13th of May 1990, Pentagon Washington DC.
SERCRET
United States Department of Defense
Addressed to the President of the United States.
Situational report, Operation Columbus
The current situation regarding the other world, that has yet to be named, and our military forces deployed is stable. Colonel Sawyer has successfully established a forward operating base and is surveying the surrounding area. So far as of May 13th there has been no sign of foreign civilization or intelligent life. The troops on the ground also have reported the expected presence of some number of black creatures, that has also yet to be named, of various sizes and types like the ones that made their way into the Washington mountains. They also reported less aggressive wildlife similar of that of our own world along with similar vegetation and biomes. The current weather and season on the other world is winter with a light layer of snow and semi-clear clear skies, this as of now has had little effect on military operations, but it is currently unknown how long this will last.
Colonels Sawyers custom combined arms brigade has made good progress expanding its perimeter as far as 10 miles in all directions and has dealt with any opposition efficiently and has suffered no deaths so far. If this continues, we might need to reconsider the threat these creatures pose and consider pulling the better equipped units to the war effort for better use. Also due to this success we might need to consider sending civilian researchers to this world for better study, so far only military personal are present and are only doing geological study and reconnaissance.
The Army personal and vehicle count deployed is roughly as follows:
6 combined arms battalions: (9,426 personnel)
Per Battalion: HQ company (68 personnel) 4 Infantry companies, 1 M2 Bradly IFV company, 2 M113 APC companies, 1 Motorized company (612 personnel). 1 Combat support company, Grenade launcher platoon, 1 Heavy machine gun platoon, 1 anti-tank platoon, Mortar battery 81mm or 107mm (204 personnel). 1 tank company (62 personnel). Recon Company (93 personnel). Anti-Air company, 1 M163 VADS platoon, 1 MIM-72 Chaparral platoon (120 personnel).
Each battalion has all support elements attached to their HQ company required for independent operations, Engineer, Transport and Supply, Medical etc. (412 personnel)
Total 1,571 personal
4 Field Artillery battalions: (1,748 personnel)
1 155mm Field Artillery battalion, 18 M198 Howitzers.
3 105mm Field Artillery battalions, 53 M119 howitzers.
Total of 71 guns.
Brigade HQ (116 personnel)
The brigade also has the support elements such as a Engineer, Transport, Distribution, supply, medical, maintenance, Material center. (1,861 personnel)
Army Helicopter battalion (302 personnel)
24 mix variants of UH-1 Huey's.
In total Army estimates:
13,151 personnel.
84 Main battle tanks, mix of M48 & M60 Patton tanks.
84 Infantry fighting vehicles, M2 Bradly's.
312 Armored Personal carriers and variants, M113s.
913 tactical trucks, includes Utility, cargo, fuel, transport vehicles.
Airforce personal and aircraft deployed is roughly as follows. (492 personnel)
12 F-4 Phantoms
12 F-5 Tigers
As showed, equipment and personal count far succeed initial estimates and it should be under consideration in diverting some assets to the war effort for better use. Such as the Marine and Ranger battalions being redeployed and are in transit to this operation. It is also advised we send the battalions already deployed farther out as to get better situational awareness on our surroundings for use in future operations in this world. It has also been brought up that Colonel Sawyer is not commencing this operation as the situation demands, it is advised that Colonel Sawyer be instructed to not treat this operation as one of a of a combat zone against a enemy such as against the Soviet Union. But as to treat this operation as one of exploration and discovering, in doing this it will allow more assets to be used more efficiently and to increase the pace of the operation itself.
It is evident we have treated this threat the Archway presents to us too highly and have overreacted diverting much needed assets elsewhere to this operation. This is mostly due to the initial casualties and destruction of the town in the Washington mountains, but its destruction was due to unpreparedness and unawareness of this possible threat. But now as we are now aware of this Archway, it is unlikely such high casualties will occur again, Military or Civilian.
End of report.
Authors note:
A short chapter, but don't worry another one will be posted this week. Maybe two extra and one that is a actual chapter and not a report such as this one. I figured some of you would like to know what's exactly involved. And after this week, which this week and last week have been busy, I might post in quicker intervals.
Also, these numbers stated are definitely not totally accurate, but they are close. I tried to resemble real life and World in Conflict into it.