Chapter 2.1
QUAKE II
(Historical file TCM-Q2-9904-21)
The War against the Strogg
Phase I
The war against the Strogg is often cited as the single greatest turning point in Earth's history – it started as humanity's darkest hour; ended as its finest. While the destruction and casualties were unlike any other conflict known to man, the nations of Earth were able to put aside their differences and unite like never before. The war's aftermath saw humanity adopt the advanced technology of their defeated enemy and use it to expand their dominion throughout the galaxy, colonizing new worlds faster than ever before. The trauma of facing the Strogg also led to the introduction of numerous new restrictions and safeguards in all scientific research related to cybernetics and AI. Humanity, as a whole, came out stronger from a war that could have led to its extinction.
The Strogg's arrival was preceded by the sudden loss of contact with several colonies just beyond the rim of the solar system. This gave rise to chilling rumors of alien spaceships seen in the vicinity of these outposts before they went dark. Human imagination ran rampant, picturing all kinds of vile space monsters, yet nothing could prepare us for the invasion of Earth and the utter destruction of numerous major cities across all continents. The Strogg's brutality and machine-like efficiency instilled great horror in Earth's soldiers and threw them into disarray. It quickly became crystal clear that human weapons and military hardware were inferior to the invaders' own equipment. Adaptation became a matter of life and death.
From the chaos and anguish of humanity's impending defeat arose the Global Defense Force – the GDF. These brave troopers used the latest technology human science could come up with, and began the long and bloody struggle to push the invaders back. Though they paid for it with many lives, victory was finally theirs (ref. file: GDF-ETQW-1517). With the Strogg barely being driven off Earth, their last Slipgate in Antarctica shut down, and their fleet crippled by an experimental EMP device, the gruesome prospect of an even greater and deadlier second invasion hung over humanity. The surviving military strategists reached the conclusion that a swift and decisive counterattack against the Strogg homeworld, with the goal of crippling their war machine before they could retaliate, was the only way to avert an even worse war. The plan was, by all accounts, insane, yet the alternative was extermination. Time for preparations was short, so improvisation was the norm. And thus the global invasion force known as the Terran Coalition of Man (TCM) was born, and Operation "Alien Overlord" was conceived.
The campaign on Stroggos is usually viewed as consisting of two distinct phases – Phase I includes the initial attack through Operation "Alien Overlord," as well as the two operations of smaller scale (but no smaller importance) – "Reckoning" and "Ground Zero." Phase II began with the second and more massive human invasion of Stroggos, featuring Operations "Advantage" and "Last Hope," the latter of which resulted in the destruction of the Strogg Nexus and ensured their final defeat.
The first and most desperate of these operations was "Alien Overlord." Ultimately, it proved to be the most crucial one for victory.
Operation "Alien Overlord"
Due to the severe limitations in time and resources, Operation "Alien Overlord" utilized a tactic that bordered on insanity, yet seemed to be the only way to circumvent the planet's defenses – marines were to be dropped from orbit in individual pods. Their target was the Strogg capital city of Cerberon, located within the Crater Majoris. Once on the surface, they were to regroup and accomplish their objectives in any way possible. Projected casualty rates were no less than 80%. The mission: to disable the Stroggos planetary defenses and eliminate the Strogg ruling warlord (the "Makron"), paving the way for a second, more massive, invasion.
It never worked out as planned.
The human scientists had hoped that drop pods were too small to be detected by the Stroggos defense systems (the so-called "Big Gun" system) and could slip through unnoticed. They had fatally underestimated Strogg technology – the pods were detected by the defense grid and struck by an EMP blast that sent them spinning out of control and crashing into the planet's surface, killing those aboard. The only pods that made it intact were the ones that were damaged or otherwise incapacitated during the fall. Marine "Bitterman's" drop pod is known to have been clipped by another – this was most likely what saved his life. He then proceeded to complete the mission against virtually impossible odds. Below is an outline of the different tactical units of his battle through the surface of Stroggos.
