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THE CONTENTS OF THIS FILE HAS BEEN AUTHORISED FOR VIEWING ONLY BY OPERATIVES WITH CLEARANCE LEVEL: OMEGA BLACK 1

ANY ATTEMPT TO READ THE CONTENTS OF THIS FILE WITHOUT THE PROPER AUTHORISATION IS AND WILL BE CONSIDERED BOTH AN ACT OF TREASON AND CONSPIRACY TO LEAK CLASSIFIED INFORMATION BY THE U.S GOVERNMENT, AND APPROPRIATE ACTION WILL BE TAKEN

AFTER ACTION REPORT, OPERATION DESCENDING MOON, 15/01/14
NAME OF CONCERNED PARTIES: POTUS, VPOTUS, SECDEF
CONTENTS: CLASSIFIED REPORT INTO BOTH THE ACTIONS AND SHORTCOMINGS OF BOTH OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS CONCERNING THE ACTIVITY DESCRIBED IN OPERATION DESCENDING MOON
NOTE: To those concerned, I have attached a personnel file below this note, so you will know the history of parties involved

NAME: Ty Greaves

AGE: 25

APPEARANCE: 6 foot 1 inch in height, dark black hair (Reasonably long, “shaggy”), often facial stubble, scars across chest, fairly well built, large muscle mass

WEIGHT: 168lbs

RANK: First Lieutenant

CURRENT MILITARY POSITION: Operative 3, Callsign “SHADOWSTRIKE”, in United States SPECTRE programme (Special Protection, Extraction, Counter Terrorism and Recon Ensemble)

NOTE: As you know, SPECTRE was a black budget U.S Spec Ops team set up in late 2011, to counter terror threats both on home soil, and overseas. SPECTRE team, consisting of 5 handpicked members, has seen successful operation and action in countries.

HISTORY: Ty Greaves was born in British capital of London on November 7th 1989 into a poor income family living in one of it's poorer areas. He attended public school, and from records (See attached), he was an intellectually able student, if emotionally troubled. Due to his background, he was subsequent to frequent bullying, which often manifested itself physically. We have reports (See attached) from many local hospitals detailing frequent youth visits by Ty, all of which show physical bruising and evidence of assault. The school’s response to this is unknown, but judging by the number of these reports, it is safe to assume that the action was practically non-existent or at the very least, not enough. However, some reports suggest physical injuries beyond the capability of a youth student. Possibility of family violence was explored but no conclusive leads were found.

Despite facing this adversity, Ty made his way through public school, achieving well, and allowing him access to higher education. However, at age 18, Ty applied for an American Green Card, and once it had been approved, he moved to Washington DC stateside, where he signed up to join the U.S Military. He was assigned a position at the United States Army Basic Training Camp, completing his Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, as well as completing his Advance Individual Training at Infantry School at Fort Benning, also in Columbia.

He completed all aspects of his training with determination and tenacity his superiors report was very rare to see in any recruit. Greaves’ drill sergeant during his time in BCT stated that, while he rode Greaves hard, he displayed a profound sense of emotional maturity and grit that was extremely out of character for a recruit of his age. He was reported to be level-headed, as well as an intelligent and “switched-on” character, who was a “first one in, last one out” kind of guy. He was always there to both talk to other recruits and keep fights apart that may not have always been spotted by drill instructors. He was said to be popular among many recruits, as well as quite quick and witty. The drill sergeant also mentioned that, despite his exposure to much American dialect and culture, Ty maintained an air of "britishness" about him that distinguished him from others on the course.

During his AIT, he picked up what can only be described as a natural ability in Close Quarters Combat, often performing better than instructors. While CQB was not specifically covered on the course, he honed his skills outside, becoming extremely proficient with SMG’s, and hand-to-hand combat. This naturally evolved into other military avenues of interest, such as Sniping, and, although sources are unclear on whether this was a more laterally developed skill, Archery.

