The PAPI Keepstar in T5ZI-S, “The Tower of Legends” lies in ruin, much like their plans to remove the Imperium from EVE Online. At 01:30 on the 13th of August, the Keepstar which was the focal point of the PAPI invasion of Delve was destroyed by over 2500 Imperium capsuleers. The hull timer was uncontested, as the majority of PAPI assets have been evacuated following their withdrawal announcement on the 2nd of August. The death of this Keepstar provides a huge symbolic victory for the Imperium, as the first stage of the Great Crusade reaches its conclusion.
This was not just an uncontested structure bash. With around 2400 pilots in local, this was a celebration. Imperium Skymarshall Asher Elias had pinged for ten fleets, each with a different ship type. The fleet list came with a warning, this would be a sub-cap only bash. The Imperium wanted a killmail to be generated and it had been assessed that too many capital class ships prevented this. “Themed fleets for your enjoyment, go on whichever one tickles your fancy, these are all for shooting the ToWeR oF LeGeNdS.” Asher pinged, “please don’t bring alts…no caps, no drones.” The list of fleets was as follows:
- Rainbow Lazor (any laser ship with different crystals) FC: Asher Elias
- Maelstrom> other Minmatar BS > Winmatar FC Name: Dave Archer
- Eagles FC Name: Xanos Xellos
- Ravens and Rokhs – Caldari Supremecy FC: Arakine Zamamammayid
- Gallente best portraits – Megas and others – no drones no problem FC Name Klexos
- Muninn fleet (the FC will SHOCK you) FC: Elo Knight
- Can I bring my drake? YES FC: Kor Anon
- GARBAGE DAY!!! Any old ship FC: Alterari
- Cerb your enthusiasm FC: Kretin Valefor
- Battle Badgers & Firework Noctis (no drones) FC: Vex Tsnipe
Despite the huge number of pilots on parade, the Imperium managed to lose nearly 300 ships and 32bn in assets during the bash. The Keepstar claimed the majority of victims, who warped into the bubbles and were killed by the keep’s PDS. But not all pilots were killed by hostile activity. One Nidhoggur pilot did not heed the “No Caps” warnings and was ‘commisared’ by the fleet. Other ships were destroyed in celebration of this memorable event.
Over a week ago BRAVE CEO Dunk Dinkle stated in his announcement that this was a war of morale. Last night the Imperium proved that its morale was reaching legendary levels. Joining over 2000 pilots into a single comms channel, players from across the globe spammed “aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh” for over 20-minutes. The background noise contained a variety of different sounds, bagpipes, animals, and some other unmentionable noises. The Mittani commented “I have never been so proud to lead this dumbass alliance.”
As the Keepstar died (generating a killmail this time) the PAPI pilots that were docked inside were released into space. They were put to the sword quickly, leaving nothing but a smouldering wreck in place of PAPI’s conquering ambitions. Goonswarm Offensive Logistics began their work and once the field was cleared the Imperium anchored their own structure.
In another symbolic gesture, a ‘Moreau’ Faction Fortizar named “tOwEr Of LeGeNdS LMAO” was anchored in its place. This particular fort once was the staging system for the Band of Brothers alliance in the system of NOL-M9, Delve. Unanchored by mutual agreement early in the war, PAPI chose not to destroy this piece of EVE history. Now it acts as a reminder that this was not the first time a Blue Donut has come to destroy the Imperium, and once again the Imperium has endured.
With all iHubs in Mother Delve now returned to the Imperium and those of Period Basis and Querious being flipped daily, the “Regoonquista” is in full swing. Six Keepstars have been destroyed in Delve so far, with only SVM-3K remaining. The vengeful eyes of the Imperium and its leader, The Mittani, will be looking at the regions previously occupied by Legacy, where a number of other Keepstars still remain. As PAPI flees north taking heavy losses, we see little resistance to the Great Crusade, as it sweeps through the southern regions of New Eden.
