Forks in the Road

In my travels, I have come to many forks in the road. Decisions that must be implemented and they effect several months of operations. Additionally, I have to rely on my cadre of leadership within the corporation to get whatever goal or mission we have assigned done. I have a commendable corps of veterans that seem harder than the rocks off Skargi Cove back home.

It is in typical fashion that one week ago the OEC entered into the age of alliances by forming the “Legionnaire Services Ltd.” mercenary alliance. We have partnered with a powerful industrial entity that should leverage us into the capital ship operations that we need to grow into. This is to compete for better contracts, and station removal, which is a very lucrative business. The business of war is increasingly dominated by the capital space, and it would be unwise for us to not travel down this road for some time. But it will take a considerable amount of time as we are pilots that are skilled at small skirmish warfare.

While doing these things, we have seen a number of members move on to other corporations. This is of course a direct reflection on me and my leadership. I must do better in the future to retain our talent, and although it is difficult leading such independent people, it is essential for our corporation’s survival. Our attrition rate has historically been high in comparison with other corporations, but not many mercenary organizations have been around as long as we have. Maybe it is because we have less flare and glamour than others…just a slow steady pace towards achievement.

Our operations are still consolidating. We have repositioned our main assets to protect our new alliance industrial base. While we have some fleet assets in the Fountain region, it is extremely difficult to operate there as it is an unmitigated warzone of the likes I have never seen personally before. While our path is destined to base our operations in Fountain, maybe that is one fork in the road for the future, instead of the present.

Tit for Tat

“Retribution is the ultimate form of flattery…” – Anonymous Amarr Holder

It has been a busy time for the OEC. We instituted a new command communication structure to facilitate some honest and frank discussion about the direction of the corporation and what our short term goals should be (the long term goals are progressing quite well). We identified that we were spread too thin across the cluster, and that is my fault in reality. Fighting in Fountain Core, Aridia, and Genesis has our fleet assets often with no escorts or cover and it’s a situation that had to change. Priorities were made, and we have decided to abandon our Aridia operations, including taking down our station and converting that to corporate cash for further expansion in Fountain. We will use jumpclones to be able to quickly move from region to region.

But not before putting a parting shot at those that think they can simply muscle small organizations around.

OEC intelligence posted that the Space Fyad station in Aridia had run through its fuel stores and gone offline. Multiple guns, shield hardeners, and other station arrays sat unprotected…like a herd of lamb before a pack of rockwall wolves. An OEC field commander quickly asked permission to attack, and it was granted. The result was the total destruction of the station and all of its arrays…with no resistance. While not quite equal to the carrier lost in action near the same station a few weeks ago, it was satisfying to hit Space Fyad in the wallet like this, especially since it was a large Matari tower with full defensive setup. A bit of Tit for Tat…and we will call ourselves even.

We had reports that CONIN was deep in the south fighting for its core home worlds during the huge war raging Delve and the surrounding regions. Our station was safe for the time being…as they would not be able to effectively attack us until that was resolved. But we have left Aridia at any rate, and refocusing our attention to what matters most: new found friends that we will soon call brothers.

The logistics are still moving…but they should be completed sometime next week. We should be able to fight more effectively as a result, and secure our future industrial backbone we will need to grow.