1LT (Ret) Garcia
11A Infantry Officer
ALLCON,
While we're deployed here in Malden I know communication with the outside world is certainly lacking. Every few weeks we'll do our best to bring you news from around the world. We also managed to get a copy of a few local papers here in Malden. One is Malbano, and pretty heavily in favor of Aguilar. We thought you all would get a laugh out of it.
Regards,
SSG Garcia
S-2 Intelligence Public Affairs
Articles concerning Task Force Alpha:
These published documents are the fictional works of the S-2 Intelligence Team of the 506th IR Realism Unit. Opinions stated are not necessarily the opinions of the authors, but intended to create the narrative of a fictionalized world.
While we're deployed here in Malden I know communication with the outside world is certainly lacking. Every few weeks we'll do our best to bring you news from around the world. We also managed to get a copy of a few local papers here in Malden. One is Malbano, and pretty heavily in favor of Aguilar. We thought you all would get a laugh out of it.
Regards,
SSG Garcia
S-2 Intelligence Public Affairs
Articles concerning Task Force Alpha:
THE FOG RUNNERS HAVE COME
BBC World Service
Image from unknown COR soldier/Found on twitter
American military forces began their first offensive actions against Malden’s military dictatorship, assaulting the northern coast of the island nation in the late hours of March 18 during a heavy storm. Elements of the American 506th Infantry Regiment of the famed 101st Airborne Division conducted an aerial assault upon the northeastern village of Lolisse. Reports from the island indicate that LOTN forces were the primary Malden force that opposed the American assault, and the latest reports indicate that the attack succeeded in driving General Aguilar’s militia out of their primary staging and training base. An American aircraft was claimed to have been destroyed by ROMN, but American sources deny the claims.
Footage from COR observers shows an American UH-60 “Blackhawk” and two CH-47 "Chinook" Helicopters landing soldiers under the protective cover of an MH-6 “Little Bird” that was seen conducting a rocket strike on LOTN positions. The defending forces appeared to have been caught off guard by the sudden attack in tumultuous weather conditions but were able to put up a fierce defense that lasted into the night. Video from COR observers in Lolisse clearly showed vast fields of yellow smoke billowing in the windy conditions and black columns of smoke appeared rising into the sky from destroyed LOTN positions the American troops overwhelmed. Voices in the video called the American infantry running through the smoke screens “Fog Runners.”
Gunfire could be heard for several hours as ROMN artillery opened fire from the main military base on the island. ROMN claims that no damage was sustained to the airbase facilities in the battle. Explosions from artillery and mortars continued with flares being deployed early into the night as American forces are reported to have halted their attack once they had secured the derelict reserve base and LOTN training camp. Scattered LOTN counterattacks are reported to have been repelled. Due to the developing nature of the situation casualties on both sides cannot be confirmed at this time.
In a public statement from General Aguilar, he calmly claimed: “An American incursion during the early hours of the night under the cover of poor weather. A small skirmish occurred over a small derelict outpost and our brave militia was able to halt the imperialists in their tracks. The American invader was stymied and clueless, and our artillery began to pummel the Americans into hiding, inflicting many casualties among the invaders. They will soon be repelled, I assure you. I have no clue why they believe they can conquer us, they were halted by mere militia who were unprepared.”
American forces began their operations in response to the military takeover of the Malden government and the assault on the American embassy and the subsequent murders of numerous Americans both in the embassy and around the island. The Malden dictatorship claims it was executing foreign agents found guilty of undermining Malden national security. Reports indicate that both the arrested President Antonio Perez and American Ambassador David Bryant are being held for trial and possibly public execution. The stated American objective is to rescue the Ambassador and safeguard any remaining American foreign nationals along with returning the democratically-elected President Perez to power. The nation has fallen into civil war and the American involvement signifies a massive escalation of the conflict and a windfall for the hard-pressed Coalition of Rebels resistance fighters.
THEY CAME WITH THE THUNDER
Fox News
TO ARMS; IMPERIALIST INVASION
Malden Independent Courier
HELP HAS ARRIVED
Malden Central Times
BBC World Service
Image from unknown COR soldier/Found on twitter
American military forces began their first offensive actions against Malden’s military dictatorship, assaulting the northern coast of the island nation in the late hours of March 18 during a heavy storm. Elements of the American 506th Infantry Regiment of the famed 101st Airborne Division conducted an aerial assault upon the northeastern village of Lolisse. Reports from the island indicate that LOTN forces were the primary Malden force that opposed the American assault, and the latest reports indicate that the attack succeeded in driving General Aguilar’s militia out of their primary staging and training base. An American aircraft was claimed to have been destroyed by ROMN, but American sources deny the claims.
