¶ For centuries, New Eden has existed in a state of tentative peace. Every now and then, there would be a ripple in the fabric of the Non-Aggression Pact between the four empires, enforced by the CONCORD Assembly. Sometimes these ripples would be minor, sometimes they would be quite major indeed. But always they were mere ripples, never tears.
¶ At 09:07 on 2008.6.10, that peace was shattered. An unidentified mixed fleet composed of Minmatar and Thukker Tribe warships plowed through Ammatar and Amarr defenses in an overwhelming blitzkrieg offensive, liberating tens of millions of slaves and returning the Starkmanir tribe to their Minmatar brethren. At 14:27, a Caldari State fleet breached the Gallente Federation border and did not stop until it had captured and locked down the Federation’s capital system of Luminaire.
¶ It was a day of triumph and joy for some. For others, it was a day of horror and grief. Many felt emotions across the spectrum, crying tears of profound pride one moment and wracked with mourning the next. For everyone in New Eden, it was a day of pandemonium, waves of which were felt in the farthest 0.0 star clusters. Nearly a billion lives were lost that day across New Eden. Their blood has ushered in a new age. The CONCORD Assembly still enforces law in the core regions of the four empires, ensuring relative safety to citizens and capsuleers not involved in the wars being fought between the Matari-Gallente bloc and the Amarr-Caldari bloc.
¶ In the interest of history, I log here in this Chronicle a recording of The Scope’s new feed from 2008.6.10. I offer no commentary beyond that which I have already said, which has already been too much; nothing that can be said does justice to the sheer impact of that day.
09:07 - BREAKING NEWS: Minmatar-Thukker Fleet Reappears in Yulai – Stargates Shut Down
YULAI – Eyewitnesses in the Yulai System are reporting that a mysterious Minmatar-Thukker armada “at least twice the size” of the one which threatened CONCORD Bureau Station earlier has reentered the system and is once again converging on the station as if preparing to attack. CONCORD has shut down all stargates leading into Yulai and has ordered a general fleet mobilization. This is a breaking news story that we will continue to update as information becomes available.
09:38 - Eyewitness Reports from Inside Yulai
YULAI - Reports are filtering in to various news networks from startled eyewitnesses on-scene, who are now seemingly trapped inside the system of Yulai.
“This is [censored] crazy,” said Raimi Eschin, a Gallentean trader in a live transmission moments ago. “I just tried to leave the system and…nothing. Tried another gate and…they’re all [censored] offline. I headed back to dock, thinking it was a simple malfunction and…Minmatar ships, everywhere. I’ve never seen a fleet like that. I’ve no idea where to go or what is going on, I’m just glad we’re issued cloaking devices, I’m going safe.” It is unclear at this time if any shots have been fired.
10:08 - Mass Panic in Yulai
YULAI - A system-wide panic is developing in the Yulai System since the re-appearance of the Minmatar-Thukker armada. Wave after wave of civilian ships have been spotted leaving spaceports all over the solar system, ignoring CONCORD instructions to stay clear of the locked-down stargates in their bid to escape.
CONCORD Bureau Station is so far the only station that has initiated a full lockdown - all other stations have tasked docking controllers to handle departing vessels only, as it seems that every spaceship captain in the Yulai System is trying to avoid being caught up in a sudden fire-fight. The Yulai System is close to mass panic fuelled by speculation, uncertainty and fear.
10:13 - CONCORD BUREAU STATION UNDER ATTACK
YULAI – *** This is a breaking news story *** The Minmatar-Thukker armada has opened fire on CONCORD Bureau Station and on the Directive Enforcement Division ships defending it. The station is reportedly taking heavy damage from dozens of dreadnoughts as smaller escorts engage CONCORD warships directly. Eyewitnesses were reporting “massive” casualties on both sides before their transmissions were jammed at the source. This is a breaking news story that we will continue to update as more information becomes available.
10:58 - First Images of Battle in Yulai
YULAI – Scope News has managed to wire a compressed packet from Yulai through an independent local transmitter. The images are distorted, but the unmistakable fleet of Minmatar-Thukker ships appear to be firing capital-class weaponry at the CONCORD Station. The space surrounding the station is lit up with explosions from weapons impacts and crippled capital ships breaking apart. Both sides seem to be suffering heavy casulaties from the barbaric assault, with yet more CONCORD reinforcements arriving at the fight with every passing minute.
11:10 - Major CONCORD Network Outage Reported; Yulai Connections Reopen
YULAI - It seems that CONCORD’s cluster-wide data network is suffering a severe and unprecedented outage. In the last few minutes multiple core services have degraded or dropped offline across the EVE cluster. This appears to be linked to events in Yulai; communications with that system have been re-established, and independent pilots are reporting in again.
We have been unable to contact or identify any vessels known to have been in the vicinity of the station prior to the attack. Reports suggest that multiple smaller engagements have broken out across the system as panicked pilots turn on local law enforcement vessels. It appears that at this time CONCORD is not deploying additional vessels into the system
11:15 - Servant Sisters of Eve Urge Calm
X-7OMU - In a hastily-assembled statement to the press, Sister Elaya Selnaarei urged the cluster not to panic amidst the pandemonium in Yulai.
“We must remain calm,” she stated. “I urge all nations to let cool heads prevail at this time and act in the interests of all inhabitants across the universe. As always, our organization is ready to provide aid in these troubled times. Convoys to Yulai are already enroute and will respond to any and all requests for assistance.”
