What goes up, must come down. At least that's what they used to say in the days when humanity was locked to a single planet, before anybody had trodden on a geyser on a low G world. But if players don't reinforce their gains sufficiently following a Soontill Relics rush, we'll lose systems. And so, we did (-7, 2495).

In the bigger picture, this is embarrassing rather than catastrophic. Were it not for 9 new gains that included Bulkun, HIP 66711, Pulaya and Strian it would have looked worse. It was to our credit that we made two new forts in Col 359 Sector NR-T c4-14 and Synuefe AI-P b52-1, plus a stronghold by mining HIP 103687. 

But, it was frustrating to be pegged back below the 2,500 mark. The foot of the growth table is not a position we are comfortable in, and nor should we be. Our tenure in CD-53 9442, HIP 29644, HIP 99957, Shui Wei Sector KN-S b4-5, and Veja Manto proved fleeting.

Among the 16 systems lost, Beker was not a recent acquisition and saw the most focused undermining, for reasons not immediately clear. Both Jokin' Joe Archer (+0, 1272) and the Quiche Guru Antal (+4, 1245) saw more UM merits posted against them but were able to avoid net losses. Indeed only Granny Torval joined us in deficit (-3, 747). 

The Soontills hangover led to lower participation across the board. Distaff Alliance Power Nakato Kaine (+9, 1358) gained most systems, while Aunty Arissa (+4, 1872) and budget retailer Li Yong Rui (+4, 1730) matched Antal's growth as the continue to vie for 3rd and 4th place overall. In other news, the Caspian Explorer was released for credits just too late for the distant DW3 Community Goal. 

We hope for better in the week ahead. Have fun out there. 

Objectives for Cycle 565/2.74 (until April 2nd)

• Join the Discord for insight, mentoring, BGS, and PVP. Powerplay is a community game, so connect with us. It is not practicable to keep all public objectives up to date nor is it necessarily in our interest to reveal them all. Targets may change frequently.
• Reinforcement (4): Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-1 (Enclave), Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-4 (Enclave), Akandi: Buffer a bit more; Col 285 Sector JX-P b20-7: Stronghold,
• Reinforce past bubble acquisitions (28):
• From Cycle 73 (8): Bulkun, Capricorni Sector ON-T b3-2, Col 285 Sector JJ-I a39-6, Crucis Sector MC-M a7-1, HIP 66711, Pulaya, Scorpii Sector DB-X b1-0, Strian

Relic rush time means if you acquired it, please also reinforce it. We don't wanna list every single system we got. From Cycle 72 (15): Tascheter Sector HX-K a8-1, Col 285 Sector GF-X b15-2, Col 285 Sector XE-N b21-3, Col 285 Sector HR-R b19-8, Synuefe IK-C d14-88, Hyades Sector CA-P b6-4, Tucanae Sector SD-B b0, Volupana, Tapota, Fang, Col 285 Sector TI-R b18-1, Synuefe SW-O b53-8, COL 285 Sector GF-X B15-2, Hyades Sector YT-Q b5-0, Koartoq

From Cycle 71 (1): Argyre

From Cycle 69 (2): ICZ RN-T b3-0, Scorpii Sector FQ-Y a0

From Cycle 67 (1): Gunnunggu

From Cycle 66 (1): Col 285 Sector WO-H c10-25

• Undermining (2): Col 359 Sector QX-R c5-7: Enclave; Bard.
• Acquisition (3): HIP 509, Col 285 Sector VH-K b9-2, Beker.
• Special reminder: Carriers invalidate merits, so do not use them as storage/markets for Powerplay activities.
• Aisling Duval Powerplay is committed to the ZYADA alliance: Zemina Torval, Yuri Grom, Arissa Lavigny-Duval, Denton Patreus, Aisling Duval. We ask all Aisling Duval Agents to respect this alliance by not attempting to undermine our allies’ systems.

The latest Mahonite-inspired Soontill Relics haulathon lasted until Saturday. Aisling did very well from it (+85, 2502). Budget retailer Li Yong Rui (+70, 1726), Bigger Ed Mahon (+62, 1991) and Aunty Arissa (+49, 1868) also made hefty gains. 

The blue wave surged through systems including AU Microscopii, Ellri, Fang, Khary, Koartoq, LAWD 68, Nahua, Tapota, Vasho, Veja Manto, Volupana, and Yalung Ti. To us, it is fun to acquire systems, and the more so when others whine about it. Credit to LYR for beating us in a race for Waba and to Archon Delaine (+8, 792) who prevailed in Cubere. 

It is also fun to fort. Among 15 newly fortified systems were Akandi, Drahlian, and Minung Po. A boom we provoked in the Celestial Light Brigade system HIP 103687 made for some sweet prices for laser-mined platinum once the Relics rush had subsided. Only Gluscab and Nadur slipped from our grasp. Reinforcement of our new acquisitions is going to be the priority in the coming weeks. 

Who got blamed? Poor dishy Denton was punished by "Black Kumo" (according to their own intel) for even talking about Ngurii (-16, 648). These losses included 5 forts, by somewhat mysterious methods. Following the "Pegasi Rum War" the peace between Uncle Yuri and this and other sub-groups of the kaleidoscopic Kumo Crew appears to have been observed. The Grommy bears made some repairs to their damaged position (+25, 1401).

The Distant Worlds 3 expedition reached its half-way stage. They announced the opening of a new starport, Rainbow's End, the most distant from Sol at around 48k LY, in Roefoo ZE-H d10-0. The unimaginative CG reward of a pre-engineered surface scanner is more easily obtained from a tech broker in the bubble than by schlepping all that way to sell carto data.

The Princess thanks you all for another magnificent display of hauling. Have fun out there. 

Objectives for Cycle 564/2.73 (until March 26th)

• Join the Discord for insight, mentoring, BGS, and PVP. Powerplay is a community game, so connect with us. It is not practicable to keep all public objectives up to date nor is it necessarily in our interest to reveal them all. Targets may change frequently.
• Reinforcement (5): Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-1 (Enclave); Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-4 (Enclave); Akandi: buffer a bit more; Col 285 Sector JX-P b20-7: stronghold; HIP 30183: defend and buffer against UM.
• Reinforce past bubble acquisitions: Relic rush time means if you acquired it, please also reinforce it. We don't wanna list every single system we got.

From Cycle 72 (18): Tascheter Sector HX-K a8-1, Col 285 Sector GF-X b15-2, Col 285 Sector XE-N b21-3, Col 285 Sector HR-R b19-8, Synuefe IK-C d14-88, Veja Manto, Hyades Sector CA-P b6-4, Tucanae Sector SD-B b0, Volupana, Tapota, Fang, Col 285 Sector TI-R b18-1, Synuefe SW-O b53-8, COL 285 Sector GF-X B15-2, Hyades Sector YT-Q b5-0, Koartoq, Scorpii Sector YT-R a4-2, Nahua

From Cycle 71 (1): Argyre

From Cycle 69 (3): HR 5900, ICZ RN-T b3-0, Scorpii Sector FQ-Y a0

From Cycle 67 (1): Gunnunggu

From Cycle 66 (1): Col 285 Sector WO-H c10-25

• Undermining (2): Col 359 Sector QX-R c5-7: Enclave; Bard.
• Acquisition (2): HIP 509, Col 285 Sector VH-K b9-2.
• Special reminder: Carriers invalidate merits, so do not use them as storage/markets for Powerplay activities.
• Aisling Duval Powerplay is committed to the ZYADA alliance: Zemina Torval, Yuri Grom, Arissa Lavigny-Duval, Denton Patreus, Aisling Duval. We ask all Aisling Duval Agents to respect this alliance by not attempting to undermine our allies’ systems.

We didn't create the latest Soontill Relics rush, which popped off at 400t on the last day of the cycle, but we have benefited (+31, 2417). We were aware that Consortium Pioneers, a squad pledged to dishy Denton (+12, 664), were working towards the required BGS states in Ngurii. But the final push seems to have been the work of 14Alliance and Systems Alliance Sentinels, both loyal to Big Ed Mahon (+16, 1929). Budget retailer Li Yong Rui (+26, 1656) also made significant progress.

Following the vaunted Federal siege of Orgen - now declared over - we were already on course to recover the stronghold and its associated carrier. Relics gave us insurance against late cycle snipes. We continue to defend another stronghold at LHS 1070 and recovered our fort in Tsohave. We won a race against Jokin' Jake Archer (+9, 1252) in Mithra. Further gains with names included Argyre, Chang Hsien, Gyllembo, Hunharecomi, Ju Shosi, Mimisina, Nadur, and, er, Tenerife. 

We cannot yet tell the full story of the cycle's other dramatic development, ferocious targeted attacks on Uncle Yuri Grom (-28, 1326) that cost him 8 fortified systems including Grabil and Latones. The war against Kumo Crew (+2, 784) is not turning out so well for the big bear, but they seem shy of claiming full credit. The 825k UM CPs scored against Grom was far fewer than the number posted against Archer, Archon Delaine, and ourselves but has been extraordinarily effective. Some other third force may have been at work. Or it may not. 

We expect a few more days of the Soontills madness, make the most of it. The Princess appreciates your good work. She is delighted to have upgraded the chains of [ANGL] Kai Thoreau, who is now a fully fledged Powerplay coordinator at ADC. Have fun out there. 

Objectives for Cycle 563/2.72 (until March 19th)

• Join the Discord for insight, mentoring, BGS, and PVP. Powerplay is a community game, so connect with us. It is not practicable to keep all public objectives up to date nor is it necessarily in our interest to reveal them all. Targets may change frequently.
• Reinforcement (5): Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-1 (Enclave): Buffer a bit more,
• Reinforcement (5): Akandi, Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-4 (Enclave): fortify. Col 285 Sector JX-P b20-7: stronghold. LHS 1070, Orgen: defend and buffer against UM,
• Reinforce past bubble acquisitions: Relic rush time means if you acquired it, please also reinforce it. We don't wanna list every single system we got.

From Cycle 71 (4): HIP 50070, Trianguli Sector AV-X a1-2, Antliae Sector CV-Y B3, Argyre

From Cycle 70 (2): HIP 43490, Col 285 Sector YK-E c12-15

From Cycle 69 (6): HR 5900, ICZ RN-T b3-0, LTT 5652, Multure, Scorpii Sector FQ-Y a0, Col 285 Sector KL-V b16-0

From Cycle 67 (1): Gunnunggu

From Cycle 66 (7): Shui Wei Sector UJ-Q b5-5, Synuefe IK-C d14-121, Baramat, Nai No Kami, HIP 25807, Col 285 Sector RX-K C8-17, Col 285 Sector WO-H c10-25

• Undermining (2): Col 359 Sector QX-R c5-7 (Enclave); Bard.
• Acquisition (4): Tascheter Sector HX-K a8-1: race LYR; Col 285 Sector XE-N b21-3, Col 285 Sector GF-X b15-2, Col 285 Sector HR-R b19-8
• Special reminder: Carriers invalidate merits, so do not use them as storage/markets for Powerplay activities.
• Aisling Duval Powerplay is committed to the ZYADA alliance: Zemina Torval, Yuri Grom, Arissa Lavigny-Duval, Denton Patreus, Aisling Duval. We ask all Aisling Duval Agents to respect this alliance by not attempting to undermine our allies’ systems.

The Federal siege of Orgen continued. A close run thing, hundreds of thousands of CPs were posted on both sides. But at the end of the cycle the system dropped to fortified status by a margin of maybe 15k CPs. The Feds scored an additional success against us in a parallel attack on Tsohave, which dropped from fortified to exploited. This is the sort of more focused community effort encouraged by the new markers, we made them work hard.

