Providence War

Event Details

Battle of D-GTMI
Event Title	The Providence War
Location	Providence Catch
Start Date	2010.01.09
End Date	2010.03.16
Attacking Forces	Providence Holders: Curatores Veritatis Alliance Sev3rance Paxton Federation Libertas Fidelitas Aegis Militia Veneratio Venator Alliance Ishuk-Raata Enforcement Directive Cold Steel Alliance Fidelas Constans Genos Occidere
Defending Forces	Southern Coalition: Against ALL Authorities Ushra'Khan Atlas Alliance Stain Empire C0Ven Systematic-Chaos 0utbreak New Providence NIP: Daisho Syndicate Sodalitas XX Agony Empire The Star Fraction Noir. Merc. Group Opticon Alliance TWILIGHT FEDERATION En Garde Apocalypse Now United Alts Japan Chaos Theory Alliance Legio Astartes Arcanun Enforcers of Serenity
Result	Total Southern Coalition victory with the evacuation of CVA from Providence soon after the Battle of D-GTMI, though the dismantling of CVA's infrastructure and capture of their systems continued for months after. Rule of Providence is divided between the New Providence NIP under the aegis of Ushra'Khan.

Overview

In January 112 (2010) the Providence Holders Coalition launched a border expansion campaign spearheaded by Libertas Fidelitas alliance at four unclaimed systems along the Catch/Providence border between the Paxton system of D-GTMI and the Against All Authorities' systems of HED-GP and 36N-HZ. Against ALL Authorities, claiming these systems still fell under their auspices, demanded their return. After negotiations to end hostilities failed and AAA's offer to return D-GTMI with terms was rejected, wider conflict broke out and the Southern Coalition and to a smaller degree Systematic Chaos systematically removed CVA and most of their Holders from their outposts, replacing them with the New Providence NIP (Non Invasion Pact).

Shadows of War

After Triumverate's invasion of Providence, other then the occasional threat from Ushra'Khan, the Holders' possession of Providence went unchallenged for a full two years. In this time, the profile of the region increased as Providence became the most heavily populated and most developed null-sec region in New Eden.

But this prosperous growth was not without problems. The sheer number of Holders and neutral pilots crowded together (as the Holders' NRDS policy attracted thousands of pilots) attracted countless pirates from across the galaxy in search of easy prey. Another problem was the matter of resources: Thought it was the most populated null-sec region, Providence's utter lack of riches was its main deterrent against invasion. As Providence's numbers grew and competition for resources increased, the average Holder member found it more and more difficult to extract what little wealth Providence had.

Over time, these pressures began to reach the ears of CVA leadership as Holders of every rank began urging for a campaign of expansion to deal with the problem of overpopulation. Libertas Fidelitas, as the most densely populated of all the Holders, was by most accounts among the loudest of those pushing for an expansion.

After several months of debate, CVA executor Lonewolfnight authorized mobilization for an invasion against -A-, occupied in Querious against Goonswarm as part of the Dominion Offensive.

First Strike

The first moves made into Catch were a number of SBUs anchored in the UX3-N2 constellation by LFA along with a number of TCUs in unoccupied systems that, regardless, fell under -A-'s 'sphere of influence'. However without any support from the rest of the Providence Holders, -A- did not take these attempts to disrupt their holdings as a serious affront. It was not until January 9th that the Holder fleet mobilized proper, sending a 500-man fleet to reinforce the HED-GP station and laying claim to F9E-KX with a TCU.

The pilots of -A- were incensed by this, seeing as CVA's offensive was evidently timed within 24 hours of -A-'s initial launch into Querious. Popular opinion among them was that CVA and -A- shared a long, informal agreement of mutual non-invasion of each others' territories - surely -A- could have attacked and likely destroyed the Providence Holders during the two years of security they enjoyed instead. Not only that, but -A- leadership publicly claimed that CVA was colluding with the NC and Goonswarm against -A-, all during the time CVA claimed neutrality in the affairs of other 0.0 alliances. Correspondence between Northern Coalition directors and Lonewolfnight were leaked and, though no truly conclusive link was proven, the sentiment was that a neighbor betrayed them for a mortal enemy rather then a mere grab for territory.

