YC109.07.26
For the past three weeks, the Caldari Independent Navy Reserve has pursued a punitive campaign against the Acheron Federation in retaliation for their material support of the Brothers of Freedom. The fighting has been long and bloody, and both sides have lost many brave men and women and paid a terrible price. Throughout the fighting, the Reserve has maintained the position that this conflict could be brought to a peaceful settlement anytime the Acheron Federation agreed to see reason.
At 2130 today, the Reserve command staff was approached by FADM Thuul'Khalat, who wished to discuss the possibility of peace talks between the Reserve and the Acheron Federation, which we have now tentatively agreed to. The talks will be held in the Yulai system at a CONCORD station in order to provide a neutral field for both parties.
As a condition for accepting these talks, the Reserve has required that the forces of the Acheron Federation completely withdraw from Caldari space and do not enter the State under any circumstances. As a sign of goodwill, the Reserve shall do the same with regard to the Federation. Both sides will continue to monitor the border and any breach of these conditions will be considered grounds to resume combat operations.
Operation Azure Quarantine Status Update, 23 July 109
YC109.07.23
The second week of Operation Azure Quarantine continued the trend seen during the latter half of the previous week, with Acheron forces avoiding contact with Reserve patrols, even in their core systems around Dodixie. Most combat engagements have been restricted to a small number of ships, usually battlecruiser size or smaller, on each side; in nearly every case, Reserve forces have defeated the enemy handily. Unfortunately, despite military victories against Acheron, Reserve intelligence is fairly confident that supplies continue to reach the Brothers of Freedom; a number of Acheron supply convoys have, however, been intercepted by Reserve forces, giving further insight on the true nature of the "humanitarian" aid the Acheron Federation claims to be bringing the terrorists and their sympathizers.
Reserve intelligence has also determined that the Acheron Federation is spreading out their bases of operation; whereas they had previously been concentrated in the Dodixie, Eglennaert, and surrounding systems, a number of pilots appear to have moved from that area towards the Tourier and Alentene systems, on the border of Federation space and the CONCORD/Interbus neutral zone. The reason for this move is unclear, although it is possible they expected such a move would give them greater tactical maneuverability against Reserve patrols. In actuality, the effect appears to have spread their forces out in such a way to make them more vulnerable to Reserve patrols, not less -- unable to concentrate their forces, they appear to be unwilling or unable to challenge relatively small Reserve cruiser patrols in these systems. This has led to the loss of several cruisers and at least one battleship to Reserve patrols over the last week.
The heaviest Reserve losses during the last week were on 17 July, when a raiding force composed of a pair of Acheron Dominix-class battleships attacked a Reserve training operation on the Kassigainen gate in Hatakani. Due to the poor placement of the training operation by the officer in charge and a number of tactical errors during the battle, the Acheron force was able to destroy a Hyperion-class battleship and a Pilgrim-class recon cruiser and then exit the system before reinforcements could arrive. Though painful, especially due to the fact that these losses were easily avoidable with proper precautions, the losses did not significantly cripple the operational capabilities of the Reserve officers involved.
On 20 July, an Iteron Mark V-class industrial vessel under the Acheron Federation flag was intercepted and destroyed by CAPT Svetlana Scarlet in Sivala, who had been in the star system preparing for an antipirate operation in nearby Kubinen. The ship's cargo included cruise missiles and other ammunition, as well as a disturbing quantity of enriched uranium, all clearly not "necessary humanitarian aid" as claimed by the Acheron Federation. While this shipment was successfully stopped before it reached its intended destination, Caldari authorities should be aware that the Brothers of Freedom may now have the means to assemble primitive nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them, thanks to agents of the Gallente Federation.
The only major engagement this week occurred on 22 July, when an Acheron fleet consisting of nine battleships and a pair of stealth bombers attempted to lay siege to the Reserve Forward Operations Base in Hatakani. Though initially outnumbered in the system when the enemy arrived (shortly after 1500 EVT), a call to scramble was answered by a number of Reserve pilots, giving the Reserve a numerical advantage by the time the enemy was engaged a half an hour later. Scouts were able to identify the most dangerous elements of the enemy fleet, which had split into two combat groups -- one near the station and the other in a position nearly 100km away. CDRE Teravada led the counterattack, his own acting as bait for the Acheron fleet. While his ship was lost early on, CDR Wolfgang Jager, his XO, was able to continue the fight ably, and Reserve forces once again ripped apart the core of the enemy fleet. All five Dominix-class vessels serving as the Acheron close-in battlegroup were destroyed, but unfortunately only a single Dominix of the remote group was caught and destroyed, with the other five enemy vessels beating a hasty retreat as the Reserve fleet tore apart their compatriot. Reserve forces were able to hold the field and salvage the hulks left behind.
