War Declared
At 20:38 NES on 2010.02.08, Beyond Divinity Inc declared war on New Bastion, the alliance that houses White Talon Enterprises. I thought about doing this announcement press release style, but decided against it in the end. After all, I want my actual thoughts, and not Matthew Geary's "thoughts", to be what is presented here.
Beyond Divinity Inc is a rather well-known and long-lasting pirate corp in EVE. They've had a variety of haunts over the years, and I've fought against them on numerous times in various corps. For a while there they got away from their "roots" and attempted to roll large with capitals, but Ugluuk has since reigned them back into his original vision of the corp: Pirates who roll around looking for ganks and good fights as often as possible.
Over the last week, WTE has fared rather well against BYDI. And while I'd like to say that it was due to skill and out-maneuvering the enemy, those would mostly be lies. BYDI is predominantly Euro, while WTE has a very balanced Euro and North American population. The kills we've been getting have been in the late evening NA-time. Thus BYDI is outnumbered and out-gunned for those engagements...and we usually have the sentry guns on our side as well.
Which brings us to this wardec. The vast majority (maybe all?) of BYDI pilots have a sec status hovering somewhere between -7.0 and -9.9. And while we spend most of our time in lowsec and nullsec for our PvP roams, we do indeed base most of our operations out of a nearby high security system. Thus at 50 million ISK a week this wardec seems a bit odd, but not overly so. If I had to get right down to why I think they did it, I'd say that they were tired of tanking us AND the sentry guns at the same time. And since they can make 50 million ISK in a day or two of pirating rather easily, I believe they felt the expenditure worth it.
And that brings us to the situations that made spending the ISK "worth it" for them.
Kill #1:
Unreal is alone in Maila with three BYDI that are all docked. To see what they would do, he undocks from the station in a Drake, and is followed out by Ashley Snow in a Hurricane. Ashley locks Unreal, Unreal locks Ashley, and they both sit there staring at each other. Ashley begins pulling away slightly, unwilling to aggress first against a Drake and receive sentry gun fire at the same time. Unreal throws caution to the wind (two more BYDI pilots docked and no WTE pilots anywhere nearby to assist) and tackles the Hurricane down, engaging. Ashley returns the aggression, and slowly melts to the Drake's superior firepower and tank.
Unreal mentioned that, given her fit, she was likely going to try and kite him a bit, staying out of HAM range (if possible) while maintaining point. This obviously didn't work out for her.
Kill #2:
In this instance, Unreal was again alone in Maila with five docked BYDI. This time around, though, we had a fleet of twelve pilots standing by in Purjola, aligned for the Maila gate for a quick warp-and-jump. Unreal is ordered to undock in his Drake and to see what the hostiles will do. BYDI again undock a Hurricane, but once aggressed the hostiles begin piling out of the station in a Tempest, Drake, and Scorpion. While the BYDI hurricane is able to return fire on Unreal because he aggressed first, the other BYDI pilots begin taking sentry fire when they pour the damage onto Unreal. The fleet arrives on-grid and the Scorpion is primaried, dying quickly, while the other BYDI pilots redock or warp off.
Kill #3:
This is probably my favorite kill of the bunch. I'd left Cal cloaked up in Akora while I ran some errands, noticing Atreides Horza off the Reisen gate both before and after I got back from AFK. Warping to the gate cloaked, I began to approach his ship without really know what I was going to do when I got there. I thought for sure that he'd warp off, but instead he cloaked when my stealth bomber was about 50km away.
Well, that started the mad scramble to get a couple more people together after they'd been told to stand down from the previous roam that day. Unreal and Gah shipped up, and stood by in neighboring Reisen and Maila. I knew, though, that something would have to happen to get the sniping Tempest to decloak so that I could effectively find and tackle him. After all, I was flying blind in the general direction I saw him in before he cloaked up...but I had no idea how close I was actually going to end up.
Zaratustra was recruited to play the part of bait. He quickly fitted a "Battle Hauler" in Reisen, letting us know when he was undocked and ready to go. We knew exactly who Atreides' alt was in Reisen local, and knew that he must be salivating at the opportunity for another expensive gank. True to form, as Unreal warped to the Akora gate, Atreides decloaked his Tempest so as to clear the sensor recalibration time.
And, lucky us, he was a mere 27km away from where I'd ended up. As Zara jumped through, I quickly burned to the Tempest while calling for Unreal and Gah to get in system, and warp to me. There were actually two moments that I lost point due to poor cap management when Atreides could have warped out if he was paying attention. Luckily he wasn't, and luckier still Unreal and Gah finally arrived on-grid to take over point and let Cal bug out.
