Disclaimer: The battle report was written using video footage, eye witness reports and reddit posts. However, no clear image of the fight could be reconstructed. The article will be updated as more information is brought to light.
Querious region. In the early hours of the 15th of May, two battles took place in the region as the DARKeshi Coalition attempts to regain its holdings.
Since the dissolution of N3 following the CFC’s (Now re-branded as the Imperium) invasion of Delve, the south of New Eden has been in turmoil. The power vacuum created by these events led small alliances to band together and attempt to take over systems in the regions of Querious, Delve and Period Basis, which are considered quite lucrative ratting space. However, with the CFC withdrawing most of their forces, DARKNESS. [DARK.] and The Kadeshi [THOR] alliances who held some of the space in the region as part of the N3 Coalition, have resurfaced continuing their partnership this time in order to bring the South under their control.
In the last couple of weeks the two have been fighting a war against the Reavers Squadron, a CFC detachment specializing in behind enemy lines harassment, and local alliances such as Confederation of xXPIZZAXx [PIZZA] in a bid to recover systems and bring the 3 regions under their heel. Helping them are Ev0ke [EV0KE], Short Bus Syndicate [TARD] and Illuminati Confirmed. [MYTH]. Together, they have been able to recover much of Querious and hold their scattered systems, launching attacks on CFC held territories.
One such battle was over the final reinforcement timer of the ED-L9T station in Querious, which came out around 1:40 EVE Standard Time. The system and station are held by GoonSwarm Federation [CONDI], the leading alliance of the CFC, and have been fought over for the last few days between the CFC and DARKeshi.
CFC forces brought 3 fleets, an Ishtar Heavy Assault Cruiser fleet, which was further reinforced by a Tengu Strategic Cruiser fleet who came from YA0-XJ in Deklein using a Wormhole, as well as a Harpy Assault Frigate fleet. All told CFC had approximately 210 pilots in system.
Against them, DARKeshi and its allies brought 150 pilots in a mix of armor Battleships and Strategic Cruisers, supported by Triage Carriers.
The two sides met on the station for an all-out war, in a brutal exchange, as Logistic ships on both sides were volleyed off the field. Pandemic Legion, who were informed of the timer, decided to come to CFC’s aid, bringing a Tempest Fleet Issue Battleship fleet and a Super Carrier squadron, around 100 pilots strong, with Pandemic Horde [REKTD] hanging around in mostly Tech I Frigates, some 30 pilots in total.
With the entrance of Pandemic Legion, the fight tipped to CFC’s favor as DARKeshi forces sought to quickly retreat, leaving behind the two Triage Carriers to be destroyed. A few other ships were lost as well as DARKeshi attempted to withdraw, leaving the field for the CFC to hold. This led the CFC to also disengage, as the station was secured. Later on, an attempt to reinforce the station again was made by DARKeshi, succeeding in entering the station into a shield reinforcement timer. However the Reavers managed to destroy the Revelation Dreadnought which was used for this, with little opposition.
Battle report for the ED-L9T system can be found here.
This should have ended the night’s hostilities, instead a second skirmish was fought in the system of I1Y-IU at 2:00 EVE Standard Time, when CFC forces met head on with DARKeshi once again. The second skirmish apparently was the result of DARKeshi forces being intercepted en route to their staging station, chased by CFC forces. It seems that CFC forces engaged the DARKeshi fleet on the station, as they managed to drag the DARKeshi forces off the undock with bubbles. Unlike the previous fight, this time CFC forces were able to tank fairly well, easily breaking the DARKeshi ships’ tank, with Pandemic Legion once again giving assistance, as the DARKeshi forces were in disarray.
With this, DARKeshi forces were soundly beaten, finally stopping the bloodshed. This allowed both CFC and Pandemic Legion forces to safely extract, leaving the Reavers behind to continue their work.
Battle report for the I1Y-IU system can be found here.
Footage of the Fighting from CFC’s POV
In total, DARKeshi lost 57 ships for a total of 20 Bil ISK in the two engagements. CFC lost 97 ships for a total of 12 Bil ISK. Pandemic Legion lost only 3 ships for a negligible sum.
Regardless, it seems that CFC will not allow DARKeshi to easily take back the region, and with Pandemic Legion showing an interest in the region as well, the challenge of reclaiming the south has become ever more daunting for DARKeshi. With FozzieSov only a month and a half away, time is running out for all involved.