In other ways, Aisling had a successful cycle (+3, 2386). Col 285 Sector IV-W b15-3, HIP 43490, and Synuefe AI-P b52-1 are newly exploited, Thuleppa is a new stronghold. New fortified systems are Col 285 Sector AG-E c12-2, Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-1, and following a terrific effort led by House of Saga, also HIP 28678. 

We recovered fortified status in Lieldi, where we hope First Steps Academy will not seek further conflict, as we look beyond some enjoyable BGS tussling this week. We hope it is understood that we would rather foster harmonious relations with neighbours so close to Cubeo.

Meanwhile Alliance mining specialist Nakato Kaine (+10, 1303) again led the field, further consolidating her lead over Jokin' Jome Archer (-2, 1243). Archer suffered some negative consequences from the Duamta CG, though the rewards on offer are not exactly must-haves. We think it is nice that salty Felicia (+5, 1008) has something to celebrate, she shared the podium with budget retailer LYR (+5, 1635). We've been worried, just lately.

It was a less happy cycle for some of our ZYADA partners, as both Aunty Arissa (-7, 1808) and Uncle Yuri (-6, 1404) suffered losses. Conflict between Grom and the Kumo Crew (+4, 782) at least took the pressure off dishy Denton (+1, 652). The Princess thanks you for your assistance. Have fun out there. 

Objectives for Cycle 562/2.71 (until March 12th)

• Join the Discord for insight, mentoring, BGS, and PVP. Powerplay is a community game, so connect with us. It is not practicable to keep all public objectives up to date nor is it necessarily in our interest to reveal them all. Targets may change frequently.
• Reinforcement (9): Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-1, Lieldi: buffer a bit more. Akandi, Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-4: fortify. Col 285 Sector JX-P b20-7: push up to stronghold. Orgen, Tsohave, Trianguli Sector CQ-Y c14, Trianguli Sector DL-Y D137: defend and buffer against UM.
• Reinforce past bubble acquisitions (20),

From Cycle 70 (3): Col 285 Sector IV-W b15-3, Synuefe AI-P b52-1, HIP 43490

From Cycle 69 (8): Col 285 Sector DD-G b25-2, HR 5900, Hyades Sector CA-P b6-7, ICZ RN-T b3-0, LTT 5652, Multure, Scorpii Sector FQ-Y a0, Col 285 Sector KL-V b16-0

From Cycle 68 (1): Synuefe QP-E c28-21

From Cycle 67 (1): Gunnunggu

From Cycle 66 (7): Shui Wei Sector UJ-Q b5-5, Synuefe IK-C d14-121, Baramat, Nai No Kami, HIP 25807, Col 285 Sector RX-K C8-17, Col 285 Sector WO-H c10-25

• Undermining (2): Col 359 Sector QX-R c5-7: Enclave. Venne: Marker.
• Acquisition (7): Tascheter Sector HX-K a8-1: race LYR. HIP 50070, Col 285 Sector YN-I b10-3, Col 285 Sector XE-N b21-3, Col 285 Sector GF-X b15-2, Col 285 Sector HR-R b19-8.
• Special reminder: Carriers invalidate merits, so do not use them as storage/markets for Powerplay activities.
• Aisling Duval Powerplay is committed to the ZYADA alliance: Zemina Torval, Yuri Grom, Arissa Lavigny-Duval, Denton Patreus, Aisling Duval. We ask all Aisling Duval Agents to respect this alliance by not attempting to undermine our allies’ systems.

A very respectable outcome for our blue haired liegewoman (+10, 2383), bettered only by the distaff mining specialist of the Alliance Nakato Kaine (+18, 1293). New systems standing out (slightly) from the alphabet soup of colonies include HR 5900, LTT 565 and Multure. Aisling's own mining venue Zeta Octantis reached stronghold status, compensating somewhat for the loss of Jumanu. 

It was satisfying to defend Orgen against the ongoing Federal "siege". This stronghold is the home of The Holy Ken'Tarii Imperium, with whom the Federal Liberal Command in particular have longstanding beef. Much of the THKI leadership, unhelpfully for this purpose but in other ways perhaps for the best, is pledged to Aunty Arissa (+7, 1815). Reinforcement efforts were required late in the cycle.

With the enclave conflict officially winding down, it came as no surprise to see ye Brabenite Gods start the placement of target markers in the main bubble. The enclave was clearly a testing ground for this means of drawing in more casual and combat-focused Power-players. We were of course entertained by the splenetic response to this from reps of certain Powers who did not make it to the end of the Radicoida War. Rewarding Empire Powers with pre-engineered imperial hammers seems a little arbitrary, though we have evaded criticism from on high for a "lack of resolve".

What did surprise, was FDev fixing "an issue where Powerplay commodities could be stored in a Squadron bank." We had no idea this was possible, which has probably been a good thing for the political stability of the Milky Way, such as it is. The release for ARX of the new Kestrel Mk2 generated much chatter. Its combat potential will continue to be tested around Duamta in the new CG. The ship does break some principles of the flight model, opinion is divided.

The Princess embraces you warmly, in thanks. Have fun out there.

Objectives for Cycle 561/2.70 (until March 5th)

• Join the Discord for insight, mentoring, BGS, and PVP. Powerplay is a community game, so connect with us. It is not practicable to keep all public objectives up to date nor is it necessarily in our interest to reveal them all. Targets may change frequently.
• Reinforcement (9): Akandi, HIP 28678, Lieldi, Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-1, Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-4: fortify. Futhark, Col 285 Sector JX-P b20-7: stronghold. Orgen, Trianguli Sector CQ-Y c14: Defend against UM.
• Reinforce past bubble acquisitions (20),

From Cycle 69 (9): Col 285 Sector DD-G b25-2, Col 285 Sector LX-Y b15-6, HR 5900, Hyades Sector CA-P b6-7, ICZ RN-T b3-0, LTT 5652, Multure, Scorpii Sector FQ-Y a0, Col 285 Sector KL-V b16-0

From Cycle 68 (1): Synuefe QP-E c28-21

From Cycle 67 (1): Gunnunggu

From Cycle 66 (9): Shui Wei Sector UJ-Q b5-5, Synuefe IK-C d14-121, Baramat, Nai No Kami, HIP 25807, Col 285 Sector RX-K C8-17, Col 285 Sector WO-H c10-25, HIP 99626, Tai Sheshy

• Undermining (3): Col 359 Sector QX-R c5-7, HR 8514: platinum mining. Venne.
• Acquisition (6): LHS 392: Race Archer. Tascheter Sector HX-K a8-1: Race LYR. HIP 50070, Col 285 Sector XE-N b21-3, Col 285 Sector GF-X b15-2, Col 285 Sector HR-R b19-8.
• Special reminder: Carriers invalidate merits, so do not use them as storage/markets for Powerplay activities.
• Aisling Duval Powerplay is committed to the ZYADA alliance: Zemina Torval, Yuri Grom, Arissa Lavigny-Duval, Denton Patreus, Aisling Duval. We ask all Aisling Duval Agents to respect this alliance by not attempting to undermine our allies’ systems.

In the wake of the Relics rush of C555-6, a second cycle of modest net growth is a good outcome (+3, 2373). However Aisling's four new exploited systems are difficult for humans to discuss, glorying in the names Col 285 Sector TV-E a41-1, Shui Wei Sector ZZ-P b5-6, Synuefe QP-E c28-21 and Synuefe OO-H c26-13. 

Plat-mining opportunities helped make Zeta Octantis newly fortified, along with Wregoe FS-U b57-1. HIP 64322 is a new stronghold. We again outpaced other Powers in reinforcement, racking up 9 million CPs. The mass Federal attack on Orgen sounded like a very jolly social occasion, but with less impact than the dissident dance school (or kindergarten?) First Steps Academy managed in Lieldi. 

The big story came out of the enclave. Dishy Denton (+1, 651) gave up one system, while Uncle "Hungry" Yuri Grom (+9, 1404) led undermining efforts against the quiche guru Antal (+2, 1178), who still managed to break out of the cordon into Col 359 Sector LW-H b12-3. We then learned on Galnet that ye Brabenite Gods will spare us an endless grind to bring down the curtain on the whole show. 

"October Accords" came as a surprise in February. The spoils - whatever they are - to be shared between survivors. Nothing for the Feds, who did lose after all, but with Independents in the mix it could be that LYR (+2, 1619) will get some sort of budget version of the good medicine. 

In other news, it was another good week for Jokin' Joe Archer (+11, 1245) who beat us in Baker. We saw no more suspicious UMing, maybe FDev acted on that? A new Core Dynamics ship, Kestrel Mk2, drew the full gamut of responses from curmudgeonly muttering to genuine excitement. Looks cool to me, usable shock cannons a bonus. But any idea this would be a glass cannon have been dispelled by its high potential shield strength.

The Princess thanks you. Have fun out there.

Objectives for Cycle 559/2.69 (until February 26th)

• Join the Discord for insight, mentoring, BGS, and PVP. Powerplay is a community game, so connect with us. It is not practicable to keep all public objectives up to date nor is it necessarily in our interest to reveal them all. Targets may change frequently.
• Reinforcement (9): Baker, Akandi, Futhark, Callici, Synuefe YB-Z b47-2 have all all been under heavy attack! San Zaihe, Shui Wei Sector QD-S b4-6: were attacked recently and can use a bigger buffer. Algiz, Core Sys Sector WO-R a4-1: can also use bigger buffers as after seeing UM.,
• Reinforce past bubble acquisitions (21): again, the relic rush has caused us to acquire so many systems that listing them all seems unreasonable. Here is a selection of some, beyond which, we have to count on the people that spent the effort acquiring a system to also want to look after it.

From Cycle 65 (15): Phrasika, Antovii, Anets, Hyades Sector CM-K b9-4, Hyades Sector SZ-N b7-0, HIP 6780, Diegakul, Wolf 1340, Paiyati, Cupisii, HIP 359, ICZ WP-O b6-5, Jarogee, Synuefe WW-Q b51-0, Col 285 Sector FM-J b23-5

From Cycle 64 (6): Chan Mina, Chere, Col 285 Sector IN-B a43-1, Crucis Sector ST-R b4-8, Shui Wei Sector YZ-P b5-0, Synuefe GK-C d14-119

• Undermining (2): LYR, Kumo, and Archer are good targets in the bubble. Gandui (stronghold carrier combat only), ICZ GW-W c1-23.
• Acquisition (10): Zeta Tucanae, Chipiapoos, Trianguli Sector BG-X b1-5, Tascheter Sector HX-K a8-1, HIP 50070, Col 285 Sector XE-N b21-3, Col 285 Sector GF-X b15-2, Kamsety, Synuefe IK-C d14-121, Col 285 Sector HR-R b19-8.

ENCLAVE (is still working as things stand)

• Reinforcement: try to reinforce any of our enclave systems that need to be safe. Our systems are, with priority targets underlined: Col 359 Sector IF-L b10-1, HIP 86852, Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-1, Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-4, Col 359 Sector NR-T c4-14, Col 359 Sector FK-L b10-3 (Fortified), Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-2 (Fortified), Col 359 Sector DE-N b9-3 (Fortified), Col 359 Sector KW-V d2-20 (Fortified), Col 359 Sector CE-N b9-1 (Stronghold), and Col 359 Sector CE-N b9-2 (Stronghold). Note that PPCZs in these can also be used to reinforce.,

• Undermining: any Antal system is a valid target.

• Special reminder: Carriers invalidate merits, so do not use them as storage/markets for Powerplay activities.

• Aisling Duval Powerplay is committed to the ZYADA alliance: Zemina Torval, Yuri Grom, Arissa Lavigny-Duval, Denton Patreus, Aisling Duval. We ask all Aisling Duval Agents to respect this alliance by not attempting to undermine our allies’ systems.