The City of Cerberon
The largest and most heavily defended city on the surface of Stroggos, Cerberon was quickly identified as the planet's capital city due to its close proximity to a number of crucial facilities, as well as the presence of a massive palace complex in its center – something not observed in any other city on the planet. The palace was strongly believed to be the headquarters of the Makron – the currently reigning Strogg warlord. Numerous major power conduits and pipelines entered the city, the perimeter was closely surrounded by a laser grid and thick walls, and the sky was always crossed by ships of various sizes due to the presence of a major spaceport. Cerberon was a busy hive of activity and a direct assault against it would have been doomed to failure – the only viable approach was to infiltrate it through more subtle means, and only after many of its security and logistical systems had been compromised. This was the foundation of the strategy behind Operation "Alien Overlord." The city's outskirts were not a safe place either, as the numerous facilities built along the crater's rim were filled with many kinds of Strogg, all of which were deadly combatants – even the ones built for maintenance tasks.
Although Cerberon was indeed a crucial hub for Strogg communications, defense and military control, taking it out would not bring about the final downfall of the Strogg, as the true beating heart of their species was the so-called Nexus.
Archive #97-17/02
Operation "Alien Overlord"
Location: planet Stroggos; region: Craters Minor, Majoris; area: city of Cerberon
Operative: "Bitterman," TCM Space Marine; real identity: (classified)
Mission Unit 01: The Base
Location: Crater Minor, 36 kilometers south of the outer perimeter of Cerberon
Objective: Establish communication uplink to command ship
General description: The primary military base protecting the capital city of Cerberon was located within the smaller crater (known as the "Minor"). It looked deceptively small but fielded a surprisingly large squadron of Gorgon-class fighters. It also housed a garrison of Strogg warriors, though they were primarily representatives of the lower-ranking troopers, with the heavier creatures being deployed within the capital city itself. The facility held only a basic supply of weapons, ammo and other equipment, but it featured a powerful communications array, which caught the attention of the TCM command ship as they desperately looked for anything to salvage the already failing operation. An established uplink could prove to be a powerful tool in a prolonged campaign. The base consisted of several buildings, which took some damage during the first wave of TCM bombing runs. It also appeared to be connected to a number of underground reservoirs and tunnels.
Structural elements:
1. Outer Base: Consisted of several support facilities, such as low-priority storage, water drainage and recycling, maintenance areas, spare part supply, etc. Low security and enemy presence.
2. Installation: Comprised the heart of the military base, where many of its main control systems and storehouses were located. Heavier enemy presence and increased security measures. Heavier weapons and ordnance could also be found in the area, guarded by heavier classes of Strogg warriors.
3. Comm Center: The communications facility was among the biggest ones in this region of Stroggos and featured some extra security measures not observed elsewhere in the base. At the heart of the facility was the uplink array itself. Remains of older structures were detected in the flooded lower levels.
4. Lost Station (unknown): Intelligence had no real explanation what this place was. By the looks of it, it was an old and decommissioned (but not quite abandoned) transport facility. It proved to be a valuable source of supplies, especially powerful weapons, such as a super shotgun.
Mission outcome: Bitterman successfully established the uplink with the command ship. This allowed TCM forces to assume control over the Strogg base computers, providing them with access to lots of otherwise unobtainable data. The direct benefit of this was their ability to continually assess the developing combat situation and provide updated mission objectives as Bitterman kept advancing further into enemy territory. This may have well been the key to his ultimate success.
Mission Unit 02: Warehouse Complex
Location: Underground facility and tunnel network, far outskirts of Crater Majoris
Objective: Destroy the Strogg logistical train
General description: The rugged terrain and heavy industrialization of Stroggos had become an obstacle for logistics and supply on the surface. The Strogg remedied the problem by building their military storage depots underground and connecting them through a network of tunnels, serviced by an automated logistical train. These warehouses were fully stocked with weapons, ammunition, fuel, spare parts, power cells, and other supplies needed by the Strogg war machine. Their underground location served as their best defense, making them impervious to any kind of aerial or orbital bombardment. The automated train was the linchpin of the whole system, resupplying Strogg military bases and facilities quickly and efficiently, making the mission of any surviving TCM marines even more difficult. The destruction of this logistical train was an obvious high-priority objective and a prerequisite for any attempts to breach the outer defenses of Cerberon.