Footage from COR observers shows an American UH-60 “Blackhawk” and two CH-47 "Chinook" Helicopters landing soldiers under the protective cover of an MH-6 “Little Bird” that was seen conducting a rocket strike on LOTN positions. The defending forces appeared to have been caught off guard by the sudden attack in tumultuous weather conditions but were able to put up a fierce defense that lasted into the night. Video from COR observers in Lolisse clearly showed vast fields of yellow smoke billowing in the windy conditions and black columns of smoke appeared rising into the sky from destroyed LOTN positions the American troops overwhelmed. Voices in the video called the American infantry running through the smoke screens “Fog Runners.”
Gunfire could be heard for several hours as ROMN artillery opened fire from the main military base on the island. ROMN claims that no damage was sustained to the airbase facilities in the battle. Explosions from artillery and mortars continued with flares being deployed early into the night as American forces are reported to have halted their attack once they had secured the derelict reserve base and LOTN training camp. Scattered LOTN counterattacks are reported to have been repelled. Due to the developing nature of the situation casualties on both sides cannot be confirmed at this time.
In a public statement from General Aguilar, he calmly claimed: “An American incursion during the early hours of the night under the cover of poor weather. A small skirmish occurred over a small derelict outpost and our brave militia was able to halt the imperialists in their tracks. The American invader was stymied and clueless, and our artillery began to pummel the Americans into hiding, inflicting many casualties among the invaders. They will soon be repelled, I assure you. I have no clue why they believe they can conquer us, they were halted by mere militia who were unprepared.”
American forces began their operations in response to the military takeover of the Malden government and the assault on the American embassy and the subsequent murders of numerous Americans both in the embassy and around the island. The Malden dictatorship claims it was executing foreign agents found guilty of undermining Malden national security. Reports indicate that both the arrested President Antonio Perez and American Ambassador David Bryant are being held for trial and possibly public execution. The stated American objective is to rescue the Ambassador and safeguard any remaining American foreign nationals along with returning the democratically-elected President Perez to power. The nation has fallen into civil war and the American involvement signifies a massive escalation of the conflict and a windfall for the hard-pressed Coalition of Rebels resistance fighters.
THEY CAME WITH THE THUNDER
Fox News
American military forces launched a successful operation against forces loyal to Malden dictator General Nicolas Aguilar in the opening stages of what the Pentagon has named “Operation THUNDERSTORM”. The operation was carried out by elements of the 101st Airborne Division’s 506th Infantry Regiment with close air support of helicopters and a single A-10 Warthog of the 74th Fighter Squadron. No American deaths were reported from the Pentagon while Malden’s military (ROMN) claims that dozens of Americans were killed and wounded and that an American jet was shot down. Meanwhile the Pentagon claims that several hundred LOTN militia and several ROMN soldiers were killed and wounded in the several-hour-long firefight and destroyed numerous light vehicles and a dozen anti-aircraft guns and mortars. Fox News is unable to independently verify these reports.
A Pentagon source speaking on the condition of anonymity has stated that American helicopters and ground attack aircraft are reported to have taken off from a small island airbase several kilometers to the Northwest of Malden that has been the US Army’s main operating base codenamed Pegasus Airbase. The attack force reportedly landed unopposed to the north of the small COR (Coalition of Rebels) resistance-held town of Lolisse, and advanced inland. After taking contact American forces attacked the main LOTN training facility on the island in the form of a derelict Cold War-era facility that had allegedly fallen into disrepair. American infantry were supported by drones and a single A-10 along with a Little Bird Scout Helicopter. Air and mortar strikes on LOTN positions were reported to have inflicted severe casualties on the base’s defenders who responded with mortars and ROMN artillery firing from an airbase to the east of the facility.
