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This transcript details a conflict between the Civil Security forces and the Usurpations. It resulted in the creation of the Brute Force Protocol (read Aftermath for more info). Leave feedback in replies!
The following information has been DECLASSIFIED on ██/██/████. The transcript was put together with the use of after action reports and recorded radio traffic.
Background
Two (2) CS MBTs, callsigns Buffalo 3 and Buffalo 4, were ordered to FOB ███. As air assets were unavailable to transport the vehicles, a Civil Security squad, callsign Sinner 1, was tasked with escorting the convy on the ground. Sinner 1 and Buffalo 3 and 4 were traveling southeast-northwest along a street in ████████████, ██ with Buffalo 3 in the lead. The route had been mapped earlier for being the fastest and the safest according to intel gathered from reconnaissance teams. Sinner was equipped with thermal vision and NVGs to make it easier to identify contacts in the urban environment. An XN-42 gunship, callsign Legion 3-4, and fast air were on standby for fire support. The time is 1547 hours. The following is a description of the events that occured:
Sinner 1 Actual: Eyes out for IEDs.
Sinner 1-3: Building clear!
Sinner 1-2: Buffalo, be advised, there appears to be some sort of pileup up ahead.
Buffalo 3: Don't worry about us, we'll just plow right through.
Sinner 1-2: Stand by, I got contacts by the pileup on thermal.
Sinner 1 Actual: 1-4, 1-5, 1-7, go check it out.
Sinner 1-4: Wilco.
The three advance along the sides of the road, when suddenly a rail from an Alien Sniper Rifle hits 1-7 square in the stomach. At the same time, Usurpations begin opening up from behind the pileup with Alien Rifles.
Sinner 1-5: Get down, sniper! 1-7 is hit, we have a man down! Give us covering fire so we can bring him back!
Buffalo 3: Gunner, prep the 50 cal. Load HESH! Fire on my mark.
Sinner 1-2: Those are civilians in the vehicles!!
Sinner 1 Actual looks. The pileup consist of a line of civilian vehicles strung bumper to bumper perpendicular to the road, forming an effective barricade. Inside the vehicles are dozens of civilians, in varying states of consciousness, strapped to the seats.
Sinner 1 Actual: Hold your fire! Hold your fire! Civvies in the vehicles! For deliciously exquisite pizza sauce's sake stand down!
Sinner 1-3: Popping smoke!
A smokescreen is laid down, enabling 1-4 and 1-5 to return to the convoy of tanks, carrying 1-7, who is in critical condition.
Sinner 1-4: 1-6! Get your ass over here!
As 1-6 tends to the wounded, the smoke dissipates and a CS LitBro is fired from the Usurpation lines. The projectile rockets towards Buffalo 3 but is intercepted by its trophy system and explodes harmlessly in midair.
Buffalo 3: Too close!! Buffalo 4, back up, we gotta pull back!
Suddenly, fire erupts from behind the convoy. A BNG is fired at Buffalo 4 from behind. The trophy system is unable to intercept the energy projectile and it hits the weaker tank armor in the rear, detaching the turret, killing all crew members inside the tank, and igniting the engine. Miraculously, it does not explode on the spot. Buffalo 4 falls to the ground [as it was a hover tank], blocking Buffalo 3 from backing out.
Sinner 1 Actual: Contact at six o'clock! Weapons free!
Sinner 1-3: We lost Buffalo 4!
Sinner 1 Actual: Legion 3-4, this is Sinner 1 Actual! Requesting fire support Northwest of our position. You are NOT clear to engage with primary weapons systems. I say again, do not engage with your primary weapons systems. Snipers only; multiple civvies in the area.
Legion 3-4: Roger, Sinner. Inbound to your AO. ETA 10 mikes.
By this point, the squad Heavy, Sinner 1-9, has deployed his LMG and begins laying down suppressing fire on the enemies attacking from behind. Meanwhile, soldiers are taking slow, hesitant shots at the enemies behind the vehicles. Another rocket is launched at Buffalo 3, and the trophy system shoots it out of the air again.
Buffalo 3: Their aim is getting better. Sinner 1, requesting permission to fire on the pileup.
Sinner 1 Actual: Negative! Stand down! Hold your fire!
Sinner 1-8: BNG!!
A BNG, launched from the line of vehicles this time, slams into Buffalo 3. The force of the projectile launches Buffalo 3 backwards, ramming it into Buffalo 4. Sinner 1-9 is nearly run over as he lies prone on the ground. Legion 3-4 arrives.
Legion 3-4: This is Legion 3-4, we are on station. Our snipers have thermal sights. Pop smoke on the line of vehicles and we'll take them from there.
The soldiers throw smoke grenades towards the blockade, blinding the Usurpations, enabling Civil Security forces to focus on the enemies behind them while the snipers engage.