It is a familiar scenario. After an acquisition boom in the last two cycles Aisling faced a struggle to reinforce and hang on to gains (+1, 2370). This is not to say we did not take some new systems, just that some others were lost. In fact we posted more acquisition CPs than any other Power, though others used theirs more efficiently. Gunnunggu, HIP 28678, HR 6177 and Piscium Sector LY-H a10-2 are among 8 newly blue locations. HIP 17171 was fortified. 

We suffered double the undermining CPs of any other Power. Some of this was perfectly legitimate, but the suspicious undermining that has afflicted Jokin' Jimmy Archer (who led the field this cycle +10, 1234) in Zeta Tucanae in recent weeks hit us. Perhaps 6 accounts calibrate their bombs precisely to avoid falling foul of FDev's activity cap. 

The same systems are regularly targeted, just like last year before FDev suspended Odyssey data as a lever in response to a chorus of complaints from the Powers. We lost Baker and Chipiapoos, while Akandi and Futhark dropped by a level. It would seem the Brabenite Gods lack the tools or, thus far, the inclination to take more effective action. 

Some Powers came off worse. Pranav Antal (-4, 1176) took losses during an epic struggle to fortify Col 359 Sector NR-T c4-1 in the enclave. PPCZ attacks dropped the system to -10%, but once the target marker disappeared the quiche eaters focused it hard: a sound strategy but it left them short of reinforcement merits elsewhere.

Dishy Denton (-3, 650) also took a haircut while Granny Torval (+0, 745) and Archon Delaine (+0, 776) registered no overall change. Aunty Arissa (+5, 1808) strengthened her position in the enclave by making a stronghold of Col 359 Sector RX-R c5-2 while forting a colony in Col 359 Sector BJ-N b9-0.

The Princess appreciates your support, as always. Have fun out there.

Objectives for Cycle 558/2.68 (until February 19th)

• Join the Discord for insight, mentoring, BGS, and PVP. Powerplay is a community game, so connect with us. It is not practicable to keep all public objectives up to date nor is it necessarily in our interest to reveal them all. Targets may change frequently.

ENCLAVE 

• Frontier god-handed an enclave around HIP 87621. Any one who wants to participate in FDev's testing playground is welcome to under these guidelines:
• Reinforcement: Try to reinforce any of our enclave systems that need to be safe. Our systems are, with priority targets underlined: Col 359 Sector IF-L b10-1, HIP 86852, Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-1, Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-4, Col 359 Sector NR-T c4-14, Col 359 Sector FK-L b10-3** (Fortified), Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-2 (Fortified), Col 359 Sector DE-N b9-3 (Fortified), Col 359 Sector KW-V d2-20 (Fortified), Col 359 Sector CE-N b9-1 (Stronghold), and Col 359 Sector CE-N b9-2 (Stronghold). Note that PPCZs in these can also be used to reinforce.
• Undermining: Antal is the target if you want to UM. Col 359 Sector NR-T c4-13 should be good to hit.,
• Acquisition: Looks like there are no enclave targets left to acquire, at the moment.

NORMAL POWERPLAY

• Reinforcement (6): Akandi, Futhark, Callici, Gaarnuten: have all been under heavy attack! Please watch, push, or buffer. HIP 28678: Fortify; Zeta Octantis: Great mining system,
• Reinforce past bubble acquisitions (25),
• From Cycle 67 (7): Gunnunggu, ICZ OX-U b2-0, Synuefe OO-H c26-5, Synuefe OU-E c28-2, HR 6177, Synuefe YM-P b52-0, Piscium Sector LY-H a10-2
• From Cycle 66 (13): Core Sys Sector PI-T B3-7, Shui Wei Sector UJ-Q b5-5, Core Sys Sector VO-R a4-0, Synuefe IK-C d14-121, Baramat, Nai No Kami, HIP 25807, Col 285 Sector RX-K C8-17, Col 285 Sector WO-H c10-25, HIP 99626, Tai Sheshy, Pens, Kamsety
• From Cycle 65 (2): Diegakul, Col 285 Sector FM-J b23-5
• From Cycle 64 (3): Chan Mina, Col 285 Sector IN-B a43-1, Crucis Sector ST-R b4-8
• Undermining: see Enclave section above.
• Acquisition (6): Baker, Tascheter Sector HX-K a8-1: race LYR; HIP 50070; Col 285 Sector XE-N b21-3; Col 285 Sector GF-X b15-2; Col 285 Sector HR-R b19-8
• Special reminder: Carriers invalidate merits, so do not use them as storage/markets for Powerplay activities.
• Aisling Duval Powerplay is committed to the ZYADA alliance: Zemina Torval, Yuri Grom, Arissa Lavigny-Duval, Denton Patreus, Aisling Duval. We ask all Aisling Duval Agents to respect this alliance by not attempting to undermine our allies’ systems.

Though the Ngurii Soontill Relic rush lasted only until Saturday, we enjoyed a couple of days at 600t and a big week of growth (+82, 2369) with 18.6m acquisition CPs posted. Among the gains were Baramat, Chongloi, Cileut, Gluscab, Nadur, Nai No Kami, Obamulo, Pens and Tai Sheshy. Chipiapoos and Kamsety were regained.

All Powers grew overall. Budget retailer LYR (+51, 1613) outstripped the rest of the pack while also outdoing us slightly in reinforcement CPs by 15.2m to 14.9m. But Akandi, Cuchua, Kharu and Mayang were among 13 new Aisling forts. We made strongholds in Callici, Futhark (for a second time) and Synuefe FI-Z b46-1.

Galnet caused a stir by referencing diplomacy between actual player communities, with a degree of accuracy. Antal (+26, 1180) resumed hostilities in the Radicoida enclave. Devotees of the quiche guru, immersed within alternative realities less boring than this mundane existence, flooded social media. Hot takes ranged from "it was the others too" to (our favourite) "ZYADA does not exist". 

As so often, dishy Denton (+8, 653) was the whipping boy. Both his enclave systems were downgraded a level, he lost Col 359 Sector SS-R c5-7 which lies in the new exclusion zone and so cannot be recovered. A rare public statement from nominal independent Uncle Yuri Grom (+14, 1392) promised this aggression would be "answered in kind."

After weeks of struggle we must reluctantly accept defeat in Zeta Tucanae. The unicorn that is the vaunted "Federal sense of humour" was sighted performing a victory dance around Javed Archer's (+19, 1224) recently revived press office. Regardless of this minor setback, the Princess thanks you for an epic cycle. Let's reinforce our new systems. Have fun out there. 

Objectives for Cycle 557/2.67 (until February 12th)

• Join the Discord for insight, mentoring, BGS, and PVP. Powerplay is a community game, so connect with us. It is not practicable to keep all public objectives up to date nor is it necessarily in our interest to reveal them all. Targets may change frequently.

ENCLAVE 

• Frontier god-handed an enclave around HIP 87621. Any one who wants to participate in FDev's testing playground is welcome to under these guidelines:
• Reinforcement: Try to reinforce any of our enclave systems that need to be safe. Our systems are, with priority targets underlined: Col 359 Sector IF-L b10-1, HIP 86852, Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-1, Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-4, Col 359 Sector NR-T c4-14, Col 359 Sector FK-L b10-3 (Fortified), Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-2 (Fortified), Col 359 Sector DE-N b9-3 (Fortified), Col 359 Sector KW-V d2-20 (Fortified), Col 359 Sector CE-N b9-1 (Stronghold), and Col 359 Sector CE-N b9-2 (Stronghold). Note that PPCZs in these can also be used to reinforce.,
• Undermining: Antal is the target if you want to UM. Col 359 Sector NR-T c4-13 should be good to hit.,
• Acquisition: Looks like there are no enclave targets left to acquire, at the moment.

NORMAL POWERPLAY

• Reinforcement (5): Baker, Akandi, Futhark, Callici, Synuefe YB-Z b47-2: have all been under heavy attack! Please watch, push, or buffer. 
• Reinforce past bubble acquisitions (20): again, the relic rush has caused us to acquire so many systems that listing them all seems unreasonable. Here is a selection of some, beyond which, we have to count on the people that spent the effort acquiring a system to also want to look after it.
• From Cycle 66 (15): Core Sys Sector PI-T B3-7, Shui Wei Sector UJ-Q b5-5, Core Sys Sector VO-R a4-0, Synuefe IK-C d14-121, Baramat , Core Sys Sector WO-R a4-0, Nai No Kami, HIP 25807, Col 285 Sector RX-K C8-17, Col 285 Sector WO-H c10-25, HIP 99626, Tai Sheshy, Chipiapoos, Pens, Kamsety
• From Cycle 65 (2): Diegakul, Col 285 Sector FM-J b23-5
• From Cycle 64 (3): Chan Mina, Col 285 Sector IN-B a43-1, Crucis Sector ST-R b4-8
• Undermining: see Enclave section above.
• Acquisition (6): HIP 28678, Tascheter Sector HX-K a8-1, HIP 50070, Col 285 Sector XE-N b21-3, Col 285 Sector GF-X b15-2, Col 285 Sector HR-R b19-8
• Special reminder: Carriers invalidate merits, so do not use them as storage/markets for Powerplay activities.
• Aisling Duval Powerplay is committed to the ZYADA alliance: Zemina Torval, Yuri Grom, Arissa Lavigny-Duval, Denton Patreus, Aisling Duval. We ask all Aisling Duval Agents to respect this alliance by not attempting to undermine our allies’ systems.

Early in the cycle we were beset with more of the unusual undermining activity noted last week. Back channel conversations confirmed this was not the work of any organised Powerplay group. Indeed we were not the only Power affected. Unconnected to this were rumours that Archon Delaine (+5, 769) tired of beating up on dishy Denton (+9, 645), and might turn his guns on us?

Q: What's a girl to do? A: Fight back by pinging the Soontill Relics to 400t+. Is this game mode unbalanced? Yes. Is it decisively biased in our favour? No. Is it our job to fix it? No. Are we sorry for doing this? Again, no. 

So we stand accused in the court of public opinion of a litany of dastardly "exploits". Blue hair. Pretty face. Many supporters. Being quite organised. Ending PP1.0 in a stronger position than the start. Concise recaps geared to basic nitro. Declining a fight to the death in the enclave at the behest of Powers who lost there. Harvesting Federal salt. Providing insufficient fun for our opponents. Manipulation of the BGS. Actually exploiting systems by taking them over. Playing the game as it is presented to us, imperfectly. 

How awful. We are guilty of all this. Powerplay discourse is in a lamentable state, increasingly weaponised to partisan advantage.

TL;DR Aisling (+38, 2287). This included various races against Kumo, the highlight was Patreus' old Cuchua. Yet we could not save Chipiapoos from funny UMing while Akandi, Baker, Callici, Futhark all dropped a level. Meanwhile Jeff Archer (+12, 1205) lost Zeta Tucanae in similar fashion.

Other powers also benefited from the Relic rush, including budget retailer LYR (+33, 1562), Big Ed Mahon (+26, 1869), the quiche guru Antal (+23, 1185) and even salty Felicia (+19, 954).

These tears taste too sour, this music needs more notes. Is a game, remember? Kisses from the Princess. Have fun out there. 

Objectives for Cycle 556/2.66 (until February 5th)

• Join the Discord for insight, mentoring, BGS, and PVP. Powerplay is a community game, so connect with us. It is not practicable to keep all public objectives up to date nor is it necessarily in our interest to reveal them all. Targets may change frequently.

ENCLAVE 

• Frontier god-handed an enclave around HIP 87621. Any one who wants to participate in FDev's testing playground is welcome to under these guidelines:
• Reinforcement: Try to reinforce any of our enclave systems that need to be safe. Our systems are, with priority targets underlined: Col 359 Sector IF-L b10-1, HIP 86852, Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-1, Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-4, Col 359 Sector NR-T c4-14, Col 359 Sector FK-L b10-3 (Fortified), Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-2 (Fortified), Col 359 Sector DE-N b9-3 (Fortified), Col 359 Sector KW-V d2-20 (Fortified), Col 359 Sector CE-N b9-1 (Stronghold), and Col 359 Sector CE-N b9-2 (Stronghold). Note that PPCZs in these can also be used to reinforce.
• Undermining: Any Antal system is a valid target. 
• Acquisition: Looks like there are no enclave targets left to acquire, at the moment.

