Intergalactic Summit

God Be Praised!
Our holy Crusade has seized the system of Dal, after over 48 hours of pitched fighting between Her Majesty’s Chosen Forces, including elements of Praetoria Imperialis Excubitoris, 24EME Legion Etrangere and the Holy 24th Imperial Crusade, and the Terrorist fleets of the Minmatar Republic, including parts of the Tribal Liberation Force, Smile ‘n Wave and Iron Oxide, along with tactical interventions by the supposedly neutral E-UNI. This battle was the triumphant culmination of a masterfully executed strategic build-up by Imperial forces that was designed to ensure total superiority in the field, and it delivered as promised.

Using their numerical superiority to great effect, the Imperial forces were able to take and retain the initiative, fighting their way through the system and crushing the defenders beneath their steely resolve as the Imperial forces make unprecedented advances across Republic space in an effort to break the deadlock that has gripped the war-zone until the Imperial hammer-blow offensive began.

In a two phase offensive that saw fierce fighting both in space and upon stations, capsuleers duelled in space whilst ground forces fought tooth and nail from room to room to clear republic forces from the station. The offensive was marked by two major clashes between Republic and Imperial forces separated by occasional skirmishes between the two forces as either side tried to force the issue. No quarter was asked for or given, and the defenders fought “with valour and honour” according to a commander within the offensive, though he went on to describe the battle as “being characterized by the complete absence of several major TLF alliances”. Whether this means that the Republic is in turn building up its own strength for a major offensive of their own, or the recent upswing of defections by Republic officers to the Angel Cartel is beginning to bite is speculation for another time. All we can do now is watch and wait for further advances from Imperial forces in the field. From what I have been told by multiple sources within the Imperial war machine, we shall not have long to wait.

BIG PICTURE!
What this will mean for the war effort as a whole is unknown at this time. The fact that Imperial forces are making unprecedented advances into Republican space will likely trigger a surge in enlistment for the Imperial navy as our loyal citizens seek to defend their Empress and Reclaim more Insurgent space for God’s dominion. The Republic will likewise no doubt try to enlist more fighters for their sorry war effort as they scramble to retain some scrap of territory to cling to. What this will mean for our allies in Caldari space is impossible to say right now.

TACTICAL ANALYSIS+ CAPSULEER COMMENT!
Zsaryna Adrelana writes: Any battle lasting over several hours in length must rely on a fairly hefty logistical network to maintain combat effectiveness over a protracted period of time, and even Capsuleers are not immune to fatigue.
Thus through the course of this engagement we see two major offensives, broken up by skirmishing and sallies lasting throughout the course of the battle as both sides recuperated, repaired and rearmed and attempted to disrupt attempts by their enemies to do the same.

This battle can be characterized, based on the “kill mails” as primarily a frigate-on-frigate fight, with destroyers thrown in here and there, though cruisers and battlecruisers also made scattered apperances. Thus aspects such as speed, manoeuvrability and tactical acumen come into play more than the sheer slug throwing contest that characterizes combat between the larger ship types.
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Author’s thanks to Capsuleer Zsaryna Adrelana who was most generous with her time in explaining these things to me and putting me in touch with Capsuleer Katherine Hobbes, who most generously gave her time to help proof this article.
Thanks are also due to all the noble men and women who serve our holy Empire with all the grace and conviction of God’s Chosen, who do not flinch at the time of trial, but press on with hope in their hearts
These martyrs have paved the path to salvation by laying the ultimate sacrifice upon the altar of God.
DULCE DECORUM EST MORI PRO IMPERIO

This news sheet was brought to you by Placid Shores Publications, a subsidiary of Stillwater Corporation. It was written by Ensign Kylara Rand of the Master of Shadows

We'll retake it soon enough.