Structural elements:
1. Ammo Depot: This was the primary munitions dump for most of the outer defenses of Cerberon, as well as the military base located in Crater Minor. The facility consisted of numerous chambers filled with crates of ammo and other ordnance, alongside some heavy lifting equipment. TCM forces made a few bombing runs on this sector, yet the only damage they could inflict upon it was flooding one room. They were not yet aware that the ammo depot's structure was reinforced like a bunker's, and thus it could withstand a lot of firepower with minimum effect.
2. Supply Station: This facility processed and distributed various supplies among the Strogg facilities as they requested them. The actual deliveries were handled by the underground logistical train – one of its terminals was located within this facility, allowing it to stop and load/unload its cargo. One section of the facility was outdoors, so that Strogg dropships could pick up shipments as well.
3. Warehouse: This was a large general-purpose storage facility housing many types of supplies, as well as an exit to a conveyor belt distribution system. It was mostly intended as long-term storage, so most of its internal machinery was kept shut down, with the power cubes deployed at the Supply Station, which had a greater focus on short-term storage and supply distribution. The Warehouse was untouched by any bombardment due to its reinforced outer shell, yet was a site of interest to the TCM, due to the conveyor belt system – it was determined to be a convenient access point to the Strogg security complex.
Mission Outcome: Bitterman reached the underground logistical terminal and used its controls to cause the automated train to crash into the sealed tunnel gate, which resulted in the train's permanent incapacitation and the tunnel's blockage. The Strogg supply chain was severely disrupted, weakening their defenses around and throughout the city of Cerberon. The marine then used the conveyor belt cargo transfer system to leave the facility.
Mission Unit 03: Security/Prison Complex
Location: Security complex and detention facility, outskirts of Crater Majoris
Objective: Cripple Strogg security grid
General description: Beyond the outer edge of the Crater Majoris sat a heavily fortified compound that appeared as a prison at first sight, yet concealed a number of essential security systems for the industrial region of Cerberon, including a vital nerve center of the security grid – a central computer core. The compound first drew the attention of the TCM when they first tried to learn the fate of any human marine survivors that were taken captive by the Strogg. Analysis of the data obtained through the breach of the military base computers indicated that the prison complex was such a crucial link in the Cerberon security grid, that taking it out would leave the industrial region wide open to infiltration. That the Strogg had created such a centralized (and thus vulnerable) system could be explained with overconfidence, or perhaps it was a remnant of a previous stage in their technological development. The compound itself featured many security devices and traps previously unseen by our forces, thus ensuring that reaching the computer core was not as easy as simply walking in and finding a keycard. On a darker note, none of the human POW's found within this facility could be rescued – they turned out to be either too badly wounded (or too mentally disturbed) to escape, even after all of their guards had fallen.
Structural elements:
1. Main Gate: The high-security nature of the detention center necessitated a fortified point for controlled access, to ensure that no one could get in or out unnoticed. This area contained a large number of traps, sensors, alarm systems and other security devices. Even the water supply and drainage canals were better protected than in most Strogg facilities. Covert entry was not an option – any human marine in the sector would have to deal with strong resistance.
2. Detention Center: The main jail area was built behind thick concrete walls and housed a number of cells where the Strogg's prisoners would wither away in endless despair. The moans of hapless marines could be heard throughout all corridors, yet were always ignored by their cybernetic captors. This sector also housed the controls for several security systems.
3. Security Complex: The central area of the jail compound was a large command center that seemed to be the core of the security system for the industrial region, yet turned out to only be the uppermost layer of control, with the true heart of the system being concealed beneath the mysterious pyramid in the far end of the facility. This sector also served as a hub between the four essential areas of the compound, though access was restricted through special locks and laser fields.
