20:48 BREAKING: Caldari Dreadnoughts Destroyed Over Tierijev IV in Battle to Stop Bombardment
Tierijev, Verge Vendor – The squadron of Phoenix-class dreadnoughts bombarding the planet Tierijev IV are reported to have been destroyed by a Federation Navy fleet, EDENCOM’s AEGIS units and capsuleer forces in another pitched battle in orbit of a world threatened by mass destruction from space.
Reports indicate that the dreadnoughts were carrying the indentifiers of the Expert Intervention mercenary corporation, a PMC with links to the Nugoeihuvi megacorporation and its Internal Security corporate military. Damage reports are unclear but the Federation defense complex on the surface of Tirerijev IV is believed to have raised its defenses rapidly and warded off most missiles. Others have struck randomly in the surrounding region, with an unconfirmed report claiming an automated mega-plantation dedicated to high-yield wheat crops has been hit by at least one warhead.
The news from New Caldari Prime has been dominated by the destruction of the tip of the CEP’s primary spire in Landfall City. CEP Chairman Puok Kossinen remains unaccounted for but the ‘Big 8’ megacorporation CEOs have been stated to be “safe, secure and holding a CEP meeting by remote holographic comms.” The Caldari State’s Inner Circle Delegate, Akimaka Saraki, has requested a full meeting of the Inner Circle after his own conference with several of the Big 8 CEOs. The Federation’s Ambassador Devan Malate has joined the call for a meeting, and the Amarr Empire and Minmatar Republic delegates are understood to be enroute after reporting to their own governments over the weekend.
Tierijev, Verge Vendor – A squadron of Phoenix-class dreadnoughts has reportedly begun a bombardment of the fourth planet of the Tierijev system. The apparent strike across the Gallente Federation’s Verge Vendor border with the Citadel region in the Caldari State comes soon after a report of a major explosion at the Caldari CEP’s primary Spire in Landfall City on New Caldari Prime.
The status of the Tierijev border system was disputed by the Caldari and Gallente governments for many decades after the end of the Caldari-Gallente War. Although the system was determined to be Gallente territory under the Yulai Accords, it remains a sore point of contention for Caldari nationalists. The Gallente Federation maintains an extensive defense complex on Tierijev IV, and there are a variety of settlements and industrial colonies on the planet.
Reports from both New Caldari Prime and Tierijev are confused but the Caldari Navy has declared the “orbital defenses and security of New Caldari Prime intact”. The Federation Navy is reported to be scrambling fleet units to support Tierijev as the bombardment by Caldari dreadnoughts continues. AEGIS defense units in the system are also reported to be responding.
19:09 BREAKING: Explosion Reported at CEP Spire in Landfall City on New Caldari Prime
New Caldari Prime – Eyewitnesses have reported a large explosion in the upper levels of the Chief Executive Panel Administrative Spire on New Caldari Prime. Unconfirmed reports suggest that several of the upper levels of the corporate spire have been severely damaged, possibly entirely destroyed. Debris is reported to be raining into the surrounding plaza and nearby Landfall Park.
Communications with New Caldari Prime remain open but heavily congested. There are no reports of hostile space vessels in orbit of New Caldari Prime. It is unclear if the CEP was in session but the locations of several “Big 8” megacorp CEOs were last reported to be at their corporate HQ spires or offworld.
LATE BREAKING: CEP Chairman Puok Kossinen is reported to be missing as sources indicate the CEP were meeting in “remote holographic conference”. State Peacekeepers are locking down Landfall City as Caldari Navy and corporate security forces raise defense alerts. Planetary defenses, and city and arcology shields are also reported to have been activated across Caldari State territory.