Oh Kan3r, putting up a brave front to the world. But with people like Stealthfield CEO Securitas Protector convoing me asking whether we are disbanding or not, I realize I cannot hide the truth that keen eyed political watchdog Lana Torrin has uncovered. So here is our counter troll official statement of plans to disband ;)
Good morning mercenaries. Good morning Crime and Punishment. Good morning New Eden. Thank you for the outstanding welcome shown to Noir. on these forums. I want to thank Lana Torrin and so many other trolls for posting tirelessly on our behalf.
I also want to acknowledge all of our tacklers, scouts, bomber pilots and cap pilots serving in our wars. That includes the 80 who are waiting to be interviewed by our corp. We have you in our prayers. We pay tribute to your service. We thank you and your neglected families for all that you do for Noir. And I want all of you to know that there is no higher honor or greater responsibility than serving as your CEO.
I also want to take this opportunity to acknowledge Taram Caldar, who recently completed his service as our second in command. Throughout his career, Taram always took on the toughest assignments. He is an example of the very best that this game has to offer, and we owe him a great debt of gratitude. He carried on his work with an extraordinary degree of cooperation with three of our finest officers – Zeraphine Akarii, Jimer Lins, and Kan3r Blaze – who will be critical in carrying forward the disbanding that I will outline today.
Next month will mark the eighteenth month anniversary of Noir. By any measure, this has already been a long run of contracts. For the men and women of Noir.’s armed forces – and for your families – this has been one of the most extraordinary chapters of service in the history of our corp. You have endured tour after tour after tour of duty. You have known the dangers of combat and the lonely distance of loved ones. You have fought against tyranny and disorder. You have bled for your best friends and for unknown carebears. And you have borne an enormous burden for your fellow corpmates, while extending a precious opportunity to the people of EVE. Under tough circumstances, the men, and briefly women, of Noir. military have served with honor, and succeeded beyond any expectation.
Today, I have come to speak to you about how the contracts will end.
To understand where we need to go in EVE, it is important for Noir. to understand where we now stand. Thanks in great measure to your service, the situation in EVE has improved. Violence has been increased substantially from the horrific sectarian killings of 2006 and 2007. All our targets in EVE have been dealt serious blows by our decs and pirating, and through our partnership with other mercs. The capacity of EVE’s Security Forces has improved, and their leaders have taken steps toward effectiveness. The relative peace and strong participation in the Merc Contracts channel sent a powerful message to the world about how far mercs have come in pursuing their contract aquisitions through a peaceful process.
But let there be no doubt: EVE is still secure, and there will be difficult days ahead. Violence will continue to be a part of life in EVE. Too many fundamental political questions about the mercenaries’ future remain unresolved. Too many mercs are still displaced or destitute. Declining contract revenues will put an added strain on corporations that have had difficulty delivering basic services. Not all of mercs are contributing to the security of the industry. Some are working at times to undermine it. And even as some up and comers are on a surer footing, they are not yet full partners – politically and economically – in the market, or with the player community
In short, today there is a renewed cause for hope in mercs, but that hope rests upon an emerging foundation.
On my first full day in office, I directed my time to undertake a comprehensive review of merc strategy in EVE to determine the best way to strengthen that foundation, while strengthening corporate security. I have listened to my Officers, and commanders on the ground. We have acted with careful consideration of events on the ground; with respect for the security agreements between the various employers; and with a critical recognition that the long-term solution in EVE must be military – not political. Because the most important decisions that have to be made about the future of mercenaries must now be made by mercs.
We have also taken into account the simple reality that Noir. can no longer afford to see ISK in isolation from other priorities: we face the challenge of refocusing on 0.0 and piracy; of relieving the burden on our military; and of rebuilding our struggling economy – and these are challenges that we will meet.
Today, I can announce that our tenure is complete, and that Noir. will pursue a new strategy to promote war in EVE through a transition of full responsibility to other merc units.
This strategy is grounded in a clear and achievable goal shared by the EVE people and the Noir. people: an EVE that is subjugated, unstable, and reliant on us. To achieve that goal, we will work to promote a market that is just, representative, and accountable, and that provides neither support nor safe-haven to scammers. We will help mercs build new ties of trade and commerce with the game world. And we will forge a partnership with the people and corporations of mercs that contribute to the pacification and security of the universe.
