The Pirate Coalition holds a notable place in EVE Online's early history as one of the game's pioneering player alliances focused on piracy activities. Formed in 2003 by the corporation MAFIA, under the leadership of characters Skywalker and Tiller, it represented an early effort to organize small groups of players around low-sec and pirate-style gameplay, such as gate camping, ganking, and small-scale PvP raids. Benzmann, a key figure, served as a director in MAFIA and fleet commander (FC) for the alliance during its initial era, playing a hands-on role in operations alongside Skywalker. Though Benzmann's contributions as an operational leader were significant from the start. Key Historical Details Formation and Early Years (2003–Mid-2000s): The alliance emerged during EVE Online's formative period, shortly after the game's 2003 launch, when player organizations were still rudimentary. It was designed as a loose coalition of small pirate-oriented corporations, emphasizing hit-and-run tactics in low-security space (low-sec), where players could engage in "illegal" activities like ambushing travelers without immediate CONCORD intervention. This aligned with EVE's core piracy mechanics, where players often adopted low security status to operate as outlaws. The group focused on recruiting like-minded corps (typically 10–25 members each) for mutual support in PvP, loot sharing, and evading empire patrols. Skywalker was the primary visionary and commander, with Benzmann handling fleet coordination and day-to-day leadership. Tiller's role in MAFIA provided the corporate backbone, but the alliance quickly expanded beyond a single corp into a broader pirate network. It gained a reputation for aggressive, opportunistic warfare, contributing to the game's evolving pirate culture—think gate camps in chokepoints and small gang skirmishes against mission-runners or haulers. Activities and Playstyle: As one of the first dedicated pirate alliances, Pirate Coalition exemplified early EVE piracy: no grand sovereignty ambitions like later null-sec empires, but rather a focus on chaos in low-sec regions. Members engaged in classic pirate tactics, including ransoming pods, looting wrecks, and forming ad-hoc fleets for system harassment. They operated in areas like Minmatar low-sec space (e.g., regions such as Metropolis or Heimatar), where quick strikes could yield high rewards from unsuspecting high-sec travelers. The alliance's informal structure mirrored EVE's keiretsu-like coalitions, providing military and logistical support without rigid hierarchies. Old members recall it as a "wild west" era, with Benzmann's FC skills shining in coordinating fast-moving engagements against larger threats. Decline and Reformation (Mid-2000s–2015): Like many early alliances, Pirate Coalition faded as EVE's meta shifted toward larger bloc warfare and null-sec dominance in the late 2000s. Internal motivations waned, and key leaders like Skywalker stepped back, leading to inactivity. However, in March 2015, Benzmann spearheaded a revival, announcing the alliance's reformation through his new corporation, Invalid. Skywalker endorsed the effort but did not return actively. The reformed group aimed to recruit small pirate corps once more, starting in Minmatar low-sec, with a focus on rebuilding the old-school pirate vibe. Benzmann cited renewed motivation among veterans as the driving force, encouraging former MAFIA and coalition members to rejoin.