To: Lt Col Killgore
Copy: All Officers 130 EMR, Dr Matik, Agent Green, Agent Orange, Agent Scarlet, JIM-0000
From: Major Peter "Transdimentional Aliens are Wussies" Howland
(Codewords are at Appendix B.)
A GROUP
Maintaining security of the A.M.L. Surface Installations and escorting the Logistics Squad through HOLDFAST and KINGDOM.
B GROUP & C GROUP LESS SQUAD C9
Regrouping in JUSTICE. Also present are 8 FRIENDLY TOWEL GEEKS released from the Shielded Command Centre in JUSTICE (names and appointments at Appendix A).
LOGISTICS SQUAD
Removing casualties and resupplying between ARROGANT and JUSTICE via HOLDFAST and KINGDOM.
RECOVERED CASUALTIES & STAFF
Definitive numbers are not available to me at present. [ META: that is 'cos I didn't keep track of those recovered. Simon has a record of the 130 EMR casualties and James has a record of the number of A.M.L. staff bodies recovered. ] 130 EMR casualties are [approx.] 5 Marines, all returned to ARROGANT. 13 FRIENDLIES have also been returned to ARROGANT [ 6 A.M.L. Marines including 1 casualty, 6 A.M.L. Security Guards and 1 janitor - Sioban Tang ].
Deployment of the Landing Detachment was modified in accordance with Dr Matik's assessment of the radiation hazard and the radiation readings encountered at ARROGANT, BRILLIANT, CHAMPION, DREADNOUGHT A and B, FEARLESS and GLORY.
1.1 A GROUP
EXCELLENT is between ARROGANT and the Maintenance Area. Dangerous radiation SPIKES have been identified at BRILLIANT, CHAMPION, FEARLESS and GLORY. No other SPIKES nor any SPOOKS have been identified on the surface. Access to HOLDFAST is secure.
1.2 B GROUP
Route of entry was changed to HOLDFAST due to the dangerous SPIKE at GLORY. A blockage in HOLDFAST was cleared by Plasmatic Borer. A radiation SPIKE (emanating from a small fissure) was passed [ META: random radiation grenade effect. ] Numbers of SPOOKS (see 3. below) were encountered and destroyed at KINGDOM. No live FRIENDLIES were discovered. Because SPOOKS continued to appear at random in KINGDOM, I decided to leave it unoccupied.
Comms were established with FRIENDLIES in JUSTICE when the junction in HOLDFAST was reached. No FRIENDLIES were identified in INFLEXIBLE A. B Group moved directly to the FRIENDLIES in JUSTICE. As noted above, 21 FRIENDLIES were encountered. Numbers of SPOOKS were destroyed in JUSTICE.
1.3 C GROUP
C Group entered HOLDFAST behind B Group and took part in the engagement of SPOOKS in KINGDOM. C Group continued the movement to JUSTICE.
1.4 LOGISTICS SQUAD
Removed casualties, moved supplies and laid a comms cable between ARROGANT and JUSTICE via HOLDFAST and KINGDOM.
Satisfactory.
This is a preliminary report on the SPOOKS encountered.
3.1 Dr Matik has assessed the SPOOKS to be Transdimentional Aliens. Each SPOOK apparently manifests from a "ball of energy" (BOE) which randomly appears in time. These manifestations seem to use specific locations, or nodes, rather at random.
3.2 The BOE give off hazardous radiation before the SPOOK appears [META: radiation grenade effect. ] BOE can be destroyed by SCA fire.
3.2 SPOOKS with at least two different weapon types were encountered: Type S1 fires a ball of radiation [ META: radiation grenade effect ], Type S2 fires plasma [ META: SCA fire ]. All SPOOKS are susceptible to SCA fire [ META: unarmoured target ], but appear to be unaffected by Grenades. SPOOKS require a variable number of SCA hits to destroy (1, 2 or 3) apparently according to size.
SPOOKS were engaged with SCAs initially which is effective. SPOOKS were fired on until knocked out. Grenades apparently had no effect.
Analysis of SPOOK firing indicates that they only engage moving targets. 130 EMR tactic is now to stand still when SPOOKS are in sight, only firing SCAs as they bear. SpaceFoam was deployed in two storerooms in KINGDOM where several BOEs had manifested, and no more have appeared since.
The manifestation of SPOOKS is not understood and cannot be predicted, neither is their aim. SPOOKS only engage moving targets; stationary Marines are attacked. SPOOKS can break through doors, but have not broken through walls.
Dr Matik and Dr Stone recommend that the GEEKS in JUSTICE go to INFLEXIBLE A to "close the breach". This will apparently stop the manifestation of SPOOKS and the radiation pulses.
My intention is to escort the GEEKS to Main Control in INFLEXIBLE A. The GEEKS assure me they will then rectify the problem. We will gain access to INFLEXIBLE A by supercharging the main doors in JUSTICE.