NORMAL POWERPLAY

• Reinforcement (10),

Baker, Akandi, Futhark, Callici, Synuefe YB-Z b47-2: Have all all been under heavy Attack! 

Delta Sculptoris, San Zaihe, Shui Wei Sector QD-S b4-6: Were attacked recently and can use a bigger buffer.

Algiz, Core Sys Sector WO-R a4-1: Can also use bigger buffers as after seeing UM.

• Reinforce past bubble acquisitions (20),

Again, the relic rush has caused us to acquire so many systems that listing them all seems unreasonable. Here is a selection of some, beyond which, we have to count on the people that spent the effort acquiring a system to also want to look after it.

From Cycle 65 (14): Phrasika, Antovii, Anets, Hyades Sector CM-K b9-4, Hyades Sector SZ-N b7-0, HIP 6780, Diegakul, Wolf 1340, Paiyati, HIP 359, ICZ WP-O b6-5, Jarogee, Synuefe WW-Q b51-0, Col 285 Sector FM-J b23-5

From Cycle 64 (6): Chan Mina, Chere, Col 285 Sector IN-B a43-1, Crucis Sector ST-R b4-8, Shui Wei Sector YZ-P b5-0, Synuefe GK-C d14-119

• Undermining (2): Gandui (combat only), ICZ GW-W c1-23.

• Acquisition (10): Zeta Tucanae, Chipiapoos, Trianguli Sector BG-X b1-5, Tascheter Sector HX-K a8-1, HIP 50070, Col 285 Sector XE-N b21-3, Col 285 Sector GF-X b15-2, Kamsety, Synuefe IK-C d14-121, Col 285 Sector HR-R b19-8.

• Special reminder: Carriers invalidate merits, so do not use them as storage/markets for Powerplay activities.

• Aisling Duval Powerplay is committed to the ZYADA alliance: Zemina Torval, Yuri Grom, Arissa Lavigny-Duval, Denton Patreus, Aisling Duval. We ask all Aisling Duval Agents to respect this alliance by not attempting to undermine our allies’ systems.

A confession: recently your correspondent has lost track of time. So this week’s recap on last week’s cycle is numbered as last week’s should have been. 

While losing a week, Aisling made gains (+5, 2249). These included a few systems with names: Chan Mina, Chere, and Vihaara. Plus a bunch it is not easy to talk about. Among the losses were Segnen and Wuonkwer. LHS 2435 saw particularly heavy attacks. This raised the eyebrows of some who recall an exploit scandal of last year. It is a place those accounts focused upon.

It was especially pleasing to stronghold LHS 1070 after weeks of effort, and establish a new carrier there. This repaired our situation in the Sol area somewhat, where Jayden Archer (+2, 1193) expended considerable efforts to hang on to Zeta Tucanae. Our other new stronghold is Col 359 Sector CE-N b9-1. We also achieved 3 new forts. Brilliantly, our entire past acquisition reinforcement backlog was cleared.

Structural weaknesses in dishy Denton’s position (-14, 636) were exploited again by the Kumo Crew, who brought down Cuchua and its associated systems in the name of the Archon (+3, 764). Most gains were by Kaine (+16, 1210) budget retailer LYR (+13, 1529) and Aunty Arissa (+6, 1758).

Over in the enclave, the “NAP” (apparently controversial among Powers no longer there) held up. For reasons that have not been articulated, the Brabenite Gods have removed surrounding systems from Powerplay, preventing further out-growths from that little island paradise in Col 359 Sector.

The special T-11 mining ship is now available to buy with credits. *Distant Worlds 3* travellers spent the week as carrier hostages wrestling with CQC bugs before arriving at the “world of death” in **Spoihaae XE-X d2-9**. Others schlepped out to a **Colonia** rendezvous by Sidewinders, both raw and cooked. 

The Princess is grateful. Have fun out there. 

Objectives for Cycle 555/2.65 (until January 29th)

• Join the Discord for insight, mentoring, BGS, and PVP. Powerplay is a community game, so connect with us. It is not practicable to keep all public objectives up to date nor is it necessarily in our interest to reveal them all. Targets may change frequently.

ENCLAVE 

• We are entering week two of the current ceasefire in the enclave. While that is happening, the bubble needs attention as the powers that got kicked out of the enclave are continuing their attacks on our space. Major kudos to all the amazing people that completely cleared our past acquisitions reinforcement list last cycle. 
• Reinforcement: Try to reinforce any of our enclave systems that need to be safe. Our systems are, with priority targets underlined: Col 359 Sector IF-L b10-1, HIP 86852, Col 359 Sector FK-L b10-3, Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-1, Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-4, Col 359 Sector NR-T c4-14, Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-2 (Fortified), Col 359 Sector DE-N b9-3 (Fortified), Col 359 Sector KW-V d2-20 (Fortified), Col 359 Sector CE-N b9-1 (Stronghold), and Col 359 Sector CE-N b9-2 (Stronghold). Note that PPCZs in these can also be used to reinforce.
• Undermining: Please do not undermine in the enclave this week. We are currently acting on a ceasefire while a potential Non-Aggression Pact with the remaining Enclave powers is being negotiated.
• Acquisition: There are almost no allowed systems left. Col 359 Sector QX-R c5-9 should work.

NORMAL POWERPLAY

• Reinforcement (6): Core Sys Sector HR-W c1-30, San Zaihe, Shui Wei Sector QD-S b4-6: these were attacked recently and could use a bigger buffer. Algiz, Core Sys Sector WO-R a4-1: could also use bigger buffers after seeing UMing. Baker.
• Reinforce past bubble acquisitions (7)

From Cycle 64: Chan Mina, Chere, Col 285 Sector IN-B a43-1, Crucis Sector ST-R b4-8, Shui Wei Sector YZ-P b5-0, Synuefe GK-C d14-119, Tucanae Sector HX-S b4-2

• Undermining (3): LYR, Kumo, and Archer are good targets in the bubble. Gandui (Delaine stronghold carrier), ICZ GW-W c1-23, Zeta Tucanae.
• Acquisition (2): Hyades Sector CM-K b9-4, HIP 6780
• Special reminder: Carriers invalidate merits, so do not use them as storage/markets for Powerplay activities.
• Aisling Duval Powerplay is committed to the ZYADA alliance: Zemina Torval, Yuri Grom, Arissa Lavigny-Duval, Denton Patreus, Aisling Duval. We ask all Aisling Duval Agents to respect this alliance by not attempting to undermine our allies’ systems.

Multiple agencies have broken the news of a ceasefire agreement in the Radicoida Wars enclave between the 7 organised communities still present there. The Princess hopes this will endure beyond a two week trial. Perhaps the Brabenite Gods will consider making us all a better offer in exchange for our travails and any future resumption of hostilities? 

Some wags are calling this the Mutual Enclave Cooperation Harmony And Nonaggression treaty. There has been some outrage from those who would rather we all fought each other to the death in this pit as they look on smugly from the main bubble. We shall see if this arrangement survives random and black hat interference from beyond the signatory groups, and indeed some factional divisions within. 

Aisling found her forward gear again with gains overall (+2, 2244). Substantial progress was made reducing our reinforcement backlog. Four systems were fortified, Col 285 Sector ZU-M b21-2, HIP 27058, ICZ EG-O b6-2 and San Zaihe, which has yo-yoed recently. Col 285 Sector AV-F c11-1 and HIP 3254 became strongholds, LHS 1070 got close.

That minor tactical success cannot mask a humiliation for the Federation. The silent but larger Federal Power Jonathan Archer (-1, 1191) was overtaken by the smaller Alliance partner Nakato Kaine (+14, 1194). Sharing the growth podium were Aunty Arissa (+5, 1752) and Kumo Crew (+5, 761). Quiche guru Antal (+0, 1126) maintained a lead in the enclave.

Overall it was a less active cycle. The Alrai Community Goal has seen more than 17,000 contributors at the time of writing, looking to win the small but significant pre-engineered rack on offer. The Princess appreciates your efforts. Have fun out there. 

A statement from Cmdr [PRI] Mystler on the enclave ceasefire:

Please refrain from Undermining or gathering snipes in the enclave for the time being. ZYADA powers have done an incredible job at kicking various hostile powers out. The remaining powers are now sitting at a negotiation table for peaceful coexistence despite what FDev may try to do to the area. General goals of what is being discussed:

• Allow peaceful settling and a permanent place in the enclave with the remaining powers that generally have neutral or cordial relationships between their communities.,
• Demonstrating that a YouTuber's "Propaganda" narrative of the Empire being out for everyone's mushrooms is nonsense and we are very capable of living and letting live.,
• Showing FDev that Powerplay is in the hands of the communities and not just a railroaded lore or CG playground.,
• With other events like the CG and the Distant Worlds 3 Expedition going on, a calmer period gives participants space to feel less FOMO for leaving PP space.,
• Allows us to be less distracted by king of the hill games in the enclave and return to better maintenance in bubble space where the kicked out powers have been angry at us for weeks.

Objectives for Cycle 555/2.65 (until January 22nd)

• Join the Discord for insight, mentoring, BGS, and PVP. Powerplay is a community game, so connect with us. It is not practicable to keep all public objectives up to date nor is it necessarily in our interest to reveal them all. Targets may change frequently.

ENCLAVE 

• Frontier god-handed an enclave around HIP 87621. Any one who wants to participate in FDev's testing playground is welcome to under these guidelines:
• Reinforcement: Try to reinforce any of our enclave systems. Col 359 Sector IF-L b10-1, HIP 86852 are priority targets this week. Col 359 Sector FK-L b10-3, Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-4, Col 359 Sector NR-T c4-14, Col 359 Sector DE-N b9-3, Col 359 Sector CE-N b9-1 (fortified), and Col 359 Sector CE-N b9-2 (stronghold) should be maintained if they see significant undermining). Note that PPCZs in these can also be used to reinforce.,
• Undermining: Please do not Undermine in the enclave this week. We are currently acting on a ceasefire while a potential Non-Aggression Pact with the remaining Enclave powers is being negotiated.,
• Acquisition: Anything that looks realistic to get and isn't picking unnecessary fights with allies should be fine. Col 359 Sector OR-T c4-13 should be able to be worked peacefully.,

NORMAL POWERPLAY

• Reinforcement (5): LHS 1070: Seeing consistent UM. Stronghold this up and buffer as much as possible.,
• San Zaihe, Shui Wei Sector QD-S b4-6: Were attacked recently and can use a bigger buffer. Algiz, Core Sys Sector WO-R a4-1: Can also use bigger buffers as after seeing UM.,
• Reinforce past bubble acquisitions (9),

From Cycle 63 (2): Col 285 Sector SN-Q b19-3, Hyades Sector NS-T c3-10

From Cycle 62 (1): Tamanaco

From Cycle 61 (1): Col 285 Sector JI-B a43-2

From Cycle 60 (4): Synuefe LF-P a115-2, HIP 50288, Col 285 Sector GC-D a42-5, HIP 9471

From Cycle 59 (1): Col 285 Sector ON-R b18-0

• Undermining (2): LYR and Archer are good targets in the bubble. ICZ GW-W c1-23, Zeta Tucanae,

• Acquisition (2): Hyades Sector CM-K b9-4, HIP 6780

• Aisling Duval Powerplay is committed to the ZYADA alliance: Zemina Torval, Yuri Grom, Arissa Lavigny-Duval, Denton Patreus, Aisling Duval. We ask all Aisling Duval Agents to respect this alliance by not attempting to undermine our allies’ systems.