As night fell LOTN claims that they conducted a disciplined withdrawal of the facility after halting the American assault. During the fighting ROMN claims to have shot down an American fighter jet, but the Pentagon has confirmed that the A-10 returned to base with moderate damage from ROMN anti-aircraft fire. After fighting subsided well after nightfall with a storm gradually increasing in intensity American forces captured the base and held off repeated counter-attacks from scattered LOTN militias. American forces report having destroyed two ROMN armored vehicles, a Russian-built BMP-3 Infantry Fighting Vehicle and an American-built HMMWV armored car, with airstrikes during the fighting. LOTN forces claim that they were caught off-guard by the American attack, and a source within ROMN claimed that the LOTN defenses were situated to defend against a paratrooper attack, “like what the show Band of Brothers did.” The show Band of Brothers focused on a WWII airborne infantry company of the 101st Airborne and showed several combat parachute drops.
A Pentagon source speaking on the condition of anonymity has stated that American helicopters and ground attack aircraft are reported to have taken off from a small island airbase several kilometers to the Northwest of Malden that has been the US Army’s main operating base codenamed Pegasus Airbase. The attack force reportedly landed unopposed to the north of the small COR (Coalition of Rebels) resistance-held town of Lolisse, and advanced inland. After taking contact American forces attacked the main LOTN training facility on the island in the form of a derelict Cold War-era facility that had allegedly fallen into disrepair. American infantry were supported by drones and a single A-10 along with a Little Bird Scout Helicopter. Air and mortar strikes on LOTN positions were reported to have inflicted severe casualties on the base’s defenders who responded with mortars and ROMN artillery firing from an airbase to the east of the facility.
As night fell LOTN claims that they conducted a disciplined withdrawal of the facility after halting the American assault. During the fighting ROMN claims to have shot down an American fighter jet, but the Pentagon has confirmed that the A-10 returned to base with moderate damage from ROMN anti-aircraft fire. After fighting subsided well after nightfall with a storm gradually increasing in intensity American forces captured the base and held off repeated counter-attacks from scattered LOTN militias. American forces report having destroyed two ROMN armored vehicles, a Russian-built BMP-3 Infantry Fighting Vehicle and an American-built HMMWV armored car, with airstrikes during the fighting. LOTN forces claim that they were caught off-guard by the American attack, and a source within ROMN claimed that the LOTN defenses were situated to defend against a paratrooper attack, “like what the show Band of Brothers did.” The show Band of Brothers focused on a WWII airborne infantry company of the 101st Airborne and showed several combat parachute drops.
TO ARMS; IMPERIALIST INVASION
Malden Independent Courier
The military confirms that last night under the cloak of darkness imperialist American forces landed on the north coast of Malden. Having previously seized a small outlying island airbase the aggressors used a storm to cover their approach, thunder and wind masking the sound of their approaching helicopters. No regular military forces were present to destroy the invaders, and local LOTN patrols were able to hold off the attack with support of ROMN artillery fire. And the military proudly declared the destruction of an enemy fighter aircraft, with some footage showing explosions in the sky and a black trail of smoke. The old reserve base on the north shore was vacated in a disciplined withdrawal to more defensible positions, leaving the Americans in possession of the military graveyard. A LOTN outpost was currently rebuilding the base for its own future use, but no major work had been accomplished before the American aggression.
Civilian sources from the town of Lolisse claimed that the Americans came under sustained artillery fire for the duration of the attack and suffered numerous casualties and the American aircraft were ineffective in supporting the ground forces that were mauled by subsequent reinforcements firing on them through the night. Few casualties among military trainers and advisors have been sustained according to ROMN and LOTN statements have claimed only twenty men were killed and a similar number were wounded in what they called: “An unfortunate miscommunication that resulted in a large artillery strike on our own positions that allowed the Americans to save their attack from doom. We will be working to alleviate the difficulties in communication that led to this incident.”
Another anonymous LOTN soldier stated: “The Americans came on slowly, we had trouble seeing them but they could see us. But we could still hit them and we hit them with everything.” From the capital the distant rumbling of artillery and mortar fire was heard throughout the night as the American offensive bogged down and halted. General Aguilar went onto state television after the fighting died down to inform the nation: “An American incursion during the early hours of the night under the cover of poor weather. A small skirmish occurred over a small derelict outpost and our brave militia was able to halt the imperialists in their tracks. The American invader was stymied and clueless, and our artillery began to pummel the Americans into hiding, inflicting many casualties among the invaders. They will soon be repelled, I assure you. I have no clue why they believe they can conquer us, they were halted by mere militia who were unprepared.” Morale amongst LOTN militias across the island was high, and they felt that this was their first real test after terrorist forces were driven into hiding by the hammer blows of government counter-terrorist activities.
