Editing 30 December Incident

{{Infobox military conflict
|name = 30 December Incident
|date = 30 December 2024
|place = [[Regulus]], [[Sirius]]
|combatants_header = Participants
|combatant1a = {{flag|Vega logo.jpg|Vega}}
{{flag|VAAFFlag.png|Vask Authority}}
|combatant2a = {{flag|Nova_Flag.png|Imperial Nova}}
|casualties1 = ~50 [[warship]] blocks lost
|casualties2 = 8000 [[warship]] blocks lost
|result = Vega victory: Both novan ships sunk, station secured.
|width = 450px
|strength1=500 [[Tackle Gunship|Gunship]] (MaidPierce)

500 [[Tackle Gunship|Gunship]] ([[Solesey]])

500 [[Tackle Gunship|Gunship]] ([[z4nityy]])
500 [[Tackle Gunship|Gunship]] (Sherbet_S)|strength2=4k [[Corvette]] ([[_Longy]])
<br>4k [[Corvette]] ([[NovaManGood2110]])}}
The '''30 December Incident''' was a military engagement fought between the forces of [[Imperial Nova]] and the forces of [[Vega]], the latter aided by [[Vask Authority]] mercenary [[z4nityy]]. The ramifications of this event are presently unclear.

= History =
== Prelude ==
=== ArtifactAlpha Controversy ===
On 28 December 2024, [[Sherbet_S]] of [[walkemdownand_kickintheydoors]] sieged the [[Imperial Nova|Novan]] [[siege station]] of ArtifactAlpha in Sirius. The following day, on 29 December, walkemdownand_kickintheydoors was disbanded (with [[Sherbet_S]] joining [[Hegemony]]), leaving ArtifactAlpha un-owned. [[Vega]] elected to capitalize on this opportunity, capturing the station on the evening of 29 December.

Imperial Nova, believing that the station was still rightfully theirs, planned on 30 December to re-take the station. Vega, however, became aware of this plan ahead of time, and prepared a substantial fleet to intercept the Novans and inhibit their siege attempt.

== Conflict ==
=== 30 December Incident ===
At the start of the ArtifactAlpha siege window, Imperial Nova attempted to field two [[battlecruiser]]s (piloted by [[_Longy]] and [[NovaManGood2110]], which were intercepted by two [[Tackle Gunship|500]]s, piloted by [[AssassinXX]] and the mercenary [[z4nityy]]. No substantial fighting occurred in this time (save for the inadvertent sinking of [[AdelieXY]] who rammed [[AssassinXX]] but was sunk by his ally [[_Longy]] who shot in an attempt to sink [[AssassinXX]]), as battlecruisers and [[Tackle Gunship|500s]] are both unable to substantively harm one another.

Novamangood2110's battlecruiser was able to deal major hull to z4nityy's gunship by unpiloting it at a nearby station clam, (baiting it into engagement range), repiloting, and volleying it with a full volley of [[Quad turrets|Quad Turrets]], instantly hulling the ship. However, it was able to retreat and z4nityy was able to pilot another gunship.

After some time, the Novans disengaged AssassinXX and z4nityy, and instead brought two [[Corvette|corvettes]] to Sirius. After taking the first shot in violence against Vega, [[MaidPierce]], [[Sherbet_S]], [[Solesey]], and [[z4nityy]] grouped together ([[AssassinXX]] opted to leave the battle due to connection issues.) and sunk both novan corvettes.

=== Vegan adoption of 500 block gunships ===
Learning from [[Ilios Alliance-Vask Authority War#500 block Gunships|Ilios Alliance fleet strategy]] during the [[Ilios Alliance-Vask Authority War]], Vega opted to use 500 block gunships to deny Novan battlecruisers from Sirius before the fight.

= Legacy =
The political and military consequences of this event are as yet unclear. While [[Imperial Nova]] presently retains an in-game "ENEMY" status against [[Vega]] (spurred on by [[Sherbet_S]] setting "ENEMY" status against Nova first to ensure combat tag worked correctly, in what was later revealed to be an unsanctioned move), [[MaidPierce]] stated repeatedly in Horizon's End global chat that "we arent declaring war", setting Vega's relation wish with Imperial Nova merely to "UNFRIENDLY". Imperial Nova has not yet delivered a diplomatic response.

[[Category:Conflicts]]
[[Category:Politics]]
[[Category:Player-Created]]
[[Category:Historic Battles]]