Initial CVA gains in Catch were lost as -A- deployed multiple titans in the recapture and re-securing of threatened systems, calling upon other members of the Southern Coalition to join in as they took the fight to Providence, culminating in the Battle of D-GTMI.

D-GTMI

The battle for D-GTMI on January 28th was singularly important of all the battles that occurred in the Providence War, resulting in the near-complete destruction of the Holders capital ship fleet with minimal losses among the Southern Coalition.

This one-sided defeat signaled the evacuation of the majority of CVA assets from Providence. -A-, in response to this resounding victory, declared a '72-hour ceasefire from sovereignty warfare', using the time to offer terms of peace between CVA and AAA.

The Ultimatum

On the Intergalactic Summit, Against ALL Authorities executor Manfred Sideous posted a lengthy entreaty towards CVA, discussing the terms that AAA would cease hostilities in Providence. Mentioned were unwritten understandings between the two parties that were shared but ignored with this venture, the times where -A- came forward to help CVA but were repaid with this attack. That the war between them would be called off and D-GTMI would be returned if only CVA would formally agree to a mutually binding non-invasion pact.

Aralis, now executor of CVA once again, declined. His rationale was that CVA traditionally never makes formal agreements with NBSI entities, let alone those that regularly launch raiding parties into their home territory, and that agreeing to a hegemony that allows this was intolerable. Preserving CVA's values as a NRDS entity was more important then preserving CVA's presence in 0.0 space.

Though rejected, Manfred's offer had a noticeable effect; as while CVA did not find the terms agreeable, many of the other Providence Holders did and urged for CVA to accept them. The war was already lost, but that was no reason to lost everything along with it. Aralis however was unyielding on this point, stating that the Holders was a dictatorial model with him at the head and that anyone who would not abide his decisions should reconsider their membership as a Holder. Deep divisions within the coalition were formed, culminating with lasterax of LFA declaring its rejection of the Holders regime, the Amarrian practice of slavery and Aralis' rule specifically in exchange for peace with the Southern Coalition.

Holders Lose Their Grasp

Less than two weeks after the disastrous results of D-GTMI, CVA's fortunes took an even more dismal turn as on February 9th, Goonswarm was spontaneously destroyed from within, ending the Dominion Offensive and freeing all of AAA's forces from the Querious front to focus on Providence. With things looking bleak, renowned pirates Genos Occidere surprised all by joining Sev3rance in the defense of Providence and agreeing to abide NRDS in order to defend their favorite 'hunting grounds'.

Despite these efforts however, there was little the Providence Holders could do against the combined resources of the Southern Coalition. Yet even with CVA ceasing to defend, the ordeal involved in conquering 42+ station systems was truly staggering, the drain on time and morale effecting AAA's ability to participate in the South-North War and having significant consequence in the months to come.

A New Providence

With CVA ceasing to defend their space, AAA replaced the Providence Holders with the New Providence NIP, a collection of alliances new to holding 0.0 space that would be protected from territory wars by AAA and administered by Ushra'Khan. The idea behind its creation was to preserve the casual PVP environment that CVA offered to AAA pilots while still retaining control of the region; NIP members could attack each other in casual fleets, and would be attacked by their 'landlords'. However shortly after the conquest of Providence and the installation of the NIP, the Catch War beset the Southern Coalition, sending the entire quadrant into a state of anarchy and the fledgling coalition undefended against multiple invasions both within (Co2) and without (NCDOT, Ev0ke, CVA).

External Accounts of War

The Providence War: Part I - Catch an Easy Prey
The Providence War: Part II - Two Fronts Become One
The Providence War: Part III - Internal Struggle
The Providence War: Part IV - The Return of Unity
IGS - 'Official CVA Statement: Expansion of Operation Deliverance'
IGS - "People of Providence from AAA With Love"
IGS - "LFA Declares Independence & Free Providence Movement"