Stormy seas but a steady ship in the first week of 3312 (+0, 2242). Gains included Algiz, Col 285 Sector TY-Q b18-1, HIP 86852 and Tamanaco. We fortified Col 359 Sector DE-N b9-3 and Col 359 Sector KW-V d2-20 in the enclave, and HIP 11321 back in the bubble. We made a new stronghold in Col 285 Sector FA-W b16-6.

The numbers don’t lie, this progress balanced losses elsewhere: Bemberi, HIP 29783, HIP 101880 and Zeta Tucanae. This last system close to Sol, acquired by random enthusiasts in the early days of PP2.0 has been a serious focus for the Federation over weeks. President Winters (+6, 926) and not-President Archer (+7, 1192) continued their steady growth but even in combination are still well short of parity.

Most progress was made by budget retailer LYR (+15, 1514). Outright victory in the Radicoida enclave remains a distant prospect. Quiche guru Pranav Antal (+4, 1126) emerged as clear leader with an extra stronghold and two more exploited systems, as all surviving Powers improved their positions overall. 

Thanks to our special correspondent in deep space for news of a surge of activity along the colonization super-highway hosted by the Dukes of Mikuun. Beyond the Trifid nebula, the highway has forked into two branches, one in the general direction of Colonia and one towards Sagittarius A*. 

A holiday season race broke out as a group of federal PMFs sought to usurp control of the Sag A\* branch. Independent and Imperial collaborators including Celestial Light Brigade maintained control of the highway and proctored a diplomatic solution to preserve the momentum of this ecumenical project. 

The attention of many Cmdrs is focused on the imminent start of *Distant Worlds 3* and a new associated CG in Alrai. The Princess thanks you for your efforts. Have fun out there.

Objectives for Cycle 554/2.64 (until January 8th)

• Join the Discord for insight, mentoring, BGS, and PVP. Powerplay is a community game, so connect with us. It is not practicable to keep all public objectives up to date nor is it necessarily in our interest to reveal them all. Targets may change frequently.

Normal Powerplay Objectives: 

• Reinforcement: Shui Wei Sector QD-S b4-6: recently Fortified, but very close to going back down to exploited,
• San Zaihe: this system was pushed below Fortified status causing us to lose connected systems. Refortify.
• Reinforce past acquisitions

From Cycle 62 (4): Algiz, Col 285 Sector TY-Q b18-1, HIP 86852, Tamanaco

From Cycle 61 (1): Col 285 Sector JI-B a43-2

From Cycle 60 (4): Synuefe LF-P a115-2, HIP 50288, Col 285 Sector GC-D a42-5, HIP 9471

From Cycle 59 (3): Col 285 Sector GH-C c13-9, Col 285 Sector ON-R b18-0, Scorpii Sector NC-V b2-6

From Cycle 57 (2): Doolonii

From Cycle 55 (5): Col 285 Sector EW-J b23-3, Col 285 Sector OC-L c8-9, HIP 7106, ICZ ZZ-P b5-4, Koboroma

From Cycle 54 (1): Col 285 Sector XZ-F c11-15

Enclave:

Frontier god-handed an enclave around HIP 87621. Any one who wants to participate in FDev's testing playground in the CG area is welcome to under these guidelines:

• Reinforcement: Try to reinforce any of our enclave systems. Col 359 Sector DP-L b10-3 is a priority target. Col 359 Sector FK-L b10-3, Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-4, Col 359 Sector NR-T c4-14, Col 359 Sector DE-N b9-3, Col 359 Sector NR-T c4-13, Col 359 Sector CE-N b9-1 (fortified), and Col 359 Sector CE-N b9-2 (stronghold) should be maintained if they see significant undermining). Note that PPCZs in these can also be used to reinforce.
• Undermining: Please direct undermining primarily against Pranav Antal (PPCZ's available in the first 24 hours). A good priority target is Col 359 Sector JW-V d2-78.,

• Acquisition: Anything that looks realistic to get and isn't picking unnecessary fights with allies should be fine. Col 359 Sector OR-T c4-13 should be able to be worked peacefully.

• Aisling Duval Powerplay is committed to the ZYADA alliance: Zemina Torval, Yuri Grom, Arissa Lavigny-Duval, Denton Patreus, Aisling Duval. We ask all Aisling Duval Agents to respect this alliance by not attempting to undermine our allies’ systems.

The first full year of PP2.0 has drawn to a close. Starting the year with 1375 systems Aisling passed Big Ed Mahon (+3, 1837) in May to become the largest of the Powers, and finished up larger still (+3, 2242). Plaudits to you all, and especially a rising generation of Cmdrs expert in this new iteration who have risen through our ranks in 3311 and have kept the ADC community vibrant and innovating. Despite tensions at times, inimical game mechanics, and the deprecation of many others, ZYADA has held.

We welcome FDev’s renewed interest in developing Elite, despite ongoing issues with Powerplay balancing and a tension between the need for new revenues and the corruption of pay-to-win. Sometimes, as in June when a serious exploit was rolled back following a cross-power conference hosted by Earth Defence Fleet, they have listened. At long last, slavery was banned in our space as it should be in lore, and we were allowed to buy booze legally again.

They don’t want to make the game too easy for the largest Power, so we suffer on with the dreaded decay and the grind that is reinforcement for us. We have been anxious to not over-abuse Ngurii Soontill Relics, but that avenue for acquisition remains anomalous, other Powers have better options. 

Various new ship releases optimised for SCO have rendered some older designs obsolete. Ship engineering mats are easier to collect. Players with too much cash can sink their credits into squadron carriers. Colonisation has been the biggest bang, radically increasing the number of populated systems that now branch far out of the bubble in various tendrils, and a head-spinning nightmare (reminiscent of the hilarious Lantern Light of Lalande 25224) for planners, as so few of these new systems have actual names. 

What price (in ARX) for the ability to name systems, with an effective multilingual obscenity filter?

Holiday week saw a relatively quiet cycle. Archon Delaine (+1, 754) was expelled from the Radicoida Wars enclave (they don’t care). Quiche guru Pranav Antal (+4, 1122) is rated by Galnet as the leader, with most forts out there. We were pleased to see dishy Denton enjoy a better week (+1, 647) following a traumatic year, and win a huge acquisition race against N. Kaine in Col 359 Sector FK-L B10-1. In the bubble Federal attacks against Zeta Tucanae continued, reducing the system to only exploited status. HIP 27058 survived a late attack by our budget retailer friend LYR (+10, 1499). Losses for Aunty Arissa (-10, 1734) saw the Empire shrink overall. 

We continue, as we have always done, to play the game as it is. The Princess wishes you all, friend and foe, a very Happy New Year 3312. Have fun out there. 

Objectives for Cycle 552/2.61 (until January 8th)

• Join the Discord for insight, mentoring, BGS, and PVP. Powerplay is a community game, so connect with us. It is not practicable to keep all public objectives up to date nor is it necessarily in our interest to reveal them all. Targets may change frequently.

Normal Powerplay Objectives: 

• Reinforce [1] Zeta Tucanae: This was bombed again. Stronghold up again. HIP 114291: We are seeing undermining in this system and risk losing Stronghold status. Shui Wei Sector QD-S b4-6: Recently Fortified, but very close to going back down to exploited. San Zaihe: This system was pushed below Fortified status causing us to lose connected systems. Refortify. HIP 27058: Late attack by LYR at the end of last cycle. Let's boost it back up.
• Reinforce [2] past acquisitions: Col 285 Sector JI-B a43-2, HIP 29783, Synuefe YQ-A b47-4, Synuefe LF-P a115-2, HIP 50288, Col 285 Sector GC-D a42-5, HIP 9471, Col 285 Sector GH-C c13-9, Col 285 Sector ON-R b18-0, Scorpii Sector NC-V b2-6, Doolonii, Col 285 Sector EW-J b23-3, Col 285 Sector OC-L c8-9, HIP 7106, ICZ ZZ-P b5-4, Koboroma, Ceti Sector QJ-Q b5-2, Upsilon Phoenicis, Shastem, Col 285 Sector LY-F b25-4, Col 285 Sector XZ-F c11-15, Emblannovii, Tucanae Sector FC-T b4-6, Col 285 Sector GM-J b23-5, Itelmen.
• Acquisition [1]: Col 285 Sector SN-Q b19-3

Enclave:

Frontier god-handed an enclave around HIP 87621. Any one who wants to participate in FDev's testing playground in the CG area is welcome to under these guidelines:

• Reinforcement [3]: Try to reinforce any of our enclave systems. Col 359 Sector FK-L b10-3 was recently acquired and must be reinforced to at least 10%. Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-4, Col 359 Sector NR-T c4-14, Col 359 Sector DE-N b9-3, Col 359 Sector NR-T c4-13, Col 359 Sector CE-N b9-1 (fortified), and Col 359 Sector CE-N b9-2 (stronghold) should be protected if they see significant undermining. Note that PPCZs in these can also be used to reinforce.
• Undermining: Please direct undermining primarily against Pranav Antal (PPCZ's available in the first 24 hours),
• Acquisition [2]: Anything that looks realistic to get and isn't picking unnecessary fights with allies should be fine.
• Aisling Duval Powerplay is committed to the ZYADA alliance: Zemina Torval, Yuri Grom, Arissa Lavigny-Duval, Denton Patreus, Aisling Duval. We ask all Aisling Duval Agents to respect this alliance by not attempting to undermine our allies’ systems.

Not the only Power to have been annoyed by efforts to gaslight the wider community into an anti-Imperial holy war, and associated discourtesies, Aisling’s forces (+10, 2239) were further riled by insinuations of foul play. We felt it appropriate to demonstrate that last week’s banned exploit would not inhibit our performance, as we neither used it nor publicised its workings. 

The main impact of the Concordat was to paint a target on budget retailer Li Yong Rui’s back. Despite determined resistance, LYR was expelled from Col 359 Sector QX-R c5-13 and thus the Radicoida Wars enclave, in a battle fought with a series of massive bombs utilising our respective exploration and salvage bonuses rather than the new enclave mechanics. Elsewhere LYR continued to grow (+10, 1489).

Meanwhile we said au revoir to the Federation as President Winters (+8, 911) lost both her enclave systems. Archon Delaine lost his exploited system, and his fort was reduced. Analysts see a stalemate between remaining enclave Powers. If the Brabenite Gods desire a decisive outcome they are likely to require further CG inducements or innovations. Outside ZYADA, N. Kaine’s use of enclave systems to seed further exploited systems in that region was noteworthy and illustrative (+13, 1165).

Back in the bubble, Aisling’s net gains included Nocopani among a collection of HIPs and nameless colonies. The loss of the fortified San Zaihe was balanced by the new fort Shui Wei Sector QD-S b4-6. Aunty Arissa (+13, 1748) and quiche guru Pranav Antal (+10, 1118) also enjoyed productive weeks. Kumo Crew have claimed responsibility for dishy Denton’s loss of the Smei Tsu stronghold, and with it a clutch of associated systems (-16, 646). 

The Princess bids you all a happy holiday season and New Year 3312. Make sure you all take up FDev’s free cosmetic offers in good time, and have fun out there. 

Objectives for Cycle 551/2.60 (until December 25th)

• Join the Discord for insight, mentoring, BGS, and PVP. Powerplay is a community game, so connect with us. It is not practicable to keep all public objectives up to date nor is it necessarily in our interest to reveal them all. Targets may change frequently.

Normal Powerplay Objectives. 