11:18 - BREAKING NEWS: CONCORD BUREAU STATION DESTROYED – CONCORD DISABLED
YULAI – *** This is a breaking news story *** Scope News has confirmed that CONCORD Bureau Station in Yulai has been destroyed, and that all rapid-reaction defense capabilities of the police agency have been disabled. A general warning has been broadcast throughout Empire space that CONCORD will be unable to assist in the defense of any unprovoked attacks. This is a breaking news story that we will continue to update as more information becomes available.
11:45 - Scope Data Recorder Salvaged, Images Recovered
YULAI - An independent pilot has located the wreck of The Scope’s on-site media shuttle and recovered the data recorder from the wreckage. While the video feed seems to be corrupt, the camera logs are largely intact and we are streaming data from them now.
Images assembled from the data show the horrific battle unfolding with the CONCORD fleet massing on the Minmatar-Thukker invaders attempting to repulse their savage attack on the CONCORD Bureau station. Suddenly a huge cynosural field opens up in system and the view is filled by the enormous bulk of what can only be a Ragnarok-class Titan.
As the joint Minmatar forces began streaming towards Ragnarok, including lifepods from the capital-class vessels, CONCORD realigns their firepower and begins hammering at the Ragnaroks immesurable bulk. Moments later the area around the Titan flares with thousand of incandescent missiles spreading over the battlefield. The feed abruptly terminates at this point.
11:50 - Markets Crash Across the Cluster
JITA - The SCC-run markets in stations across the cluster have come to a grinding halt following the destruction of CONCORD Headquarters. Traders are already reporting losses in the billions as transactions made moments before core systems went offline were left unprocessed.
“This is outrageous,” said Dukani Khuram. “I just put a 100 million ISK buy order out. The deposit was processed and then…[censored] nothing! I have no receipt of order. If this doesn’t get sorted out my business is ruined.” Khuram is just one of many traders who have been hit by the sudden outage, with losses from today’s events already estimated to be in the trillions.
11:53 - Trade Hub Turning into a Warzone
JITA - With CONCORD out of commission the Jita System was struck hard by pirates trying to take advantage of the lack of defence for all traders now leaving the biggest trade hub in EVE.
Several ships have been reported destroyed outside all stations. The sentry guns guarding the stations have been reported unable to keep up with all aggression taking place and without CONCORD to protect the traders events are rapidly degenerating the Jita System into a warzone on its own.
Convoys are being urged to stay docked until law and order can be re-established. Naval vessels in the system appear to be unable to deal with the situation and no information has been given on when reinforcements will be available.
12:01 - Majority of CONCORD Assembly Delegates Accounted For
YULAI - After a frantic search of the Yulai system following the sudden and devastating assault from the combined Minmatar-Thukker fleet, multiple evacuation shuttles have been secured by search and rescue teams that are now scouring the area looking for survivors. It has been disclosed that a special recovery squadron was earlier dispatched to protect the evacuated delegates from the empires who were currently in residence in the CONCORD station.
The emergency evacuation shuttles’ distress beacons were picked up in the aftermath of the attack by the squadron, who have begun to rally the delegations and escort them to safety. The majority of the diplomats have been accounted for, although several others and many members of the diplomatic staff remain unaccounted for.
12:17 - REPORT: Minmatar-Thukker Armada Invades Ammatar Mandate
JARIZZA – Minmatar-Thukker warships have just engaged and destroyed several Ammatar Fleet patrols in the Derelik Region. It is unknown if these ships are part of the same task force which just destroyed CONCORD Bureau Station in Yulai. The unprovoked attack appears to have completely caught the Ammatar Fleet by surprise, as no organized resistance has been reported thus far.
12:34 - Inner Circle Tribunal Evacuated
YULAI - The Inner Circle Tribunal station orbiting Yulai VIII reported minutes ago that that a full evacuation has been completed, and that now only military personnel remain aboard the station. Several CONCORD shuttles have been spotted heading to an unknown location on the planet’s surface, despite reports of vessels being engaged outside the station.
The status of the CONCORD Inner Circle has yet to be confirmed, although it is presumed that they have been transferred off the station along with all other civilian personnel.
As for the carnage at the CONCORD Bureau station, SOE ships are already on scene joining local CONCORD forces in a valiant attempt to rescue any survivors. No sighting of the Minmatar-Thukker task force has been made in Yulai since the attack.
12:45 - Minmatar Populace Takes to the Streets
PATOR - Shortly after news of the attack in Jarizza hit the networks, hundreds of thousands of Matari took to the streets in planets across the cluster, avidly watching the news feeds. The majority of the populace seems in a state of sheer confusion at this time, however the Republic Justice Department has begun deploying riot police in numbers as a pre-emptive measure.
With the Republic government dissolved, central authority is severely lacking and other Empires are still reporting a complete diplomatic black out from the Minmatar Republic.
13:03 - Mandate Technician Speaks of Jarizza Assault
JARIZZA - A maintenance technician who was present in the Jarizza system has delivered an eyewitness account to news networks of the situation unfolding in the system.
“I was doing some remote repairs on [the stargate] … when I noticed a Cheetah covert-ops with military markings jump in. Naturally we report these things, just to be safe, y’know? I opened up comms … then suddenly the gate just went into overdrive. Before I could get a word to local security there was this … fleet around me and big swirling vortexes popping up everywhere. I just got the hell out of there. I tried scanning down the vessels from a safe distance and my systems just overloaded … too many ships.”
Reports continue to filter in of massive deployments of Minmatar vessels into Jarizza and ongoing military operations.
