanded for having failed to maintain the guns properly and a hectic activity took place to ratify the mistake.
I’m going to have to fire some of the slaggers when we get down to empire or hell, even leave them at some low security space station to fend for them self. We are tired and mistakes are made but we have to keep a tight ship and never slag on maintenance.

We aligned back towards our own POS, at some point our fleet got stretched out, and as our doctrine dictates that the fleet should be within remote repairing range of each other we warped to the POS to reform.

At the POS we aligned for the Cyno Jammer once again and warped to it. We constantly had eyes on the enemy fleet. This time the enemy fleet had a plan, and we were about to fall victim if it were not for our Recon pilots. At the Cyno Jammer we kept a steady pace at about 70 m/sec. First the enemy fleet aligned for another planet than the one we were at but quickly discovered their mistake and aligned for planet 8.
We aligned full speed ahead ready to warp out. The enemy let a lone Sabre class interdictor warp to us 3 seconds in advance of the main Hydra fleet. This was where their plan faltered. Our ships warped out to a Recon ship just 2 seconds before the enemy fleet landed on us. A slight miscalculation unfortunately prevented us from taking on the Hydra fleet at range.

The two fleets eyed each other from afar. The tension could be felt from far away. The Hydra Pilots hated us for invading their space and wanted nothing else than landing on our small fleet.
Unable to engage us the enemy fleet commander warped out the Hydra fleet but for some reason not all were aligned and what was a large fighting force turned into a target of opportunity. A quick interceptor pilot named Skittish, was on the straggler in seconds and started pondering on the Typhoon class battleship. The small ship disabled the warp core of the enemy ship and held him in place till the main fleet arrived.

The Hydra fleet had had enough for one day and prepared to leave the system. Eddz and TJ had a quick communiqué and decided it was time for a titanic goodbye.
As the enemy fleet sat on their jump bridge the titan warped in and took out a large proportion.

Slow reaction will get you killed, straggling behind will get you killed and bad maintenance will get you killed. EvE is a harsh universe where the least of mistakes results in paying the highest price. We all make mistakes and it is only a matter of time before we eventually must pay for them.
Everyone pays.

Behind enemy lines

Wednesday our fleet formed up. Wednesday, the middle of a work week and so far KIA had sure had its work and earned its pay.

Again Tjakka was to take command and there were general agreement in the bar at the station that it was going to be another battle in P3EN, if we could entice Hydra to battle.

Having treated them less than fairly last night the odds were low they would take another fight with us in that system.

We once again met up, formed the fleet and headed for P3EN. We waited for some time to see if Hydra would react to our provocations but all the Intel we got indicated that the morale was low and there were problems gathering a proper fleet to meet us in battle. Intel indicated also that Hydra would not fight us in P3EN at all.

A new plan was formed and the Titan of KIA was called in. We would cause confusion and insecurity.

We would strike at their back-end systems. Undercover and very hush hush.

A scout had informed that Hydra had another Cyno Jammer on a POS that was unprotected. At first confirmation was required by the scout as he clearly had mistaken some other object for a Cyno Jammer.

Nervous laughter was filtering through on the fleet channel as we realized we might go to battle based on information from a pilot who clearly had gone mad from too much Quafe and loneliness of scouting enemy space. He was seeing things that was not there.

The scout confirmed once again that the Cyno Jammer was placed on an undefended POS. Truth be told our scouts are of fine quality and we had seen stranger things than an undefended important strategic POS. The titan bridged us in and off we vent.

Upon arrival we saw the strange sight of a completely undefended POS with moon mining equipment and a Cyno Jammer. For some time there was dead silence as we beheld the sight. Then orders went out to take it down. Down it went in under 20 minuttes.

Reports filtered though that a hostile dread was next door and we collectively held our breath in the hope that Hydra would bring in capital ships to a system that had just lost its protection.

Our own forces were ordered to rally the big ships and confirmation went out that we now had a sizable cap fleet ready if Hydra was to take to the field.

There was some talk of two Hydra carriers in TVN sitting on their jump bridge which further spurred the excitement.

