Bushkashi, Shield Gank Hurricanes and dead cows

Busy week with a hilarious roam into Etherium Reach in one of our typical shield tanked battle-cruiser fleets and Rae killing a CYNABAL in his rifter. A kill of the year so far with interesting comments in BattleClinic too.

One of our pilots was celebrating her birthday and it was decided that something special was to be planned.

Since The Bastards Forum post described the event better than I ever can, I shameless plagarise this from Persephone Astrid..

What: A brutal sporting event followed by a frigate roam.

When: Friday 5 March 2010, 2100 EVE time

Where: Evati

Who: All Bastards members and Bastards recruits.

Why: Because you only become officially old once.

How: First we play bushkashi, then we go on a roam.

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Part 1, Bushkazi Battle: Bushkazi is an ancient game from Afghanistan or thereabouts. In it, the torso of a sheep is used as a ball. Teams of mounted horsemen compete to grab the dead sheep torso and drag it around a pole driven into the sand, and then back into a winner's circle at the other end of the field. While this is going on, the other horsemen may do whatever it takes to stop this happening and to score the goal for themselves. Typically the riders carry whips in their teeth and wear armor. The game is notoriously brutal and serious injury is common.

Since we lack horses, sheep, and whips, the rules will be slightly modified for New Eden...

Teams will consist of T1 frigates fitted with T1 modules, T1 ammo and drones, and T1 rigs. The goal will be to snag a cargo container full of livestock using tractor beams, drag it around a marker some distance away, and then drag it back to the starting line. Players may do whatever it takes to accomplish this goal, including destroying the ships of the other players. If the container of livestock is destroyed, play stops, the pilots cease fire and return to the starting line, and a new container of livestock will be placed on the field. If the container of livestock is destroyed five times, nobody wins.*

No faction, wormhole, officer, T2, or other pricey stuff will be allowed. ECM modules are not allowed, but other EWAR is allowed. Cloaks are not allowed.

Teams will consist of no more than three pilots, and all the teams will compete at the same time. Sign your team up in this thread. Those who cannot get onto a team will be put together into pickup teams by the event organizer on the day of the event. If a pickup team has only two pilots, then one member of that team may choose to fly a destroyer instead of a frigate. If a player has no teammates at all, they may choose to fly a T1 cruiser instead of a frigate.

Each member of the winning team will receive a victor's trophy. Every participant will receive a celebratory gift for attending.

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Well, what can I say? I was in a team with TheHermit and Kai. We huddled together around a table and supped beer and leaned in closer to discuss our plans. Kai had an idea.

"Right this is what we're going to do. Flash - you burn ass close to the livestock can, grab the livestock and swap it with a pint of milk. Keep the cows in your cargohold but tractor the now livestock-less cargo can. Try and finish the circuit. Once you're getting close to the finish line, cut the tractor beam and let the cargo can drift. This should cause some confusion."

TheHermit, grinning from ear to ear pitched in.

"We'll be running interference of course and Kai has parked a number of ships in an off-grid safe so he can ship up quickly. No need to dock up you see."

I nodded to myself considering the plan so far and actually liked it. "That is quite...sneaky."

Kai continued. "Anyway, once you're close to the finish line just jettison the cows in a new cargo can, tractor it and bring it over the finish line. There and we've won the first round. Done and dusted." Kai sat back with a measure of smugness.

I took a deep pull on the beer and felt a belch coming along.

"Okay, what are you two going to do?"

"Run interference and blow the crap out of the others."

"Or jam them solid." Added TheHermit.

I sat back, belched and nodded. It was a good plan and what could go wrong?

"I like it. Let's do it."

When the event kicked off, an hour late (a Bastards tradition, starting late that is) - we were all assembled. There were a total of three teams: two teams of three ships and one team of two. The duo had a destroyer making up for the lower number. Persephone had the role of MC and Referee and got us all the starting line.

We waited, the tension was there.

Then we were off!

I gunned the micro warp drive and sped towards the can. My two team mates proceeded to lock up available targets but it appeared that JManZA in his thrasher (he was in the team of two) had attracted the most attention. I was so far, unmolested and arrived at the can. I quickly yanked out the mooing cows and carefully place a pint of milk in their stead. I closed up the can, switched on the tractor beam and started to move towards the middle stake. Already, ships were exploding and capsules zipping past me as they raced for home and for a new ship. As I approached the second can, I realised that I had lost the can. I had got out of range and someone else was pulling it back towards the middle!