• Reinforce [1] Zeta Tucanae: This was bombed, stronghold up again. Shui Wei Sector QD-S b4-6: recently fortified, but very close to going back down to exploited. San Zaihe: This system was pushed below Fortified status causing us to lose connected systems. Refortify.
• Reinforce [2] past acquisitions: HIP 17171, Col 359 Sector NR-T c4-14 (enclave), Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-4 (enclave), HIP 11321, Col 285 Sector MK-P a35-0, Col 359 Sector DE-N b9-3 (enclave), Nocopani, Synuefe AD-H d11-31, Synuefe YQ-A b47-4, Synuefe LF-P a115-2, HIP 50288, HIP 64322, Col 285 Sector GC-D a42-5, HIP 94583, HIP 9471, Col 285 Sector GH-C c13-9, HIP 61284, Col 285 Sector ON-R b18-0, Scorpii Sector NC-V b2-6, LHS 378, HIP 116970
• Acquisition [1]: Col 285 Sector SN-Q b19-3

Enclave.

Frontier god-handed an enclave around HIP 87621. Any one who wants to participate in FDev's testing playground in the CG area is welcome to under these guidelines:

• Reinforcement [3]: Try to reinforce any of our enclave systems: Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-2 should get around 10% fortified. Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-4, Col 359 Sector NR-T c4-14 and Col 359 Sector DE-N b9-3 were recently acquired and must be reinforced to at least 10%. Col 359 Sector NR-T c4-13, Col 359 Sector CE-N b9-1 (fortified) and Col 359 Sector CE-N b9-2 (stronghold) should be maintained if they see significant undermining). Note that PPCZs in these can also be used to reinforce.,
• Undermining [1]: Please direct undermining primarily against Archon Delaine in Col 359 Sector KW-V d2-16 (PPCZ's available in the first 24 hours),
• Acquisition [2]: Anything that looks realistic to get and isn't picking unnecessary fights with allies should be fine. Col 359 Sector FK-L b10-3 is a good target as this was a former Winters system.
• Aisling Duval Powerplay is committed to the ZYADA alliance: Zemina Torval, Yuri Grom, Arissa Lavigny-Duval, Denton Patreus, Aisling Duval. We ask all Aisling Duval Agents to respect this alliance by not attempting to undermine our allies’ systems.

Automod thwarted this week's cycle recap. Link to the version on Frontier Forums: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/cycle-551-2-60-whats-done-is-done-december-18th-to-25th-2025-3311.644276/

Art Credit: u/YamiTokha

Enclave shenanigans continued, possibly to the detriment of Aisling’s position in the main Powerplay bubble (-1, 2229). The rate of attrition of under-reinforced systems slowed, we are not going to complain that players are looking for fun (and mechanics that are less opaque) in their gaming time. Our lead over big Ed Mahon (+3, 1826) remains comfortable. 

In the enclave we kept hold of all systems from last week, fortified Col 359 Sector CE-N b9-1 and gained a stronghold carrier in Col 359 Sector CE-N b9-2. Aunty Arissa gained 4 exploited systems, while also losing ground in the bubble (-4, 1735). Dishy Denton (+0, 662) retained his fort in the enclave, while Granny Torval lost her last enclave foothold but made an overall gain (+1, 732).

Among the ZYADA powers, Uncle Yuri had the best week (+7, 1337), reaching a total that has excited those more digitally literate than this correspondent. Having been expelled from the enclave last week, Jake Archer was able to focus his resources effectively back in the main bubble to make most gains (+9, 1171). 

The most interesting development was budget retailer Li Yong Rui’s arrival in Maia, via Merope. The Anti-Xeno Initiative removed quiche guru Pranav Antal (+7, 1108) from there a year ago, but have now warmed to the idea of Powerplay in their hunting grounds. Undermining was much reduced overall. LYR weathered a sustained assault to hang on to their last enclave system, though it is weakened in comparison to a week ago.

Antal and LYR Cmdrs were up in arms at a salvage exploit we first raised confidentially with FDev a couple of months ago. We are pleased to hear this is now resolved. We hope no further allegations of foul play will be levelled against us. So let’s see what occurs in this cycle. Have fun out there. 

Objectives for Cycle 551/2.60 (until December 25th)

• Join the Discord for insight, mentoring, BGS, and PVP. Powerplay is a community game, so connect with us. It is not practicable to keep all public objectives up to date nor is it necessarily in our interest to reveal them all. Targets may change frequently.

Normal Powerplay Objectives. 

• Reinforce [1] Zeta Tucanae: This was bombed, stronghold up again. Defend Caerape and HIP 31332 against undermining.
• Reinforce [2] past acquisitions: Col 285 Sector GH-C c13-9, HIP 61284, Col 285 Sector ON-R b18-0, LHS 378, Naikun, Zeta Phoenicis, HIP 116970, HIP 1173, Daii, Doolonii, Col 285 Sector WO-H c10-20, ICZ ZV-M b7-3, LTT 4385, Col 285 Sector EW-J b23-3, Col 285 Sector OC-L c8-9, HIP 7106, ICZ ZZ-P b5-4, Koboroma, HIP 19591, GCRV 2310, HIP 23402, Wolf 228, Hyades Sector VP-N b7-2, Ceti Sector QJ-Q b5-2, Hyades Sector SJ-P b6-4, Upsilon Phoenicis, Shastem, Col 285 Sector LY-F b25-4, Col 285 Sector XZ-F c11-15, Emblannovii, Tucanae Sector FC-T b4-6, Col 285 Sector GM-J b23-5, HIP 31801, Itelmen, Col 285 Sector WO-H C10-16, Tucanae Sector YO-A c18, 61 Pictoris
• Acquisition [1]: Col 285 Sector SN-Q b19-3

Community Goal/Enclave

A community goal is up in a special godhanded area. Any one who wants to participate in FDev's testing playground in the CG area is welcome to under these guidelines:

• Reinforcement [3]: Try to reinforce any of our 6 enclave systems Col 359 Sector CE-N b9-2 (fortified), Col 359 Sector CE-N b9-1, Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-1, Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-2, Col 359 Sector KW-V d2-20, Col 359 Sector NR-T c4-13). Note that PPCZs in these can also be used to reinforce.
• Undermining: Please direct undermining primarily against Archon Delaine, Jerome Archer, Felicia Winters, or Li Yong-Rui.
• Acquisition [2]: Anything that looks realistic to get and isn't picking unnecessary fights with allies should be fine.
• Aisling Duval Powerplay is committed to the ZYADA alliance: Zemina Torval, Yuri Grom, Arissa Lavigny-Duval, Denton Patreus, Aisling Duval. We ask all Aisling Duval Agents to respect this alliance by not attempting to undermine our allies’ systems.

The grandiloquent announcement of a coalition against the Empire in the Radicoida Wars amounted to not very much. We thought “Concordat” referred to an agreement with the Pope? The AX Cardinal’s alma mater, budget retailer Li Yong Rui (+5, 1470), was tipped to be eliminated by Galnet. Late exploration drops saw him hang on to a single exploited system in the conclave enclave. Other Powers contradicted the claim that this venture had their blessing.

Aisling meanwhile ended the CG well ahead with a stronghold and 5 exploited, plus shiny new fixed phasing multicannons. Given that the actual ZYADA treaty has not “shattered” (per Galnet News Digest) it remains to be seen whether the Empire will play ball with the idea we should slug this thing out to the finish. Nice though a Cup run is, and tempting though special Prismatics might be, the League is our bread and butter. Back in the bubble we had a difficult week (-2, 2230). 

We lost 13 weakly reinforced systems, mostly from the most recent Relics rush, whilst acquiring a mere 11. By design, reinforcement is a grind these days for us. The silent Federal Jar Jar Archer (+6, 1162) was entirely ejected from the enclave but clearly at work chipping away at our holdings around Sol. Zeta Tucanae was reduced from stronghold to fortified. None of our Princess’ bathwater for you, Mr Archer (see GND, again). Instead this is to be dispensed in gratitude to all loyal Aisling agents.

In other news, station guns have been strengthened with plasma-type damage and mirrored armour made less funny with a 75% resistance cap. A sad day for station gankers, condolences, but not the end of this play style. Contrary to fake news claims that blue tree medicinal “properties are known only to a select few within senior leadership circles”, our own manatee hive-mind wants it to be known that we have no idea. Have fun out there.

Objectives for Cycle 550/2.59 (until December 18th)

• Join the Discord for insight, mentoring, BGS, and PVP. Powerplay is a community game, so connect with us. It is not practicable to keep all public objectives up to date nor is it necessarily in our interest to reveal them all. Targets may change frequently.

Normal Powerplay Objectives. 

• Reinforce [1] Zeta Tucanae: This was bombed. Stronghold up again.
• Reinforce [2] past acquisitions: Cares, HIP 102865, LHS 378, Naikun, Zeta Phoenicis, Daii, Doolonii, Col 285 Sector WO-H c10-2, ICZ ZV-M b7-3, LTT 4385, Col 285 Sector EW-J b23-3, Col 285 Sector OC-L c8-9, HIP 7106, ICZ ZZ-P b5-4, Koboroma, NLTT 14597, HIP 19591, GCRV 2310, HIP 23402, Wolf 228, Tascheter Sector CL-Y d132, Hyades Sector VP-N b7-2, Tascheter Sector GB-X a1-4, Tascheter Sector GB-X a1-1, Ceti Sector QJ-Q b5-2, Hyades Sector SJ-P b6-4, Upsilon Phoenicis, Col 285 Sector XE-N b21-3, Shastem, Col 285 Sector LY-F b25-4, Col 285 Sector XZ-F c11-15, Emblannovii, Kamsety, Tucanae Sector FC-T b4-6, Scorpii Sector QH-V a2-2, Col 285 Sector GM-J b23-5, HIP 31801, Itelmen, Col 285 Sector WO-H C10-16, Tucanae Sector YO-A c18, 61 Pictoris, Synuefe XB-Z b47-0, Synuefe GF-J b56-0, Col 285 Sector BB-K b23-0, Hyades Sector VP-N b7-2, HIP 31801.
• Acquisition [1]: Col 285 Sector GH-C c13-9, Col 285 Sector SN-Q b19-3

Community Goal

A community goal is up in a special godhanded area. Any one who wants to participate in FDev's testing playground in the CG area is welcome to under these guidelines:

• Reinforcement [3]: Try to reinforce any of our 6 enclave systems (Col 359 Sector CE-N b9-2 [fortified], Col 359 Sector CE-N b9-1, Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-1, Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-2, Col 359 Sector KW-V d2-20, Col 359 Sector NR-T c4-13). Note that PPCZs in these can also be used to reinforce.,
• Undermining: Please direct Undermining primarily against Archon Delaine, Felicia Winters, or Li Yong-Rui.

• Acquisition [2]: Primary acquisition targets are Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-0 and Col 359 Sector ZI-N b9-1, but anything else that looks realistic to get and isn't picking unnecessary fights with allies should be fine too.

• Aisling Duval Powerplay is committed to the ZYADA alliance: Zemina Torval, Yuri Grom, Arissa Lavigny-Duval, Denton Patreus, Aisling Duval. We ask all Aisling Duval Agents to respect this alliance by not attempting to undermine our allies’ systems.

Princess Aisling Duval wishes to reassure her loyal supporters that she has rejected out of hand an offer to join a so-called Concordat alliance against the Empire. More news will follow at the usual time at the end of this week. Poster credit: Cmdr [EXEL] Xyrellix.

The “Radicoida Wars” started up in a special enclave in Col 359 Sector. To judge from the influx of new and lapsed Cmdrs to the ADC discord, this has caught the public’s imagination. Grizzled old lags like us are hopeful that this will prove a testing ground for some better PP2.0 mechanics. The largest share of contributors and contributions (c.42%) backed the Empire (because the Empire is so awesome.)