4. Guard House: The Guard House was the headquarters for the Strogg security forces in the area, serving as a place for training/programming, outfitting, arming and healing. This was also the place where the separate guard details received their assignments. The sector housed storage areas for weapons and ammo as well. A security station on the far end of the facility kept a special key necessary for gaining access to the more sensitive parts of the jail compound. Some of Guard House's lower areas were damaged by seismic activity shortly before Operation "Alien Overlord."
5. Torture Chambers: The darkest and most fearsome sector of the compound, located entirely underground – this area was where captive marines were subjected to agony beyond human imagination. It was usually assumed that POW's were taken there for interrogation, yet collected data indicates that few of the captives were actually questioned or mind probed. This has led TCM intelligence officers to speculate that the true purpose of the Torture Chambers was to test the limits of the prisoners' bodies, more specifically their tolerance to pain and the loss of vital organs.
6. Grid Control: The true heart of the security compound, this mostly underground bunker was impenetrable to any form of scanning, and all files pertaining to it on the military based computers were heavily encrypted. Therefore, all information on it came from the marine "Bitterman" himself. Beside the usual laser traps, this sector housed a powerful guardian as well. The lowest level contained the core – a super-computer that processed incoming data flows from countless security devices around Cerberon and sent back the appropriate commands for dealing with any detected threats. An emergency elevator led to a rear sector of a mining facility.
Mission outcome: Bitterman successfully overcame all traps, security devices and guardians the Strogg could throw against him, eventually reaching the central computer core and destroying it completely. Expectedly, this caused a system-wide crash in a huge part of the Cerberon security grid, leaving the industrial zone completely exposed. The marine used this opportunity to proceed towards an adjacent mining facility.
Mission Unit 04: Mining Facility
Location: Deep-bore mining compound, middle section of Crater Majoris rim
Objective: Navigate the mines in order to infiltrate the Strogg factory
General description: The primary energy source of Strogg technology was a blue crystal known as "Steedium." It was mined from a number of shafts all over the planet, one of which was bordering the Cerberon industrial zone. Mining facilities on Stroggos were generally considered among the areas most dangerous to humans, and the only reason "Bitterman" took such a route was that the main factory door was sealed shut – possibly an automated response to the abrupt shutdown of the security network. The perils within the mine were both natural (seismic activity, toxic gases, and lava pools) and artificial (heavy equipment, explosives, guardian creatures). The mine shafts were nothing like other Strogg facilities – many of them were maze-like, poorly lit, and confusing. However, there was one highly valuable feature within the mines – a service elevator that led straight into the factory complex.
Structural elements:
1. Mine Entrance: The surface portion of the mine complex was dedicated to supply and ore transfers, mainly to and from the industrial zone. A large lava trench ran through the sector, most of it drained from the lower levels of the mines.
2. Upper Mines: The topmost sector of the mining compound consisted primarily of maintenance facilities handling tasks such as atmospheric circulation, lava drainage, pressure control, power supply, etc. One of its primary systems was the ventilation apparatus, which eliminated any buildups of toxic gases in the lower reaches. It was automatically shut down as a precaution when the TCM assault started, and thus toxic gas levels increased quickly, causing a lockdown throughout all access points to the lower mineshafts. This circumstance forced Bitterman to reactivate the ventilation system before proceeding with his mission.
3. Borehole: This middle level of the mining facility served as a hub between its other sectors and housed most of the main drilling equipment, including the prime bore used to breach new layers and drain lava from enclosed hollows. All mining equipment was intrinsically tied to the prime bore and would not function while the bore was inactive.
4. Drilling Area: This area was the staging ground for the mine's expansion, both horizontal and vertical. Some of the shallower Steedium deposits could be seen in the area. Vertical expansion was mainly accomplished through heavy laser drills, which could create new shafts within a matter of seconds, albeit with a limited range. The sector also housed the service elevator to the factory complex.
5. Lower Mines: The deepest and most unstable level of the mines, this area had been exploited for a relatively short time at the time of the TCM assault upon Stroggos. The Lower Mines exhibited frequent and unpredictable seismic activity and many parts of it were flooded with lava. The sector's considerable dangers were offset by the incredibly rich Steedium deposits found here – some of the most abundant ever found in the depths of Stroggos.
