Day One, Part 1

First there was the Code. Then there was MinerBumping. But what happened during the interregnum? The earliest days of the New Order are often considered something of a mystery. Because MinerBumping didn't appear until August, we don't have a series of lovingly-crafted posts to transport us back to that late June 2012 to early August 2012 period. Yet these were important days in the history of highsec--they were the dawn of a new era. As is typical of such dawns, few people were around to see it.

There is some good news, though. The EVE client automatically records game logs and chat logs. I still have all of my logs going back to January 2006, when I first arrived in EVE. In preparation for the second anniversary of the Code, I unearthed and reviewed some of these precious logs. Now, for the first time ever, readers of MinerBumping will be able to catch a glimpse of the first days of the New Order. Come with me...

[ 2012.06.26 22:06:04 ] (notify) Anchoring the selected object, it will take around 60.0 seconds to do so.

The twenty-sixth of June, 2012. It, too, is an important date in highsec's history. It was the first time an in-game action was taken in the name of the Code. Two days earlier, I announced the creation of the Code and raised 100 million isk from the sale of New Order shares. Now it was time to transform the idea of the Code into a reality. Some of the 100 million isk was spent to purchase a set of small secure containers to anchor at a distance from the Halaima ice field.

(notify) Anchoring the selected object, it will take around 60.0 seconds to do so.
(notify) Anchoring the selected object, it will take around 60.0 seconds to do so.
(notify) Anchoring the selected object, it will take around 60.0 seconds to do so.
(notify) Anchoring the selected object, it will take around 60.0 seconds to do so.
(notify) Anchoring the selected object, it will take around 60.0 seconds to do so.

There were no objects inside the containers, but the containers couldn't have been less empty. Each container became a sign post. I set the names of the containers and provided the ice field with instructions on how to follow the Code. Miners often accuse the New Order of not providing them with sufficient "warning". Ironically, my very first act in the name of the Code was to supply the ice miners of Halaima with just such a warning.

luzinski > swtor has a new patch?
Uni fication > what is swtor ?
randop > star wars the old republic
randop > a star wars mmo
luzinski > patch 1.3
twirlz > game blows
twirlz > personal opinion obviously
daniel Saisima > is that going to free to play soon
luzinski > rumors says that it will be f2p :(

As I was anchoring the containers, some idle chit-chat occurred in local. Halaima was a busy system in those days. Still, most of the time it was silent. Not this evening. After the sixth container was finished anchoring, I stood back and admired my work. Everything was good. Now it was time to break the ice--if you'll pardon the pun!

James 315 > ICE MINERS OF HALAIMA: Hi folks, if I could direct your attention to the new cans anchored about 200km from the belt
randop > ?
James 315 > I have taken control of Halaima and will commence bumping miners out of range at will.
James 315 > To be safe from bumping, please send me 10 million isk for a 365-day mining permit
randop > all those in favor of ganking this dipshit?

Just like that, the very first words spoken in response were a Miner Bingo quote and a call for someone else to stop me.

CmdrCally Janeway > ill even damp his ass
James 315 > I would like to caution you all against ganking attempts. I can assure you my ship is quite Invincible
James 315 > Please see my bio for additional details, including a link to the main forum thread on the subject
CmdrCally Janeway > not so invincible when u cant lock shit
James 315 > I can't be jammed

Halaima's miners were pessimistic about my new regime, right from the jump. They made extraordinary threats against my Stabber Fleet Issue. I took pity on the miners and told them quite plainly that it wouldn't be possible for them to destroy my ship. If they had only listened, they could have spared themselves much wasted isk and effort.