A long hour later our fleet turned back towards Obe and cleared the backwater of Hydra space as it was clear Hydra would not defend their logistic lines.

We shall see what tomorrow brings…

Another day, another death

Tuesday my Megathron finally arrived and announced it’s presence.

When I look back at my life as a pod pilot, I was always awestruck when people fielded fleets of pure tech II fitted ships, with lots of tech II support ships, command ships, logistics… You name it.

As a member of KIA I am part of such a fleet.
After the great success of DD’ing the Hydra fleet everyone was in a good mood as we formed up the fleet and headed for P3EN. During the night Hydra personnel had been busy making repairs to their damaged Cyno Jammer. Our orders were clear. Go in, take down the Cyno Jammer, retake P3EN.

The Fleet assembled outside the station in Obe while there was light chatter in the fleet coms.

I was late due to some dumb waiter who had been slow serving my dinner.

I powered up my battleship while screaming at the dockworkers to load some freaking short range and high damage ammo slugs into my cargo bay. I am unsure why we pod pilots always have a tendency to yell at the dockworkers but they don’t seem to mind and it makes me feel better.

The station was in short supply of the highly volatile antimatter charges of the large size so I convoed a fellow alliance member asking if I could borrow some. I already had plenty of the advanced Spike L ammo and was ready for long range battle.

Well assembled we warped to the gate P3EN gate and jumped into P3EN where some light support was already waiting. TJ was in control of the fleet and warped us straight to the POS we had fought at the day previously. Targets were called and the slow process of killing the Cyno Jammer started. Again.

Christina Knight is the responsible commander for the enemy fleet and actually does a good job with what she has available. But Hydra lacks a doctrine, an idea, a concept.

KIA is renowned for their turtle battleship formations. It lacks in range and damage, but makes up for it, with its ability to keep the battleships alive through mounted monstrous large armor repairers on the hulls and an even distribution of repair drones and combat drones in the fleet.

Such is the basic KIA battleship and as such we have a doctrine, an idea and a concept.

While we started doing runs on the POS, Hydra opted to man it with specialized gunners. More than once people found their cap running dry and then being pondered by heavy stationary artillery.

Staying together as a group we all share the damage and all share the combined repairing abilities of the fleet. We are stronger that way, we can stay on the field while soaking up damage.

We don’t flinch. We don’t falter. We have a job to do and the means to do it.

Reports started filtering in that Hydra was assembling their fleet. With the average pod pilot in Hydra coming in what he or she were able to bring, we knew they had to come in at a close range or lose their damage potential.

When Hydra was reported on the Jump Bridge in TVN to P3EN, we were ordered to pull in drones and align for the Obe gate. A few battleships and some support were drawn out of P3EN at once.

Tjakka had a plan.

We would retreat in good order. Making it seem as if we could and would not fight them at the POS while they had gunners and neutralizing towers hitting us.

We mustered on the Obe gate and waited. Intel told us that Hydra pilots were checking the status of the POS and were sending a small covert OP frigate to investigate the Obe gate.

I am not sure why the covert Ops pilot did not cloak up his ship before he warp, but we were informed that we had a Buzzard class covert OP aligning for the Obe gate and he warped in that direction before he cloaked. Hydra now knew what we had on the field and we knew they knew.

We hastily pulled out of P3EN by the order of Tjakka and jumped into Obe. In Obe we were met by the battleships that had jumped out, as well as a smaller fleet, that had assembled. Our numbers swelled and unknown to Hydra the group that had been viewed as an even match to their own fleet was turning into a monster.

Hydra had in the meantime warped to the Obe gate in P3EN and was now waiting for us to come to them at their optimal fighting ranges. A fight on their terms, but against an enemy they did not understand. An enemy with a doctrine, an idea, a concept and now also a plan.

Order to jump into P3EN went out and in unison the battleships made the jump into P3EN. We held the cloak while we waited for things to stabilize as large fleets jumping through a single gate cause massive disturbance and EM shockwaves that render the systems unresponsive for some time.