Mission outcome: Bitterman survived all the perils of the treacherous depths of Stroggos, reaching the factory service elevator. This enabled him to infiltrate the processing plant unnoticed.
Mission Unit 05: Strogg Factory
Location: Lower-middle section of Crater Majoris, Cerberon industrial zone
Objective: Shut down the Strogg processing plant
General description: One of the most significant facilities within the Cerberon industrial zone was the so-called processing plant. Behind this seemingly innocuous name was a factory, whose main purpose was to process all kinds of living creatures captured by the Strogg (mostly humans during the time of Operation "Alien Overlord") by breaking them down into a raw organic "soup." This end product, which appeared as warm red-colored slime, was one of the Strogg's most valuable resources, needed for the manufacture of many other substances utilized as nutrition, fuel, lubricant, healing serum, etc. It was distributed throughout Cerberon and several adjacent regions of the planet as well. The TCM intelligence division decided that shutting this plant down would be beneficial to the war effort and thus defined it as one of Bitterman's key objectives.
Structural elements:
1. Receiving Center: The outer sector of the factory complex handled the reception of raw materials and expedition of ready produce. The Receiving Center housed a service elevator that connected it to the mine shafts deep under the surface, which was used by Bitterman to infiltrate the sector. An outdoor area with a lake and small waterfall was detected from orbit, although their significance remained unknown. A logistical conduit connected to a nearby power plant was observed as well.
2. Processing Plant: The inner sector of the factory concealed the actual machinery designed to "process" the Strogg's captives in various ways, which included liquefaction, crushing, chopping, dissolving, etc. The thus-produced raw organic "juice" was used in numerous other Strogg facilities for the creation of other products, most likely Stroyent.
3. Sudden Death (unknown): Decrypted Strogg files indicated the existence of a secret storage facility for various weapons and other bits of equipment protected by an experimental security mechanism, which could teleport any intruder out of the building and prevent them from entering ever again. The only weakness of this security device was that it required 30 seconds to lock onto the intruder – 30 seconds, which could, theoretically, be used by a swift marine to grab as much goodies as they could before the time ran out...
Mission outcome: Bitterman successfully shut down all factory machines, effectively ceasing all production. This action had the double benefit of cutting important supplies for the Strogg war machine, as well as drawing the attention of security detachments in the general vicinity, leaving other areas less guarded.
Mission Unit 06: Power Plant
Location: Lower section of Crater Majoris, Cerberon industrial zone, near Big Gun
Objective: Shut down the Strogg reactor
General description: Bigger and noisier than any other facility in the industrial zone, spewing flame and smoke into the orange sky above, the Strogg main power plant fed energy into the entire city of Cerberon and its numerous defenses, including the Big Gun. Built around a heavy plasma reactor, this plant was among the most advanced facilities observed on the surface of Stroggos, having a distinct design that made it stand out among the other factories, based on darker and more durable metal alloys, whose composition remains unknown to Earth scientists to this very day. The reactor's inner workings also remained a mystery, mostly because it was completely destroyed. The power plant had a major significance in the final outcome of Operation "Alien Overlord" – taking it out also disabled many layers of the Strogg defenses, enabling the final victory. Destroying such a complex reactor turned out to be a more complicated task than expected...
Structural elements:
1. Power Plant: The outer section of the power production complex was primarily dedicated to maintenance, exhaust release, and materials storage. The lower reaches encompassed small natural caverns, some of which were flooded with lava.
2. The Reactor: The heart of the power production complex housed the reactor itself, as well as its primary regulation and energy distribution systems. The machines were so huge that they looked like skyscrapers when observed from ground level. The reactor core was normally concealed behind a thick shield, though it could be exposed, especially when maintenance crews sought access to other sub-sectors of the power plant.
3. Cooling Factory: The reactor regulation machinery and energy distribution coils generated tremendous amounts of heat, which could be dangerous to the equipment, even to the point of melting down entire components. Therefore, all major machines were immersed in pools of industrial-grade coolant, which was produced at a small factory attached to the power plant. The production process requires large amounts of water, which could be found in numerous pools and canals through the area. Shutting down this facility could cause the reactor systems to overheat with potentially catastrophic results.