After passing all aspects of Basic Training, he went on to join 32nd Infantry Division of the United States Army, after passing a mandatory psych evaluation. This was expected to cause a problem by his superiors. Greaves had developed a reputation throughout basic training, but most, if not all, were aware of his upbringing, and feared this may cause problems. However, he passed the evaluation with flying colours (See report attached for details), and was admitted into the division at the rank of Private in 2008. During his year with the division before their 14-month deployment to Iraq, Greaves quickly worked his way up the ranks to become a Sergeant Major, again surprising his superior officers. He continued to expand his skill set, and began to study both martial arts, and continued to train his proficiency in sniping.

In the February of 2009, Greaves was deployed along with the rest of his platoon, to serve a 14-month deployment overseas in Iraq. In a combat environment, and according to numerous superior’s reports, the normally quiet and reserved Greaves thrived in his own way, moving up the ranks again to Chief Warrant Officer 2, based on many events, one of note in which he saved a large proportion of his squad that was with him on foot patrol from going into a house that was rigged by insurgents to explode upon entry. When questioned, Greaves simply stated it was a “gut feeling”. He was proven correct. When checked, the house did contain a large amount of explosive material, as well as shrapnel designed for soft targets, wired up to a crude trip wire system in the doorway. Greaves had saved his squad from an event that would’ve lead to numerous injuries, or even fatalities, and for that, he was recognised in rank.

However, this was not the most notable of Greaves’ achievements. This came in his act in November 2010, which caught the attention of higher-ups in the SPECTRE programme. He and his squad were doing a routine check of a village, when it was beset upon by insurgent forces, which had obviously been waiting to ambush any visitors to the town that looked to be wearing US combat fatigues. While exact details of Greaves’ heroics are sketchy and unsubstantiated, it is maintained by those who served with him that he single-handedly saved the squad, AGAIN, by engaging multiple hostiles in hand-to-hand combat. As mentioned, the exact details are sketchy at best, and Greaves’ himself refused to comment about it when he returned to base camp. This is backed up by reports from fellow soldiers that suggested, after the event, Greaves didn’t seem himself, becoming more quiet and withdrawn. While not suggested in his psychological profile, some of the camp medics believed him to be suffering a mild form of depression, and in one medic’s case, almost a certainty of feeling “survivor’s guilt”, as his “battle buddy”, who had been with him since his BCT, was KIA during the attack. Again, Greaves’ refused to elaborate, instead opting to remain quiet, but was often seen by other military personnel sat alone gazing into the distance.
He was subsequently rewarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions during the combat, earning himself another promotion to the rank of First Lieutenant, where he is today. A short time after this event, he was handpicked to become a member of SPECTRE squad.

The SPECTRE squad was developed as a direct branch of the US Military to combat foreign and domestic terror threats. It was a black book, off the record branch, specifically designed and organised to be used where no other asset could, and consisted of soldiers of all specialities. From soldiers like Greaves, who were CQB AND Long Range specialists, to specialists in Demolition, Hostage Rescue, Heavy Weapons and Stealth. As previously mentioned, the group has had many successes in its past, dealing with threats both on home and foreign soil such as in Russia, Iran, Iraq, and others. Greaves has served with distinction since his inclusion to the group, under the command of Colonel Matt McGregor, despite suggestions that, in months leading up to the publication of this report, he has become ever more quiet, withdrawn and reserved, seemingly expressing a desire to leave the group. This was not a lead that was chased up.

