THE CATCH
The fight in B1D-KU ended almost as soon as it began. A lone Paladin, flown by xue-shang of Dracarys. and Faceless., was caught in a local engagement involving 13 participants and quickly became the focus of the attack. The value at stake was significant enough to make the ship stand out on sight alone, and the way the damage came in suggests the ambush closed fast once the target was pinned down.
THE DROP
Fountain of Hot Drops committed at least seven attackers to the destruction, with Redeemers making up much of the striking force. The presence of covert-capable capital support points to a deliberate trap rather than a casual roaming encounter. A Centii Loyal Butcher also appears in the attack list, hinting at a mixed field around the target as the pressure mounted and the Paladin was forced to absorb the incoming fire instead of dictating range.
THE BREAK
The Paladin did not survive the exchange. Notable ammunition and fittings were recovered in part, including Conflagration L, Scorch L, Imperial Navy Xray L, and Imperial Navy Infiltrator, while a Heat Sink II was lost with the hull. That combination suggests the ship was fitted for serious close-range damage, but it was not enough to punch out of the net once the attackers committed. Bennolar Ottig, flying a Redeemer, landed the final blow and ended the attempt decisively.
THE COST
The total loss reached 1.4 billion ISK, with 1.3 billion ISK destroyed and only 33.1 million ISK dropped. For Dracarys., the loss of a Paladin is more than an ordinary battlefield casualty; it is the kind of ship that draws attention precisely because it is expensive, dangerous, and difficult to replace casually. In a region fight that lasted only an instant, Fountain of Hot Drops appears to have won a clean and punishing catch.