I gunned the ship around the stake and was racing home.

Meanwhile, I could hear a lot of cursing and confusion as someone discovered that the bushkazi can contained not live bovine stock but a pint of milk instead. This was my cue to jettison out the cows in my cargohold into a new cargo hold and tractor beam them the remaining 2KMs back over the line.

I announced that we had succeeded. There was much hooting and cheering. Both TheHermit and Kai were also still in their ships. We had won.

Persephone wasn't too sure. Nor were the opposition. Persephone, on hearing that we had crossed the line ordered a ceasefire. However, one of the team, 'claimed' that they didn't hear the ceasefire command and proceeded to blow me and TheHermit up. Not nice. Anyway, I was still floating around in my capsule when Persephone's Navy comet came up and checked the can and yes, indeed - there were cows in there. A bit bashed about, they had crapped everywhere and were mooing and stomping around but they were indeed the milk producing bovine livestock we recognised.

Persephone smelt a rat (or a cow pat) and reviewed the video logs. Our hysterical laughing and snide remarks didn't help either.

It was finally decided that we had someone cheated and that we deserved to get blown up.

We started again, but unknown to anyone, z0de (a member of the 'other' team of three) had discovered Kai's off-grid safe and his stash of ships. He jumped into the ships and then offlined all the modules. Sneaky bastard. When Kai lost his ship, around the beginning of round 2, he zipped back to his safe and discovered his ship was inoperable. Much hilarity ensued.

The second round was eventually won by Arri who's team had successfully blown up me, TheHermit and Kai in quick succession.

The event was over after a frantic 30 minutes of ships colliding into each other, livestock spilling out into space and laughter drowning out any sane conversation in the ventrilo server.

However, more was to come - we all agreed it was a superb event but Persephone wanted to take a frigate gang on a suicide roam and what did they get? They killed a loki with their rag-tag fleet, ah birthday roams - best roams.

Stealth bomber roams are fun for sure and lately, we've discovered that most of the action is within a few jumps of our home system. We organised a stealth bomber based roam with a bait brutix up ahead to draw fire and attract targets. Persephone had the honour of this most magnificient role. I also made her secondary FC after me as being ahead, she would be ideal to call targets. She was also desperate to lose the brutix. I have no idea why as I think it is a brutal looking ship and quite effective too.

The rest of the fleet was made up as follows:

Brutix

Hound

Hound

Rapier

Rifter

Purifier

Purifier

Ares

Manticore

(and a couple of others that I forgot to include)

Quite effective though lacking in the probing department. No matter, Persephone raced ahead and the rest of the fleet started to assembling. Persephone's voice crackled through:

"Drake is tracking me. Moving to planet 1. Let's see if he follows. I am in Akkio."

The rest of the fleet aligned and jumped towards Persephone's system - we were two jumps out when Persephone called point. Excited we all jumped in and warped to Persephone. Other hostile ships were also warping in as well including a dominix, curse, armageddon and a few others. It was at this time that something odd happened. Space travel is always a funny business, one is stretching the rules of known physics to destruction in most cases and sometimes, just sometimes, the universe fights back. Our jump towards Persephone was characterised by mashed up sensors, non-jumps or a jump journey that lasted for an age. Some of the ships landed close to Persephone but their sensors (as well as their eyes) could not see her or the enemy ships or indeed the planet she was orbiting. Others, like myself, find themselves in a very long warp only to rubber-band back to our original position. Very odd and needless to say, not one of us could get in and help Persephone and her Brutix was duly dismantled. Only one other fleet member landed near Persephone, could see some (not all) of the enemy ships and fired one salvo.

A most disappointing initial engagement but we bounced back and soon found ourselves in Null-sec chasing the local residents. Being all cloaky and hidden no doubt freaked them out and most docked up either in their outpost or POS. Some were complaining that they wanted to 'reclaim their local' and that we had to leave immediately.

We did pop a heavily laden hound caught in a number of bubbles that were anchored around the Paala / LXQ2-T gate - it was carrying about 40million+ of items so a valuable score for us. Nashh grabbed most of the loot and scooted to a nearby station. Kalius also popped a raptor buzzing us, he was in his trade-mark rifter and one always puts your money on Kal Prime. The fleet had cohesion, discipline and a big degree of fun and despite the low harvest, we all returned home grinning. I had to then pass the FC baton to Kalius and Co. and they continued killing and ransoming people until the wee hours.

