Teshkat system, Tash-Murkon region. On the 31st of October at 0:44 EVE Standard Time, Providence Bloc forces clashed with local residents over a Planetary Customs Office (Poco) in the system.
A Providence Bloc task force has been roaming Low Security space lately, attempting to provoke fights from various local groups. Part of its method has been reinforcing hostile infrastructure such as Pocos. One such Poco belonged to Violent Declaration [VD] in the Teshkat system. The Poco was reinforced a day before without resistance, and as it was coming out of reinforced mode both sides were gearing for a fight.
Violent Declaration and its allies assembled a mixed 40 pilot fleet which included a core of Proteus Strategic Cruisers as well as assorted Battleships. Against them Providence Bloc organized a 21 pilot Tempest Fleet Issue Battleship fleet with a Triage Archon Carrier support and several energy neutralizing Battleships mixed in.
The Providence Bloc fleet was the first to set up, bridging into Teshkat itself. Once in the system, the force warped to the Poco at zero. With Providence Bloc forces ready, Violent Declaration and its allies undocked from the station and warped on top of the Providence Bloc fleet, starting the fight.
The battle was a bloody affair as both fleets fought at point blank range. The Providence Bloc energy neutralizing Battleships wreaked havoc on the Logistics wing of Violent Declaration while the Tempest Fleet Issue auto cannons ripped apart enemy hulls. After a quick and bruising exchange Violent Declaration had to concede the field, retreating to the station.
However, this did not mean Violent Declaration had given up. Realizing it needed to escalate further, it brought 3 Triage Carriers and a Dreadnought to counter the Providence Bloc Battleship fleet. Warping back, the force engaged Providence Bloc once more, the Dreadnought entering siege mode.
This was the moment Providence Bloc was waiting for. Quickly, a cynosural beacon was lit and into the field were ushered Dreadnoughts and Supercarriers. The Providence Super Capital force first concentrated on the Violent Deceleration Dreadnought, which simply melted to the swarm of drones and Capital turrets. Then came the turn of the Carriers, 2 of which were caught and obliterated.
With such an overwhelming force present on the field, Violent Declaration and its allies had little choice but to yield, conceding the field and allowing Providence Bloc to destroy the Poco.
An attempt by Violent Declaration and its allies to catch one of the Providence Bloc Supercarriers as they extracted failed, and the Providence Bloc fleet managed to return safely to its staging, leaving Violent Declaration to re-claim the Poco, though at a price.
The Battle from the PoV of the Providence Bloc sub-Capital Force
Battle report for the Teshkat system can be found here.
All told the battle lasted 15 minutes with local reaching 100 pilots and no Time Dilation reported.
Providence Bloc lost only 1 Battleship for 628 Mil ISK damage while Violent Declaration and its allies lost 32 ships including; 1 Dreadnought, 2 Carriers, 6 Battleships and 4 Strategic Cruisers. All told Violent Declaration and allies suffered 16.08 Bil ISK of damage.
Salivan Harddin is a member of Reikoku, Pandemic Legion, and covers battles across New Eden
