There’s another factor here too that I feel is being overlooked and not asked.
The people on these massive ships… Are human, right?
Hell they had support fleets - All piloted and crewed by human beings. Humans have something called Self-preservation. Yet those involved didn’t seem to care all too much about escaping when the deck was stacked against them.
We’re talking about mercenaries here, meaning we say that they acted on behalf of a third party paying them a lump of cash to do these insane stunts. But how much money do these people need to be paid with the risks involved with these stunts?
Starting with Tanoo… Let’s be real, anyone that survived that attack is enslaved. The attack alone was rather suicidal - You’re bombing the capital world of the Mandate, a client State of the Amarr - the response is gonna be swift and brutal. The crews of those ships that attacked Tanoo were ■■■■■■ the second they came into system. They’re either dead or enslaved for this transgression - More so with the Republic denouncing them and essentially making them criminals.
I understand Mercenaries are shot-sighted - I certainly was for a time - but how much money has to be on the table to take that risk? Certainly the risk of such an op of slamming projectiles down on a populated Mandate capital world is obvious to those involved.
The Guristas are some crazy daredevil bastards that take some high-danger jobs - But even THEY know when to say no at times when the risks are absurd.
Now we got this attack in Tierijev and clearly the Black eagles are involved now and… Yeah let’s just say anyone that survived Tierijev and was captured is not having a good time. And that kind of should of be expected with an attack of this magnitude.
So are these people even being motivated by money or… Something else? None of this seems worth a paycheck. What’s the point of doing something for money if you ain’t gonna be alive or free to enjoy it?