Posted: 2008-04-15 03:28am
RESCUE OPERATION A SUCCESS
The cold December morning has uncovered a charred battlefield on what was once the most exclusive street in Astoria. Burned-out cars, shell casings, rags and wood splinter littered the street. And yet, despite it all, people were relieved.
Yesterday, in the middle of the night, military commandos stormed the Astoria Private Engineering School, where hostages were being kept by member of the Movement for a Clean PeZookia. The battle was short and intesive, with over 300 shots being fired, by police sharpshooters and by soldiers inside the building. No hostages were hurt in the crossfire, but officials say that most of the 300 students were in need of serious medical attention.
The assault began shortly after midnight, after a seemingly desperate trade of hand grenades for hostages. About ten people were released in exchage for several boxes of what seemed like munitions. Officials later said that the boxes were filled with bricks and stacked outside the exit to provide additional cover for hostages who decided to make a break for it. Right after the trade was made, a police siren started blaring with a deafening roar ; Further confusing the terrorists and allowing GROM troopers to storm the building without being noticed for the crucial first seconds.
[img=left]http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a271/ ... ming-1.jpg[/img]
"It was intense", one GROM trooper remarked after the operation,"My unit entered through the roof and was closest to the hostages. We only had about ten to fifteen second to reach and secure them, and let me tell you - it were the longest fifteen seconds of my life. Fortunately, the guy they had keeping watch on the hostages wasn't as determined as the rest of them ; Or maybe just tired. Either way, when we stormed the room, he surrendered."
To the left: GROM troopers entering the school
But the battle was not over, even when the hostages were no longer in danger. Most of the terrorists have gravitated to the lower floors, and for the next ten minutes, a firefight raged inside the school, with fires breaking out in several spots. Police sharpshooters have shot and killed two terrorists who attempted to battle it out with the police after running out onto the street. Attacking troops were forced to use explosives once, after ten terrorists barricaded themselves in one of the restrooms ; They were all killed in the blast.
[img=left]http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a271/ ... ulance.jpg[/img]
Left: Hostages were being loaded into ambulances despite most of them not receiving any wounds ; Most required medical attention because of dehydration, infections and lacerations.
Overall, nineteen terrorists were killed, one surrendered and five were apprehended during the attack. It is believed that the leader of the group was shot and killed by a police sharpshooter in the opening seconds of the attack.
No news are yet available about the fate of a captured airliner, which is believed lost and out of...wait, this just came in.
Authorities have revealed that another rescue operation was conducted by Shinra Republic troops at the same time as the school siege! Stay tuned for more information.
OPERATION ARCHANGEL: FINAL REPORT
"Archangel" commenced at 2230 Astorian time. Insertion of initial recon elements was completed within one hour, and confirmation of hostage locations were received at 2350. Upon receiving the information, "Archangel" command gave the go-ahead for Ranger assault upon the terrorist compound.
SOAR squadron took off at 0000, carrying two Ranger companies towards the objective. At 0030, PeZookian authorities authorized the assault upon the occupied school. At the same time, EA-6B Prowlers TANGO 1 and TANGO 2 began jamming enemy command and ultra-short wave frequencies.
It is at this point where the operation took a turn for the worse. Enemy at objective BRAVO (the dirt strip airfield) was monitoring the radio frequencies. When contact was lost with their comms center, the local enemy commander decided to execute the hostages. Two men, probably members of the PeZookian MCP moved out into the tarmac, weapons drawn, approaching the airplane which held twenty of the hostages.
The objective was saved by a quick decision of Lt. Kinsely, commander of SHADOW ONE, assigned to surveillance of the airfield. Correctly identifying enemy intentions, he ordered his sharpshooters to fire on the exposed MCP members, called for support and agressively attacked the main airport building,despite being vastly outnumbered.
His agressive action managed to foil attempts to execute the hostages, as the only MCP member present inside the airplane surrendered immediately ; While heavy fire laid against the main building complex made it impossible for his comrades to provide any support.
Archangel command redirected two Ranger chalks from objective ALPHA assault force to support SHADOW ONE. Both chalks arrived at the airstrip ten minutes later and joined in SHADOW ONE's attack. Agressive action allowed the objective to be taken with minimal loss of life ; Two female hostages were released at this point, held inside the main complex for no apparent reason. Both were extracted immediately by a flight of Seahawks.
Enemy at objective ALPHA was far less aware and Ranger Flight 1 achieved complete surprise. Acting on intel from SHADOW THREE, both Ranger companies were inserted right near the objective. AH-6 "Little Birds" strafed exposed enemy guards. The air attack was immediately followed by an infantry assault. Despite surprise, the enemy has managed to muster strong defence based upon the barracks and machine park on the east side of the compound, which stalled the Ranger attack. Second Company, however, managed to secure the hostage holding facility, although not without loss of life. Several hostages were wounded after a drug-addled guard emptied an AK-47 magazine into the facility.