At this time, the Reserve command staff believes that significant progress is being achieved towards the goals of Operation Azure Quarantine; Acheron forces appear to be less and less able to project significant force into Caldari space or even to secure their own core systems, a trend which will hopefully convince them to give in to the demands of the Reserve within the next few weeks. However, Acheron's leadership and even its rank and file appear to be remaining defiant and Sunday's battle proves that they still have the will to engage Reserve forces, despite their heavy losses. It seems likely that resistance will continue during the next week, though it may be restricted to the skirmishing and raiding tactics seen during the last two weeks.
The second week of Operation Azure Quarantine continued the trend seen during the latter half of the previous week, with Acheron forces avoiding contact with Reserve patrols, even in their core systems around Dodixie. Most combat engagements have been restricted to a small number of ships, usually battlecruiser size or smaller, on each side; in nearly every case, Reserve forces have defeated the enemy handily. Unfortunately, despite military victories against Acheron, Reserve intelligence is fairly confident that supplies continue to reach the Brothers of Freedom; a number of Acheron supply convoys have, however, been intercepted by Reserve forces, giving further insight on the true nature of the "humanitarian" aid the Acheron Federation claims to be bringing the terrorists and their sympathizers.
Reserve intelligence has also determined that the Acheron Federation is spreading out their bases of operation; whereas they had previously been concentrated in the Dodixie, Eglennaert, and surrounding systems, a number of pilots appear to have moved from that area towards the Tourier and Alentene systems, on the border of Federation space and the CONCORD/Interbus neutral zone. The reason for this move is unclear, although it is possible they expected such a move would give them greater tactical maneuverability against Reserve patrols. In actuality, the effect appears to have spread their forces out in such a way to make them more vulnerable to Reserve patrols, not less -- unable to concentrate their forces, they appear to be unwilling or unable to challenge relatively small Reserve cruiser patrols in these systems. This has led to the loss of several cruisers and at least one battleship to Reserve patrols over the last week.
The heaviest Reserve losses during the last week were on 17 July, when a raiding force composed of a pair of Acheron Dominix-class battleships attacked a Reserve training operation on the Kassigainen gate in Hatakani. Due to the poor placement of the training operation by the officer in charge and a number of tactical errors during the battle, the Acheron force was able to destroy a Hyperion-class battleship and a Pilgrim-class recon cruiser and then exit the system before reinforcements could arrive. Though painful, especially due to the fact that these losses were easily avoidable with proper precautions, the losses did not significantly cripple the operational capabilities of the Reserve officers involved.
On 20 July, an Iteron Mark V-class industrial vessel under the Acheron Federation flag was intercepted and destroyed by CAPT Svetlana Scarlet in Sivala, who had been in the star system preparing for an antipirate operation in nearby Kubinen. The ship's cargo included cruise missiles and other ammunition, as well as a disturbing quantity of enriched uranium, all clearly not "necessary humanitarian aid" as claimed by the Acheron Federation. While this shipment was successfully stopped before it reached its intended destination, Caldari authorities should be aware that the Brothers of Freedom may now have the means to assemble primitive nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them, thanks to agents of the Gallente Federation.
The only major engagement this week occurred on 22 July, when an Acheron fleet consisting of nine battleships and a pair of stealth bombers attempted to lay siege to the Reserve Forward Operations Base in Hatakani. Though initially outnumbered in the system when the enemy arrived (shortly after 1500 EVT), a call to scramble was answered by a number of Reserve pilots, giving the Reserve a numerical advantage by the time the enemy was engaged a half an hour later. Scouts were able to identify the most dangerous elements of the enemy fleet, which had split into two combat groups -- one near the station and the other in a position nearly 100km away. CDRE Teravada led the counterattack, his own acting as bait for the Acheron fleet. While his ship was lost early on, CDR Wolfgang Jager, his XO, was able to continue the fight ably, and Reserve forces once again ripped apart the core of the enemy fleet. All five Dominix-class vessels serving as the Acheron close-in battlegroup were destroyed, but unfortunately only a single Dominix of the remote group was caught and destroyed, with the other five enemy vessels beating a hasty retreat as the Reserve fleet tore apart their compatriot. Reserve forces were able to hold the field and salvage the hulks left behind.
At this time, the Reserve command staff believes that significant progress is being achieved towards the goals of Operation Azure Quarantine; Acheron forces appear to be less and less able to project significant force into Caldari space or even to secure their own core systems, a trend which will hopefully convince them to give in to the demands of the Reserve within the next few weeks. However, Acheron's leadership and even its rank and file appear to be remaining defiant and Sunday's battle proves that they still have the will to engage Reserve forces, despite their heavy losses. It seems likely that resistance will continue during the next week, though it may be restricted to the skirmishing and raiding tactics seen during the last two weeks.
