Operation Blackout
- This article is about an in-universe event. For the in-game mission, see Pillars of Communications (mission).
- "Operation Blackout will be conducted entirely by you. I cannot, however, express enough how important this strike is."
- ― Captain J. Griffiths
Operation Blackout was a large-scale raid by Sicario on the Pacific Federation-held Solana Communications Array during the Cascadian Conflict. This raid is notable for being the largest deployment in the PMC's history.
Prelude
- "This is the largest deployment in our history as a mercenary group. The Independence Force put a lot of faith in us for this operation. Let’s not disappoint."
- ― Arnold Frenken
After destroying long-range air defenses at the Chaohord Defense Region, Sicario was sent on a one-way trip to the Aitor Desert, where they had to destroy the communications array. Destroying the facility would cripple the Federation command structure linked to the Pillars of Communications.
The facility was heavily defended, with railguns, a sizeable ground garrison, and a lot of patrol squadrons. The IF, due to being preoccupied with their frontlines, could not send assistance, and in addition, this was considered a suicide mission, partly due to there being enough fuel only for a one-way trip. Because of this along with the high payout on the raid, failure was not an option.
Raid
- "Coup forces this far in?! We can't afford to let them destroy anything here! Deploy what we have!"
- ― Solana facility command
Hitman Team and Gunsel Squadron softened up its outer defenses while Assassin Team provided close air support for their ground forces. SOG Ronin, initially unknown to all except Arnold Frenken, infiltrated the facility and placed charges within the facility. Once the outer defenses were down, Federation fighters scrambled from their routine patrols to intercept the transports, only to be dispatched by Gunsel and others. The Federation defenders in general had trouble tracking the mercenary fighters.
Circus was able to drop off its troops and have them attack Federation tank battalions and radar sites, and once they were out of action as well, Ronin detonated their charges. The main push occurred as Sicario breached the facility with its tanks while also shelling it with artillery. Despite the expectedly thick defenses and airships, Sicario was able to capture the main command center, stop the Federation command from depriving them of their encryption codes and valuable intel (as Independence Force HQ ordered), and annihilate the entire array.
Aftermath
- "Ground forces, smash and grab anything worth it and await pickup by Circus. Let’s not overstay our welcome."
- ― Arnold Frenken
Once all was said and done, Ronin tricked the rest of the Federation's forces into believing they were just running fire drills for an hour, and Sicario's damaged fighters landed at the facility's airfield either for repairs or aircraft swaps. Ronin also gathered what intel they could and boarded the Circus again.
The battle resulted in a strategic victory for the CIF, and with the facility destroyed, Cascadia's communications networks were fully back up, evidenced by Federation Core States radios being able to pick up the country's transmissions mere days after the Solana raid.[1] The Independence Force was then able to effectively coordinate their war effort against the Federation, dealing heavy losses to them in the following days, partly thanks to their own EW countermeasures. An offensive campaign had been launched.[2]
The Federation, disorganized, lost almost all control of northern Cascadia. The Apodock Fracture and nearly half of the Yellowstone Exclusion Zone was retaken by the CIF as well. In order to improve unit effectiveness, Federation Regional Cascadian HQ decided to discharge and replace elements manned by native Cascadians with non-Cascadians. This had the unintended effect of lending more intel and men for the Independence Force.[3]
References
- ↑ Sector D2. (2020). Project Wingman [Video game]. Humble Games. Frontline-59 Mission 01: Bottom of the Barrel (Transcript).
- ↑ Sector D2. (2020). Project Wingman [Video game]. Humble Games. Files Archive → World Entries: Final Independence Force Offensive.
- ↑ Sector D2. (2020). Project Wingman [Video game]. Humble Games. Campaign Mission 11: Cold War (Transcript).
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