4. Toxic Waste Dump: The power production process generated great amounts of various waste products, which eventually mixed together, creating a highly toxic and caustic sludge, which could severely damage the power plant systems. Therefore, the Strogg created an entire facility intended for collecting and neutralizing this dangerous waste. This sector was primarily a collector system, featuring several long-term waste storage tanks and a number of pipelines for waste disposal/redistribution (most of the vile sludge was dumped straight into the Stroggos environment, which was why the planet was mostly devoid of natural life).
5. Pumping Station 1: The first toxic waste pump. This sector contained several short-term storage tanks.
6. Pumping Station 2: The second toxic waste pump. This sector contained a number of reclamation systems that attempted to extract useful substances from the toxic sludge (mostly chemicals with industrial applications).
Mission outcome: Marine Bitterman infiltrated the power plant, overpowered its defenders, and attempted to destroy the reactor core by shutting down its coolant supply. Overheating turned out to be insufficient, necessitating more drastic measures – Bitterman reversed the toxic waste pumping systems, thus flooding the power plant machinery with caustic sludge. This proved to be the final push that caused the reactor's meltdown, with the massive power outage leading to a major disruption in the Strogg's defenses and infrastructure around and within Cerberon.
Mission Unit 07: The Big Gun
Location: Lower section of Crater Majoris
Objective: Destroy the Big Gun
General description: Towering above the entire industrial zone of Cerberon, it was the biggest, most visible and most fearsome defender of the planet Stroggos. The Big Gun may have appeared as a giant crude cannon, but it contained numerous weapons and jamming systems, designed to neutralize all kinds and sizes of threats originating from space. The largest gun, which made up the main barrel of the weapon, seemed to be intended to attack moon-sized objects, and it is unknown if it was ever used for this purpose. The less conspicuous armaments contained within the body of the Big Gun included numerous missile launchers, laser and plasma beam weapons, as well as EMP dischargers that took care of smaller spaceships, quickly and efficiently. TCM intelligence had believed that their one-man drop pods could slip past this monstrous guardian unnoticed, yet this turned out to be quite wrong. By the time the Big Gun had emitted its EMP wave, it was already too late to react, and a great portion of the invasion force was lost. For all its destructive power, the Big Gun had a few major (and unexplained) design flaws, which were ultimately exploited by the human invaders to bring down the weapon.
Mission outcome: Bitterman succeeded in forcefully recalibrating the Big Gun's internal laser grid, resulting in a temporary shutdown of its anti-air defense systems. This malfunction left the super-weapon vulnerable for a critical 20 seconds, during which TCM forces delivered a massive air strike, targeted at the zones with the highest buildups of energy within the gun. The inflicted damage sparked a chain reaction that resulted in the explosive collapse of the entire Big Gun. In one fell swoop, Stroggos had been deprived of its main defense against external invasion and was thus left wide open to the next major attack by Earth's forces, which brought the war to its conclusion (historical file SMC-Q4-0512-15).
Mission Unit 08: The Hangars
Location: Outer city of Cerberon, Crater Majoris
Objective: Close hangar doors, disable black hole generator
General description: The hangars complex within the outer sector of Cerberon was a vital Strogg facility that served not only as a hub for the majority of the spaceships operating over this sector of the planet, but also as a research and communications center. The most important equipment in this area was the black hole generator, an advanced machine that allowed the Strogg to open dimensional gateways, in order to invade worlds located thousands (if not even millions) of light years away. The Strogg fleet itself was normally housed within subterranean hangars, yet most of them were not there during the time of Operation "Alien Overlord", as they were launched to engage the TCM fleet above the planet. The complex supposedly housed teleportation devices as well, linked to orbital installations.
Structural elements:
1. Outer Hangar: The outer hangar perimeter mostly housed low-level maintenance and control systems, as well as the used water outflow basin. Entry to the Inner Hangar was only granted via security scanner, which was tuned to the sector's Tank Commander. Sensors also picked some greater energy emission in the area, exact location - unknown.