What we will not do is let the pursuit of the perfect stand in the way of achievable goals. We cannot rid EVE of all who oppose Noir. or sympathize with our adversaries. We cannot police the forums until they are completely safe, nor stay until the mercenaries’ union is perfected. We cannot sustain indefinitely a commitment that has put a strain on our military, and will cost the corporation nearly a trillion dollars in PLEX. Noir.’s men and women in uniform have fought system by system, region by region, year after year, to give other mercs this chance to choose a better future. Now, we must ask those pilots to seize it.
The first part of this strategy is therefore the responsible removal of our combat brigades from the mercenary market.
As CEO, I made clear my support for a timeline of 19 days to carry out this drawdown, while pledging to consult closely with our FCs to ensure that we preserve the ships we’ve made and protect our troops. Those consultations are now complete, and I have chosen a timeline that will remove our combat brigades over the next month.
Let me say this as plainly as I can: by August 31, 2009, our combat mission in EVE will end.
As we carry out this drawdown, my highest priority will be the safety and security of our troops and allies in EVE. We will proceed carefully, and I will consult closely with my FCs on the ground and with the employers. There will surely be difficult periods and tactical adjustments. But our enemies should be left with no doubt: this plan gives our military the forces and the flexibility they need to support our partners, and to succeed.
After we remove our combat brigades, our mission will change from combat to supporting a 0.0 government and its Security Forces as they take the absolute lead in securing their region. As I have long said, we will retain a transitional force to carry out three distinct functions: training, equipping, and advising mercenaries as long as they remain non-sectarian; conducting targeted counter-terrorism missions; and protecting our ongoing civilian and military efforts within EVE. Initially, this force will likely be made up of 35-50 pilots.
Through this period of transition, we will carry out further redeployments. And under the Agreement with the merc community, I intend to remove all Noir. troops from EVE by the end of 2009. We will complete this transition to their responsibility, and we will bring our troops to lowsec with the honor that they have earned.
As we responsibly remove our combat brigades, we will pursue the second part of our strategy: sustained diplomacy on behalf of a less peaceful and more prosperous New Eden.
The drawdown of our military should send a clear signal that the mercenaries’ future is now his own responsibility. The long-term success of the industry will depend upon decisions made by corporate leaders and the fortitude of the pilots. Mercs are sovereign units with legitimate corporate institutions; Noir. cannot – and should not – take their place. However, a strong political, diplomatic, and civilian effort on our part can advance progress and help lay a foundation for lasting prosperity and security contracts.
This effort will be led by our new Ambassador to New Eden – Jimer Lins. From his time in the podcast, to his work on contract, Ambassador Lins has been tested, and he has shown the paranoia and skill that we need right now. He will be supported by the courageous and capable work of so few Noir. diplomats and training personnel who are serving in EVE.
Going forward, we can make a difference on several fronts. We will work with the CSM to support galactic elections, while helping mercs improve corporate government. We can serve as an honest broker in pursuit of fair and durable agreements on issues that have divided EVE’s leaders. And just as we will support EVE’s Security Forces, we will help New Eden institutions strengthen their capacity to enforce the rule of law, confront corruption, and deliver basic mercenary services.
Diplomacy and assistance is also required to help the millions of displaced Kenny pets. These men, women, and children are a living consequence of war and a challenge to stability in the game, and they must become a part of New Eden’s reconciliation and recovery. America has a strategic interest – and a moral responsibility – to act. In the coming weeks, my administration will provide more assistance and take steps to increase inter-coalition support for alliances already hosting refugees; we’ll cooperate with others to resettle Bobbits facing great personal risk; and we will work with Goonswarm over time to resettle refugees and displaced Bobbits within Delve – because there are few more powerful indicators of lasting conflict than displaced occupants returning home.
Now, before I go any further, I want to take a moment to speak directly to the people of EVE.
You are a great community, rooted in the cradle of Iceland. You are joined together by enduring accomplishments, and a history that connects you as surely as the two rivers frozen in that land. In years past, you have persevered through tyranny and terror; through personal insecurity and sectarian violence. And instead of giving in to the forces of disunion, you stepped back from constant civil war, and showed a proud determination to blob that deserves respect.