Kill #4:
This was another particularly fun one. We were just finishing up a roam, entered Akora, and saw baagpus and another BYDI in local. Knowing that they like to snipe off the Reisen gate, I warp the fleet there at 70km, hoping to get lucky again.
Baagpus and the other battleship were indeed on the gate as we arrived, and while the further Tempest decided to warp off to safety, Baagpus decided to cloak up where he was, remaining completely stationary while invisible (mistake). I burned straight towards where he'd disapeared, and was rewarded with a very large bump and decloak on his Tempest, which was quickly pointed down and destroyed. Bonus: His Dread Guristas Cloaking Device dropped, netting us a small chunk of change.
Kill #5:
Not much to this one. We were just starting up a roam and Unreal was again alone in Maila with three BYDI docked in station with him. Unreal decided to bring out his new toy (Rokh), and Herra B responded by bringing out a Megathron. The two battleships began battling, and the fleet was ordered to Unreal's position to burn down the Megathron as fast as possible. The other BYDI pilots remained docked.
Kill #6:
I'm not even sure if I should include this one on here, but it was amusingly none-the-less as I've done the exact same thing in the past (in a cheaper ship). In my case I was trying to warp my alt to a gate and jump through, but since my alt and my main were both flying the exact same ship in the exact same loadout, I was incorrectly looking at my main as I ordered him through the high sec gate. /insert lossmail to Faction Police.
The same thing, supposedly, happened with Herra B. He warped to the Purjola gate (high sec), and jumped right on through. Normally this isn't a terrible deal, as you can MWD right back to the gate and get back to safety. I had to do it recently myself when I wasn't paying attention and my autopilot took me through 1.0 space. I had no idea what was going on, but managed to make it back through at about 73% structure.
I'm guessing Herra was paying even less attention, as he didn't make an attempt to burn back to the gate until already webbed and pointed. Unreal astutely ninja'd onto the mail, and it ended up on our board as a kill. /salute Unreal.
Kill #7:
Ok, I lied earlier. This one is likely my favorite. It tops #3 in sheer awesome, because it was complete chance that it worked. Again, WTE was just finishing up a roam, and headed back to Maila/Ikami from the Otosela direction. Unreal jumped into Akora, and noted that Atreides was in local. Rolling the dice and hoping for all six's, I jumped through and warped to my bookmarked spot where Atreides had died the first time.
I honestly couldn't believe it when I decloaked his Tempest due to proximity upon landing. I was almost unable to order the fleet through into Akora and to my position due to laughing at the incredulity of the situation. There was no way the bookmark should have worked, but it did. There was no was Atreides would still be using the same spot, but he was. And while it wasn't the priciest kill against them, chance decreed a kill none-the-less.
All of those but Kill #7 happened prior to the wardec. And while I'm not under any allusions that those losses were "many" or severely impacted BYDI pilots in any way, they certainly must have been annoying. Thus the wardec, and allowing them to engage freely without worrying about silly matters like gate or station sentry guns.
We struck first blood, and meanwhile our Logistics Division is still plying away at their activities in our high sec HQ, undisturbed by the war. They've been cautioned to keep a close eye out on local, and to switch over to combat ships when necessary, but given BYDI's sec statuses impairment of their operations seems unlikely.
Thanks BYDI for all of the fun so far. Here's looking forward to the rest of the war, this week and onward. o/
WTE Moved and Doing Fine
The decision was made over the last two weeks to move White Talon Enterprises out of the Derelik/Curse regions and up to The Forge/Metro/Geminate. While there were a variety of reasons for doing so, the bottom line is that our new home has better PvP opportunities, better PvE opportunities, and will truly allow our corporation to grow into what we want it to be. And yes, it doesn't hurt that the location fits perfectly with our minor corporate RP.
Our players are still in the process of grabbing some of their belongings, but we have already run combat and industry ops in our new home. The ore is flowing in, standings are rising, and hostiles are dying. 
We'll be throwing the recruitment doors wide open soon, so stay tuned.
WTE Press Release: Operation Opening Bell
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
White Talon Enterprises Announces Operation Opening Bell
JITA, The Forge -White Talon Enterprises today introduced Operation Opening Bell, a corporate drive towards the two billion ISK mark spearheaded by the Logistics Division. "It is my hope that setting this ambitious goal right off the bat will set the bar high for continued excellence within the corporation," said Schwigg, WTE's Logistic Division Commander. "
The end result of this ISK drive is the purchase of a Nomad-class Jump Freighter, produced by the Minmatar Republic. Jump Freighters combine all of the exceptional hauling power of traditional freighters with jump drives capable of instantaneously transporting them across several light years of space. In addition, Jump Freighters also boast superior defensive systems allowing for the greater absorption of damage should they come under attack.
