Art by Cryo Huren
Thursday night once again drew attention to the constellation of NJU-QV as thousands of players once more descended on the system of M2-XFE. This time the battle was for control of the iHub in this and neighbouring systems. Although dwarfed in scale by actions earlier this week, shaping manoeuvres by both sides will prove important for subsequent operations.
A four-hour fight resulted in the PAPI coalition claiming iHubs in ZXB-VC & 5-CQDA, but despite a numerical advantage they could not flip M2-XFE. In terms of losses, the fight remained even throughout, with the Imperium claiming a small advantage of 27bn killed to 25bn as fleets stood down. Yet, in a linked engagement, PAPI destroyed the undefended Keepstar in 1-SMEB, increasing Imperium losses another 200bn.
Capsuleers On Standby
As hostilities commenced both sides formed heavily with PAPI deploying six HAC fleets and the Imperium three HAC fleets and a smaller “supertrain” fleet as long-ranged support. In addition, operational reserves consisting of large numbers of titans, supers and dreadnoughts were held in their corresponding staging areas of T5Z and 1DQ.
Despite a huge number of capsuleers online the fight never escalated to more than a skirmish. HAC fleets from both sides conducted rapid strikes to destroy enemy hackers, but maintained range and dispersion to avoid bombers and bubbles. With the Imperium fixed on the hellcamp and PAPI aiming to divert attention from an unlikely defense of the 1-SMEB Keepstar, combatants were content to achieve their limited objectives without becoming decisively engaged.
Views from the Frontline
Pandemic Legion FC Hedliner said, “We formed up to get out into [the] constellation and take a fight over any of the nodes which spawned for the ZXB and 5-C iHubs coming out of reinforce. Most of our time was spent dipping in and out of M2 and facing off with Imperium HAC fleets on nodes, mainly in 5-C and M2. After we won the ZXB timer we spooled up on the M2 iHub for a bit. This provoked a short, albeit fun, engagement, which mainly happened at range between our fleets. After the Imperium fleets broke off we dispersed to cover the 5-C nodes where we resumed facing off with each other. When the timer was done, we headed over to 1-SMEB and killed the Keepstar. It’s not the first time we’ve engaged each other in and around M2 and I’m sure it won’t be the last. Credit to my guys who put in a five-hour shift and did all the heavy lifting.”
Imperium FC Minifoegann with The Initiative said, “Our objective was to make sure another M2- breakout didn’t happen. INIT bridged in and sat on the Keepstar while Goons stayed in 1DQ with their sub caps to protect the iHub there. Hostiles flipped two iHubs and started to toast the M2- iHub, which we had a little fight over. We cleared toasters and started trading logis. Nothing major. Goons did entosis in M2- to take it out of ‘overtime’ while hostiles finished 5-C. Was a long fleet with lots of small skirmishes. Hostiles went home to form for the 1-SMEB Keepstar final timer at the same time we bridged home to stand down. We weren’t going to contest that Keepstar under a cyno-jammer.”
CCP Weekly Wrap Up: February 16-22, 2021
M2 Hellcamp Enters its Eighth Week
FRT & The Freemen
Rammel Kas
They make big of it but they didn’t actually contest the first two ihubs which came out and were saved in record time. It’s almost like they slept in late and then came down because of PH’s pet peeve with ZXB. Almost smells like they think fountain will be their extraction route.
January 29, 2021 at 11:05 AMHavish Montak Rammel Kas
You may not be wrong. It’s a lot easier to extract that way around. Less jumps and fewer gates etc.
January 29, 2021 at 1:33 PMRammel Kas Havish Montak
Well reason I say it was because the super hard focus on ZXB seemed to start around the same time Gobbins said that they’d met their war goals basically but also announced the second rinsing of Fountain. We know these guys like covering up the conclusions of their campaigns. And maybe they want to set up a fury road in reverse like the one we had in place for Deklein & Tribute campaigns. Comes to mind Pitts jumped that keepstar they stole out that away. Not past any of the FRT or Legacy controlled systems.
January 30, 2021 at 5:00 PMGuilford Australis
What exactly does PanFam have left to fight for? Piggles’ vanity project of moving into Delve? And how does that benefit Gobbins, Vince, or Hedliner – or the average PanFam line member- now that it’s clear Goons aren’t going to be “exterminated” and driven out of the game as Piggles and Vily promised?
At what point does PanFam leadership acknowledge that crapping out SRP to trade I-Hubs for the fourth time doesn’t really accomplish anything, and trading titans at parity with The Imperium over Keepstar battles that stand to benefit only TEST isn’t exactly in their best interests?
January 29, 2021 at 2:46 PMNate Hunter Guilford Australis
I’m not sure if you’ve followed panfam in the past but they’re in an almost neverending cycle of campaigns. And for the brief periods that they’re not involved in any campaign they’re answering batphones. Basically as long as they’re having fun they’re going to continue.
They’re probably more like the Imperium than not
January 30, 2021 at 12:02 AMDeni'z von Meanace Nate Hunter
Elite pvp huh ) vagabonds and nomads without sov, i remember those proclamations but look where they are now 😉
January 30, 2021 at 12:30 AMGuilford Australis Nate Hunter
PanFam bought into the “farms and fields” playstyle as much as anyone else and has spent the past five years sitting at home krabbing and renting out space. This is the first major campaign they’ve undertaken following the Casino War.
January 30, 2021 at 2:43 PMkwnyupstate .
Basically in a few days before the cyno jammer goes up in M2 PAPI will try to break the rest or most of the rest out. So probably this weekend.
January 29, 2021 at 8:12 PM