When all had reported they were on location and at operational status, we were ordered to head for the gate in order for us all to get in range of each other’s remote repairs and the quick change of repair drones from one friendly target to another.

Targets were called and the heavy 425mm Hybrid turrets thundered their anger at the enemy. Our CEO was called primary by the enemy as they believed him to be the fleet commander. It happens all the time and the KIA pilots were ready for it. A storm of nano robots, remote repairs and drones rushed to heal the damage caused by the enemy. We managed to hold the damage and structure intact though at one point the computer estimated there has as little as 20% original intact structure holding Eddz’s battleship together.

Other alliance mates were called primary and we took a loss. The support was ordered to jump in and put bubble on the enemy and the lightning fast interceptors caught the ones further away. Another ship of ours went down. This one belonging to Cheese Monkey, he is a former corp mate who has recently returned to KIA and I by damn tried to keep him alive. The crew was ordered to inject capacitor boosters directly into the power core in order to keep up with my remote repairers. Alas I could not save him and his ship exploded in a fiery inferno that rocked the fleet.

We are taught not to show emotion less it clouds our judgment and Tjakka quickly directed us to new targets and the loss soon forgotten. The unity of the fleet held it together and the enemy started to lose ships. First at an equal pace with us but then faster and faster. Primary was called and while the huge guns spoke almost instant death the secondary targets were locked by the computer systems. The older veterans of KIA already know who is going to be called as next target and had automatically started the locking procedure even before the order got out.

Blue and red flashes danced before the eyes of my mind as the once proud fleet of the enemy was being decimated.

Tjakka did a great job of calling targets and the orders went out clearly over a dead silent communication channel. A disciplined communication channel where only the fleet commander, the Recon and the scout pilots talk is the sign of a fleet that is about its business in a cool and professional manner.

The result was a devastating blow to the enemy morale and fleet.

No less that 74 reported kills to 7 losses.

http://killboard.kia-clan.info/?a=kill_related&kll_id=18473

It was never an even fight and it was never supposed to be. Tjakka knew full well what he did to that poor fleet when he called the shots, directed the support fleet and ripped their hearts out.

A battlefield with a victorious fleet is a majestic view and the faster and smaller ship collected what could be collected from the enemy ships. The chatter went up again and even the local communication channel was filled with praise for an enemy that stood in the face of death and it even in defeat gave praise to our victorious fleet.

Day of Doom

Monday, god I hate Mondays. But not this one, this was going to be one of the best.

Coffe is a lifesaver in the morning and no less than three cups can make me awake.

We had just relocated from Torrinos, a high sec system with the unique property that it was right next to the lawlessness of a system Concord had seen fit to name EC-.

We had great fights with TRI and one time I was more close to loose my HAC than I would like to admit.

Right after Mondays I hate relocation. However our CEO had had dealings with an agent of an alliance that would like to see the head of another alliance named Hydra on a plate.

Hydra is known to me as I previously have mentioned I was employed by the alliance in a former life that now seems far away.

We started the exodus and moved through the low sec systems with our destination set for Obe. Blessed is the auto pilot in high sec systems. They have never interested me and I almost never pay attention to what goes on. Though they reportedly should be filled with hardworking and honest people I know better.

Everyone is trying to screw everyone and illegal sales of everything from money to slaves and drugs are common sight. The local chatter on the public communication channels is no different this travel than any other. I ordered the crew to complete radio silence as we slow boated along through one stargate after another.

When I arrived small skirmishes had already taken place all sunday. First blood had been drawn by the opening of fire on an unarmed mining barge. KIA had arrived and we were letting our hosts know it by sending in small raid parties to scout the area.

Ombey, McKinlay and Mikhalio had the honor of “first to draw enemy blood”
http://killboard.kia-clan.info/?a=kill_detail&kll_id=18180

As a Phylacista mentioned when he heard of the barge: “and so it begins….”

As the day progressed Daisho Syndicate, Body Count Inc. and Sharks With Frickin’ Laser Beams showed up as well to join the battle. The friends of Tortuga was back to work.