I had to get the current loot sales sorted - we are close to hitting 2B in items sold so am going to bank the money and get ready to split the proceeds amongst the pirates. We do need to paid after all.

Rifter V Taranis

Roaming on your own should be done by every pod pilot - I started solo and stayed a solo pilot and pirate for a long time. It is the only way to learn combat in New Eden as well as a understanding lot about yourself. It was a slow day at the office and I sneaked out of The Bastards headquarters in my trusty rifter and zipped through space. I pointedly ignored the flashing mail notification icons and the incoming message prompts. I just pointed the rifter in one direction and opened up the throttle. I needed a break and I wanted to see what I could catch and didn't really care whether it was a rookie frigate or a titan. However, after five jumps, I saw nothing on scan. Not a sausage. I paused and checked in with Aurora, just to be sure.

"Aurora, push the scanners out to maximum. I can see people in local but so far, no even space junk on scan."

Aurora's lush and husky voice flowed back.

"Maximum scans indicate that there are no vessels around asteroid belts, planets or any other celestials. There are three vessels, marauder class deep inside an anomaly. Scan probes of sufficient strength are required."

I pushed on and increased the volume of the in-flight music, an eclectic mix of chilled ambient and techno. Try it, works for me, especially when it is quiet.

A few more jumps and I landed in Resbroko and pinged the scanner once more.

Taranis on scan - let's have some it, I thought.

A quick fiddle of the directional scanner and I had the interceptor.

Warp drive active.

As my rifter leapt into warp, eager for combat and blood. I quickly reviewed the taranis: short range weapons with quite thin armour. It was devastating up close and fitted properly could hit out quite far with tech two ion blasters and null ammunition.

With all these variable flowing through me; I was eager to test my rifter against it. My tactic was to keep range with my webber and blast the taranis as it tried to close on me. I would have to pulse my micro warp drive to ensure that I could maintain some range but it would be a challenge for sure.

As I approached the belt my directional scanner pinged ahead and confirmed that the taranis was at the top belt but whether he was moving or staying still was an unknown. My heart started to beat faster. A feeling that most combatants are familiar with. Despite having fought in low sec for a few long years, I still loved the thrill of approaching violence and I would never get sick of it.

I landed at 20km from the centre of the top asteroid belt; as I was planning on the taranis being at zero. My eyes snapped up as I saw the taranis barrelling towards me, its micro warp drive burning brightly. The pilot was intent on closing on me and he had landed off the warp in point as well. He had the same idea as me and was 'only' 14 km from me.

I fired when I was at optimal range (in other word, immediately) but then realised that I had EMP-based ammunition loaded and not barrage; a rookie mistake and I cursed. The EMP ammunition was designed to knock down shielded system but it wasn't to be used at long range, while the barrage type was, especially at my optimal. In a moment of indecision, distracted by my annoyance, I lost track of the taranis and forgot to web him. My rifter's close collision alarms blared as the taranis passed by, its close range blasters racking my ship, my shields boiling off in two and then three bright flashes but I did bring him down to armour by some luck.

The taranis swept round in a wide arc as I gunned my rifter in the opposite direction, my webber snaked out but he was too close and continued to chew through my armour. We both went down into hull at the same time but I then ran out of capacitor to power up my armour repairer. Poor use of my ship's capacitor had opened me up to yet more damage. I cursed, as the taranis pilot could smell blood; even webbed - it was delivering devastating hits. My poor rifter was down to half hull but my 150 mm auto canons continued to fire and the taranis was also on fire.

With a jolt, my automatic ejection system kicked in and vomited my capsule out into space. The rifter no more. My rifter had been blasted to atoms around me. The taranis was in a bad way but at least it still flew. As I powered away, I saw the pilot approach my wreck and grabbed what he could.

There was a pinging sound and I realised that the pilot wanted to talk to me.

What followed was a pleasant exchange and it was then I saw that the victorious pilot was from GIS - a corporation that had frequented these parts but had disappeared for some unknown reason. It was with some pride that he said The Bastards are one of the few honoured pirates around and that he was glad that I didn't chicken out. We chatted about the antics of General Coochie, one of our very best of ours who gave GIS no end of trouble. He is on a long term sabbatical at the moment and I hope to see him back soon. We ended what turned out to be a very pleasant conversation when my criminal count-down had cooled off. He even contracted back the salvaged remains of my ship after I cheekily asked for it back.