Once the hostage holding facility was secured, and PeZookian liaisons confirmed no hostages were moves elsewhere, an air attack ended any resistance at the barracks.
Archangel Stage Two ended at 0051.
It was determined by Archangel Command that a second ranger flight was unnecessary ; A single platoon was to be kept as an airmobile reserve while hostages were extracted by air assets.
Two enemy counterattacks happened during Stage Three: one at 0121 and another at 0140. Only the second counterattack was significant, with use of light mortars and technical-mounted recoilless rifles. However, lack of co-ordination and night vision, as well as presence of naval fire support made both attacks ineffective. While the second counterattack, commenced by a company-sized force against the dirt airfield (held by two ranger chalks and one SF squad) came close to overrunning friendly positions, few casualties were sustained and accurate naval gunfire directed by SF troops and UAVs broke the attack in its final stage.
Helicopter extraction of hostages was complete by 0200. All rangers were extracted by 02:53.
Stage Three was declared complete at 0300 hours.
At this point, two destroyers began shelling of enemy communications centre. The fire was directed by soldiers of SHADOW TWO, who then moved into the facility in order to recover intelligence data on enemy operations and command structures. They withdrew without any casualties, however they stumbled upon a sizeable enemy contigent during fallback. One trooper was injured, but again, close air support prevented a catastrophe.
Extraction of all friendly forces was complete by 0400 hours, with the operation declared a complete success. 81 hostages were extracted, at the cost of one Ranger and two SF soldiers of SHADOW ONE. Several helicopters were also damaged by landings in rough terrain, but none significantly.
It is recommended that the following soldiers receive commendations and medals:
Lt Kinsely, John (SF), for foiling an attempt to execute hostages at the air strip. His timely, agressive and effective attack was crucial for the success of the operation.
Cpt. Price, Edward (Ranger), for effective command of his troops at the airfield. He maintained control of the situation despite an ad-hoc and improvised change of operational plans, managed to maintain cohesion between Ranger and SF troops and safely extracted the hostages despite being vastly outnumbered.
Pvt. Gordon,Micheal (Ranger), for moving a wounded hostage to safety while under heavy enemy fire.
Sgt. Mitchell, Dwight (SF) - posthumonously, for shielding several hostages from a hand grenade with his own body.
Report concluded,
Lt. Col. Carter
The cold December morning has uncovered a charred battlefield on what was once the most exclusive street in Astoria. Burned-out cars, shell casings, rags and wood splinter littered the street. And yet, despite it all, people were relieved.
Yesterday, in the middle of the night, military commandos stormed the Astoria Private Engineering School, where hostages were being kept by member of the Movement for a Clean PeZookia. The battle was short and intesive, with over 300 shots being fired, by police sharpshooters and by soldiers inside the building. No hostages were hurt in the crossfire, but officials say that most of the 300 students were in need of serious medical attention.
The assault began shortly after midnight, after a seemingly desperate trade of hand grenades for hostages. About ten people were released in exchage for several boxes of what seemed like munitions. Officials later said that the boxes were filled with bricks and stacked outside the exit to provide additional cover for hostages who decided to make a break for it. Right after the trade was made, a police siren started blaring with a deafening roar ; Further confusing the terrorists and allowing GROM troopers to storm the building without being noticed for the crucial first seconds.
[img=left]http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a271/ ... ming-1.jpg[/img]
"It was intense", one GROM trooper remarked after the operation,"My unit entered through the roof and was closest to the hostages. We only had about ten to fifteen second to reach and secure them, and let me tell you - it were the longest fifteen seconds of my life. Fortunately, the guy they had keeping watch on the hostages wasn't as determined as the rest of them ; Or maybe just tired. Either way, when we stormed the room, he surrendered."
To the left: GROM troopers entering the school
But the battle was not over, even when the hostages were no longer in danger. Most of the terrorists have gravitated to the lower floors, and for the next ten minutes, a firefight raged inside the school, with fires breaking out in several spots. Police sharpshooters have shot and killed two terrorists who attempted to battle it out with the police after running out onto the street. Attacking troops were forced to use explosives once, after ten terrorists barricaded themselves in one of the restrooms ; They were all killed in the blast.
[img=left]http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a271/ ... ulance.jpg[/img]
Left: Hostages were being loaded into ambulances despite most of them not receiving any wounds ; Most required medical attention because of dehydration, infections and lacerations.
Overall, nineteen terrorists were killed, one surrendered and five were apprehended during the attack. It is believed that the leader of the group was shot and killed by a police sharpshooter in the opening seconds of the attack.
No news are yet available about the fate of a captured airliner, which is believed lost and out of...wait, this just came in.
