While the Fountain invasion has quieted down, and the east still smolders under the weight of the Russian resurgence, in Catch, the fight between HERO and Pandemic Legion forces have stepped up considerably. Pandemic Legion, who have taken five systems in the region already, and forced others into continuous cycles of reinforcement, have claimed that this is not an invasion. However, on the 19th of December, a Pandemic Legion fleet dropped on top of a POS in the RNF-YH solar system, putting a POS with an online CSAA into reinforce. The timer, set to emerge in the early morning hours of December 22nd, conflicted with an already existing HED-GP station timer, but there was much at stake; it was rumoured that a titan was being constructed inside of the POS, and losing it would be a staggering loss to both wallets and morale.
Formup began over an hour early for the operation; HERO flying Tengus and Eagles under Blue ice with an EWAR fleet supplementing their main force alongside multiple bomber squadrons and a tackle fleet under W Rush. Black Legion., who recently deployed to Sendaya for a slew of holiday “goodfights”, arranged blue standing with HERO for a Caracal fleet to assist in the fight. HERO forces were over 600 strong, not counting the mass of almost a hundred Black Legion pilots. Pandemic Legion stepped away from their Slippery Petes for this fight, opting instead for an atypical long range Tengu fleet designed to alpha through the HERO forces.
Pandemic Legion was the first into RNF-YH, after having pinged their way steadily over to G-7WUF, while the HERO Eagle and Tengu fleet burned through the V-3/ZXIC jump bridge to catch up to them. In front of them were the Black Legion. Caracals and the tackle fleet of W Rush, while the EWAR fleet lagged behind. Pandemic Legion setup by burning over a hundred kilometers off of the gate from G-7 while the Black Legion. Caracals pursued. The HERO Eagle and Tengu fleet arrived shortly thereafter and the brawl began.
While the faster and more mobile Black Legion. fleet stayed almost permanently on top of the Tengus until they were wiped out, the Eagles and Tengus under Blue Ice elected to stay at range and rip through what logistics ships that they could reach and catch. While they caught a few here and there who broadcasted late (or not at all), the HERO main fleet found itself unable to break the Pandemic Legion fleet with their long range Spike ammo. The Pandemic Legion fleet, in a similar position, essentially opened a free fire session on the HERO EWAR and tackle fleets, shredding hundreds of frigates and leaving behind a trail of wrecks stretching for hundreds of kilometers. Further decimated by a Harpy anti-support gang from WAFFLES., the EWAR fleet and the tackle fleet began to fall back and reship, but both had performed their functions admirably.
The HERO Tengus and Eagles, successfully managed to get a new warpin and switched to shorter range, higher damage ammos, ripping through the Pandemic Legion fleet with superior numbers. Bombers, from Bloodline. and Brave and others, made successful runs on the Tengu fleet, breaking their reps and shredding through their logistics. With many of their logistics dead, and half of their Tengu fleet obliterated, Pandemic Legion chose to leave the field before sustaining further losses. With ‘o7’s and ‘gf’s traded in local, they left the system, and the POS was saved.
While Pandemic Legion mowed through the majority of the Black Legion. Caracal fleet and the HERO support fleets with great efficiency, Pandemic Legion lost both the strategic objective, and the isk war for this fight. A full battle report can be found here.
[If you have any further comments to add please contact any of the EN24 team.]
