Operation VI: Bloodhound: Mission Brief

[Captain Benjamin Maxwell]

____________________________

- Incoming Coded Message -
- Command Instruction Follows -
- Decode : Alpha Protocol - GALxOMEGA 15th: 487th -
- Disseminate by need only -
____________________________

Operation Codename: Bloodhound
Planet: Ares
Terrain: Sparse urban / rolling fields / swamp land
Heat Efficiency: 90%
Time: Day

NARRATIVE:

Impressed with the quality of the work we performed during Operation: Phoenix Down, House Liao has called upon us to investigate a situation that is rapidly escalating out of control.

It would seem that a band of well-equipped pirates has been taking advantage of the Blakist-induced turmoil in the Inner Sphere, conducting raids on the industrial world of Ares, home of Earthwerks Limited, the leading manufacturer of Union, Kuan Ti, and Overlord-class DropShips, as well as multiple BattleMech and vehicle production facilities that are becoming increasingly critical to the survival of the Capellan Confederation.

Due to the intensity and frequency of the raids, it is thought that these pirates have established a local base of operations from which they are launching their strikes - perhaps even in the Ares star system itself. Ordinarily, the planetary militia would deal with a situation like this, but these pirates are bolder, more persistent and better-organized, and the local boys simply haven't got the firepower to properly deal with the threat.

Additionally, the Capellan military is fully engaged with the Blakist forces sweeping through their empire, and cannot allocate any of its assets.

This is where we come in.

The Legionnaires have been called upon to track down the pirates and their base of operations, and wipe them out, using whatever means necessary.

As always, House Liao is making sure we're well-compensated. Payment for successful completion of this contract is 40,000,000 C-Bills, plus salvage rights to all hostile assets.

_________________________________________________________

MISSION OBJECTIVES:

Mission objectives are decidedly simple for this mission. As always, this has our MechCommanders extremely concerned.

_________________________________________________________

ALL LANCES AND DETACHMENTS:

Primary Objectives:

I. Eliminate any bandit activity found to be taking place in the Ares system upon arrival.

II. Locate bandit base of operations

III. Eliminate all bandit assets with extreme prejudice

IV. Extract

Secondary Objectives:

a. Destroy all targets of opportunity.


THREAT REPORT:

Heavy. During Liao's last encounter, the bandits were found to be well-equipped. The planetary militia was not able to successfully route them. It is believed that multiple bandit assets are still operating on Ares.

_________________________________________________________

PLANETARY OVERVIEW:

Planet Details: Ares



Star Type: M1IV
Position in System: 8 (of 12)
Number of Moons: 1 (Naga)
Days to Jump Point: 3
Surface Water: 79%
Atm. Pressure: Standard
Surface Gravity: 1.00
Equatorial Temp: 30° C
Highest Native Life: Reptiles
Population: 4,227,000,000
Governor: Shen Nuken
Planetary Legate: Ma Biaonu

OVERVIEW:

Settled in August 15, 2369, as an independent colony within the Capellan Zone, Ares is a commercial free port with many factories and supported by local exemptions from standard import duties. It is one of the few truly prosperous small worlds in the Confederation. Ares is most often remembered as the site of the famous peace conventions organized by Aleisha Liao. The savage campaigns fought in the Tintavel system in 2412, between the Free Worlds League and the Capellan Confederation, caused massive loss of civilian life. Appalled at this, Chancellor Aleisha Liao, spent months drafting an 80-page document describing conditions for "civilized warfare," rules intended to spare civilians from the horrors of unlimited war. Aleisha dispatched copies of her work to the leaders of all the warring realms, but expected only a lukewarm response. Instead, most of the leaders immediately communicated their wholehearted agreement.

Encouraged by the response, Aleisha immediately suggested a summit meeting on the Capellan world of Ares to further discuss the document. After much negotiation, the Ares Conventions were signed in the Grand Hall of the city of New Olympia on June 13, 2413.

Today, ironically, Ares maintains one of the few Capellan 'Mech producing centers left in existence. Though the Ares factories are still rebuilding from the devastation of the Forth Succession War, it is on Ares that the Capellans have chosen to experiment with developing a stable, triple-strength myomer.

The destruction of most of the Quikscell Company's component lines at their Ares plant has actually led to their putting out a higher-quality product. Quikscell has always been known to use cheap parts; now that it is little more than an assembly plant, it is forced to rely on components shipped in from more conscientious firms.

COMMANDER'S NOTES:

Another deceptively simple contract from House Liao. Routing pirates shouldn't be too difficult, although if the rumors about them fortifying somewhere in the Ares system are true, then we could, potentially, have a much bigger problem on our hands.

Stay sharp.

- TRANSMISSION ENDS -

____________________________

Sender: Captain Benjamin Maxwell
Encryption Priority: HIGH
HPG Relay 8XV44-GAMMA-1081
Received: OP Comp. 0652 Standard Terran Time
____________________________

[ - Soundtrack - ]