Operation Azure Quarantine Status Update, 16 July 109
YC109.07.16
Reserve combat operations against the Acheron Federation began on 6 July 109; combat operations so far have been decidedly in favor of the Reserve, achieving almost complete space superiority throughout the main corridor of operations stretching from Acheron Federation bases in Dodixie and surrounding systems to the core Caldari Border Zone. While Acheron continues to stage limited fleet operations within the Federation and against APEX Conglomerate operations out of the Tierijev system, attacks against the main body of the Reserve fleet have almost completely ceased only ten days into the campaign.
Major fleet actions began within five hours of the CONCORD-sanctioned war declaration, when an Acheron fleet led by FADM Thuul'Khalat assaulted the Reserve Forward Operations Base in Hatakani. Reserve scouts detected the fleet preparing for their assault in Kassigainen, and CDRE Ladel Teravada organized a defensive fleet in response, deploying just as the Acheron fleet jumped into the Hatakani system. Through a quick series of maneuvers, CDRE Teravada was able to drop the Reserve force, consisting of five battleships, three battlecruisers, and a cruiser, almost directly on top of the Acheron fleet which had been setting up to siege the the station serving as Reserve headquarters. The outnumbered, but more advanced and experienced Reserve fleet was able to crush the core of the Acheron fleet, scattering the rest of the enemy forces. Five enemy battleships, as well as an enemy recon cruiser and pair of frigates, were destroyed, with another battleship and a few support craft fleeing the system with heavy damage.
The battle in Hatakani was followed seven hours later by a pitched battle in the Grinacanne system. Following an unsuccessful RIF in the Acheron core systems, and reports of an Acheron battlefleet assembling, Reserve forces assembled a heavy fleet to prepare a counterattack against the main body of the enemy. The fleet proceeded from Hatakani along the most probable lines of enemy advance, with CAPT Svetlana Scarlet's Hurricane serving as scout. Upon jumping into the Erme system, with the rest of the fleet sitting on the gate in Grinacanne, CAPT Scarlet detected a fleet of 11 Acheron Federation vessels en route at high speed to the same gate. As she returned to Grinacanne under the fire of the arriving Acheron fleet, Reserve forces in Grinacanne prepared for the oncoming assault.
Acheron forces jumped into Grinacanne shortly thereafter and began to engage the Reserve fleet in earnest; Reserve forces returned fire with a crippling barrage from their battleships and battlecruisers, focusing fire effectively and using advanced weaponry to again crush the core of the Acheron fleet. Though a pair of Reserve battleships were lost (including LCDR Gosok's Scorpion, which had been caught too close to the gate when the enemy engaged), the Reserve fleet managed to inflict heavy losses on the enemy again, destroying five battleships and a battlecruiser plus support.
This battle was followed by another on 8 July. Under the command of CAPT Zevrik, Reserve forces pursued an Acheron force in the Botane system, finally pinning them at the Eglennaert gate. Numerically superior for the first time since combat operations started, the Reserve fleet engaged and completely eliminated the entire Acheron force, downing five battleships, a battlecruiser, two advanced cruisers, and a frigate for no losses. Sensor logs of the battle indicated that the Acheron fleet appeared to be suffering a communicatons failure which, combined with the Reserve fleet's superior numbers, contributed to the abnormally heavy losses in the battle.
On Monday, Reserve intelligence indicated that Acheron operated a space platform in the Botane system operated by a shell corporation. The command staff made the decision to expand the war declaration to include the shell corporation, in order to allow the Reserve to eliminate this asset and deal a heavy blow to Acheron's logistical chain. Unfortunately, by the time the war declaration was in effect, the small research platform had been greatly expanded and reinforced; the defenses added to the platform made an assault by anything short of capital vessels infeasible, and attack plans were put on hold. At this time, the Reserve command staff has decided that the vastly increased fuel resources being consumed by the expanded platform are a sufficient enough detriment to Acheron's logistics that a costly assault is not necessary.
As the week wore on, the Acheron Federation began to actively avoid combat with Reserve forces, instead focusing on those of the APEX Conglomerate, against whom they had achieved significantly greater success. On several occasions, Reserve forces have pursued Acheron forces to the APEX forward base in Tierijev in an attempt to force action, but presented with the threat of facing both the Reserve and APEX simultaneously, Acheron forces have generally withdrawn. At present, Acheron's ability to operate in force against the Reserve appears to be largely eliminated, with most attacks reduced to hit-and-run raids or skirmish actions in Federation and State space, usually involving no more than a few ships on either side.
However, Reserve intelligence has largely attributed this unwillingness to engage to a reevaluation of their previous strategies and tactics due to the heavy losses sustained earlier in the week. A number of events, including a pair of battles where an Acheron Dominix managed to withstand concentrated fire from two to three Reserve battleships for nearly five minutes, indicate that Acheron commanders are implementing new tactics and developing new capabilities to deal with the advantages the Reserve currently maintains. Reserve morale remains high, but fleet commanders have been told to expect heavier losses if Acheron forces begin to seek engagements again.
