AAR: IRON SPIDER 2

[Phoenix]

Before I get to the meat of the AAR, I wanted to thank everyone for coming out. When writing an OP its hard to anticipate how players will respond to your ideas and the situations you put them in. I like creating innovative and/or different experiences to put the players in so its not just the same game with a different story and those ideas seemed to have been well received. Like I said in the closing brief for Iron Spider 1, this op could not have been as good as it was without the players. Thank you all.

Evolution 1:
This was a very quick force on force with the US team being walked into an ambush. Both sides were limited to a single magazine worth of ammo (except those who had low-cap magazines who were allowed a full compliment). Both sides operated extremely well and stalemated each other and OPCOM decided to time the match out so we could continue.

Evolution 2:
Two US soldiers were captured by villagers ready and willing to hand them over to the local mujahedin. One of the Mujahedin leaders was on site ready to take possession of the US prisoners when US soldiers appeared to recover their companions. The villagers were not interested in letting their cash cows go so they began to interfere with the US mission. The US soldiers approached the POWs without restraining nor covering the villagers mingling around them and lost one soldier to the leader who was not apparently armed. Some of the villagers were armed also and Blazed was taken out by one simply accusing him of stealing his goats long enough for Blazed to disregard the villager as a threat. After this the US forces kidnapped a villager, confiscated his clothing and sent Blazed in to the heart of the beast, killing the Mujahedin leader, rescuing the POWs and getting them out safely. Finally before leaving the area, the US forces encountered another village elder and a female villager. The elder was using the female villager as a "meat shield" before martyring himself with two US soldiers. (lower quality video here: Meat Shield)

Evolution 3:
The US forces in the area discovered a Pinnacle - Broken Arrow event (later upgraded to a Pinnacle - Empty Quiver event) had occurred. A Soviet era nuclear missile truck was located, missing its payload. Intel was quickly delivered that an Iranian scientist was on station to provide arming and launch assistance to the local Mujahedin for their newly acquired nuclear weapon. The pan was for the US to intercept and capture the scientist and escort them to US custody. The US forces decide the best course of action was to hold a line on the district's border and wait for the Mujahedin to basically deliver the HVT to them. The HVT was left without their personal escorts and the US forces were able to complete their objective.

Post-Scrip: With the scientist in US hands, the Mujahedin were unable to launch their missile. after a few days of searching the nuclear device was found and taken into US protection for disposal at a later date.

The day ended with some base assaults and some trench warfare. truly a great day. If anyone has anything to add, feel free.

[Komissar]

Perfect weather for early June made this another great day for Airsoft. I estimate the turnout was near 25 operators for this special operations style event which focused on US vs. Iraqi forces. I was assigned a spot on the US 1st squad commanded by Ken. 2nd US was commanded by Farside. Scramble was assigned lead of the Iraqis.

EVO 1: ROAD PATROL

The US forces were tasked with patrolling the road from the base gate to Red One, and then returning. (This was the orders I received). My squad lost the draw and had to take the lead in the patrol. I volunteered to take one of the two point positions. The other was taken by Zach who advanced covering the right side of the road. As we approached the first structure, (Blue One) we paused and Zach cleared it. We continued to within sight of the Silo structure before being engaged in an enemy ambush. I took the first shot to my left arm, and went down. (The medic system allowed us to be 'healed' by one of our two medics if he could get to us in the first 60 seconds after we were hit). On point I didn't actually expect to have our medic respond to my call of 'hit', but I called it to alert my my teammates anyway.

I was surprised to hear boots running up to my position. Preacha, our squad medic, came up into the crossfire and put a bandage on my arm to get me back in the fight. (This was Preacha's last time out with the DC as he is being re-assigned to a base in Texas. We'll miss ya brother). This action saved me from having to use one of my 're-spawns', and I began returning fire as I moved into cover on my enemy's right flank. US 1st squad finally pushed forward to take the Silo, but we never could secure the ground downhill on our left where the enemy continued to harass us.

US 2nd squad had moved up into the cover on our right after clearing the Blue Two structure. They were taking fire from the trenches as well as from the fuel depot located to our front. After waiting far too long for 1st squad to press forward while we held the Silo, I suggested that we flank to our right with US Squad 2, and attack the Manger structure which gives good cover from the trenches. No decision was made, so I recruited Zach and we advanced.

We both made it up to the front of the US 2nd Squad, and learned from Ferge that they had been taking fire from the Manger structure. His team provided cover fire as Zach and I assaulted the structure and crashed through the open front. Empty. The fire the Ferge and his team were receiving  which appeared to be coming from the Manger was actually coming from the Fuel Depot below. (With all the shooting we couldn't tell where it was coming from until we crashed through the front entry expecting to find ourselves face to face with our enemy). Zach and I lay flat on our backs in two opposite corners to evade the fire from below from the Fuel Depot. I was finally shot my second time while laying there returning fire with my enemy. Another wound. This time, there would be no medic rushing to my rescue. I bled out (60 second count), and then wore my red rag and took my walk. The EVO was called off just seconds after.

EVO 2: PRISONER RESCUE

Zach and I were the prisoners for this EVO. US operator (Blazed) killed/captured Iraqi (Bluewolf), and dressed in his hat, shirt and kit. He walked right into where we were being held, knife killed Scramble who was guarding us and hauled us to freedom. This gave the US the win, but the credit goes to Blazed. Nice work.

EVO 3: BREAKTHROUGH

 I was late for the briefing, and had to get the short version from a teammate. The enemy had a HVT (High Value Target) who they were attempting to 'escort' out of the area. The US forces were to capture the HVT and move 'her' to a safe location. The US plan was to set-up a defensive line and have the enemy walk the HVT right into it. Zack and I took the Western end of the line which was down hill and provided the most cover. This end I thought was most likely to be involved in the action.

We set up in cover and in heavy shadow determined to hold our ground. After a while we took a few shots at enemy who moved higher up the hill and away from us. Later, two more enemy troops exchanged shots with us and attempted to flank us. There was a brief pursuit and firefight which resulted in us finding out that the EVO had ended some time ago. A US success, which we were barely involved in. But we held the line.

Thanks to Phoenix for putting together this OP. A good day.

[Preacha]

I gotta say, this lived up to its predecessor in story and action. I truly enjoyed the op. thanks Phoenix for developing/implementing such a great op, and Komisar for the place to play as always. I hope that I can hit another game when I travel back through in the coming years.

[Phoenix]

Thank you Preacha. We'll see you soon.