A bit surprised, I set a course for home and made my way back to Evati.

Get the pilgrim!

Fun night last night; some Amarr Faction Warfare pilots came to Evati to capture some military bunkers as part of the endless chess game they were having with the Minmatar. There were three such installations, two were of the smaller type with narrower acceleration gates. The third one was unrestricted in terms of what ship types could enter. To maximise our chances, we switched down to destroyers and frigates in order to get through them all. Viginti and Zem drew the short straw and found themselves in the larger installation.

So we waited.

Piracy is like this - some people don't 'get our brand of piracy'. It isn't all bright explosions and good fights as much as I would like it to be. Many times, it is down right boring - sitting and waiting and hunting for people who simply didn't want to be found. Roaming for ages with nothing to bring down. Feast or famine and usually more of the latter. However, we were in for some fun when Zem and Vig both called out that a punisher had landed and they had pointed it. Now, there were many destroyers of various classes spotted in and around Evati. It is probably the best type of ship for the smaller bunkers and installations.

So we had the punisher but there would be more and with a yell, Viginti announced that a pilgrim class vessel had decloaked as well. It began to spit out warrior IIs. Both Vig and Zem knew that they could only hold on.

Wikkid and myself both undocked, in a drake and hurricane respectively. We also had some ECM back-up and another vessel pulled in from a secondary spot three jumps away. We were busy in multiple areas but when a target was sighted, we all vectored in.

The pilgrim destroyed Zem's coercer - his ship bursting into pieces under the fire of the deadly drones.

"Zem is down. Zem is down." Announced Zemledock as he whipped his capsule out of harm's way. Vig was next, he kept the point on the pilgrim but the punisher, now free bolted as well. Wikkid and I landed at the silent acceleration gate - we sent the correct entry codes and the gate cycled up and activated.

We jumped through into the complex and promptly pointed the pilgrim. Not panicking, the pilgrim pilot slapped his eneryg neutralisers onto Wikkid's drake and tried to burn away. However, this drake wasn't the typical shield heavy version but sported a pair of stasis webifiers, bulging from the two pods on either side of the drake's wing. It held the pilgrim fast and once my ECM drones and neutraliser was on it. The fate of the pilgrim was sealed.

I asked Viginti, who had gotten out in time, his hull on fire from the angry attention of the pilgrim's warrior drones, initiated a conversation with the brave pilgrim pilot. We asked for 120million isk for the release of his ship. We followed the conversation with interest but the pilgrim pilot decided against it and offered his ship up to our destruction.

Viginti had come back now and he had the task of trying to capture the capsule as we pummelled the pilgrim into a burning wreck. The capsule got away but it was a decent haul. Wikked had started to salvage the wreck almost immediately. We're to leave nothing behind and it is a good motto.

A while later, Jabbajools had managed to spot a thorax and this time, Viginti and Avid were thrown in to tackle - however, Avid was too eager and jumped to JJ too soon and landed too far from the thorax who fancied his chances against Avid's catalyst. Chuckling, Vig followed to assist Avid while Jabba flew in with his rook.

A rook and two destroyers versus a single thorax should have been a foregone conclusion but the thorax pilot, through skillful use of his ECM drones, broke through the trap and escaped. It was very well done and made it clear that we were impressed.

We also killed a missioning drake (yes, mission runners can still be found in low-sec) as well as a handful of other ship types. Some loot, plenty of banter and we also got to see a new recruit impress us with his skills and attitude. A good night and I didn't even plan anything.

Stealth Bomber roams and more fun

Busy couple of weeks - stealth bomber roams around low-sec proved to me just how deadly and fun these ships are. A medium sized gang of us went looking for trouble and found a flashing dominix gate camping. We de-cloaked and unleashed torpedoes. I grinned wolfishly as the torps made their way over, almost serenely, towards the dominix. A wave of our ordnance slammed into the enemy vessel and within seconds it had blossomed into an expanding ball of flame and scrap metal.

We lost JManza to the dominix's sniping tempest friend and z0de, in a rare moment of idiocy, got caught out by the sentry guns. He lost his nice, expensive arazu but was man enough to admit his mistake. Going to be running more of these types of roams, minus the silly losses.

In some un-related news - my recent EVE Blog banter was deemed good enough to win a 14-Day GTC but I was surprised it was even considered as the quality of the other entrants was (in my view) so high.

