AWOXing is something we take seriously in the 57th. Those of you who know me and what I’m trying to build with my Crew know that we strive to be “the good guys” as best we can – provided the situation allows us to be. We do our best to help those in the Gallente Militia when called upon and are happy to share a Complex or two with those we meet on our roams. We also tend to leave pirates and neutral players alone unless they decide to jump in and make a go at us. My orders to the Crew are simple. Don’t lock unless you are being locked and if possible, let them take the first shot before returning fire. But once that yellow-box appears in your Overview then you are cleared to do whatever actions you deem necessary to protect yourself and the Crew.

Some pilots in the Milita do not see it that way and will shoot their own just so they can farm all the LP in a system they “claim” to own.

Such an event happened to me and one of my Crew, Animus Jackson, while we were out farming LP in the system Iwisoda this past December. Animus had been farming most of the evening there under the “protection” of the 3rd Defense Battalion and one of their pilots – Vashkryaba. When I arrived in system, I even spoke to Vashkryaba in local chat and all seemed in order so I warped to my Crew member and we began plexing together. Vashkryaba soon appeared at our acceleration gate saying that she is coming in to help “protect” us and to not lock her. Once she landed on grid she immediately targeted me and began firing. This is the killmail from that incident: Federation Navy Coment. After warping to a safe we began talking in local where Vashkryaba then told us that their corp farms LP and once the system is at what they deem to be the proper level of contestation they will run anyone out so they can farm the LP themselves. Even if that means firing on their own Milita. The 3rd Defense Battalion is their Gallente wing and the 2st Battalion is their Caldari wing.

After this incident I set both corporations to RED with the 57th and put out a notice to the Crew indicating that should they encounter any of them in space to be on guard and should they enter your plex – you are clear to fire. Since the initial incident things have been relatively quiet from the 3rd D.B. and I have yet to see any from the 2st B. anywhere in space. Last night was our first opportunity to take the fight to them when Freddie Jackson called out over TeamSpeak

“Hey, Cap – I have two pilots from that 3rd Defense Battalion in local. Morgiana Erquilenne and Dalora Amadel.”

Minami Ikuta and I quickly made our way to rendezvous with Freddie. Our first attempt to catch them at a complex failed and they both escaped. We loitered in system and as luck would have it we got a second chance at them. We knew from our first engagement that they were running WCS’s so we had to focus our points on a single target in order to secure a kill, so I ordered the primary . . . . we all were able to catch point . . . . and took down Morgiana Erquilenne who was already pretty badly damaged from a previous engagement. I took her pod for good measure: M. Erquilenne’s Pod. I then called out directly to Dalora in local so that she can relay a message for me that we have not forgotten about them, who they are, and what pathetic principals they fly under.

“Tell the CEO of the 3rd Battalion that the 57th says hello!“

I wanted to post this After Action Report before anything may be written in Militia chat about the 57th being AWOXer’s. I want it to be known and understood moving forward that if the 57th comes after you, there is a reason and we will not allow you to hide behind the banner of Militia when you clearly have no respect for what that actually means. And so, for those of you who have read this far I’ll do my best to be brief in my summary.

SUMMARY:

Did the 57th Overlanders Brigade willingly and knowingly fire upon their Militia: YES

Who ordered the attack: Capt Malcolm Reynoldz, CEO

Is this likely to happen again: YES

Explanation of Reasoning: The story above speaks for itself. The 57th can be your best friend and ally. However, should you choose to fire on us we will take every opportunity from that point forward to take your ship and pod express you back home regardless of which side of a Factional line you may stand on.

Do not mistake our Mission Statement and how we choose to fly as a sign of weakness. We do not forget those who cross us and will, when the opportunity presents itself, return the favor time and again.

On that, you have my word.

– Mal