13:05 - BREAKING NEWS: Minmatar-Thukker Ragnarok Titan Jumps into Jarizza, Dropships Reportedly Landing on Halturzhan
JARIZZA –A surface invasion of the sixth planet of Jarizza, ‘Halturzhan’, is underway following the arrival of a titan-backed Minmatar-Thukker armada. Thousands of dropships have landed on the planet, which just days ago was reported to harbor large populations of Starkmanir slaves.
There are numerous unconfirmed reports that Ammatar Consulate Governor Ana Utulf is encouraging citizens to “defect” to the invaders. Scope News agents cannot approach the planet to confirm these claims. Besides the initial attacks which destroyed numerous Ammatar Fleet patrols, there have been no reports of resistance.
13:10 - Footage of Jarizza Attack Released
JARIZZA - An Echelon Entertainment film crew inside Jarizza has released startling images of the initial moments of attack inside the system. On location capturing footage for an upcoming documentary on interstellar trading, the crew became unwitting front line observers to the conflict.Heavily distorted from the electromagnetic interference as Cynosural fields littered the starry backdrop, the footage depicted dozens of Naglfar-class Dreadnoughts deploying in the system. Ammatar security forces present were seen being summarily obliterated by an overwhelming mass of support vessels weaving their way around the behemoth warships. Moments before the Director pulled his people back, the footage showed the entrance of what has now been confirmed to be a Ragnarok-class Titan to the field.
13:34 - Minmatar Populace Shocked by Defection Rumors
PATOR - The confusion of Matari across the Republic rose to new heights as rumors of Ammatar Consulate Governer Ana Utulf’s urgings to defect filtered across the cluster. Expecting a bloody confrontation with the Ammatar to free their once-lost tribe, there was widespread shock as reports stated an overwhelming lack of resistance.
“I can’t believe it,” said Bhane Karemi, one of the many hundreds of thousands of Matari now filling the streets of cities across the Republic. “I can’t say I trust these reports, and I bet I’m not alone in that. They’re probably buying time until the Amarr arrive..” Reactions to the invasion remain mixed, confusion still reigns about the composition of the force, and no one seems to have any idea who’s leading the fleet. Some are already celebrating what they see as the return of their people and others simply confused as they watch news feeds eagerly for more information.
13:36 - REPORT: SECOND MINMATAR-THUKKER ARMADA INVADES AMARR EMPIRE
KOR-AZOR PRIME – Heavy fighting is underway in numerous locations throughout the Kor-Azor Region as a second titan-backed Minmatar-Thukker armada invaded the Amarr Empire. Multiple surface landings have been reported on planet Eclipticum, and Kor-Azor Family Bureau Headquarters Station has been stormed by elite mechanized troops. Kor-Azor’s independent security forces are defending against the onslaught on both land and in space, but the Minmatar-Thukker forces are overwhelming them with sheer numbers.
Although the attack marks the first time in history that a foreign power has invaded sovereign Amarr territory, Imperial Navy warships have not yet moved to intercept them.
13:45 - Slave-lynching on Sarum Prime
SARUM PRIME - Following the news of the massed Minmatar-Thukker task force invading Amarr sovereign territory, the planet ‘Mekhios’ have become the scene for mass public executions as Amarrian ground forces attempt to remove the threat of rebellious slaves before they are exposed to Insorum by the invading forces.
Reports are coming in that Minmatar-Thukker forces are rapidly approaching the Sarum core worlds, with little in the way to slow them down.
13:48 - REPORT: THIRD MINMATAR-THUKKER FLEET DETECTED IN DOMAIN REGION; FIERCE FIGHTING REPORTED OVER SARUM PRIME
SARUM PRIME – In what eyewitnesses are describing as an “epic, violent clash between empires”, the Imperial Navy has just engaged a third Minmatar-Thukker fleet over the third planet of the Sarum Prime system, ‘Mekhios’. Multiple worlds within the Amarr Empire, in particular the Kor-Azor Region, have been attacked with orbital bombardments just prior to the surface landings of hundreds of thousands of Minmatar troops, who despite their uniform ethnicity cannot be confirmed to be Republic infantrymen.
The invaders are believed to be using Insorum in their bombardments, saturating ground targets with airborne variants of the Vitoc-neutralizing agent before commencing their assaults.
It is unclear why the Imperial Navy has chosen Sarum Prime to makes its stand, where it appears the bulk of the Empire’s warships are either onsite or en-route to the battle.
13:51 - Minmatar Invasion Leaves Trail of Destruction
SAFIZON - As Imperial Naval Command continues to analyze incoming data and co-ordinate the Navy’s response strategy, information leaked from various sources is painting a picture of the trail of destruction left by the invading Minmatar fleet. Invading along multiple fronts, the fleet has reportedly faced little in the way of credible resistance to its seemingly unstoppable advance.
It has emerged in the last half hour that the first incursions into Imperial space were directed at The Bleak Lands, but the victories scored there were so decisive that it has taken some time for solid information to filter up the chain of command. From what information is available it seems that a taskforce including ships belonging to the Republic, the Thukker Tribe and the rebel Defiants crossed the border in overwhelming force. The region is currently under the protection of the recently-disgraced 7th Fleet, who were in the process of assembling fleet assets to depart the region for their new posting when the first clashes occurred. It is believed that were attempting to make a stand in the Sahtogas system, but no further information has been made available on their situation or status.