Ops and Big Ass Ops and..are the Goons dead?

My first op of 2010 started horribly with us eager Bastards rushing in to kill an obvious bait-drake in belt 3-1; we had kiting cruisers and we're doing ok but then local crept up and up and up and oops.

I should have called an abort there and then but was eager for a kill and eventually we lost my rapier (sob), theHermit's falcon and Mr Frog's Arazu. Yes, the most expensive ships in the fleet. I have no idea who the enemy fleet was but I am definitely seeing more traffic around Evati. Could be due to Pandemic Legion relocating into Geminate maybe?

Last night it was better; much better. I had a fleet of 14, eager blood thirsty pirates. Banter was great on vent (and in fleet chat) and we were all in battle cruisers - shield tanked with gank. We took a dive into null-sec through Paala into the drone regions and out to Skarkon and scored a couple of kills. Most of it was dancing with the locals but it was good to be out and about. We had some new recruits with us too so we had to be on our best behaviour (;-).

Am organising more ops, each week and I can't wait.

Of course, there's more: z0de has been planning something big and heavy and I am privvy to this operation but need to keep quiet (operational security and all that) but by merely mentioning I have already broken the rules; but what the hell!

Yes, late to mention it - but it looks like Goons are dead.

Operations Tonight and Beyond...

OK - can't wait for tonight's op; had to trawl through a lot of mail and blogs to keep up to date but am looking forward to tonight. There's a most interesting project currently being mastermind by z0de; I have given my blessing to it and I hope it works out! It should be fun and I am going to be looking to buy more stuff in Rens.

Speaking of which, I checked my trade alt in RENS and we've sold about 1.32B isk of loot but it is holding steady at this amount. There's still lots of mid-range valued loot to be sold, most of the T2 stuff has gone and the faction items (all sub 50M isk) are trickling through. The new year has seen a decrease in the roams and hence in the loot collected. However, no matter.

Our ransoms are healthy but it's a slow start to 2010; am sure it will pick up quite quickly.

I had my directors meeting of 2010 where I and my directors (minus z0de due to his RL exams) - had a very productive 2 hour meeting where we discussed and decided a number of things. Will use the core of our discussions to form the framework for a more comprehensive corp AGM planned for later this month. There's been a few pirates who have left us, which is a shame but such is the cycle of life in New Eden. Our recruitment queue is holding at a dozen or so but we're having problems pulling this number down as our recruitment officers are finding it hard to juggle their time commitments. All I can say to our potential recruits is that we're sorry - we are trying and be patient. Our thread is here.

I have also noticed that our fellow pirate corps are also recruitment heavily too, so plenty to choose from to all you blood thirsty, ransom loving pilots. Trust me, low-sec piracy is a decision you shouldn't regret. Give it a go.

Ok - recruitment speil over!

Like most pod pilots, I am keeping up to date with the drama and issues in the south of New Eden. The Goons appear to have folded at the first hurdle and IT alliance has steamed into Delve and now more or less own it, along side Fountain which they took from Sons of Tangra and Pandemic Legion. Interestingly, PL are relocating some of their assets and pilots to Geminate; so only a few jumps from us. Should be interesting for smaller corporations in 2010. Am sure we'll adjust and there will be plenty of opportunities for us for ransoms and loot. Not too bothered about good fights; am not a knight after all though I am honest and will keep my word; assuming that I will give it.

Back to work but itching to log back in. That hurricane class battle cruiser is winking at me.....

EVE Blog Banter Special: Why We Love EVE Online so much...

Introduction to this special EVE Blog Banter

Welcome to this special instalment of the EVE Blog Banter, the monthly EVE Online blogging extravaganza created by CrazyKinux. The EVE Blog Banter involves an enthusiastic group of gaming bloggers, a common topic within the realm of EVE Online, and a week to post articles pertaining to the said topic. The resulting articles can either be short or quite extensive, either funny or dead serious, but are always a great fun to read! Any questions about the EVE Blog Banter should be directed to Crazy Kinux.

When you've been roaming New Eden as long as I have, it almost feels like home. That's how familiar it has become over the last 5 years. Not that I have done everything or touched every aspect of this most amazing of virtual world, far from it, but it just feels as though it's always been there. And always will be.

Whether you've logged into the game every day since its launch in 2003, or you've taken one or several sabbaticals from your capsuleer career, you've always come back to New Eden don't you. Why is that?