Authorities have revealed that another rescue operation was conducted by Shinra Republic troops at the same time as the school siege! Stay tuned for more information.
OPERATION ARCHANGEL: FINAL REPORT
"Archangel" commenced at 2230 Astorian time. Insertion of initial recon elements was completed within one hour, and confirmation of hostage locations were received at 2350. Upon receiving the information, "Archangel" command gave the go-ahead for Ranger assault upon the terrorist compound.
SOAR squadron took off at 0000, carrying two Ranger companies towards the objective. At 0030, PeZookian authorities authorized the assault upon the occupied school. At the same time, EA-6B Prowlers TANGO 1 and TANGO 2 began jamming enemy command and ultra-short wave frequencies.
It is at this point where the operation took a turn for the worse. Enemy at objective BRAVO (the dirt strip airfield) was monitoring the radio frequencies. When contact was lost with their comms center, the local enemy commander decided to execute the hostages. Two men, probably members of the PeZookian MCP moved out into the tarmac, weapons drawn, approaching the airplane which held twenty of the hostages.
The objective was saved by a quick decision of Lt. Kinsely, commander of SHADOW ONE, assigned to surveillance of the airfield. Correctly identifying enemy intentions, he ordered his sharpshooters to fire on the exposed MCP members, called for support and agressively attacked the main airport building,despite being vastly outnumbered.
His agressive action managed to foil attempts to execute the hostages, as the only MCP member present inside the airplane surrendered immediately ; While heavy fire laid against the main building complex made it impossible for his comrades to provide any support.
Archangel command redirected two Ranger chalks from objective ALPHA assault force to support SHADOW ONE. Both chalks arrived at the airstrip ten minutes later and joined in SHADOW ONE's attack. Agressive action allowed the objective to be taken with minimal loss of life ; Two female hostages were released at this point, held inside the main complex for no apparent reason. Both were extracted immediately by a flight of Seahawks.
Enemy at objective ALPHA was far less aware and Ranger Flight 1 achieved complete surprise. Acting on intel from SHADOW THREE, both Ranger companies were inserted right near the objective. AH-6 "Little Birds" strafed exposed enemy guards. The air attack was immediately followed by an infantry assault. Despite surprise, the enemy has managed to muster strong defence based upon the barracks and machine park on the east side of the compound, which stalled the Ranger attack. Second Company, however, managed to secure the hostage holding facility, although not without loss of life. Several hostages were wounded after a drug-addled guard emptied an AK-47 magazine into the facility.
Once the hostage holding facility was secured, and PeZookian liaisons confirmed no hostages were moves elsewhere, an air attack ended any resistance at the barracks.
Archangel Stage Two ended at 0051.
It was determined by Archangel Command that a second ranger flight was unnecessary ; A single platoon was to be kept as an airmobile reserve while hostages were extracted by air assets.
Two enemy counterattacks happened during Stage Three: one at 0121 and another at 0140. Only the second counterattack was significant, with use of light mortars and technical-mounted recoilless rifles. However, lack of co-ordination and night vision, as well as presence of naval fire support made both attacks ineffective. While the second counterattack, commenced by a company-sized force against the dirt airfield (held by two ranger chalks and one SF squad) came close to overrunning friendly positions, few casualties were sustained and accurate naval gunfire directed by SF troops and UAVs broke the attack in its final stage.
Helicopter extraction of hostages was complete by 0200. All rangers were extracted by 02:53.
Stage Three was declared complete at 0300 hours.
At this point, two destroyers began shelling of enemy communications centre. The fire was directed by soldiers of SHADOW TWO, who then moved into the facility in order to recover intelligence data on enemy operations and command structures. They withdrew without any casualties, however they stumbled upon a sizeable enemy contigent during fallback. One trooper was injured, but again, close air support prevented a catastrophe.
Extraction of all friendly forces was complete by 0400 hours, with the operation declared a complete success. 81 hostages were extracted, at the cost of one Ranger and two SF soldiers of SHADOW ONE. Several helicopters were also damaged by landings in rough terrain, but none significantly.
It is recommended that the following soldiers receive commendations and medals:
Lt Kinsely, John (SF), for foiling an attempt to execute hostages at the air strip. His timely, agressive and effective attack was crucial for the success of the operation.
Cpt. Price, Edward (Ranger), for effective command of his troops at the airfield. He maintained control of the situation despite an ad-hoc and improvised change of operational plans, managed to maintain cohesion between Ranger and SF troops and safely extracted the hostages despite being vastly outnumbered.
Pvt. Gordon,Micheal (Ranger), for moving a wounded hostage to safety while under heavy enemy fire.
Sgt. Mitchell, Dwight (SF) - posthumonously, for shielding several hostages from a hand grenade with his own body.
Report concluded,
Lt. Col. Carter