"Our corporate money making opportunities expand exponentially with the procurement of a jump freighter," said Schwigg. "Not only can we haul incredible amounts of resources reliably, we can bypass the more dangeous areas of New Eden with ease. We will be able to leap deep into low security and nullsec space without worry, carrying vital supplies with us."
WTE intends to spare no moneymaking expense in procuring the necessary funds for their Nomad. "We will be mining, trading, exploring, producing, and fighting to achieve the necessary ISK for this project. Every division within White Talon will be stretched to the limit to make this operation a success."
WTE is a dedicated security corporation partnered with the New Bastion alliance. It is currently seeking applications for the following positions:
- Security personnel
- Covert pilots
- Mining captains
- Manufacturing assistants
- Procurement specialists
- Corporate liaisons*
Experience in these fields is preferred, but entry level positions for the inexperienced are also available.
CONTACT:
Matthew Geary
White Talon Enterprises
mgeary@newbastion.com
http://blog.newbastion.com
- END -
* - Corporate liaisons denote mission runners
WTE officially joins New Bastion
I'd previously announced that White Talon Enterprises would be joining the New Bastion alliance, of which OUCH is also a member. Tonight the 24 hour stasis period for the corp ended, and our new alliance tab popped up next to "Corp".
Open recruitment is set to begin on Monday, but we already have 20 members that are either already in corp, or are waiting for their roles to expire in their current place of employment. This is great news, as if I've learned anything about recruiting over the years (and trust me, I haven't learned much), it is that a certain critical mass needs to be reached before recruitment becomes "easier." Everyone wants to join something that is already active...but for that corp to be active it needs to have people in the first place. Thus a sort of "chicken and the egg" syndrome easily develop, killing recruitment before it ever begins.
I'd like to thank the very friendly pilots over at Intrasella Productions Ltd. for agreeing to merge their activities into the WTE Logistics Division. I know people usually don't like to give up their "sovereignty", but in this case both groups profited more than either would have individually. And to think, recruiting Logistics Division members were what I was really worried about. Looks like they're already ahead of the curve...while my own Security Division is lagging behind with only 8 committed pilots so far (again, we haven't begun openly recruiting).
Here's hoping the next couple of weeks pay dividends with quality pilots. Our goal by the end of February is 50 active pilots in corp, though I'd honestly like to see that somewhere closer to 75. If you know anyone that is interested in a growing corp with a real purpose, real organization, and real direction, send them my way.
WTE Press Release: Announcing White Talon Enterprises
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
White Talon Enterprises Announces Formal Incorporation
JITA, The Forge - At 16:24 Standard Time on 1.20.112, White Talon Enterprises' application for formal corporate status within the Caldari State was approved. Matthew Geary, CEO of White Talon Enterprises (WTE), had the following to say: "This is a momentous day for White Talon agents and employees. Today is the first step towards a reclaimed and powerful State."
WTE is a dedicated security corporation partnered with the New Bastion alliance. It is currently seeking applications for the following positions:
- Security personnel
- Covert pilots
- Mining captains
- Manufacturing assistants
- Procurement specialists
- Corporate liaisons*
Experience in these fields is preferred, but entry level positions for the inexperienced are also available.
White Talon Enterprises is a true son of State corporate culture, refined by a distinctly Matari influence. Geary on the Caldari-Minmatar connection within the corporation: "The Matari are a proud, strong people. The State could do worse than to learn from the Minmatar. We have more in common than most think...it was not that long ago that we too were oppressed."
White Talon Enterprises is proud to house experts and industry leaders in multiple fields. Geary on this topic: "The Fleet Commanders and Logistical staff we have in place within the corporation are second-to-none. Their drive, determination, and experience are true assets. With them, we will make the State a better place to be."
CONTACT:
Matthew Geary
White Talon Enterprises
mgeary@newbastion.com
http://blog.newbastion.com
- END -
* - Corporate liaisons denote mission runners
What’s in a name?
I've always found the hardest part of founding a new corporation or alliance to be coming up with the name. Sometimes they're so obvious that they leap into being...while other times trying to come up with one that fits the ideals and principles that you're shooting for is like pulling teeth. Without the Novocain.
