Big Blue

From EVE History

One of the proposed Big Blue alliance logos. While multiple designs were put forth, none were approved before the alliance fell apart.

The Big Blue (BLUE or TBB) was established as a neutral entity with the aim of providing unhindered access to 0.0 space. It was a NAGA social experiment that, contrary to rumors, was never intended as a cash generating venture.

At the peak of operations, with a POS at nearly all of the 45 or so moons in BWF, the weekly POS network operating costs were estimated to be in excess of 1 billion isk.

1 Alliance data
- 1.1 Controlled space
- 1.2 Outposts
2 Former Member Corporations
3 History
4 Defense policy
5 References in popular culture

Alliance data

Founded on: (fall 2005)

CONCORD registered on: October 29, 2005

Officially disbanded: August 20, 2006

Killboard: http://blue.griefwatch.net/ (no longer used, but still active on December 21, 2008)

Controlled space

IPS-QB constellation, Geminate region

Outposts

The Blue Pill
- System: BWF-ZZ
- Built by: joint BLUE effort
- Managed by: NAGA. Subsequently owned by SAS and Storm Armada.
- Current owner: As of June 2007, under the control of Tau Ceti Federation.
Masada Station
- System: 8MG-J6
- Built by: Four Horsemen
- Managed by: Four Horsemen until their withdrawal from BLUE, managed by Eve University until its fall during the MC war. Subsequently owned by SAS and Storm Armada.
- Current owner: As of June 2007, under the control of Tau Ceti Federation.

Former Member Corporations

N.A.G.A. Corporation [NAGA] (founding member)
Four Horsemen [LIH] (founding member)
Eve University [E-UNI] (founding member)
Royal Navy Fleet and Logistics Management [RNFLM]
Stepstone [STEPS] (NAGA alt corp)
B.L.E.E.D.
Fatalix Inc. [FXI]
Northern Empire [NEMP]

History

November/December 2005 - first forays into BWF and 8MG. First POS set up. Main security threat was Force of Evil [FOE] alliance.
December 19, 2005 - Cruel Intentions declares war on the Big Blue, apparently being coerced by [FOE] to do so. The war ended on January 5, 2006.

January 2006 - Blue Pill constructed. Mercenary Coalition provided additional security during the critical moments.

January / February 2006 - Burn Eden starts harassment operations in IPS.

April 2006 - Penetrate [POKE] operations against BLUE.

The fleet battle at the Oijanen gate in BWF between MC and BLUE forces was the sole major fleet action of the "Tinfoil War"

June 3, 2006 - Mercenary Coalition declares war on BLUE. War dubbed "Tinfoil War" by some, as its underlying reasons are unclear until the very end, when the Stepstone/NAGA capital shipyard in 8MG is destroyed and MC geared down. Single major fleet action occured on the opening day of the war, with roughly equal losses on both sides. BLUE forces were augmented by Chosen Path [CHSN], Shattered Star Confederation [SSC], Stonegrave Haulage [SGH] and other corporation pilots. During the remainder of the war, MC forces controled BLUE space. The defenders waited for the conflict to blow over and for MC's contract to expire, hoping for the status quo ante to return, but it never did. NAGA shook off the loss of 30bn ISK worth of capital ship components but the defeat shook BLUE to its foundations.

Mid-June 2006 - Four Horsemen, the Alliance's leading PVP force, leave The Big Blue

Mid-June 2006 - Fatalix Inc and Northern Empire are invited to join TBB to shore up defenses against increasing hostile incursions.

Mid-July to mid-August 2006 - Euphoria Unleashed and S.A.S increases their preassure in IPS constellation, later augmented by The Corporation. These three partners join in conducting extensive capital ship operations in the constellation as well as performing several raids deeper into Geminate

Mid-August 2006 - ERA are hired as mercenaries to provide an opportunity for BLUE to get back on its feet, or to cover its eventual withdrawal. Uncoordinated retreat to empire space begins.

August 20, 2006 - With only Eve University and NAGA remaining in the Alliance, and the security situation in BWF having worsened to the point that any BLUE ship movements are impossible, the Alliance is essentially dissolved.

Defense policy

BLUE had a "Not Red Don't Shoot" set of Rules of Engagement both inside and outside its home cluster of IPS-QB, although major PVP forces rarely ventured outside it. Adhering to a strict policy of neutrality and non-aggression, BLUE did not conduct punitive campaigns against forces that repeatedly harassed neutral and BLUE pilots. Neutral corporations were considered to be friendly until proved otherwise - at which point its members where placed on the Kill on Sight list. As of June 2006, this list was comprised of over 1500 pilots.