Starting a Fire: Lowsec Viceroyalty

In the midst of TMC Media’s failing Kickstarter, The Imperium drafted up a plan to subjugate those around New Eden. Promising those who bend the knee access to discounted high-value BPO’s, supercapital construction and a “non-invasion” pact, The Imperium hoped to line their coffers with the ISK of those who could not stand up to them.

The Mittani, leader of The Imperium, delightfully deployed their Viceroyalty Program with the announcement of MiniFo, the Imperium’s Ministry of Foreign Oversight. The Mittani threatened any who opposed this program a “smooth and orderly” defeat at the hands of their “Black Fleet”. Promising riches to those inside The Imperium who would act as Viceroys to neighbouring systems, it was only a matter of time before they came knocking on lowsec’s doorstep.

Thus begins the story of a coalition formed of Memes and Men, TISHUBOX.

Thus begins the story of a coalition formed of Memes and Men, TISHUBOX. Allied together to fight Shadow Cartel in the freshly resolved Placid War, Snuff Box [B B C] and Psychotic Tendencies. [TISHU] declared they would not bend their knee to The Imperium. Handing over their R32 and R64 moons throughout Placid and Black Rise was never even considered and the coalition prepared itself for war.

The Imperium, keen on “swiftly” defeating those who resisted their control, relocated a large number of pilots to D2-HOS which borders the Placid Region. With their doctrines focused primarily around powerful Tech 3 Cruisers and their ability to field three or four times the number of pilots as TISHUBOX, The Imperium assumed victory would be a quick and painless road.

The Battle of Iralaja — December 2, 2015 — Battle Report

With their sights set on lowsec and the Viceroyatly program in full effect, The Imperium created timers in a large number of systems throughout Black Rise forcing TISHUBOX to come defend these moons, or risk losing them. The first major engagement was destined to happen over one of these moons.

As the clock approached midnight in New Eden, The Imperium deployed their forces to Iralaja. Fielding at least three dreadnoughts and a sizeable subcapital fleet consisting of Guardians and Proteii, The Imperium planned on finishing the work they began.

With eyes on grid and their fleet hidden in station, TISHUBOX awaited the call that The Imperium dreadnoughts had entered their siege cycle. This five minute window would force The Imperium to remain on field to protect their assets and provide the joint forces of Snuff Box and Psychotic Tendencies. a means of making a fight happen.

The call rang out on comms “THEY’VE JUST SIEGED!” and the race began. The TISHUBOX Machariel fleet needed to cover a large amount of space and were working against a clock. Fortunately for the joint fleet, a friendly titan was available in Frarie, one system outside of their staging, which would hurtle them across space into Eha, two systems away from The Imperium fleet.

With the timer running closer and closer to zero the TISHUBOX fleet called for any tackle to burn ahead of the slow battleships in hopes of keeping at least one capital ship stranded on the field. The timer ticked over to zero as a hero pilot within the coalition announced “dread pointed!”.

However brilliant that strategy may have seemed, the decision to fight the TISHUBOX fleet head on resulted in a grievous defeat for The Imperium.

As their fleet landed to provide assistance to the heavy dic, The Imperium repositioned themselves at a perch above the POS in an effort to land at zero on the Machariels. However brilliant that strategy may have seemed, the decision to fight the TISHUBOX fleet head on resulted in a grievous defeat for The Imperium. Armed with autocannons, the battleships made quick work of Imperium forces. Unable to break through the tank of the low-sec fleet, The Imperium retreated resulting in a complete defeat.

The short battle resulted in the loss of 25.84B to the Imperium and a spotless record for TISHUBOX who didn’t lose a single ship.

The Battle of Nisuwa — December 4 & 5, 2015 — Battle Report

Following their recent loss in Irajala, the Imperium reinforced more towers throughout the Black Rise region. With towers in Nisuwa set to come out at around midnight Eve, The Imperium mustered together a much larger fleet consisting of Tengus and supported by a “Fuck You Fleet” (FYF), a doctrine revolving around cheap EWAR ships to disrupt enemy logistics and damage.

