2018.06.04
Sometimes, things can be unexpectedly put into perspective, a brief moment of clarity that makes you appreciate things so much more. I did not plan that on this lazy Sunday, I would be leading a small fleet to not one, but two landmarks in New Eden. But I'm glad that I did, because I again have a newfound appreciation for this universe we share.
We left O-VWPB with 24 fleet members, flying hyperspatial frigates, interceptors, and a Sabre, bound for Molea, the system of the Capsuleer Cemetery. By a stroke of luck, we had acquired the location of a wormhole from Vale of the Silent to Khanid, the same region as our first stop. Hooray! We took the jump bridge to NQ-9IH and made our way to our wormhole-out system.
Along the way to Vale, a neutral Ferox decided to lay down at our feet, and our forward scout Roland Diaz quickly got point on it. A blob of hyperbeans descended upon it on its in-gate; it died a death by a thousand cuts. https://zkillboard.com/kill/70384465/
Upon arrival, we had a quick NBI lesson on wormholes for our Newbeans and splashed the hole. Turns out, Khanid is a big region, so big that our wormhole still left us 22 jumps away from our destination... FUCK! Ok, freeburn, beans! We had relatively no contact with hostile wildlife on the way to Molea.
We arrived at Molea in staggered formation, having been separated slightly by wayward autopilots. Each person arrived at their own pace, and to this sight:
I told the fleet of the significance of this space, of the POS at its center, and how EVE players maintained the site... placing gravesites for real, departed friends. Some brief talk about anchoring mechanics, and some stories about the absolute shitbrains that have tried to attack this site in the past. In fact, several fleet members had brought their own Small Secure Containers and anchored their own.
One fleet member told us of his lost friend from his college days, with whom he flew, who had passed last year. The fleet all had an unspoken moment of silence in solidarity with our fleetmate.
After a quick bio break (crying is bio), the fleet started towards the system of New Eden, somber. We encountered significantly more neutrals along this path, but the added security of low-sec space meant that quick pings and some scouting was all the tour needed to stay safe. ScipioAemilianus, being a bit of a historian, told us the much more uplifting story of the birth of New Eden, the blessing and eventual curse of the EVE gate, and the origins of the races that exist today. Along the way, the fleet began to encounter strange structures, abandoned stations; evidence of man's first steps into New Eden.
Soon enough, we were all greeted with an unbelievable sight.
In the unending distance was a massive rift in space. The EVE gate, the natural wormhole that gave us life, pulsed with everchanging colors. Overwhelming all stars and blackness, it was mistakable for an incredible sun, New Eden's real star being a much less awe-striking figure in the distance. Around us, we saw several freeport structures, but incredibly, it was difficult to get one's bearings. The sight of two sources of light in the sky and the grand scale of it all was disorienting, to say the least. It honestly felt like finding the edge of the world.
Several fleet members attempted to burn to the wormhole itself, to no avail. It was simply too far away from any known structures. Defeated, but content, the fleet began to disband, those with interceptors burning back home, while the hyperspatial frigates simply self-destructed. Some decided to stay and commence in an impromptu Thunderdome, but in the middle of combat, the combatants were ambushed by a Deimos pilot, who made quick work of all the remaining ships. Spoilsport.
In short, we were "feels positive," op success. It was perhaps a bit of a sloppy fleet in terms of navigation, only one bit of classical "content" was had, but everyone had a good time. Some people FC in order to learn and grow as individuals. Some people FC to bring Horde victory and glory. I think I run these fleets for moments like these; moments that undoubtedly enrich our lives and make us appreciate all of life's beginnings and ends.