This text was initially revealed within the September 2005 concern of technicalrobo UK.
5 AM, April the 18th, 2005. Mirial, CEO of the enormous Ubiqua Seraph company, warped into the Haras photo voltaic system along with her most trusted lieutenant. And at that second, a single phrase was despatched silently, secretly and concurrently to operatives of the Guiding Hand Social Membership throughout the galaxy: “Nicole”. Mirial wouldn’t go away alive.
She was piloting her prize ship, a Navy Apocalypse value billions of ISK, Eve’s forex. Her lieutenant, Arenis Xemdal, flew an Imperial Apocalypse, of which solely two had been identified to exist in all the sport universe.
“Nicole” was the go-code for successful that took ten months of infiltration to arrange, and by 6am it was over. Each Ubiqua Seraph workplace within the galaxy was raided, the contents of each shared hangar – to not point out their company coffers – gone. Mirial’s prize ship was annihilated, her escape pod nuked and her vacuum-frozen corpse sucked into the cargo bay of a Guiding Hand Social Membership vessel.
The goal
Mirial, CEO of main company Ubiqua Seraph
The simultaneous ambush and galaxy-wide hangar theft inflicted monetary harm upwards of 30 billion ISK – $16,500 US {dollars} at IGE.com’s costs on the time. The worth of the stolen property completely dwarfed the unique price for the job. And but the one merchandise the Guiding Hand’s nameless consumer requested for himself was the chilly, lifeless physique of the goal. It is secure to say this was private.
“On the time of the contract’s signing, we requested one billion ISK,” says Guiding Hand CEO Istvaan Shogaatsu, “which was fairly a sum so many months in the past. We might by no means have foreseen, nonetheless, the features upon its execution… we discovered ourselves looking at Fort Knox with the important thing in our palms.”
Not that there was any query of the spoils distracting Guiding Hand’s operatives from their goal. “The contract above all” is their philosophy. “The monetary compensation turns into secondary to the popularity we garnered for our strike.”
Et Tu, Arenis
By April 18th, the Guiding Hand had operatives in each stage of Ubiqua Seraph’s organisation. A number of had been on the board of administrators, and first agent Arenis Xemdal “rose to a rank adequate to problem the CEO’s choices.”
“A number of vector infiltration is a trademark of GHSC,” Shogaatsu provides. “We really feel one spy isn’t sufficient.”
It took extraordinary effort, meticulous planning, and one second of spectacularly orchestrated treachery. Xemdal had satisfied Mirial – known as ‘the target’ by Guiding Hand operatives – to fly her ridiculously priceless Navy Apocalypse alongside his much more ridiculously priceless Imperial Apocalypse “as a present of UQS (Ubiqua Seraph) would possibly”.
“The early-morning strike in opposition to Mirial’s battleship was fraught with concern.” Shogaatsu recollects. “One tense second occurred when a pilot belonging to an unaffiliated third social gathering hostile to UQS entered the system the place our operatives’ entice for Mirial lay. One other got here quickly after, when Guiding Hand operative Uuve Savisaalo – tasked with aiding the kill on Mirial – was noticed arriving in system by an Ubiqua Seraph pilot. These occasions spooked the target, who made a brief bounce earlier than being set upon by Uuve and – in a second of ‘Et tu, Brute’ if ever there was one – Arenis Xemdal’s Imperial Apocalypse.”
The ambush was an unprecedented conflict of the titans. A Navy Apocalypse is likely one of the strongest and priceless ships within the galaxy, besides, an Imperial Apocalypse is overkill – a number of low-cost Battleships would suffice. To make use of an much more priceless ship was an act of absurd bravado, and one with monumental dangers. It is also typical of the Guiding Hand’s aptitude for theatrical extra.
However the arduous half, in keeping with Shogaatsu, was to then ‘pod’ Mirial. Podding is the normally spiteful, some say dishonourable act of destroying a sufferer’s escape pod whenever you’ve already destroyed their ship. The pod isn’t any menace, and if it is destroyed the sufferer has to revert to an earlier clone of themselves – typically shedding abilities that take weeks to study, and on this case shedding an extremely priceless set of cybernetic implants. For that reason some gamers sign off on ship-death in an try and keep away from being podded – Mirial included, the Guiding Hand say. Profitable podding was the one option to attain the bodily physique of the sufferer, nonetheless, and Arenis pulled it off.
Thievery Company
The second the go-code was uttered, each Guiding Hand double-agent inside Ubiqua Seraph unloaded the contents of their assigned Corp hangar – a communal storage space for trusted company members – into their very own cargo holds and left. The property had been changed by a observe in every, stating merely that this was an act of the Guiding Hand Social Membership.
The mastermind
Istvaan Shogaatsu, CEO of the Guiding Hand Social Membership assassins.
That afternoon, Istvaan Shogaatsu posted on the Intergalactic Summit – a piece of the official Eve boards wherein posters are required to remain in-character, and content material is monitored by CONCORD, the in-game police.