Unfortunately, that's the case this time around. Schwigg and I have put a lot of time into brainstorming and fleshing out what we want to do with this corp, and how we're going to do it, so we're covered there. Getting a name to fit those ideas, though, is proving to be challenging.
So that's where, hopefully, you all come in. We'd love to get some good name suggestions. Of course, in order to get those, I'll have to tell you a bit about what the corp is, and its backstory.
- The CEO of the corporation is Caldari.
- The CEO, while Caldari, is sympathetic to the Matari cause and ideals.
- As a result, while the corporation is distinctly a Caldari corporation, a lot of what it does (or how it does it) is different from the "norm" inside the State.
- Caldari corporations as a general rule are all about the companies needs ahead of the individual. If the individual doesn't fit in, they're left behind right away without a second glance. They are cutthroat and ruthless.
- In the case of the Ishukone corporation, as a great example, when things became unprofitable in Fade, they pulled back corporate assets, stranding millions of current/former employees on the planets to fend for themselves.
- This corporation is out for profit and power, but not at the expense of the employee. Instead, those needs are carefully balanced.
- However, part of being Caldari is being a military antagonist. They're more military-minded than the Amarr are, and they are always desiring the very best systems, software, weapons, and ships.
- So while it can't get completely away from the corporate mindset, the corporation integrate some of the Matari thinking into the equation.
What you get is a corporation that cares more about the individual than traditional Caldari corporations. It encourages and fosters teamwork, not just for the betterment of the corporation, but for the individuals as well. And, at a time when Caldari and Minmatar find themselves embroiled in conflict (on opposite sides of the Factional Warfare system), this corporation seeks to aid the Minmatar people as well, and not just always when they can pay top dollar for the goods and services that this corporation provides.
In-game, the corporation is divided into three primary divisions: Security, Logistics, and Special Operations. Security is geared to provide support to the Logistics members of the corporation, and to the New Bastion alliance as a whole. The Logistics division is responsible for maintaining a healthy corporate (and individual) financial backbone. The Special Operations division marries some of the responsibilities of the previous two, while doing it in a covert way. Read: black ops, recons, stealth bombers, cov ops, and blockade runners are the name of the game there, conducting warfare and resupply in a manner unique to the capabilities of those ships.
Let's put it all together. A Caldari corp with Matari leanings. Combat, Industry, and Exploration all being focused on within the corp. Pilots predominantly piloting Caldari and Matari ships. Inside an alliance that is dedicated to the teaching and support of new pilots in EVE.
What can you come up with?
About time…
I'll be honest. For the last 3 years or so in EVE, I've been in a rut. I've had the same core group of pilots, and we're bounced from one activity to another. Now, I'm not saying that's a negative. They're great people that I call friends both in-game and out. One of those pilots was a groomsman in my wedding several months ago.
However, as you can imagine, familiarity can breed complacency. Everyone in our little corp, regardless of where we were, in an alliance or out, had their own little role. I was the CEO and FC. Unreal was the best damn combat pilot that I could ask for. Schwigg was the carebear that desperately wanted to pew, but was the financial backbone of our organization. Reza cracked the pirate jokes. Etc...
Lately, however, real life has claimed most of these pilots and friends for good. They've dropped EVE, and while we keep in touch out of game routinely via various means...it does leave a void in the game for me. I considered dropping the game for good right alongside them, but things like OUCH have managed to keep my interest and subscriptions active. With the way that things were going, though, my interest would eventually wane and I'd be doing the people that I am helping train and shepherd along a disservice.
Which brings us to the real meat of this post. For the first time in years, I'm breaking out of my comfort zone of flying with the same clique of pilots day in and day out, and I'm starting anew with a new corp with a true purpose and, *gasp*, outside recruitment. To put it in perspective, I haven't done any outside recruiting since 2006.
Details of this corp will be coming forward soon, but I wanted to answer some preliminaries in closing:
- Yes, this corp will be in the New Bastion alliance.
- Yes, this corp will be assisting and furthering the purpose of OUCH.
- No, we will not be taking just anyone into the new corp. There are a set of principles that the new corp is going to be adhering to. Principals that are an outpouring of my desire to help, assist, and protect others.
- Yes, there will be a mild RP flavor to the corp. No, we will not be speaking in thees or thous...or even "in character". However, there will be a story behind the corp, its purpose, its principals, and its combat doctrine.
For those that have flown with me in the past, consider this a full reboot back to Cal of 2004/5. Arrogance is gone. In its place returns something better...more genuine, open, and true to principals.