30.10.3304--The Two-Day War in Fuelum
30 Oct 2018VictoriaTerpsichore
Early Saturday morning, CMDR Deadstar106 posted an urgent plea for assistance on the EliteDangerous subreddit, informing the player base that the Fuel Rats’ home system, Fuelum, was under attack and that the player-run group was in danger of losing control. Constitution Part of Fuelum had overtaken the player group The Fuel Rats Mischief in influence and would likely assume control of the system without drastic intervention.The Fuel Rats are a player-run group of CMDRs who assist stranded players who have run out of fuel (hence the name). They are known across the galaxy as a benevolent force on the side of good. Damaging their efforts is akin to gunning down a hospital in Elite Dangerous. They have been known to drop into firefights to refuel stranded ships. Their efforts are celebrated across the galaxy, so when they called, I came running. And I wasn’t alone. In the two days
When I was new to Elite, having never played any space or flight simulation with a HOTAS, flying in Open Play was intimidating. I had been blown up many times by CMDRs that simply enjoyed getting a rise of others. On my first long-haul exploration trip, I ran out of gas. I called the Fuel Rats, and within five minutes a CMDR came to my rescue, refueled me, and offered a tutorial on how to fuel scoop at stars. As a result of that intervention, I have since to run out of gas despite having logged hundreds of hours in The service that they provide to new players is a comforting salve on what can truly be an unforgiving spacescape.
Shortly after the call went out, a redditor calling himself Harry Potter, acting presumably as a representative of one of the PVP groups (the author assumes SDC) issued a condemnation of the attack on Fuelum.
Harry Potter’s screenshots provided much-needed context–the Constitution Party of Fuelum had been manipulated into a higher sphere of influence by a group of CMDRs playing in a private group. Unfortunately, this is entirely possible to do—while in a private group, the players were able to wrench power away from the Fuel Rats without ever actually engaging them in the game. This is seen by many to be a most cowardly and dishonorable way to play Elite.
While some accepted SDC’s lack of involvement in the Fuel Rats’ predicament, many players pleaded for others to not be naïve, citing previous malfeasance perpetrated by the PvP-oriented player group.
It is possible that there is a split between SDC and NMD (Nomads), as /u/thorbrantly posted a screenshot of an official NMD member fighting against TFRM in a combat zone, which /u/refreshr validated via the NMD’s squadron list on Inara. I personally engaged in combat for the better part of the weekend to assist in the war effort, and was killed by a wing of four fighters en route from the combat zone to Wollheim Station, the only full-service station in the system, although it appears they were not affiliated with any of the aforementioned squadrons.
At the time of this writing, it remains to be seen if any of the perpetrators of this act (aside from the one whose name is revealed in CMDR Harry Potter’s screenshot) will reveal themselves to the general public.
On Saturday, the influence of CPoF stood at 72% over TFRM at 21%. Within 24 hours, the influence had closed the gap with TFRM at 46.7% to CPoF at 45.3%. The narrow margin triggered another day of war, with over 7500 Inara-registered ships logged as having entered the system. Today, The Fuel Rats Mischief sits at 61% influence over CPoF’s 30.8%. The two days’ war for influence over Fuelum is won.
Thousands of players answered the call, including one such player (CMDR CrimsonGamer99) who fought in a Beluga Liner.
I’ve been thinking about what can be learned from this experience. The first is perhaps the most grating—that there will always be those that treat a game and its players as something that requires disruption, seeing their role as necessary in the great balance of the universe. These players see their heinous deeds almost as a necessity, a villainous influence to counteract the peace the rest of us try so greatly to impart on the whole of the galaxy. But what I’ve learned most about the Two Days’ War (as I’m calling it), is that although there will always be those bent on destruction, there are far more of us fighting for, at the very least, a basic sense of universal altruism.
I’ve written this as a not-so-brief chronicle to commemorate the brave CMDRs who assisted in this most valiant effort. Below is a listing of the names I was able to collect during my time both in-station and engaged in combat. Also included below is an album of screenshots taken during the conflict.
