The cosmpiercers conflict system has just received a big set of changes, with more on the way! In particular:

* Each cosmpiercer is now surrounded by a defensive shielding system, which also shoots back. Docking with the cosmpiercer is only possible after these structures have been eliminated.

* The owners of the cosmpiercer are now informed when the defensive structures are attacked.

* Cosmpiercers now have a 24 hour cooldown during which they cannot be attacked; this cooldown is activated after a successful takeover, as well as after a failed one.
- A takeover is failed if, after destroying at least one part of the defensive system, the attackers aren't present in/around the cosmpiercer for a period of 10 minutes.

* Control points no longer spawn in the entrance room, and SHIP DISEMBARK can no longer be blocked by BEAST shields and similar abilities.

* Instead of channeled commands, the Hacking skill is now used to capture cosmpiercers. At each control point, you can HACK TERMINAL and complete the hacking mini-game to gain access. The bigger cosmpiercers have more control points, and the hacking mini-game is harder.

* The owners of the cosmpiercer can do the same to re-gain access to the control point.

* After a successful hack, you cannot hack another point for 10 minutes - make sure to bring some friends along!

* If a faction hacks all the control points, they gain control of the cosmpiercer.

Because the system has changed so much, all the cosmpiercers have reverted to a neutral status.

Note that this is the first big batch of changes - there will be another following within the next couple of days, focusing on cosmpiercer guards.

In semi-related news:

* Guards now assist each other! If you attack something loyal to an org, other loyals (guards or whatever) will now join the fray, even if you are not an enemy of their org.

* If you are locked out from a hacking terminal, you now receive more information about the reason, as well as the remaining time.

We will undoubtedly need to tweak the numbers to match the intended difficulty, so expect more changes there.

As usual, please report if anything is not working correctly.