View source for Vega-Ekatera War

{{Infobox military conflict
|name = Vega - Ekatera War
|date = 5 January 2025 - present
|place = Server-wide (mostly [[Kovfefe]])
|combatants_header = Participants
|combatant1 =
* {{flag|Vega logo.jpg|Vega}}
* {{flag|LonestarFlag.png|Lonestar}}
* {{flag|Radiance Emblem.png|Radiance}}
|combatant2 = {{flag|Ekatera.png|Ekatera}}
|result = Ongoing
|width = 450px
|casualties1=Vega:<br>
One 11891 block ship (Recovered)

Lonestar:<br>
Equiila departed faction|casualties2=12,000 block Destroyer<br>
107 block Speeder<br>
Settlements Kovfara and Syros Republic<br>
2 PvP kits<br>
12 PvP deaths<br>
Numerous ship materials<br>
Indeterminate income lost to extended blockade and trade embargoes<br>
Most of its active members<br>
Support of former leaders Emeris and Avan Brightearth|image=Ripgru.png}}
The '''Vega-Ekatera War''' is an ongoing military conflict between [[Vega]] and [[Ekatera]], alongside which the nations of [[Lonestar]] and [[Radiance]] have enacted independent military operations against Ekatera. The nation of Vega is the sole combatant to have formally declared war on Ekatera, while Lonestar have classified their operations against Ekatera as "mass seizure of Ekateran assets", and Radiance classify theirs as "anti-piracy" activity.

Combat in the war has strongly favored the combined military might of Vega, Lonestar, and Radiance; Ekatera's war strategy has primarily centered on sheltering from attacks inside of [[Altar Sanctorium]], the nation's [[Trade City]], which is a safezone. Outside of Altar Sanctorium, several players and two settlements ([[Syros Republic]] and [[Kovfara]]) have left Ekatera since the start of the conflict.

== Origins ==
[[File:Impoundedlemship.png|thumb|350px|[[LeMaire]]'s vessel, impounded by [[Ekatera]] at [[Altar Sanctorium]].]]
On 3 January 2025, [[Radiance]]-contracted player [[AdelieXY]] assassinated [[Kiro231]], Queen of Ekatera, in a [[PvP]] attack. On the basis of AdelieXY's previous working relationship with Vega (in [[RentDueYesterday]], the [[Andurian Federation (2024)|Andurian Federation]], and [[Vask Authority]]), Kiro231 made the assumption that AdelieXY (whom she later described as "a player who [Vega] often sponsor") was a Vegan operative, and impounded a freighter parked at [[Altar Sanctorium]] registered to Vegan [[AssassinXX]] in response.

The following day, on 4 January, [[LeMaire]], who (rather than AssassinXX) was the actual user of the freighter, informed Vega that her ship had been impounded. Over the course of the same day, Vegan emperor [[MaidPierce]] and diplomat [[Sherbet_S]] attempted to rectify the situation by contacting Kiro231, but received no response; Kiro231 subsequently demanded Vega pay a 48000 credit "fine" to recover the ship (disregarding AdelieXY's non-affiliation-with Vega), an offer which Vega refused. On 5 January 2025, MaidPierce announced in the Horizon's End Discord that:
 Following the unlawful seizure of LeMaire's vessel in the Trade City "Altar Sanctorium" and Kiro's refusal to speak to any Vegan representatives on the matter, We have decided to declare war until the vessel is returned to Vegan territory.

While some (such as [[Oliveburger22]]) would deem this course an "overreaction" from Vega, [[MaidPierce]] justified Vega's actions by stating that "Vega has made it very clear through [[StarLegacy|SL]] and [[Horizon's End|HE]] that you dont mess with LeMaire"; [[GigaJeff]] of Vega elaborated, "this was an under reaction, we should've reacted harder".

== Expansion of the Conflict ==
Following Vega's declaration of war on Ekatera, and the associated publicization of the circumstances of LeMaire's ship's impounding and the subsequent diplomatic exchange pertaining thereto, several other nations and players on the server would express some level of opposition to Ekatera. 