The first reports reaching Naval HQ Safizon came in from system defence sentries in Kenobanala, the entryway into the heavily fortified Joas constellation in Derelik. Details are sketchy but it appears that Minmatar forces were able to overwhelm the defences; eyewitness reports suggest that one or more “extremely large” vessels were present in the system. With the Joas defences breached this fleet was then able to penetrate virtually unopposed into Derelik. As indicated previously, they are known to have made planetary assaults on at least one world - Halturzhan in the Jarizza system - where constellation defence forces mounted an unsuccessful blockade to prevent landings.
Meanwhile, in the last few minutes information has become available from an unspecified location in Kador, reporting heavy Minmatar traffic in an otherwise-quiet system in low security space. The reported activity would appear to be consistent with a fleet moving via some form of jump technology, although the exact method used is unclear. What is known is that a fleet of similar composition appeared shortly afterwards in the Kor-Azor home systems. After neutralizing local defences and assaulting several key stations (including the Kor-Azor Family Bureau around Eclipticum and the regional military HQ in Andrub), a massive evacuation programme was started. Minmatar dropships lifted millions of slaves from countless facilities around the region’s core systems and transferred them to orbiting transports. Eyewitness reports from the ground on Eclipticum suggest that some kind of directed chemical bombardment was delivered from low orbit, provoking rioting and mass uprisings among the slave population.
14:01 - Chaotic Scenes of Celebration Across the Republic
TEONUSUDE - Across the Republic Matari on the streets, now numbering in the millions, erupted into frenzied celebration as news of the invasion of the Amarr Empire broke. Riot Police were almost overwhelmed as even more citizens flooded city streets, shouting war cries and firing weapons into the air. Businesses in most major cities have been forced to close, as once-closed bars open their doors to the celebratory throng.
The question of who is leading the fleet fell to the background the moment live streams of the invasion on Sarum Prime were transmitted to planets across the Republic. “It doesn’t matter now,” said Nakhumi Veras, just one of the many millions now cheering the fleet on. “They are Minmatar, which is all we need to know.”
14:12 - REPORT: “MASS MURDERS” REPORTED AT MINMATAR REPUBLIC GOVERNMENT FACILITIES
ILLUIN – Scope News has just obtained confirmation of the mass-murder of hundreds of municipal and regional government officials and throughout the Minmatar Republic. The assassins, believed to be aligned with the same Minmatar-Thukker strike force invading the Amarr Empire, are allegedly leaving evidence of the victim’s complicity with Amarrian intelligence services with each corpse. This “purge”, as the attackers have allegedly described, was clearly timed to coincide with the invasion. Police detectives have remarked that the Minmatar-Thukker operation was “flawless”, leaving “no opportunity for police forces to react.”
The Republic Fleet still denies any involvement with the attackers, but has ordered all combat vessels to amass near the borders as a “precaution against any Amarrian counterstrike.”
14:17 - REPORT: MINMATAR-THUKKER TASK FORCE ARE MINMATAR ELDERS
ILLUIN – Scope News has learned that the Minmatar-Thukker force which is responsible for igniting a war in New Eden are the Minmatar “Elders”, the legendary ancient leaders of the original seven tribes. If true, this claim would validate the Republic’s official denial of involvement with the Amarr invasion, and of the Republic Fleet’s defensive posturing along the Amarrian border.
Editor’s Note: Under normal circumstances, Scope News would discredit this claim. However, given the Thukker Tribe’s alignment with the attack force, the apparent mass-defection of millions of Ammatar civilians, their ancient affiliation as the Nefantar tribe, and the resurgence of the Starkmanir, we made a collective decision to publish this news with a “caution” disclaimer. These are extraordinary times, and on behalf everyone at this agency, we implore all of you to remain vigilant as these unprecedented events unfold.
14:18 - Amarrian Forces in Disarray Following Andrub Attack
KOR-AZOR - Not long after the assault on Andrub, reports from eyewitnesses across the Kor-Azor region have been filtering back claiming a “frightening lack of cohesion” in the already troubled Imperial forces. It is understood that the crippled Ministry of War station served as a central hub for regional defence command and is now offline. According to reports, the removal of this vital link in the Amarrian defence network has left regional defence forces in complete disarray.
In perhaps the most startling rumor to suggest this may be true, reports are coming back of two Archon-class carriers colliding outside the Ministry of War station moments after communications lines went dead.
14:27 - BREAKING NEWS: CALDARI NAVY TASK FORCE CROSSES FEDERATION BORDER, INVADES GALLENTE SPACE
ALGOGILLE - *** This is a breaking news story *** A Caldari Navy task force has just crossed the Federation border in what is unmistakably a large-scale invasion of Gallente space. Numerous Federation Customs patrol ships have already been destroyed as Caldari ships continue to stream across using the Kassigainen stargate and at least two jump portals. This is a breaking news story that we will continue to update as information becomes available.
14:30 - “Opportunistic Vultures” Cleared from Battle Sites
SAHTOGAS – As the Amarr Navy attempts to rally their forces and regain some co-ordination, reports are coming in of marauding salvagers picking over the broken remains of the Amarr and Minmatar ships at battle sites that have now fallen silent.
Amarrian reaction forces arriving at the scene, too late to make a difference, have begun to clear the area of these scavengers. Paladin Major Verinus in charge of one such task force making their way to the front lines gave a brief comment to reporters on the scene over the system wide frequency via his ship’s communications system stating angrily that the salvagers were “nothing more than opportunistic vultures, picking over the remains of our fallen friends.” Soon after clearing the scene his fleet departed the area, leaving a small number of ships behind at the graveyards.
