The game was rigged from the start.
My theory is that the Cipher squadron is (obviously)a very deliberate plot twist, most likely Order agents, meant to prime the plot thread of Ontario-Coronado-Newcastle(?). The outcome of neither obvious side winning is rather welcome.
Although they were some glaring organisation issues, I wasn't there at the beginning but it seems like the event started without KNF rallying up proper. It seems quite out of touch to initiate events so prematurely when every recorded instance of having to wait for players to log in has been a rather lengthy process, but necessary for the sake of everyone's fun involved.