Archive:Operation: Fortress

This page's intent is to provide information on the the history of EVE University. The information on this page is no longer current.

History

In a reaction to less-than-satisfactory performance in a series of wars against the University, Director Emeritus Korr’Tanas proposed a solution. On September 4th 2012, he created a general discussion thread titled Operation: Fortress and encouraged Ivy League members to read and participate in the discussion. Korr’Tanas’ original post included his reasons for proposing the operation, and suggestions on how to create a continuous corporation-wide fleet for everyone in the University Headquarters of Aldrat, as well as the surrounding systems. The interest of members was strong with both supporters and detractors joining in on the discussion.

The Operation: Fortress fleet was soon created in game, and over the course of only a couple of days had various encounters with War Targets - some successful others less so. On September 6th 2012, Director Emeritus Korr’Tanas created a secondary thread explaining the nuts and bolts of the Operation: Fortress fleet as not everyone would necessarily have fleet formation experience.

Purpose of the operation

Korr'Tanas' stated goal was to get everyone around our then-HQ Aldrat (not just the Aptetter constellation, but anything within reach) into one fleet to be able to react to War Target attacks as quickly as possible and provide fewer easy targets for roaming hostiles.

His hope was that the Operation: Fortress fleet would be running around the clock, each day.

How an Operation: Fortress fleet was created

Each day during scheduled maintenance any existing fleet was automatically disbanded. If members logged in and search for fleets but were unable to find the Operation: Fortress in fleet finder, they were encouraged to create one. They were asked to ensure that there was only one Operation: Fortress fleet running at any given time.

The actual formation of the fleet was straightforward.

• Members set up additional squads and wings, at least 2 wings with 5 squads each, although it didn't hurt to just set up 5 wings with 5 squads each. This way there would always be enough individual squads for the separate groups.
  • Members set up squads in the PvP wing(s) so they include Tackle, DD, Ewar/Logi.
  • Members created one wing for PvE, for people that want to mine or do missions.
  • Members made sure to enable the "free move" option so people could move themselves within the fleet.

• The fleet advert stated:

  Welcome To Operation Fortress
  If you are new to the way the Fortress fleet works , please read in the wiki "What to do once you are in" 
  http://wiki.eveuniversity.org/Operation:_Fortress
  Please move your self to the relevent Wing/Squad and if you have Leadership 5 Take a SC possition!
  DO NOT SHARE MISSION REWARDS IN THIS FLEET THANK YOU.
  

How members joined

Assuming a fleet has already been created correctly members were be able to find it in the Fleet Finder. Alternatively this fleet might have been advertised in Alliance channel (and possibly some other channels as well) with a link for members to just click on to join the fleet.

After that members were asked to join the mumble channel for this operation, under Special Projects and Events.

Members were requested to read the Rookie's Guide to Fleet Ops, which covers fleet terminology, how fleets operate, fleet member discipline, and other information they would be expected to know if you join a QRF (Quick Response Force).

What Operation: Fortress did

Whatever members wanted, within reason.

• Listened to the Fortress mumble channel and paid attention to War Target reports in fleet and LiveIntel.ILN
  • When there was no immediate hostile threat members could conduct business as usual, and could ask in fleet if someone wanted to join in whatever they were doing, for example missions, mining. Free move was activated for this fleet, so the group could move into its own squad or wing and set up their fleet/wing/squad boosters as desired. It was encouraged that at least someone should be in a position so that they could warp the entire group off when needed. Members could use a separate mumble channel for their group and set up a separate chat channel ingame as well.

• If a war Target(s) was heading over to our then-HQ Aldrat (or wherever the fleet was) instructions were to:
  • Alert the fleet
  • Put the info in LiveIntel.ILN if it's not there already.
  • Be smart and dock up.
  • Optional: switch to a combat ship
  • Change squad, if a member switched ships, to be ready to join the rest of the combat pilots if they try to attack the War Targets.

• If a members was attacked by War Targets instructions were to:
  • Call for help in the fleet channel. Any combat group of the fleet could then react and hopefully destroy the hostiles or at least chase them off so the member could get out.

Proper Use of Mumble

In Mumble under "Special Projects and Events" was the fleet's main channel, "Operation: Fortress", along with several subchannels under it: "Command", "Red Squadron", "Blue Squadron", etc. For optimal use and efficiency, especially when a QRF (Quick Response Force) is active, members were asked to adhere to the following guidelines for proper comms use:

• The main Mumble channel "Operation: Fortress" was to remain manned at all times so fleet members (who may or may not be involved in a QRF) could benefit from local intel and security.
• When a QRF was active:
  • Because operational security was often a concern (spies), the QRF Fleet Commander -- whoever was leading the operation at the time -- was asked to use the Command subchannel and invite wing and squad commanders and scouts there to coordinate the operation without broadcasting details to the general fleet.
  • Members were requested to only join the Command channel if the FC invited them
  • Standard fleet comms displine was observed. The FC could relax comms at his/her discretion.