The objective was set to take down the Cyno Jammer of the system called P3EN so that we could call in capital support in order to take down the other towers.

We started early so that we could take the Jammer down before the Hydra pilots could react in force.

A fleet of over 40 battleships enganged the Jammer, while a small force of Heavy Assault Ships held the gate to Obe and recons were sent into the IPAY system.

I myself had not gotten my Megathron class Battleship to Obe yet so I was in my brand new Falcon. I scouted the Jumpbridge that led to TVN and as I was former Hydra we had full intel on their logistic routes. Intel ticked into my com board that Hydra was on an OP with PURE to take down a TRI POS. I relayed the information and was informed to keep an eye on Hydra activities.

The Cyno Jammer was down to half armor when Hydra broke off from the siege and started to head for TVN (one of their major Hub systems). Desperate calls were going out that all Hydra members were to report in TVN and form up in battle formations. As they formed up in TVN we took down the Cyno Jammer and our alliance sneaked in a surprise.

A plan was quickly formed that the trap should be sprung on the Tower where the jumpbridge was but there were reports of warp jamming towers and other nasty stuff. We were told to wait on the gate to Obe for Hydra. We were sure they were here to fight for their space.

We waited a long time as the Hydra commanders got the fleet set up and finally jumped through. They warped straight to their damaged Cyno jammer and started repairs. Communication must have been bad cause from my cloaked position I saw no carriers or other ships that were up to the task of repairing such a large damaged structure. They did have 2-3 Logistic ships but nowhere near what should have been there.

When it became apparent that Hydra was not going to fight us we tried to appear small and insignificant by swapping out a large proportion of our battleships with Heavy Assault Ships.

Hydra did not take the bait or did not care about us. Their only priority was the Cyno Jammer.

Disappointed with the development Tjakka (TJ) took command in his Rapier and ordered everyone back in Battleships and to be ready at the Obe gate in P3EN.

The fleet got back and hit and run tactics started. The fleet warped to TJ, aligned back towards the Obe gate and opened fire on a target that strayed too far from the safety of the tower shield.

It quickly resulted in kills and the guys in the fleet made jokes on the fleet communication channel while we bled Hydra.

After a few losses they adapted and did not stray from the tower shield but came to the same conclusion as I that there were not enough to repair the tower and even worse they could not repair the structural damage as their engineers were only trained in basic armor repair and not the finer art of structural repair to complex systems.

The result was that they opted to shoot the tower and place a new one. Not a bad plan at all but again it involved them coming out form the tower shield.

Our fleet changed tactic and warped in to start repairs of the very same tower we had previously damaged. The irony was not lost on any of our pilots and comments went out once again over the communication channels.

We again got contacted if we were interested in buying information on the tower password. We all knew what that meant and it was yet another road we were not prepared to walk down.

It was late and I had to leave the fleet. I powered down all systems in the station in Obe and went to bed. Only to wake up to the news that not only had yesterday been a complete success but as the enemy fleet left P3EN they ran into yet another logistic problem in the form of too little jump fuel in their jump bridge.

The trap that was initially thought to be sprung when they entered had been changed to when they exited. The Hydra fleet had been milling about the jump bridge while waiting for refueling when our Titan saw action. In one swift strike the once proud fleet was decimated to wrecks in a fiery blast.

As quick as the Titan had entered it was gone again.

This had concluded what had started as a dull Monday.

Fall of the mighty

Period Basis was invaded by our former enemy who in one striking motion swept away all resistance.

I have never witnessed such an impressive act of brutality.

Excellent executed down to the very tiniest detail.

We were taken off guard and in our general quarters.

Some pilots never even made it to their ship before the ships exploded.

Insurance companies screamed as the ships had hardly left the docking port before they blew up.

Some called it acts of terrorism and claimed that bombs had been planted on the ships while other claimed it to be insurance fraud.