We know the EVE Online Community is unique in so many ways, and that EVE Online is like no other MMORPG out there. But what makes the game special for you?

What is it that makes this particular virtual world so enticing, so mysterious and so alluring that we keep coming back for more. Why is EVE one of the very few MMOs to see a continuous growth in its subscriber.

To put it simply: Why do you love EVE Online so much?

http://www.crazykinux.com/2010/01/eve-blog-banter-

special-edition-why-we.html

A black flag flutters in the artificial atmosphere of the vast ship hangar inside the moon-sized station. The flag bears the iconic emblem of a grinning winged skull backed by two swords. The flag of The Bastards, pirates basing themselves out of Metropolis. The skulls are evident on the black uniformed individuals moving along the corridors and sky bridges, all busy with urgent errands. The skull is repeated on the neat formation of combat ships, held in magnetic locks in the hangar itself and of all possible classes. Ships paid for from the spoils of ransoms and piracy of the highest order.

The same skull gleams as a collar stud on the uniform of Flashfresh, the current CEO of The Bastards. Staring out from behind toughened glass from the head quarters, suspended above the hangar, he surveys the current fleet as the final ordnance is loaded and locked in. Ship crews stream inside like a line of ants and automated missile loaders, scuttle around like giant spiders. Flashfresh grins; he always does when a new day dawns. The assembled fleet made Flashfresh grin and was an obvious counter-point at those who said piracy was largely dead. New Eden has so much potential and bursting with an eternity of choices. It always made him never regret the time when he was modified or indeed, each morning when he wakes up in Evati, his current home.

Standing behind him are the core of The Bastards: the capsuleer pirates, viciousness personified, biologically enhanced, feared and hated and immortal. Each with a sizeable bounty on their heads, placed there by other capsuleers, galactic authorities and powerful corporations in response to being subjected to brazen acts of piracy and ransoms. Each pirate doesn't care for this as they are truly free to test their mettle against the universe and to 'play the game'.

"What's it going to be this week boss?" Asked one pirate, known simply as 'TheHermit' his eyes hooded, cold and gray. "We killed miners in high-sec as per orders and thoroughly enjoyed the tears."

There were murmurs of agreement from the assembled pilots and a snort of derision from another.

"Over 1200 exhumers were destroyed and we played a significant part in it. We even got 500million isk reward for our troubles. Hell we even made the news. " Said an elegant female pirate who answered to 'Persephone Astrid'. "So what next?" Her eyes gleaned as she turned to another pilot killer, his face devoid of emotion. Persephone leaned close and whispered to him.

"What do you think Plat, wormhole ops this week?"

Plat shook his head slowly. "We did that a few months back. I think we're going for a mad frigate run through Molden Heath." A voice hissed over.

"That was a couple of weeks ago mate, it was fun but I think we're sticking closer to home - I think we're going to hit Paala and LXQ and get some null-sec action. Just like we did a few months back. Ishalar needs to do more of his ransom chatter eh Ish?"

Ishalar nodded in acknowledgement at Pastor Phelps, who now reminded him of a most fun and profitable evening. After a second of musing, Ishalar volunteered an idea. "Stealing POS towers. We haven't had the chance to do one in ages."

Pastor shook his head after considering the idea.

"Tower stealing? We know what happened last time - we let one slip away!"

Another pirate chipped in with a suggestion. "Nah - stealth bomber roam; loved the last one though it didn't end well." He winked at a thin, serious looking man. "Eh Jirat?"

Jirat just grinned back. "I want kill another strategic cruiser, solo like I did with that proteus." This brought on a chorus of approvals as it was a solo kill of legendary proportions. Jirat could get free drinks with that story for a while.

The noise died down as three individuals strolled into the room and approached Flashfresh, who still was staring out into the hangar, no doubt enjoying the banter behind him. The three newcomers were the senior capsuleers of The Bastards and their names were well known to all: Viginti, Raelyf and z0de.

Viginti leaned in close and whispered something to Flashfresh. There was an almost imperceptible nod and Flashfresh turned around. He had a smile on his face.

"Ladies and Gentlemen. Your attention to please." After some shuffling and jostling for a view, The Bastards all stood up. "Yes, we've had a busy 2009 and hopefully you have enjoyed yourself. New Eden has offered much to me and to you."

A slight trembling could be felt underfoot as Flashfresh continued.