14:43 - Mass Panic in the Federation
LUMINAIRE - As news breaks of a Caldari invasion of Federation territory, mass panic is spreading like wildfire across the nation. Starports are crammed full as citizens attempt to flee from the Caldari advance. Police remain unable to deal with the huge numbers of fleeing citizens and reports are coming in from all over the Federation of casualties caused by the hysteria.
Citizens looking for support from government officials in the Dodenvale system will be disappointed as witnesses report local government offices are already evacuated. Elsewhere local forces are attempting to urge citizens to remain in their homes with little success.
14:49 - News of Elders Ignites Mass-celebrations
PATOR - Moments after The Scope news agency reported rumors of the legendary Elders leading the assault in the Amarr home worlds, frenzied celebrations in the Republic hit new levels of chaos. Millions of Matari erupted into widespread rejoicing, pushing the crowded streets of major cities to their limit. Riot police on many planets were seen breaking ranks as they joined the tumultuous celebration.
Republic military units have been deployed across core systems to maintain order as reports of excitement spilling out into violence surface. Local government officials have been ineffective with the government system of the Republic in effective freeze. However many local officials have taken to the streets, not to calm, but delivering rousing speeches to the populace.
14:50 - BREAKING NEWS: CALDARI NAVY TASK FORCE LOCKS DOWN LUMINAIRE
LUMINAIRE - *** This is a breaking news story *** The Gallente Federation capital system of Luminaire has been locked down from the inside by the Caldari Navy and an accompanying task force composed of thousands of ships. Witnesses describe sighting capital ships representing every mega-corporation and at least one Leviathan titan in the armada that smashed its way into the system. As hundreds of Federation Navy warships amassed outside the Luminaire stargates in Algogille and Pettinck, numerous distress calls could be heard on subspace comm channels monitored by Scope News.
Unconfirmed reports have surfaced that anti-ship mines have been deployed at all stargate entry points inside Luminaire, and that any attempt to run the blockade, no matter how many ships are sacrificed, is effectively impossible.
14:56 - Gallente Senate Convenes Emergency Session, Declares War on Caldari State
Villore - Just moments ago as the Caldari Navy task force entered Luminaire in strength, Senate leader Mentas Blaque convened an emergency session of the nation’s legislative body. Though many members were away from Villore on official duties with their various constituencies, there were more than enough Senators present to constitute a quorum.
The only item on the agenda for the emergency session was the decision of how to respond to the Caldari incursion into Gallente space. In an unprecedented unanimous vote - the fastest in Federation history - every Senator present elected to approve the declaration of war.
With the measure approved, president Souro Foiritan has been given emergency administrative powers, and is already meeting with his senior military leadership to plan the Federation’s reaction to the unprovoked invasion of their homeland.
15:01 - BREAKING NEWS: CALDARI NAVY BOMBARDS CALDARI PRIME, DROPSHIPS LAND ON SURFACE
CALDARI PRIME – The Caldari Navy-led task force that has locked itself inside the Luminaire System is reportedly landing “hundreds of thousands” of dropships onto Caldari Prime following a systematic orbital bombardment of strategic defense emplacements all over the planet. The task force has achieved absolute space superiority in the system, as all Federation Navy and Customs warships inside the system have evidently been neutralized. However, despite its complete vulnerability, Gallente Prime is reporting clear space in its vicinity, with absolutely no sign of the invaders at this time.
Military analysts consulted by Scope News have stated that the Caldari Navy appears to have committed “every resource at their disposal” to this colossal endeavor, and as such has left its rearguard flanks completely exposed to Federation counterattack.
15:12 - Caldari Citizens Respond to Invasion
NEW CALDARI - The Caldari people remained solemnly glued to the news networks as they watched the Amarr defend against the Minmatar invasion. In a show of solidarity with the Amarr Empire several statements of support have issued forth from the State over the last hour.
Events took a sudden turn when those same screens were suddenly filled with footage of grey-hued Caldari Navy vessels pouring over Federation borders. Vast arrays of Federation surveillance drones, normally used to transmit live traffic information, have instead been relaying live feeds of their own homeland being invaded.
The response from the Caldari population has been electric. Workers and managers have laid down tools and headed for the nearest broadcast screen to watch the proceedings, and reports indicate that Gallente flags are being solemnly burnt all across the State. The Caldari media have been broadcasting one particularly poignant scene, depicting workers crowding round a bonfire quietly throwing any Federation paraphernalia they can find on it. No voices are raised but the intensity of the stares are not lost on anyone.
15:18 - Partisan Violence Erupts Inside State Borders
KAAPUTENEN - Reports are coming in of widespread anti-Gallente violence in major cities across the State, as vigilante groups raid recently-closed businesses and residences that once housed Federation expatriates. Another eyewitness account has alleged that almost 1,000 State citizens of Gallentean origin on Urlen II also met a violent end at the hands of angry mobs. Conflicting reports state that once news of the Federation invasion broke, the Gallentean-born citizens armed themselves and “started shooting whoever they saw.”
Caldari authorities are believed to be addressing both issues with force. Local officials have claimed that corporate security forces have been deployed. With a complete media access restriction in effect however, very little can be confirmed.