Action Codewords: Definitions:
VENGEFUL RIGHT Launch Preliminary Operation (CO)
FLAMING SWORD Launch Main Operation (Comd Group Alpha)
BURNING HATE Abort Operation (CO)
TRAITORS CLAW Change ROE (CO)
OPEN HAND Cancel SPECIALFIRE restriction (Any officer)
TIGHT FIST Impose SPECIALFIRE restriction (CO)
LONELY HONOUR Execute Autodestruct (CO)
CROWDED HELL As Personally Briefed by the Commander
SILENT FIRE Change IFF setting (Any Group Commander)
LASER LIGHT Destroy Main Power Plant (CO)
RED DAWN Destroy sub-surface facilities (CO)
FESTERING SORE Non-cooperation by local personnel (Any SNCO)
WHITE FLASH Hostile acts by local personnel (Any officer)
Target Codewords:
TOWEL Non-Combatants
SPOOK Moving Hazards
SPIKE Non-Moving Hazards
JOKER Unidentified
FRIENDLY Identified as Friendly
GEEKS Scientific Support Personnel
Objective Codewords (Amdt 1):
ARROGANT HQ and Admin Block
BRILLIANT Main Power Plant
CHAMPION Surface Resonance Chamber
DREADNOUGHT A & B Habdomes near the Surface Resonance Chamber
EXCELLENT Landing Site as defined by Group Alpha
FEARLESS Mesa Moon Shuttle Landing Zone
GLORY Main Access Tunnel
HOLDFAST Emergency Access Tunnel
INFLEXIBLE A & B Labs A & B
JUSTICE Main Bunker and Emergency Refuge
KINGDOM Emergency Refuge on Emergency Access Tunnel
LIGHTNING Surface Weapons
SUPPLEMENTAL
>====================================
>SITREP: OPERATION STRAWBERRY
>====================================
>RECOVERED CASUALTIES & STAFF
>============================
> Definitive numbers are not available to me at present. [ META: that is
>'cos I didn't keep track of those recovered. Simon has a record of the
>130 EMR casualties and James has a record of the number of A.M.L. staff
>bodies recovered. ]
We have accounted for 47 of the 112 missing staff with definitive reports that the remaining four intelligence marines have been killed bring the total accounted for to be 51. We have recovered to the surface all the bodies from KINGDOM (14) and also one survival suit containing the remnants of a SPOOK (which disintegrated to dust shortly after being placed in the bag).
Further AML bodies will not be recovered unless directed otherwise.
>3.2 The BOE give off hazardous radiation before the SPOOK appears [
>META: radiation grenade effect. ] BOE can be destroyed by SCA fire.
BOE cannot be destroyed by SCA fire. Attempting this causes an increase in the radiation emission. [META: two grenade effect]. I tried this personally in KINGDOM.
Lt. J Kampf
OC 8/C/130
SUPLEMENTAL 2
To: Lt Col Killgore
Copy: All Officers 130 EMR, JIM-0000
From: Capt (acting) Simon Cornelius
Date: 3199.263 - during operation
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SITREP: OPERATION STRAWBERRY : RECOVERED CASUALTIES & STAFF
>============================================================
Major Howland reported the following:
> Definitive numbers are not available to me at present. 130 EMR casualties are [approx.] 5 Marines, all
>returned to ARROGANT. 13 FRIENDLIES have also been returned to ARROGANT
>[ 6 A.M.L. Marines including 1 casualty, 6 A.M.L. Security Guards and 1
>janitor - Sioban Tang ].
Since then I have been in contact with the medical facilities on-hand. All Marine casualties were evacuated within 1 hour of injury. Casualty Data are as follows:
130B404 L/Cpl Wexford, Megan - died from wounds
130B504 L/Cpl Mireku, Jazzamine - died from wounds
130C707 Marine Chaikin, Peter - died from wounds.
Marine Chaikin was one of the longest serving men in the regiment and is a great loss.
130B501 Lt. Gogogoch - damaged suit and a slight graze. Should be able to rejoin his squad within 2 hours once the armourers have adjusted a replacement suit.
130B602 Sgt. Tarlton - damaged suit and a slight graze. Should be able to rejoin his squad within 2 hours once the armourers have adjusted a replacement suit.
130C8-2 Sgt. Henge - wounded during receipt of serious suit damage. Recovery expected within 9 days. Sgt. Henge maintains her clear lead in "most experience marine" (15 EPs).
Int. Corps Marine (no name) - minor wound - 11 days convalescence.
MEDICAL SERVICES SUPPLEMENTAL
Of the AML Marines returned during phase 1, 4 suffered fatal radiation doses on the return journey. Of the security guards, 2 suffered fatal falls in crevices on the return journey, on was killed by a radiation pulse, and one was killed by an accidental SCA discharge when she tripped.