Sinner 1 Actual: Legion, be advised, there are civilian targets inside those vehicles. Check your fire.
Legion 3-4 engages the enemies, but the smoke begins to dissipate. The crew of 3-4 spot a sudden spike in thermal activity on the ground.
Legion 3-4: Missile launch! Shit, we got incoming, break left!! Flares! Flares!
3-4 engages countermeasures and the missile narrowly misses the aircraft.
Legion 3-4: Sinner, we almost got hit. Confirmed presence of a MANPADS, will need to peel off.
Sinner 1 Actual: Negative, Legion. Our armor support is down. The mission is FUBAR, and we've already called for CASEVAC and extraction. Our evac will be a sitting duck. We need you to provide air cover as we get everyone on board. How copy?
Legion 3-4: Solid copy. Be advised, you got foot mobiles advancing on you from all directions. I suggest you get the hell outta there before you're surrounded.
Sinner 1 Actual: We're cut off. You have permission to engage all targets southeast of our position that are not danger close with your primary weapons systems. Carve us a path out.
Legion 3-4: Copy that. Weapons systems online and on standby. Pilot, line us up. Guns guns guns.
Legion 3-4 strafes the enemy positions behind the convoy with its main cannon and rocket pods.
Sinner 1 Actual: All callsigns Sinner 1, we're moving out! On me! Command! What's the ETA for our exfil?
CS Command: 3 mikes out. Callsign Talon 0-9.
Talon 0-9: This is Talon 0-9, breaking radio silence. It looks messy down there. Pop green smoke and we'll see if we can make a landing.
Sinner 1-5: Throwing smoke!
1-5 hurls two standard smoke grenades towards the roadblock, giving the team concealment and allowing them to retreat undetected. 1-5 then takes out a green flare and addresses Sinner 1 Actual.
Sinner 1-5: Where do you want this, sir?
Sinner 1 Actual: Intersection, 100 meters front. Throw when ready.
The team reaches the intersection and 1-5 ignites and tosses the flare on the ground. Seconds later it begins producing thick green smoke towards the sky.
Talon 5-9: Sinner, I have your signal. Inbound hot. Hold tight. Guns guns guns.
Talon 5-9 is a bulky tiltrotor aircraft. As it descends upon the improvised LZ, it opens up with its cannon, sending a stream of bullets towards the Usurpations. It reaches the smoke, turns around, and gently touches down, opening its rear ramp.
Sinner 1 Actual: 1-9, suppressing fire! Everyone else, go, go! Get on board.
1-6 enters first with the wounded, followed closely by the surviving members of Sinner 1. Sinner 1 Actual kneels alongside 1-9. Once all the other personnel are on board, 1-9 stands up, pats 1 Actual's shoulder, and withdraws into the chopper. Sinner 1 Actual starts to get up, but is struck in the thigh by a rail. He crumples to the ground. 1-6 leaps up from his seat before priming and throwing a grenade, sending two Usurpations flying from behind an automobile. He then drags the commander into the chopper as he screams in pain. The ramp is closed, and Talon 5-9 takes off.
Talon 5-9: We got 'em, Legion, returning to base. Good going 3-4, RTB.
Legion 3-4: Thanks. What the- radar lock! Bandit on my six, deploy chaff!
Too late!
A loud explosion is heard, and alarms begin blaring.
Legion 3-4: Mayday, m-
Contact was lost with 3-4. Personnel aboard Talon 5-9 reported seeing 3-4 spinning out of control and exploding in midair. A search and rescue was never attempted. Air cover was requested and CS jets escorted Talon 5-9 back to base.
Aftermath
Out of the 10 men of Sinner 1, five of them were killed in action, with 2 (including Sinner 1 Actual) WIA. Sinner 1-7 died of his wounds shortly after being recovered. 1-6 was commended for his bravery in rescuing Sinner 1 Actual and his treatment of the wounded during the battle.
There were many perceived causes of failure. One was the outdated intel regarding the AO. It turns out that the last scouting mission in the area occurred several weeks ago. Since then, large amounts of Usurpation troops had amassed in the region. Legion 3-4 was shot down by enemy aircraft. Additional reconnaissance missions revealed the presence of a Usurpation airbase nearby. Another main cause of failure was the fact that the CS troops were unwilling to fire on the civilian targets. Of course, they could hardly be blamed for making the decision, but their lack of action resulted in the loss of Buffalo 3, Buffalo 4, and multiple members of Sinner 1 nonetheless.
This revelation that the Usurpations could use human shields to inhibit CS troops was taken into consideration, and thus the Brute Force Protocol was created. The Brute Force Protocol stated that Civil Security was authorized to engage Usurpation forces even if they were in close proximity to civilian targets if all previous attempts at securing said targets were unsuccessful. The protocol was met with controversy regarding ethical issues, and is undergoing heavy revision.