TISHUBOX fielded “Swiss Army Machariels” with support from a Guardian and (at the time top secret) Legion logistics wing as well as few triage carriers.

Without hesitation, TISHUBOX jumped into system and began the fight knowing they were outnumbered 2 or 3 to 1.

With reports of movement of the Machariel fleet, The Imperium setup on the Oinasiken gate. Without hesitation, TISHUBOX jumped into system and began the fight knowing they were outnumbered 2 or 3 to 1. Not wanting to bend their knee, they knew the only way to win this war was by winning the timers one by one.

D0nnieDark0, TISHUBOX FC for the fight, called for his Machariels to free fire on the FYF fleet sat some 55km away. Boasting small tanks, the FYF fleet began suffering immense losses. With the EWAR threat greatly reduced and Shadow Cartel, quickly becoming new allies to TISHUBOX, landing on grid in Slippery Pete Tengus to help finish it off, the Machariel fleet swapped out their artillery batteries with autocannons allowing them to begin work on the high DPS, close range battleships that were putting a great strain on the triage carriers of SNUFF.

While ship after ship of The Imperium was being obliterated, the incoming DPS outweighed the local tank possible on the triage carriers and TISHUBOX lost two of their three capitals, the third exiting its triage cycle enabling friendly logistics to save it. Not one to take losses without causing some havoc, D0nnie ordered the Machariel fleet to return the favour and two Imperium Archons quickly turned to scrap.

As they fell, two Moros, a dreadnought capable of causing a significant amount of damage to the Machariel fleet, jumped through from Nisuwa and became the primary target of the TISHUBOX fleet. With their local tank being incapable of standing up to the combined might of so many Machaerials, they were quickly dispatched.

As the second Moros fell, a Drake fleet fielded by SpaceMonkey’s Alliance, a member of the Imperium, landed on grid adding an incredible amount of firepower to The Imperium fleet. Luckily for TISHUBOX, the Tengu and Drakes were falling at a much quicker pace than the friendly Guardians. As ship after ship fell to the combined Machariel fleet, a few brave pilots of Northern Coalition [NC.] landed their own Machariel fleet at long range and began eliminating The Imperium logistics wing.

While they managed to take a few more Guardians and the last remaining carrier with them, the battle was ended. TISHUBOX, assisted by NC. held the field, dealing another massive blow to The Imperium.

In an effort to reposition themselves, The Imperium warped their fleet off-grid to recombine. Warping back and landing at range, now as a single fighting force, the remaining Imperium Drakes and Tengus raced to destroy the remaining TISHUBOX forces. While they managed to take a few more Guardians and the last remaining carrier with them, the battle was ended. TISHUBOX, assisted by NC. held the field, dealing another massive blow to The Imperium.

While TISUBOX suffered a loss of 11.4B, a number infinitely larger than in the Iralaja, The Imperium faced a butcher’s bill of a staggering 57B. 

The Forming of Lowsec Voltron

With two incredible victories in the rear view mirror and a small coalition showing that numbers don’t always mean victory, interest from the other lowsec alliances began to peak as this new Viceroyalty system would surely come for them next. With the inclusion of Shadow Cartel, once a rival of SNUFF and TISHU, a new coalition, dubbed “Lowsec Voltron” began to form in an effort to push The Imperium out of low security space.

Having been known in the past as an undefeatable entity, these losses proved the beast could bleed.

With such one-sided battles in favour of the lowsec corporations, The Imperium morale began to suffer. Having been known in the past as an undefeatable entity, these losses proved the beast could bleed. The victories would soon be cut short as The Imperium called for reinforcements and rumours of their supercapital fleet moving within range of Black Rise and Placid began to spread throughout New Eden.

In the next part of the series we’ll walk through lowsec’s continued guerilla warfare and an unexpected backer to the war.