The rest of the island was quiet as a thunderstorm descended on the island as a whole. Reports of American aircraft flying have been proven to be unfounded. ROMN sources stated that the lone American aircraft present, a single A-10 Warthog, was held off and then struck by strong anti-aircraft defenses protecting the main military facility on the island. Military reports state it crashed in the sea immediately afterwards. No ROMN facilities was harmed during the assault, and no ROMN aircraft were in the air due to the storm. A ROMN pilot was interviewed early the next morning as he sat next to his aircraft, sitting out the storm as maintenance was being conducted: “We’re a little disappointed we couldn’t be up there, but it wasn’t safe for flying with all that weather. We don’t have the ability to throw away good pilots and planes like they do,” he said referring to the Americans, “They threw one away last night, I saw it get hit. But when the sun comes out we’ll most definitely be going pig hunting, see?” he proudly displayed an etching of an American A-10 Warthog, the vaunted ground attack aircraft of the United States.
The mood at ROMN’s largest and closest base to the front is one of annoyance. The soldiers are going about their business, albeit a bit faster with more attention paid to detail. Their officers are quiet and are constantly in and out of the command center for briefings. One officer did however stop to comment: “You cannot see the American positions through the rain, but they’re up there plotting their next move and licking their wounds, but we will be ready. That’s a lot of open ground in front of us and we have excellent weapons and this is our land, I doubt that a chicken could survive on that field when we open fire.”
Civilian sources from the town of Lolisse claimed that the Americans came under sustained artillery fire for the duration of the attack and suffered numerous casualties and the American aircraft were ineffective in supporting the ground forces that were mauled by subsequent reinforcements firing on them through the night. Few casualties among military trainers and advisors have been sustained according to ROMN and LOTN statements have claimed only twenty men were killed and a similar number were wounded in what they called: “An unfortunate miscommunication that resulted in a large artillery strike on our own positions that allowed the Americans to save their attack from doom. We will be working to alleviate the difficulties in communication that led to this incident.”
Another anonymous LOTN soldier stated: “The Americans came on slowly, we had trouble seeing them but they could see us. But we could still hit them and we hit them with everything.” From the capital the distant rumbling of artillery and mortar fire was heard throughout the night as the American offensive bogged down and halted. General Aguilar went onto state television after the fighting died down to inform the nation: “An American incursion during the early hours of the night under the cover of poor weather. A small skirmish occurred over a small derelict outpost and our brave militia was able to halt the imperialists in their tracks. The American invader was stymied and clueless, and our artillery began to pummel the Americans into hiding, inflicting many casualties among the invaders. They will soon be repelled, I assure you. I have no clue why they believe they can conquer us, they were halted by mere militia who were unprepared.” Morale amongst LOTN militias across the island was high, and they felt that this was their first real test after terrorist forces were driven into hiding by the hammer blows of government counter-terrorist activities.
The rest of the island was quiet as a thunderstorm descended on the island as a whole. Reports of American aircraft flying have been proven to be unfounded. ROMN sources stated that the lone American aircraft present, a single A-10 Warthog, was held off and then struck by strong anti-aircraft defenses protecting the main military facility on the island. Military reports state it crashed in the sea immediately afterwards. No ROMN facilities was harmed during the assault, and no ROMN aircraft were in the air due to the storm. A ROMN pilot was interviewed early the next morning as he sat next to his aircraft, sitting out the storm as maintenance was being conducted: “We’re a little disappointed we couldn’t be up there, but it wasn’t safe for flying with all that weather. We don’t have the ability to throw away good pilots and planes like they do,” he said referring to the Americans, “They threw one away last night, I saw it get hit. But when the sun comes out we’ll most definitely be going pig hunting, see?” he proudly displayed an etching of an American A-10 Warthog, the vaunted ground attack aircraft of the United States.
