THE CATCH
The loss unfolded in a compact encounter involving seven participants, with the Proteus standing out immediately as the most valuable ship on the field. Against a backdrop of only a few attackers, the cruiser found itself committed enough for the hunters to apply sustained damage, and that commitment proved costly. What began as a local fight in Barleguet ended with the Proteus dismantled and its pilot left with a wreck worth more than the ship itself can easily absorb.
THE PRESSURE BUILDS
The final blow came from Vala Tsutola’s Leshak, while another Leshak pilot, Mersar eva, also contributed heavily to the damage. A separate attacker identified as Gara Minsk, flying under Serpentis Corporation, appears to have been involved as well, suggesting the target was being pressured from more than one direction. The Proteus did not simply vanish in a single strike; it was worn down under concentrated fire until the hunters found the opening they needed.
THE PRICE OF THE ESCAPE
The ship’s fittings show a loss that went beyond the hull itself. Liquid ozone, scanner probes, drones, and combat probes were among the items destroyed or dropped in the wreck, hinting that the Proteus was operating with the tools of a ship built to probe, hunt, or stay flexible in hostile space. Even after some cargo and drones were recovered, the destruction still totaled 770.8 million ISK, with another 567.9 million ISK dropped for whoever arrived fastest.
WHY IT MATTERS
For Interstellar Horses, the destruction of Karlsson Horse’s Proteus is a sharp and expensive reminder of how quickly a prized strategic cruiser can be isolated and stripped apart. For Really Power Blob. Alliance, the kill adds a clean and costly prize to a small engagement that had little margin for error. In New Eden, fights like this rarely make noise because of their size, but they often matter because they punish overconfidence just as decisively as any larger battle.