During the course of the week, Acheron convoys made up of frigates and industrials rigged for blockade running have continued to bring supplies to the Kisogo system, where Brothers of Freedom activity continues to persist despite Navy and corporate security forces gaining an upper hand against the terrorist insurrection in that system. In an effort to cut off these supplies, Reserve Fleet Operations has developed a number of new tactics, the results of which have been promising. Further refinement of these tactics is expected to reduce the incoming supplies further over the coming weeks; in combination with punitive strikes by Reserve forces against Acheron targets, the command staff hopes this will convince the enemy that further attempts to supply the Brothers of Freedom are useless.
Reserve combat operations against the Acheron Federation began on 6 July 109; combat operations so far have been decidedly in favor of the Reserve, achieving almost complete space superiority throughout the main corridor of operations stretching from Acheron Federation bases in Dodixie and surrounding systems to the core Caldari Border Zone. While Acheron continues to stage limited fleet operations within the Federation and against APEX Conglomerate operations out of the Tierijev system, attacks against the main body of the Reserve fleet have almost completely ceased only ten days into the campaign.
Major fleet actions began within five hours of the CONCORD-sanctioned war declaration, when an Acheron fleet led by FADM Thuul'Khalat assaulted the Reserve Forward Operations Base in Hatakani. Reserve scouts detected the fleet preparing for their assault in Kassigainen, and CDRE Ladel Teravada organized a defensive fleet in response, deploying just as the Acheron fleet jumped into the Hatakani system. Through a quick series of maneuvers, CDRE Teravada was able to drop the Reserve force, consisting of five battleships, three battlecruisers, and a cruiser, almost directly on top of the Acheron fleet which had been setting up to siege the the station serving as Reserve headquarters. The outnumbered, but more advanced and experienced Reserve fleet was able to crush the core of the Acheron fleet, scattering the rest of the enemy forces. Five enemy battleships, as well as an enemy recon cruiser and pair of frigates, were destroyed, with another battleship and a few support craft fleeing the system with heavy damage.
The battle in Hatakani was followed seven hours later by a pitched battle in the Grinacanne system. Following an unsuccessful RIF in the Acheron core systems, and reports of an Acheron battlefleet assembling, Reserve forces assembled a heavy fleet to prepare a counterattack against the main body of the enemy. The fleet proceeded from Hatakani along the most probable lines of enemy advance, with CAPT Svetlana Scarlet's Hurricane serving as scout. Upon jumping into the Erme system, with the rest of the fleet sitting on the gate in Grinacanne, CAPT Scarlet detected a fleet of 11 Acheron Federation vessels en route at high speed to the same gate. As she returned to Grinacanne under the fire of the arriving Acheron fleet, Reserve forces in Grinacanne prepared for the oncoming assault.
Acheron forces jumped into Grinacanne shortly thereafter and began to engage the Reserve fleet in earnest; Reserve forces returned fire with a crippling barrage from their battleships and battlecruisers, focusing fire effectively and using advanced weaponry to again crush the core of the Acheron fleet. Though a pair of Reserve battleships were lost (including LCDR Gosok's Scorpion, which had been caught too close to the gate when the enemy engaged), the Reserve fleet managed to inflict heavy losses on the enemy again, destroying five battleships and a battlecruiser plus support.
This battle was followed by another on 8 July. Under the command of CAPT Zevrik, Reserve forces pursued an Acheron force in the Botane system, finally pinning them at the Eglennaert gate. Numerically superior for the first time since combat operations started, the Reserve fleet engaged and completely eliminated the entire Acheron force, downing five battleships, a battlecruiser, two advanced cruisers, and a frigate for no losses. Sensor logs of the battle indicated that the Acheron fleet appeared to be suffering a communicatons failure which, combined with the Reserve fleet's superior numbers, contributed to the abnormally heavy losses in the battle.
On Monday, Reserve intelligence indicated that Acheron operated a space platform in the Botane system operated by a shell corporation. The command staff made the decision to expand the war declaration to include the shell corporation, in order to allow the Reserve to eliminate this asset and deal a heavy blow to Acheron's logistical chain. Unfortunately, by the time the war declaration was in effect, the small research platform had been greatly expanded and reinforced; the defenses added to the platform made an assault by anything short of capital vessels infeasible, and attack plans were put on hold. At this time, the Reserve command staff has decided that the vastly increased fuel resources being consumed by the expanded platform are a sufficient enough detriment to Acheron's logistics that a costly assault is not necessary.