Some sort of terrorism and betrayal was a taking place as what had assembled as a fleet was ambushed inside a POS force field by an enemy Titan. The encryption code had been given to the enemy and gave validity to the accusations that if they could access out POS they could surely also plant bombs in the Battleships. What resulted was a hectic withdrawal of KIA forces but the insurance companies paid up as they could not prove fraud and the POS encryption code gave weight to any claims that were laid down.

I found myself back in Empire space again.

I was absolutely stripped of money.
Rich on experience and adventure.

But I had managed to get a Raven Battleship, one Interceptor Crow, a Stealth Bomber and one Falcon out of the mess that was Period Basis.

In the system of Kakakela I found an agent that were willing to take me in so I could earn some isk.

We both know it’s a temporary arrangement as I will need an agent that can give me better assignments.

But I will make due with the current and who knows KIA might get a contract soon…
This leads us to present day and this starship log will take a more direct form.

Tortuga

KIA alliance had been invited to join up with other likeminded mercenaries and form what was to be called TORTUGA.

A coalition of mercenaries with no strings attached and a permanent place to live.

A daunting plan!

We were ordered to get all assets to a system we labeled Cham.

The sight of it was impressive. The sheer amount of ships present surpassed anything I’ve ever dreamt of. It was not a fleet it was an armada. Spearheading us were a mighty Titan class Erebus.

I was to fly next to a Titan. I was to fly with 100’s of capital ships of all sorts.
We invaded what was called Period Basis to claim our price of independence.

It was a slow process and heavy fighting took place all over the region.

TPAR took the blunt of the fighting and my trusty battleship saw more Titan doomsday action and survived 2 of them.

Eventually the enemy crumbled under the sustained attack of so many combined forces that they were destined to withdraw.

Period Basis was secured and we started building an infrastructure.

I was almost back “home” in Stain and took some flight into the familiar space.

I led my first OP into Stain as I had the best firsthand knowledge of the dwellers, their capabilities and location. We did not find any prey but I considered it a slight success as we on the other hand did not loose any ships and were close a few times to capturing a Raven.

I even came across old corp mates from the days in FM-C. Some of them had gone slightly mad in the cold debts of space. One had become a loner and laid claim to an entire system. With a sole blaster fitted megathron he had scared any “would be dwellers” away.

We exchanged news and moved on.

So some time passed while we settled in Period Basis and all was good, but all good things come to an end, some sooner than one suspect.

The carebear becomes a mercenary

Stuck in empire.

Unsure where to go after such an adventure.
Was I happy or sad.
What did I want to do in a world of opertunities.

I have never been what is labeled a Hardcore Killer but none the less consider myself a fighter more than a carebear.
The option presented itself in the form of a small corp in the Hydra Alliance.

Hydra was a weak alliance and I never really setteled.
Hydra quickly came under attack from mercenaries called KIA and MDK.

Rumor had it that TRI (a big emerging alliance) was going to invade at any moment.
I was depressed that my new home was unable to defend it self but it did bring good things with it.
I saw the very first Titan class ship called an Erebus of the RA alliance.
My battleship bearly made it, warping out on structure with air wenting into the dead cold space.

The corp I was in eventualy reformed into WARN and joined our besigers…
A wierd feeling…

To be on the offensive for once. The bring death to other pod pilots for no other reason than being paid for it.
To become a hunter…
I was hooked !
I wanted to become a mercenary !

We fought the Hydra Alliance and I would not consider it a battle. It was wholesale slaughter.
Their pod pilots never safe from the small roaming gangs of elite heavy assault ships and lightning fast interceptors.
Did they bring more to the table it was met with battleships. Fully tech II battleships operated by seasoned pod pilots.

I was thrilled… not that I could hope to bring a full fitted tech II battleship to the table.
I was trained in the art of stealth and raids of Stain.
Did their ships “go silent” (a complete powerdown of the ships) I was ordered to launch probes and find the ship that lay dead still.

Death and destruction rained upon the poor pilots of Hydra till the call went out.

All pilots return to high sec space and await instructions…

The promised land

And so it came to pass that we setteled in the system of T-8 in a southern region called Stain.

We encountered little resistance as some spread corps were encountered and thrown out.