15:18 - REPORT: FEDERATION NAVY CONVERGING ON TIERIJEV AS CALDARI MECHANIZED INFANTRY ATTACKS TOVIL, ARCURIO
CALDARI PRIME – The Federation Navy has abandoned its attempts to break the Caldari Navy’s blockade in Luminaire and is reportedly deploying “all spaceborne military assets” to the isolated Caldari system of Tierijev. This report follows confirmation that millions of Caldari troops supported by armor, MTACs, and gunships have launched frontal assaults on the two largest cities of Tovil and Arcurio. Although some pockets of Federation police and marines are fighting back, it appears that the vast majority of defenses in both of these cities was obliterated during the bombardment.
Civilian casualty reports remain varied, as the bulk of Caldari citizens remain largely isolated because of President Foiritan’s efforts to quell civil unrest in the past several weeks.
15:32 - BREAKING NEWS: FOIRITAN ORDERS FEDERATION NAVY TO STAND DOWN
LADISTIER - *** This is a breaking news story *** Scope News has learned that President Souro Foiritan has ordered the Federation Navy to call off its attack on Tierijev and issued a general order to “cease all hostile actions against the Caldari Navy”. This shocking revelation is believed to have been issued following a direct conversation with Caldari dictator Tibus Heth. This is a breaking news story that we will continue to update as information becomes available.
15:47 - BREAKING NEWS: TIBUS HETH CONQUERS CALDARI PRIME, FOIRITAN CEDES CONTROL
CALDARI PRIME – Tibus Heth, the dictator whose mercurial rise to power has shocked New Eden, has just raised the flag of the Caldari State over the city of Arcurio on Caldari Prime, in the Gallente Federation capital system of Luminaire.
The historical act follows a conversation with President Foiritan, in which Tibus allegedly threatened to bomb Gallentean civilians from space, all of whom are segregated from former Caldarian expatriates by President Foiritan’s own decree. Tibus also stated that this action ends nearly two hundred years of Federation “occupation”, and that although the path to Gallente Prime was clear, he did not consider it as a “show of good faith”.
Terms of the negotiated “truce” stipulate that Mr. Heth’s sovereignty claim is for the planet of Caldari Prime alone, and not for the system of Luminaire. Although the bulk of Caldari Navy forces are expected to return immediately to Caldari territories, some “military assets” are going to remain over Caldari Prime, although the exact composition of this force is not known at this time.
15:57 - Mordu’s Legion Mobilizes
5ZXX-K - The Pure Blind region has erupted into full action as ships bearing Mordu’s Legion insignias are converging from all corners to gather in force at their headquarters in 5ZXX-K.
So far the Mordu’s Legion has not yet declared their intentions as it gathers its strength. Rumours are flying around that the Caldari State has hired on the Legion to join their fleet. This has not been confirmed.
16:01 - Guristas Attack FedMart Warehouses in Vlillirier
VLILLIRIER - Two storage and warehousing facilities belonging to FedMart, the largest retail corporation in the world of EVE have been attacked by forces believed to belong to the Guristas pirates. The raiding force included a large number of transport ships, and it is clear that the Guristas were intent upon plunder after sweeping away the few customs forces and naval pickets guarding the system.
Also present in the system were a number of Wiyrkomi storage and warehousing facilities, though these remained unmolested by the pirates, leading many to speculate that the Caldari State gave tacit approval for the raid. This speculation is further reinforced by the fact that the few Wiyrkomi Peace Corps forces present in the system did not respond to distress calls issued by FedMart personnel.
16:05 - REPORT: IMPERIAL NAVY RETREATS OVER SARUM PRIME
SARUM PRIME – The Imperial Navy has unexpectedly withdrawn all of its warships from the colossal fleet battle over the skies of Mekhios. In what was largely being described as a “brutal stalemate” between the two armadas, the fighting came to an abrupt halt as Imperial Navy warships disengaged en-masse and warped away from the Elder Fleet, which made no attempt to pursue the fleeing defenders. Military analysts can provide no explanation for the sudden departure, and are speculating that Grand Admiral Sundara has opted to abandon Domain and regroup in the Kor-Azor Region.
Fierce surface battles continue to rage across Mekhios as streams of Elder dropships ferry troops and armor to the surface.
16:17 - Caldari Citizens Celebrate at Return of Homeland
NEW CALDARI - As news of Tibus Heth’s astounding victory in reclaiming Caldari Prime broke across the Caldari State, citizens took to the streets. Numerous corporations suspended the rest of the work day, allowing employees to take part in the celebrations. In all of the major cities, the feeling was overwhelmingly one of pride, with large throngs of celebrants shouting chants in support of Tibus Heth as images came in of him raising the Caldari flag over their homeworld. Reports of mass Gallentean casualties have done little to perturb the joyous crowds, in many cases actually adding to their nationalistic fervor.
“What was once lost is ours again,” said Akkio Suurvola, a technician and employee of Caldari Constructions. “We owe so much to Tibus, look at how far he has taken us in this short time. The best days of the Caldari are ahead of us.” His comments were echoed across the State by countless citizens, who voiced their support of the invasion and its leader.
16:20 - As the Dust Settles, Countless Gallenteans Dead on Caldari Prime
CALDARI PRIME - Since the cease fire order has been issued hostilities are coming to an end on Caldari Prime. A few shots can be heard at a distance but as this is reported even they are being silenced as the order from President Foiritan is spreading. With the Gallente troops laying down arms, Tibus Heth’s soldiers are securing their objectives, setting up fortifications and rounding up prisoners.