As the week wore on, the Acheron Federation began to actively avoid combat with Reserve forces, instead focusing on those of the APEX Conglomerate, against whom they had achieved significantly greater success. On several occasions, Reserve forces have pursued Acheron forces to the APEX forward base in Tierijev in an attempt to force action, but presented with the threat of facing both the Reserve and APEX simultaneously, Acheron forces have generally withdrawn. At present, Acheron's ability to operate in force against the Reserve appears to be largely eliminated, with most attacks reduced to hit-and-run raids or skirmish actions in Federation and State space, usually involving no more than a few ships on either side.
However, Reserve intelligence has largely attributed this unwillingness to engage to a reevaluation of their previous strategies and tactics due to the heavy losses sustained earlier in the week. A number of events, including a pair of battles where an Acheron Dominix managed to withstand concentrated fire from two to three Reserve battleships for nearly five minutes, indicate that Acheron commanders are implementing new tactics and developing new capabilities to deal with the advantages the Reserve currently maintains. Reserve morale remains high, but fleet commanders have been told to expect heavier losses if Acheron forces begin to seek engagements again.
During the course of the week, Acheron convoys made up of frigates and industrials rigged for blockade running have continued to bring supplies to the Kisogo system, where Brothers of Freedom activity continues to persist despite Navy and corporate security forces gaining an upper hand against the terrorist insurrection in that system. In an effort to cut off these supplies, Reserve Fleet Operations has developed a number of new tactics, the results of which have been promising. Further refinement of these tactics is expected to reduce the incoming supplies further over the coming weeks; in combination with punitive strikes by Reserve forces against Acheron targets, the command staff hopes this will convince the enemy that further attempts to supply the Brothers of Freedom are useless.
Reserve Deploys to Protect Disabled Navy Carrier
YC109.07.10
At a short press conference today, Reserve spokeswoman CAPT Svetlana Scarlet spoke to reporters briefly about an incident in the early hours of the morning in the Hysera system. Though short on details, CAPT Scarlet stated that a small Reserve force, backed by elements of the APEX Conglomerate and Caldari Navy Defense Force, deployed to the Hysera system shortly before 0100 EVT in response to reports that a Caldari Navy Chimera-class carrier had been disabled and that Brothers of Freedom pilots were making a move to attack it.
"Because of our ongoing operations against the Acheron Federation, both the Reserve and the APEX Conglomerate were slightly delayed in our response; APEX vessels arrived in the system first, at roughly 0052 EVT. When they arrived, a Reserve spotter, as well as a number of pirates belonging to the BEETS corporation and the Brothers of Freedom were present. BEETS had already begun engaging the Brothers of Freedom, and though APEX announced their intentions upon entering the system, they were also fired upon by BEETS as they arrived, taking heavy casualties."
"Reserve pilots arrived only minutes later, with a force considerably superior to that of BEETS, and ordered them to stand down immediately. LT Xianjo, the captain of the Navy carrier, also ordered them to do so. Though they opened fire on the Reserve point vessel, a Raven under the command of CAPT Zevrik, they realized the mistake they were making shortly thereafter as the rest of the fleet arrived, and stood down."
According to CAPT Scarlet, after the Reserve fleet arrived in orbit around Hysera I to secure the area, the Navy carrier was able to warp to a friendly station, where it made port and was secured for repairs. Reserve vessels remained in orbit for several minutes to cover APEX pilots salvaging their lost vessels, but withdrew before they were able to finish in order to ensure the carrier's safety and reduce vulnerability to the increasing number of BEETS pilots in the system. "BEETS was only kept in check by the superior force present in the system; as soon as Reserve forces broke orbit, they attacked the APEX vessels salvaging there without warning; they have made it clear that they only assisted the Navy pilot because they feared him more than the Brothers of Freedom. We will consider them hostile in any future engagements."
Though the carrier was able to move to safety, LT Xianjo confirmed a number of disturbing facts regarding the attack; apparently, Brothers of Freedom agents on board the carrier sabotaged critical systems prior to the attack and tried to seize control of the vessel, while at the same time, their ships arrived to attack the carrier in the event they failed. "Due to the quick response of the Reserve and other State loyalists, we were able to secure the carrier and allow LT Xianjo's internal security forces the time to deal with the situation on board. Perhaps the most disturbing part of this attack was the revelation that the Brothers of Freedom now have pod pilots working in their organization, a capability previously unseen."
When asked about the participation of APEX, a corporation the Reserve has notably refused to cooperate with in the past, including during the current combat against the Acheron Federation, CAPT Scarlet said, "the threat of a terrorist attack against Caldari Navy assets was too great to allow petty rivalries to get in the way, espeically with time so short. I contacted both the senior APEX officer on duty and Vaeldan Athargan of the Caldari Navy Defense Force personally to ask for their assistance, both of whom responded affirmatively. The Reserve thanks both APEX and the CNDF for their assistance in the matter."