James 315 > I know this will be a disturbing development to some, but it's for the best. I will have free reign to bump those who don't pay
Uni fication > maybe james 315 will be unlucky and run into a ganking smarttie BS in action :)
luzinski > whats bumping?
luzinski > whats going on?
luzinski > why 10million to just get bumped?
randop > to not get bumped
randop > all ships, target james 315
CmdrCally Janeway > he's so gutless if he was really going to do something he'd have done it by now

The miners braced themselves. So far, nobody was paying for permits. Would they get bumped, or would this whole "Code" storm blow over?

randop > everyone drop something in a can
randop > if he is going to do something, he will fight for it
James 315 > Amack808 pay 10 million or i bump u
quard > james 315 100m and i wont kill u
randop > Amack808 do not pay
James 315 > don't listen to them, you need to pay
Amack808 > ....
randop > James 315 200m, or the tornados coming to this system will kill you
James 315 > I cannot be killed, I fear no tornado
quard > realy

The first miner to be bumped in the name of the Code was Amack808. He was the bot-aspirants' Adam, if you will. The miner refused to pay, and he began to suffer bumps. The first rebels issued furious threats against me. While randop spoke of fleets of tornadoes inbound to Halaima, quard hinted that he would kill me personally.

randop > who are you? the mesiah?
James 315 > I am James 315, the Saviour of Highsec!
quard > are u high or drunk
randop > or both?
luzinski > wow 10million to not get bumped
luzinski > thats alot
luzinski > can we ask for a reduction lol
James 315 > Sorry folks, it's 10 million

I've always considered 10 million isk to be a generous price for a year of friendship with the New Order. luzinski tried to haggle anyway. No deal. Regardless of what would happen in highsec over the coming years, the price of a mining permit would be a constant.

James 315 > Amack808 if you pay me 10 mill you will be free to mine for the next 365 days
James 315 > Nothing personal, just business
Amack808 > and you can suck my dick
Amack808 > for 5 mil
luzinski > lmao
daniel Saisima > lol
James 315 > I would caution you against showing me disrespect. Those who get written on my Red Pen list have to pay 30 million
James 315 > Check the link in my bio, it's all there
randop > ok, uh.....fuck you?

Because MinerBumping didn't yet exist, I couldn't link the URL in local. Instead, I referred the miners to my bio, which contained a link to the thread on EVE-O with the Code. Sadly, my bio was carelessly wiped away by a GM who lacked the civilized man's appreciation for history.

Amack808 > do i care?
James 315 > Well, I did stop you from mining, did I not?
Amack808 > once again do i care..
Amack808 > i was full
Amack808 > so you just make me relize that
James 315 > I understand that you are full. The question is, full of what?

The first miner was forcibly removed from the ice field. There was nothing he could do but help establish future Miner Bingo squares.

James 315 > i am a man of honour
Amack808 > are you
Amack808 > your out here bumbing people for money
Amack808 > thats honner
James 315 > if you pay me the 10 mill, you have my word that you can mine in peace
Amack808 > go mack your money doing somthing else
James 315 > i have shareholders to consider
James 315 > 100 million worth of investors paid me today to help start this business
randop > peopple are really stupid then
James 315 > they are smart businessmen and businesswomen

In the days before Agents, I was alone. The system was filled with hostility; people tend to fear what they do not understand. However, I did have shareholders. I cited their financial support as evidence that I was a stand-up guy. My investors proved that there was popular support for the Code.

James 315 > Amack808 this is nothing personal against you. I simply saw you mining in my ice field without paying me
Avane Astaad > your just wasting your time
James 315 > on the contrary; if someone is bumped out of mining range, he cannot mine
Avane Astaad > simple warp into the middle of the belt will take a while to try and bump someone out of the middle of a bunch of rocks
James 315 > Avane Astaad i am a professional, i am very good at what i do
luzinski > James 315 anyone tried to kill you before?
James 315 > many
luzinski > just curious

A miner spoke up, telling me I was wasting my time. This bumping business would amount to nothing, he said. I disagreed. Time would tell who was right and who was wrong.

(notify) quard, criminals are not welcome here. Leave now or be destroyed.
(combat) quard [INRTI](Tempest) aims well at you, inflicting 1288.2 damage.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a miner who had threatened to kill me actually showed up in a tech II fitted battleship and opened fire. It had barely been 30 minutes since I proclaimed the Code. Would my Invincible Stabber survive this onslaught and live to bump another day? Or would the New Order and its Code be destroyed and tossed into the ash heap of history before they had a chance to take root?

To be continued...