"However, we've always wanted to try something new, refine and improve on existing ideas. Yes, the Alliance tourney beckons once more but there is something else that I want to try in 2010."

The trembling became much more pronounced causing some consternation amongst the pilots. Flashfresh ignored it all and continued.

"Something that I wanted to do with The Bastards. First, let me show you the newest addition to our fleet..." As if on cue, something passed overhead and threw the entire room into shadow as a vessel sailed overhead. Strictly against station regulations, it was obvious Flash had pulled a few strings but passing so close to the office window caused some of the pilots to duck. All one could see was the hull surface of a massive ship, racing by and stretching out.

It took a full two minutes before the ship was passed and another three minutes before the pilots could recognise the vessel.

"It is a nomad class jump freighter, she's been christened 'Santa Anna' and it is for our use. We've listened and now we're improving our logistics after much deliberation." There were cheers and some applause. "No we didn't steal it either." Said Flashfresh. However the rumbling sound had not finished, instead it deepened.

"Of course, there's more. We've tried and succeeded in most things but I want to do our 'thing' a bit further afield this time." Flash let the sentence hang as the room was darkened once more and something large and ominous drifted over head. There were gasps and then cheers. Three black ops clandestine class battle ships wheeled in a tight formation and settled above their docking bays. Dozens of force reconnaissance and stealth bombers screeched among the three giants. Two panther class and one widow class black ops hovered majestically and then slowly descended onto huge magnetic clamps that closed with resounding thumps. They gleamed like all freshly commissioned ships and the Bastards skull motif was still bright and fresh on the flanks of these vessels of destruction.

"Ladies and gentlemen - our ships await us. Let's go, we have work to do."

Flashfresh grinned as with the dedicated pod pilots, shiny ships, new targets, new destinations and new opportunities - they were off. God, he just loves this life of his.

EVE Blog Banter 14: What now for Flash?

Welcome to the fourteenth installment of the EVE Blog Banter, the monthly EVE Online blogging extravaganza created by CrazyKinux. The EVE Blog Banter involves an enthusiastic group of gaming bloggers, a common topic within the realm of EVE Online, and a week to post articles pertaining to the said topic. The resulting articles can either be short or quite extensive, either funny or dead serious, but are always a great fun to read! Any questions about the EVE Blog Banter should be directed to crazykinux@gmail.com. Check out other EVE Blog Banter articles at the bottom of this post!

The first banter of 2010 comes to us from the EVE Blog Father, CrazyKinux himself, who asks the following: As we begin another year in New Eden, ask yourselves "What Now?" What will I attempt next? What haven't I done so far in EVE? Was it out fear, funds, or knowledge? Have I always wanted to start my own corporation, but have never dared doing so? Is there a fledging mercenary waiting to come out of its shell? Or maybe an Industrialist? What steps and objectives will I set myself to accomplish in order to reach my ultimate goal for this year? EVE is what you make of it. So, what is it going to be for you?

New Eden is my alter-ego's life; so there isn't an end game for me. However, I do have goals for 2010 and Eve is what I make it.

My goal this year is to lead The Bastards to greater success and notoriety for 2010. I have my eye on successfully signing up The Bastards for the Alliance Tournament, I still remember our first go two years ago. Last year, we were on the back-up list and with two hours to go, we were asked to step in! Of course, by this time - most of the active pilots had stepped down and we had to turn down the offer. Much to our collective chagrin.

So Alliance Tournament participant as a short immediate term.

On a more personal level, I hope to get into a panther class ship: a black ops minmater battle ship. I have the skill sets but can't yet afford the ship. I love the idea of sneaky covert-ops as it fits into the way The Bastards like to fly and yes, I am going to check up on some null-sec alliance space and see what we can do. The lack of funds and appropriate skill sets had held me back in 2009 but I intend to get this one checked off my list. Not going to bother with capital class ships at the moment, as I don't see them having any utility apart from specific, once in a blue moon occasion. However, in terms of goals, these are still very doable.

So in addition to the above, I am going to fly my rifter more regularly and attempt to get at 75 kills in the rifter in 2010 and ransom as much as I can, once again, in the rifter. Flying t1 hulls, properly fitted, is a joy - screaming through a belt and a target looming.

I also have desire to complete a collection of short stories that I have been working on since, well a long time. What has stopped me from completing the deed? Too much time to tweak and edit! Need to stop this and get it down into a final form.