The major cities of Caldari Prime resemble huge battlefields, filled with bodies of overwhelmingly Gallente ethnicity. Preliminary numbers are projecting hundreds of thousands of soldiers dead in the first five minutes of fighting as the Caldari State deployed the majority of their MTAC and Heavy Infantry reserves onto the planet’s surface. Reports from both sides indicate that the Gallente forces fought bravely and stubbornly, but were completely overrun by the Caldari onslaught and were cut down like dead grass. Projections are also estimating “at least tens of thousands” of Gallente civilians caught in the cross-fire as the Gallente military responded to the attack.
The fighting might have only lasted a few hours, but it will be days if not weeks before every body is accounted for.
16:24 - Blood Raiders Sighted in The Bleak Lands
MYYHERA - Taking advantage of the current turmoil around Sarum Prime and the retreat of the 7th Fleet from The Bleak Lands region, the Blood Raiders have allegedly launched opportunistic raids on numerous stations. Rumors are circulating of a large-scale raid into a capsuleer training facility, thought to house dozens of pilots in training. The normally high-security complex is understood to have lost all power for as long as an hour, leaving any pilots within vulnerable. With both CONCORD and Ammatar forces floundering amidst the confusion, there has been no confirmation or denial of the raid.
16:25 - BREAKING NEWS: JAMYL SARUM SIGHTED OVER SARUM PRIME
SARUM PRIME – *** This is a breaking news report *** Reports are flooding Amarrian comm channels that the royal heir Jamyl Sarum has arrived on the battlefield over Mekhios with an escort of just twelve battleships. Jamyl Sarum was killed five years ago in the Succession Trials following the death of Emperor Heideran. This is a breaking news story that we will continue to update as information becomes available.
16:27 - BREAKING NEWS: MASSIVE EXPLOSION DETECTED OVER MEKHIOS
SARUM PRIME – *** This is a breaking news report *** A massive explosion has been detected over Mekhios. All news feeds covering the conflict have been incapacitated by the detonation, and no data will be available until these systems are restored. This is a breaking news story that we will continue to update as information becomes available.
16:39 - BREAKING NEWS: ELDER FLEET OVER MEKHIOS DESTROYED
SARUM PRIME - *** This is a breaking news report *** Scope News has obtained visual confirmation that the Elder fleet over Mekhios has been destroyed. Camera feeds restored following the potent detonation revealed thousands of wrecks littering a vast area of space over the planet, some of which has fallen into dangerously low orbit. Battles in major cities, most notably the capital of Xerah, have turned in favor of Amarrian defenders as Elder infantrymen are hunted down.
The presence of Jamyl Sarum just moments before the explosion has yet to be confirmed, and no trace of her or her escort ships was spotted near the wreckage.
16:47 - Khanid Kingdom Fortifies Borders
KHANID PRIME - In a recent announcement King Khanid II declared martial law throughout Khanid Kingdom, in response to the cluster-wide turmoil. “All Khanid border systems are being reinforced by the Royal Khanid Navy,” announced the King in his address to the nation. “Khanid Border Police have full authority to fire on anyone entering or leaving border systems until such time as this crisis has passed.”
Khanid military vessels have been spotted heading for the borders, with an even larger number setting up defensive positions around Khanid Prime. Fortifications are being hastily erected as the Navy takes all available measures to ensure the security of its sovereign space.
16:51 - BREAKING NEWS: IMPERIAL NAVY EMERGES IN KOR-AZOR REGION WITH JAMYL SARUM, ELDER FLEETS RETREATING
KOR-AZOR PRIME – *** This is a breaking news report *** The Elder fleets operating in the Kor-Azor Region of the Amarr Empire and Derelik Region of the Ammatar Mandate are retreating towards Minmatar Republic borders. Imperial Navy forces are in pursuit and are engaging the attackers wherever they can be caught. The wrecks of dozens of capital-class Minmatar vessels have been spotted by Scope News camera drones thus far. The general retreat follows the appearance of Jamyl Sarum and the unexplained destruction of the third Elder strike force operating over the planet Mekhios.
The resurgence of the former heir, long believed dead, is confirmed to be among the pursuing Imperial vessels and appears to have inspired the Amarrian counterattack.
16:53 - Defiant Holding Action Buys Critical Time
KENOBANALA - Only minutes ago with the Elder-led taskforce in full retreat, camera drones on scene in the system fed live footage as elements of the fleet pulled away from the task force and positioned themselves around the stargate while the rest of the taskforce continued its rapid retreat.
Led by ships with the markings of the rebel Minmatar faction known as the Defiants, the holding force immediately began to engage the lead elements of the pursuing Imperial fleet as they arrived through the Stargate in force.
As the Defiant forces began to engage in a bitter close-range firefight, cynosural fields flared, marking the entrance of a Hel Mothership to the field flanked by dual Carrier escorts. Footage was briefly suspended as the electromagnetic resonance from the fields interfered with the camera drones.
When the stream was re-established less than a minute, the screen was filled with the startling images of one Nidhoggur carrier slowly breaking in half under the fire of countless laser beams as fast moving attack ships swirled around it in brutal firefights with their Imperial counterparts. The chaotic pictures were set against the backdrop of multiple Imperial cynosural fields opening, swiftly followed by the arrival of an entire Capital squadron including two Aeon-class Motherships.
With even more cynosural fields opening the way for further reinforcements, the few camera drones stationed around the stargate began to malfunction. The last, heavily-distorted images of the stream depict the Hel Mothership with multiple hull breaches and major fires spreading across its decks as it came under concentrated fire from the entire capital squadron. As the surviving Defiant ships sped past in support, the Hel painfully realigned itself on a vector towards the heart of the Imperial Capital formation.
