BoB is no more

And I quote:

GoonSwarm and many other enemies of Band of Brothers are absolutely storming BoB's home systems

Massively is reporting that BoB, the alliance that for so long has single-handedly set the entire EVE universe at defiance is no more. In what I consider to be as honorable a homage as can exist, they were not beaten militarily but by intrigue and ultimately a turn-coat within their ranks.

At its core, the story is fairly simple. One of the higher-ups within BoB decided he liked BoB's primary rival, Goonswarm more than he like BoB and was willing to sell his entire alliance out to show them (Goodswarm) just how highly he thought of them. Entire capital fleets have instantly changed hands. Stations, outposts and more ISK thank you can shake a stick at all now belong to Goonswarm.

Now as is my typical MO, I need to mention how cool it is that such a thing as this is even possible. I'm not going to lie to you. I would have preferred to see BoB go down in a hail of bullets and explosions, but consider the value of this present situation. Let me 'splain.

One of the primary reasons I enjoy EVE is because it gets you as close to "real" as possible. Granted, we're talking about flying spaceships that don't exist in a fictional galaxy. But, like a good Sci-Fi movie, those are the parameters of this world and CCP asks us to suspend our disbelief long enough to accept them. The more valuable question is this: Once I've accepted these few unrealities, how much freedom am I granted? How close to "real" is the situation to what it would be were those fictional parameters real? The answer is very close. And this most recent development with BoB only serves to reinforce this point. Imagine how WWII, for instance, might have changed had a top level American general decided he wanted the Germans to win? How many avenues would he have had available to him to ensure German victory?

You needn't even don your pessimist-hat to believe that the world we live in (on planet earth btw) would be vastly different had a situation like that played out. That a similar situation can and did happen in EVE points the fact that to obtain and secure an empire one must obtain the hearts and secure the lips of its membership in EVE as in RL.

CCP, I salute you.
BoB, while I was no fan you were the source of many a great battle and plenty of intrigue and for that you will be missed.

Edit: here's the official eve news feed on the topic