Our coroporations have known difficult times together. But ours is a bond forged by shared bloodshed, and countless friendships among our people. We Noir. have offered our most precious resource – our time and expertise – to work with you to destroy what was rebuilt by carebears; to root out your common enemies; and to forcibly implement peace and prosperity for your corpmates and alts.
There are those who will try to prevent that future for mercenaries – who will insist that mercs differences cannot be reconciled without more competition. They represent the forces that destroy corporations and lead only to despair, and they will test our will in the months and years to come. Noir., too, has known these forces. We endured the “pain” of rage quits, and bitter divisions of whiners and incompetant. But hostility and hatred are no match for justice; they offer no pathway to prosperity; and they must not stand between the mercs of EVE and a future of riches and fun fights.
So to the EVE community, let me be clear about Noir.’s intentions. We pursue no claim on your territory or your resources. We respect your sovereignty and the tremendous sacrifices you have made for your alliances. We seek a full transition to mercenary responsibility for the security of your interests. And going forward, we can build a lasting relationship founded upon mutual interests and mutual respect as mercs takes their rightful place in the community of players.
That leads me to the third part of our strategy – comprehensive engagement across the galaxy.
The future of mercenaries is inseparable from the future of the broader server, so we must work with our friends and partners to establish a new framework that advances merc security and the games. It is time for a mercenary to be a full partner in a regional dispute, and for neighbors to establish productive and normalized relations with local mercs. And going forward, I will pursue principled and sustained engagement with all of the alliances in the game, and that will include Goonswarm and the Russian bloc.
This reflects a fundamental truth: we can no longer deal with regional challenges in isolation – we need a smarter, more sustainable and comprehensive approach. That is why we are augmenting your diplomacy, while relieving the burden on your military. That is why we are refocusing on low sec alliances in Domain and Tash-Murkon; developing a strategy to use all elements of mercenary power to prevent the united from developing a titan; and actively seeking a lasting peace between Brea Tharen and the real world. And that is why we have named three of Noir.’s most accomplished pilots – Danny X, Tul Raith, and Fanelbow – to support Jimer and me as we carry forward this agenda.
Every alliance and every corp must know – whether you wish Noir. good or ill – that the end of us taking contracts will enable a new era of merc leadership and engagement in New Eden. And that era has just begun.
Finally, I want to be very clear that my strategy for ending my corp in EVE does not end with military plans or diplomatic agendas – it endures through our commitment to uphold our sacred trust with every man and woman who has played in EVE.
You make up a fraction of the EVE population, but in an age when so many people and institutions have acted irresponsibly, you did the opposite – you get paid to bear the heaviest burden. And for you and for your alts, the war does not end when you dock. It lives on in memories of your fellow soldiers, scouts, alts and cap pilots who gave their pods. It endures in the module that is slow to repair, the lag that isn’t going away, the dream that wakes you at night, or the stiffening in your spine when a GM closes your petition.
You and your families have done your duty – now a grateful corporation must do ours. That is why I am increasing the number of pilots, so that we lessen the burden on those who are serving. And that is why I have committed to expanding our system of veterans clone vat bays to serve more patients, and to provide better care in more places. We will continue building new wounded warrior facilities across EVE, and invest in new ways of identifying and treating the signature wounds of our wars: Crappily fit Arazus and interceptors without Damage Control II’s, as well as other combat losses.
We also know that service does not end with the person wearing the uniform. In his visits with Noir. families across the country, my ex wife Taram Caldar has learned firsthand about the unique burden that your families endure every day. I want you to know this: military families are a top priority for Taram and me. We’ll raise contract payouts, and continue providing quality child-care mining ops, tackling-training for spouses, and expanded counseling and outreach to families that have known the separation and stress of MMORPGs. We will also heed the lesson of history – that those who fight in battle can form the backbone of our middle class – by implementing a 21st century ship replacement program to help our veterans live their dreams.
As a corporation, we have had our share of debates about our wars in EVE. It has, at times, divided us as a people. To this very day, there are some Noir. who want to stay in the market longer, and some who want to leave faster. But there should be no disagreement on what the men and women of our military have achieved.