Posted 2005.04.18
Istvaan Shogaatsu
Greetings, everybody – it has been a while since I final stood behind a podium and made a public announcement, so you will should forgive me if I am considerably off form. The explanation I stand right here earlier than you is to announce that my mercenary outfit, the Guiding Hand Social Membership, has accomplished its most bold contract so far.
Our goal was assigned to us many months in the past – Mirial of Ubiqua Seraph. Our process was to hold out that which the GHSC has now change into identified for – to completely demolish Mirial and produce all who adopted her to their knees in a single fell swoop. For these many months, we toiled, secreting our operatives amongst her ranks, steering her group by way of a lot of insidiously engineered occasions meant to engender belief and divert their consideration from the place it ought to have been.
Early this morning, our arduous work bore fruit. Executing a meticulously deliberate, completely flawless concerto of simultaneous corp-hangar heists, assaults in open area and facility invasions, the Ubiqua Seraph got here to know the wrath of the GHSC first-hand. The end result shatters any earlier information for sheer scale of such an endeavour:
Hostile property acquired:
- Modulated Deep Core Miner II BPO
- Covert Ops Cloak II BPO
- Armageddon BPO
- Prophecy BPO
- Malediction BPO
- Arkonor Crystal II BPO
- Scordite Crystal II BPO
- Quite a few lesser tech II BPOs
- A couple of billion ISK in minerals.
- 717 million taken from company pockets.
- Two billion taken beneath the guise of a mortgage from the executor.
Our internet achieve from this large heist is roughly estimated at over 20 billion ISK.
Hostile property destroyed:
- One Amarr Navy Apocalypse.
- One capsule, belonging to Mirial, identified to own a head stuffed with +4s.
- One dream.
Complete damages inflicted are estimated at near 30 billion ISK.
Additional data pending – keep tuned. Thanks all in your time.
Phrases Of Endearment
The identical discussion board thread incorporates a curious publish from fellow Guiding Hand operative Zeraph Dregamon, saying merely “What have we right here?” and linking a screenshot which is not on-line. In line with Shogaatsu, the shot was of Mirial’s private data web page, and confirmed it to comprise the sentence: “Pals of the Guiding Hand Social Membership.”
Gaining a company’s belief sufficient to rise to a the higher echelons of its hierarchy is tough sufficient, however this gave the impression to be proof of Guiding Hand operatives really altering the Ubiqua coverage even within the eyes of its personal CEO. The identify Guiding Hand was beginning to make sense. However how might a double-agent exert a lot affect over a company’s political stance?
The double-agent
Arenis Xemdal, the Guiding Hand Social Membership’s key operative.
“Arenis Xemdal is what we name a Valentine Operative.” Shogaatsu explains. “Primarily his job is to seduce and entice an goal right into a state of belief and confidence. As such, we might name Mirial’s relationship to him moments earlier than the strike… ‘endeared’.”
After all, we solely have the Guiding Hand’s phrase for this; at time of going to press, Mirial had not responded to our makes an attempt to contact her for remark. It ought to be famous, too, that Ubiqua Seraph members role-play. Whereas it is sure that gamers belonging to Ubiqua Seraph genuinely trusted the Guided Hand double-agents, claims of a relationship past which might be prone to be attributable to role-playing enjoyable. Nonetheless, it is a hell of a job title.
Proportional Response
Naturally the discussion board thread exploded with reactions. This was one of many single most devastating acts ever carried out in Eve – the truth is, it was on the time the most important financial worth of any in-game theft we might heard of. It was an act of such staggering audacity and duplicity that it calls into query the very distinction between gaming and actuality. Is it actually nonetheless only a sport whenever you inflict this sort of harm? At what level does an in-game act change into morally incorrect in actual life?
Opinion was divided between the impressed, the disgusted, and the impressed however disgusted. However a number of commenters trace that Mirial herself has engaged in scams just like these perpetrated in opposition to her – a number of even categorical satisfaction at what they see as deserved revenge. For the Guiding Hand’s half, they’ve heard related tales however aren’t involved as to their veracity. “Allegedly, she is herself a corp thief, and escrow scammer. It is a massive a part of why we had been employed, though I’ve not personally verified it – it’s merely not my enterprise to.”
The private nature of the contract – notably the request for Mirial’s frozen corpse – would definitely be per the consumer having fallen afoul of Mirial’s actions not directly.
“The consumer requested Pearl Harbor,” says Shogaatsu. “Particularly a single, shock strike designed to trigger as a lot ache to a closely fortified goal in as little time as doable. The contract was the results of a vendetta between the first goal and our consumer, who, whereas definitely happy with the result, by no means anticipated the utter destruction we wrought.”
“Whereas Ubiqua Seraph was our means of getting at Mirial, and their reliance on shared property meant that every member probably misplaced a justifiable share of hard-earned possessions, we don’t imagine they sustained any irrecoverable harm – save for, maybe, their sense of safety.”