=== Lonestar ===
On 7 January 2025, Chairman [[XiJinping]] of Lonestar, with the unanimous support of the Lonestar executive panel, announced on Discord that:
 On 1/5/2025, Lonestar entered into a labor exchange partnership with Ekatera, believing that what seemed to be recent improvements in the nation's leadership and management were indicative of things to come and that this partnership could bear fruit for both parties. Hours later, Ekatera, apparently emboldened by this newfound partnership, seized a trading vessel used by LeMaire and failed to resolve the situation diplomatically with Vega.
 
 Our urging of Ekatera to resolve the situation and to eliminate the risk to Lonestar partners fell upon deaf ears. In fact, Ekatera went so far as to attempt to sway Lonestar's opinion toward opposition to Vega. It is now the opinion of the Executive Panel that Ekatera is a reckless and undiplomatic nation that is willing to engage in abusive practices against traders on a whim--a gross mismanagement of its resources, a problem for interstellar corporations such as ourselves, and a threat to good business. As such, we hereby declare a mass seizure of Ekateran assets by Lonestar corporate enforcers as compensation for these transgressions. This operation is separate and apart from the ongoing Vega war against Ekatera.
 
 We demand the submission of Ekatera to an occupation of Altar Sanctorium, formerly Haven, by Lonestar forces and the appointment of a Lonestar representative to governorship of the city. It is clear that the city's current management is inept and that outside intervention is required to return it to an acceptable condition that benefits interstellar trade. We recognize that it may take a long time for Ekatera to come to terms with this, and are prepared to continue seizing their assets until they do.
 
 Lonestar will welcome Ekateran citizens displeased by their leader into its ranks.
While not a formal declaration of war, Lonestar members would begin attacking members of Ekatera following this announcement. Lonestar's offer of asylum to departing Ekaterans was taken up by [[GalaxyGaming Mc]]. [[Syros Republic]], formerly Symred, had also joined Lonestar during the day Vega's war began as the partnership between Lonestar and Ekatera fell apart. 

Lonestar's peace demand of being granted governorship of Altar Sanctorium is broadly understood to be one that no nation on Horizon's End would fulfil, and as such is functionally tantamount to a statement that Lonestar does not intend to pursue peace with Ekatera.

=== Radiance ===
On 9 January 2025, Cherubim [[_omni]] of Radiance, on behalf of the 1st Quartet of Radiance, announced on Discord that:
 Given the recent developments regarding Ekatera's pirating of LeMaire's vessel, Radiance will be engaging in Anti-piracy against Ekatera in support of Vegan forces until LeMaire's ship is returned to her, or until Vega comes to a peace agreement with Ekatera.
While no members of Radiance and Ekatera have yet engaged in combat since this declaration, Radiance's statement represented the third major nation to take part in hostile activity against Ekatera. Radiance's declaration did not invoke the [[Ilios Alliance]] of which they are a member, as the Ilios Alliance's military requirement applies only to defensive actions, leaving [[Cortesia Del Mar]] and [[Orovika]] neutral in the conflict.

== Vegan Deadlines ==
Following four days of attacking Ekatera with limited success (due to the latter taking advantage of [[Altar Sanctorium]]'s safezone status), Vega elected to put pressure on Ekatera by enacting a series of deadlines regarding their terms for ending the war. 

At the outset of war, Vega's peace terms were merely the free return of [[LeMaire]]'s ship to Vegan custody. On 9 January 2025, however, [[MaidPierce]] of Vega announced that:
 IF The ship is not returned before 12:00 AM EST 1/11/2025 the terms to end our war will be:
 
 THE RETURN OF LEMAIRE'S SHIP TO VEGAN TERRITORY
 240,000 CREDITS TO EMPEROR MAIDPIERCE TO BE DEPOSITIED INTO THE VEGAN NATIONAL BANK
 
 FOR EVERY WEEK FOLLOWING 1/11/2025 THE CREDIT AMOUNT WILL BE QUINTUPLED
 1,200,000 CREDITS ON 1/18/2025
 6,000,000 CREDITS ON 1/25/2025
 ETC
The extreme exponential increase in the Vegan peace fine was intended to coerce Ekatera into suing for peace quickly; however, on 10 January, Kiro231 said in response that:
 i wont give [LeMaire's ship] back till the fine is payed!
 if it isnt payed i'll auction it!
 if it isnt sold at auction i will decomp it >:3
Addressing Kiro's auction threat, XiJinping of Lonestar asked "when's the auction again", as "i just wanted to know when the forever war part of this got to start".