Snapshots of the Fuelum Conflict
Seen at Wollheim Vision
CMDR Terafir Ryzhan
CMDR Sorakri
CMDR Anglat Feral
CMDR Kairn
CMDR JT Carmer
CMDR Marcus Wynter (Wanderlust), Beluga Liner
CMDR SP4H (Sleep Now In The Fire), Krait MKII
CMDR Solbound (Sol’s Folly), Krait MKII
CMDR Telemachus Odysseus (Santa Maria II), Anaconda
CMDR Davyath (Sam Hyde), Anaconda
CMDR Dkayon, Alliance Chieftain
CMDR Nearhi (Echois Daughter), Python
CMDR Mike C. (Leviathan IV), Sidewinder
CMDR Zev Woundurlust (LLV Emperor’s Fury), Imperial Clipper
CMDR Chalfantkr (Fedelacchius), Vulture
CMDR Quart (Foxy Lady), Alliance Chieftain
CMDR Averise
CMDR coreoski (Discoboat) Federal Corvette
CMDR Luciite (Amywangwang), Federal Corvette
CMDR Jeefly (FNS Atlas) Federal Corvette
CMDR UPS-4581538
CMDR GreyCatFarts, Anaconda
CMDR Evangelyne (Velocity), Hauler
CMDR Kronaz (Shippy McShipFace), Alliance Chieftain
CMDR Vanya Pavlovich (Andropov) FDL
CMDR Protomaniac (Royal Rat Authority), Federal Dropship
Seen in the Black
CMDR Coderace
CMDR Boomkin
CMDR Apparissus
CMDR GTRMTX
CMDR Lesse Frost
Ship Designated U-Die-Here, Vulture
Ship Designated The 10th Dimension, FDL
CMDR Brandito
CMDR Havoc4U
CMDR A-212 Jameson
CMDR M W Snells
CMDR Isaiah Evanson (Bloodfeather), FDL
CMDR Niapalorx ([3FIF] Juan Carlos 1), FAS
CMDR Da’Oud Al Zarq, Krait MKII
CMDR Mayoms Thawat (Blue Ruin), Imperial Courier
CMDR Jeet Klo (Flying Cloud), AspX
CMDR Burke (Raza), Alliance Crusader
CMDR Terrorfirma (Terror’est), Federal Corvette
Seen Flying TRFM’s Banner:
CMDR Azrael Olea
CMDR O’Drennan
CMDR Racer395 (SRL Xeno Defense), Anaconda
CMDR Stillkill (FNS Space Waifu), Federal Corvette
CMDR Detergent (Dorito of Doom)
CMDR SenselessCross5 (Vanguard), Alliance Chieftain
CMDR Falcon_X, FDL
CMDR Jeff God of Biscuits (Shoe), FDL
CMDR Helen Zilwiki (Black-Dog), FDL
CMDR Steve Bolt [CTRL] (The Boltmobile), Alliance Chieftain
CMDR Zedakiah Massacre
CMDR Concordski1231
CMDR WitchKat (Firefight), Python
CMDR Navian, FDL
CMDR Rushhour
CMDR ThunderFish (4 The Ratz), FDL
CMDR Mackso
CMDR Ultime (Arepa D’Huevo), FDL
CMDR Russet Eveningshine (Tenryuu’s Blade), Cobra MKIII
CMDR Mr. Grinch ([INR]Frightless) Vulture
CMDR Genxs
CMDR Fofo74
CMDR Kildigs
CMDR Samatorr
CMDR Whiplash1983 (Green Goblin-G.O.M.), FDL
CMDR Maia Posidana (Hammer of Light), Federal Corvette
CMDR Shiro Skydragon (Inarius), Federal Corvette
CMDR Achi Cirno (Craftworld), Imperial Cutter
CMDR Vacendak (Dixie Flatline), Krait MKII
CMDR Nearhi, (Sadie Luck), Alliance Chieftain
CMDR Pvt. S. Parker (FNS Cameron), Federal Corvette
CMDR Jenamnic (Trantor), Federal Corvette
Seen at Carrasco Vision
CMDR Deplorable Jackalope, Viper MKIII
Seen Flying CPoF’s Banner
CMDR Outworld Devourer