We negotiated peace with a corp called Black Sun.

We lived in relative peace for quite some time.
Then the incursions became frequent.
An alliance called -A- started preying on our pilots and so did a corp called Xeno Bytes.
In two weeks time I lost 3 Battleship class Ravens.
A tremendous loss for a pilot who has gad his wings for under a year.

We formed up and started offering resistance but were no real match for the lightning fast tech II heavy assaultships.
All we could offer on the field of battle was regular tech I ships and very very few tech II ships.
One the other hand the smaller ships failed to wreck significant dammage on our BS fleet.
A stallmate.

Life went on and incursions occured but were less frequent.

Eventualy we laid a plan for forming an alliance called Insomnia.
It looked promissing on paper but we were double crossed and internal fighting broke out.
for over 4 months we fought in our home systems. Noone earned any ISK and all took losses.
Eventualy we managed to throw out the “would be alliance mates” that had backstabbed us.
They joined a small alliance called COVEN.

Events unfolded around us that we were unaware off.
The Great War had begun to take shape.

We had small border fights with COVEN and other residents of Stain but never anything that escalated.
For some months we lived in relative peace again. Even -A- and Xeno Bytes did not come around anymore.

That was untill Exceed arrived. From out of nowhere our space was violated and Exceed and COVEN pushed into our domains in larger and larger numbers.
It got to the point that we hired a merc alliance called Mercenary Coalition.
A dreaded and dangerous coalition of the most bloodthirsty corporations that above all hailed money.

Alas, they only prolonged the enevitable. FM-C and Insomnia was at an end.
Our fleet was demoralized, internal struggeling and increasing demands put a strain on us all.

I found myself leaving the corporation with a tide of others.

I choose to go back to high sec space for a while and think things over.

Moving to 0.0

And behold what was dangerous and daring became regular ventures into what is termed “low security” space or refered to as “low sec”.

My corp mate from previously has advanced to the Ferox Battle Cruiser and we had a few more adventures untill the day he was called to 0.0 space.

0.0 space is for the new pod pilot a daunting and dangerous place. Older pod pilots tell tales of great battles fought over the untold riches and warn us younger pilots to step carefull, its not just war but there is also politics involved.

I desided to fly up with my corp mate and get setteled in “the north”. My corporation was part of an alliance called that held a few systems.
It was quite a few jumps out and it was one of the most terrorfying flights ive ever done.
Nothing happened but I expected to be attacked at every jump.
Arriving at destination I got assigned with a room in the station and hit the sheets.

Next day I took my Caracal out for a spin.
I even with the help of some alliance mates took down a Battle Crusier belonging to the Guristas.
almost 200.000 ISK was instantly transfered to my account.
How could anyone run short of cash in such a place?

They joy was however shortlived as my corp left the alliance a few day later with orders to assemble in Shesha.
Shesha…
Located in Amarr Empire space and close to the notorious system of Tash Murkon.
Also close to Sagain a known low sec system that is the offset point for numerous Capital ships.
So far the only Capital ship I had seen was the Freighters slowboating around in Empire space.
I was exited ! Exhilarated ! I was gonna see real live Capital ships !
Not only that, I was going to fly next to them. Battle formation.

And then failure. Utter epic failure as something in the negotiations had gone wrong and we had no access to 0.0 space.
No cap ships. No grand fleet. No nothing.

We were dishearthened but our CEO had a plan.
A cunning one.
We would claim space for ourself.
30 Pilots vs the world !

I felt ready as I completed my training for the mighty battle cruiser the Ferox.
Its superb tanking abilities, its multitude of launcher slots.
It was just the stuff needed to take and hold space by force.

A few weeks passed as I hunted in the high sec regions and even tried to mine a few asteriods.
Ive never really liked the sound of lazers and mining was yet another lazer occupation.
I.e. not meant for me.

We finally disembarked with the destination set for the system that we came to call T-8.

The begining

I became a pod pilot a year and a half ago.
It was really not an option.
It more choose me than I choose it.

