Intergalactic Summit

I observed the entire operation and have to say the attack on RMOC-W was an unmitigated failure on the part of the Empire and State. Absolutely nothing was done correctly. Rather than write a thesis on null sec ops, I will simply state how I would have planned the attack. While there are some that will simply dismiss this as hindsight, this comes from experience.

Intel
Publicly available news sources have reported on the war going on in Curse. In most cases, intelligence gathering starts with the news. Secondly, CONCORD has access to stupidly large amounts of data. Not utilizing that resource was stupid. In addition, having scouts positioned in the staging systems of the major powers in the area is a must. Not knowing what systems alliances are based out of is inexcusable; in fact, it borders on criminally negligent.

Offensive Logistics
If at all possible, set up a control tower at a vacant moon in target system. This can provide a safe refuge if needed. There is not a need for modules or guns of any kind. The tower just needs enough fuel for the duration of the operation plus four hours and four-eight hours of stront. This can give warning, though. Setting up a small tower as the attack commences is also a viable strategy.

Cynos
Have the cyno ships in place prior to form up. Have a ship in as many systems as possible.

Form Up
There is no reason to move as a group multiple jumps in high sec. The form up should have been at Ihal and it should have started at 1650. As the ones calling for the op, the onus is on the Empire and State to supply fleet commanders. Those fleet commanders should have been known ahead of time and there should have been one for every fleet. The position of fleet commander is not a ceremonial job. A commander will command! Every FC should be skilled at leading pilots into battle, not simply telling pilots where to go.

Fleet Composition
It was well known that this op would involve Pod v. Pod (also known as PVP) combat. This should have been better communicated to pilots and it should have been emphasized to pick and fit ships accordingly. Sample fittings should have been given as well.

OPSEC
Aside from the target system, don’t bother. It’s impossible. Opsec is mostly used for use of capital and supercapital assets.

Titan Bridging
The Imperial and State Navies have titans. They should have been used for bridges into RMOC-W. Stage them in a starbase inaccessible to anyone but navy pilots. For the RMOC-W attack, they should have been stated in Podion, only six jumps from the staging system in Ihal. From there, the fleets could have been bridged directly into RMOC-W. Under no cases should the fleets have been flown through Doril.

My Plan
Form up would have been called for at 1650 in Ihal with battlecruisers and logistics called for, if possible. Sample fits would have been given for the Harbinger and the Ferox as well as the Augoror and the Osprey. Fleets would have been opened up only as needed. Use the time until 1850 for the fleet commanders to talk to their pilots and get everything as organized as possible.
At 1850, the fleet would depart and move to Podion. Whether the fleet free burns or moves as a whole is dependent on the report of scouts. Podion would already have a control tower set up and been cynojammed. As soon as all the fleets that have left Ihal have arrived and formed on the titans, they would be bridged into RMOC-W.
RMOC-W would have as many staging towers as possible. The fleets would cyno in near the towers and then warp to the objective. Titans would cyno in behind the fleets and burn into the force fields. Any fighting should take place on the objective. Place bubbles in line to the gates from the objective at 90 km. Engage the target until opposition arrives. If the target is destroyed before opposition arrives the fleets return to the towers and take a titan bridge home.
If opposition arrives, the whole plan is tossed out the window and it’s up to the FCs to fight the fleets and win. Although, since the opposition has not picked the battlefield, the odds are not as bad.

Addendum:
I do not know the exact capabilities of the Amarr Empire when it comes to structures used in sov space. If possible a jump bridge between Ihal and Podion should have been placed.

Not bad.

I think any sort of plan and coordination might have been a good start.

This sounds like an excellent plan. Which puts it probably a few steps too far for the people who are responsible for this scandal.

Have you considered writing a guide for a poor plan, or a mediocre plan? That might be more achievable in the short term.

I hear trolls live under those things.