ACT YC110 November:Major Battleship Engagement and Sovereignty Loss in F9E-KX

The Against ALL Authorities policy of exerting control over Catch by reducing the influence of the CVA and its 'Holder' alliance vassals appears to have motivated its attack on F9E-KX, a system held by key CVA ally and long-term Providence 'Holder' alliance Paxton Federation. Having reinforced 5 Paxton starbases and established 2 of their own, Triple A had served clear notice that it intended to acquire the system rather than this being a mere raid in force. Underlining that determination was a massive assault with some 250 vessels reported to make up the attack fleet with at least 2 titans. With cynosural jamming not in place, reports from capsuleer sources indicate that CVA and allies attempted to bridge in reinforcements using one of their own titans but were thwarted when their cynosural generator ship was destroyed by the Against ALL Authorities forces. With limited forces in system, the Providence coalition fleet attempted to enter via heavily interdicted stargates with catastrophic losses ensuing as Triple A forces reportedly destroyed between 60 and 70 battleships on the gates. Some 40 to 50 battleships are believed to have regrouped at a Paxton starbase where a devastating dual doomsday detonation was unleashed by Triple A titans that had been passed the shield harmonic access codes by an infiltrator. As a result of this a flaw in starbase shield systems allowed the deadly energy bursts to penetrate the shields and destroy the remnants of the Providence coalition forces. All told, Providence forces took well in excess of 200 losses while Against ALL Authorities are reported to have lost under 20 ships to hostile fire. With Triple A free to destroy Paxton starbases at leisure, they successfully contested sovereignty and acquired control over the system on 110.10.14. As a historical note, this was the last major battle in which titans possessing enemy shield harmonic codes were able to make use of the long-standing flaw in starbase shield technology and destroy ships within a starbase forcefield. Within days new starbase firmware and harmonic updates were propagated across New Eden, providing total protection against wide-area energy burst weapons regardless of whether ships firing such devices had shield access codes or not.