THE FOLLOWING IS A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE EVENTS OF OPERATION DESCENDING MOON

Operative SHADOWSTRIKE was inserted behind the Yemeni border to a small town called Al Hudaydah, with the express goal of eliminating a foreign threat that had been exposed to the US Government by intercepted calls the NSA has picked up between a sleeper cell in the country. The cell has been dealt with since the publishing of this document. SHADOWSTRIKE was inserted as planned, equipped with his selected kit (NOTE: While highly irregular, the operatives in SPECTRE unit are given the ability to take in to any job the tools THEY believe they will need to accomplish the objective. While highly irregular, the results speak volumes, and so has been left untouched) and was given a rendezvous point with a vessel the US Navy had commandeered for extraction of the operative, made easier by the fact that the town was situated only a very small distance from the coast. The boat also contained 2 more SPECTRE operatives, armed and ready to engage should the plan fail to go accordingly. SHADOWSTRIKE was given a fairly rigid timescale to stick to, and was given an encrypted comms device to keep command up to date with his progression. Things proceeded as planned, until for some as of yet unknown reason, SHADOWSTRIKE’s comm line went dead. Thinking nothing of it, as it was not uncommon for an operative to cut their own comm line in danger, the extraction team did not pursue. However, after another hour without comm connection, the team reported seeing a “large flash of white light” in the sky above town, followed by a “deafening boom”. Fearing the use of heavy ordinance, and that their comrade had been discovered, they moved in on foot to the location. Upon arrival, they breached the “compound”, but found 2 dead Yemeni militia, which had seemingly been dispatched in a way that suggested the work of SHADOWSTRIKE (Certain signatures such as a stab wound matching SHADOWSTRIKE’s blades, and shell casings from a SPECTRE issue USP pistol) Moving through the compound, they located the “command centre”. Their report showed the presence of a chair however, on the roof, with handcuffs connected to it, and car batteries and jump leads surrounding it. There was a large amount of blood surrounding the chair too. Operatives also collected a sample of hair from the floor, bagging it to check later, as well as taking a blood swab. Many of the men in the compound were unconscious, including the militia leader, who was found dead on the roof, however, one was removed from the roof and taken back to the extraction vehicle for debriefing. When he came to, command fetched a Yemeni interpreter to speak on behalf of the radical. The transcript of the debrief is, to be frank, nonsensical. The militia member spoke of bright lights,and the operative apparently glowing? He also stressed that, shortly before the event occurred, the man they had captured (Operative SHADOWSTRIKE presumably) was seemingly talking to himself. Command dismissed this as nonsensical rambling, and believe nothing said by the operative would compromise the security of the op, mainly due to the amount of subjective pain the militia member reported him to be in. Medics within the team believe, despite the lack of evidence, that what SHADOWSTRIKE was saying was merely the result of pain induced hallucinations. Command are still holding onto the militia member. Our presence has seemingly gone unnoticed, despite the strange happening in the town. Local media are reporting it as a freak weather storm, which we are happy to run with, as we can maintain deniability of any wrongdoing.

However, one thing cannot be overlooked. The seemingly unusual shortcomings, and subsequent disappearance of operative SHADOWSTRIKE, who was not retrieved at the scene, nor has any trace been seen of him in the days following this. As a direct result, we are having to declare Operative Ty Greaves MIA. As is standard policy for a black book op, we must maintain deniability, and, if questioned, will refuse to acknowledge his presence or involvement with any kind of US Military programme. Since Ty was single, with no living parents or next of kin, his records are to be removed from all government databases. For all intents and purposes, Ty Greaves doesn’t, and never did exist. Command is requesting a new operative for the SPECTRE programme, and will be passed a list of suggestions shortly, at your discretion of course. We will ensure that the NSA also, discretely, ensures satellite watch over the Al Hudaydah region of Yemen with their MONOCLE satellites to ensure that if Greaves is discovered alive, he is picked up by the proper authorities, however unlikely such an event is.

END OF REPORT

ADDENDUM – Lab technicians have apparently analysed the hair and evidence collected by the other operatives at the scene of SHADOWSTRIKE’s seeming disappearance. The results they have returned are somewhat........... Irregular. DNA samples collected from the blood do indeed appear to belong to Operative Greaves, however, the hair sample collected appeared to be from...... A creature of equine origin. Apparently the lab team can’t be more specific right now, as it contains a DNA structure unlike our own. These findings will be in a separate report filed shortly.

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Author's Notes:

Hey Guys! NotYourAverage here!

Thanks for reading the prologue to my new story, A Different Kind of Op!

As I have said, this is merely a prologue to explain a little backstory behind our protagonist, which will also help you make sense of some things in the long run.

Anyway, read on! The first chapter is up alongside this one, and depending on the popularity of the series, more may be to come!

NotYourAverage, out!