And so I want to be very clear: We sent our troops to market to do away with the old merc regime – and you got the job done. We kept our troops in the market to help establish a strong mercenary institution – and you got the job done. And we will leave the market with a hard-earned opportunity to live a better life – that is your achievement; that is the prospect that you have made possible.
There are many lessons to be learned from what we’ve experienced. We have learned that mercs must go to war with clearly defined goals, which is why I’ve ordered a review of our policy in Providence. We have learned that we must always weigh the costs of action, and communicate those costs candidly to the employer, which is why I’ve put cap fuel and locator agent fees into my budget. We have learned that in the 21st century, we must use all elements of our power to achieve our objectives, which is why I am committed to building our cap ship capacity so that the burden is not continually pushed on to our Recons. We have learned that our political leaders must pursue the broad and bipartisan support that our policies depend upon, which is why I will consult with Officers in carrying out my plans. And we have learned the importance of working closely with friends and allies, which is why we are launching a new era of engagement in the universe.
The starting point for our policies must always be the safety of the mercenary people. I know that Noir. – the men and women of the finest fighting force in the history of the game since 2008 – could have met any challenge, and defeat any foe. And as long as I am your CEO, I promise you that I will only send you into harm’s way when it is absolutely necessary, and provide you with the ISK to buy and haul your own damn selves the equipment and support you need to get the job done. That is the most important lesson of all – for the consequences of war are dire, the sacrifice of our efficiency inconceivable.
You know because you have seen those sacrifices. You have lived them. And we all honor them, unless they got you booted.
Each Noir. who has served on contracts has their own story. Each of you has your own story. And that story is now a part of the history of EVE Online – a nation that exists only because free men and women have decided to plug it in today from within the ripe stentch of an office in Iceland; from the routers in London to the telephone wires of your street. You teach us that the price of fun is great. Your sacrifice should challenge all of us – every single mercenary – to ask what we can do to be better PVPers.
There will be more danger in the weeks ahead. We will face new tests and unforeseen trials. But thanks to the sacrifices of those who have served, we have forged hard-earned progress, we are leaving the industry to its people, and we have begun the work of ending this corp.
Thank you, God Bless you, and God Bless Noir.
-Alekseyev Karrde
CEO, Noir.
Full credit to the White House and the staff of Barrack Obama.
Full text of origional can be found here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-of-President-Barack-Obama-Responsibly-Ending-the-War-in-Iraq/
Since its been a while since my last post, quite a bit has happened. The campaign against W.I. and the North with our allies Atlas and COW (and friends) has begun, and is going very well – there are daily ops, and much success to be had. If only the server could keep up with us, we’d be able to lay that decisive blow – we’re crashing nodes nightly!
It seems I’ve been falling behind on my pledge to keep this blog updated. This can be mostly contributed to the hectic time I’ve been having here at uni, my last exam is on Friday, and after that it’s the holidays.
They interrupt our valuable playtime, set us behind in our 0.01ISK wars, and cause unparalleled frustration when it happens during a skill change. But the absolute worst time for the server to crash is when you’re camping an enemy outpost waiting for a fleet to undock.
On our way to HED, our scout reported he’d found a Tengu ratting, which he had engaged and aggressed. The fleet commander gave the order to burn to the scout’s location, but by the time we got there, he’d already solo killed the Tengu, who’s pilot had ejected to prevent skill point loss. The pilot was kind enough to send us the kill mail later, as he was killed by the belt rats, after his tank had been broken.
All in all it was good fun, despite losing my ship – Interceptors are pretty cheap, and I bought a few when I returned to KZF. I think I’m getting better at catching pods, I just need to practice decloaking ships faster.
Since I’ve never been in a 0.0 fleet before, I was amazed to see nearly 50 people had X’d up for it, which makes quite a change from the 10 man high-sec fleets I’ve been in earlier. There was a good diversity of ship types; BCs, Interdictors, Interceptors and logistics. After seeing the effectiveness of bubbles, I’ve decided that I’m going to make them the next priority in my skill plan, once I get finished with Interceptors.
So I decided to try something different, namely 0.0. I’ve never really spent any extended length of time 0.0, so it should be a pretty steep learning experience for me. One of the more difficult things I found was actually getting out into 0.0 and set up there.
So today is 