After that answer, questions turned to the progress of Operation Azure Quarantine, which CAPT Scarlet refused to answer. "Once again, I must state that any comment on the progress of ongoing operations at this time would not be appropriate. My office will be making our weekly report to the Reserve's stakeholders on Monday as previously stated. Until that time, there will be no official comment from the Reserve on the matter."
At a short press conference today, Reserve spokeswoman CAPT Svetlana Scarlet spoke to reporters briefly about an incident in the early hours of the morning in the Hysera system. Though short on details, CAPT Scarlet stated that a small Reserve force, backed by elements of the APEX Conglomerate and Caldari Navy Defense Force, deployed to the Hysera system shortly before 0100 EVT in response to reports that a Caldari Navy Chimera-class carrier had been disabled and that Brothers of Freedom pilots were making a move to attack it.
"Because of our ongoing operations against the Acheron Federation, both the Reserve and the APEX Conglomerate were slightly delayed in our response; APEX vessels arrived in the system first, at roughly 0052 EVT. When they arrived, a Reserve spotter, as well as a number of pirates belonging to the BEETS corporation and the Brothers of Freedom were present. BEETS had already begun engaging the Brothers of Freedom, and though APEX announced their intentions upon entering the system, they were also fired upon by BEETS as they arrived, taking heavy casualties."
"Reserve pilots arrived only minutes later, with a force considerably superior to that of BEETS, and ordered them to stand down immediately. LT Xianjo, the captain of the Navy carrier, also ordered them to do so. Though they opened fire on the Reserve point vessel, a Raven under the command of CAPT Zevrik, they realized the mistake they were making shortly thereafter as the rest of the fleet arrived, and stood down."
According to CAPT Scarlet, after the Reserve fleet arrived in orbit around Hysera I to secure the area, the Navy carrier was able to warp to a friendly station, where it made port and was secured for repairs. Reserve vessels remained in orbit for several minutes to cover APEX pilots salvaging their lost vessels, but withdrew before they were able to finish in order to ensure the carrier's safety and reduce vulnerability to the increasing number of BEETS pilots in the system. "BEETS was only kept in check by the superior force present in the system; as soon as Reserve forces broke orbit, they attacked the APEX vessels salvaging there without warning; they have made it clear that they only assisted the Navy pilot because they feared him more than the Brothers of Freedom. We will consider them hostile in any future engagements."
Though the carrier was able to move to safety, LT Xianjo confirmed a number of disturbing facts regarding the attack; apparently, Brothers of Freedom agents on board the carrier sabotaged critical systems prior to the attack and tried to seize control of the vessel, while at the same time, their ships arrived to attack the carrier in the event they failed. "Due to the quick response of the Reserve and other State loyalists, we were able to secure the carrier and allow LT Xianjo's internal security forces the time to deal with the situation on board. Perhaps the most disturbing part of this attack was the revelation that the Brothers of Freedom now have pod pilots working in their organization, a capability previously unseen."
When asked about the participation of APEX, a corporation the Reserve has notably refused to cooperate with in the past, including during the current combat against the Acheron Federation, CAPT Scarlet said, "the threat of a terrorist attack against Caldari Navy assets was too great to allow petty rivalries to get in the way, espeically with time so short. I contacted both the senior APEX officer on duty and Vaeldan Athargan of the Caldari Navy Defense Force personally to ask for their assistance, both of whom responded affirmatively. The Reserve thanks both APEX and the CNDF for their assistance in the matter."
After that answer, questions turned to the progress of Operation Azure Quarantine, which CAPT Scarlet refused to answer. "Once again, I must state that any comment on the progress of ongoing operations at this time would not be appropriate. My office will be making our weekly report to the Reserve's stakeholders on Monday as previously stated. Until that time, there will be no official comment from the Reserve on the matter."
Reserve Begins Combat Operations Against Acheron Federation
YC109.07.06
The past week has seen two convoys of supplies brought from the Gallente Federation to the Brothers of Freedom terrorist group in the Kisogo system by the Federation paramilitary alliance the Acheron Federation, spearheaded by the Phoenix Wing corporation. Though Phoenix Wing and their allies have claimed that these supplies were "humanitarian relief" for "oppressed workers," intelligence gathered by Reserve officers has shown this for the blatant lie it is. Not only were these supplies going to an organization that seeks to destabilize the State from within, leading to the deaths of thousands of innocent Caldari, but the supplies contained in these convoys have been anything but humanitarian. Hidden amongst the food, medical supplies, and other innocuous items, have been electronics components, guidance systems, and other equipment used to build weapons and repair spacecraft -- tools the Brothers of Freedom can only use to spread their dangerous, misleading propaganda and violent uprising to other systems around the State.
These convoys are yet more evidence that the Brothers of Freedom are not the "voices of the oppressed worker" but agents of foreign interests seeking to cripple the State -- evidence that elements within the Federation are fueling the violence that now holds millions of our fellow Caldari hostage in a half-dozen star systems. This cannot be allowed to continue.