The entire scene lasted not more than 2 minutes before transmission was finally terminated. Imperial forces are once again reported to be moving in full pursuit of the main Minmatar force. No trace of surviving Defiant forces has been reported.
17:00 - BREAKING NEWS: CONCORD RESTORES COUNTERTHREAT CAPABILITY, ISSUES GENERAL WARNING TO CEASE HOSTILITIES
YULAI – *** This is a breaking news report *** CONCORD has restored NEOCOM broadcast capabilities and has issued a general warning to all the nation-states of New Eden to cease all “non-sanctioned” hostilities. The exact transcript has been obtained by Scope News:
TO THE MILITARY FORCES OF ALL NATION-STATE MEMBERS OF THE CONCORD BUREAU ASSEMBLY:
CEASE ALL NON-SANCTIONED COMBAT OPERATIONS IMMEDIATELY.
FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS MANDATE IS PUNISHABLE WITH DEADLY FORCE. DED AND CONCORD COUNTERTHREAT DEPLOYMENT CAPABILITIES HAVE BEEN RESTORED.
REPEAT: CEASE ALL COMBAT OPERATIONS AND FALL BACK TO RECOGNIZED TERRITORIAL BOUNDARIES.
TRAVEL ADVISORY – THREAT LEVEL CRITICAL
MERCENARIES POSING AS MINMATAR REPUBLIC AND/OR THUKKER WARSHIPS HAVE BEEN SPOTTED NEAR THE MINMATAR/AMMATAR AND MINMATAR/AMARR BORDERS. THIS GROUP IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND WILL ATTACK WITHOUT PROVOCATION. CAPABLE FORCES ARE ENCOURAGED TO ENGAGE WITH EXTREME PREJUDICE.
THESE MERCENARIES ARE CHARGED WITH CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY. EACH CONFIRMED KILL WILL BE COMPENSATED BY UP TO 10 MILLION CREDITS EACH, AND 100 MILLION IF CAPTAINS ARE BROUGHT IN ALIVE.
17:24 - REPORT: SARUM HALTS AT MINMATAR BORDER, CHAMBERLAIN KARSOTH DISAPPEARS
EZZARA – The Imperial Navy has halted its pursuit of the Minmatar Elders at the Vard stargate in the Ezzara system, heeding the warning broadcast on the NEOCOM just moments ago by CONCORD. Scope News has also learned that all stargates leading into Yulai have been reopened, and confirmed that CONCORD Bureau Station appears to have been destroyed.
Court Chamberlain Dochuta Karsoth was last seen shortly after the Elders’ invasion of the Ammatar Mandate. The Ministry of Internal Order is reportedly “exhausting every measure” to locate him.
17:53 - REPORT: ELDER FLEET ALLOWED TO PASS THROUGH REPUBLIC SPACE UNCONTESTED
VARD – In an apparent snub of CONCORD’s bounty offer, the Republic Fleet refused to attack Elder warships as they retreated through Minmatar space. Thousands of Elder warships passed through stargates and jump portals towards the general direction of the Great Wildlands while Republic Fleet warships continued to patrol the Amarr border. Most of the Elder warships displayed signs of extended battle damage.
Unconfirmed reports place the number of slaves rescued by the Elders in the “tens of millions”, and that the entirety of the Starkmanir population in the Derelik Region was recovered.
21:38 - BREAKING NEWS: CONCORD ANNOUNCES AUTHORIZATION OF EMERGENCY MILITIA WAR POWERS ACT
YULAI - The CONCORD Assembly, still reeling from the destruction of its headquarters station in Yulai, has announced the immediate authorization of the “Emergency Militia War Powers Act”. This action follows an emergency meeting with all four session members, who petitioned for this section of the charter to be ratified following the drastic events of the day. Fleet Admiral Kasora Neko is reported to have represented the Minmatar Republic.
The War Powers provision of the CONCORD Charter authorizes the “immediate and unconditional formation of capsuleer militias among the nation-state members of the CONCORD Assembly for the purpose of waging uncontested war within the boundaries of Empire space.” According to Charter experts, the founders added the emergency provision as a means of absolving CONCORD of any obligation to interfere with combat between nation-states, an act that protects the DED more than anything else.
The militias sanctioned by the Emergency Militia War Powers Act are:
- Gallente Federation: Federation Defense Union
- Minmatar Republic: Tribal Defense Force
- Caldari State: State Protectorate
- Amarr Empire: 24th Imperial Crusade
22:23 - REPORT: CALDARI NAVAL FORCES WITHDRAW TO THE CITADEL; FEDERATION NAVY DOES NOT ENGAGE
LUMINAIRE - Reports are coming in that the Caldari Navy has withdrawn the bulk of its forces from Gallente space. The Gallente Navy has refrained from halting the withdraw under the orders of President Foiritan. However, Federation Navy forces have tailed the Caldari task force back to the border and there have been moments where it appeared hostilities would reignite between the two sides.
The Caldari Navy appears to have withdrawn to the Citadel region along the border with the Gallente Federation. With the Federation Navy deploying along its own border with the State, both Navies remain on high alert.
Surprisingly a Caldari Navy force, including a Leviathan-class Titan, remains in orbit around Caldari Prime along with weapons platforms and other defensive measures. The Federation Navy has managed to clear the mining of the stargates into Luminaire but has purposefully kept its distance from Caldari Prime for reasons of its own.
-Havo out.