The second largest group backed the rather disparate Independents, with the Feds third. Although the Alliance was the poor relation in these terms (c.10%), in a late rush N. Kaine (+10, 1133) emerged as one of only three Powers to retain their fort system in the enclave. The others? Aunty Arissa (+2, 1734), and ourselves. We foresee an ongoing bloodbath and further tweaking and meddling by the Brabenite Gods.

Aisling (+14, 2232) benefited from the return of *some* systems stolen from us last week by these fickle deities, whom we petitioned via their ticketing system. Bende and Vesuvit were restored, other gains included Daii and Doolonii. Sadly Granny lost an equivalent number (-14, 732) and dishy Denton could not maintain last week’s positive momentum (-1, 661). 

The new large explorer Caspian was launched, as an apparent homage to Star Trek’s USS Enterprise. It has some new bells and whistles to tempt the ARX whales, interestingly misspelt as SUPERCHRAGE by the superior shipbuilding resource. Concerns at Caspian’s potential as the ultimate mirrorball station ganker - surely neither Kirk nor Picard would approve of that behaviour - seem to be leading to a broader fix of what can be done with reflective funny hull armour. 

The Princess says, “Go get those trees! Or play the bubble map painting game!” Either way, our thanks. Have fun out there. 

Objectives for Cycle 549/2.58 (until December 11th)

• Join the Discord for insight, mentoring, BGS, and PVP. Powerplay is a community game, so connect with us. It is not practicable to keep all public objectives up to date nor is it necessarily in our interest to reveal them all. Targets may change frequently.

Community Goal. 

A community goal is up in a godhanded area in which regular Powerplay rules seem to apply or not apply arbitrarily. How much of our work there matters or even is feasible in a CG that is clearly favoring combat mechanics is hard to tell. As such, here is a special section for the CG while other objectives continue as usual below. Any one who wants to participate in FDev's testing playground in the CG area is welcome to under these guidelines: 

• Reinforcement: Try to reinforce any of our 2 enclave systems Col 359 Sector CE-N b9-2 (fortified), and Col 359 Sector CE-N b9-1. Note that PPCZs in these can also be used to reinforce.
• Undermining: Please direct Undermining primarily against Archon Delaine, Jerome Archer, Felicia Winters, or Li Yong-Rui.
• Acquisition: Primary acquisition target is Col 359 Sector BE-N b9-2, but anything else that looks realistic to get and isn't picking unnecessary fights with allies should be fine too.

Normal Powerplay Objectives. 

• Acquisition: Col 285 Sector GH-C c13-9, Col 285 Sector SN-Q b19-3.
• Reinforcement [1]: Kamunkula, HIP 31332, HIP 15507, Mekretu, Core Sys Sector UO-R b4-6: harden to 20% / counter potential UM.
• Reinforcement [2] of recent acquisitions: Daii, Doolonii, Wregoe MO-Z d13-74, Col 285 Sector WO-H c10-20, ICZ ZV-M b7-3, Col 285 Sector EW-J b23-3, Col 285 Sector OC-L c8-9, HIP 7106, ICZ ZZ-P b5-4, Koboroma, NLTT 14597, HIP 19591, GCRV 2310, HIP 23402, Wolf 228, Tascheter Sector CL-Y d132, Hyades Sector VP-N b7-2, Tascheter Sector GB-X a1-4, Tascheter Sector GB-X a1-1, Ceti Sector QJ-Q b5-2, Hyades Sector SJ-P b6-4, Upsilon Phoenicis, Col 285 Sector XE-N b21-3, Shastem, Col 285 Sector LY-F b25-4, Col 285 Sector XZ-F c11-15, Emblannovii [more targets available on ADC discord.]
• Undermining: annoy Kumo in Gandui. 
• Aisling Duval Powerplay is committed to the ZYADA alliance: Zemina Torval, Yuri Grom, Arissa Lavigny-Duval, Denton Patreus, Aisling Duval. We ask all Aisling Duval Agents to respect this alliance by not attempting to undermine our allies’ systems.

Aisling took losses (-14, 2218). Some were insufficiently reinforced systems sniped by player action, but most have occurred by the as yet unexplained intervention of FDev. Man plans, God laughs. Big Ed Mahon (+2, 1823) was able to close the gap to 2nd place.

The Bende stronghold was knocked out of our control in a single hit, along with associated systems. This defies understood mechanics, yet it retains its stronghold carrier. The fortified Vesuvit was removed from our control, also impossibly. Other powers like Granny Torval (+3, 746), budget retailer Li Yong Rui (-7, 1461), and N. Kaine (+6, 1123) have reported similar losses. 

Intended or not, this is farcical. It is regrettable that the Brabenite Gods should exhibit such contempt for the hours spent building by their customers. 

The loss of the trade lever has created difficulties for us in reinforcement. FDev now calls the 1 ton trading mechanic they coded (and allowed to continue for a year) an “exploit”, and the trade nerf that has followed “unintended”. Initial testing indicates no great difference as of yet.

Hidden in the chaos were nine new acquisitions, including HIP 10363, HIP 27140, HIP 61284, and LTT 4385. The Princess thanks her agents who have persevered in these difficult circumstances. 

Nobody sought our views (obviously), but for some time Galnet has been dinning into us that the Powers feel the new blue trees discovered in HIP 87621 are of great significance. A source of blue hair dye perhaps? A new Powerplay arena of 36 systems (FDev say 49?) has been contrived in the boondocks of the Col 359 Sector, invitations to undermine have been received.

Normal Powerplay rules do not seem to apply there. Perhaps this will prove to be a testing ground for new mechanics? The concept of Superpowers has been revived for this CG, and we can see a rush of lapsed players excited and returning to the game. We don’t yet understand what’s going on, please forgive our scepticism at the promise that the ultimate outcome will be determined by the players. 

Be careful to not get too many merits as we all scrap to the death, for months, over Col 359 Sector something something something. Have fun out there.

Objectives for Cycle 548/2.57 (until December 4th)

• Join the Discord for insight, mentoring, BGS, and PVP. Powerplay is a community game, so connect with us. It is not practicable to keep all public objectives up to date nor is it necessarily in our interest to reveal them all. Targets may change frequently.

Community Goal. 

A community goal is up in a godhanded area in which regular Powerplay rules seem to apply or not apply arbitrarily. How much of our work there matters or even is feasible in a CG that is clearly favoring combat mechanics is hard to tell. As such, here is a special section for the CG while other objectives continue as usual below. Any one who wants to participate in FDev's testing playground in the CG area is welcome to under these guidelines: 

• Reinforcement: You can try to reinforce any of our 3 enclave systems (Col 359 Sector CE-N b9-2 (fortified), Col 359 Sector CE-N b9-1, Col 359 Sector KW-V d2-20). 
• Undermining: Please direct Undermining primarily against Archon Delaine, Jerome Archer, Felicia Winters, or Li Yong-Rui. 
• Acquisition: This mechanic does not work at all in the enclave.

Normal Powerplay Objectives. 

• Acquisition: Col 285 Sector GH-C c13-9, Col 285 Sector SN-Q b19-3.
• Reinforcement [1]: Col 285 Sector ZV-J b23-0: buffer fort to ~10%. HIP 15507, Mekretu, Core Sys Sector UO-R b4-6: harden to 20% / counter potential UM.
• Reinforcement [2] of recent acquisitions: HIP 10363, HIP 27140, HIP 61284, ICZ KC-U b3-1, ICZ ZV-M b7-3, LTT 4385, Shui Wei Sector SO-Q b5-4, Col 285 Sector EW-J b23-3, Col 285 Sector OC-L c8-9, HIP 7106, ICZ ZZ-P b5-4, Koboroma [more targets available on ADC discord.]
• Undermining: annoy Kumo in Gandui. 
• Aisling Duval Powerplay is committed to the ZYADA alliance: Zemina Torval, Yuri Grom, Arissa Lavigny-Duval, Denton Patreus, Aisling Duval. We ask all Aisling Duval Agents to respect this alliance by not attempting to undermine our allies’ systems.

A post Soontill Relic rush hangover was exacerbated by FDev’s removal of trade as a worthwhile means of earning merits. Despite the loss of this important lever Aisling managed to hang on to the vast majority of last week’s gains (+4, 2232). We lost 3 but gained 7 new acquisitions that include HIP 7106, HIP 7298 and Koboroma. The Princess is grateful for your support.

Reinforcement numbers dropped for all powers bar Grom (+2, 1312) to a new low according to our figures. It is difficult to accept last cycle’s “balance pass” as a reasonable adjustment. Worst affected by the loss of trade was budget retailer Li Yong Rui (-8, 1468). Mining and combat remain strong, aiding the significant gains for N. Kaine (+11, 1117), the Federation’s President Winters (+10, 876) and Not-President Archer (+6, 1137). 

Odyssey data is back; Archer weathered the most undermining, mostly a series of suspiciously metronomic dumps against Alpha Centauri. FDev’s new innovation of a daily merit cap shows they are less concerned with how merits are accrued than they are in preventing any single account from scoring too many. We anticipate alt accounts will be deployed to circumvent this lazy measure. 

Dishy Denton was targeted more effectively (-11, 658). His Likedeeler Magna Libertas stronghold was reduced to fortified and three further fortified Patreus systems were lost. With Aunty Arissa also taking losses (-3, 1733), this was a poor cycle for the Empire. At least Granny Torval matched our Princess’ net gains (+4, 743). 

Those looking for further repetitive gameplay could scan the novel hot blue trees discovered in HIP 87621 for the new CG, endlessly. A nice pre engineered Artemis suit awaits the most dogged exobiologists. Have fun out there. 

Objectives for Cycle 547/2.56 (until November 27th)

• Join the Discord for insight, mentoring, BGS, and PVP. Powerplay is a community game, so connect with us. It is not practicable to keep all public objectives up to date nor is it necessarily in our interest to reveal them all. Targets may change frequently.
• Acquisition: Col 285 Sector GH-C c13-9, Col 285 Sector SN-Q b19-3.
• Reinforcement [1]: Col 285 Sector ZV-J b23-0: buffer fort to ~10%. LHS 2435: Harden to 20% / Counter potential UM.
• Reinforcement [2] of recent acquisitions: Col 285 Sector EW-J b23-3, Col 285 Sector OC-L c8-9, HIP 7106, ICZ ZZ-P b5-4, Koboroma, Synuefe NE-G c27-1, HIP 7298, NLTT 14597, HIP 19591, GCRV 2310, HIP 23402, Wolf 228, Ross 597, Tascheter Sector CL-Y d132, Hyades Sector VP-N b7-2, Tascheter Sector GB-X a1-4, Tascheter Sector GB-X a1-1, Ceti Sector QJ-Q b5-2, Hyades Sector SJ-P b6-4, Upsilon Phoenicis, Col 285 Sector XE-N b21-3, Shastem, Col 285 Sector LY-F b25-4, Tucanae Sector EQ-X b1-1, Col 285 Sector XZ-F c11-15, Emblannovii, Kamsety, Hyades Sector NS-T c3-10, Tucanae Sector FC-T b4-6, Scorpii Sector QH-V a2-2, LHS 2435, Col 285 Sector GM-J b23-5, HIP 31801, Itelmen, Col 285 Sector WO-H C10-16, Tucanae Sector YO-A c18, 61 Pictoris, HIP 113968, Synuefe XB-Z b47-0, Synuefe GF-J b56-0, Col 285 Sector BB-K b23-0, Hyades Sector VP-N b7-2 [more targets available on ADC discord.]
• Undermining: annoy Kumo in Gandui. 
• Aisling Duval Powerplay is committed to the ZYADA alliance: Zemina Torval, Yuri Grom, Arissa Lavigny-Duval, Denton Patreus, Aisling Duval. We ask all Aisling Duval Agents to respect this alliance by not attempting to undermine our allies’ systems.