The mood at ROMN’s largest and closest base to the front is one of annoyance. The soldiers are going about their business, albeit a bit faster with more attention paid to detail. Their officers are quiet and are constantly in and out of the command center for briefings. One officer did however stop to comment: “You cannot see the American positions through the rain, but they’re up there plotting their next move and licking their wounds, but we will be ready. That’s a lot of open ground in front of us and we have excellent weapons and this is our land, I doubt that a chicken could survive on that field when we open fire.”
HELP HAS ARRIVED
Malden Central Times
The brutality of General Aguilar’s imposter regime has brought a just wrath from afar. American forces launched a strong attack against the LOTN base on the north end of the island on Sunday, moving in with the cloak of darkness and weather aiding in their assault. American aircraft launched airstrikes on LOTN positions during the several hours of fighting and smoke was seen rising from the base as gunfire raged all through the night. Military artillery and mortar fire fired without any apparent effect on the American advance after two Chinook and a single Blackhawk Helicopter deposited soldiers of the American 101st Airborne Division onto the island. There was a belief that the American assault would be conducted via paratroopers, as was shown in the popular American docudrama Band of Brothers (A show based on the same division), and LOTN defenses are reported to have been arrayed to defend against such an attack.
But the combination of weather and darkness facilitated the American attack and subsequent advance. LOTN reinforcements from nearby towns and outposts were rushed to the scene and none appear to have returned according to COR sources surveilling the towns and bases under LOTN control. The dictator’s government has claimed the fighting was minor and that they allowed the Americans possession of the derelict base due to weather difficulties and the sneakiness of the surprise attack. However American sources indicate that LOTN was given a truly bloody wake-up call in the first armed conflict between the American forces and the dictator’s thugs.
Crowds of embattled refugees celebrated the coming of American military power to the island, and many COR officers expressed relief at the arrival of help from the Americans but held reservations. “We do not yet know of the sincere intentions of the Americans, but as of now we have the same enemy. And the traitors of Aguilar’s military will be hard-pressed to fight the Americans. This gives us the time we need to reorganize and recover. Hopefully we will return the island to the control of the legitimate government and the Americans will leave,” a senior officer of the northern COR was taped saying to the MCT cameras. “The Americans are angry, they have a right to be. And they have a right to protect their people. But this is our nation, and when it is time for them to leave they must leave,” another senior leader from the southern COR said more succinctly.
Another plea for aid to the United Nations was met with a successful vote for a humanitarian mission to send food, water, and medical supplies to the embattled towns that have been under continual siege from ROMN and LOTN’s indiscriminate artillery and bombing. It is unknown when or if these supplies will arrive, but some sources from America indicate the possibility of American assistance in delivering the aid supplies as they fight to remove Aguilar’s regime.
But the combination of weather and darkness facilitated the American attack and subsequent advance. LOTN reinforcements from nearby towns and outposts were rushed to the scene and none appear to have returned according to COR sources surveilling the towns and bases under LOTN control. The dictator’s government has claimed the fighting was minor and that they allowed the Americans possession of the derelict base due to weather difficulties and the sneakiness of the surprise attack. However American sources indicate that LOTN was given a truly bloody wake-up call in the first armed conflict between the American forces and the dictator’s thugs.
Crowds of embattled refugees celebrated the coming of American military power to the island, and many COR officers expressed relief at the arrival of help from the Americans but held reservations. “We do not yet know of the sincere intentions of the Americans, but as of now we have the same enemy. And the traitors of Aguilar’s military will be hard-pressed to fight the Americans. This gives us the time we need to reorganize and recover. Hopefully we will return the island to the control of the legitimate government and the Americans will leave,” a senior officer of the northern COR was taped saying to the MCT cameras. “The Americans are angry, they have a right to be. And they have a right to protect their people. But this is our nation, and when it is time for them to leave they must leave,” another senior leader from the southern COR said more succinctly.
Another plea for aid to the United Nations was met with a successful vote for a humanitarian mission to send food, water, and medical supplies to the embattled towns that have been under continual siege from ROMN and LOTN’s indiscriminate artillery and bombing. It is unknown when or if these supplies will arrive, but some sources from America indicate the possibility of American assistance in delivering the aid supplies as they fight to remove Aguilar’s regime.
These published documents are the fictional works of the S-2 Intelligence Team of the 506th IR Realism Unit. Opinions stated are not necessarily the opinions of the authors, but intended to create the narrative of a fictionalized world.