The Reserve has called upon the Acheron Federation to end these shipments and renounce the violent tactics of Melarius Torvil and his group of dangerous terrorists. They have not -- instead they have promised to continue these shipments as long as they are able. They have given the Reserve no choice but to use force in order to safeguard the borders of the Caldari State.
As a result, the Reserve general staff approved Operation Azure Quarantine on 5 July 109, authorizing the use of force against the Acheron Federation. During this operation, the Reserve will be attempting to seize or destroy any vessels attempting to deliver supplies to the Brothers of Freedom in order to deprive them of the resources necessary to escalate their current campaign of violence and disorder. To this end, Reserve patrols have already been established along many sections of the State-Federation border.
During this operation it will be neccessary to conduct offensive operations against Acheron Federation assets within the Gallente Federation. These raids will be conducted with the purpose of destroying the ability of the Acheron Federation to support the Brothers of Freedom logistically.
Current intelligence indicates that fighting will most likely be concentrated in the Caldari Border Zone constellation of the Citadel Region, but Reserve forces will be deployed to any area where the enemy conducts their operations.
The past week has seen two convoys of supplies brought from the Gallente Federation to the Brothers of Freedom terrorist group in the Kisogo system by the Federation paramilitary alliance the Acheron Federation, spearheaded by the Phoenix Wing corporation. Though Phoenix Wing and their allies have claimed that these supplies were "humanitarian relief" for "oppressed workers," intelligence gathered by Reserve officers has shown this for the blatant lie it is. Not only were these supplies going to an organization that seeks to destabilize the State from within, leading to the deaths of thousands of innocent Caldari, but the supplies contained in these convoys have been anything but humanitarian. Hidden amongst the food, medical supplies, and other innocuous items, have been electronics components, guidance systems, and other equipment used to build weapons and repair spacecraft -- tools the Brothers of Freedom can only use to spread their dangerous, misleading propaganda and violent uprising to other systems around the State.
These convoys are yet more evidence that the Brothers of Freedom are not the "voices of the oppressed worker" but agents of foreign interests seeking to cripple the State -- evidence that elements within the Federation are fueling the violence that now holds millions of our fellow Caldari hostage in a half-dozen star systems. This cannot be allowed to continue.
The Reserve has called upon the Acheron Federation to end these shipments and renounce the violent tactics of Melarius Torvil and his group of dangerous terrorists. They have not -- instead they have promised to continue these shipments as long as they are able. They have given the Reserve no choice but to use force in order to safeguard the borders of the Caldari State.
As a result, the Reserve general staff approved Operation Azure Quarantine on 5 July 109, authorizing the use of force against the Acheron Federation. During this operation, the Reserve will be attempting to seize or destroy any vessels attempting to deliver supplies to the Brothers of Freedom in order to deprive them of the resources necessary to escalate their current campaign of violence and disorder. To this end, Reserve patrols have already been established along many sections of the State-Federation border.
During this operation it will be neccessary to conduct offensive operations against Acheron Federation assets within the Gallente Federation. These raids will be conducted with the purpose of destroying the ability of the Acheron Federation to support the Brothers of Freedom logistically.
Current intelligence indicates that fighting will most likely be concentrated in the Caldari Border Zone constellation of the Citadel Region, but Reserve forces will be deployed to any area where the enemy conducts their operations.
Reserve Tracks Acheron Federation Aid to Brothers of Freedom
YC109.07.02
On 29 June, CAPT Zevrik, Reserve Chief of Naval Intelligence, received a communique from Caldari Naval Intelligence indicating that they had received intelligence from corporate assets indicating the high probability that a shipment of goods from the Gallente Federation, destined for the Brothers of Freedom, would be arriving in the Kisogo system on 1 July 109. Naval Intelligence requested the assistance of the Reserve in identifying any suspicious shipments from the Federation, possibly in vessels flagged to one of the Gallente paramilitaries. Naval Intelligence instructed CAPT Zevrik that the mandate was strictly to monitor and report -- interdiction and/or elimination was not authorized at the time.
Reserve forces set up a detection perimeter around the Kisogo system in an attempt to detect any suspicious traffic as early as possible and get scanning vessels in range to determine the contents of any transport vessels. At 2000 hours, Reserve pilots detected a convoy of vessels belonging to the Acheron Federation entering Caldari space and heading towards the Kisogo system. Scans of the vessels indicated food and medical supplies, but also electronics parts, guidance systems, and other cargo with signatures suspiciously similar to items used in the manufacture of weapons and improvised explosives captured by corporate security forces in the wake of riots started by the Brothers of Freedom. Documentation of these findings has been forwarded to the Caldari Navy and will be released to the public after thorough review by Reserve Intelligence staff.