Additionally, Vega announced the intent to establish a full blockade of Altar Sanctorium:
 IF THE SHIP IS NOT RETURNED BEFORE 12:00 AM EST 1/11/2025 VEGA WILL ENACT A BLOCKADE AROUND THE PLANET KOVFEFE TO PREVENT INCOMING TRADE TO ALTAR SANCTORIUM AND WILL URGE OTHER NATIONS OF THE GALAXY TO EMBARGO TRADE AND BAZAAR PURCHASES FROM THE CITY

== The Nexus Affair ==
In the morning of 24 January 2025, the industrialist [[Equiila]] of Lonestar—who had recently started his own settlement on Lioda called Nexus—opted to secede from Lonestar, citing frustration with the Chairman's handling of the war. Equiila then joined Ekatera and announced his intentions to manufacture a fleet to defend the nation, stating, "so, when my men are online and kiro is, im gonna start a mass printing on a war fleet." This triggered a swift response from Lonestar, who promptly placed a 50,000 credit bounty per kill on all members of Nexus and declared that it would seek total liquidation of the settlement regardless of its nation. Lonestar enforcer [[Sovrah]] would kill Nexus member [[Abu 42069]] in PvP soon afterward at Nexus itself, prompting Nexus members lacking new player protection to seek shelter in Altar Sanctorium.

Later that night, Equiila would agree to the surrender of his Normandy-class [[Heavy Freighter]], which contained a significant number of ship building materials, metals, and various equipment that he had received from Lonestar, as well as materials he had brought to Altar Sanctorium from Nexus. Chairman XiJinping retrieved the ship directly from Altar Sanctorium itself, escorted by a [[Destroyer]] and a [[Tackle Gunship]]. Pursuant to Lonestar's peace demand, leadership of Nexus was then passed to Abu_42069_, and Equiila left Ekatera soon afterward upon having his destroyer sunk by Vega forces. The rest of the restructured Nexus would then secede from Ekatera and return to Lonestar, rebranding to [[Berx]].

== Impact ==
=== Abrogation of the [[Arimfea-Ekatera Alliance]] ===
On 10 January 2025, [[Middosk]] of [[Arimfea]] announced,
 Our alliance with Ekatera is defunct. Even as pirates we must adhere to a code of honour; trade cities should not impound ships outside of war -- especially not from innocent bystanders. LeMaire deserves justice and all who crusade to achieve it have our support. Repsecting the previously warm relationship between our two nations I have elected not to declare war on Ekatera as others have. 
The abrogation of the Arimfea-Ekatera alliance represented the loss of Ekatera's final alliance (save for [[tapachky]]'s one-man nation of [[Hibernia]]).

=== Formation of and Conflict With New Switzerland ===
On 9 January 2025, the settlement of [[Kovfara]] seceded and formed [[New Switzerland]], a minor independent nation. While its relationship with Ekatera was initially unclear due to puzzling statements from Kovfaran leader [[HealerMageZ]] and confusion over his continued role in an Ekateran discord server, it would be revealed in the coming weeks that Ekatera and New Switzerland are hostile to one another. Ekateran attacks on New Switzerland would mark the first counterattacks from Ekatera during the war.

=== Internal Conflict ===
On 17 January 2025, Ekateran co-founder [[Avan Brightearth]] would become involved and attempt to reach a peaceful conclusion to the war. In response to his involvement, most Ekateran national assets (most notably space claims) were transferred to Altar Sanctorium. This attempt at negotiations would ultimately fail due to a continued unwillingness to negotiate from Ekatera despite Avan's efforts, and Avan would subsequently withdraw from the situation. During this time, [[Emeris]], a founder of the [[Star Legacy]] iteration of Ekatera would revoke their permission for the modern Ekatera to continue using its name, leading to Ekatera temporarily rebranding to NCR.

As of 30 January 2025, Ekatera's total active player count had dropped to 3, resulting in the loss of its bazaar, safezone, and ability to be a crating destination.
[[Category:Conflicts]]
[[Category:Politics]]
[[Category:Player-Created]]