2. Research Lab: One of the largest research facilities in Cerberon was attached to the hangars complex and had a strong focus on experimentation with lice subjects. Many of the marines that fell into Strogg hands during Operation "Alien Overlord" ended up in this facility, where they were subjected to many gruesome procedures (dissection probably being the most merciful thing that could happen). Also during this period, the Tank Commander for the hangars sector was damaged during a TCM air raid and was taken to the labs for repairs.
3. Inner Hangar: The Inner Hangar facility handled all air traffic control, refueling and resupply operations for the spaceships landing at and taking off from Cerberon. The lower levels contained storage cells and heavy machinery, and the higher sections - the control tower's computer systems. The main hangar for the heavier Strogg fliers was built like a silo. Shutting its doors would effectively block all incoming and outgoing air traffic.
4. Launch Command: This area was the control center for the Strogg black hole generator - a device of such complexity that it required a fairly large CPU core, cooled by a double-redundant system, to prevent any unforeseen shutdowns, The heart of the system was a well-defended computer room overlooking the black hole generator itself.
5. Outlands: This was an outdoor sector consisting mostly of wilderness. It would normally be of no interest to TCM Intelligence, except for a conduit located in the area, which could provide a direct route to the palace sector of Cerberon. Intelligence formulated a plan to breach it open by blowing up a nearby fuel pod - a task best achieved via an airstrike.
6. Comm Satellite (unknown): One of many orbiting installations around Stroggos, this particular hunk of cold metal appeared to be a communications satellite. It was initially assumed to be devoid of life, yet it turned out to be inhabited by a number of the smaller flying varieties of Strogg. While the exact purpose and significance of this satellite remained unknown, TCM High Command decided that it would be for the best, if it were taken out of commission. This was accomplished by disabling its power core, as well detaching the primary communications dish.
Mission outcome: Bitterman successfully infiltrated the Inner Hangar by appropriating the head of the damaged Tank Commander, closed the main hangar doors to disrupt Strogg air traffic above Cerberon. Finally, he permanently disabled the black hole generator, to ensure Earth's safety. He exfiltrated the sector through the Outlands conduit, after calling an airstrike on the fuel pod located near the inner city conduit.
Mission Unit 09: The Palace
Location: Inner city of Cerberon, Crater Majoris
Objective: Disable the Makron's communication network
General description: The Makron's palace complex was one of the most heavily guarded areas on Stroggos - full of concealed traps, force fields, and some of the most powerful Strogg variants observed - the Tank Commanders. Its style was opulent and monumental, in stark contrast with the typically cold and industrial appearance of Strogg facilities. The palace was the core of military and political power for the Strogg civilisation, home to the Makron - one among the mysterious Strogg warlords elevated to the position of supreme authority, possibly on the merit of being the strongest and deadliest of all. In the palace's heart was the Makron's most potent tool of control - a laser communication network, which allowed the leader to send its orders all over the planet at a nearly instantaneous speed. The palace contained many other top-secret systems and hidden chambers some of which remain a mystery to this very day.
Structural elements:
1. Outer Courts: The outermost sector of the palace contained its main entrance, as well as some maintenance facilities, including a sewer/recycling plant. Tank Commanders patrolled all crucial hallways, completely replacing the common Tank variety. The entrance itself was reachable through two security checkpoints, both of which were guarded by numerous Strogg troops.
2. Lower Palace: The lower floors of the palace contained some of the minor security systems, as well as a central computer that could access and reprogram any Strogg device. This was used to accomplish the mission, as the communications laser was impervious to normal damage and could only be destroyed by being fed altered data, resulting in a critical system overload.
3. Upper Palace: The upper floors of the palace housed the top-level security systems, as well as the communications laser installation itself. Heavy Strogg presence throughout the entire area. Some confusing data about an archeological dig in the lower reaches were received as well, significance unknown.