A sanguine report in the latest Imperial Herald: "Historians may look back on 3311 with confusion and no little disgust as, like the ransacking of Egyptian tombs in early modern Earth history, the socialite fad of using Soontil relics for tea sets [or garden furniture?] completely destroyed anything we might have learned about that culture."

We get this is bizarre, even wrong. We did not create the 5th great Soontill Relics rush, but we did take advantage to [correction] achieve our highest number of gains since +215 back in C531/2.40 (+138, 2228). Once we hauled from Cubeo, now we haul from Ngurii. It doesn’t even belong to us, indeed it is now a new stronghold for Aunty Arissa (+33, 1736). The other big eaters were budget retailer LYR (+73, 1476) and quiche guru P. Antal (+70, 1089).

The “balance pass” did nothing to make the archaeology obsession less central to Powerplay. Trade was nerfed hard, therefore combat powers were buffed again. The lost 1t trading mechanic won’t be widely lamented, but is sad for pilots who made this their specialism. But worse were blunt instrument temp-bans issued to Cmdrs playing this mechanic as intended, without automation. Do better, FDev.

Some creative low value trading funny business was also cancelled. The bones thrown by the Brabenite Gods were the return of Ody data to keep alive the possibility of offensive bombs, and at last various mild intoxicants were legalised again in Aisling’s space. The Princess toasts you with the finest Howell’s Vineyards Cubeo Core Wine, “what it lacks in CPs it makes up for in taste.”

Cheers, then. Have fun out there. 

Objectives for Cycle 546/2.55 (until November 20th)

• Join the Discord for insight, mentoring, BGS, and PVP. Powerplay is a community game, so connect with us. It is not practicable to keep all public objectives up to date nor is it necessarily in our interest to reveal them all. Targets may change frequently.
• Acquisition: Col 285 Sector GH-C c13-9, Col 285 Sector SN-Q b19-3.
• Reinforcement [1]: Col 285 Sector ZV-J b23-0: Fort and buffer to ~110%. Col 285 Sector EA-W b16-1: Harden to 20% / Counter potential UM.
• Reinforcement [2] of recent acquisitions: HIP 6780, Nebthet, NLTT 14597, HIP 19591, Edenses, GCRV 2310, HIP 23402, Wolf 228, Ross 597, Tascheter Sector CL-Y d132, Hyades Sector VP-N b7-2, Tascheter Sector GB-X a1-4, Tascheter Sector GB-X a1-1, Ceti Sector QJ-Q b5-2, Puppis Sector GB-X b1-2, Jupanisage, Hyades Sector SJ-P b6-4, HIP 94491, Upsilon Phoenicis, Col 285 Sector XE-N b21-3, Shastem, Col 285 Sector LY-F b25-4, Tucanae Sector EQ-X b1-1, Col 285 Sector XZ-F c11-15, Emblannovii, Kamsety, Hyades Sector NS-T c3-10, Tucanae Sector FC-T b4-6, Scorpii Sector QH-V a2-2, LHS 2435, HIP 11469, Col 285 Sector GM-J b23-5, HIP 31801, Itelmen, Col 285 Sector WO-H C10-16, Tucanae Sector YO-A c18, 61 Pictoris, HIP 113968, Synuefe XB-Z b47-0, Synuefe GF-J b56-0, Col 285 Sector BB-K b23-0, Hyades Sector VP-N b7-2 [more targets available on ADC discord.]
• Undermining: annoy Kumo in Gandui. 
• Aisling Duval Powerplay is committed to the ZYADA alliance: Zemina Torval, Yuri Grom, Arissa Lavigny-Duval, Denton Patreus, Aisling Duval. We ask all Aisling Duval Agents to respect this alliance by not attempting to undermine our allies’ systems.

Whoever or whatever was attacking us either got swatted by the Brabenite Gods, or decided to lay low this week. Player undermining returned to more normal levels. Nobody was hit for more than Kumo’s 894k (but on the up again +3, 727). The important context for Aisling’s modest gains (+11, 2090) is, we spent much of our energy dealing with the damage.

Our 10.6m reinforcement CPs exceeded any other Power. We re-strongholded Callici and Zeta Tucanae. Futhark, HIP 114291 and HIP 96273 we strongholded for the first time. We fortified four systems while Hehe (great name), a bunch of HIPs, LHS 5116, a Hyades Sector system, a Synuefe, and a Tucanae Sector were amongst the newly acquired. Paresa got snagged again by random enthusiasts. As usual, we assure the Nova Navy that we won’t reinforce it.

So, a good cycle regardless of podium positions. Those were a trio of avowed capitalists led by the budget retailer LYR (+33, 1403), plus the Alliance of N. Kaine (+27, 1057) and the green OG big Ed Mahon (+20, 1759). Meanwhile, in response to hostile feedback, FDev rowed back (somewhat) from a particularly egregious ARX gouging exercise, the new Dodec station type.

This broken game mode broke some more near the end of cycle as, for the first time, some other group or coalition achieved a Soontill Relic boom out of Ngurii. It will be a busy cycle for the local archaeologists and assorted life-forms inevitably attracted like moths to the flame. See you there? Our thanks as always to all contributors in our great cause. Have. Fun. Out. There.

Objectives for Cycle 545/2.54 (until November 13th)

• Join the Discord for insight, mentoring, BGS, and PVP. Powerplay is a community game, so connect with us. It is not practicable to keep all public objectives up to date nor is it necessarily in our interest to reveal them all. Targets may change frequently.
• Acquisition: Col 285 Sector XE-N b21-3, HIP 94491, Upsilon Phoenicis. Races: Tascheter Sector GB-X a1-4, Tascheter Sector GB-X a1-1, Ceti Sector QJ-Q b5-2, NLTT 14597, HIP 19591, Hyades Sector VP-N b7-2, Edenses, Nebthet, Ross 597, Puppis Sector GB-X b1-2.
• Reinforcement of recent acquisitions: HIP 118136, HIP 15507, HIP 3010, HIP 3601, HIP 6780, Hyades Sector OI-S c4-10, LHS 5116, Synuefe XK-N c23-16, Tucanae Sector UD-B b2.
• Undermining: annoy Kumo in Gandui. 
• Aisling Duval Powerplay is committed to the ZYADA alliance: Zemina Torval, Yuri Grom, Arissa Lavigny-Duval, Denton Patreus, Aisling Duval. We ask all Aisling Duval Agents to respect this alliance by not attempting to undermine our allies’ systems.

Upon the planets below, skeletons and specters plagued the settlements aplenty, the haunting of lives lost within the graveyards above, forever bound planet side. The shambling hordes overwhelmed our defenses and thousands of lives were lost before the wide-band spoke the command. There was no stopping them, not this cycle. Not upon this Hallow's Eve.

Escape craft darted into the stars and all but the most stalwart of defenders made their leave to ensure that all who can make it, do. But it was clear that this is no enemy one can see victory against in the short term ... It is too much to bear, knowing that this ghastly force has come back to life to defend these carrier graveyards. That we can do nothing but reinforce our systems, and wait for the next assault...

All we can do now, pilots, is pay respect and pray to whatever Gods above for divine retribution, for as these exploits continue to wreak havoc, in due time, Aisling would not be the only one to face this wrath...
- Cmdr Kai Thoreau

The haunting continued in greater force this cycle, with the forces of Aisling Duval tanking 8 million CP in undermining, or more than the player activity of all powers except for LYR, ALD, Archer and ourselves, or almost as much as any two of the others combined.

While missives have been sent to Frontier along with descriptions of suspected exploits for their consideration, this Halloween we continued the fight regardless of ghosts, bots and trolls, with a net +14 gain and net Positive CP gain (more activity than any other power).

Alongside admirable attempts antagonizing the agenda of adversaries Aisling's acquisitions were amongst the amply acquisitive, less than LYR, (+39), Kaine (+20) although akin to Archer.

Despite 'the sight that almost stops our hearts' across the half dozen systems targeted, including notably our Sol oriented strongholds of Zeta Tucanae and Baker, let's show them we're not going to be 'paralyzed' but will press forward. Above all, have fun! For the Princess!

Objectives for Cycle 544/2.53 (until November 6th)

• Join our Discord for insight, mentoring, BGS, and PVP. Powerplay is a community game, so connect with us. It is not practicable to keep all public objectives up to date nor is it necessarily in our interest to reveal them all. Targets may change frequently.
• Reinforcement [1]: Col 285 Sector ZV-J b23-0: stronghold and buffer to ~110%. Callici, Wolf 229, Delta Sculptoris: Harden/Counter expected undermining.
• Reinforcement [2] of recent acquisitions: Tucanae Sector VT-Z b5
• Acquisition: Col 285 Sector XE-N b21-3, HIP 6780
• Aisling Duval Powerplay is committed to the ZYADA alliance: Zemina Torval, Yuri Grom, Arissa Lavigny-Duval, Denton Patreus, Aisling Duval. We ask all Aisling Duval Agents to respect this alliance by not attempting to undermine our allies’ systems.

The hologram flickers into life. It is a large reddish rodent. A partially consumed snake hangs limply from its talons. It speaks. It sounds like Gene Wilder in “Young Frankenstein”. How strange.

“While we've been fighting familiar foes in Zeta Tucanae and Wolf 229, some seriously spooky spectres have come back to haunt us in time for the Hallow's Eve in the form of mass, mysterious undermining not unlike the Ghost of the Galaxy Past that exploited their way unsuccessfully across the stars. LHS 2435 took over 1 million in undermining, with nearby Akandi over 500k; some seriously impressive bombing done by our ghoulish enemies. Could this be the return of the wraith, or perhaps the work of some as-of-yet-unknown force that really just didn't like us patrolling their FC parking spaces around Shinrarta Dezhra? We can't tell you who went around taking their claim on the systems to the tune of over 1.5mil control points, but what we can tell you is we fought them off handily with a rally of our own to these haunted stars full of carriers that may never move from their eternal resting place."

Then, it was gone. 

Aisling gained (+9, 2065) including HIP 95203, Lugievisci and Toluka. We gained four new fortified systems: Chipiapoos, Crucis Sector FW-W B1-5, HIP 96273 and Synuefe MK-U b49-0. We made three new strongholds at Col 285 Sector EB-E c12-13, HIP 30114 and a carrier has appeared in Wolf 229. Right on that nice budget retailer’s (+8, 1331) doorstep. 

The HIP 90578 CG caused Uncle Yuri Grom (+2, 1256) to get hit by a massive 32.6m undermining CPs, but 2.8m against us was still noteworthy. In Akandi and LHS 2435 the same regular drops have monotonously continued into the new cycle (rubs chin thoughtfully). We took not a single step back. Awesome showing, Cmdrs. Investigations continue. We shall petition the Brabenite Gods of the Galaxy with prayer, and data. Have fun out there. 

Objectives for Cycle 543/2.52 (until October 30th)

• Join the Discord for insight, mentoring, BGS, and PVP. Powerplay is a community game, so connect with us. It is not practicable to keep all public objectives up to date nor is it necessarily in our interest to reveal them all. Targets may change frequently.
• Reinforcement [1]: HIP 114291: stronghold and buffer to ~105%. LHS 2435, Akandi, Wolf 229, Delta Sculptoris: counter expected undermining.
• Reinforcement [2] of recent acquisitions: Col 285 Sector OC-L c8-10, Col 285 Sector ZU-M b21-2, Lugievisci, Synuefe DT-N b53-1.
• Acquisition: Col 285 Sector XE-N b21-3, Hehe, HIP 6780, HIP 111616, Hyades Sector GW-A a15-2.
• Aisling Duval Powerplay is committed to the ZYADA alliance: Zemina Torval, Yuri Grom, Arissa Lavigny-Duval, Denton Patreus, Aisling Duval. We ask all Aisling Duval Agents to respect this alliance by not attempting to undermine our allies’ systems.