A destiny.

So I set out in the universe. Like many others my head was filled with self-importance and a will to make a difference. Little did I know that the universe is big and fast strips away the self-importance though the desire to make a difference is still there.

Nonni was my first home and I was taken under the wings of a corporation called FM-C and placed in their educational division doing routine work. I had to endure this for over two months before I was given “my wings” and become part of the established corp.

Back then the average training of a pod pilot was at best basic at worst a pod pilot almost could not interface with the pods systems and operate even the simplest of tasks in the simplest of ships.

This has improved and the average pod jock they turn out of the state war academy is better suited to the hazards of space.

Suffice to say I needed that time in the educational division.

I started slowly by learning to align to different way points warping in and out, scanning belts, planets and moons.

We got taught how to operate the market and obtain better prices as well as selling goods.

After a while we got into combat training.

The primary function of a new pod pilot is the honorable “scram” function in a gang.

It basicly means you will die a very fast and very painfully death.

Finally one day the call went out to mount up and head to Aunenen.

Aunenen, a system where CONCORD holds no authority, infested with everything from pirates, missioners, traders and scammers. A real hole of hell.

I was met on the gate to Aunenen by a senior member who was to test me and see how I performed under fire. We initiated gang procedures and our communication systems hooked up.

He was in a Caldari cruiser class ship nicked the Caracal and I was in my brand new Caldari frigate class Kestrel.

Caracal:
http://www.eve-tribune.com/index.php?no=1_15&page=7

Kestrel:
http://www.eve-tribune.com/index.php?no=1_8&page=3

As hinted earlier I was armed with a scram battery that can leave most warp cores in serious disarray.

The older corp member warped us to a nearby asteroid field and told me to stand by.

I spotted some Gurista ships which we engaged. They proved to be sought after by CONCORD which payed a handsome reward for their destruction. I never saw any pod eject from the ships so I guess it means total termination for the crew of the ship when they blow up. A swift dark and cold death.

As we rejoiced in the destruction of the Guristas a sole Incursus warped in.

It’s a tough little nut of a Gallente ship.

Incursus:
http://www.eve-tribune.com/index.php?no=1_5&page=6

I was confused and perplexed as the frigate just sat there. I had never seen such a strange looking vessel and the stories from childhood of the war versus the Gallente spurred all kinds of odd thoughts.

And then things sprung to life. My corp mate was being targeted and I was instructed to put a “point on the sucker”. I quickly manipulated my vessels instruments and the target system started chirping away.

Lock, point and release of missiles.

The Kestrel vibrated as the standard missile launchers voiced their opinion on this attack on my corp mate.

I forgot my basic training of informing that the hostile ship was scramed and my corp mate called for confirmation which I promptly gave.

Things are not silent in a pod contrary to some beliefs, there are indeed sound but most of all there is a rush… no a flood of adrenaline!

I completely lost track of the combat as drones was released, blaster slugs from the Incursus ramming into my corp mate. It took ages, it took seconds I can’t remember. When the Incursus finaly evaporated under the heavy fire of missiles I quickly targeted the pod and blew that too, seeing the goo of it flowing out in weird looking sub-gravity bubbles.

My corp mate had quickly investigated the wreck of the Incursus and warped us out to a so called safe spot. The word was out all over the solar system. There had been killing in an asteroid belt and though CONCORD does not interfere they do log the incident. Destruction of pods are considered an extreme act of evil and little did I know that I was charged with this on my record and took massive heat in the aftermath and settlement with CONCORD as I had to go back to CONCORD controlled space. They let me off the hook this time as it was us who was aggressed first and it was my first offence.

While we sat at the “safe spot” we went over what had happened.

Conclusion was that I performed ok under the circumstances but he was not happy by my lack on “point” confirmation as well as I had hesitated when he came under fire. I blamed my slow reaction time as I was sure it was not hesitation.

3 days later I was let in to the main corporation and got my wings.

At the same time I upgraded to the Caracal cruiser.

I was invincible.

Who would dare to challenge me in a ship so large and powerfull.