Mission outcome: Marine Bitterman successfully obtained a Strogg data spinner device, reprogrammed it at the master computer, and then input the erroneous data directly into the communications laser system, causing it to overload and self-destruct. The resulting break of communications caused a major (albeit temporary) disruption among the Strogg armies.
Mission Unit 10: The Makron's Last Stand
Location: Inner city of Cerberon, Crater Majoris / Asteroid belt above Stroggos
Objective: Destroy the Makron
General description: The Makron's inner sanctum is a mystery to all but the only human that ever breached it - Bitterman himself. It is here that he finally met and ultimately fought the Makron.
Structural elements:
1. Inner Chamber: TCM intelligence has been able to gather just a few precious details about this place, which was located at the very pinnacle of the Cerberon Palace. The most significant bit of information is that the area housed a huge teleporter/slipgate device that the Makron used to retreat to its secret orbital lair, but not before issuing a challenge for the human marine to follow it.
2. Final Showdown: The Makron's secret lair was a small facility built within one of the asteroids in the orbit of Stroggos. It featured artificial gravity systems, escape pods, and possibly other hidden chambers, judging by its size. A slipgate connected this private retreat to the Makron's inner sanctum in the Cerberon Palace, on the planet's surface.
Mission outcome: Bitterman pursued the Makron to its lair, faced its fearsome Jorg exoskeleton, and, against all odds, defeated the Strogg supreme warlord in one-on-one battle, triggering the asteroid base's automatic self-destruct mechanism. The Strogg political and military apparatus suffered a major blow, although its long-term impact was not as profound as TCM intelligence had hoped.
Operation "Alien Overlord" - Outcome & Final Analysis
Despite its tremendous losses in human lives and military hardware, Operation "Alien Overlord" is generally considered to be a success, and was the first crucial step towards victory in the war against the Strogg. The exact number of survivors was never fully disclosed, though it was certain to be very, very low. None of these returning veterans could provide much useful information due to their severe injuries or shattered sanity. And yet, the horrendous meat grinder our troops were put through was not in vain - "Alien Overlord" achieved nearly all of its main objectives as identified at the start of the operation.
A communications uplink was established with the surface, allowing Coalition forces to download huge amounts of data about the Strogg and their defenses - data that proved invaluable as the battle progressed. The fearsome Big Gun, which caused so many casualties during the very first minutes of the assault upon Stroggos, was completely destroyed, leaving the planet exposed to the next invasion by human forces, which brought the legendary Rhino Squad into the fray. The Makron was destroyed as well, although this did not have the effect of throwing the Strogg civilization into turmoil as it was previously hoped. The remaining Strogg warlords had become fully aware of the danger humans posed to the Strogg, and thus overcame their confusion quickly, elevating another one from their midst to the position of Makron - a nightmarish cyborg abomination that assumed control over the Strogg and immediately began preparing for humanity's next move in the war. The new Makron upgraded many of the existing Strogg models (such as the Berserkers, Gunners and Gladiators), decommissioned the models that had proven worthless (such as the Icarus and the Brains), and even introduced new ones - this reformed Strogg army would prove to be a fierce and tenacious enemy in the battles to follow.
As for the hero of Operation "Alien Overlord," Bitterman - his ultimate fate remains a mystery. Telemetry readings indicate that he was able to board an escape pod and escape the Makron's orbital lair before it was destroyed, and the pod landed successfully on Stroggos. The crash site was eventually discovered, but no sign of Bitterman could be found. All search and rescue operations were unsuccessful. There have been numerous rumors about what happened to him, including claims that he was captured and experimented upon by the Strogg, yet nothing could ever be confirmed or rejected. At present, Bitterman is officially classified as "MIA" and this is not likely to change any time soon. The legend of Bitterman lives on in the collective imagination of humanity - he is the warrior that fought from the darkest lava-filled depths of Stroggos to the highest tower of the Makron's palace, and as such he would always be a beacon of hope.
(end of archive file)
Further inquiry: please reference archive file SMC-Q4-0512-15 "War against the Strogg - Phase II")
Related files: Operation "Reckoning" & Operation "Ground Zero" - data retrieval in progress, please wait. This may take a while...