The Intergalactic Summit Responds
Khaldorn Murino, Freelance Unincorporated
I’m however a easy warrior, and the good galactic sport of espionage and politics are however a closed e-book to me.
However even I’ve heard of the mercenaries which might be the guiding hand social membership. I’ve little question that Istvaan Shogaatsu’s ego will probably be boosted to a good better dimension on account of his actions.
I’ve no pity for the slavers, they deserve no mercy. However the guiding palms? I ponder if they’re any higher. For sufficient cash I’m positive they themselves would change into slavers and try and destroy any opposition to it.
Watch out what you feed, for it’s a harmful one who will do something for isk. Even the slavers have their ethical code, as incorrect as screwed as it’s.
Ak Gara
I can not assist however surprise about what they did that requested for a lot wrath.
I additionally can not help however surprise if the one that employed the GH-SC is having regrets, not understanding simply how a lot wrath he paid for.
RageChild, Rona Paratwa
I can attest that Mirial is well-known for robbing hangers and utilizing escrow scams. Karma.
bonesy19uk, Stormriders
Whoever the goal perhaps, no matter ethical or political standing in the direction of them could also be, I’ve to say that no-one deserves that.
Viqer Fell, The Peoples Entrance of Minmatar
Fairly fairly pathetic. Podding somebody is one factor robbing all the corps property thereby stealing from each pilot member is the act of losers. Contemptible.
Zhou Yu, Yu Excavations Ltd
Folks work very arduous for months to avoid wasting as much as purchase issues like battleship BPO’s. Quite a lot of private effort and time is put into issues like that.
By all means, lead a sustained empire battle in opposition to them, trouble thier mining ops, gank them all over the place, however do not be *****. To infiltrate a corp for months with the only intent to steal its BPOs is essentially the most disgusting act that would ever be commited.
Nanus Parkite, BoB0 MONKIES INSURANCE VENDORS
I see theres a lot of folks congratulating them on a such an excellent operation, why? Is it tought to earn someones belief over a matter of months? I do not assume so. As soon as you have gained someones belief on this sport is it arduous to get hangar entry? Not usually. So thus far I do not see an terrible lot to be pleased with. Bob0’s battle wars on a regular basis however we battle them throughout the bounds of the sport mechanics. We do not cheat folks out of the trouble they put in like this. You my good friend are the sort of individual I might fortunately face a courtroom for beating 7 multi-coloured sorts of **** out of. To me the unique publish is on a par with gloating about having labored in a focus camp, or the way it was so humorous whenever you stole an previous girls financial savings. I hope you rot in your individual filth.
Zaridin, V I R I I
I can not assist however categorical my awe on the precision and completness for which this operation occured having examine it.
Eddie Gordo, Masuat’aa Matari
It appears you’ve got achieved a close to deadly blow to UQS and for that I applaud you. You will have performed the minmatar rebels an incredible favour.
Ashley Sky
As a small-time thief and villain, this sort of factor might occur solely in my evil desires.
I kneel in awe at this unimaginable story of deception. I stand within the cool shadows of giants.
Invite Solely
For different company CEOs out of the blue feeling susceptible, Shogaatsu allow us to in on how his company avoids being penetrated itself.
“The Guiding Hand depends on distributed property, rendering us impervious to theft. Since each module and warship belongs to somebody, nothing is shared and thus nothing could be taken. As for infiltration with the intent to collect data, we’re nearly neurotic relating to the compartmentalization of any data we’ve. The id of purchasers is normally stored to the contractor who signed them, with the remainder of GHSC by no means understanding who they’re working for. Relating to new members, we not often recruit, doing so strictly on an invitational foundation and preferring to depend on an previous guard of gamers who know one another effectively.”
That is precisely the sort of extraordinary participant politics which you could’t discover anyplace else.
“Past frequent sense,” he provides, “I am afraid sharing every other ‘methods of the commerce’ could be counter-productive for my company.”
For my cash, the Ubiqua Seraph infiltration was an act of despicable brilliance. An operation as merciless as it’s astonishing, it serves as a simultaneous testomony to each the virtues and the evils of a really open-ended massively multiplayer sport. Gamers crying for builders CCP to step in and redress the steadiness miss the purpose – that is precisely the sort of extraordinary participant politics which you could’t discover anyplace else. CCP been very vocal previously about their intention to easily create a world – a galaxy, the truth is – and let folks do what they could inside it. When you cease folks from doing horrible issues to one another in it, you lose the complete scope of what a sport could be.
Shogaatsu confirms that lots of the Guided Hand Social Membership’s operations have precipitated gamers to go away Eve On-line for good. However there will probably be many extra – myself included – who get an irrepressible urge to play it after they learn concerning the darkish machinations of this extraordinary universe. If there’s one other sport wherein ‘Valentine Operative’ is a viable occupation, I’ve but to play it.