So there you have it, I have done a lot in EVE and still, each day brings something new and fresh. I love it.

List of Participants:

1. CrazyKinux's Musing - A beginning is a very delicate time...
2. The Wandering Druid of Tranquility - Words, words, words…
3. My God It's Full of Stars - What Now?
4. The Elitist - Plans for 112yc
5. Into the unknown with gun and camera - Show me the money
6. Ecliptic Rift - Enabling the future
7. Inanity and Doom - New Year's Resolutions, New Eden Style
8. Break Vol - Blog Banter #14
9. Guns Ablaze - What Now?
10. Adventures in Mission Running - The Way Forward
11. Diary of a Pod Pilot - Things I want to do
12. Inner Sanctum of the Ninveah - The Year That Will Be
13. Roc's Ramblings - WordPress ate my blog
14. Vive Virtual - Frontier Living
15. A Mule in EVE - Next on the chopping block
16. Prano's Journey - I Peer Into My Crystal Pod...
17. Life in Low Sec - Expanding the Franchise
18. The Light of Stars - Testing the claims of CCP
19. A Memoir From Space - A New Direction
20. The Chronofile - Blog Banter 2010
21. FlashFresh - What now for Flash?
22. EVE Opportunist - Fyreite in 112
23. Mike Azariah - Jiorj
24. Yarrbear Tales - Year in Review
25. The Independant Analyst - The Year Ahead
26. The Travels of Black Claw - Where ma I going?
27. Warp Scrammed - What to do this year
28. Sered's Lives - Searching for directions in 2010
29. Finders & Keepers - New Tears, Same Great Taste
30. The Captain's Log - To Dream of the Future
31. The Lathspell of Mithrandir - Resolutions
32. The Midnight Sun - EVE Blog Banter #14
33. More to come...

Happy New Year and an update

Happy New Year and welcome to 2010.

I haven't posted anything of merit during the new year as my internet connection is simply not working - frequent disconnects from the ISP has meant that I get at most, a two minute connection window before it drops again. It continues with alarming and disheartening regularity.

Now, there's a disagreement between the ISP and BT Wholesale on who now owns the problem.

After three BT engineer visits over three weeks, they have found nothing wrong at my end but can't seem to agree on what is wrong only that there is indeed, an issue. Being passed from pillar to post and it is getting tiring and yes, I am getting irritable.

Anyway, The Bastards are ploughing along, busy with Hulkageddon II - full details are here. TheHermit is doing a super job for us, first organising and then leading our bunch of fine Bastards into the fray. There's a rather funny (nay, disturbing evemail) from a miner who is accusing us of having caused a real life death of someone. I find this hard to believe as a blown up hulk will cause gnashing of teeth and pulling of hair but a real life death?

Turning the clock back a bit more, The Bastards concluded our secret (santanic) santa gift giveaway. Organised by Persephone Astrid - each member had a choice of four gifts, differing in terms of value and a final choice of an 'odd' gift. A great way to off-load that troublesome bit of Krull's DNA that was cluttering up one's hangar for example.

I received a stabber fleet issue and plenty of ammo while I gave away an Amarr Navy Slicer and some faction goodies. Great fun!

Anyway, I am off to bash some ISP support call handler's head in! Wish me luck!

Artist wanted for commissioned work

Wanted: an artist to do a special piece of commissioned work for me; Specifically, character portraits - facial and full-length. Needs to be able to create their own designs and an existing portfolio would be helpful.

Drop me an email: flashfresh@the-bastards.com

Payment will be on successful completion and artist will release all IPR on the picture on full payment.

Merry Christmas All!!

My ADSL has been giving me a lot of bother lately with some pretty severe drop-outs; so I was hoping to do some violence and piracy over the christmas period but alas, I will have to make do with eating, drinking and attempting to stay warm.

Anyway, I just wanted to say a merry christmas and a happy new year to each and everyone one of you - New Eden pilot or just an interested spectator. Thank you for reading and commenting on this blog; my humble experiment to note down as much for myself my regular antics as a pirate and capsuleer in the madly addictive alternate reality of New Eden.

So let me repeat: have a merry christmas and a happy new year. This goes out to all those who I have flown with and against. The sexy vixens from the Hellcats and the bunch of friends and colleagues that New Eden call collectively, 'The Bastards'.

For Flashfresh, piracy will officially resume in Jan 01, 2010.