Sad news: One of our own was killed in Libya during the embassy attack

[Dr Zaius]

I have just learned that Vile Rat, senior leader of Goonswarm and former member of the EVE Online Council of Stellar Management was killed during the embassy attack in Benghazi. Many people knew Vile Rat personally or had fought against him in EVE Online and this is a real tragedy for his family and a loss for the gaming community.

My people, I have greivous news. Vile Rat has been confirmed to be KIA in Benghazi; his family has been informed and the news is likely to break out on the wire services soon. Needless to say, we are in shock, have no words, and have nothing but sympathy for his family and children. I have known Vile Rat since 2006, he was one of the oldest of old-guard goons and one of the best and most effective diplomats this game has ever seen. His family are in our thoughts and prayers.

http://themittani.com/news/rip-vile-rat

The US official killed during a US consulate attack in the Libyan city of Benghazi was Sean Smith, otherwise known Eve Online player Vile Rat – director of the notorious Goonswarm alliance and former member of the player-elected Council of Stellar Management.

BBC News reported that armed militiamen raided the compound with grenades and then set it on fire. They had been protesting about a US-produced film they claimed insulted the Prophet Mohammed. One other American was injured.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-09-12-us-official-killed-in-syria-was-a-senior-eve-online-player

This week the EVE Online community mourns the loss of one of its own as Sean Smith, better known to the EVE community as Vile Rat and a former member of the Council of Stellar Management, was one of four people killed this week by a mob attack on the American Consulate in Benghazi, Libya Tuesday night.

http://www.tentonhammer.com/eve/news/veteran-eve-player-killed-in-libya-attacks

There are several forums regarding a final farewell for Sean Smith, fellow gamer and diplo in the EvE online community. He gave his life for his country doing what he loved and brought that talent into the EvE community.

If you would like to show tribute and respects, please join us online Saturday Sept 15th 2012 in major market hubs Amarr and Jita.

https://forums.eveonline.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=153374&find=unread

All too often, we read news of conflict in other countries with an impersonal detachment, as if it's so far away that it will never touch our lives in any significant way. Mainstream media twists each event into a political message with the same detachment, forgetting the reality of the lives that are destroyed every day. This morning that fact was brought home as we read news of a US official killed in an attack on the Libyan consulate in Benghazi.

Just a few hours ago, EVE Online alliance GoonSwarm released a statement that the US official killed was apparently GoonSwarm director and former Council of Stellar Management member Sean "Vile Rat" Smith.

http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/12/former-eve-csm-member-vile-rat-killed-in-libyan-bombing/

Godspeed, Vile Rat.

 

[Dr Zaius]

Sean was on Jabber with his fellow EVE Online gamers when the attack started.

He and I were on the CSM; he thought he was tired of it after CSM6 but then his wife decided she really enjoyed Iceland when she visited for Fanfest, and he was torqued at CSM7 so wanted to run in 8. I wanted nothing to do with it anymore, so he was going to be the GSF representative in the next go-round.

F***.

He was on jabber when it happened, that’s the most ****ed up thing. In Baghdad the same kind of thing happened - incoming sirens, he’d vanish, we’d freak out and he’d come back ok after a bit. This time he said ‘****’ and ‘GUNFIRE’ and then disconnected and never returned.

http://themittani.com/news/rip-vile-rat

 

[Morbii]

I believe he also played World of Tanks. A few people around the forums (myself included) play that one... I didn't know him, though.

 

[LT COL KILGORE]

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/obituaries/2012/09/13/sean-smith-information-officer-killed-embassy-attack/qy2VDyqQrs9zoFfgflpmLN/story.html

 

[Dr Zaius]

http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/13/us/benghazi-victims/index.html

 

[Dr Zaius]

There's a tribute fleet being run today in honor of Vile Rat. Stop by if you can.

On Saturday, September 15 at 19:00 UTC (EVE time) there will be a major fleet operation on Tranquility named "Vile Rat Diplomatic Disaster Op". Players from all over EVE will be forming up in some of the most expensive ships and roaming to destroy everything that is not in fleet, probably killing some blues as well. This operation will be streamed on own3D on Lazarus Telravens channel. All proceeds generated from views will be given to Sean Smith’s wife and children. We would like to take this opportunity to remind you to turn ad blockers off so that the maximum amount can be raised.


The operation is due to go on until all the shiny ships have been destroyed or until the fleet just outright destroys everyone. The only way to find out is to tune in to the stream today.