These vessels docked in the Kisogo transit station operated by the State War Academy, and Reserve intelligence relayed our findings to the Navy shortly thereafter. In the last hour, the Reserve has received information from the Naval Intelligence regarding what happened to the cargo once it arrived at the SWA station.
Shortly after the convoy docked, the cargo was unloaded and began to be processed through Customs as usual for any cargo. The Caldari Customs official on duty was replaced by his supervisor shortly after beginning the sweep. Only a few hours ago, Tribunal intelligence assets discovered a numbered account with the Garoun Investment Bank linked to this supervisor; a number of deposits to that account from holding corporations, now believed to be shell companies for foreign intelligence assets, have been made in that account for the last year, totaling over a million ISK. This supervisor has been arrested by Naval MPs and is currently being interrogated by Naval Intelligence. According to the customs official taken off assignment by the supervisor, prior to his relief he recorded a number of lot numbers which have proven similar to those found for items seized in corporate security raids of Brothers of Freedom safehouses.
Unfortunately, this supervisor approved the transfer of cargo prior to his arrest, which was moved to a number of cargo vessels belonging to various corporations. These ships left the station some two hours later, destined for a number of cities in the Kisogo system. Shortly thereafter, the Navy received reports that the flight plans and transponder codes of these ships had been forged and scrambled to intercept, but was unable to apprehend them before they disappeared from the Kisogo traffic control net. These ships were found later, abandoned and stripped of cargo, in various places around the Kisogo system, mostly in abandoned urban areas and wilderness areas near known Brothers of Freedom bases of operation.
It seems clear now that the Acheron Federation, and perhaps other Gallente groups, are aiding the Brothers of Freedom -- if they did not instigate the riots that now threaten millions of Caldari lives, they are fueling them.
On 29 June, CAPT Zevrik, Reserve Chief of Naval Intelligence, received a communique from Caldari Naval Intelligence indicating that they had received intelligence from corporate assets indicating the high probability that a shipment of goods from the Gallente Federation, destined for the Brothers of Freedom, would be arriving in the Kisogo system on 1 July 109. Naval Intelligence requested the assistance of the Reserve in identifying any suspicious shipments from the Federation, possibly in vessels flagged to one of the Gallente paramilitaries. Naval Intelligence instructed CAPT Zevrik that the mandate was strictly to monitor and report -- interdiction and/or elimination was not authorized at the time.
Reserve forces set up a detection perimeter around the Kisogo system in an attempt to detect any suspicious traffic as early as possible and get scanning vessels in range to determine the contents of any transport vessels. At 2000 hours, Reserve pilots detected a convoy of vessels belonging to the Acheron Federation entering Caldari space and heading towards the Kisogo system. Scans of the vessels indicated food and medical supplies, but also electronics parts, guidance systems, and other cargo with signatures suspiciously similar to items used in the manufacture of weapons and improvised explosives captured by corporate security forces in the wake of riots started by the Brothers of Freedom. Documentation of these findings has been forwarded to the Caldari Navy and will be released to the public after thorough review by Reserve Intelligence staff.
These vessels docked in the Kisogo transit station operated by the State War Academy, and Reserve intelligence relayed our findings to the Navy shortly thereafter. In the last hour, the Reserve has received information from the Naval Intelligence regarding what happened to the cargo once it arrived at the SWA station.
Shortly after the convoy docked, the cargo was unloaded and began to be processed through Customs as usual for any cargo. The Caldari Customs official on duty was replaced by his supervisor shortly after beginning the sweep. Only a few hours ago, Tribunal intelligence assets discovered a numbered account with the Garoun Investment Bank linked to this supervisor; a number of deposits to that account from holding corporations, now believed to be shell companies for foreign intelligence assets, have been made in that account for the last year, totaling over a million ISK. This supervisor has been arrested by Naval MPs and is currently being interrogated by Naval Intelligence. According to the customs official taken off assignment by the supervisor, prior to his relief he recorded a number of lot numbers which have proven similar to those found for items seized in corporate security raids of Brothers of Freedom safehouses.
Unfortunately, this supervisor approved the transfer of cargo prior to his arrest, which was moved to a number of cargo vessels belonging to various corporations. These ships left the station some two hours later, destined for a number of cities in the Kisogo system. Shortly thereafter, the Navy received reports that the flight plans and transponder codes of these ships had been forged and scrambled to intercept, but was unable to apprehend them before they disappeared from the Kisogo traffic control net. These ships were found later, abandoned and stripped of cargo, in various places around the Kisogo system, mostly in abandoned urban areas and wilderness areas near known Brothers of Freedom bases of operation.
It seems clear now that the Acheron Federation, and perhaps other Gallente groups, are aiding the Brothers of Freedom -- if they did not instigate the riots that now threaten millions of Caldari lives, they are fueling them.