Anchauttes system, Placid region. On the 6th of December at 6:00 EVE Standard Time, Imperium forces clashed once more with residents of low security space over a tower in the system
In continuation of the Imperium’s attempt to cull low security space entities, towers in the Anchauttes system were hit, leading Snuffed Out [B B C] and Psychotic Tendencies. [TISHU] to form up once more and defend them. The two alliances managed to assemble 110 pilots in a Machariel battleship fleet and travel to the system before Imperium forces could, setting up near the tower itself.
In response, the Imperium mustered 200 pilots in a Tengu strategic cruiser fleet with a hefty electronic warfare wing comprised mainly of Crucifier frigates. The Imperium fleet then bridged into the system in a safe spot before warping to the tower grid at range. It then warped at medium range (Approximately 70 kilometers) of the joint Machariel fleet, starting the battle.
The battle was as brutal as previous ones, the Machariels’ artillery cannons firing their deadly payloads into the mass of Tengus. While some Tengus managed to tank the incoming fire, others were not so lucky. The artillery barrages stripping their shields and blasting through their meager armor plating, rupturing their hulls.
The Tengus were not idle either and fired their swarm of heavy missiles at the Machariel fleet, more accurately at their Guardian logistics cruisers. The relentless hail of missiles which pounded the Guardian hulls was merciless. The explosions tore through the thick armor of the ships and finally exposed the vulnerable hull. One by one the Guardians succumbed to the inferno and simply evaporated.
This exchange continued in earnest as the two sides skirted each other. A few other residents of low security space such as Rapid Withdrawal [RDRAW] and Shadow Cartel [SHDWC] also made an appearance, lending help to the Machariel fleet. Rapid Withdrawal had a 30 pilot Griffin frigate fleet which attempted to jam the many Tengus around while Shadow Cartel had a 20 pilot Tengu fleet of its own. This fleet maintained maximum range from the fight and using its rail guns to shower the Crucifier frigates of the Imperium with deadly fire, decimating the Imperium’s support wing.
It was around this time that a strange phenomena was observed by the joint Machariel fleet. Even though it was clearly outside the tower’s shields, it seems some interference was still caused by the relative closeness as Guardian pilots found they could not lock other ships on the grid. This caused the joint fleet problems as it could not soak the incoming damage well until its Guardians re-positioned further from the shields.
The Strange Phenomena as Captured by one of the Joint Fleet’s Guardian Pilots
While the Imperium fleet managed to inflict some casualties it was suffering greater losses and unable to hold against the immense firepower of the Machariels. An attempt to re-position on the grid and consolidate its forces did little to change the outcome as its ranks were dwindling, its support wing nearly obliterated.
Unable to break the Machariels and unwilling to retreat, the only choice Imperium fleet commanders had was to further escalate. A cynosural beacon was lit on grid and unto the field jumped no less than 30 supercarriers and 60 escorting carriers. The combined super capital force quickly launched its swarm of fighter drones which targeted the slow moving battleships of the Machariel fleet.
Once the cynosural beacon was lit, the defenders knew what was coming, their scouts reported long before the first supercarrier hit grid. Swiftly, the call to retreat was made and the fleet entered the tower’s shields, losing only a few ships in the process. Once inside, it waited until its aggression timers were done before warping to the station and docking up.
Having won the field, the Imperium proceeded to remove the tower and plant its own in place, winning the objective as well.
With no hostiles willing to engage it, the Imperium fleet extracted, ending large scale hostilities in the system
The Battle from the Perspective of the Joint Machariel Fleet
Battle report for the Anchauttes system can be found here.
All told the battle lasted nearly an hour with the system hosting approximately 550 pilots by the end of the fighting. Time Dilation was ever present but remained around the 60% region for most of the engagement.
Imperium forces lost 86 ships including 19 strategic cruisers for a total of 13.84 billion ISK damage. Snuffed Out and Psychotic Tendencies. lost 26 ships in return, 6 of which were battleships for a total of 12.9 billion ISK damage.
Salivan Harddin is a member of Reikoku, Pandemic Legion, and covers battles across New Eden
